Podcast #26 has been released!

http://pinktofupony.com/podcast/super-pony-dance-mix-podcast-26/

Podcast #25 has been released!

http://pinktofupony.com/podcast/super-pony-dance-mix-podcast-25/

That’s right – Podcast #24 has been released! This time it’s twice as long!

http://pinktofupony.com/podcast/super-pony-dance-mix-podcast-24/

After being able to make an assessment of my living situation and the future, it’s safe to say that I can allot a proper amount of time to doing these. I know it probably would have been better if I just said it was a break before instead of just being done with the mixes, but I didn’t really have a way of knowing for sure, and I don’t like to keep people waiting around trying to figure out why there’s inactivity.

Anyways, I think I’ll be doing a new format of an hour mix every two weeks.

My updates may be sparse due to my new living situation, but I’ll update when I can with music reviews and such. I need to be more productive outside of this room and finally get some things going right in my life. I think by moving in with friends, it’ll further motivate me to go out and execute my plans.

I’ve been receiving a lot of positive reviews on my cd release, so I think I may try to approach some labels over it. That would really give me a nice bump in the right direction, but regardless I’m going to get something going on in Seattle. I want to start another band, as the other one fell through. Probably for the better, since some of us just weren’t feeling it. Also, it didn’t help that none of us were really close to each other on the map. Oh well, I’ll make something work.

I guess this post went a lot quicker than I thought, so I guess I’ll post a music review while I am at it.

Asobi Seksu

Asobi Seksu (Play Sex)

It’s great to see some integration of some Japanese in an American band. It reminds me of an idea me and a friend had of going to Japan to start a band. Lofty goal, but it was a cool idea nonetheless. This band really nails it, so it’s not a waste.

I currently have the album Hush, which was recently released. I have yet to hear the previous efforts, but I wouldn’t doubt them as being great. Anyways, I really enjoy this album as a complete product. The lyrics really fill out as an instrument and vocals all at once. It’s very rare to hear a singer really utilize their full potential a voice can produce. It’s more than just words, it’s really floating along beautifully with the music. It’s really a plus for me, as since I am a musician myself, I tend to block out vocals, but these are hard to ignore because they grasp my attention due to the excellent integration of making it more than just vocals.

Cover art for the album Hush.

The music really gives me a strong 80’s feel, but of course with a coating of current stylings of rock. It’s such a nice mix, that it took me off my feet pretty much immediately. The writing is just right and all the instruments are given just the right amount of attention. But I still have to go back to the vocals, which is just so strange for me. I just love the flow, and for once I find them to be my favorite part of the music.

Seriously: check this one out! Fantastic band with a mix that’s not often done well. I think they are going to be big pretty quickly, as I have already seen a couple of promo posters in some music stores, which is pretty rad.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/asobiseksu

Not a goddamn thing to do with what I am talking about.

I get it. I honestly do. It’s a great way to quick cash and usually a lot of it, but only in terms on one word domains and likely company/corporate names. Jacking any type of domain out there, whether it be personal or random ass words to sit on, really PISSES ME THE FUCK OFF. All you are doing is being a complete and utter dick. Also, it’s not really an effective way to make cash, since most people aren’t going to fuel your ability to buy more domains at your parents house. You know, unless they are celebrity-named domains and if you turn it into one of those shitty search engines morons use. Shit, nevermind. I just hate you.

At any rate, I was totally infuriated to find out some fuckass is sitting on zxyzxy.com. Seriously? I know they are the last letters on the alphabet, but I am the only one using the combination. At least, so I thought. It’s like this guy saw my name and thought it would be great to make a domain of it and just let it sit there for me to find. FUCK YOU.

Oh, I found an option at the bottom of the domain to offer a price for it, so I did.

My comment form was filled out to be something like this:

Hi, I am a musician that goes by the name ZXYZXY, and I would really like to purchase the domain. My offer is $10, since that is the price of most domains. That’s pretty much my meager offer since I’m not exactly loaded with cash, but I can’t honestly see anyone else using this domain for any good besides me.

Because that’s what domains are for.

Here is the email response from the cocksuckers over at acquirethisname.com

Hello Greg
I am following up on your recent email regarding ZXYZXY.com. 

I regret that the offer you presented via our online form was
not sufficient to get a counter offer from the seller.
You can make an increased offer or if you would like
information on the seller's asking price for the domain,
let me know.

If you wish to no longer receive emails in regards to this
domain, please reply with "unsubscribe" in the subject line
and I will remove you from my follow up list for this domain.

Best Regards,
Jacob
AcquireThisName.com
jacob@acquirethisname.com
PS: I love cocks.

My response:

Well, tell that domain sitter to go fuck himself.

It’s really no surprise, but this shit is just so fucking lame. If only the domain wasn’t under the whois privacy cloak, I’d go forthword and punch this guy in the face and pour milk in his computer.

