Thought life was conceited, that people were pretentious.

This person is to refer to Greek life and philosophy.  He lived according to his beliefs as others did too.

Diogenes was concerned about how we arrive at virtuous.

• The best activity of the soul is eudaimonia; a concept that is more than the fleeting emotions of joy and happiness but more a 'good life'
• To achieve the good life, one must live a balanced life and avoid excess.  This balance is a 'golden mean' between two vices - one an excess and the other a deficiency.

Virtue Theory

Virtue has to do with the proper function of a thing.

An eye is only a good eye in so much as it can see, because the proper function of an eye is sight.

What are three ways in which eudaimonia differs from the modern concept of happiness?

• It is not considered joy or pleasure
• It is not something we can go and seek but arises out of what we do
• It is not one component but a way of living.

How is eudaimonia connected to ergon?  Who will need to explain what ergon is.

Ergon is to be good and good is to function fulfillingly.  They differ in that we can function well to gain a sense of eudaimonia.

Greek Info

Greek word for function: you need to fulfil your fuction well.
ergon

This Greek term for happiness also means flourishing
Eudaimonia

Aristotle says we need to take a middle way.  Too little will be a deficiency.

Diogenes lived in one of these.
Tub

Teacher of Plato
Socrates

Great student of Aristotle
Alexander the Great, an ancient Greek King

The most famous of Platos works - The Republic

Aristotle's teacher
Plato

Aristotle says we need to take a middle way.  If we get it just right we will achieve the 'golden mean.'

Diogenes and Aristotle sought this moral way of living - Diogenes found it through action.
Virtue

Word which comes from the Greek for Dog and means unaccepting of social norms - used to refer to Diogenes.
Cynic

the above photo is of gamin, my feline roommate. as mentioned in a previous post, he recently had an abscessed wound from fighting. the details that i neglected to mention are that he had to have a drain put into the abscess, a bunch of stitches, a course of antibiotics, and was house-bound for over a week.

to provide context: gamin is a very independent cat. under normal circumstances, i would see him maybe twice a day, during which time he would make incessant and horrid scratchy yowling sounds as a demand for food. sometimes, he might nap for a few hours on the couch. on rare occasions, he might demand to be cuddled, by forcing all twenty-five pounds of himself onto one's lap and biting at hands/feet/other convenient body parts until he is stroked. unfortunately, the petting quickly overwhelms him, and he then lashes out with claws and/or more biting. he draws blood, then runs away. frankly, it can be a difficult relationship to negotiate.

also: he doesn't use a litter box.

so. to suddenly have this cat wounded, drugged, and indoors was... interesting. he was very cuddly, and unusually quiet, and fairly pleasant. if i didn't have so much respect for his dignity, i would have photographed him: between the plastic cone around his neck and the shaved portion of his backside, he looked very silly. the entire experience was highlighted by my own sudden illness, because it meant that both of us were bedridden. unfortunately, every time i got out of bed, i had to clean up his diarrhea from the floor.

luckily, he has healed up well.  also, i came up with a new way for him to access the little window in the bedroom, so that he can come and go on his own.  it involves a carpet-covered ramp and shelf, and now he spends a great deal of time just sitting up there, looking down on the world.

enter the other animal:  b has gone away for the weekend, and i'm taking care of dawson.  those of you who know me in real life will know how much i've missed this dog since the breakup... losing him has been one of the easiest things to mourn from mine and b's relationship.  so, i am glad to have him for these couple of days.

however!  wouldn't you know it, that he's sick?  i came home from work mid-afternoon yesterday to diarrhea all over the living room.  awesome, just awesome.  then he moved on in to vomiting, but luckily that occurred outdoors.  now it's saturday and i'm supposed to be volunteering at the annual "shop the wild" event out @ royal roads, but he woke me a few times in the night to go outside and i don't want to leave him alone at home.

i have to say:  i am grateful for this apartment if only because it is all laminate flooring.  my last place was mostly wall-to-wall carpet, and it was wretched to clean.

thing aren't all bad, though.  i have schoolwork and house projects to do, so am content at home.  also, dawson still has a bit of energy and we've gone for a couple nice walks.  last night i took him through the ecological restoration part of the park across the road, and i was reminded of the feeling of safety that comes with the company of a large dog.  that portion of the park has no lighting, and even though i like to think that i go anywhere i want, i hadn't walked through there at night since dawson left my daily life.  it was good.  i felt invincible.

