My favourite pop songs of the year (in no particular order)
1. Drake - Hotline Bling
2. Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?
3. The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face
4. Major Lazer - Lean On
5. David Guetta - Hey Mama
6. Jack U - Where Are U Now?
7. Taylor Swift - Style
8. The Weeknd - The Hills
9. Calvin Harris - How Deep Is Your Love?
10. Justin Bieber - Sorry
11. The 1975 - Love Me
12. Taylor Swift - Bad Blood
13. Little Mix - Black Magic
14. Fetty Wap - Trap Queen
15. Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk
16. Disclosure - Magnets
17. Hozier - Take Me To Church
18. Ariana Grande - Focus
19. Lana Del Rey - High By The Beach
20. Chvrches - Leave A Trace
21. Kendrick Lamar - Alright
22. Diplo - Be Right There
23. Rihanna - Bitch Better Have My Money
24. Omi - Cheerleader
25. One Direction - Perfect
26. Rihanna, Kanye West, Paul McCartney - FourFiveSeconds
27. Years & Years - King
28. Lost Frequencies - Are You With Me
29. Pvris - St Patrick
30. Ariana Grande - Love Me Harder
31. Avicii - Waiting For Love
32. Brand New - Mene
33. Young Guns - Daylight
34. WSTRN - In2
35. Iggy Azalea - Trouble
36. Phillip George - Alone No More
37. Taylor Swift - Blank Space
38. Glowbug - The Night My Heart Stopped
39. Beyoncé - Crazy In Love (Fifty Shades Of Grey Version)
40. Young Guns - Speaking In Tongues
The best movies I saw for the first time this year:
1. The Place Beyond The Pines
2. What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
3. The Punk Singer
4. Big Eyes
5. Birdman
6. Big Hero 6
7. Amélie
8. Me Without You
9. Drive
10. Chappie
11. Inside Out
12. Trainwreck
13. The Theory Of Everything
14. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2
Bands I saw live this year:
1. Die Antwoord
2. The Blackout at Takedown Festival and four times on their farewell tour
3. The Swellers, on their farewell tour
4. Young Guns, twice
5. Brand New
Cool things I did this year:
1. Got a job and made a whole lot of new friends
2. Went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival twice and saw 11 events
3. Went to the Kerrang Awards and met Patty Walters
4. Followed the whole of The Blackout's last tour with my friends, then survived the next nine months without them around
5. Started my blog and kept it going until the end of the year
Bands I loved most this year:
1. Die Antwoord
2. The Blackout
3. Glassjaw
4. Kids In Glass Houses
5. As It Is
6. PVRIS
7. Taking Back Sunday
8. Dear Boy
9. AFI
10. Young Guns
Favourite books I read this year:
1. Letters Home by Sylvia Plath
2. Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham
3. How To Build A Girl by Caitlin Moran
4. An Abundance Of Katherines by John Green
The 10 songs I've listened to most this year (according to last.fm):
1. Die Antwoord - Cookie Thumper!
2. Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?
3. Drake - Hotline Bling
4. Die Antwoord - Happy Go Sucky Fucky
5. Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk
6. PVRIS - My House
7. Die Antwoord - Fok Julle Naaiers
8. PVRIS - St Patrick
9. Culture Beat - Anything
10. The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face
Favourite fashion/beauty purchases this year:
1. Leather jacket
2. Lush Silky Underwear dusting powder
3. Thick black platform boots
4. Lace blouse with a Peter Pan collar for work
5. FSHNCNCS t-shirt and jumper
6. Varsity jacket
7. Choker necklaces
8. Mavala Mavadry fast drying topcoat nail polish
9. The black lace dress I wore to the work Christmas ball
10. Sequined Christmas jumper
New Years Resolutions:
1. Keep my blog going all year
2. Remain employed
3. Keep a diary
4. Drink more water and wash my hands more
5. Decide what I want to do next
Thursday 31 December 2015
Sunday 20 December 2015
#NOTD: Festive sparkle
It's almost Christmas and there are few things that make me feel less festive than glitter, so this month I've been covering my nails with seasonal sparkle.
The first Saturday of the month happened to be my work Christmas party which was a great night, I'm so glad to have met such a lovely bunch of people to hang out with both inside the office and out. I put on my pretty lace dress and wore my favourite glitter to fit in with the party theme of red and white.
The polish in question is Barry M's Red Glitter shade which I bought a few years ago and have never grown tired of. It doesn't matter what time of year I wear it, it always feels like Christmas when I see it twinkling on my fingertips. It's a really thick glitter which doesn't need a basecoat underneath to hide the gaps the sparkles don't fill; the above is just two coats of glitter with fast drying topcoat on top to make my nails shiny and smooth. It's one of my favourite looks and also the source of lots of compliments - one friend even asked where I'd had them done! Of all the glitter polishes I've tried, Barry M's is the sparkliest and most satisfying and although it chips quickly because of its thickness I don't mind because it looks so amazing.
This week I've gone for the opposite in Christmas colours with a shiny green glitter instead. The photo above doesn't quite do it justice, for some reason the glitter looks much more sparse there as it does in real life but I can assure you it is very sparkly.
This glitter is not the Barry M green that I probably should have bought, but rather a cheap bottle I found in a bargain store. It's not nearly as dense and as you can probably tell from the above I had to use a couple of coats of colour under the glitter. I chose Pacific from the Barry M Aquarium collection as my base here which has given the look a turquoise hue in some lights rather than the pure emerald colour of the glitter itself. Actually, it was lucky that this manicure happened as I also bought this same glitter in purple and when I tried to use it a few months ago I found that it had solidified. I don't know exactly why the green stayed in such good condition when I bought them at the same time but I'm glad it did so I can walk around like a Christmassy Sally Bowles for the next few days. No word yet on how soon this will chip as it has remained pristine since yesterday morning but as there are two coats of blue, two of glitter and one or two of top coat, I don't expect this look to make it to Christmas, which means I have time to dream up one last festive manicure before 2015 is out!
Polishes used: Barry M Aquarium Collection Nail Paint in Pacific; w7 nail polish in Green Glitter
(Previous look: Barry M Nail Paint in Red Glitter)
Tuesday 15 December 2015
101 goals in 1001 days, December 2015 update
I've now been keeping this blog going for a few months and I've written a couple of updates about my progress in achieving my Day Zero list of goals. Not only is it now almost the end of 2015 but with 532 days remaining, I'm almost halfway to the deadline with almost half of my goals either completed or in progress. (Note: goals listed in grey are detailed in previous blog entries)
Now completed:
2. Dress up for Halloween
Halloween fell on a Saturday this year and I was working in the Shelter shop so we put in a little effort to make the store spooky. My manager got into it the most with a witch costume and cauldron of sweets for customers, while I wore my favourite black velvet dress with thick boots and goth jewellery, inspired by the Addams Family, the coven from American Horror Story, and the girls from The Craft.
Halloween fell on a Saturday this year and I was working in the Shelter shop so we put in a little effort to make the store spooky. My manager got into it the most with a witch costume and cauldron of sweets for customers, while I wore my favourite black velvet dress with thick boots and goth jewellery, inspired by the Addams Family, the coven from American Horror Story, and the girls from The Craft.
4. Attend my 100th concert
10. Meet up with my old high school friends
15. Visit Edinburgh in Fringe season
23. See a comedy show
29. Go on a road trip
10. Meet up with my old high school friends
15. Visit Edinburgh in Fringe season
23. See a comedy show
29. Go on a road trip
31. See a musical
49. Visit London
51. Photograph a concert
51. Help sort through Granny's things
55. Go to the beach
A few months ago I went on a spontaneous day trip with my parents and my gran to the nearby seaside towns of Dunbar, St Abbs and Eyemouth. We saw the seal who hangs out in the Dunbar harbour, I dipped my toes in the sea, collected shells and walked in the sand at St Abbs, and we had a fish supper and amazing ice cream at Giacopazzi's restaurant in Eyemouth.
A few months ago I went on a spontaneous day trip with my parents and my gran to the nearby seaside towns of Dunbar, St Abbs and Eyemouth. We saw the seal who hangs out in the Dunbar harbour, I dipped my toes in the sea, collected shells and walked in the sand at St Abbs, and we had a fish supper and amazing ice cream at Giacopazzi's restaurant in Eyemouth.
65. Volunteer for a charity
71. Get paid
I started my job as a tech support agent in October and since then I've received my first few paychecks - it feels great to finally have money coming in to the bank!
75. Buy a dress
80. Watch every season of a TV show
I spent the Summer watching Arrested Development and I also finally managed to finish Gilmore Girls earlier in the year. My current TV projects are The Office (US) and the various Kardashian shows.
I spent the Summer watching Arrested Development and I also finally managed to finish Gilmore Girls earlier in the year. My current TV projects are The Office (US) and the various Kardashian shows.
81. Read 10 library books
92. Visit Wales
93. Visit five tourist spots in Edinburgh
94. Write a letter to someone who has inspired me
95. Meet an online friend in person
100. See The Blackout for the 50th time
Monday 9 November 2015
Music Monday: Sing The Sorrow
The days are getting shorter and it's suddenly cold and dark outside all the time, which means it's the ideal time of year to listen to one of my all-time favourite bands, AFI. 'Sing The Sorrow', released in 2003, was the band's breakthrough album and is considered by many to be their best. It's actually not my favourite of their releases, although it's hard to say which is because they've put out so many great albums, but it's pretty close to flawless.
To set the scene: AFI began as a band in 1991 as a group of high schoolers playing fast-paced, juvenile hardcore punk, and as the decade went on and the band grew up they put out darker and darker albums. By 2003 they were signed to a major label and ready to put 'Sing The Sorrow' out into the world. The album was a huge success, going platinum in the US and Canada and catapulting the band into the mainstream. Above, you can stream the full UK edition of the album including the bonus tracks not available on the standard CD.
AFI are a band who like to keep an element of mystery to their work and there are a few questions that 'Sing The Sorrow' poses: Why is 'The Leaving Song Pt II' before 'The Leaving Song' on the tracklisting? What does the 'Clandestine' film that accompanied the album on a limited edition DVD mean? And what is going on in the VMA-winning music video for hit single 'Girl's Not Grey'? There are plenty of fan theories, but the likelihood is that we'll never know.
My album highlights:
Miseria Cantare - The Beginning
Most of AFI's albums start with a dramatic opening number, and Sing The Sorrow is no different. In this case we begin with a dark, atmospheric piece with a chant proclaiming that 'you are now one of us', setting the tone for the rest of the album.