My friends have been going all around the U.S.A. on an Amtrak taking pictures of whatever appeals to them. They recently took time out of their trip to come hang out with me in Seattle and spent the day going all around the city to take pictures. So while we were doing all this, I figured it would be great to showcase their photography. This is the result.

http://eyegasm.pinktofupony.com

Enjoy.

So, I finally f’ing did it: I released my ZXYZXY music in a cd format! Hooray and beers for all! I never thought of doing this, but I had a good amount of material and it’s about time that I did something with it.

Every track has been composed and performed by me, with tiny exceptions to the remixes, Kmode, and The World Doesn’t End. Kmode and The World Doesn’t End were previously released on a netlabel, so they were already mastered. The remixes are obvious, because… well, they’re remixes.

Art for ZXYZXY - Hansuru

Tracklist:

01: Sullen
02: Kmode
03: Zhu Di
04: morgonpromenad
05: Taisaku
06: Sullen (Northen Implosion Mix)
07: Kyomu
08: SXY
09: morgonpromenad (Yibbon Remix)
10: Old and Alone
11: The World Doesn’t End

Bitrate: 320kbps Mp3
Total run time: 01:02:15

DOWNLOAD NOW!!! – ZXYZXY - Hansuru (192)

UPDATE: If for some reason the download didn’t work at some point, it was because I was re-uploading. There were a few minor errors that were overlooked.

live at the club vijon on 2008.6.15

Living in a room the size of a shoebox can be pretty suffocating. I lose focus of the reason why I am up here and my ability to be creative, but that’s why there is music to buffer me from the complete inability to be the person that I am. If there is any music that resurrects me when I am completely shutdown and losing control, Clione-Index is it. Sometimes I can’t find anything in my playlist that hits this spot as well as they do. It reminds me of why I am even here in the first place. It’s the same feeling I get when I’m playing with the band I am in (which is the only thing that has gone right). I forget everything else – IE: my obvious inability to survive in a big city and have a job. I’ve felt so rejected since I’ve moved here, and have felt nothing but hopelessness, but just the simple act of moving my hands across my bass and listening to key bands of influence… it’s unbelievable how something so simple washes all of the terrible feelings I have away. It’s beautiful, and I think that’s why I love playing and listening to music so much. I’ve sacrificed everything to get where I am at – and even though I have pretty much exhausted my funds, I’m still pushing forward stronger than ever. I cannot be stopped, nor can I stop this burning pit inside me… even if I begged myself to stop.

Earlier in the night, I walked to the edge of the Puget Sound and just walked for a couple miles while listening to Clione-Index. I’ve never bothered walking over there, because I kind of trick myself into staying inside my room all the time and feeling sorry for myself that I can’t do better. Truth is, is that I ‘m a very self-deprecating person. I know a lot of this sounds cheesy, but my gift is my curse as well. All I want to do is write music and travel all around the world to play it for people. I love entertaining people; it’s what I’m good at, and it’s the only true thing I am good at.

Latest EP: Rainbow Reverb

Unfortunately, this means blocking everything else out – including people that I love. You can say it doesn’t have to be that way, but I know from experience. At least for me, I need to be disconnected to even be motivated to pick up my guitar. I know I’ve gone off in a tangent here, but this band really puts me in the mood to finally release some of my repressed thoughts. This just goes to show how powerful music can be. Anyways, this band is the soundtrack to my life at this moment, because it digs so deep.

Ok, I’ll stop picking scabs and go into the details of the music.

Each song is like a neatly wrapped gift covered in layers of warmth and pure tranquility. Layer after layer, it unwraps into a clearer image. An image too great to ever be seen by eyes. While each song has a familiar feel, each has it’s own strong points, and that’s what I love about certain bands: sometimes I just want consistency, but not be distracted by repetitiveness. Clione-Index is just full of swirling and droning guitars with an occasional lead that just pierces your heart and sends a warm tingle throughout your body, while being backed up by the warm drawn-out bass, and the upfront drumming. While not overly complex, they’ve just managed to hit a vein rich with beauty and ethereal love – and they did it with only three songs. It’s something I want to stick underneath a microscope and just study.

Favorite Song: Unknown Outside

Here is a live video, but I recommend checking out their myspace for listening.

http://www.myspace.com/clioneindex

I know my last design was very empty and boring, so I spent the day making a new layout that had more of an identity. I accomplished a lot and managed to figure out a lot of new tricks by just playing with graphics. I think the hardest part was making this paper texture I had into the site background. I was in disbelief when I nailed the layout in one shot when I uploaded it. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, because I think it’ll help drive in traffic. I know, I know – it’s all about content, BUT think about it this way: a point and shoot camera can take pictures, but a professional camera helps make that shot a lot easier. So, by having a great site design, you can present your content as best as possible.

Be expecting some music reviews real soon! I’ve been receiving a lot of new music and have gained new favorites worthy of reviewing.