As an actress said to a bishop...

D'Accord (My new favourite French word)!

This here represents 500 posts in This Old Shack, at least 350(+) of which are "quizez" or repostings of other non-original material. I have noticed that there are a lot of websites and semi-professional production companies which play with the whole "Not Really Trying" vibe, which I can assure you is entirely fun and understandable, as it allows you to look like you weren't even hinting at your true potential when you do accomplish something remarkable, and slough responsibility when you post.... say roughly 350(+) posts of "quizez" and repostings of other non-original material.

Jenny recently asked if I had any New Year's resolutions. I didn't particularly, as I never tend to keep the arbitrary ones I make anyhow. In the last 9 years I have not gotten a tan, worked out regularly, or stopped eating junk food. Probably won't happen by making a promise to myself in early January. It still amuses me that gym memberships skyrocket in January and February and then fall off drastically in March. I simply do not have the will power required to do such a thing, especially in this kind of wavy-gravy, unstructured lifestyle I've had over the last many many years. Don't get me wrong, I certainly admire the people who do manage to live truly healthy lifestyles. Those people have more discipline than I do, and I'm prepared to accept that. I have, in fact! Woot.

But, let me show you something. It is a music video for the song "Samson" from the album Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor (though she looks more like Tori Amos than I've ever seen). It's only about 3 1/2 minutes and very striking so I urge you not to skip it.



I have been experimenting with short stop-motion films lately. It's fun and a cheap way to spend an evening. More than that though; it's rewarding. I'm just fiddling about with tiny felt owls and multi-coloured Sharpies, but I like to think of it as art. The above video is WAY beyond my scope at the moment, but I feel like if I can create anything that is even a quarter of how gorgeous that is then I'll really have something.

All this is leading to a decision I've made. I suppose it doesn't quite fall into the category of a New Year's resolution, because I didn't make it with New Year's in mind, but it IS that time of year.

I am through with this "Not Really Trying" vibe. It's true that sometimes I don't plan on coming up with something "good," but I think I have come up with at least a few "good" things, and I think I need to start taking credit for them instead of dismissing them with a cavalier attitude. Again, you can't always plan for something good, but most of the time coming up with something good takes a lot of hard work and that's worth acknowledging, if only to myself.

I have been saying for years now that I would like to be a writer, and then (sometimes actively) not writing. In a way this is because I have been afraid to put my own stuff out there. My mindset was that the captial "C" Canon was the only thing that could be considered capital "G" Good. And it's hard to have someone else read your words and offer their honest opinion, especially if it's someone you don't know and you feel will be judging you (which I felt about everybody).

But I'm writing something. It's a play. I'm really very happy with how it's turning out. I think this is something "good."

And of course I more than likely should have gotten to this point before now (I'm nearly 25), but the point is that I'm here now. And I feel good about that.

"Stop typing 'teh'" would be a good New Year's resolution.

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So all that being said, this forum probably won't change too much. This old shack has always been a hide-away for bric-a-brac and a place I can come to make me feel warm and fuzzy. So because quizez are fun, they will continue. But the above video brings to mind something which desperately needs updating, if only to include the phenominal artist above.
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Modern Goddesses of Rock & Roll.

It's been 15 months since this list was last updated. Shame shame on me.

Original List (October 2005)

Sharin Foo of the Raveonettes

Bjork

Tori Amos

Regine Chassange of Arcade Fire

Amy Millan of Stars/Broken Social Scene

Meg White of the White Stripes

Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Fiona Apple

Tegan & Sara

Zia McCabe of the Dandy Warhols

Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth

D'Arcy Wretsky of Smashing Pumpkins

Updates as of Sept 2006

Leslie Feist (Solo/Member of Broken Social Scene)

Emily Haines of Metric/Broken Social Scene

Amanda Palmer of Dresden Dolls

Sarah Beam of Iron & Wine

Serena Pruyn of Oliver Black

Becky Ninkovic of You Say Party! We Say Die!

