KT Tunstall is great.

This post pertains to the last article about the artist KT Tunstall. She is definitely worth checking out. The track listing for her new album, Tiger Suit, is below. Comments included on ones I have listened to.

1. Uummannaq Song (A great way to start an album. Good song featuring some Native American-sounding backup vocals.)
2. Glamour Puss
3. Push That Knot Away (Nice bass guitar solo and use of backtracking; this song is also a strong point on the album, and Tunstall's first attempt at techno.)
4. Difficulty
5. Fade Like A Shadow (Catchy lyrics, totally Tunstall.)
6. Lost
7. Golden Frames (The appeal of the eerie feel seems to work well for this track. However, I'm not crazy about the male backup vocals during the chorus.)
8. Come On, Get In (The "foot-tapping" song of the album. The Native American vocals have returned with energy. Seemingly nonsensical lyrics in the chorus, but I'm sure there was something deep in mind when this song was written.)
9. (Still A) Weirdo
10. Madame Trudeaux
11. The Entertainer
 
Her previous album, Drastic Fantastic, is great if you're not the techno-type.

1. "Little Favours" (Great start to a powerful album. Interesting use of minor and major in transition with the chorus and refrain.)
2. "If Only" (Not the best on the album, but still good.)
3. "White Bird" (A mellow track, this song features some interesting guitar work.)
4. "Funnyman" (Definitely a strong point on the album. I especially love the incorporation of the mandolin)
5. "Hold On" (The most famous from the album, and a great dance song.)
6. "Hopeless" (Depressing lyrics, but nice syncopation. This song goes hand-in-hand with If Only.)
7. "I Don't Want You Now" (Great breakup song. It really gets the blood pumping when blasted.)
8. "Saving My Face" (Another strong point. Powerful vocals and instrumentation.)
9. "Beauty of Uncertainty" 
10. "Someday Soon" 
11. "Paper Aeroplane"

The last three songs I haven't listened to yet, simply because they are all mellow and not strong points of the album.

Find more KT Tunstall songs at Myspace Music

The world of pop culture through Vevo

After downloading the Vevo music video app, I decided I would attempt to update myself to the 21st century and get my head out of the wonderful world of the Beatles. It didn't work, of course. In fact, my video watching experiment made me appreciate the Beatles and classic rock even more. However, the works of KT Tunstall, a Scottish-Japanese folk rock singer, are pleasantly surprising in that I can actually stand to listen to the whole song. Weird, huh? A pop singer who can actually write a song that's decent. If only there were more like her. Back in 2006, Tunstall came out with two hit singles, Suddenly I See and Black Horse and a Cherry Tree. Finding both songs rather enjoyable for pop music, I went out and bought her debut album, Eye to the Telescope. Like most albums, some songs were good while others were mellow and can be classified as "filler" songs. (however, Beatles albums seem to lack this "filler" music, but that's beside the point) The album in its entirety was relatively decent. In fact, it was so decent that I haven't bought another pop album since(well, actually, just one other: that Coldplay album, Viva la Vida or whatever it's called. And that album is good as well.). After listening to Tunstall for a few months straight, I grew tired of her songs and went back to solely Beatles music for the next three or four years. I never seem to get tired of the Beatles, even though I have been listening to them since kindergarten. But then, something inside me decided to revisit the world of KT Tunstall. I visited her Vevo channel and discovered that she had come out with a new sound and album. In an interview about her decision to change her genre of music, Tunstall stated that she decided to take interest in a techno-electronic feel. After hearing this, my heart sank. Why, oh why, would such a talented person sell herself to the horrid world of non-music(that's what I call techno and the sort)? I built up the courage to take time and listen to some of her new album, Tiger Suit. A few songs were pretty boring, but they were not what I expected. I expected a Daft Punk, non-music, irritating dance music kind of thing. Then I found that most Tunstall fans enjoyed the song, Fade Like a Shadow the most out of the whole album. After two listens to the song (I decided one time is not enough to get the full experience of a song), I will admit that it was catchy. I haven't listened to every single one of her new songs yet, but some were pretty good for nowadays. I also, thanks to Vevo, discovered a song from her third album, Drastic Fantastic, that wasn't bad either: Hold On. In summation, if you are searching for a good fish in the sea of rotten ones, check out KT Tunstall for a good time.
 