Most of AFI's albums start with a dramatic opening number, and Sing The Sorrow is no different. In this case we begin with a dark, atmospheric piece with a chant proclaiming that 'you are now one of us', setting the tone for the rest of the album.
Silver & Cold
One of the three singles to be taken from the album, Silver & Cold has a huge catchy chorus and almost makes you want to cosy up under a blanket to escape from the cold it somehow gives off. The cinematic music video features the band rushing to rescue singer Davey Havok from plummeting off a bridge to an icy grave.
One of the three singles to be taken from the album, Silver & Cold has a huge catchy chorus and almost makes you want to cosy up under a blanket to escape from the cold it somehow gives off. The cinematic music video features the band rushing to rescue singer Davey Havok from plummeting off a bridge to an icy grave.
Dancing Through Sunday
This song absolutely sounds like something you'd want to dance and have a good time to, and it would be perfect for a night out if the band didn't sing 'we dance in misery' throughout the chorus. There are a lot of beautiful lyrics on this album but this song has some particularly good moments.
This song absolutely sounds like something you'd want to dance and have a good time to, and it would be perfect for a night out if the band didn't sing 'we dance in misery' throughout the chorus. There are a lot of beautiful lyrics on this album but this song has some particularly good moments.
Death Of Seasons
My favourite from the album, this is one of the first AFI songs to incorporate electronic elements. It sounds great on the album but it has to be seen live to be truly appreciated; the way that Davey gets down on his knees to yell out the final lines is heart wrenching.
My favourite from the album, this is one of the first AFI songs to incorporate electronic elements. It sounds great on the album but it has to be seen live to be truly appreciated; the way that Davey gets down on his knees to yell out the final lines is heart wrenching.
This Celluloid Dream
This was one of the first songs from the album that resonated with me, although for years I struggled to make out exactly what Davey was saying. When I finally looked up the lyrics I was pleased by the image that they painted.
The Leaving Song
'The Leaving Song' is an acoustic number with a lovely simple guitar melody accompanying the words. There's not much I can say about it other than that it's beautiful.
'The Leaving Song' is an acoustic number with a lovely simple guitar melody accompanying the words. There's not much I can say about it other than that it's beautiful.
...But Home Is Nowhere
The final track on the standard version of the album, this song starts very quiet and builds up into a giant widescreen chorus. If this song really was the last one it would make a perfect conclusion, but of course there are still a couple more amazing moments to follow.
The final track on the standard version of the album, this song starts very quiet and builds up into a giant widescreen chorus. If this song really was the last one it would make a perfect conclusion, but of course there are still a couple more amazing moments to follow.
Spoken Word (Untitled)
A hidden track at the end which forms a bridge between the false ending (...But Home Is Nowhere or Now The World on the UK edition) and the final hidden song, Spoken Word is a poem read in three parts by a child, an old man and Davey Havok himself about a couple on the last night on Earth. I'd recommend listening to get the full experience, but as the voices are almost drowned out by the piano accompaniment the transcript can be read here.
A hidden track at the end which forms a bridge between the false ending (...But Home Is Nowhere or Now The World on the UK edition) and the final hidden song, Spoken Word is a poem read in three parts by a child, an old man and Davey Havok himself about a couple on the last night on Earth. I'd recommend listening to get the full experience, but as the voices are almost drowned out by the piano accompaniment the transcript can be read here.
This Time Imperfect
The true ending to the album; 'This Time Imperfect' rides in on the wind, slowly breaks your heart, and then fades back into the night. It's a poignant close to a heartbreaking set of dramatic songs to listen to on a dark night.
The true ending to the album; 'This Time Imperfect' rides in on the wind, slowly breaks your heart, and then fades back into the night. It's a poignant close to a heartbreaking set of dramatic songs to listen to on a dark night.
'Sing The Sorrow' has since been followed by three more stunning albums, 'Decemberunderground' (2006), 'Crash Love' (2009) and 'Burials' (2013). The latter is the one I would recommend to fans of 'Sing The Sorrow', it's similar in its themes of darkness and despair but it has an added element of anger.
'Sing The Sorrow' is a perfect collection of songs and deserves all the critical and fan praise that has been bestowed upon it. If you haven't taken the time to sit down and listen to it yet this is the perfect time of year to turn out the lights, wrap up warm, and dedicate an evening to a great album by one of my favourite bands, AFI.
Sunday 8 November 2015
#NOTD: Spring time in November
We might be heading for Winter, but my nails this week are looking forward to that time of year when life becomes candy coloured again!
I love brightly coloured nails but my go-to colour is usually black so it's not often that I actually use the various sunny polishes I own. This week I chose three pretty Easter egg colours and they cheered me up all week. I don't think I've ever used the yellow polish before, in fact the lid was so tight that I had to get a grown-up to open it for me, and it's been a while since I opened the purple or the mint green despite it being one of my favourite colours.
Colours used: Barry M Nail Paint in Mint Green, Nails Inc London in Miami Purple, Missguided Nail Polish in Misslead
The Barry M nail polish is probably my favourite of the three, it hasn't chipped as much as the yellow did. The Missguided polish was a magazine freebie which I was also pretty impressed with, I was originally going to use a gold shade instead but I'm glad I went with yellow instead. The purple Nails Inc polish also held up fairly well here even though I realised after my nails were dry that I hadn't painted right over the edges of my nails and the colour underneath was peeking through. In hindsight the purple tips aren't my favourite look - someone asked if I had dirt on them which is not a good look - but when I've used this polish in the past I've had to put on coat after coat before it started looking like nail polish rather than felt-tip pen, and here it went on well straight away.
Overall I definitely enjoyed using brights for a change even though they're really out of season and a little childish looking. They really cheered up my dull days at the office and I'm looking forward to the next time I bring them out of hibernation!
What I watched while painting: The Graham Norton Show
Monday 2 November 2015
Music Monday: my favourites from October
It's been just over a month since I started using Spotify to stream music rather than trying to download everything that I wanted to listen to for as little as possible, and as a result I've had to change the way that I put together my end of the month playlists. For the last three years I've been compiling a playlist made of new songs that I've downloaded each month, uploading them to 8tracks and committing them to disc, but now I don't have enough new music in my iTunes each month to fill a CD. Luckily, Spotify offers an easy-to-use playlist feature where I've been adding all the new songs I've come across there alongside other favourites that I've been playing a lot.
1. Mene - Brand New
I went to see Brand New live in September and I wrote a review of the show for music site Gigsoup, which you can find here. While I was writing I listened to the band for some inspiration and particularly enjoyed hearing this, the only new song the band have released in the last five years.
I went to see Brand New live in September and I wrote a review of the show for music site Gigsoup, which you can find here. While I was writing I listened to the band for some inspiration and particularly enjoyed hearing this, the only new song the band have released in the last five years.
2. Sink Into Me - Taking Back Sunday
I foolishly thought that I'd be able to listen to Taking Back Sunday while writing about Brand New but it confused me thoroughly. If I had to choose between the two bands I'd pick TBS, who I got to see a couple of times last year. This song is particularly fun and I've played it a few times this month.
I foolishly thought that I'd be able to listen to Taking Back Sunday while writing about Brand New but it confused me thoroughly. If I had to choose between the two bands I'd pick TBS, who I got to see a couple of times last year. This song is particularly fun and I've played it a few times this month.
3. Sippy Cup - Melanie Martinez
4. Soap - Melanie Martinez
I heard a remix of her cover of Toxic last year and absolutely adored it, so when I found Melanie Martinez's debut album 'Cry Baby' on Spotify I set aside some time to listen to it and I thought it was amazing. These two songs were my favourites but really I liked the whole album.
4. Soap - Melanie Martinez
I heard a remix of her cover of Toxic last year and absolutely adored it, so when I found Melanie Martinez's debut album 'Cry Baby' on Spotify I set aside some time to listen to it and I thought it was amazing. These two songs were my favourites but really I liked the whole album.
5. The Fire - Tonight Alive
6. Lonely Girl - Tonight Alive
I spent an afternoon listening to Tonight Alive, who I got really into in 2013 after seeing them on the Kerrang! Tour. Both of these songs are from their 2nd album, 'The Other Side', which came out that year and which I bought but haven't listened to as much as I should have. They put out a new song the other day which I'm not as keen on but I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the new album.
6. Lonely Girl - Tonight Alive
I spent an afternoon listening to Tonight Alive, who I got really into in 2013 after seeing them on the Kerrang! Tour. Both of these songs are from their 2nd album, 'The Other Side', which came out that year and which I bought but haven't listened to as much as I should have. They put out a new song the other day which I'm not as keen on but I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the new album.
7. Castle - Halsey
There's been a lot of hype around Halsey and a lot of my friends are obsessed with her, but I wasn't particularly impressed when I first heard her - her voice has a bit of an Ellie Goulding quality at times which really irritates me. This song appeared in my Spotify Discover playlist one week and while I was excited to give it a chance, I didn't think I would enjoy it; it was a nice surprise to find that I actually really liked the song!
There's been a lot of hype around Halsey and a lot of my friends are obsessed with her, but I wasn't particularly impressed when I first heard her - her voice has a bit of an Ellie Goulding quality at times which really irritates me. This song appeared in my Spotify Discover playlist one week and while I was excited to give it a chance, I didn't think I would enjoy it; it was a nice surprise to find that I actually really liked the song!
8. What Do You Mean? - Justin Bieber
This is probably my favourite song of the month, I've listened to it way more times than I can count and it's actually the reason why I dusted the cobwebs off my Spotify application last month. I watch the video every time it's on TV and I made a rare visit to the iTunes store to purchase the song. I'm getting a little bored with it now but luckily there's a new Bieber song to replace it with.
9. Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd
This is another of the big chart hits that I've been listening to a lot, it's been stuck in my head more or less all month. I saw The Weeknd perform this on Saturday Night Live the other week and it was amazing, I've really grown to like him lately.
This is another of the big chart hits that I've been listening to a lot, it's been stuck in my head more or less all month. I saw The Weeknd perform this on Saturday Night Live the other week and it was amazing, I've really grown to like him lately.
10. Stay High (Habits Remix) - Tove Lo, Hippie Sabotage
This song was dropped into one of my Discover playlists this month and it was definitely the highlight of the collection, I listened to it a couple of times on repeat just to relive how great it was the first time. I don't know much about Tove Lo but this song is magical.
