My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and DJ Q-Bert

I think it's amazing that with the advancement of technology and "the scene," I've been able to listen to and play My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Black Ops, respectively, well before either of their official releases. Crazy, eh?

I've been listening to Ye's album so much that I've put it on pause for a minute so it won't get played out. This album is a masterpiece and definitely reignited my support of him. I thought his last album was garbage (even though it went platinum) and personally thought he lost it after his mother passed. Wrong. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy establishes Kanye as a COMPLETE artist. I always knew he was a rapper and a producer, but this album goes well beyond rapping and producing. Pieces on this album are well orchestrated and arranged. There's a great balance between hip-hop and more instrumental, classical influences. Could any other artist produce an album like this? No, not in my opinion.
95/100

If you read my twitter you may have seen that I recently expressed my disappointment with Medal of Honor: Tier 1. I think the problem with that game was that it was excessively hyped and was too realistic. I applaud the realism and accuracy that the developers were going for, but sometimes you just want to dual wield some pistols and bust into a room guns blazing. You couldn't do that in MoH, which is why is was boring at most points. The storyline wasn't there and it was too short. It was too realistic, and the problem with that is people play games to escape reality. CoD stands out were MoH fell short, at least in the single-player campaign. CoD's story was historical in nature and well-written. The weapon availability was somewhat impressive...the cut scenes were top-notch...good voice acting and great visuals. I must say, however, both games had really crappy flying missions. I think what put CoD over the top was the cut-scene at the end with JFK, Castro, and Nixon. And then you can play as the President and kill zombies. What???!!! amazeballs. I have unfortunately not played the multiplayer for either of the games, so perhaps MoH makes up for its shortcomings in the single player campaign.
CoD 93/100
MoH 83/100

This past Monday at Teddy's I had the pleasure of meeting DJ Q-Bert, the grandmaster. He introduced himself to me in the booth and was extremely humble. The humility he carries himself with isn't something one runs across frequently in this town, or in the nightlife scene. He was a great guy and signed my friend's vinyl. His skills are epic and world-class. It was a privilege to watch him perform. His presence alone was worth tolerating all the damn bums that crowded the dj booth. Here's to Q-Bert, a selfless, class-act (from what I experienced).
100/100

Cheers

Who Will Survive in America? Who Will Survive in America? Who Will Survive in America? Who Will Survive in America? Who Will Survive in America? Who Will Survive in America?

Swedish House Mafia - Until One (Soundtrack)

EDIT: If you really want to hear what SHM sound like live, listen to their Essential Mix at Creamfields. That set is amazing.


I will say that right from the jump I was surprised with this album because I was under the impression that it would contain A: new material from SHM, and B: strictly music by SHM. I also assumed it would be an unmixed soundtrack to the documentary of the same name. Perhaps I was misconstruing statements by the boys, or my reading comprehension is not up to par. Either way, I was a little disappointed when I took a look at the tracklist.

I must confess: throughout the album, I found myself fast-forwarding through a lot of the tracks. About 75% of the records is music I had already heard, so at certain points I was just listening to hear how the compilation was mixed and to support the group. This wasn't because the records were bad. It was just because, as I mentioned, I had heard a large amount of the tracks already. The production quality of the album is top-notch, with Axwell's works, in my opinion, clearly standing out from the rest. All the tracks are "phat", wide, and warm-sounding. The mastering is great. The individual tracks are all composed and produced professionally and do not disappoint in that regard. Collectively, unfortunately, I found the mixing to be bland. This is a combination of the characteristics of the house music genre and the dj's choice of programming.

Though I only gave it a quick listen, I noted that much of the album plays like a roller coaster. It's my preference that a dj set should slowly build up and increase the energy throughout the set. Maybe this was not SHM's intention while putting together this soundtrack. They, instead, let each individual track build and breakdown, play out, then mix in the next track. This sounds like a decent enough blueprint on paper, but when executed live it just seems like an energy killer. I thought at times while listening, "Would this work in a club?" At that point I realized that, as is the case with many other big names in music, SHM have reached a level where they can do whatever they want and people will eat it up. I have never seen either of these gentlemen live, so who knows? Maybe crowds do like this mixing style. I would argue that to enjoy this album, you have to appreciate the progressive genre and the mixing style of the Mafia. Otherwise, you may get bored when fillers are played.