Essential Apps List

I, for one, am not a fan of mindless gaming on devices. For example, Farmville on Facebook. I've never played that before and never will. People have told me how great it is, and I have heard this from kids, teens, AND adults with kids of their own. Really? Instead of worrying about fake crops online, how about spending some quality time with your kin? They won't be young forever, you know. Back to the main point of this blog: some apps for the iPod Touch or the iPhone that are useful and entertaining at the same time.

 Facebook (for those who need a social life with TMI)
Archie Comics: the app (there's a decent assortment of free and paid downloadable comics)
Netflix (If you're a member, you have the ability to stream movies instantly)
dictionary.com (for educational purposes)
Wunderlist Task Manager (this thing's actually handy)
SoundHound(the free one-it's amazing)
Google Translate: the app
PacMan (everyone loves a classic, even though I prefer the computer version)
Vevo (get in touch with bad music videos)
Free drum kit/ guitar/ piano (don't use them in quiet places)
Photoshop express (not the best photo editing app, but decent)
Inception app(because it's cool, and also because I have no idea what to do with it)
Pandora Radio (It's great for discovering new artists, but some songs are just random and bad. One of my favorites.)
Shazam (even though there's a limit to uses, this is a very innovative app.)
Labyrinth 3D (the graphics are stunning, and very realistic)

The perfect eclectic balance of apps.

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Soon to be seen in the December issue of Voice

Christmas lights and electric menorahs are lit halfway through November.  They turn on at dusk and remain on until dawn.  Being ‘green’ or eco-friendly is all the rage these days, so why not make an effort this holiday season to conserve while still remaining festive? 

—Replace Christmas bulbs (outdoor and on your tree) with LED lights.  LEDs typically last three times longer than regular lights and use 90 percent less energy than holiday mini-lights (blog.brighterplanet.com).  They still look the same, except are brighter, and are just as traditional and merry as the old ones.

—Use old CDs for drink coasters instead of store-bought ones.  Since CDs are generally out-of-date nowadays thanks to MP3 format, reusing these circular discs of plastic into fun coasters is an easy way to conserve.  If the shiny underside of a disk does not match with your décor, painting them is very easy and looks professional if done neatly. 

 —Instead of throwing uneaten food in the garbage, consider creating a compost pile.  These piles of waste are easy to start—just add some grass clippings and dried leaves, then your food.  Composting is great for your soil as well as being a great way to conserve.

—Save some watts while being festive: light candles.  Just make sure you don’t overdo the scents, and that you light enough—nobody wants to eat in the dark.

—Turn down the thermostat, put on a sweater, and use your fireplace.   A fire can create a warm (no pun intended), jovial mood in any festive house.  Consider installing a chimney-top damper so heat doesn’t completely escape from your home.

—Give some eco-friendly gifts this season.  A recycled calendar, a donation to a charity or the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) in someone’s name, or Energy Star rated appliances or electronics are all appropriate green gifts for a person.  People also miss the greenery of the outdoors, so a flower or herb kit is an idea.  Save gas by ordering online, or visit a nearby store.

—Wrap gifts in recycled wrapping paper or the comics section of the newspaper.  Or, if the gift receiver isn’t picky, you could use a recycled bag.  Wrapping paper is a huge waste of paper, and is ripped apart and thrown away in the end. 

—Holiday cards also are a waste of paper.  Sending an e-card or using recycled paper are more environmentally-conscious ways to get your message across.

Each holiday season costs the planet by emitting excessive amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.  You can make a difference every year simply by turning on your LED lights a few weeks before the holiday instead of months before.  Wait until it is completely dark, then turn on lights, and don’t leave them on all night; it’s not like anyone is admiring your decorations at three in the morning.  The holidays are not meant to be wasteful—they are all about giving and celebrating.  Saving energy is a gift in itself. You too can dream of a green Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa this December.

The HIGH SCHOOL DIARIES

High school stinks.  Sometimes.  It depends.  But today was atrocious, that's for sure.  I woke up feeling like I died, went to school like a zombie, and most importantly, failed at Minesweeper. 

That game just drives me bonkers, especially because I never did figure out how to play it.  Since I was a little kid I have been trying to figure it out, but ended up just clicking randomly, losing, then clicking the awesome little smiley face to start all over again.  To me, the mysterious strategy of Minesweeper makes as much sense as my third period English teacher plus lots of coffee.  And speaking of my English teacher, she said "in essence" six times today! (I kept little tally marks on the bottom of our "thesis statement" assignment.)  And speaking of assignments, I have to----wait, how did I get on this topic?  See, this is why school should start at least five hours later; our little minds can't take this much mental stimulation at such an early hour.  They expect us to function at 7:20 in the MORNING. (Yes, that's when school starts.)  Even worse, they expect us to actually stay awake, pay attention, and excel at that hour.  Wait until I take AP courses.