This song was dropped into one of my Discover playlists this month and it was definitely the highlight of the collection, I listened to it a couple of times on repeat just to relive how great it was the first time. I don't know much about Tove Lo but this song is magical.
11. Hotline Bling - Drake
Obviously this song is huge right now so it's not a big surprise that it's on my playlist. It's the other song that's stuck in my head constantly and I'm totally okay with it because it's amazing. The video is a bit dodgy though, Drake's dancing is definitely not sexy.
Obviously this song is huge right now so it's not a big surprise that it's on my playlist. It's the other song that's stuck in my head constantly and I'm totally okay with it because it's amazing. The video is a bit dodgy though, Drake's dancing is definitely not sexy.
12. Gold Teeth - Redlight
I heard this song on my Discover playlist and thought it was pretty cool. Then my brother came home having been to see Radio 1 DJ B.Traits on tour and when I asked him what songs she played he said "nothing you'll have heard of" but when I pressed him this was the first song he mentioned, so listening to it makes me feel kind of hip.
I heard this song on my Discover playlist and thought it was pretty cool. Then my brother came home having been to see Radio 1 DJ B.Traits on tour and when I asked him what songs she played he said "nothing you'll have heard of" but when I pressed him this was the first song he mentioned, so listening to it makes me feel kind of hip.
13. How Deep Is Your Love - Calvin Harris ft Disciples
Another big chart song, which is on TV pretty much every time I flick to the music channel. I didn't think it was that great at first but it's grown on me and now I listen to it regularly, which is nice because I've not liked a Calvin Harris song in ages!
Another big chart song, which is on TV pretty much every time I flick to the music channel. I didn't think it was that great at first but it's grown on me and now I listen to it regularly, which is nice because I've not liked a Calvin Harris song in ages!
14. Love Me - The 1975
When I first heard this I thought it had a real 80s INXS/Depeche Mode vibe which I'm definitely into. It's a really catchy, happy song, a total contrast to 'Sex' which is the other song of theirs that I really like. 'Love Me' sounds totally unlike anything else and I'm glad it's doing well.
15. Be Right There - Diplo, Sleepy Tom
I can't remember where I first heard this song but I ended up with the chorus stuck in my head and luckily I was glad to have it there, so I've listened to it quite a lot. I didn't realise quite how many great summer songs Diplo was behind so it's nice to have this one with his name actually attached.
16. Anyone/Anything - Touché Amoré
I started listening to this band when they toured with AFI a couple of years ago, around the time that their last album came out, and I was listening to them one day this month. My favourite of their songs is 'Is Survived By' but I also really like this one.
I started listening to this band when they toured with AFI a couple of years ago, around the time that their last album came out, and I was listening to them one day this month. My favourite of their songs is 'Is Survived By' but I also really like this one.
17. Grand Piano - Nicki Minaj
I listened to Nicki for a while one evening and when this came on I was floored. She's best known for her tongue-in-cheek party songs so to hear her singing a ballad really surprised me. At first I expected the song to be someone else's and for her to drop a rap verse somewhere but I'm glad to discover a different side of Nicki.
I listened to Nicki for a while one evening and when this came on I was floored. She's best known for her tongue-in-cheek party songs so to hear her singing a ballad really surprised me. At first I expected the song to be someone else's and for her to drop a rap verse somewhere but I'm glad to discover a different side of Nicki.
18. The Hills - The Weeknd
I already included The Weeknd's other hit earlier but as October went on I also fell in love with this song. I really need to sit and listen to his whole album I think because every song I've heard so far has been incredible.
I already included The Weeknd's other hit earlier but as October went on I also fell in love with this song. I really need to sit and listen to his whole album I think because every song I've heard so far has been incredible.
19. Girls Fall Like Dominoes - Nicki Minaj
This is another Nicki Minaj song that came completely out of the blue for me. In this case the surprise was that she'd sampled 'Dominos' by The Big Pink, another song that I really like and hadn't expected to hear in this sort of setting.
This is another Nicki Minaj song that came completely out of the blue for me. In this case the surprise was that she'd sampled 'Dominos' by The Big Pink, another song that I really like and hadn't expected to hear in this sort of setting.
20. Mean - Nicole Dollanganger
I've been a fan of Nicole's for a while since a few of her songs crop up all the time on the 8tracks playlists I listen to, so I was really excited about her album 'Natural Born Losers' coming out. It's all good and I struggled to pick just one song for my playlist.
I've been a fan of Nicole's for a while since a few of her songs crop up all the time on the 8tracks playlists I listen to, so I was really excited about her album 'Natural Born Losers' coming out. It's all good and I struggled to pick just one song for my playlist.
21. Over And Out - 5 Seconds Of Summer
I definitely didn't expect to like this song when it appeared on my Discover playlist since 5SOS have such a bad reputation - I heard some of their last album when they first came on the scene and found it to be a lot like my old favourites Busted. This song sounds like it could be by All Time Low though, and I think it's a step in the right direction.
I definitely didn't expect to like this song when it appeared on my Discover playlist since 5SOS have such a bad reputation - I heard some of their last album when they first came on the scene and found it to be a lot like my old favourites Busted. This song sounds like it could be by All Time Low though, and I think it's a step in the right direction.
22. Leave A Trace - CHVRCHES
I've been keeping an eye on this band since their first single 'The Mother We Share' came out and when they've appeared on chat shows to promote this new song I've tuned in to see their performance. 'Leave A Trace' is just as good as anything that they've done before and I think their singer Lauren is magical.
I've been keeping an eye on this band since their first single 'The Mother We Share' came out and when they've appeared on chat shows to promote this new song I've tuned in to see their performance. 'Leave A Trace' is just as good as anything that they've done before and I think their singer Lauren is magical.
23. Sorry - Justin Bieber
Basically at this point I'm not sure Justin Bieber can put out a song that isn't amazing. When I first heard this I was glad that it was just as catchy and fun as 'What Do You Mean?' is and I have no doubt that I'll be listening to it a lot over the next month.
Basically at this point I'm not sure Justin Bieber can put out a song that isn't amazing. When I first heard this I was glad that it was just as catchy and fun as 'What Do You Mean?' is and I have no doubt that I'll be listening to it a lot over the next month.
24. Laughing At You - Head Automatica
I've been a bit obsessed with this song for the last few months and sadly Spotify only has a live version of it, but that hasn't stopped me from playing it on repeat and singing loudly along. Daryl Palumbo's tone is so cutting and sarcastic in this and I just love everything about it.
I've been a bit obsessed with this song for the last few months and sadly Spotify only has a live version of it, but that hasn't stopped me from playing it on repeat and singing loudly along. Daryl Palumbo's tone is so cutting and sarcastic in this and I just love everything about it.
25. Can't Be Sure - The Sundays
26. Here's Where The Story Ends - The Sundays
'Can't Be Sure' started playing when I was listening to music from my last.fm library, yet I don't remember ever hearing it before. After I'd listened to it there was a bug that made it play again and the second time around I was even more mesmerised and had to find out more about them. When I looked at their page I recognised the title 'Here's Where The Story Ends' and found out that it was the original version of a song I remember being in the charts when I was little. I've played the two quite a lot this past week.
'Can't Be Sure' started playing when I was listening to music from my last.fm library, yet I don't remember ever hearing it before. After I'd listened to it there was a bug that made it play again and the second time around I was even more mesmerised and had to find out more about them. When I looked at their page I recognised the title 'Here's Where The Story Ends' and found out that it was the original version of a song I remember being in the charts when I was little. I've played the two quite a lot this past week.
27. Focus - Ariana Grande
This song came out just in time to be included in my October playlist, although I'm sure it'll also make it in next month. I think Ariana is wonderful and I'm pleased to see her stick to the fun 60s inspired aesthetic that made me fall in love with her to start with.
This song came out just in time to be included in my October playlist, although I'm sure it'll also make it in next month. I think Ariana is wonderful and I'm pleased to see her stick to the fun 60s inspired aesthetic that made me fall in love with her to start with.
Sunday 1 November 2015
#NOTD: black and white crackle
Since I started working a couple of weeks ago I've been trying to stick to a schedule of painting my nails on a Sunday night to make them presentable on Monday morning. This week's manicure was particularly striking and earned me a few compliments despite being really easy to do.
Nail polishes used: New York Color polish in white, Barry M Nail Paint in black crackle
Crackle nail polish was a big trend a couple of years ago and it's one that I always like using since the effect appears as if by magic. This black-on-white look is the best that my nails have ever turned out using the effect and I spent most of the week looking at them in awe, especially since it's such an easy look to achieve - all it took was a couple of coats of white polish (that wasn't enough to make the white opaque but it didn't matter since I was covering it anyway), a coating of Mavala Mavadry to seal in the colour and add shine, and finally a swipe of black crackle over the top to create the dramatic look.
I like to take the photo for my blog after a couple of days so that I can give an indication of how long this manicure lasts for: as you can see from the photo my nails had just begun to chip at some of the tips but it remained presentable for most of the week. One curious thing that I noticed though was that the crackle started to fade from the tips almost immediately which I can't explain. Although I didn't anticipate it happening, I think it still made for a cool effect.
This is a look I'll definitely repeat for a day when I want my nails to stand out, it looks great and it's also Halloween friendly which came in handy yesterday. It's also made me rethink crackle polish, which I'd almost given up on since it doesn't look this good with other colours as the base, but now that it has provided me with a new favourite look I think I'll have to use it more often!
What I watched while painting: the teen prostitutes episode of Tyra on YouTube
Wednesday 14 October 2015
A work wardrobe for Autumn
This Monday I'm making the transition from unemployed graduate to working woman as I start a full-time job. Being a t-shirts and skinny jeans sort of girl I didn't have much in my wardrobe that fits the 'business casual' dress code that I'll be following so I've been trawling the shops to find cute pieces to wear to the office. A lot of the styles that are in this season tend to go one way or the other: half of the tops are sleeveless and the other half are cosy jumpers, neither of which are really what I wanted, so I was starting to despair a little. Luckily I was able to catch the bus up to Edinburgh today though and God bless Primark for having plenty of cute blouses and tops for me to choose from! Here's what I picked up (excuse the lighting and the blurriness of some of my pictures!):
Finally I was passing a sale basket when I spotted the black-on-black lace trim socks that I've admired for a while so I treated myself since they were on sale. I love the juxtaposition of the feminine lace with studded creepers or other thick shoes but I only have lacy socks in pastel and white shades so now I have something more goth to wear too.
