paris.

everyone here is fashionable; everyone here smokes cigarettes; drivers are crazy; pedestrians are crazier.

forever ago.

Well, in a few days I'll be embarking on a four month trip throughout western Europe, and when I return from that, I'll most likely be embarking on another trip across Canada. Hopefully you won't be upset with the lack of insight into my mind. If you want to guess what I'll be thinking while I'm there, I'm sure it will include a lot of, "wow" and a lot of "hmm".

So, goodbyes are in order. Instead of reading this, go read a book.

Oh, and listen to Bon Iver, for goodness sake.

dreamers, part three.

another killin' on the dance floor!

download here

tracks.
bloc party - i still remember (sebastiAn remix)
digitalism - magnets
daft punk - rollin and scratchin
lcd soundsystem - all my friends
kavinsky - testarossa (sebastiAn remix)
the field - a paw in the face
phoenix - long distance call (25 hours a day remix)
justice - b.e.a.t. (extended)
dragonette - i get around (midnight juggernauts remix)
justice - phantom pt. ii (boys noize remix)
mstrkrft - street justice (2007 remix)
chromeo - fancy footwork

get down!

visions.

A quiet thought.

I'm standing side-stage, of an overwhelmingly large auditorium, the kind with three balconies and exclusive boxes attached to the walls, where royalty may have once sat. There's a large, red velvet curtain that is concealing the stage, and the gentle lull of nervous, anticipating conversation is swimming throughout the audience. The stage is occupied by only one item: a simple, elegant, black grand piano.

From the other side of the stage, I can see you anxiously pace from one wall to the next. You're not nervous, rather you're excited, and when you glance over to my side of the stage, you flash me this smile, as if to say, "I know something that you don't." You've never been good with secrets, and sooner than later the entire auditorium will be on the inside. The house lights are dimmed, subtly, and the auditorium is hushed. The curtain is drawn, and you make your entrance, in pure beauty. The audience claps, quickly, as to not waste any more time; everyone is just as excited to discover this secret you want to share. So you bow, politely, and smile at the audience the same way you smiled at me. You sit down, and right before you press the first key, you look up, and nod towards me; your eyes tell me, "this one's for you."

records of the year.

Time for this year's best of list. Get down!



15. Feist - The Reminder

This record blew me away the first time I heard it: a much more mature, produced sounding record, with some of Feist's best songs to date. It probably would have made it even higher on the list if every person with a TV hadn't have agreed with me too.



14. Mixtapes and Cellmates - Mixtapes and Cellmates

I'm almost positive this record came out this year, but it's hard to tell. This band is just another group of Swedes that completely amazed me this year. Sweden went from being another place I'd like to visit some day, to a place I NEED to visit. This record grows on me each time I hear it, and it will be the perfect record to fill the void for the people waiting for a new Postal Service record.



13. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

A lot of people will call this the album of the year, and it probably deserves to be called that. Another surprise for me; I wasn't really amazed after hearing the first few tracks, but this record works as a whole. "The Past Is A Grotesque..." may be the greatest 11 minute song ever put in the middle of a record.



12. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

Another surprise record for me. Since my infatuation with all things Swedish began, I've been picking up absolutely anything by any Swede. I had listened to "You're So Silent...", but I had never really got into it. This album, on the other hand, had me hooked from the first listen. His ability to tell a story through a song is brilliant, and the arrangements and overall instrumentation is so cool. One of the best feelgood records of the year.



11. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

The first time I listened to this record, I didn't get it. I'd never been a fan of Sam Beam's more full-band stuff on "Our Endless...", so I didn't really know how to take this record in. And then I saw him live. I think that in order for this record to REALLY take effect, you need to see it performed. After that show, I haven't been able to stop listening to it. It really does have everything that made me fall in love with Iron and Wine to begin with: the whispering voices of beautiful melodies, with the sleepy harmonies. "Flightless Bird..." has to be my favourite song of the year.



10. The Field - From Here We Go Sublime

About a week ago I DJ'd a dance party, and "Everday", though early in the mix, had the place losing it. Probably one of the best dance songs I've heard in ages. If you can find the video of "Everday" being performed at the Pitchfork Festival this year, do it. You'll know what I mean.



9. The Acorn - Glory Hope Mountain

The Acorn have been one of my favourite bands over the last few years. I'd been waiting for a full-length from them for quite some time, and I'm happy to say that they didn't disappoint. They seemed to combine all the things I loved about their EPs, and put it in to one record. Again, another album that just flows so well, and "Lullaby" is one of the best album closers of the year.



8. Band of Horses - Cease To Begin

"No One's Gonna Love You" has to be the prettiest song I have ever heard. This record was a welcome step from "Everything...".



7. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

I remember during the summer, when Wilco posted their record to stream off their site. I immediately got a hold of my friend Andy, another big Wilco fan, to let him know. He asked me how it sounded, and all I could think of was, "soft". The production on this record is brilliant, much like the production on "A Ghost Is Born". Here, though, it feels more like a warm walk in the sun, whereas "A Ghost..." is a like a warm blanket, in a very cold room. One of the most mellow, subtle records of the year.



6. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

This guy is just absolutely ridiculous. I mean, look at that album cover. This was definitely my left-field pick of the year. But again, the flow of this record made it so easy to listen to. It's really like going on an adventure. Such weird, happy, beautiful music.



5. Radiohead - In Rainbows

I would have loved to give this record the number one, but though it's only a few off, this record is still absolutely amazing. I had no idea what to expect, and I was incredibly pleased. It has enough experimentation to make it something unique, but enough straight up rock and roll to make it accessible. Definitely their best record since Kid A.



4. Miracle Fortress - Five Roses

The definition of a summer record. I had read about this record on i(heart)music, and the next day found it in futureshop for a mere $12. I bought it on a whim, and never looked back. I can't believe this record hasn't made Graham Van Pelt an indie superstar, but I suppose I should enjoy the time when I have him to myself. Expect huge things from this band.



3. The National - Boxer

Right from the start, this record pulls you into something. It's catchy, it's dark, it's got some really beautiful songs, it's got some really harsh songs. The lyrics are so complex, and hearing them through that deep baritone creates this atmosphere that is amazing.



2. Justice - †

The best electronic record since "Discovery". Amazingly catchy songs, with some of the best dance beats made in a long time. This record just doesn't quit, too. Right when you think you've hit the peak, you get "Stress" and "Waters of Nazareth", two of the sickest songs I have ever heard. The bar has been raised.



1. Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City

This album summed up my first half of the year. Of all the records released this year, none resonated quite so much as this one did. I had loved "Silent Alarm" and, as seems to be the trend, was a little weary of this record. My first few times through, I thought it was alright, nothing amazing. But after seeing them live, I become obsessed. This record was on repeat on my iPod for at least two months. Something about the combination of the danceable music, and potent, prophetic lyrics just hit me. This record made me want to write music that said something, that discussed the things that our culture needs to discuss. It also made me want to dance. The critics weren't completely impressed by this record, but thankfully I'm not a music critic. I think this record is a perfect documentation of our culture, and our times, and when I look back to life in the 2000s, I think this record will say much more than a lot of other records.

pure beauty.

i can't say enough good things about this record. i had the joy of seeing the lovely folks in iron and wine play some lovely songs on tuesday. i'll post some pictures someday, but for now i've only got my words.

the other day a friend of mine said that he physically missed being at this show he had seen this summer. i told him that i felt the same way about this iron and wine. what i wouldn't give to be back there. some of the highlights had to be sodom, south georgia, upwards over the mountain and flightless bird, american mouth. his rock and roll songs absolutely slayed, and his slower stuff completely mellowed out every person there. it was amazing.

so, go out, get the shepherd's dog, and listen to it in headphones. love!

on a snowy night.

Thanks Vince, you've been great company tonight. Please don't take any offense to this, but if it were up to me though, I'd have been with someone else.

Yours truly,

Jamison.

latest additions.

some new, some old, some re-found.

1. radiohead - in rainbows
2. okkervil river - black sheep boy
3. iron and wine - the shepard's dog
4. daft punk - alive 2007
5. sigur ros - hauf/heim

who wants to play scrabble.

done.

i'm officially done listening to anything anyone has to say on the topic of relationships. everyone is just as confused as everyone else.

our so called friend.

hey berk, thanks for the okk.

"loving is as loving does, and you and i should know because we both have loved and lost, and are alone."

fast dancing

1. the blow - parentheses
2. kings of leon - king of the rodeo
3. the postal service - we will become silhouettes
4. stars - the ghost of genova heights
5. daft punk - revolution 909
6. the rapture - don gon do it
7. bloc party - banquet
8. chromeo - outta sight
9. daft punk - digital love
10. css - off the hook
11. tokyo police club - your english is good
12. patrick wolf - accident & emergency
13. the faint - your retro career melted
14. ratatat - seventeen years
15. notorious b.i.g. - party and bullshit (ratatat remix)
16. shout out louds - normandie
17. the field - everday
18. css - knife (grizzly bear cover)
19. mixtapes and cellmates - hold
20. phoenix - consolation prizes
21. clap your hands say yeah - in this home on ice
22. wolf parade - i'll believe in anything
23. ratatat - lex
24. kanye west - champion
25. lcd soundsystem - all my friends
26. black kids - i'm not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you
27. m.i.a. - boyz
28. coconut records - nighttiming
29. malajube - le jus de citron
30. girl talk - hold up
31. peter bjorn and john - up against the wall
32. justice - phantom pt II
33. the spinto band - crack the whip
34. dizzee rascal - fix up (ratatat remix)
35. you say party! we say die! - the gap
36. junior boys - in the morning
37. hot chip - boy from school

EPIC

bowie.

oh, the humanity. no shave november takes no prisoners, so i've discovered.

i wrote some words this weekend, on a cold, windy day, while i was tucked inside. the fire was burning, and the national were singing us songs. here's what came about.