Your tiredness,

J

Just Dance: the official review

Wednesday 8/4/10 time 9:08 PM - J

So here's a story from A to Z, you wanna get with me, you gotta listen carefully,...
Recognize those lyrics? Yep, they're from that annoyingly catchy Spice Girls song, Wannabe. Or Wanna Be. Or something like that. Find this song and more on that non-annoyingly addicting dance game, Just Dance.
Pros: It features 32 songs of different genres. Some good, some bad, some...uh...never mind. Keyword: variety. One song is from 1962, while another is from last year.  Although only moving arms is necessary to succeed point-wise, if you really work at it, you do build up a good sweat. Well, for us girls, glow. You can play this game at parties and have fun while sloughing off calories! Who knew that was even possible?
Cons: Well, you DO get tired of the songs at one point. Maybe there should be a difficulty meter, like easy, medium, hard, expert, sort of thing. Like "Rock Band". There is a "short version" "full version" option, but when you're just getting into a song, the short version's over after three blinks. They should have a Just Dance 2, like everything else, with different songs and a difficulty thing.
Summary: Just Dance is a great game to play when you're chillin' with the gals (or guys) or you just feel like groovin' on a Friday night by yourself. Just beware of jealous siblings who want to beat your score.
Just Dance receives J's Seal of Approval.

Postness Madness

All posts are transferred from our Moogo site.   The HIGH SCHOOL DIARIES--Week 1 Sunday 9/5/10 time 5:46 PM - J Oh. My. Gosh. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?????????? ....................... ?????????? So THIS is high school?  Four years of this? Really?? I'm sick of it after two full days. Drat.  Bad sign.  Let's have a look at my typical high school day. 5:30 AM: Good day, sunshine...  It's still dark out, I am literally a walking zombie, and it feels like I just went to sleep five minutes before having to wake up again.  And I haven't even survived a week of this. UGH. 6:40 AM: It's just another manic Monday... Hobbling out of my estate, I walk to my bus stop.  What the--is that a hobo? Some guy from the 'hood? Nope, just a senior.  The other kids just stand there, playing with some priceless device, not muttering a word.  Then, the bus comes, and takes us all to jail.  Er, school.  Ugh, this is going to be BAAAAAD. 7:20 AM:  Allll through the day, I me mine, I me mine, I me mine... Walk in to the classroom to see my first period teacher e-mailing some homies on her labtop.  I sit in my flimsy desk in silence, all alone.  Five seconds before the bell, kids start piling in, gossiping their little putrid heads off.  Quiz Tuesday? Yep, we didn't even learn anything yet and there's a quiz the day after Labor Day.  Niiiiiice. Next class, a long hour and a half later: Sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble... French class! Whoo-hoo! My favorite part of the day.  Our teacher gives us croissants with Nutella.  How can you not love it? After French I get to enjoy the act of walking across a field to get to the other campus.  At least I do it with my best friends. After walking, next class: If I ever get out of here... English: the worst class of the day. Then after another long hour an a half, is gym/ orchestra.  Gym sounds okay, but orchestra? The director is...let's not go there. Let's not go there. Well, that's a typical day of my first few experiences in high school.  So, whadda YOU think? Would YOU be able to survive it? Comment heavily on this blog, and you will see a new diary entry every week! J's Gems exclusive HIGH SCHOOL diaries

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Edit entry  The HIGH SCHOOL DIARIES Sunday 8/22/10 time 3:17 PM - J September 1st. 11:30 AM. This day will go down as history-----as the most dreaded day of Boehm's 2010 class' life. Or, the most exciting. But for all students, this day must come. And it will come, in a matter of days.  Hours.  Minutes.  Seconds.  BAM!  It will arrive.  In nine days. Join J and her classmates as they write their experiences from the biggest highschool campus on planet Earth (or so it seems).  Join us, as we write our way through our young adult life.  Join us, and hear our voices as we tell this story as it comes.  Feel our thoughts. Hear our voices. See through our eyes. Dread our dreads. Fail our failures.  (this is getting a little overboard here...)  Join us, and read the one and only J's Gems exclusive HIGH SCHOOL diaries

2 comments .

