Tuesday, August 31, 2010

As he observes the decline of modern society

What has become of our society now days? There is so much wrong, like this horrible video I saw today of a girl throwing puppies into a river.

But I'm actually going to talk about something else here, and that is the inert laziness that is becoming so prevalent in our generation. Of course, there is the big picture, with every body sitting at their computer or watching their TV, playing their games the whole day. But let's take it in closer, the laziness within the laziness if you will.

How, can it be that we sit at our computers or what ever else, the whole day. we aren't always doing something productive, yet we can be so lazy on our computers them selves. All around me, I see people speaking in de-generated "lolspeak" or what ever you wish to call it, using words such as "da" and then replacing words with numbers, it's hard to explain but allow a demonstration:
"goin 2 da mall"

How can one be, so lazy that he is sitting lazily enough on his computer, but on top of that, he fails to speak in a civilized manner because he is simply "too lazy" to type of "too, the and going"

Ask someone to search something up on google, the reply is an omnious "too lazy"
What? Why? You're sitting there, it'll take you around 2 more calories to go and search it up on google, how can you be this lazy?

Another good enough example, is people failing to read posts, looking for "tl;dr" [Too lazy to just type "too long; didn't read," really?] I sincerely doubt anyone will actually read this post thoroughly due to being, too lazy. This, is the decline of our modern society in a very specific example.

I don't wish to criticize anyone in particular, I admit that I myself do this often, but I am not proud of it, which sadly many people seem to be.

There are also often exceptions, I understand that people say "lol" as opposed to "laughing out loud," as these phrases have come to have a different meaning, with "lol" being an acknowledgement of reading, "I have read your post and understand what is going on"

My friends, if any of you have had the mind and ability to read this post, then great! Please I ask you, look to yourselves, look to your friends and find your inner laziness, and solve it. Will it really kill you, to clarify, speak, write a few extra words, use up a few extra seconds which you would other wise waste doing absolutely nothing?

I believe strongly that our generation has every thing really, it has the extremes of every thing. We have access to the greatest technology mankind has ever possessed, yet we often forget and get lost in our social circles, we forget our basic human morals and give way to the inner instinct, is technology the cause? Is it the way we are grown up? or is it simply just a few bad people that ruining Zammars' day

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Final Frontier


So I haven't actually posted for like *counts* *Okay, too lazy to count,* a while now... But that is probably because I have been rather distracted with THE FINAL FRONTIER!!! IRON MAIDEN'S new album!!! HOOOOOOO \m/ x100'000'666'701

It was actually released on the 16th, but what I did...was that I preordered the LIMITED EDITION SUPER HOOOOOOOOOOO AWESOME version, which Amazon decided to not deliver to me instantly, at first I figured I'd have to wait like 3 or 4 days and then rock out, but nooo, after like 3 amazingly painful days, I received an email which said that it won't be shipped until the 31st and alas the thought broke me down and I caved and illegally satisfied my ears :(

I was hoping to listen to it for the first time when I get the CD, but alas fate is cruel to me. Ah well, it was worth it anyways.

So This album is different, it's a lot more direct that some of Maidens other efforts and it's also very progressive but at the same time heavy and kindve straight forward, it's hard to describe but it's definitely very great to listen to. I think that for a lot of people it'll take some time to grow on them, since it's so dense but I loved it the moment I played it =S

I shall now go into my song by song detail :D

1. Satellite 15...The Final Frontier (8:41)
Okay, well this song is basically two songs which are lyrically linked and the same track, but they are very different. I heard the second part before the album was released, because it was pre released in a video and I always loved it. It's a very straight forward rocker with some great solos by Dave and Adrian. The vocals are different, and more atmospheric but I still like them very much.
Now, the first part (Satellite 15) is so different. When I first played it, my reaction was some what like "huh...woah...weird...sweet...coool....AWESOME" It's really experimental and it reminds me of the anguish of some poor astronaut abandoned in space, very interesting vocals at this part as well, great song that probably doesn't work for every one. Very very very experimental =p