1. His story of her.

The night is alive with flashing lights, green and red, sliding down each building and on to the wet streets. Your eyes reflect all those shades of life, as they bounce off your pupils into mine. You're smiling because all of this seems new, and the city seems endless. Not endless in the way that you know, with the sun stretching across the entire horizon, but rather it's like an endless moment. Each block is another story; another collection of individuals with their ironic tales of love and loss. Most people back home know your story already, but here, you're just one of a million stories. So we take drives, which we know doesn't help a cause, but you say it's your favourite way to take in the city. The unassured comfort of four wheels.

2. Her story of him.

He spends so much time outside, just sitting on the bench, staring out into the abyss of wheat and grain. I think when city folk, like him, come to the prairies, they like the silence. In fact, the only sound at this time of the evening is a faint train, and the occasional siren from the distant highway. I had always thought of this boy as such a complex being, which is why I think he was drawn to the simplicity of the vast expanse of field and nothing. He would hold my hand as we went on our midnight walks down the gravel road. He'd always exclaim about how beautiful the stars were, and how he never wanted to leave. "Home," he would say, "is a starry night." And with him there beside me, I couldn't agree more.

all aspirations, and falling asleep.

after a day of not eating (unintentional) and too much coffee (very intentional), today seems very sleepy. that's not to say that last night didn't have it's highlights. let's just say that after two animated children's films, and the first half hour of a film classic, some ridiculous things were said. here are some of the classics:



"how is the real queen going to fit into that cat!? she's huge compared to the cat!"



"kids love this shit!"



"UNCLE OWEN, THIS R2 UNIT'S GOT A BAD MOTIVATOR"

there you go alex, you're nineteen now. maybe for my birthday you can excavate a cake for me.

all i know is tonight

dante; scrubs; headache; loose leaf tea; seven swans; text message; to own a dragon; headband; hard drive space; sweet and salty bar; oreos with milk; "that dress looks nice on you"; messy desk; cat vomit; rosie thomas; arrested development; preparing; weekend thoughts; purpose; long term-short term; autumn love; set list; sufjan cover; older books; falling in love; touch lamp.

the breaks.

stockholm is calling.

tracey is a lucky girl; i wish i was in sweden.

needs.

on the eve of something big.

random memories from tonight:

sitting in a big chair at dan guenter's house, drinking loose leaf green tea, listening to 'true love waits' by christopher o'riley. feeling so at peace, in awe of how a man could take the beauty of a radiohead song, and make it that much more beautiful.

telling rob, "there's this girl with these adidas hi-tops. she seems cool."

being so underwhelmed by the lack of difficulty when playing super smash bros., some 8 years ago. finding it incredibly difficult now.

tomorrow will be a day of many greats. hope you have as good a day as i will.

sleep well.

complications.

thinkings: i guess the acorn are on the cover of exclaim. i should go to the cdplus and pick it up. their new record is pretty good. it's growing on me, that's for sure. new radiohead record in a few days. that's should be pretty good. i bought a polaroid camera today. i just need to pick up some film, and then i'm good to go. speaking of which, post final exam week equals road trip to portland. i hope donald miller knows what's in store for him. but in case he doesn't, here's what's good: we're going to take him to coffee, pick his brain, and allow him to be as poetic and beautiful as possible. in other news, the new radiohead album comes out on the tenth. of october. 2007. that's this year. i know, i'm a little overexcited. but i mean, come on, it's radiohead. if you don't love this band as much as i do, you are obviously either deaf or an idiot. that's a little overdramatic, but you get what i mean. ok computer is still a good album. for real, it hasn't aged at ALL. here's the way i see it though: pablo honey, the bends and ok computer are put together, with ok computer being the most progressive of the three. then, kid a came along and totally blew them out of the water. then you have kid a, amnesiac, and httt, with httt being the most progressive. (listen to httt again. it's out there. kid a at least has flow). so where does this put the new record? the next in the chapter of threes, which means, i predict this album will completely polarize fans, just like kid a did. hopefully i still love them, but i can't see myself not loving them. doesn't make much sense. ok computer is really good, also. the guitar work is the best of their career i think. jonny really got nutty with the effects and such.

that's enough for now. time for a shower/shave/sleep.

it's alright ma, i'm only DYING

come on people now, take your depressed friends out.
BLOG
..dear wal-mart,

though you still have a grasp on my t-shirt market, i am happy to tell you that no longer will i be needing your photo-developing services. though we've had a long, tumultous relationship, i've moved on from your affordable prices and shoddy workmanship. if you must now, i now will be printing the photos of myself.

cordually,
Jamison.

dear t-shirt market,

please give me an option other than wal-mart.

i love you.

Jamison.

THIS IS THE WORST EVER



and that's life these days.