I would also like to briefly mention that SHM likes to play mash-ups in their sets. I'm not a mash-up man myself, but if they're done live, I can respect that.

All in all, I would give this album 82/83 out of 100. Deciding factors were tracklisting, programming, and production/mix quality.

Looking forward to the documentary

Long overdue update

Rather than try and catch up on errthing that's happened in the past months, I'll get right to it. I've been taking my production a lot more seriously. The majority of my free time is spent on ableton. It was crashing on me a decent amount last night. It might have been because of Melodyne actually. I just tried out iZotope's Ozone again for the second time. It seems very powerful. I would prefer to use Waves, but there are still issues running it on a 64-bit system, and I don't feel like jumping through hoops to convert new DLLs. That said, I'm learning to get the most out of Ableton and the new soft synths that I've come across recently (i.e. Gladiator and the Predator). They are costly but are good for what they do. Nothing can replace hardware, though. I'd like to thank Steve Angello for giving his advice. He's been really responsive and helpful with his recommendations on headphones, software, synths, and demos. Sounds strange but I've learned a good amount from him and the boys (Ingrosso and Axwell) (Shout out to Future Music). They've all really blown up, and their 2010 DJ Mag rankings reflect that. Though, I don't quite get how all three received rankings higher than SHM. I mean, I get completely how things are computed but it doesn't seem logical.

For some reason producing electronic music has always been the easiest to me. Specifically trance. It really shouldn't be that surprising seeing as how trance is what I first started listening to. It's no coincidence that it was also the first genre I tried to produce. I'm now trying to hit more hip-hop and club-worthy R&B tracks. The advantage of having a brother for a dj is knowing what exactly hits in clubs. You also get a lot of groupies, but I've never been into leftovers or second hand shit. Neva dat!

I almost forgot to mention that, along with hip-hop, I'd very much like to produce pop music. If it hits in a club then I want to make it. Max Martin and Dr. Luke where you at? Unfortunately producing electronica is a lot easier for me than producing pop. So, I'm trying to embrace that. As such I'm returning to my roots and listening to Armin, Above and Beyond, and Tiesto's radio shows more frequently. I might even throw some EDM on my ipod. Right now I'm listening to Roger Shah's new double disc The Beach Side Of Life. It's out now on Armada. good stuff.

There's loads more to be said. I'll leave it for another time.

Now listening to: Roger Shah presents Sunlounger - Acapulco Waves

Happy Birthday...

...to me. I'm now 23. So this is the age when you realize that you're starting to reach mid-20's. I need to accomplish a lot more within the next couple of years.

For the past couple of years, I can't really remember celebrating my birthday. Probably because I never really did. It always fell towards the end of the year, which meant lots of work and exams. I was also away from my family, so I never got to throw down that hard. I would usually celebrate the next weekend after I had flown home. Well, today was a little more of the same. I use my birthday as more of a reflective day to think about where I've been and where I want to go. I'm not the party kind of guy. I also don't really like cake that much, mostly because it's not very healthy for you.

Today was pretty awesome. We rolled to church early as usual (a must) and then went with my mother to Gyu-Kaku. That place is amazing. Whenever I step inside that restaurant, I put on my game face. It's like a battle that I must win. My goal is to eat as much as possible without puking. If there's one thing I like spending my money on, it's food. I destroyed that place. I think I took out about 3 orders of chicken, 2 beef plates, noodles, vegetables, and 2 bowls of bim-bim BAP. I DID WORK. The Korean dishes always bring back memories of my Korean teacher from Georgetown, Prof. Marshall. She had me conversational within a few months. Writing was hard but, ... Ahh memories.

After eating and watching the Lakers defeat the Jazz, I opened some of my presents. I got a gift card for groceries, SICK, and a new juicer, RAD. I told you I like food right? I love getting practical gifts. My gifts were really cool.