following the waterside path, we went under the bridge to come back on the home side of tillicum, and passed a group of teenage boys who were loitering and arguing loudly.  they stopped when they saw us coming, and one of them said, "nice dog"... to which i replied, "thanks."  if i'd been alone, or even with another human, i don't know if i'd have felt so comfortable at a moment like that.  but with the dog...  at first glance, he comes across as simply big;  it takes a while for most folks to notice his limp, and of course it isn't obvious when he has some sort of gastro upset.

i don't really know for certain that dawson'd be much use if i was in real danger, but he's intimidating none the less, and i like that.  if i were in a better headspace, i'd probably be getting my own canine companion right now... we'll see.  maybe in a few more months.  maybe when i get into grad school.  maybe when i've forgotten about all the animal shit i've been cleaning up these past couple weeks.

Leary’s philosophy was centered on the opening of human consciousness and spirituality based on the transformative powers of LSD. He told his followers to detach themselves from the conventional hierarchies of modern society and to become aware of their internal consciousness in an effort to reach a state of harmony with the world around them. This worldview would be all well and good if it weren’t dependent on the use of a mind-altering substance, but I’m not about to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
[caption id="attachment_157" align="alignright" width="264" caption="This wasn't exactly what I had in mind."][/caption]
It is my growing belief that the only way to survive life in 21st century America is to follow a drugless, amended version of Leary’s mantra. We must be turned on in the sense that we need to reverse the perverse anti-intellectualism that has invaded modern American culture. The idea that people in this country find Sarah Palin appealing because she’s just so gosh-darn down-to-earth, folksy and “just like us” is disgusting. The fact that we have a vice-presidential candidate who can’t name a single Supreme Court decision besides Roe V. Wade should make us collectively gag as a nation.

However, this problem is not just contained to Governor Palin, but is endemic in politics as evidenced by the nauseating display of false middle-class identity that has become a staple of our election process. If I have to hear one more politician wax nostalgic about the rough and tumble small town that they grew up in I may have an aneurysm. But, to blame these actions solely on the heads of politicians would be to ignore our tacit encouragement of their behavior. The only reason a politician does anything is to get elected and every Washington strategist is convinced that this simplistic pandering is an effective strategy. Until we become an informed and learned nation that can call politicians out on their unscrupulous use of class as a political tool, then they will continue to do it.

Now, once you’ve begun the process of turning on, then you need to start tuning in. What tuning in consists of is a thorough analysis of everything that goes on around you and of everything that you are told. Tuning in is the practice of the skeptic and the cynic and it is necessary for sanity in 21st century America. If Barack Obama says he plans to do this, that, and the other in his first term, you take it with a grain of salt and try to determine whether or not it’s actually feasible. A perfect example of where tuning in is essential is when you’re watching The State of the Union. If President Bush asks congress to work on reducing gasoline usage in the United States by 20% in the next ten years, but won’t be in office for nine of those years, then you shouldn’t put too much stock in the plan. Tune in and siphon out the bullshit.

Finally, we come to the act of dropping out. This is the point of the program where I become nice and morose. If you want to survive in this nation you need to drop any emotional investment you have in politics or government. To paraphrase Woody Allen, politicians are notch below child molesters on the ethical food chain. These people will always disappoint you. They will always promise you things they can never give and withhold the things they can unless it will benefit them in some way. I was born into a world that has created in me cynicism and a healthy mistrust. Hope died in the 1960’s only to be resurrected in 2007 as a hollow campaign slogan and Democrats today are more conservative than Nixon was four decades ago. In order to make it from one day to the next you must drop out and view U.S. government as some obscene, absurdist piece of performance art that has no effect on your life. If you actually internalize how hard you’re getting fucked by the people who supposedly represent you, then you will never even approach a stable life.

Turn on your intellect, tune in to the actual meaning of the political rhetoric being shoved down your gullet, and drop out of that group of people who hold onto the childlike assumption that governments have your best interest at heart.

this guy from math sat with me in computer studies too - it's good that i am getting to know more people from my class instead of persistently sitting alone as seems to be my usual style. solitude is good for the weekends when one just wants to sit alone and have a nice cup of tea, but what happens when you run out of things to say? should you keep at it, keep on trying to make a relationship work, one that has no natural potential? it's a miracle i got on with alex as much as i did given my great social ineptitude. perhaps he made up for it. i can foresee him making up for a lot of my shortcomings - that is why we are good together. or that is why i am good with him. i can't quite see myself making up for his shortcomings though. what shortcomings has he got? i can't even remember the list - that's how insignificant it is.