NME, free; Harpers Bazaar US edition, £4.95
Red checked Peter Pan collar t-shirt, £6.00
I thought this top was really cute, it's more or less a t-shirt so it's comfortable but it has a sweet tartan print and a Peter Pan collar which I really like. This style is available in another print, black with white swallows, but I thought this was more colourful and sophisticated.
Double pocket shirt, £10.00
I wanted a white shirt but not one that made me feel like I was back in my school uniform, so this is perfect. I thought the black details were really striking and I really like the gold buttons.
Supersoft V-neck jumper, £6.00
I grabbed this jumper in both this deep red and black when I first entered the store but in the fitting room I decided to go for the coloured version, which looks brighter in person. I like this colour which comes around every Autumn and a jumper like this will come in handy for commuting on colder days.
Cut & sew top in grey, £7.00
There are variations of this top in most of the high-street stores, often in baby pink which white lace (which Primark also has) but I'm still a teen goth at heart so I went for the grey version instead. The lace has really cute daisies and even though the top is sheer I think it'll be quite warm for winter.
Sleeveless lace Peter Pan collar blouse, £6.00
This is my favourite of all the pieces I picked up today, it's just so pretty! It's hard to see from the picture but the top is white lace, front and back, with another Peter Pan collar. I'm already thinking about getting camisoles in different colours to wear underneath this.
Classic canvas black shoes and black slipper shoes, both £6.00
The Chuck Taylor style shoes aren't for work but I had an old New Look pair which I just had to throw out and I wear them a lot so I needed a replacement. They're half the price of my previous pair, which themselves are half the price of a Converse pair so I'm happy with the bargain.
I don't wear pumps at all because I find that they don't stay on my feet. Over the last few days I've tried shoes on in almost every store in town and I couldn't find a pair that fit me at all. These slipper-style shoes are the best that I've found so hopefully they'll serve me well - if not I'll be off to work in pretty dresses and chunky boots like my 90s faves from Beverly Hills 90210!
Stretch cami in black, £1.80, & long sleeve stretch scoop neck top in slate, £3.50
A lot of the tops above are sheer so I picked up a black camisole to wear underneath - I'd have taken a white one too but there was only one size left and sadly it wasn't mine.
I bought another of these long-sleeve tops on a previous visit in another colour (purple with black stars printed on) and it's serving me well so I picked up another in this more neutral shade today.
There are lots of colour options for both of these styles, as well as vests and t-shirts, so plenty to choose from!
Lace trim socks, £1.00; invisible socks (2 pairs), £1.50; cotton rich socks (5 pairs), £2.00
I know this looks like a lot of black socks but I swear they're all different. I bought the 'invisible' socks last time I was in and I wear them a lot so it turned out that 2 pairs wasn't enough.
I didn't have any regular black socks to wear with my transparent rain boots or on days when I don't want my socks to be obvious so I picked up a plain pack. Finally I was passing a sale basket when I spotted the black-on-black lace trim socks that I've admired for a while so I treated myself since they were on sale. I love the juxtaposition of the feminine lace with studded creepers or other thick shoes but I only have lacy socks in pastel and white shades so now I have something more goth to wear too.
I also had a look in H&M but I didn't see any clothes that I loved, just these cute necklaces:
Choker, £1.99 and necklaces, £9.99
I like to wear necklaces but most of the ones I own are band merchandise and they're not really work-friendly. I really like the 90s chokers that are back in style just now, I've been wearing one of the woven ones almost every day for the last few weeks so I wanted a little more variety. The necklace on the left is velvet with a little gold charm, they also had styles with different colours and charms but this was my favourite.
There were a couple of the sets of necklaces to choose from and I almost went for the other one which had different charms but instead I opted for the one above. The five necklaces are all separate but they go together: there's a choker, a diamante-encrusted eye on a leather string, a tiny arrowhead on a silver chain, a piece of turquoise on a braided leather string and a gold peace sign on a long chain. The four pendants are all really dainty which should mean I can wear them with anything and in any combination, and I really like them all so I think they were a good buy.
Finally, although they're not clothing, I also picked up these magazines today. I'm not a city girl so I've not been able to get my hands on NME since it became a free publication so I'm looking forward to seeing the changes that have taken place since I last bought it.
I like to flick through the proper fashion magazines and make collages with my favourite pictures so every time I'm in Edinburgh I go into Waterstones to look at their magazine section - the Princes St branch is the only one I've come across that stocks magazines and they have a selection that I can't find anywhere else. They didn't have US Vogue, which I like at this time of year because it often has 1000 pages, so I went for Harpers Bazaar instead which is also thick with gorgeous pictures... plus it mentioned Kendall & Kylie on the cover and I unashamedly keep up with the Kardashians. I'm looking forward to flicking through both of these in bed later.
So now I think I have everything I need to start work next week, I'm excited about starting a new adventure especially after having been largely inactive since I finished Uni. Hopefully I'll still have time to blog, but if not at least you know I'll be well-dressed!
Monday 5 October 2015
Music Monday: girls like girls and boys [N-Z]
Last week I shared some of the best male and female artists on my iPod whose names happen to be in the first half of the alphabet. Here's the second installment, featuring my favourites from letters N-Z:
Nine Inch Nails: I first became aware of Nine Inch Nails a decade ago when I started buying Kerrang around the time that they put out The Hand That Feeds, which is one of my favourite songs of theirs. Over the years I've listened to them a little more,
Nancy Sinatra: Nancy is one of the artists I've listened to most over the last couple of years, she's so versatile. Her songs go from the sweet, like 'Sugar Town', through feminist hits like 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin'' to sad songs like 'Bang Bang My Baby Shot Me Down'. My favourites are the duets she recorded with Lee Hazlewood, especially 'Some Velvet Morning', which is beautiful and unsettling.
Operation Ivy: I don't know a whole lot of Operation Ivy songs, not that there are many, but 'Knowledge' is basically my national anthem.
Olivia Newton-John: I don't have many O artists and I had to look at my iTunes to find one, but I chose Olivia because I went through a big Grease phase when I was young (doesn't every girl?) and I still love listening to the soundtrack.
Panic! At The Disco: I was really into Panic! when their first and second albums came out and though I've kind of lost track of their more recent material I still listen when I can. It doesn't matter how long it's been since I've last listened to it, the words to the songs on A Fever You Can't Sweat Out seem to be burned into my memory for all time.
Paramore: I almost chose PVRIS here because I think they're amazing too but when I consider how many times I've listened to the last Paramore album I had to pick them instead. I've always liked Paramore but their self-titled blew me away; I love the aesthetic of the 'Still Into You' video and the variety of sounds on the album, especially the soul of 'Ain't It Fun' and the cute ukulele sound of the interludes.
Quiet Riot: I had to go back into my iTunes to find Q artists since they're few and far between. I had a glam metal phase a few years ago and listened to their version of Cum On Feel The Noize a lot so they're probably my favourite of all the Q artists there are.
Queen Latifah: I've bought one of Queen Latifah's albums and not had time to listen to it yet, although I'm sure it'll be rad. Until then I have to give props to her performance in Chicago.
Refused: I'll lose points for this but I've never actually listened to The Shape Of Punk To Come even though I know how influential it is. I did download 'Liberation Frequency' and 'New Noise' about a year ago though and neither of them have come off my playlist since then, so I really should move Refused up my list of priorities!
The Runaways: The Runaways are so important to me, I love their albums and their solo work and the movies about them. My favourite is Lita even though she has a reputation for being a bitch, but her guitar work on 'Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin' is too good to argue against. I love Cherie Currie's voice and their whole persona, although I'm not a huge Joan Jett fan.
The Smiths: Morrissey came to play in my little home town in 2011 and I never went but after that I started listening to The Smiths and I've regretted missing the show ever since. His lyrics combined with the music of Johnny Marr are just magical and I love to listen to them. My favourite album is The Queen Is Dead, it has moments of joy like 'Vicar In A Tutu', heartwrenching songs like 'I Know It's Over', and the classic 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out'.
Siouxsie & The Banshees: After being hooked on their cover of 'Dear Prudence' I started exploring the Banshees' back catalogue and discovered so many great goth songs. Siouxsie is a cultural icon and she completely deserves the hype.
Taking Back Sunday: As a teenage emo I've been interested in Taking Back Sunday since they put out 'MakeDamnSure', but over the last year or so I've been really into their album Tell All Your Friends. The Blackout used to cover a snippet of 'You Know How I Do' within my favourite of their songs so it makes me emotional every time.
Taylor Swift: I used to think Taylor Swift was a bit average until she put out 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together', and then when 'Shake It Off' was released I was confused again. I quickly got over it though and I've played the singles from 1989 on repeat all year, she's great.
U.S.U.R.A.: I only have 2 U artists on my iPod and I only know one song by this artist, the 1993 hit 'Open Your Mind'. It's a dance song that kind of sounds like what I imagine being on drugs is like, repetitive and a bit sinister. I found it while listening to the chart music from the year I was born, along with a whole lot of other great cheesy Eurodance which is my guilty (although I feel no guilt) pleasure.
Uffie: I can't remember where I first heard 'Ready To Uff' but I've been obsessed with it for years and years and I don't get how Uffie isn't as huge as Nicki Minaj.
The Vaccines: V is another letter I struggled with. I don't know many of The Vaccines' songs but I heard 'Teenage Icon' on a whole lot of playlists and eventually learned to love it.
The Velvet Underground: When I first heard Nico's voice I hated it but at the same time I wanted to hear more. My dad has all their albums on cassette and I'm glad because it means I can listen to 'Femme Fatale' while I read books on Warhol and Edie Sedgwick who I find fascinating.
When Reason Sleeps: I bought this band's EP on eBay because it was Sean Smith's band before The Blackout got big, and it's a weird set of songs. Some of them have completely unnecessary outros (one track is half an hour long and most of it is just the band messing about in the studio) and it's obvious that they just want to be Glassjaw or Lostprophets. However there's one acoustic song called 'The Glass Curtain' that I absolutely adore, so the purchase was worth it for that alone.
Whitney Houston: I love 80s music and Whitney is one of the most important singers of the decade. 'How Will I Know' is maybe my favourite but she had so many great hits that it's hard to say for sure; I wish she was still around.
XTRMST: XTRMST is the straight edge hardcore band put together by Davey and Jade from AFI who unexpectedly appeared last year with a stunning EP and then an album. I listen to their cassette whenever I'm pissed off and although it really forces the straight edge thing which I sometimes feel is too much I think they're amazing.