Krista Loewen of You Say Party! We Say Die!

Here are the changes. I am actually going to take Serena Pruyn off. She has the opportunity to regain her place on the list if her g.d. band would only put out their album which they've been promising for 2 years now. Because that is just getting to be a piss off.

Newest Additions: December 2007

Regina Spektor


It has been a long time since any artist has made me melt so many times with their lyrics and vocal performance.

Abby & Amanda of The Ditty Bops


How have they not been on this list since the beginning? Already undeniably cute, they really care about the environment. Possibly the best couple in music today.

Chan Marshall (Cat Power)


Again, what have I been doing that she is not on this list yet? Haunting vocals over simple, yet unique accompaniment. It's amazing to hear her voice progress over the course of her albums

Jenny Lewis (solo/Rilo Kiley)


Admittedly I enjoy her solo work more than her work with Rilo Kiley, but in either setting she can really do a number on you.

Joanna Newsom


I have given myself a huge slap on the wrist for not acknowledging this immense talent. If this was listed in some order which ranked value (which it's not) Joanna Newsom would be if not at, then near the top. She is like Shakespeare with a harp.

Victoria Bergsman (aka Taken by Trees)


A delicate sound and a very distinct voice. She may not want to be, but she's truly classic.

Gwen-O, RiotBecki & Rosay of The Pipettes


These girls are every bit as fun, sassy, and GOOD as they claim they are.

Many of these have been inexcusable omissions! Dammit Andrew! Pull it together!

Honorable mentions go to the girl from Blonde Redhead and the girl who tours with The Decemberists.
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While we're on the subject of girls/women who play music, that is a huge turn-on, and I think you'll be hard pressed to find a man who doesn't agree. Therefore, in the spirit of "Why not?" I present my "List." You know, from Friends where you get to have a list of 5 celebrities you can sleep with and not have any consequences? This list in entirely in flux (except for the top position) and will probably change before tomorrow. It's also just for fun.

1. Meg White
2. Audrey Tautou
3. Scarlett Johansson
4. Kiera Knightley
5. Pam & Karen from "The Office"

I know the #5 slot has two people in it, but an outside source has confirmed that this is not a problem. The rules however make it very clear that it is not ok to sleep with only one of them. They must both be present. As you can see, this list is entirely imaginary.

Who's on YOUR list?
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Speaking of The Office, that is an amazing show! I first acquainted myself with the British version and then transferred over to the American. Both have their merits. I have been trying to avoid getting into a debate over which is "better" for a long time now. So far this has been a success.

This is my philosophy on the shows: The British version (despite being what is essentially a sit-com) is like a piece of art. It's original in it's simplicity and ingenius in it's delivery. The American version is an amazing adaptation, neither better nor worse. It takes the storyline much further than the British version (which unfortunately only ran for 2 seasons) and develops the characters further. You can have a relationship with the American version. The British version gives you much more of an atmosphere.

It has been years since I've been this sucked in to a tv show. Years.




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I actually don't know what else there is to say right now.

And this is what happens when you can't sleep and none of your friends are online.

Ha ha ha

Boxing Day Mixtape

1. Lost and Found - Taken by Trees
2. This Side of the Blue - Joanna Newsom
3. Leslie Anne Levine - The Decemberists
4. 23 - Blonde Redhead
5. Smoke Detector - Rilo Kiley
6. Life on Mars? - Seu Jorge
7. Rose Rouge - St. Germain
8. What We Had - Handsome Furs
9. Williw Deadwilder - Cat Power
10. ABC - The Pipettes
11. Ballad of a Thin Man - Bob Dylan
12. The Con - Tegan & Sara
13. Time of My Life - The Watson Twins

A Diabetic Christmas Carol

There is something that Sam Burns and I have in common; We're both creative geniuses. As proof, I offer you this instance of our late night/early morning brainstorming:

Andrew says:
Bah!