if i were to view myself through the lens of charlie i would say i am definitely sparkier, with more interesting things to say, more quirks and idiosyncrasies one could be fascinated with. fascinating, that's it. i can be a fascinating conversationalist if i had the right crowd. he however, is very grounded. grounded in morals, and is not afraid of reprimanding me wrt my moral laxity. i tread on thin ice, and i know it. i prefer to let things go, to be more liberal (which is not quite acceptable in my religion of moral absolutes) because i have not yet reached such moral convictions, in part due to my laziness in keeping up with quiet time. i can see perfectly well why i am not a good match for him because i am not spiritually on par - i would not contribute to his spiritual life in any way, and he would be the one guiding me along at all times, trying to reform me to become more Christ-like and less pagan. i would be no good for him.

that is why it is the wrong decision. unless i get my act together, there is no way getting together with anyone right now can be the right decision.

che triste.

Las fechas son las siguientes:

29 nov 2008 Kafe Antzokia (Bilbao)
30 nov 2008 Heineken Club (Madrid)
2 dic 2008  Razzmatazz (Barcelona)

Opeth - Porcelain Heart

Cynic - The Eagle Nature

]]> http://donmeredith.wordpress.com/?p=113 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:52:40 +0000 Don Meredith http://donmeredith.no.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/on-being-a-cynic/ Way back in the early 1970s the Social Credit government of Alberta created three wilderness areas after convening hearings on the subject across the province. What's wrong with that? They were cynical creations designed to put conservationists (including anglers and hunters) in their place for daring to challenge the government about its environmental policies. You see, the areas were very tiny pieces of high mountain areas in the Rockies that mostly protected rocks and snow--nothing like what had been asked by the conservationists and the public at large. In my October Alberta Outdoorsmen column, I discuss how my experience in that fight started my cynicism about governments and politicians, especially in Alberta. Through its arrogance, the government of the day dealt away a grand opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for future generations, not to mention the well being of our water supply and environment in general.

So, what's wrong with that?

www.donmeredith.ca

Para leer la review, haz clic aquí.

Why is he nice to everyone? Doesn't he know that life just hasn't been that kind the past few years, for someone as loving as him to come by by chance and for me not to fall in love with him? It just doesn't work that way, because I haven't met that many loving people.
Would that I had a heart of stone.

It all comes to nought anyway.

All around me are familiar faces
worn out places
worn out faces..

and i find it kinda funny,
i find it kinda sad,
the dreams in which i'm dying are the best i've ever had

Da non farsi scappare questo ascolto. La reunion degli storici Cynic. Qui sopra un pezzo del nuovo album, incantevole, sognante, potente ed intricata; Evolutionary Sleepers.

CYNIC
Traced in air

1. Nunc Fluens (2:56)
2. The Space For This (5:46)
3. Evolutionary Sleeper (3:35)
4. Integral Birth (3:53)
5. The Unknown Guest (4:13)
6. Adam's Murmur (3:29)
7. King Of Those Who Know (6:09)
8. Nunc Stans (4:13)

Total Time 32:54

Line-up/Musicians

- Paul Masvidal / Guitar and vocals
- Sean Reinert / Drums
- Sean Malone / Bass, Chapman Stick
- Tymon Kruidenier / Guitar and death growls

For more about me, visit the About page if you hadn't already realised that. All fan mail can be directed to generalcynicsms@gmail.com and hate mail can be sent to your grandmother. Chances are that she is near blind and cannot understand that you are calling her an uneducated twat. In fact, she's probably dead.

Antes de hablar del nuevo disco de Cynic "Traced in the air" quisiera copiar un extracto del post que hice hace un par de años sobre "Focus", para la fecha el unico disco de estudio de la banda.

Año 1993, Genero ¿Death Metal?, cómplices en el crimen: Paul Masvidal, Guitar, Vocals, Jason Gobel, Guitar, Sean Malone, Bass, Sean Reinert, Drums. ¿Qué tiene este disco de Mítico?, todo, primero es el único disco oficial de esta banda, la cual creo una nueva escuela en cuanto a sonido death metal se refiere, dándole un aire de frescura a un estilo musical que para el momento se hallaba desde cierto punto de vista estancado y preso de sus propia idiosincrasia.