X-Ray Spex: It's a shame that Poly Styrene isn't still with us because she's a punk icon and I find stories about her so interesting. Germfree Adolescents is a great album which sounds like it could come out now and still be just as innovative.
Young Guns: I've been able to see Young Guns a few times and I think they're one of the best British bands around so I'm glad that they're doing so well in the USA. All three of their albums are excellent so if you're not already listening to them I'd definitely recommend you look them up.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: I don't listen to this band much anymore but Y artists are hard to come by! Karen O is really exciting to watch and I loved their song 'Cheated Hearts' when it came out.
Zedd: I heard 'Clarity' in a shop and had no idea what it was but I went home and searched the lyrics until I found it. After that he put out 'Stay The Night' with Hayley Williams, a song I was completely obsessed with, and 'Break Free' with Ariana Grande who I mentioned last week. I'm looking forward to seeing which of my other favourites he'll collaborate with.
Zola Jesus: I heard the song 'Night' on a goth playlist and adored it. I don't know many other Zola Jesus songs but if they're all that good than I'm definitely a fan.
The 1975: I think this band are kind of overrated and I don't love all their songs, but 'Sex' is incredible so I still count myself as a fan of theirs.
2Unlimited: This is another group from my '93 Eurodance phase, and probably my favourite of the lot. I know it was a big hit that I'm just too young to remember but when I heard 'No Limit' for the first time I was amazed by how great it was. I also love 'Tribal Dance' and I'm kind of sad that this isn't the music that clubs play in 2015.
So there it is, my full alphabet of favourite artists. If I've left any glaring omissions let me know!
Nine Inch Nails: I first became aware of Nine Inch Nails a decade ago when I started buying Kerrang around the time that they put out The Hand That Feeds, which is one of my favourite songs of theirs. Over the years I've listened to them a little more,
Nancy Sinatra: Nancy is one of the artists I've listened to most over the last couple of years, she's so versatile. Her songs go from the sweet, like 'Sugar Town', through feminist hits like 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin'' to sad songs like 'Bang Bang My Baby Shot Me Down'. My favourites are the duets she recorded with Lee Hazlewood, especially 'Some Velvet Morning', which is beautiful and unsettling.
Operation Ivy: I don't know a whole lot of Operation Ivy songs, not that there are many, but 'Knowledge' is basically my national anthem.
Olivia Newton-John: I don't have many O artists and I had to look at my iTunes to find one, but I chose Olivia because I went through a big Grease phase when I was young (doesn't every girl?) and I still love listening to the soundtrack.
Panic! At The Disco: I was really into Panic! when their first and second albums came out and though I've kind of lost track of their more recent material I still listen when I can. It doesn't matter how long it's been since I've last listened to it, the words to the songs on A Fever You Can't Sweat Out seem to be burned into my memory for all time.
Paramore: I almost chose PVRIS here because I think they're amazing too but when I consider how many times I've listened to the last Paramore album I had to pick them instead. I've always liked Paramore but their self-titled blew me away; I love the aesthetic of the 'Still Into You' video and the variety of sounds on the album, especially the soul of 'Ain't It Fun' and the cute ukulele sound of the interludes.
Quiet Riot: I had to go back into my iTunes to find Q artists since they're few and far between. I had a glam metal phase a few years ago and listened to their version of Cum On Feel The Noize a lot so they're probably my favourite of all the Q artists there are.
Queen Latifah: I've bought one of Queen Latifah's albums and not had time to listen to it yet, although I'm sure it'll be rad. Until then I have to give props to her performance in Chicago.
Refused: I'll lose points for this but I've never actually listened to The Shape Of Punk To Come even though I know how influential it is. I did download 'Liberation Frequency' and 'New Noise' about a year ago though and neither of them have come off my playlist since then, so I really should move Refused up my list of priorities!
The Runaways: The Runaways are so important to me, I love their albums and their solo work and the movies about them. My favourite is Lita even though she has a reputation for being a bitch, but her guitar work on 'Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin' is too good to argue against. I love Cherie Currie's voice and their whole persona, although I'm not a huge Joan Jett fan.
The Smiths: Morrissey came to play in my little home town in 2011 and I never went but after that I started listening to The Smiths and I've regretted missing the show ever since. His lyrics combined with the music of Johnny Marr are just magical and I love to listen to them. My favourite album is The Queen Is Dead, it has moments of joy like 'Vicar In A Tutu', heartwrenching songs like 'I Know It's Over', and the classic 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out'.
Siouxsie & The Banshees: After being hooked on their cover of 'Dear Prudence' I started exploring the Banshees' back catalogue and discovered so many great goth songs. Siouxsie is a cultural icon and she completely deserves the hype.
Taking Back Sunday: As a teenage emo I've been interested in Taking Back Sunday since they put out 'MakeDamnSure', but over the last year or so I've been really into their album Tell All Your Friends. The Blackout used to cover a snippet of 'You Know How I Do' within my favourite of their songs so it makes me emotional every time.
Taylor Swift: I used to think Taylor Swift was a bit average until she put out 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together', and then when 'Shake It Off' was released I was confused again. I quickly got over it though and I've played the singles from 1989 on repeat all year, she's great.
U.S.U.R.A.: I only have 2 U artists on my iPod and I only know one song by this artist, the 1993 hit 'Open Your Mind'. It's a dance song that kind of sounds like what I imagine being on drugs is like, repetitive and a bit sinister. I found it while listening to the chart music from the year I was born, along with a whole lot of other great cheesy Eurodance which is my guilty (although I feel no guilt) pleasure.
Uffie: I can't remember where I first heard 'Ready To Uff' but I've been obsessed with it for years and years and I don't get how Uffie isn't as huge as Nicki Minaj.
The Vaccines: V is another letter I struggled with. I don't know many of The Vaccines' songs but I heard 'Teenage Icon' on a whole lot of playlists and eventually learned to love it.
The Velvet Underground: When I first heard Nico's voice I hated it but at the same time I wanted to hear more. My dad has all their albums on cassette and I'm glad because it means I can listen to 'Femme Fatale' while I read books on Warhol and Edie Sedgwick who I find fascinating.
When Reason Sleeps: I bought this band's EP on eBay because it was Sean Smith's band before The Blackout got big, and it's a weird set of songs. Some of them have completely unnecessary outros (one track is half an hour long and most of it is just the band messing about in the studio) and it's obvious that they just want to be Glassjaw or Lostprophets. However there's one acoustic song called 'The Glass Curtain' that I absolutely adore, so the purchase was worth it for that alone.
Whitney Houston: I love 80s music and Whitney is one of the most important singers of the decade. 'How Will I Know' is maybe my favourite but she had so many great hits that it's hard to say for sure; I wish she was still around.
XTRMST: XTRMST is the straight edge hardcore band put together by Davey and Jade from AFI who unexpectedly appeared last year with a stunning EP and then an album. I listen to their cassette whenever I'm pissed off and although it really forces the straight edge thing which I sometimes feel is too much I think they're amazing.
X-Ray Spex: It's a shame that Poly Styrene isn't still with us because she's a punk icon and I find stories about her so interesting. Germfree Adolescents is a great album which sounds like it could come out now and still be just as innovative.
Young Guns: I've been able to see Young Guns a few times and I think they're one of the best British bands around so I'm glad that they're doing so well in the USA. All three of their albums are excellent so if you're not already listening to them I'd definitely recommend you look them up.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: I don't listen to this band much anymore but Y artists are hard to come by! Karen O is really exciting to watch and I loved their song 'Cheated Hearts' when it came out.
Zedd: I heard 'Clarity' in a shop and had no idea what it was but I went home and searched the lyrics until I found it. After that he put out 'Stay The Night' with Hayley Williams, a song I was completely obsessed with, and 'Break Free' with Ariana Grande who I mentioned last week. I'm looking forward to seeing which of my other favourites he'll collaborate with.
Zola Jesus: I heard the song 'Night' on a goth playlist and adored it. I don't know many other Zola Jesus songs but if they're all that good than I'm definitely a fan.
The 1975: I think this band are kind of overrated and I don't love all their songs, but 'Sex' is incredible so I still count myself as a fan of theirs.
2Unlimited: This is another group from my '93 Eurodance phase, and probably my favourite of the lot. I know it was a big hit that I'm just too young to remember but when I heard 'No Limit' for the first time I was amazed by how great it was. I also love 'Tribal Dance' and I'm kind of sad that this isn't the music that clubs play in 2015.
So there it is, my full alphabet of favourite artists. If I've left any glaring omissions let me know!
Sunday 4 October 2015
#NOTD: frosted purple ombre
Nail polish is the only make-up I wear so I like to experiment with different colours and textures. I have polishes in every colour of the rainbow but there are a lot of them that I rarely, if ever, use, so one of the goals on my Day Zero list is to test each of them out. My go-to shade in recent months as been Barry M's matte polish in Espresso, which is the black polish I used as a base here. I love the matte effect and it dries so quickly which is ideal for me because I usually manage to smudge my nails before they dry. The idea for this manicure was born when I opened the box of polishes under my bed and picked out one I hadn't used before, Frost from Nailed Polish by Sleek. I've never seen or heard of Sleek before but there was a bottle in the reduced to clear section of the charity shop I work at and at 49p it's not like I had much to lose if it didn't work out.
As you can see from the bottle, the polish looks like it's going to be a shiny white shade and it didn't really show up on my bare nails. but when I brushed it over the chipped remains of last week's black manicure I was surprised to see that it turned my nail purple. After applying a base coat of the black polish I started layering the Frost shade over the top until it created the ombre effect you see above. I have to admit that I did screw up a little on the index fingers and the colour you actually see is a deep purple franken-polish I made years ago by adding a little purple to one of my black polishes, but aside from that the colour you see is from layering. By the time I got to my little fingers I was using half a dozen coats so it looks really thick and took a while to dry; it's now day four and the polish has started to crack and it'll probably chip off in big chunks tomorrow.
When I was done I felt like the darker nails weren't purple enough so I added a tiny bit of glitter to the tips which was harder than expected because my purple glitter polish had dried up - that's why it's not in the photo above, I threw it out immediately, but it was one of those cheap brands you find in bargain stores so I wasn't too upset about losing it. You might be able to tell from the picture that the glitter has lost its purple colour and turned silver really quickly. If I ever choose to replace it I'll probably pick up a Barry M glitter because it's much thicker and longer-lasting and I like my glitter polish to be as over-the-top as possible.
