Another album review - Angles by the Strokes (and how each song is a different character)

On March 22, 2011, The Strokes released their fourth album entitled "Angles". Since downloading my pre-order of the album, I think I have listened to it a good 5 times or more. What I particularly love about this album is the fact that each song is so completely different from the next, which is a different, fresh idea for the Strokes. The album starts off with "Machu Piccu", a song that kicks off with an almost reggae-like guitar sound. Then, two songs later comes "Two Kinds of Happiness" which seriously sounds like it is from the band Duran Duran. After another couple songs comes "Taken for a Fool", a song that is so Red Hot Chili Peppers-esque. The album ends with with "Life is Simple in the Moonlight", a song that seems to be very loyal to the Strokes' past. To me, this eclectic mix of songs is really quite interesting. It is something we have not seen from the band in any previous albums, and I am definitely enjoying this change! After thinking about it, the title of the album really has a say in the album itself. Each song does truly have a different 'angle' to it, and you could tell this was a complete band collaboration rather than being written singlehandedly by Julian Casablancas or one of the other members of the Strokes. To me, the variety of songs seem to have different personalities, and thus can be compared to the characters in Pride and Prejudice. For example, the more up beat and eclectic songs can relate to Elizabeth, the different and independent woman in the story. The safer, less original songs that are very true to the Strokes' past can relate to Jane and the rest of the family, since they had been the most obeying towards societal standards. I think this connection will be really easily seen by many Strokes listeners because it is very obvious that the band is taking a chance with some extremely different songs than they have ever put out, as well as some many safe, true-to-the Strokes songs. Thus, the eclecticness of the album "Angles" can easily be compared to the eclectic characters of Pride and Prejudice. Ultimately, this album has much more experimental, different songs than songs loyal to their past.

Here are many of the songs that show off the new angle that the Strokes took with 'Angles':

• Machu Piccu - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY6FWIgziHo
• Two Kinds of Happiness - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e7L_rGPszA
• Taken for a Fool - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVql7K5pOMM
• Call me Back - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn39kXc5cSE
• Games - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqGs1B3D1N0

For people who are not familiar with the Strokes, here are some of their most popular older songs:

• Last Nite - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1vvUec71v8
• Reptilia - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8-tXG8KrWs
• You only live Once - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT68FS3YbQ4

There is a huge similarity between the above three songs. All coming from different albums, they still have the same sound of guitar, similar vocals, etc. This is why the eclecticness of Angles is such a big deal!!!

Eataly - an Italian Marketplace in New York City

This weekend, my mom and I were in New York City. During our free time, we decided to venture off into different stores as well as many of the vast food hubs that are technically called markets (since we are major foodies, we had to check them out). We spent a lot of time in Chelsea Market, which consists of many tiny restaurants and stores, but the marketplace that  stood out the most to my mom and I is called Eataly. Created by Mario Batali and two other renowned chefs, Eataly is the equivalent to a market and many restaurants that you would see along the coast of Italy. Eataly carries all types of Italian goods, from cheese and meats to individually wrapped nougat candies. On top of all of the goods you could buy, Eataly also has an array of mini-restaurants within the market. Some of the restaurants include 'La Piazza', 'La Pasta', 'Il Pesce', 'Gelateria', and so many more. What really intrigues me about this market is the vast amount of choices offered to a customer. I spent about 30 minutes walking around the place in awe of how incredibly large the marketplace is, while carefully looking at each item available for purchase. Eataly really made me think about the fact that we have nothing like this in Los Angeles. The amount of choices available in the incredible Italian food hub was pretty incredible. I truly recommend Eataly to any foodie who will be visiting New York City in the future, it is an Italian food lover's dream!