Edit entry  Just Dance: the official review Tuesday 8/3/10 time 3:10 PM - J So here's a story from A to Z, you wanna get with me, you gotta listen carefully,... Recognize those lyrics? Yep, they're from that annoyingly catchy Spice Girls song, Wannabe. Or Wanna Be. Or something like that. Find this song and more on that non-annoyingly addicting dance game, Just Dance. Pros: It features 32 songs of different genres. Some good, some bad, some...uh...never mind. Keyword: variety. One song is from 1962, while another is from last year.  Although only moving arms is necessary to succeed point-wise, if you really work at it, you do build up a good sweat. Well, for us girls, glow. You can play this game at parties and have fun while sloughing off calories! Who knew that was even possible? TO READ MORE OF THIS BLOG REVIEW, CHECK OUT OUR OTHER WEBSITE, www.wiilikegames.moogo.com

No comments. Keywords: wii, fitness, just dance

Edit entry  Album reviews Thursday 2/18/10 time 5:55 PM - J Sgt. Pepper...White Album...Revolver...Rubber Soul...Abbey Road...Magical Mystery Tour...Help...A Hard Day's Night...Please Please Me...With the Beatles...Beatles for Sale...Yellow Submarine...Let it Be...They're all so good...how can you choose? Somehow I managed to find a favorite: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (No, I did NOT make up that name). But how are you supposed to find a second, third, fourth,...thirteenth favorite? This brings us to... ~J's Own Beatles' Albums Reviews~ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-- This album was considered the greatest rock album of all time (No, I did NOT make that up, even though I agree with the statement.), and it's no surprise why.  It starts out with its title song, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", then "Billy Shears" (Ringo) has his lovely solo of "With a Little Help from My Friends" (not actually written by Ringo, due to lack of...ahem...talent). The order of the rest of the songs is unnecessary.  Between uplifting "Getting Better" to dark and mystifying "Within You Without You" by George Harrison is a vast range, but both are gems, to coin a phrase.  Psychedelic songs flow throughout this album, including John's son inspired "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (No, it has nothing to do with any drug) and "A Day in a Life", the "epic song", to quote Beatles Rock Band experts. Conjuring magic is a good way to define "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", and the happy wake-up song "Good Morning Good Morning can really lighten up any day.  "Lovely Rita", a, well, lovely song, could be interpreted as a Paul is Dead thing...I say it's just a good song.  How about "She's Leaving Home" for a harp-ish lyrical rock song? For those heavy metal (yech!) lovers, don't listen to this song; you will rule out the Beatles completely (I know from SOME PEOPLE [with bad--er--terrible taste]) who apparently dislike good music.  "Fixing a Hole" is a, according to my brother, a "rip-off", but I beg to differ.  It's the BEATLES, of COURSE it's good! Don't get me started about the JE theme song, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Geez, how do you pronounce that? RePREEZ, REprize,...oh, forget it. Gosh. Let's just call it the other Sgt. Pepper at the end of the album (ok, second-to-last song, but let's not go there). A cool song, it nicely wraps up the album to finish with "A Day in a Life".  Lastly, but not leastly, "When I'm Sixty-Four" (no, not "64", S I X T Y- F O U R. They're out to kill us.) I was surprised when I heard this: Paul wrote this when he was 16! Or, for those picky people,  S I X T E E N. It was one of his first songs! They just never recorded it and got it on an album. But here it is, seven years later.  I will post links to all of the songs in the album so you can hear them--coming soon. CONTINUED LATER.

No comments. Keywords: the beatles

Edit entry  The Beatles are Back! Friday 11/13/09 time 4:13 PM - J Beatlemania--all over again (in my world)! Have you noticed that ever since Beatles Rock Band came out, The Beatles have been popular? The same day of BRB's arrival, a whole set of all the Beatles' great songs have come out on disk: The Beatles Remastered. Now is the time to start up a great obsession for a great band. Except for the fact that the CD set is over $260! I wouldn't even consider owning that collection for that price! But, on the other hand, BRB (Beatles Rock Band, we will call it) is definately worth owning. Thanks to the public library, I was able to fully experience the new game for Wii. Playing as George Harrison (lead guitar) for most of it was nice. Then I figured out that I could play the bass guitar from my regular guitar! Now I could play as Paul McCartney.  To play as John Lennon was something I would not do, since I would never sing out loud all alone in my basement.  And of course, that leaves Ringo Starr. Not my favorite guy in the world, but I played as him when I played the drums. All of the songs were good, and so was the game.  Album of the week: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Bye  for  now,  grooooooovy!