Finally, my very favourite nail polish discovery is the fast-drying topcoat, Mavala's Mavadry. I got this as a free sample and I was immediately amazed by how well it worked. It's such a small bottle though that I'm almost running out and it's not cheap to replace, so if anyone can recommend something similar but less pricey I'm all ears. I'm so impressed by it that I'm considering just buying matte polishes from now on and painting the Mavadry over them when I want shine, since both dry so quickly and look so good.
Overall I'm happy with how this turned out although I don't think it's going to remain chip-free for much longer, but that doesn't bother me because it means time to try something new soon. I have 55 different coloured polishes to work through (54 now since I threw out the purple glitter) so watch this space!
Nail polishes used:
Barry M Matte in Espresso
Nailed Polish by Sleek in Frost
Mavala Mavadry
w7 Polish in Purple Glitter
Homemade deep purple
What I was watching while they dried: Freaks & Geeks ep 16, Smooching & Mooching
Tuesday 29 September 2015
101 Things in 1001 Days, 1 year in
I wrote in July about my Day Zero list, in which I have 101 goals which I aim to accomplish in 1001 days, beginning September 1 2014. That means I'm now just over a year in, with 609 days remaining until the end of the 1001 day period. In the last blog I shared the 11 items which I had completed so far, and since then I have completed another six, with 25 more marked 'in progress'.
Now completed:
4. Attend my 100th concert
10. Meet up with my high school friends
15. Visit Edinburgh in Fringe season
This year I went to Edinburgh not once, but twice to see Fringe shows. I wrote a blog about the first of those trips here, and on the second trip I went to see The Addams Family Musical, a musical revue entitled Shitfaced Showtime, comedians Ed Byrne and Mae Martin, an improvised Sherlock Holmes play, a one-woman play called Bette Davis Ain't For Sissies and a dome cinema show, bringing the total number of shows attended to 11.
23. See a comedy show
As above, I saw two comedy shows at the Fringe Festival.
29. Go on a road trip
31. See a musical
Also at the Fringe, I saw both Grease and the Addams Family.
46. Visit London
49. Photograph a concert
51. Help sort through Granny's things
65. Volunteer for a charity
75. Buy a dress
81. Read 10 library books
I've read the following since I started this challenge:
92. Visit Wales
93. Visit five tourist spots in Edinburgh
In August I did the following:
94. Write a letter to someone who has inspired me
95. Meet an online friend in person
Although we'd been in the same spaces before we started talking online, I began talking to my friend Amber online at the end of last year and we officially met in March. I should have marked this one as completed before I wrote my last blog but missed it, and have checked it off now.
100. See The Blackout for the 50th time
Now completed:
4. Attend my 100th concert
10. Meet up with my high school friends
This year I went to Edinburgh not once, but twice to see Fringe shows. I wrote a blog about the first of those trips here, and on the second trip I went to see The Addams Family Musical, a musical revue entitled Shitfaced Showtime, comedians Ed Byrne and Mae Martin, an improvised Sherlock Holmes play, a one-woman play called Bette Davis Ain't For Sissies and a dome cinema show, bringing the total number of shows attended to 11.
23. See a comedy show
As above, I saw two comedy shows at the Fringe Festival.
29. Go on a road trip
31. See a musical
Also at the Fringe, I saw both Grease and the Addams Family.
46. Visit London
49. Photograph a concert
51. Help sort through Granny's things
65. Volunteer for a charity
75. Buy a dress
81. Read 10 library books
I've read the following since I started this challenge:1. How To Build A Girl - Caitlin Moran
2. Hollywood Royalty - Gregory Speck
3. Not That Kind Of Girl - Lena Dunham
4. An Abundance Of Katherines - John Green
5. Life On Planet Rock - Lonn Friend
6. Fifty Shades Of Dorian Gray - Nicole Audrey Spector/Oscar Wilde
7. Flappers - Judith Mackrell
8. Getting Warmer - Carol Snow
9. The Fall And Rise Of Gordon Coppinger - David Nobbs
10. Letters Home - Sylvia Plath ed Aurelia Schober Plath
92. Visit Wales
93. Visit five tourist spots in EdinburghIn August I did the following:
1. Walked to the bottom of the Royal Mile to Holyrood and Dynamic Earth
2. Lay in the grass in Princes St Gardens
3. Had an ice cream at the Grassmarket
4. Browsed Armstrong's Vintage Emporium
5. Attended the city's Fringe Festival
94. Write a letter to someone who has inspired me
95. Meet an online friend in person
Although we'd been in the same spaces before we started talking online, I began talking to my friend Amber online at the end of last year and we officially met in March. I should have marked this one as completed before I wrote my last blog but missed it, and have checked it off now.
100. See The Blackout for the 50th time
Monday 28 September 2015
Music Monday: girls like girls and boys [A-M]
There's not much point in me writing a blog about the new music I've been enjoying lately because basically the only song I've been listening to is the new Justin Bieber song, 'What Do You Mean?'. Instead, I'm taking a leaf out of my friend Charlotte's book (or should that be taking a page out of her blog?) and going on an alphabetical trip through my iPod, sharing my favourite artists, with a little twist. As I was growing up listening to mostly rock music I felt like my library was male-dominated, possibly because it's much rarer to find women in the genre, but now that my taste has diversified I think my iPod is more of a 50/50 split between male and female voices. With that in mind, I decided to put together a list which reflects artists at either end of the gender spectrum. Here's the first half:
AFI: one of my all-time favourite bands, and one of the most important to me. I started listening to AFI in 2006 when they released winter staple Decemberunderground. I've followed their career ever since, especially in 2013 when they released and promoted their latest album Burials, the darkest break-up record I've ever heard. Aside from those two albums, I'd recommend 2000's The Art Of Drowning which features my favourite song, 'The Days Of The Phoenix'. They haven't toured the UK since I last saw them in 2010, but as soon as they're back here I'll be down the front.
Ariana Grande: I thought Ariana was overrated until last summer when she put out the video for her hit single 'Problem', which had a 60s mod aesthetic that I adored. After that I watched a whole bunch of her interviews on YouTube and I was surprised to find her so entertaining with her foul mouth and flawless impressions of other pop divas. My favourite songs of hers are 'All My Love', the collaboration with Major Lazer that she recorded for the soundtrack of the last Hunger Games movie, and her cover of Mariah Carey's 'Emotions'.
The Blackout: the number one most important band in my life, even though they split up six months ago and broke my heart. I saw them live 50 times over the course of 6 or 7 years and had the best time of my life following them around. My favourite album is 2009's The Best In Town, the one that really sold me on the band, but their final EP Wolves is also amazing and so is more or less everything else that they did.
Beyoncé: I almost put Britney Spears here, but it's been about 10 years since Britney put out anything good yet Beyoncé just keeps getting better. I always liked 'Crazy In Love' but my favourite songs of hers are '***Flawless' and 'Partition', both from her 2013 self-titled album. I love to see huge artists championing feminism and sexuality, and Beyoncé definitely has some of the responsibility for the recent upsurge in women being able to tell the world that they feel good about themselves, which I hope never ends.
The Cure: They recorded so many goth classics that there's a Cure song to fit any occasion and I'm glad that I bought their Greatest Hits CD as a teen. My favourites are 'Lullaby', 'Close To Me' and 'Just Like Heaven', and I hope that I'll get to see them play live before they get too old to tour.
Cocteau Twins: I discovered this Scottish group a year ago and although I only really know a couple of their songs I find them mesmerising. Their singer performs in an invented language (long before Sigur Ros did the same) and they make the most beautiful soundscapes that make me feel like I've left Earth and gone to somewhere much more magical - listen to the song 'Donimo' from their Treasure album if you don't believe me.
Dear Boy: Dear Boy are a fairly new band who haven't put a full album out yet, but their self-titled EP is absolutely perfect. They have an 80s post-punk vibe crossed with the beauty of Death Cab For Cutie, and their song 'Funeral Wave' is the inspiration behind my blog's name. I listen to the EP every time I'm on my way home from a trip and I'm looking forward to having an album to add to the ritual.
Die Antwoord: I hated this group when I first heard them, but then I found their voices stuck in my head and quickly grew to love them. I've probably listened to Die Antwoord more than any other artist over the last year and they sound like nothing I've ever heard before. Their music is a mixture of rap and dance, performed in English and Afrikaans, with an aesthetic which mixes South African street culture with hip-hop parody to create something unique and impossible to look away from. The female half of the group, Yo-Landi, shines most on 'Cookie Thumper' and 'Rich Bitch', but her freaky style also makes her a Tumblr icon.
Elvis Presley: It's probably cliché to include Elvis but he put out so many great songs that I have to include him as my favourite E artist. I go through phases where I listen to more 50s and 60s music than anything else and I always make sure to seek out a couple more Elvis hits every time I'm in that mood. Music aside, there's so much mythology around the life and afterlife of the star that he makes for fascinating study.
Etta James: Etta is another artist from my 50s and 60s playlist and one who I don't have much to say about, other than that her voice on classics like 'At Last', 'Stormy Weather' and 'I Just Wanna Make Love To You' is incredible.
From First To Last: This is one of the bands I was most into during my teen emo phase (which hasn't really ended). I think their album Dear Diary My Teen Angst Has A Bodycount is a classic of the genre and I still keep up with them despite the fact that they've never really been able to top it. They're most well-known now for being the band that Sonny 'Skrillex' Moore rose to fame in, but songs like 'Note To Self' are endlessly quotable and I still love to hear them.
Fleetwood Mac: My mum liked this band and their album Rumours when she was young and I have to agree, it's a classic. A lot of their other material is hit or miss but I have to recommend that album to anyone who hasn't already heard it. Speaking purely of the female aspect to the band, I don't think I have to mention how iconic Stevie Nicks is.
Glassjaw: I almost put Green Day in here because they were so, so important to me growing up, but recently I've been really into Glassjaw so I wanted to talk about them for a change. They're the band I turn to when I'm angry or upset because Daryl Palumbo articulates his rage perfectly (even if his lyrics are really misogynistic). I bought both their albums recently and I'm only just getting to know their back catalogue but I have to recommend 'Lovebites and Razorlines', 'Ape Dos Mil', 'Cosmopolitan Bloodloss' and 'Motel of the White Locust', which are the songs I play on repeat the most often.
Gwen Stefani: I prefer No Doubt to Gwen's solo material but my N section is already spoken for.I love how diverse her back catalogue is, from feminist anthems like 'Just A Girl' to feel-good dance songs like 'Hey Baby' and the ridiculous 'Hollaback Girl', which I really hated at first and now love.
