Voiceless Singer-Wannabes

I am no singer (and you must thank me for this).

I can't play musical instrument. Not one.

Yet, I love music, particularly the one referred to as "alternative music".


What the F is "alternative"? Who gave the term alternative anyway? Alternative music is the critics way of saying the new sounds are "unfit" to their established categories - rock, pop, country, jazz, keroncong (really?), classic (read: really really old and depressing stuff - sorry guys - I don't have to get myself used to this genre to be acknowledged as an intelligent person), folk, blues, rap, etc.

See? they even give constant foul mouthed complaints a specific category!

And they refer DMB, Pearl Jam, Peter Bjorn and John, The Decemberists and The Killers (I could go on and on here people) as "alternative"? To what? Music? That's pretty insulting guys!

The New Pornographers

Changchutters

This "new" category showed the critics incapability of finding new categories for these new found sounds (identified since early 90s) by these new talented singers and bands refuse to be dictated by the establishment. Music critics is a bunch of narrow-minded-self-declared-ancient-people (who by the way are not musicians, can't sing and can't play - just llike you and me) that make a living out of critisizing singers and bands (hello?!! Did you guys not see the irony here?).

Does that make me a musician or a singer? Thank GOD no, if yes, you'd have to buy my CD along with a set of ear plug or insurance for wanting to kill yourself while hearing me sing.

Same goes for the critics: you voiceless singer-wannabes!

Believing is Seeing BEFORE The Presidential Election

Seeing is Believing or Believing is Seeing?

For modern people, seeing IS believing. They don't like to rely too much in "believing" without having to see first, including Indonesian. Ratio and logic create the post modern Indonesian, neglecting our signature "supernatural" thinking (GOD, the after life, doomsday, destiny, fate, etc).

Let me put it in a simple way. We have 3 presidential candidates. Mr. Lanjutkan, Mr. LCLB and That Other Lady Who Likes to Whine - Mrs. TOLWLW (below).

How do you describe each candidate (visually)?

Mmmm...let's "see".....

From left to right:

• Mr. SBY: Our current president. Physically large man. I can "see" that he's got a certain physical feature that makes me think of him as ill tempered (hmmm...I wonder why). Known as Mr. Lanjutkan (again, I wonder why).
• Mr. JK: our current vice president. Not as large and intimidating as his current partner, Mr. SBY. Looks like an older version of Charlie Chaplin. Currently famous as Mr. LCLB (the sooner the better -for what exactly?)
• Mrs. TOLWLW: our former president. Really? Physically she looks like an ordinary housewife. She's now going for another chance on the Istana Negara. Again? Really?

Stop right here about the visual descriptions.

Did I just say visual? Well... never-mind then.

See that my feelings and perception of these 3 candidates interfere with the so-called physical description. I describe (incidentally) in both physical and non-physical terms.

Have I seen them in person? Actually none. So... what makes me describe their non-physical virtue? My knowledge on what I see, hear and think of them based on their visual appearances on the media.

Seeing is believing.

So because they are unsighted, they don't or can't afford to believe.

This is just too disturbing a statement. I can't even go on, so let's just stop here on the unsighted.

In the end... whomever you vote for, you don't rely on visual description. Well... not 100%. You rely on your sense (and ratio). Again - debatable - as ratio tend to linked with "what's in it for me". Since only certain basis point of the citizen are likely to gain direct benefit from the winner, I'd have to assume that we vote sincerely hoping for a better Indonesia not only based on what we see but on what we believe we see.

Do I see him (sorry Mrs. TOLWLW) as a better candidate compared to the other? Not exactly.

I believe he can bring us closer to a better Indonesia.

Big Whiskey and The GrooGrux King

I've been listening for the first single (Funny The Way It Is) of the new Dave Matthews Band album (post title) since March this year (the band generously let their fans download the song in their official website). All I can say is: this song made me very much looking forward to the real deal.

The cover is designed by Dave himself and picturing the late LeRoi Moore (DMB saxophonist who passed away last year in an accident). Roi's death was actually in the middle of this album recording process. GrooGrux King is his nick name and the album art explain Roi and the band well.

This is their first studio album since 2005 and if you're a die hard fans like me and hoping for Dave's acoustic, don't get your hope high as he's shifting (at least for this album) to more electric. But somehow his move makes perfect sense without leaving his signature guitar play and quirky and brilliant lyricism.

(Listening to this album while writing this post) I'm catching similarities with 1998's Before These Crowded Streets.

DMB wind up returning to their roots and reviving the loose-limbed jams, a sound they've largely abandoned. Now, everything seem to be falling into places, their signature clean and elastic solos are back - on record. Since this is the band that is widely recognized for their outstanding and exhaustive live performances (which is better than their studio versions).

You can expect to find epic song ala "dont drink the water" (Squirm - the ref is perfection!), implicit messages that all love (Laying in the Hands of God) and loss (Why I Am) can be felt and shared through music. I can feel the band's loss of a very dear friend. Music creation itself is the reason they're here - and it's not just an album tribute to LeRoi Moore, it's a reason for the band to keep moving on. This album is the perfect interpretation of the new millennium DMB and I'm loving it to the core.

Verdict:

Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King is by far DMB's richest, most powerful and quite possibly best album.