Lo que hace mas grande a esta gente es su relación directa con otras grandes bandas puntales del genero, los integrantes de Cynic también fueron en su momento participes de Death (en el Disco Human), Pestilente, Atheist, Master y Monstrocity, la crema y nata del death metal de principios de los noventa. Esto definitivamente creó un sonido Cynic en la música dura de los noventa del que poco se ha hablado, pero que tácitamente se reconoce.

Focus es un disco que se puede definir como; el dia que el death metal conoció al Jazz, la mezcla casi imposible de pensar para la época, sonidos extremos con melodías cuasi progresivas le dan a este álbum un carácter único en todo el espectro musical, el uso de voces roboticas, sintetizadores, armonias semi clásicas convierten a este trabajo en una pieza mágica de musical metálica.

15 años tenían que pasar para que la magia se hiciera de nuevo y esta gente sacara al mercando su segundo disco de estudio, un trabajo denso, técnico, complejo, una visión de la música dura novedosa, la santísima trinidad de los disco de metal salidos en 2008 junto al "Watershed" de Opeth y al novísimo "Vertebrae" de Enslaved, clásicos automáticos.

¿Pero que es lo que hace a Cynic tan especial?

La fusión, la mezcla inesperada de géneros musicales, instrumentación y atmósferas, el ir de lo caótico a lo celestial en un minuto mostrandonos que estamos frente a un grupo de musicos excepcionales, pero que por sobre todas las cosas estamos frente a una banda de metal,esta es musica para escuchar con el cerebro, pero de vez en vez son sonidos para descargar con la cabeza.

La formación de Cynic para este "Traced" esta conformada por los originales Paul Masvidal en voces y guitarra, Sean Reinert en los tambores y teclados y Sean Malone en el bajo, ademas de los dos nuevos integrantes; Tymon en las voces y guitarras y Robin Zielhorst en el bajo para las presentaciones en vivo.

Con fecha de salida para el dia 27 de octubre de la mano de Mist Records este nuevo esfuerzo de la banda es el producto de mas de dos años de trabajo, donde ademas de componer los ocho tracks que aparecen en esta placa se ha llevado un trabajo de presentaciones en vivo arduo y comprometido, por lo menos para lo que queda de año Cynic no es una banda de estudio, estamos frente a un grupo con giras planificadas y una solida presencia en vivo, bien por ellos.

Sobre el sonido de la banda en este nuevo álbum se puede decir que "Traced in the air" es un paso adelante en lo que respecta a la esencia de "Focus", sonidos ambientales fundidos con agresivos riffs de guitarras apoyados en una percusión de pimera linea que se puede apreciar desde el "Nunc fluens" el primer corte del plastico, una especie de intro con ritmo marcial donde el uso del Vocoder o sintetizador de voz te sumerge de inmediato en la onda Cynic.

Suaves voces aderezadas con guitarras limpias te muestran el inicio de "The space for this", un tema que va de menos a mas, con una bateria que lleva el orden de las cosas de forma compleja y correcta, sobre un estribillo que mezcla voces casi angelicales con sucios tonos vocales generando ese ambiente "difícil" que puede tener para muchos el sonido de esta banda, extraordinario corte, definitivamente uno de los mejores de todo el trabajo.

"Evolutionary sleeper" ya lo habiamos escuchado hace unos meses, un tema intenso, hermoso, con unas voces fuera de serie donde lo variado de sus texturas le regalan una profundidad inmensa a este gran tema, eso sin dejar atras el trabajo con las guitarras que te llevan lejos del death metal mostrandote porque decimos que Cynic es una banda de rock progresivo ante cualquier otra etiqueta.

"Integral Birth" es una pieza de death metal tecnico con un trabajo de bateria muy interesante, debo decir que los tambores en este disco tienen mas peso que en "Focus" lo que le da un tono mas agresivo y ritmico a las canciones, si prestan atención se podran dar cuenta como en ciertas patrtes de esta pieza los solos de guitarra parecen adaptarse a los repiques y contratiempos que dicta el bateria, lo que les da una contundencia total, sin duda lo mas duro de este disco.

Riffs de guitarra vibrantes unidos a silencios intespectivos, coros violentos con sabor tribal, mezclados con voces que no parecen humanas eso es "The unknown guest" el quinto corte de "Traced" el cual da paso a "Adam´s murmur" un tema dominado por las voces que entran desde el primer segundo junto a la guitarra, para dar paso a una serie de texturas y ambientes suaves, tranquilos, que sirven de puentes perfectos a un ataque de doble bombos y guitarrazos salvajes, todo un collage musical esta pieza.