Head Automatica: This might be a cheat after including Glassjaw since they have the same singer but Head Automatica are the band I liked first when they put out 'Beating Heart Baby'. Recently I've obsessed with their song 'Laughing At You' but I think most of all I'm just in love with Daryl Palumbo's incredible voice.
Hole: I grew up loving Celebrity Skin but more recently I've been delving into Live Through This a bit more and I really enjoy the whole concept of Hole. I also really love the Meadham-Kirchhoff couture collections which often take Courtney Love as their muse.
INXS: Currently one of 2 I artists on my iPod but still great, I avoided INXS as a kid because my dad was into them but then when I became obsessed with the movie The Lost Boys I ended up listening to the 2 songs that the band contributed to the soundtrack all the time. My favourite of their songs though is their most well-known, the super sexy 'Need You Tonight'.
Iggy Azalea: I know it's not cool to like Iggy Azalea but there's no denying that 'Fancy' is an amazing song, plus she made a great contribution to the Ariana Grande song I mentioned earlier.
Jay-Z: I used to avoid rap music when I was growing up goth but somewhere around the start of the decade I realised that some of the music in the charts, like 'On To The Next One' by Jay-Z, was actually pretty great. I don't know much of his output but I love 'No Church In The Wild' and the classic that is '99 Problems'.
Janet Jackson: Despite her being one of the most successful artists of the 80s I don't know that many of Janet's songs and I really need to listen to her some more, because the songs that I do know are excellent. My favourite is 'Scream' which she made with her brother Michael, but I also love her iconic solo hits 'Control', 'Nasty' and 'Rhythm Nation'.
Kanye West: I've started collecting Kanye's albums over the last few months and getting to know his music as well as his media persona, which is also fascinating. He has too many great songs for me to recommend all of the ones I love but if I had to pick favourites I'd include 'Bound 2', 'Everything I Am' and 'Can't Tell Me Nothing'.
Kate Bush: Totally different from Kanye West and almost everything else, I adore Kate Bush. Her sound and approach is so innovative and her albums and music videos are like works of art. I have different favourite songs of hers every few months but one mainstay is a beautiful b-side called 'Under The Ivy'.
Lostprophets: It's frowned upon to admit to liking Lostprophets these days knowing what kind of criminal behaviour their singer indulged in, but their early albums, especially Start Something, are too good to be ignored. If you can separate the music from the singer I'd recommend that album anytime, particularly the 10 minute closer, 'Sway', which is still one of my all-time favourite songs that I can never skip if it comes on.
Lana Del Rey: Lana is almost definitely my favourite discovery of the last couple of years. I adore everything she puts out and everything she doesn't put out that finds its way onto the Internet anyway. Her whole Old Hollywood aesthetic, particularly visible in the videos she put out for her album Born To Die, is captivating and I could listen to her sing all day long.
My Chemical Romance: MCR are one of the bands who were with me as I was growing up and although they're no longer with us I have fond memories surrounding them.Their breakthrough hits like 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise)' and 'Welcome To The Black Parade' were always played at the rock club I frequented as a young teen, their Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge black-and-red style was the template for my vampire-goth aesthetic in 2005, and towards the end of their time as a band I got to see them both at the start and finish of their run promoting their Danger Days album. Their music is a big nostalgia trip for me.
Mindless Self Indulgence: I first saw this band supporting My Chemical Romance in 2007 and I was hooked from that point. They were unlike anything I'd ever seen or heard before, combining hard rock with electronic beats, hip-hop vocals and day-glo outfits, and I spent much of 2008 obsessing over them. They're an on-off band now who tour sporadically, but I saw them last in 2013 and finally met the whole band, and I almost cried when I got to hug Lyn-Z.
Tune in again for the second half of my alphabet!
AFI: one of my all-time favourite bands, and one of the most important to me. I started listening to AFI in 2006 when they released winter staple Decemberunderground. I've followed their career ever since, especially in 2013 when they released and promoted their latest album Burials, the darkest break-up record I've ever heard. Aside from those two albums, I'd recommend 2000's The Art Of Drowning which features my favourite song, 'The Days Of The Phoenix'. They haven't toured the UK since I last saw them in 2010, but as soon as they're back here I'll be down the front.
Ariana Grande: I thought Ariana was overrated until last summer when she put out the video for her hit single 'Problem', which had a 60s mod aesthetic that I adored. After that I watched a whole bunch of her interviews on YouTube and I was surprised to find her so entertaining with her foul mouth and flawless impressions of other pop divas. My favourite songs of hers are 'All My Love', the collaboration with Major Lazer that she recorded for the soundtrack of the last Hunger Games movie, and her cover of Mariah Carey's 'Emotions'.
The Blackout: the number one most important band in my life, even though they split up six months ago and broke my heart. I saw them live 50 times over the course of 6 or 7 years and had the best time of my life following them around. My favourite album is 2009's The Best In Town, the one that really sold me on the band, but their final EP Wolves is also amazing and so is more or less everything else that they did.
Beyoncé: I almost put Britney Spears here, but it's been about 10 years since Britney put out anything good yet Beyoncé just keeps getting better. I always liked 'Crazy In Love' but my favourite songs of hers are '***Flawless' and 'Partition', both from her 2013 self-titled album. I love to see huge artists championing feminism and sexuality, and Beyoncé definitely has some of the responsibility for the recent upsurge in women being able to tell the world that they feel good about themselves, which I hope never ends.
The Cure: They recorded so many goth classics that there's a Cure song to fit any occasion and I'm glad that I bought their Greatest Hits CD as a teen. My favourites are 'Lullaby', 'Close To Me' and 'Just Like Heaven', and I hope that I'll get to see them play live before they get too old to tour.
Cocteau Twins: I discovered this Scottish group a year ago and although I only really know a couple of their songs I find them mesmerising. Their singer performs in an invented language (long before Sigur Ros did the same) and they make the most beautiful soundscapes that make me feel like I've left Earth and gone to somewhere much more magical - listen to the song 'Donimo' from their Treasure album if you don't believe me.
Dear Boy: Dear Boy are a fairly new band who haven't put a full album out yet, but their self-titled EP is absolutely perfect. They have an 80s post-punk vibe crossed with the beauty of Death Cab For Cutie, and their song 'Funeral Wave' is the inspiration behind my blog's name. I listen to the EP every time I'm on my way home from a trip and I'm looking forward to having an album to add to the ritual.
Die Antwoord: I hated this group when I first heard them, but then I found their voices stuck in my head and quickly grew to love them. I've probably listened to Die Antwoord more than any other artist over the last year and they sound like nothing I've ever heard before. Their music is a mixture of rap and dance, performed in English and Afrikaans, with an aesthetic which mixes South African street culture with hip-hop parody to create something unique and impossible to look away from. The female half of the group, Yo-Landi, shines most on 'Cookie Thumper' and 'Rich Bitch', but her freaky style also makes her a Tumblr icon.
Elvis Presley: It's probably cliché to include Elvis but he put out so many great songs that I have to include him as my favourite E artist. I go through phases where I listen to more 50s and 60s music than anything else and I always make sure to seek out a couple more Elvis hits every time I'm in that mood. Music aside, there's so much mythology around the life and afterlife of the star that he makes for fascinating study.
Etta James: Etta is another artist from my 50s and 60s playlist and one who I don't have much to say about, other than that her voice on classics like 'At Last', 'Stormy Weather' and 'I Just Wanna Make Love To You' is incredible.
From First To Last: This is one of the bands I was most into during my teen emo phase (which hasn't really ended). I think their album Dear Diary My Teen Angst Has A Bodycount is a classic of the genre and I still keep up with them despite the fact that they've never really been able to top it. They're most well-known now for being the band that Sonny 'Skrillex' Moore rose to fame in, but songs like 'Note To Self' are endlessly quotable and I still love to hear them.
Fleetwood Mac: My mum liked this band and their album Rumours when she was young and I have to agree, it's a classic. A lot of their other material is hit or miss but I have to recommend that album to anyone who hasn't already heard it. Speaking purely of the female aspect to the band, I don't think I have to mention how iconic Stevie Nicks is.
Glassjaw: I almost put Green Day in here because they were so, so important to me growing up, but recently I've been really into Glassjaw so I wanted to talk about them for a change. They're the band I turn to when I'm angry or upset because Daryl Palumbo articulates his rage perfectly (even if his lyrics are really misogynistic). I bought both their albums recently and I'm only just getting to know their back catalogue but I have to recommend 'Lovebites and Razorlines', 'Ape Dos Mil', 'Cosmopolitan Bloodloss' and 'Motel of the White Locust', which are the songs I play on repeat the most often.
Gwen Stefani: I prefer No Doubt to Gwen's solo material but my N section is already spoken for.I love how diverse her back catalogue is, from feminist anthems like 'Just A Girl' to feel-good dance songs like 'Hey Baby' and the ridiculous 'Hollaback Girl', which I really hated at first and now love.
Head Automatica: This might be a cheat after including Glassjaw since they have the same singer but Head Automatica are the band I liked first when they put out 'Beating Heart Baby'. Recently I've obsessed with their song 'Laughing At You' but I think most of all I'm just in love with Daryl Palumbo's incredible voice.
Hole: I grew up loving Celebrity Skin but more recently I've been delving into Live Through This a bit more and I really enjoy the whole concept of Hole. I also really love the Meadham-Kirchhoff couture collections which often take Courtney Love as their muse.
INXS: Currently one of 2 I artists on my iPod but still great, I avoided INXS as a kid because my dad was into them but then when I became obsessed with the movie The Lost Boys I ended up listening to the 2 songs that the band contributed to the soundtrack all the time. My favourite of their songs though is their most well-known, the super sexy 'Need You Tonight'.
Iggy Azalea: I know it's not cool to like Iggy Azalea but there's no denying that 'Fancy' is an amazing song, plus she made a great contribution to the Ariana Grande song I mentioned earlier.
Jay-Z: I used to avoid rap music when I was growing up goth but somewhere around the start of the decade I realised that some of the music in the charts, like 'On To The Next One' by Jay-Z, was actually pretty great. I don't know much of his output but I love 'No Church In The Wild' and the classic that is '99 Problems'.
Janet Jackson: Despite her being one of the most successful artists of the 80s I don't know that many of Janet's songs and I really need to listen to her some more, because the songs that I do know are excellent. My favourite is 'Scream' which she made with her brother Michael, but I also love her iconic solo hits 'Control', 'Nasty' and 'Rhythm Nation'.