Andrew says:
Humbug!

Sam is so chilly. says:
hehehe

Sam is so chilly. says:
humbug always makes me thinks of little butterscotch candies

Andrew says:
Me too! I wonder what Scrooge was really talking about?

Sam is so chilly. says:
bah, butterscotch candies!

Sam is so chilly. says:
it just doesn't have the same effect.

Andrew says:
Perhaps he just really liked humbugs, and he was calling for one every time he got upset.

Sam is so chilly. says:
it's possible!

Sam is so chilly. says:
maybe all he needed was some sugar

Sam is so chilly. says:
or maybe he was diabetic, and he couldn't have sugar, and that's why he was so cranky

So clearly our next step was to create the film project "A Diabetic Christmas Carol." As Sam put it, "It's like Charles Dickens meets Willy Wonka!" We figure the story will be basicaly the same, but instead of hoarding money he hoards Hershey bars. And instead of dreaming the ghosts, Scrooge goes into diabetic shock. And when he wakes up he tells the newspaper boy to "run to the drug store and buy the biggest Insulin shot you can carry!"

So here is our genius casting:

Ebenezer Scrooge...Tom Hanks


We figure he can bring the same compassion and understanding to Diabetes as he did to AIDS in Philidelphia.

Tiny Tim...Dakota Fanning


Really, who else?

The Ghost of Christmas Future...Snoop Dogg


It's pretty self-evident that this man is terrifying.

Jacob Marley...Tom Waits


We'll figure out the rest later (ie/ when it's not very late for Sam and very early for me).

Or did you just want to fork over your $8 now?

It's that time of year again...

List time!

Though I've been feeling for a long time that the year in fact switches over in September. That seems to be the month that most significant changes occur, usually in the form of going back to school, seeing friends again/making new friends, learning, working, etc. This September (for me) saw a new Niece and a residency in a foreign country. Woot!

I'm sure this wil be less of a list and more of a collection of randomly ordered thoughts, as per the rest of this god forsaken and poorly maintained web-sight. With that preamble (which I seem to tack onto the beginning of every long post I make) out of the way, here are a few of the things I've enjoyed from the last year.

1. Regina Spektor

I'm pretty sure many of y'all have already heard of her, but it wasn't until a fateful meeting with a South African who generously shared her entire music collection with me that I discovered this fabulous Russian-born, American-raised songstress. She is avant-garde, a true original, constantly breaking out of her own musical style. Regina Spektor employs a quirky vocal style, mixing elements of beat-boxing, ululations, rapping, and varied rhyme-and-meter combinations to her impressive/expressive voice which is consistantly fresh and surprising. The only thing to expect is the unexpected.

I have only really absorbed one album (Maryann Meets the Gravediggers and Other Short Stories by Regina Spektor but it is enough to satiate my hunger for new and innovative music. At least for this year.

This is "Us" from the aforementioned album. It is not necessarily the most innovative song on the album (which explains why it is the single), but it is still quirky, intelligent, and full of beauty. Enjoy.


I love how she says "Have fun" in the first verse.

Also, if it ever comes to it, I would be willing to direct the video for "Chemo Limo."

2.Radiohead

I feel like I should mention Radiohead's In Rainbows, because... well, it's kind of the story of the year, isn't it? Just about everything's been said about it, both good and bad, and I'll admit that the way they released the album was exciting. I haven't ever been the hugest Radiohead fan (see this man for that expertise, though I should note that his In Rainbows review is still yet pending. Get on that!) and I am a little wary of anything that has this much hype behind it. I was worried that Radiohead had jumped the shark when they kept announcing that the album was thiiiiisssssss close to being nearly done and then that it would not be released for another year. How far could they stretch the goodwill of their fans (especially seeing as the last album they put out was a mixed result)? But then they said "Hey you can have it for FREE (if you want) in 10 days!" and that was really exciting! I paid 3 pounds for it, which I regard as fair, but not generous.