In other news, after a year of off-and-on reading, I finally finished Dr. Drew's "The Mirror Effect". It's a quality book that's very applicable to today's celebrity-driven, media-heavy culture. He paints a portrait of narcissists, describing how they come to be (childhood trauma), how they function (sexual acting-out, addiction, destructive behavior), and their main characteristics (entitlement, superiority, authority, exhibitionism, exploitative, self-sufficiency, vanity) . He concludes by offering his insight as to how to avoid becoming a full-blown narcissist yourself. Good book!

I ordered myself a bookshelf just now for my birthday. It was 50% off on Staples.com! Cherry-wood FTW!

Finally started my forex account. FXCM Micro accounts FTW.

Will start studying for the GMAT soon.

Still producing

New cologne: Lacoste Redzone, still testing. So far so good for a casual cologne. Smells very good.

Amazon.com is my lifelong friend.

Dealsea and Slickdeals: for all your dealshopping needs.

HauteLook, JackThreads, Gilt, Rue La La

My new computer is a dream. Go Dell

Great birthday today. Did I forget anything? Probably. I have internet ADD.

God bless.

Aventura - Dile Al Amor

y aqu'i est'a la canci'on que o'i en el restaurante cuando com'ia con mi familia. que maravillosa. pura calidad. puro partyyy. gracias a Shazam!

me fui de vacaciones, lejos de los amores.

Happy Easter

Hope everyone had a happy Easter, or Passover, depending on which you celebrate. I know I enjoyed mine. I got to spend some time with my mother, which is always a good thing because I don't get to see her as much as I'd like.

Since I returned from school last summer, I've been doing things a bit differently. For the past 4 years I've gone to mass by myself during the Holy Week. This year I did it with my family. Better to do things with your family. Today was cool.

Shazam is an awesome app. It never ceases to amaze me. Totally thought it wouldn't be able to pick up this one song in the restaurant and it did. Stoked that it got the song. I'm getting the internet on my phone just for this. Why don't I have the internet already? I'm on computers and the internet enough, but I'm reconsidering.

I subscribed to the Financial Times. My first issue came in yesterday. Loving the "How to Spend It" guide, even though I don't have "it" yet. One day I suppose.

New computer is performing well with ableton. Also upgraded to Ableton Suite 8. Not bad so far. Liking the new features.

GSP fought last Saturday. Of course he won. Props to Dan Hardy for going all rounds. I like both of those guys. UFC: Invincible is this Saturday. BJ and Anderson are both fighting. That is one of the best cards the UFC has ever put on. EVER. If Vitor were fighting, there's a good chance I would have some how flown to Abu Dahbi to see that card. Can't wait.

Beat Modern Warfare 2. That game was good. I expected a lot out of that game and it delivered. Infinity Ward, hats off to you all. It was a quality product: good story line and characters. Oh, and the gameplay was solid too... and I haven't even played online yet. Great franchise.

That's all for now.

P.S. I missed the Ten Commandments this year...DOOHH!! Charlton Heston is the truth in that.

Letterman - Johnny Depp Doesn't Watch His Movies

I like this guy... and a lot more after I saw this.

System F - Out Of The Blue 2010 Tiësto Remix [HQ]

A legend remixing another legend's work. Just imagine these two together on the same track. gouryella ring any bells? I have no words to describe how incredible this is.

Enrique Iglesias- Escapar

produced by: fernando garibay. this man is another genius. he's mexican, which makes him that much more awesome. He's worked with a lot of big names. check out one of his latest productions "Dance in the Dark" performed by lady gaga. genius.

the track on his website is sick. i want to be this dude. or redone. they are both out of this world.

www.fernandogaribay.com

Lady Gaga - Monster

RedOne is a fucking genius. the man produces hit after hit. it's really discouraging when you hear such good music and you try to make something as good, then it just sounds like shit. This man is seriously insane. He answered my tweet, which was actually encouraging because my music doesn't sound like this. It was really motivating. it meant a lot. Here it is:

Yeeeaaaars RT @erik_m: @redone_official How long did it take until your work started to sound "good"?


all i have is time

BT Feat. Christian Burns - Suddenly (Ferry Corsten Remix)

listen at about 5:25. the drop there is insane GOOD GOSH. that's just genius. BT is amazing. so is Ferry. I wish I could produce music like that someday. they are out of this world.