Una suave melodía apoyada en una voz femenina sirve de introducción perfecta a "King of those who know" el mas progresivo de los cortes de este disco, donde los ritmos cambian en cuestión de segundos, haciendo parecer que esto no es una banda de rock, sino mas bien una orquesta sinfonica, me encantaria escuchar  este tema en vivo, si estos panas logran reproducir en un concierto lo que mis oidos escuchan en este corte por mi parte tienen la gloria celestial asegurada, inmensos.

"Nunc Stans" es el nombre de la canción que cierra este gran trabajo, es sin duda el corte mas vocal de todo el track list la cual nos lleva a recordar a los grandes del rock progresivo por la forma en que es cantada y el gran ambiente que se genera con sus sonidos, bateria, sonidos de caja electronica, un teclado se escucha en el fondo solo para crear atmosferas, una guitarra suave que se llega a fundir con los demas instrumentos para crear sin dudas otro de los grandes momentos de este CD. No queda mas que lo escuchen y lo disfruten, eso si, comprenlo, vale la pena por donde lo vean, ¿Algo negativo?, muy corto, te quedas como con ganas de mas.

Cynic - Traced In Air

Description (from The Appartus):

Reunited progressive metallers CYNIC — whose 1993 album "Focus" is regarded as a landmark release in the field of technical/progressive metal — will release their new album, "Traced In Air" on October 28 via Season of Mist Records (one day earlier internationally). The CD contains eight songs, and the band worked once again with renowned artist Robert Venosa (who created the unmistakeable cover and visuals for "Focus") on the art for the new album, which can be viewed below.

Returning from the "Focus" era for the new eight-song, 35-minute effort are are founding members Paul Masvidal (guitars/clean vocals) and Sean Reinert (drums) along with Sean Malone (bass), and joining the band in the studio is newcomer Tymon Kruidenier (guitars/growls). The band recorded the effort at a California studio with producer Warren Riker (DOWN, SANTANA).

Commented Masvidal: We're thrilled to share the new CYNIC alien seedling with the world. I trust that this magical plant will be watered well and tended to. The roots are intact, now the branches get to soar high into the sky and provide shade for those of us stressed about current weather conditions. We've all been on this journey together. It's time we tell a new story. One of my favorite thinkers Ralph Waldo Emerson said: 'We live amid surfaces, and the true art is to skate well on them'. Well it's time, we let the dance begin!

Tracks:

01. Nunc Fluens
02. The Space For This
03. Evolutionary Sleeper
04. Integral Birth
05. The Unknown Guest
06. Adam's Murmur
07. King of those Who Know
08. Nunc Stans

Buy It Here

Depuis la mise en stand-by des Cypress Hill

L’état de guerre est annoncé dès la première phrase, avec des trompettes médiévales pour tenir l’attention des auditeurs. Planet Asia démarre alors « Sleeper Cell » dans ce décor sombre et froidement lugubre qu’a conçu Muggs, égal à lui-même à la production. « Pain Language » débarque direct après sur un beat aux influences RZAesque, pour ne pas dire typique du Wu. Drôle de coïncidence, Planet possède un timbre de voix proche de GZA, la différence vient du flow et du style d’écriture. Après l’interlude instrumental « Smoke » et sa guitare rock bien bluesy, le MC ainsi que B-Real crachent une balle de « 9mm » en plein dans le mille. Le coup de batterie maintient l’intensité du morceau pendant que survole des spectres de voix et la guitare électrique qui se fait déchirante. Sans perdre de souffle, « That’s What It Is » prouve que lorsque Planet Asia possède une prod monumentale, il sait se lâcher impitoyablement. Jusqu’à ce que « Black Mask Men » calme le jeu par une infusion de jazz, avec un refrain écrit différemment après chaque couplet, pour casser un peu le côté statique de hooks parfois trop répétitifs. Et c’est reparti pour une scène de dextérité verbale avec B-Real sur « Lions in the Forest », où il est question de croiser le fer dessus un instru cuivré dans l’esprit très thèmes de séries télévisées des sixties. 