No comments. Keywords: beatles, rock

Edit entry  Archie Marries Veronica 4 Thursday 11/12/09 time 6:46 PM - J And..............................we are back, mi amigos. This time: with the results. Did Veronica give birth to a boy or a girl? The answer is........................................BOTH! She had twins!! I could have predicted that. Even OBF could have predicted that! (or...maybe not.) But you will never believe this. Next issue: ARCHIE MARRIES BETTY!!!!!!!!!! What next? Archie has a baby? We shall see what happens next in the next issue in the next month in the next blog. Bye!

No comments. Keywords: archie, comic

Edit entry  Archie Marries Veronica 3 Monday 10/12/09 time 5:40 PM - J Remember in August when Archie proposed to Veronica? Well, the second issue is out and in this one, Archie weds Veronica. Guess what's next...Veronica has a baby? No...it can't be that...can it? 1. Proposal. 2. Marriage. 3. Child. That's the truth! The next issue is Veronica having a kid! Do you think things are being rushed a little? This issue starts out with a recap of the previous issue, the proposal. Archie and Veronica prep for the wedding...the wedding takes place...and then they go on a honeymoon in a private beach house. Archie starts working...then Veronica tells him that she's pregnant...then Archie faints. Yeah. It's strange. Is it a boy or a girl? We shall find out. See you next month! ~another fine blog by J~

1 comment . Keywords: archie

Edit entry  Archie Marries Veronica 2 Wednesday 8/19/09 time 2:49 PM - J Remember back in June when the blog about Archie marrying Veronica came out? Archie #600 brings part 1 of 6 of "The Wedding".  Part 1 came out today. It is now in J's possesion. Archie goes down the infamous 'memory lane' seen in previous comics (the character goes into the past), but this time Archie takes a different path and visits the future. He ends up graduating from college. For more of the story in part 1, comment on this blog post. J will keep posting as the other parts of the story come out. STAY TUNED... ~another fine blog by J~

No comments. Keywords: archie comics

Edit entry  Isometric exercises Wednesday 7/15/09 time 1:17 PM - J What are isometrics? They are simple exercises that you could do at home to improve your muscles. Here are a few: The Plank~for abdomen improvement (stomach muscles) Start out by lying flat on the floor. Slowly raise the body so you are resting on your toes and forearms. Keep the back flat and the abdominal muscles tight. Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times. Sholder Raises~for sholder muscle improvement Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart and the knees slightly bent. Grasp a dumbbell (weight) in each hand and raise the weight out towards your side until it is at shoulder length and your arm is parallel to the ground (like you are about to make a partial snow angel). Hold the weight in this position for 10-30 seconds. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times. The Chair~for quadricept improvement (thigh muscels) Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your back firmly against a wall. Slowly slide down the wall until your thighs are parallel to the floor. If necessary, move your feet away from the wall to ensure your knees do not extend past your toes (like you are sitting in an invisible chair) Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times. Calf Raises~for calf improvement (lower portion of leg, below knee area) Stand next to a wall on one foot and touch the wall lightly for balance, if necessary, but do not allow yourself to rest against the wall. Rise up onto your toes (I think you should bend your knees slightly to work your thighs) Hold the position for 10-30 seconds. Switch feet and repeat the exercise for the other calf. Repeat the exercise on both calves 2-3 times. Easy enough. If you want more, just comment on this story. Let me know how they work! ~another fine blog by J~

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Edit entry  Archie marrying Veronica? Wednesday 6/10/09 time 4:38 PM - J Betty, the sweet, wholesome, girl-next-door can fix your car, bake you cookies, AND do your algebra homework. Veronica, on the other hand, will make you...well...nothing.  But at least she is rich, snobbish, and, Archie's favorite: good looking. So, who would you choose to let Archie (clumsy, not that bright, "broke")...marry? According to Archie Comics editors, Archie will propose to...rich and snobby Veronica. This story has been broadcasted on the news, blogs, and more. The comic that tells it all will come out in September. See you then with results! Check out www.archiecomics.com and click on the characters' blogs for more information. ~Another fine blog by J~

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Edit entry  Global Warming-how you can help Monday 6/8/09 - J Here are some easy ways you can help slow down global warming.  CO2 Paper or plastic? neither- use a burlap or reuseable bag. Turn off the gas when you wait in line for a drive-through.  2030: the year that scientists predict most glaciers will be gone. Recycle Limit car use Cold? Put on a sweater--not the heat. ...more to come... www.stopglobalwarming.com www.greenpeace.com Write your ideas on our messageboard!

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