Katuwapitiya

Blogs are made for updating, right?

I know, I know.

But creativity can be in short supply sometimes.

What’s been up?

The Golden Globes came and went and I was surprisingly happy with the results. Slumdog Millionaire deservedly won Best Film. Mickey Rourke deservedly won Best Actor. The only thing that is constantly disappointing is a lack of love for Michael C. Hall’s amazing work on Dexter. I can’t think of a more captivating character. I guess the Hollywood Foreign press can though.

That ‘Katuwapitiya Best of 2008′ list seemed to get cut short. And by cut short, I mean I posted a Bon Iver song and a Ra Ra Riot song. Why? Well, I realized that there were a lot of blogs saying the exact same things and that made me a bit discouraged. I’m trying to be original here (god, did you read that cliched golden globe review? lol) so bear with me. So a song that I’ve yet to see get a lot of love from the blogosphere that came out in 2008?? Hmmm….

How about “The Overly Dramatic Truth” by El-P.

I can't give what I can't take

I think it often gets lost amongst the indie rock (which is fast becoming cliche I find), but underground hip-hop is probably the best place to find words that will move you in a way that Shane Koyczan always does.

This song was found on a very conceptual album. I don’t usually like conceptual albums (besides the debut of Deltron 3030) but this one seems to work pretty well. In a nutshell, it’s the future and some people are living in spaceships. That being said, “The Overly Dramatic Truth” works even without that context. Containing lines like “You deserve the ignorance and bliss that I still wish I had.” and a solid spaced-out beat that swirls in and out of control, it only further cements my hatred of Kanye’s “contribution” to hip-hop in 2008.

Check out The Overly Dramatic Truth

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Nothing more needs to be said. Beautiful song. Beautiful album.

When I look in your eyes, what am I supposed to do?

Over the next few days, I’ll be listing off my favourite songs from 2008. Hopefully you’ll find something that you haven’t found in a million other blogs/pitchfork. If there are some similarities, hopefully you’ll just find my analysis more badass. And don’t worry, this list will be Lil Wayne-less.

1. Too Too Too Fast by Ra Ra Riot

I love when there’s a repetition of a word in a band name and a song title (for more, please refer to “No No No” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). I also love when a song starts with hard drums that give way to synths that sound straight from a music video featuring some sort of weird pencil-sketch/real-life tangent. Most of all though, I love when a lead male vocalist has some quick interplay with a hot-sounding female. It worked for The Postal Service, continues to work for one of my favourites, Los Campesinos! and it works great here. I have no idea how I found out about Ra Ra Riot, but I’m glad I did. For more, “Ghost Under the Rocks” and “Each Year” offer up two more contenders for my favourite songs of the year.

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Download it here.