Une outro de fin de track plus loin, un orage gronde. Passage à une autre scène, pluvieuse, où des notes de piano angoissantes annoncent un morceau sinistre, « Death Frees Every Soul » avec Sick Jacken. Ambiance pesante d’enterrement. La cloche sonne, « Hail to the King » revient dans cet esprit moyenâgeux et très lourd, qui ne laisse aucune lueur d’espoir s’infiltrer dans les ondes sonores. « Black Angels » (feat Killah Priest, Cynic et Scratch) s’inscrit plus dans le schéma classique de DJ Muggs, avec un sample répété, des mélopées stridentes en fond et des piano changeants. « Language » reprend plusieurs parties de discours enregistrés en qualité radio (ou vieux poste télé), ce qui renforce encore plus le concept mystérieux de Pain Language, car le langage est quelque chose d’ « extrêmement complexe ». « Drama » est sans doute le plus beau morceau de l’album. Le sample de violon est sublissime (néologisme), le refrain est tout aussi magique, et Asia pose le flow qu’il faut pour caser ses tristes paroles. Les lames sortent à nouveau des fourreaux, Tri State et Prodigal Sunn jouent aux « Deadly Blades » avec notre héros, sans merci. Terrifiant. « Hashashins » (feat Turban & Chace Infinite) paraît pittoresque au milieu de cette bataille chevaleresque aux accents Shaolin. Track rappée la plus courte de l’album, « Shadows of Hell » semble s’échapper d’un documentaire sur la 2^e Guerre Mondiale. Pour achever, Chace Infinite observe une seconde apparition aux côtés de Planet Asia, aidé par le maître à penser GZA pour l’ultime assaut « Triple Threat ». Sans pitié.  

Aux antipodes de la Gold Chain Music, DJ Muggs a réalisé quelque chose qui s’apparente à des mini-films plutôt sombres, qui seyent très bien au Medallions, avec comme je le disais quelques clins d’œil au Wu-Tang. On finit par s'en apercevoir écoute après écoute, à chaque plus passionnante, et c'est cela que j'ai essayé de montrer dans cette chronique chronologique. L’album ne paraît pas inégal, justement, il grimpe en intensité par différents paliers, en traversant diverses ambiances superbement orchestrées, Planet Asia n’a juste qu’à déballer ses lyrics assassins. Pain Language, prélude du tant attendu troisième chapitre des Soul Assassins ? On aimerait y croire. 

anyway i found out today that he has to drop a course, and i am worried that it will be math. i mean i am in full support of his dropping a course if it will give him more time to think, to ponder, more alone time, and more time to chill according to him. i need to get out of myself to see the bigger picture, to see what is best for him, but i am just not wise enough. i really wish it weren't math, but it may just be that the best course of action IS to drop math. it is largely inessential, it does not progress his combination by any great distribution/breadth, and is basically functionless. except that his support in math is invaluable to me, working with him was stressful at first but turned out really great in the end. we had some good times, and i know it probably won't go beyond the first year, but i really wish it would. we probably won't have any courses in common beyond this first year, and that is only if he decides to stay on in mathematics. it's not that we spend all our time talking about mathematics, it's just that we collide so much precisely because of mathematics and if he weren't taking it anymore, we wouldn't collide at all (except for church), and i wouldn't be able to talk to him as often as i do right now. but it will be well with my soul and i will be glad for him if he drops it, and will support him if he does choose to do so.

wasn't this supposed to be without hope?
and somehow i am spending my time here imagining that something will happen where it won't, imagining how perfect it would be if it did, instead of doing my homework.
tis depressing.

Que quieres que te diga, Masvidal y los suyos están empeñados en crear escuela haciendo una música en la que se fusiona perfectamente géneros tan dispares como el jazz , el metal progresivo y el death.

Y sólo con escuchar estas dos demos te das cuenta de que aquella maravilla que sacaron en 1993 llamada "Focus" no fue un discazo por casualidad: estos tios son realmente buenos. Y además me gusta su música.

Ya estoy deseando que llegue octubre...

Las letras de los temas:

Integral Birth:
I touch the string though the harp may not sing.
still I dare the sky for sun sparks to guide.
Down below there's a land.
With an ominous hole
Deep in the sand of belief.

A million doves, orbit round the Earth with tears of blood.
??? diversion ??? Integral Birth.

From the void, I am born into wave and particle.
In the uncreative eye, ?emerging oracle?

A million doves, orbit round the Earth with tears of blood.
??? take Integral Birth.

(Solo)

Weep no more.
Noble silence.
Usher my way home.

(Solo)

A million doves orbit round the Earth with tears that flood.
?? ?? ??
?? ?? ?? Integral Birth.

Reborn. Reborn. Reborn.

