once upon a time we fell apart.

omitting an assortment of feelings that range from anxiety to hope, it's awfully fitting that this song is called "first date". all that's missing is a pair of sweaty palms and a perma-smile.

lapti - "first date"

-t

if your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it.

i've spent a lot of time in libraries the past year, mostly because of the unstable state of internet access at my apartment. i used to frequent the new(ish) silver lake location, but eventually made my home at the los feliz library cause of its friendly parking situation and 2 minute distance from my place. 

i have yet to visit the west hollywood library but after watching these three amazing clips, it's definitely a priority destination. check out shepard fairey, retna and kenny scharf rise above the typical los angeles skyline to share their artistic visions. 

-t

enquire within upon everything.

the challenge: to create an image out of a word using only the letters in the word.

the result: success.

word as image by ji lee.

-t

storytelling is inherently dangerous.

drake trades his signature broken heartedness for a dedication of praise to a lucky lady in his life. whether or not it's the pink-wig-thick-ass-give-em-whip-lash chick featured on the track, it's definitely a welcomed cheer up.

drake featuring nicki minaj - "make me proud" (via nah right)

-t

we'd be making love in five.

ladies and gents. she's (dun) done it again. baby bump and all.

 beyonce - "countdown"

-t

the past and the future are equally real.

there is an upbeat fullness to the new phantogram track "don't move". continuing to establish their penchant for darker emotional spaces and syncopated movements, the song now benefits from an assault of bright background arrangements and brass ad-libs. it emits an inescapable momentum and foreshadows an impressive structure for their forthcoming mini lp, nightlife.

phantogram - "don't move" mp3

keep your body still,

-t

everyone has a plan, till they get punched in the mouth.

even after the dust settles post-break up and you've actually managed to pull through the heartache, there's going to be moments when an irreplaceable nostalgia reappears towards your former significant other. before you realize it, your subconscious has become protective of such memories and will block your logic's attempt at recalling the bad times. the conflict between your head and heart is never more difficult than when you're deciding if it's time to finally move on or attempt to go back in time.

"how it ended" is the drums interpretation of this emotional showdown. check out its burlap-grain video below.



-t

today you. tomorrow me.

watch my mayer, my man get his "brangelina" on in the new clip for "the walk".

i bought #howdoyoudo yesterday, did you?

-t

i'll buy you a mountain and we can be lonely on top.

there's a lot of emphasis on connection throughout the movie 50/50 and you've got to give it up to joseph gordon levitt's adam, for handling each relationship with a varying scale of tenderness and vulnerability. the first relationship is with adam's best friend kyle (a vulgar yet surprisingly heartfelt seth rogan). as much as kyle tries to keep things light by using adam's cancer as a catalyst for meeting girls, as the story unfolds his struggles with his friend's illness becomes clear.

adam's overbearing mother (anjelica huston) is also a complex character as she yearns for companionship via the balance of trying to take care of others. her dementia riddled husband doesn't provide her with much comfort and adam's constant dismissal has left her lonely, broken and in search for validation elsewhere. 

but perhaps my favorite relationship throughout the film was adam's unconventional connection with his inexperienced therapist-in-training, a delicate and delightful anna kendrick as katherine. watching their various attempts at protecting each other is sweet and their general chemistry shines despite their characters awkward missteps and nervous trembles.

there's also interesting plot turns with adam's girlfriend and his chemo buddies but i won't giveaway much more. 50/50 is truly a beautiful story that highlights the value of life's little things, the power of loved ones and the importance of a well-placed seth rogan dick joke.

-t

i think a lot of people think that a new town is going to get rid of their problems or something.

exploring an alternative side of san francisco that rivals even the most ethereal urban landscape, bay area born-and-bred dominant legs offers their latest single behind a day-glow waterfront and candid city expressions. 

dominant legs - "where we trip the light"

bravo yours truly, bravo.

-t

last night i heard everything in slow motion.

if there's an old drake and a new drake, then i'd like one of each. thanks. 

drake - "headlines"

take care drops october 24th.

-t

dont judge me by my past. i don't live there anymore.

the new single from metronomy is a tale of love and hate that unfolds in a beautiful open space inhabited by tribes of wild animals. it's video strays away from the band's usual penchant for decadent environments but somehow still manages to connect with the song's simple and delicate message.

metronomy - "everything goes my way"

-t

you're so annoying when you whine, you're always wasting my time.

can't stop. won't stop. listening.

summer camp - "better off without you (the line of best fit sessions)"

floor claps FTW.

-t

biggest thing in my itty bitty world.

it's birthday season. when all of my virgo and libra friends celebrate another rotation around the sun. and despite our youthful appearances (asians are blessed i know), we've all crossed into our late 20s and are constantly contemplating the happiness within our lives and the relevance of choices we make. 

so go ahead and add another candle on that cake. cause at the end of the day, we are all still young, dumb and full of something that rhymes.

-t

don't beat yourself up for being too blind.

the lyrics to is tropical's latest single, "lies" narrates a story of exploited sexuality and the emptiness that surrounds it. the corresponding super NSFW video captures the sexcapades of a woman apparently caught between the emotional cross-hares of her choices.

the mysterious london trio's debut album, native to, is available now via kitsune.

-t

stay young, go dancing.

piecing together a lifetime of photos with a black and white live performance, the latest video from nyc's holy ghost! is a timeline of chemistry that translates from what appears to be a solid friendship to an even better bond of musicianship.

holy ghost! - "hold my breath"

-t

wake me when it's over.

saturday is brought to you by the color green. does it signify money? personify jealousy? or maybe it symbolizes below the belt urges of the adult kind?

in any case, check out my two favorite green themed tracks for the day. the slow burning sweetness of real estate's "green aisles" and the jazz takeover of aloe blacc's "green lights (live in berlin)".

real estate:

aloe blacc:

-t

animate the magic inherent in the world.

most friday mornings i am lazier than life. i usually make myself a decadent breakfast and wonder where the day will take me. this morning i woke up bright and early to have my breakfast with a room full of strangers all looking for one thing: inspiration. 

this was my second creative morning and it turned out to be one of the best lectures i've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. candid, hilarious, moving and hopeful, sharon ann lee of @culturebrain impressed the crowd in just 20 minutes with a handful of anecdotes, rap lyrics and positive guidance.

creative mornings you are a gem and mrs lee, you were a northern star. 

-t

the place where i am not.

time lapse vids (like my love for this city) never get old. 

one day you'll be mine san fran. one day.

the city by wtk photography.

-t

the past, the present and the possible.

i remember them dearly. the garage parties of my youth. where just slow dancing with someone had you running home beaming, listening to "i'll make love to you" wondering if it was too early to call it your song. but then came the shift in speed when boyz ll men and shai were put on the back burner for a little something called the SO SO DEF BASS ALL STARS.

if you are unfamiliar, go ahead and slap yourself in the face. otherwise, feel free to reminisce about the first time you learned how to freak dance and if your body roll was a natural talent or something you worked oh so hard to achieve.

upstart ny outfit, friends, have covered the classic ghost town djs track "my boo" and with a cowbell chorous cameo, have done it some damn justice.

 

-t