Radiohead's new album, "King of Limbs" as a progression of sound

On February 18, 2011, Radiohead released their newest album entitled 'The King of Limbs'. After much interest and years of following Radiohead's musical journey, I downloaded the new album the second I found out it was avaliable. Of course, in this album, Radiohead remains very loyal to their usual sounds with electronic beats mixed with Thom Yorke's soothing voice, but the progression of the songs in this particular album is much more interesting and unusual than Radiohead's previous albums. The most interesting aspect of this album is the progression from chaotic, off beat music to serene ballads. The first song of the album, entitled 'Bloom', introduces the album with extremely deranged beats offset from one another. This chaotic sound dissipates through each song, and the chaos turns to calmness. The couple songs of the album, 'Give up the Ghost' and 'Separator', finish the album in a completely different tone and sound than the first couple songs. In this way, Radiohead expresses an extreme progression from pandemonium to order throughout their latest album. This type of progression can be compared to the progression from disorder to order in Conrad's Heart of Darkness. When Marlow first encounters the people and sights of the Congo, he sees chaos and disorder, which could be compared to the sounds of 'Bloom'. Throughout his journey to the center of darkness, Marlow becomes a little more comfortable in the area, and sees things as less chaotic. This part of his journey can be compared to the middle of 'The King of Limbs' as a transitional point from chaos to a little more comfort. Finally, at the end of Marlow's journey, he discovers Kurtz and witnesses his death which ultimately ended the disorder of the jungle. Just like Kurtz's death, the songs entitled 'Give up the Ghost' and 'Separator' are the end to a chaotic progression, and the beginning of calmness. Thus, the progression of Radiohead's most recent album is very similar to the journey Marlow takes on the Congo River.

Here are some of the songs -
More chaotic sounds (All in the beginning of the album)

• Bloom
• Feral
• Morning Mr Magpie

Calmer songs (Last three songs of the album):

• Codex
• Give up the Ghost
• Separator

How Conrad's Heart of Darkness Relates to Traveling in Today's Generation

Experiencing different cultures, eating different foods, and exploring the streets of a completely different society are all key aspects of traveling. Immersing oneself within a different culture than one's own is something that must be experienced in life. Moreover, All traveling can truly relate to the trip into darkness that Marlow undergoes in Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Although the ways in which we travel today are very different than the way Marlow traveled up the Congo in Heart of Darkness, we still immerse ourselves within the cultures of others, which affects us in ways that may be similar to the way Marlow was affected by the society surrounding the Congo River. When traveling either far or near, we tend to take a step back and observe the society and culture. Yes, we do eat their food, walk their streets, and a lot of us want to act like the locals while we travel, but we still take a step back and observe the ways the native people without actually interfering. Also, like Marlow, we become affected by our surroundings and temporarily tend to adapt some of the native people's views and ideals. We do this because we want to look like we belong, although such adaption to a society is very unconscious. For example, most of my family lives in New York. Whenever I visit New York to see my relatives, I unconsciously adapt a slight New York accent. I am never aware of myself in the moment that I say "yeah","coffee", or "dog" like a New Yorker, but it is after I say such things when I realize I said it differently. Thus, when traveling, we tend to adapt the ways of the native people as well as take an observational stance within the society we are visiting, therefore we are affected by traveling very similarily to the way Marlow was affected by the Congo River in Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Conformity essay

(I decided to change my essay topic to the role of conformity in society and the pressures we conform to every day)

Conformity can be defined as behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards. However, the definition of conformity is somewhat open ended and unexplained, as conformity can also mean being similar to others as well as complying with certain standards, rules, or laws within society. In addition, the role conformity takes in a classroom and within a family is somewhat undefined, as some people feel a greater need to conform to what society 'needs' than others. For example, in Kafka's Metamorphasis, after Gregor Samsa had suddenly transformed into a giant bug, his family members were faced with different situations in which they had no choice but to conform to societal standards, including finding jobs and facing the pressures to support the family. Moreover, conformity causes routines, which could affect people in a positive way, however conformity also can cause pressure, affecting people in a harsher, negative way. Most importantly, however, is that conformity is everlasting; even when people believe they are independent of others and thinking with a creative, new prospective, they are in actuality not unconventional and are grouping themselves with all other individual thinkers. Thus, whether it be at school, home, or another institution, people are always unconsciously conforming to societal pressures.

Conformity

My conformity essay will revolve around the changes of conformity in society from the 40's to current times. I hope to explore what people conformed to in that time, for example Gregor and his family living in the city, conforming to the societal needs, as Gregor worked and the rest of his family did not. In contrast, conformity in the current time period seems to be much different, as people feel pressure to be independent, however in actuality everyone is conforming to independence rather than exploring new independent thoughts. I will interview my grandmother who grew up in Los Angeles and got married at a very young age, and hopefully I will find some insight as to what pressures she felt as a 17 year old in Los Angeles.

Conformity is something that cannot be avoided in society. Even if one feels they are being free and independent, they are actually conforming to some type of societal rule or need. For example, if all rebels wear a certain style of clothing, are they in actuality rebels? Being free and individualistic is a trait that everyone at this day in age seeks for, however what is in actuality free if we are always conforming to something?