Kanye West: I've started collecting Kanye's albums over the last few months and getting to know his music as well as his media persona, which is also fascinating. He has too many great songs for me to recommend all of the ones I love but if I had to pick favourites I'd include 'Bound 2', 'Everything I Am' and 'Can't Tell Me Nothing'.
Kate Bush: Totally different from Kanye West and almost everything else, I adore Kate Bush. Her sound and approach is so innovative and her albums and music videos are like works of art. I have different favourite songs of hers every few months but one mainstay is a beautiful b-side called 'Under The Ivy'.
Lostprophets: It's frowned upon to admit to liking Lostprophets these days knowing what kind of criminal behaviour their singer indulged in, but their early albums, especially Start Something, are too good to be ignored. If you can separate the music from the singer I'd recommend that album anytime, particularly the 10 minute closer, 'Sway', which is still one of my all-time favourite songs that I can never skip if it comes on.
Lana Del Rey: Lana is almost definitely my favourite discovery of the last couple of years. I adore everything she puts out and everything she doesn't put out that finds its way onto the Internet anyway. Her whole Old Hollywood aesthetic, particularly visible in the videos she put out for her album Born To Die, is captivating and I could listen to her sing all day long.
My Chemical Romance: MCR are one of the bands who were with me as I was growing up and although they're no longer with us I have fond memories surrounding them.Their breakthrough hits like 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise)' and 'Welcome To The Black Parade' were always played at the rock club I frequented as a young teen, their Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge black-and-red style was the template for my vampire-goth aesthetic in 2005, and towards the end of their time as a band I got to see them both at the start and finish of their run promoting their Danger Days album. Their music is a big nostalgia trip for me.
Mindless Self Indulgence: I first saw this band supporting My Chemical Romance in 2007 and I was hooked from that point. They were unlike anything I'd ever seen or heard before, combining hard rock with electronic beats, hip-hop vocals and day-glo outfits, and I spent much of 2008 obsessing over them. They're an on-off band now who tour sporadically, but I saw them last in 2013 and finally met the whole band, and I almost cried when I got to hug Lyn-Z.
Tune in again for the second half of my alphabet!
Sunday 27 September 2015
My favourite books
I love to spend time curled up with a good book and try to find time to read, whether on long train journeys, outside on sunny days, or before I go to sleep. I often pick up cheap books second-hand and frequent the library which means that I acquire books faster than I'm able to read them, so I have a huge list that I'm yet to finish or even open, but before I start writing about those I want to share a few of the books that I've loved.
The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar is one of those essential feminist books, read by TV smart girls like Rory Gilmore and Daria, that I'm glad I checked out of the University library. It's the only novel written by Sylvia Plath, telling the autobiographical story of a girl who spends a summer working at a magazine in New York and then struggles with her mental health upon her return home, ending up in a mental institution following a suicide attempt. Plath's poetry is great but The Bell Jar is her true masterpiece, giving voice to all the concerns that plague young women in quotes such as this:
Carrie, Stephen King
I chose to read this book as my personal study novel in English class at school, which meant that I read it over and over for a few months and picked it apart, but I still came away thinking it was a great book. It follows a misfit teen with an overly religious mother who doesn't equip Carrie with the knowledge she needs to survive her adolescence, and as a result she's bullied horribly by her peers. However, they don't bargain on Carrie having telekinetic powers which she uses to get back at those who have wronged her. There are a lot of bad guys in this book, and they meet a satisfyingly bloody end. I'm not a big sci-fi or horror reader so this is the only one of King's books that I've read but it strikes the perfect balance for me between teen girl story and weird stuff.
How To Be A Woman, Caitlin Moran
I've been interested in feminism for a long time and I picked up a signed copy (dedicated to a woman called Johanna) of this book in a charity shop not long before I finished University. I was excited to read it, knowing that it was a well-received book and having seen the pilot of Caitlin and her sister Caz's show 'Raised By Wolves', but I didn't expect it to be as good as it is. I had to stop reading it on the train because it was so laugh-out-loud funny, and I was sad to be reaching the end. It covers pretty much every aspect of life as a woman in a hilarious and relatable way, I wish I'd had it in my life sooner. After reading it I devoured just about every other book, interview and TV show that she's put out and I think she's fabulous.
The Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins
Having never read Harry Potter or Twilight I wasn't sure whether The Hunger Games was going to be right for me but after hearing my friends and the wider world raving about it I decided to give it a try when I came across a copy right as I was looking for a book to take on a trip. Once I started reading I didn't want to stop; the book has so many cliffhangers that I needed to know what was going to happen to Katniss next. I thought Catching Fire was also great but wasn't a fan of Mockingjay, although after enjoying the movie version I think I'll have to read it again. I doubt there's anyone left to recommend The Hunger Games to but I was surprised by how quickly it became one of my favourites.
Invisible Monsters, Chuck Palahniuk
I picked up this book in a charity shop in August 2014 because I was familiar with the title (there's a Motion City Soundtrack song with the same name) and it sounded interesting, and I read it at the end of the year. It tells the before and after stories of a model who is badly disfigured in a car accident, losing her boyfriend and model friend Evie and gaining instead the fabulous Brandi Alexander. The book follows a non-linear narrative, flashing back and forward like the flash of a camera, and every few chapters reveals another twist which connects the story in a way I never expected. Often when I read on transport I have to stop after a couple of chapters but I was glued to this book and had to find out what the whole story was. It's not as well-known as Palahniuk's Fight Club but it's a great novel which has made me want to read more of his work.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
Having seen this book quoted and referenced endlessly online it was at the top of my reading list when I finally got a copy in 2012, and I rushed to get it read before the movie left the cinemas. I was won over almost straight away with its references to The Smiths and its charming characters. I've read it a couple of times, although not for a while, and it gets better each time. I also love the movie version, in fact it's probably the best adaptation I can think of, but the book is still king for me.
The Virgin Suicides, Jeffrey Eugenides
If you've seen the movie adaptation of this book you'll be familiar with this tragic story, but the movie, though beautiful, isn't nearly as good as the book is. The story is of five strange teenage sisters who commit suicide, as told by the local boys who were mystified by them. The prose conjures up the same hazy glow as Sofia Coppola's screen version but doesn't focus quite as much on Lux (Kirsten Dunst's character) and is so filled with beautiful imagery that I just wanted to go and live inside that world for a while, no matter how sad I knew the ending was going to be.
The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar is one of those essential feminist books, read by TV smart girls like Rory Gilmore and Daria, that I'm glad I checked out of the University library. It's the only novel written by Sylvia Plath, telling the autobiographical story of a girl who spends a summer working at a magazine in New York and then struggles with her mental health upon her return home, ending up in a mental institution following a suicide attempt. Plath's poetry is great but The Bell Jar is her true masterpiece, giving voice to all the concerns that plague young women in quotes such as this:
“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn't quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”The Bell Jar truly is a must-read book and one that I find myself picking up again and again. For anyone who has already read it, I'd recommend delving into the journals and letters that Plath wrote in 1953, the period of her life that the book covers, for a version of events that hasn't been fictionalised - I found it fascinating to read how much of the story was fact.
Carrie, Stephen King I chose to read this book as my personal study novel in English class at school, which meant that I read it over and over for a few months and picked it apart, but I still came away thinking it was a great book. It follows a misfit teen with an overly religious mother who doesn't equip Carrie with the knowledge she needs to survive her adolescence, and as a result she's bullied horribly by her peers. However, they don't bargain on Carrie having telekinetic powers which she uses to get back at those who have wronged her. There are a lot of bad guys in this book, and they meet a satisfyingly bloody end. I'm not a big sci-fi or horror reader so this is the only one of King's books that I've read but it strikes the perfect balance for me between teen girl story and weird stuff.
I've been interested in feminism for a long time and I picked up a signed copy (dedicated to a woman called Johanna) of this book in a charity shop not long before I finished University. I was excited to read it, knowing that it was a well-received book and having seen the pilot of Caitlin and her sister Caz's show 'Raised By Wolves', but I didn't expect it to be as good as it is. I had to stop reading it on the train because it was so laugh-out-loud funny, and I was sad to be reaching the end. It covers pretty much every aspect of life as a woman in a hilarious and relatable way, I wish I'd had it in my life sooner. After reading it I devoured just about every other book, interview and TV show that she's put out and I think she's fabulous.
Having never read Harry Potter or Twilight I wasn't sure whether The Hunger Games was going to be right for me but after hearing my friends and the wider world raving about it I decided to give it a try when I came across a copy right as I was looking for a book to take on a trip. Once I started reading I didn't want to stop; the book has so many cliffhangers that I needed to know what was going to happen to Katniss next. I thought Catching Fire was also great but wasn't a fan of Mockingjay, although after enjoying the movie version I think I'll have to read it again. I doubt there's anyone left to recommend The Hunger Games to but I was surprised by how quickly it became one of my favourites.
Invisible Monsters, Chuck PalahniukI picked up this book in a charity shop in August 2014 because I was familiar with the title (there's a Motion City Soundtrack song with the same name) and it sounded interesting, and I read it at the end of the year. It tells the before and after stories of a model who is badly disfigured in a car accident, losing her boyfriend and model friend Evie and gaining instead the fabulous Brandi Alexander. The book follows a non-linear narrative, flashing back and forward like the flash of a camera, and every few chapters reveals another twist which connects the story in a way I never expected. Often when I read on transport I have to stop after a couple of chapters but I was glued to this book and had to find out what the whole story was. It's not as well-known as Palahniuk's Fight Club but it's a great novel which has made me want to read more of his work.
Having seen this book quoted and referenced endlessly online it was at the top of my reading list when I finally got a copy in 2012, and I rushed to get it read before the movie left the cinemas. I was won over almost straight away with its references to The Smiths and its charming characters. I've read it a couple of times, although not for a while, and it gets better each time. I also love the movie version, in fact it's probably the best adaptation I can think of, but the book is still king for me.
The Virgin Suicides, Jeffrey EugenidesIf you've seen the movie adaptation of this book you'll be familiar with this tragic story, but the movie, though beautiful, isn't nearly as good as the book is. The story is of five strange teenage sisters who commit suicide, as told by the local boys who were mystified by them. The prose conjures up the same hazy glow as Sofia Coppola's screen version but doesn't focus quite as much on Lux (Kirsten Dunst's character) and is so filled with beautiful imagery that I just wanted to go and live inside that world for a while, no matter how sad I knew the ending was going to be.
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