2. El Dorado (6:48)
This was the other track I'd already heard, and I've heard it a lot since June as it was released as a single. Great song, it just makes you bob your head, you just do it to the pumping base and groovy drums. The guitars also work great and add the whole rock feel. My only complaint was I KINDVE wish that there was a bit more variation in the vocals during the verse, but I think Maiden and Bruce knew what they were doing best. It's a lyrical song, reminiscent of Somewhere in Time (Wasted Years like intro and stuff) I loved it because it also has great great solos from all 3 guitarists

3. Mother of Mercy (5:20)
The moment this track started, I knew it was Maiden. Beautiful melodic intro with folkish vocal melodies that leads into pretty heavy carnage with some overwrought Bruce vocals. I love some of the guitar work on this track as well as the vocal melodies, it's great. Adrian has a really cool solo (I think it's Adrian) A song about war, which I always love and as always, Iron Maiden captured the essence of it all perfectly, really not much else to say. I really really enjoyed my first listen.

4. Coming Home (5:52)
Although it starts out relatively heavy, this really is a beautiful balad song, I think it's a bit more of a powerbalad, but it's still really great. It has the signature Maiden soaring chorus, the kind which would reduce grown men to crying blubbers during a concert. It's a touching song, I'm thinking it's about coming home from a long journey which for Maiden would be a tour. Once again, I loved this song from the very first listen, Dave does a really cool little balad solo followed by a trademark Adrian one.

5. The Alchemist (4:29)
The first thing I thought when listening to this song, was that it belongs on Fear of the Dark!! It has such a Janicky feel to it, it's very bouncy, and generally fun, some great harmonies on it. Love it =p

6. Isle of Avalon (9:06)
ZOMG, my mind was blown over like 10 times when I first heard this song and it still blows over every time I hear it. What a song!!! It has this amazing atmosphere and the trademark Iron Maiden epic feeling. I love it. It's the kind of song which, when it ends you sit there and reflect on just how amazing it is. That, is the Iron Maiden epic. It also has a bit of an environmental feeling to it, makes me feel bad for destroying mother earth.

7. Starblind (7:08)
On first listen, I think I missed the first 2 minutes because I was still totally mind blown from Isle of Avalon. This how ever is another very epic song. It's pretty heavy, and it has some amazing lyrics, very very very strong song lyrically. During the verses there are these aweessomee little guitar fills going on in the back ground, they never get old!! =D I love it, great song =) Love the harmonies near the end as well =D

8. The Talisman (9:03)
K.O. I was dead, it was tooo much!!! So epic!!! This song blew my mind, again. It has this awesome little camp fire intro, and I got into that so much when all of a sudden BAM HEAVY CALAMITY I was like WOAH, YEAHH!!!!! Some great great singing on this one, great solos, great everything. Great performance, Good job Iron Maiden!!!!! This song kindve reminds me of The Legacy, it also has a bit more of a Janick feel on it then the some of the other ones, there's this Janick solo under a harmony and that's pretty cool.

9. The Man who would be king (8:28)
Same thing as Starblind, I was still recovering from The Talisman when I heard this. It's a really good song, I suppose it may feel less grand and epic than some of the previous ones, but It's still really good, most people seem to like it less, not me. I love the acoustic part with the vocals near the end. There's quite a bit of cool synths in the intro, I think it creates a pretty awesome atmosphere =p

10. When the wild wind blows (10:59)
YES!!!! 11 minute Haris epic! What a song! :) This really has some amazing vocal melodies, amazing harmonies, amazing solos, cool bass parts and a great atmosphere. It doesn't even feel like 11 minutes, because of how awesome it is. It's hard to describe it even. A very very touching song about a Nuclear holocaust. When I first heard it, it did sound very different to what I was imagining, but I think it sounded better, it's really different with some great rhythmic elements. I admit I was tearing up at the end of it, because of it's structure, meaning and the fact that it's the last song from an amazing album from an amazing band! :D

I am such a Maiden fan boy =)

The Final Frontier is a really good album, it has reduced me from a civilized man into a blubbering wreck where I can't really describe it without sounding a little bit stupid. Worth the listen, go take a listen! do it!! =D

UP THE IRONS!!!!



