JotSite.com

Things of Interest

• Writings from music artists
  Anna Nalick's Journal
  Her journal is a pretty good read if you are a fan of her music. The snippet about her nephew changing the lyrics of her songs are cute.
  Anna Nalick on myspace
  Glen Phillips blog on myspace
  My brother is a die-hard fan of Glen and would make it a point to come to every one of his shows whenever he is in town. So are Nickel Creek, as I am told. Unfortunately I have never seen a live performance by Glen or Toad the Wet Sprockets when they were still together.
  Vienna Teng on myspace

• Effects of the global economy on technology workers
  Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about offshoring
  Offshoring discussion on Joel on Software Forum

• Useful Python Scripts and Classes
  pathutils - working with files and paths
  cgiutils - CGI Helper
  Python Code Snippet to extract all URLs from an HTML page
  Upload images to your Flickr account

• CPU Faq - some answers to why your laptop is slowing down

• Economy counting on you

• Starting out small but affordable
  Affordable... yeah. At an average of $480,000 for a condo in San Jose, a normal person would need just about 2 lifetimes to pay off the interest alone. No need for curtains, just plaster newspaper over the windows. What about that thing called food? It is a luxury that we can do without.

Hurt

    I hurt myself today
    To see if I still feel
    I focus on the pain
    The only thing that’s real
    The needle tears a hole
    The old familiar sting
    Try to kill it all away
    But I remember everything
    
    [Chorus] What have I become? 
    My sweetest friend
    Everyone I know
    Goes away in the end
    You could have it all
    My empire of dirt
    I will let you down
    I will make you hurt
    
    I wear my crown of shit
    On my liar’s chair
    Full of broken thoughts
    I cannot repair
    Beneath the stain of time
    The feeling disappears
    You are someone else
    I am still right here           [Chorus]
        
    If I could start again
    A million miles away
    I would keep myself
    I would find a way

by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails

Doesn't that just give you goosebumps when you listen to the song or mull over the lyrics? Do you like the Nine Inch Nails or the Johnny Cash version? Apparently Trent's lyrics resound with Johnny as well. The feelings evoked as you sing along are similar to the feelings of desperation . There is no ego here, only the realization of a life gone wrong. And a hopeless wish that it all could have been done different.

In some ways, the sentiment is pretty similar to Mindy Smith - Down in Flames

Album Impressions

These are some of the albums which have laid claims on much of my music listening time for the past few months. There were many more which I have sifted through but (like the previous theme), I find myself coming back to these again and again.

Anna Nalick - Wreck of the Day
I first encountered Anna's music through one of the episodes of Joan of Arcadia. The title track Wreck of the Day still grabs when I suggest it to someone who haven't heard it. At initial listening to this album, the only stand out tracks are the singles "Wreck of the Day" and "Breathe (2AM)". However, as I continue to listen to it, Anna's voice is very strong and mature. The strength of her lyrics as well as the uniqueness of her voice is very compelling that I find myself listening to the album again and again without tiring of it. Other notable tracks are: "Citadel", "Satellite", and "In the Rough".

Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Initially these guys sound like Keane . Their blend of piano and pop makes for music that are easy on the ears. Recently, they could be seen on Comedy Central - Last Laugh 2005 playing their single: Soul Meets Body. I have read that these guys started off in Seattle. Certainly they have grown beyond that now and are becoming quite mainstream. Other notable tracks are: Brothers on a Hotel Bed, Your Heart is an Empty Room. Listening to them more, Death Cab for Cutie certainly has a unique sound of their own.

Emiliana Torrini - Fisherman's Woman
Emiliana has been around for a long time. Certainly at one time or another you must have heard her voice in some contemporary TV show or movie. The child-like nature of her voice dominates the songs that she sings and the accompanying music are but props to the centerpiece that is her voice. Today has been OK brings forward a cathartic sense of stability for those who are wounded. For the minute space of this song, you can listen to it and let the world go on its way. The rest of the album seem to play around the theme of a Fisherman's life. It is quiet, subdued, and slow.
Emiliana Torrini - At Least It Was

Tori Amos - The Beekeeper
Tori is practically a goddess to many people. She certainly is a giant among music makers and her discography stacks well against your bookcase. At the very least, she has my respect for her longevity and dedication to her music. Like any musicians who are able to last, the unique ability is her haunting and grabbing voice. Martha's Foolish Ginger and Sleeps with Butterflies cradles your emotions at every listen. Like every album, not every track is a keeper. Everyone has different tastes. However, this album is very playful and many tracks are worth listening to again and again. Some examples are: The Power of Orange Knickers and Goodbye Pisces.

Tori Amos - Sleeps with Butterflies

---

Other albums to jot about:

• Sheryl Crow - Wildflower
• Franz Ferdinand - You Could have it so much better
• Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
• Cowboy Junkies - Early 21st Century Blues