Adam's Murmur:
Feet to hip
Leaf to breast
Throat to brain
and skin arrange

Now we're one soul

I bring all the rains, to every blade of grass, the universal path
a primal energy, the creation is born, unsympathetic ???

Hearing Adam's murmur
centuries of regret
unholy apple tree
seven flowers

Feet to hip
Leaf to breast
Throat to brain
and skin arrange

?holes in our trunks
I tap her to test?
harmony within
a merciful creation

Hearing Adam's murmur
Sensing of the path
unholy apple tree
Seven flowers

Feet to hip
Leaf to breast
Throat to brain
and skin arrange

Feet to hip
Leaf to breast
blood to brain
and skin arrange

1988-1991'e Bütün Demoları ( 88-91 Demos+Reflections of a Dying World )
1993 - Focus Part I
1993 - Focus Part II
2008- Promo

Rar Pass : www.sehrimetal.com

On the same day, the Obama campaign released a new ad making fun of McCain for not being able to write emails, despite the fact that more than one media report has documented that McCain has trouble typing because of the injuries he sustained as the hands of the Vietnamese while he was a POW.

A few weeks ago, Obama spokesman Mark Bubriski wrote in an official campaign email to supporters that "Palin was a supporter of [MSNBC analyst] Pat Buchanan, a right-winger or as many Jews call him: a Nazi sympathizer.'' Turns out Palin was never a Buchanan supporter and that Buchanan is hardly a Nazi-sympathizer.

On four separate occasions Obama has accused the McCain campaign of racist smears. Last week when George Stephanopoulos pressed Obama on this point, Obama couldn't name a single specific instance and had to admit it was only a handful of McCain supporters, not the campaign.

Thus, McCain's team fired back strongly today, saying the Obama campaign is

cynically running the sleaziest and least honorable campaign in modern presidential campaign history. His discredited ads with disgusting lies are running all over the country today. He runs a campaign not worthy of the office his is seeking.

Wait a second. Oops. That quote is actually from Obama's national press secretary Bill Burton, and he's talking about John McCain.

Of course, Mike Allen at Politico couldn't bring himself to recognize such a dishonest, hypocritical smear from the Obama campaign in the title of the article, choosing the more neutral headline "Campaigns shout it out" instead.

Here's McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds' response to the incredible arrogance and disgusting, cheap rhetoric of the Obama campaign. Mike Allen says he "thundered." Right ...

"During the event, Barack Obama showed zero restraint in the ferocity of his attacks despite the wreckage in the gulf and his running mate’s cancellation in reaction to it.

It says a lot about Barack Obama’s judgment that while his campaign canceled his appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' and his running mate stayed home, Obama went ahead and delivered a series of scathing personal attacks. Today’s attacks mark a new low from Barack Obama.

AESOP ROCK - NONE SHALL PASS (Definitive Jux, 2007)
I don't know, man. On the one hand, this is a pretty solid album. On the other hand, I feel like I've heard it before. If you've heard BAZOOKA TOOTH, then I guess you know what to expect. On Rock's first few albums, he slowly took over more and more production duties from collaborator Blockhead until he produced about 3/4ths of BAZOOKA TOOTH. This represented growth as an artist and he was making beats as creative and progressive as anyone. Fast forward four whole fucking years to NONE SHALL PASS and we're greeted with a less ambitious Aesop, producing less than half of the album and letting Blockhead create much of the other half. This is a shame mainly because Rock's beats are once again better than Blockhead's. And really, all the beats either of them make, save one, sound like they could have been released on the previous album. The exception is a track where Rock lets REAL LIVE musicians lay down some sweet distorted bass. Hey, if he needs to work with live music then so be it. The album's closer features singing by the Mountain Goats guy, which is a bit mixed. I mean, the guy's a shitty singer but the melody over the slamming beat piqued my interest. Maybe Rock should produce some beats for singerz next time? Grade: B

MF DOOM - MM . . . FOOD? (Rhymesayers, 2004)
Another day, another boss Doom album. The beats AND the rhymes are provided by Doom throughout with a few exceptions. As usual, the lyrics deal with nerdy stuff, women, and African-American issues. There are many, many soundbites from what appear to be Fantastic Four cartoons or books on tape, way more than appeared on the Madvillain album. We get it! You're Dr. Doom! Okay! There are ALSO several soundbites from some character that appears to be some sort of backwoods hillbilly with a drug problem? I dunno. They clash with the super hero clips and hurt the cohesiveness of the album. Most of the beats are very strong and a select few are awesome, not because of clever, multilayered mixing, but because Doom found passages within songs that are perfect for looping. This is one of those albums that's much more attractive to fans of alternative rock than fans of standard hip-hop. Grade: B+