Note* When I say "Iron Maiden epic," I'm not always really referring to the song as being better than most other Maiden songs, no. Rather, it is one of the Maiden songs which has their signature grandness to it, a great and bold like BIG song that has a really epic feeling, the kind that leaves something behind when it's gone.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

He's riding the 4 string highway


Today was a biiggg day!!!
well kindve;

First off, Ramadan starts tomorrow, which basically means that this handsome young fellow has to start fasting, meaning he's going on a diet :p

Ramadan is a strange thing for me, I don't give it the appropriate religious importance which maybe I should, I look at it in more of a family thing. It's an ordeal that my entire family takes on together and so I feel obligated to do so as well.

Well, the next month will suck :) (fasting lasts from sunrise to sunset, and since the days are so long these days, this boy will be fasting for a Looonngg time each day,) at least he gets to sleep half the day :)

On saturday, I have invited some good friends to come and join me in my humble sleeping chambers ( for a sleepover, more manly referred to as a Sausagefest) this should be a pleasant and enjoyable experience

But why
was
TODAY
such
a
BIG
day?!

BECAUSE, I bought a BASS GUITAR!!!
hoo (I am spoilt and now I am in debt =[ )
After watching Steve Harris and Geddy Lee live, this man was inspired and I knew that I needed a bass ASAP

Pic: related, the bass I got, well not THE one but the same model and color and every thing.

Bass guitar, for those of you who don't know is indeed a very unique instrument. Bassists will kill you if you mistake them for a guitarist, so make no mistake :)
It looks similar to a guitar, but it's played very differently; or you can play it similarly too but it's not really in the Bass vibe to do so :)

The 4 strings are tuned the same as the lower 4 strings on a guitar, but 1 octave lower and the whole thing is in Bass clef, pretty darn cool! :)

Now, I just need to actually get to learning it while continuing my guitar and drum journey, the challenge begins but it is one that I most eagerly await :)

Monday, August 9, 2010

August



Well, it appears that the summer is now closer to ending as opposed to longer

August is here. or at least, was here quite a few days ago.

So far, I cannot really describe this summer. I suppose I have been more active than most summers, but I have also been tortured more than most summers.

July was mind-blowingly amazing while retaining a sense of torturous servitude. I was volunteering in Summer camp for 4 weeks straight with little 3-5 year olds. Normally this wouldn't be so bad, but it really does mess with ones schedule, I had to sleep EARLY, like 12:30 in the night early during summer, I mean come on seriously? and then wake up at 8...No wonder every one got taller, except me =[

On top of that, you have to work every thing else you do around summer camp and thats a bother

So why was July AMAZING?!??? well obviously IRON MAIDEN, DREAM THEATER, RUSH AND MEGADETH, my 4 Favorite bands in concerts and T-shirts for memories sake :) yes, those days saved me, they did.

One should have seen me around the kids the day after the concerts :) :) :) =]


So now August is here...

August Agenda:

-Starcraft 2 / doing absolutely nothing
-Finish learning Metropolis on guitar, amongst other musical things
-Buy a bass :)
-Sausagefest/ parties, coolio
-Driving lessons every Saturday :p
-Remove Wisdom teeth
-wait, FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
-Ramadan - fasting
-Say bye bye to big brother going to university (finally! :) )
-Listen to tons and tons of music
-Daddy's coming home from...home :p (Pakistan)

but MOST IMPORTANTLY::

\m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ AUGUST 16TH, THE FINAL FRONTIER!!!!!! \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/

[New Iron Maiden album coming out, SO SO SO SO SO SO SO excited]
...and yes, they do still make albums, and tour and are crazy awesome :)