The album itself is pretty good. In fact I think I'll put it on now. Ahhh, there we go. It's the kind of album you can lose yourself in, which is absolutely brilliant. I love that about this album. It can sneak up on you. I was walking through a park when "Reckoner" started playing, and I thought "Wow, I really like this." I don't have a lot of spontaneous thoughts of that nature, so when I do it's a treat. It's odd how every song sounds identifiable to the album, especially seeing as many of these tracks have been around for a number of years.

I will also point out that there is a moment in one song (I think it's "House of Cards") where the band sounds positively U2-ish, and that distresses me. It's during a Thom Yorke "Hoooo-OOooooooo" moment. Check it out.

One other thing: They lose me during "Nude." I've read a lot about how this is a rare, melodic turn for les Tetes-de-Radio and I want to enjoy it, but I just sort of tune out as soon as this song starts. I don't know what it is. Maybe because the first two songs are so huge and energetic that this slower mood is less engaging. Could be.

3. Jillian Rose Knoyle

I have a freaking niece now! I am Uncle Andrew! She is such a little doll that I barely know what to say about her! She was born on September 24th, 2007 at 8:19am after my sister Jessica had been in labour for 37 hours. What a champ! My flight to France was on September 26th, so on the 25th I took a flying trip up to Ottawa to met my one day-old niece. She was sleepy and adorable and I held her for as long as was reasonable. All told the time we spent with her was about an hour. Then we drove back home and I flew to Paris.

Then, at the beginning December my brother got married (see below) so I flew home again. My sister & brother-in-law were coming to Peterborough with Jillian, so my excitement mounted. I was completely nervous that the first time I saw her she woud weep and bawl and cause a huge fuss, as has been the case with other babies I've held (sigh), and I would end up passing her back to her parents who would be better qualified to handle her. This however was not the case. They brought her into the kitchen and said "Here's your Uncle Andrew!" and I said "Hello!" and she gave me the biggest smile a baby can give. I will be forever grateful for that smile. It would be the first of many, and there were points where, had she been laughing yet, she would have been howling.

As my grandfather (or as he's known to Jillian, "Great-Paw") says "I love that little girl." She has been a real blessing on my whole family and Jess & Jon are such wonderful parents. It really gives you hope about the general state of things when you see something as heart-warming as that.

A few proud-Uncle pictures:







And believe me, there are many more.

4. Ian's Wedding

My twin brother got married on December 8th, 2007 to Carly Pruysers in a beautiful ceremony in St. Catharine's. It was held at the Twenty Valley Golf Course and was just lovely in most every way. I could go on for hours about the details (the sprigs of evergreen in the seat covers, the subtle Christmastime motifs) or the beautiful prominent touchs (the Memory tree, the dresses & tuxes, the flowers) but I don't know that I could do it justice.

Here are a few pictures:








It was just beautiful.

5. Grrrrr moment

One of the biggest "Grrrrr" moments of the year came thus: I made a little video of ultrasound pictures of Jillian (then Joey) with the sound of her heart beating and posted it on YouTube (sigh). One of the comments was this:

waste of my time.

This from a guy who's whole profile is naught but uploads of 10-minute segments of the Jerry Springer show. Stupid humanity.

But back to the positives!

6. Paris

I live in Paris now, and will continue to do so until the end of June. I needed this time away, mainly because I was having my quarter-life crisis. I had no idea what to do with my life, only that I needed more money, more space to breathe, less pressure. Paris has provided me with all of those things (except the money), and I am able to spend my time figuring out me and what I want to do. I'm being creative, which is great. And when I get back to Canada I have nothing but opportunity ahead of me. That is a good feeling.

7. Photography

I had planned to do a "Best of 2007" photo montage, in which I posted the 12 favourite pictures I had taken over the year, but sadly many of those months are residing in my closet in Peterborough, ON. CANADA. Dang. Here are my top 3: October, November and December.