DJ AM a few years back live

A girl last night talked about AM's style and how he used to switch songs quickly. this is the type of dj-ing that started it all.

Now that I look at it, he uses one of these mixes in the "string routine" he would go on to create years later.

Cypress Hill- Armada Latina (Ft. Marc Anthony, Pitbull)

this track is dope

meeting people in the club

names totally go over my head. I need to pay more attention to the hands i'm shaking. i bet i seem pretty bored. likely because i am.

though there was this one girl i remembered from the end of the night. her name was brooke. nice to meet you brooke!

Set Adrift On Memory Bliss - PM Dawn (HQ Audio)

heard this track on the radio today. gotta love 93.5 KDAY. spandau ballet sample. ILL

tittsworth put out a cool dance remix of this.

dope music

I wanted her to be a big pm dawn fan

spring time

the time changed today. i wait all year for this. can't stand the extended nights, which you probably wouldn't suspect if you saw my skin tone. Maybe i'll actually take advantage of the sunshine and go tanning. maybe so maybe no.

this time last year i was in mexico partying it up for spring break (ACAPULCOOO!!). this year i'm working. maybe i should have gone on vacation while my brother and some friends are there. Vice was at Palladium, an insane venue. The view is spectacular and it feels like you're peeing into the ocean. Those of you that have been there know what i'm talking about. Now i'm stuck here with the cat. All good though. maybe i can catch up on some work now that it's quiet.

Lots of new venues opened up this month. Would like to see them since i'm pretty much tired of every club. Clubbing seems like work now, strange right? Maybe it's the venues i dislike, maybe the music, maybe the people. Dj's that play mash-ups sure as hell don't help either. If you still play mash-ups you fail at the craft and should quit now.

Looking forward to HBO's The Pacific. premiers tonight.

this has been another random update. more to follow i'm sure due to boredom.

my video card died

which means i have to replace it, then buy a whole new computer. As long as I get my work off of it safely, it's all good. For now, i'm kind of computer-less. sweet

Drop the World

Lil Wayne - Drop The World (feat. Eminem) from Vimeo.

i think i'm worn out?

typically, i like to go do something on the weekends. anything. as most know, the work week is long and boring, and I want it to end as quickly as it starts.

For the past few weeks I've been fighting off a cough/cold/whatever the hell it is. I'm pretty sure I got sick since I wasn't getting enough rest. Well, I still have a little bit of a cough. So, on Friday night I took come cough medicine. I was already spent since I put in another 10hr day. I got back from work, chowed down on some vegetarian eats, then took some sizzzurp. Since I'm such a lightweight, I started to nod out at about 6:45. I just said f-ck it and went to bed at 7pm that night. I woke up at 2am, said f-ck it and went back to sleep. Woke up at 7am pretty refreshed and feeling better.

I told my friend about my extreme Friday night, and he said one thing, "You're worn out." He's probably right. I need a vacation. Or, I could just leave. Need to consider my options here.

Happy new year

I laid low for new year's eve. I was tired because I had to work in the morning and wasn't up for going out. My brother was in San Francisco dj-ing. There were no good dj's in town anyway. Deckstar was out of town as was SKAM.

At this point, i've become so jaded with the club scene that, unless I'm going to hear my brother or i'm at a huge event (i.e. 50 at Pure or Gaga at FountainBleau at Liv in Miami), I don't even want to bother going out. Maybe I'm just super scenester now. Doesn't help that the past 4 NYE i was at a club.

So Pase and I stayed home and chilled. We ended up going to Denny's and using our free Grand Slam coupons. I love denny's and hope to get sponsored by them one day. Why they would do that, I don't know. We've all maid a vow to stay away from the Denny's in Westwood because the service is such shit and the manager blow. So it took a lot of convincing on Louis' part to get me to go. We went and ate our fill. No problems, though the manager still tried to get us to pay.

All-in-all, a very chill new year's eve. The "blue moon" was a nice touch.

Here's to a successful 2010.

ayoooo