PHASES OF THE MOON: CHINESE TRADITIONAL MUSIC
I checked out a bunch of Chinese traditional music CDs on Amazon last year but it took the Beijing Olympix to remind me to actually buy them. The liner notes in this CD aren't the greatest but it appears the album was recorded in the 1980s. It features traditional Chinese melodies representing several ethnic groups performed by the Central Broadcasting Traditional Instruments Orchestra. China does not actually have an orchestral tradition of its own so the music presented isn't strictly traditional but it IS very Chinese. As the orchestra's name implies, Chinese traditional instruments are used but in a large orchestra. The results are great. A lot of the music doesn't make perfect sense according to my Western sensibilities but it's all very listenable and much of it is highly enjoyable. A few of the pieces are highly melodic and emotive. Probably not for everyone but I liked it. Grade: A

kicknz

We are a nation of hypocrites, and the bigoted hypocrites stand at the bottom of the ladder. We hate immigrants. We build walls. We discriminate. Yet, we as a society are not native to this land, but I stray. This is about the nation, not it's origins. This country is a dirty amalgam of bits and pieces from all about the world.
Is a naturalized citizen really so different from a native-born citizen? I do not think so. Sure, one may argue a native-born citizen of one culture is quite different to a naturalized citizen of another. Would it not be the same for a native-born of one culture to a native-born of another?
Apparently, that is the case. Apparently, native-born citizen is synonymous with white-cultured Christian, upper-classman in politics. And apparently, that is all that is thought of with native-born.

My history teacher called it cynical, and I probably have generalized a bit. So leave a comment about how politics suck.

Note: Immigrant and naturalized citizen were used interchangeable in the class, despite their different meanings.

Primordial: Well, 11:30 is a very unthankful time when you are playing on a festival. Those who aren’t still sleeping are tired, in a bed temper or fighting against their huge headache (probably with more alcohol). But someone needs to start the second day of the festival, and that’s a job for the Irish Folk Black Metal Band Primordial.
In 2007, Primordial released “To the Nameless Dead”, an atmospheric monster album which became very fast one of my favorite CD’s in my collection. The show started on time in front of the small stage (Party Stage…or Wet Stage, I don’t know anymore), and, hell yeah, Nemtheanga (singer), surely knows how to motivate the crowd in front of him. This guy definitely has a lot of charisma and his way to interact with the crowd was the main reason why the crowd woke up so fast that day.
Starting with the great “Empire Falls”, Primordial played a lot of songs from the latest release (“As Rome burns”, Heathen Tribes”). Nemtheanga’s remarkable voice, a good assortment of songs and an interested crowd made this gig an emotional and unforgettable event for me. Definitely one of the best metal acts I’ve ever seen!

Cynic: I’ll make it quick: this gig was not that great. Responsible for my disappointment wasn’t the band but the typically Open-Air-Sound. Cynic, with 2 “Death” members, was one of the most innovative Technical Death Metal bands in the early 90’s, and I really enjoyed “Focus”, but unfortunately their typical sound didn’t work at Wacken. The guitar sound was awful, not differantiated enough and too much in the background (the same for the “clean” electro vocals), the drums too loud and it all sounded a little bit like a robot orgy (exaggeration). I prefer to listen to Cynic on my IPod…or in a concert hall. Good Band, bad gig. Oh yeah by the way some good news: Cynic are recording (after 15 years) a new album).

Ensiferum: To be honest, I was in a very bad mood while that gig. You know, that typical festival-hangover…but I’ll try to be objective: in fact, the sound was, surprise surprise, quite mediocre, espacially if you were standing like me, very far from the stage (too crowded). But Ensiferum did a good job, they played a lot of songs from the new record, unfortunately not that much from Iron (in my eyes their best album). Great are those moments where the crowd sings along with the singer those low notes (you know, those “Whuooooohohoooohooo” parts). Bad mood, good band, nice atmosphere = felicitous gig. I’m looking forward to see them again live!

The third part of our Wacken Review will feature the Opeth gig, and my second personal favorite: Gorgoroth. Furthermore we will arrive to a conclusion if Wacken 2008 was a good festival...or not.