So what’s new with you?

I went for this art festival of sorts “Rantai” in Lost Gen Space off Jalan Robson Heights ( Famed as the venue for the NotThatBalai exhibition ). Well to be honest, I actually went because I wanted to watch Citizens of Ice Cream perform again.

http://rantai-art.blogspot.com/

The art, what can I say about the art? Erm..not much as it turns out. At best, it was amateurish at worst it was very juvenile-college-kids-with-nothing-better-to-do-with-their -time or out-to-shock-you-but-too-timid-to-do-anything-actually-provocative. So it was alas, unfortunately, for the most part , more fartsy than artsy.

I am a bit disappointed that I couldn’t stay till Citizens of Ice Cream started. It was quite amusing because I sms’ed the keyboardist Phang earlier ( his mobile number was listed on the band’s Myspace and my friend actually exchanged a couple of sms-es with him earlier after the first gig a few weeks back ) and he didn’t know himself.

He wrote back “I don’t know myself. The organizers didn’t really specify. They just told us that it starts at 4”.

They had a gazebo like thingy set up in the garden area for the bands to perform.

Lost Gen Space is actually a bungalow located in an actual road where people live on so I can imagine a lot of disgruntled residents trying to have a Sunday nap having to bear with the noise.

Point in case was NAO a mandarin punk rock band. They are good but not quite my thing. To be honest, I had a chance to speak to the lead singer Tat, but I had no idea he would sound quite that um….loud. Don’t believe me ? Check them out for yourself , especially the song Mata-mata which had the Malay crowd head banging as well even though it was in mandarin. (Incidentally the song is about police corruption, the band is apparently very political or rather they seem to be out to make a statement)

http://www.myspace.com/isnao

The low point of the entire event was unfortunately the syair / poetry reading of some awful maudlin rubbish complete with violin accompaniment. I kid you not. Yes, I did in fact say violin accompaniment. It was so bad that (in addition to the fact that I had separate dinner plans that night and it was getting too late ) it put me off staying on to watch Citizens of Ice Cream.

I also had an opportunity to have dinner at Jogoya at the Starhill Gallery, Jln Bukit Bintang. Now before I get to the restaurant, I should mention that this complex has the strangest floor naming convention I’ve seen so far.

Rather than using a sequence of numbered floors some nutty architect decided to name the floors after “theme” names like Indulge, Adorn, Relish, Fornicate. Okay I lied about that last one.

http://www.starhillgallery.com/

I can say this much, it was confusing. It also doesn’t help that they decided to break the sequence as some floors for parking are called Lime, Kiwi or something like that.

So, about the restaurant. Very posh, very swanky but horribly complicated. It had a buffet spread that made me feel like a lab rat in a maze. Too many dividers and screens which were supposed to provide a sense of privacy for the patrons ( I assume ) made me feel really hemmed in. It did not help that the buffet did not have a logical convention of start middle finish. It was all over the place. Messy. It would have been alright if the food was good but for MYR 88 ++ per pax , I’m quite certain I could have done better else where. Then again, I shouldn’t be moaning since it was on the department expense account.

Watched any good movies lately ?

Not really.

Read any good books lately ?

Erm….No.

Bought any new albums ?

I am currently listening to the new Damien Rice album “9”.

To be perfectly honest, it’s more of the same raspy folky stuff. Which isn’t necessarily as bad thing, don’t get me wrong but I was really hoping that he would try a different sound for this album.

http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com/damienrice/

There is a notable song “Rootless Tree” which has an angry chorus of “Fuck you , Fuck you, Fuck you and all we’ve been through”.

Also, the video for the first single “9 Crimes” is quite freaky. Watch it yourself and tell me that you don’t think it’s a bit disturbing especially when the kids blow up the freaky girl-baloon head.

Yes, I should be learning how to insert pictures/videos on the blog but since I am such a slob, here’s the link instead :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU5v3MMCxZo
I am also listening to My Chemical Romance ‘s new album : Black Parade.

I have their older album but I was never that into the whole emo loud-whisper-loud nonsense so I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the songs in this new album. Without a doubt the standout tracks , Black Parade and Famous Last Words are fantastic operatic rock ballads.

http://www.mychemicalromance.com/

It’s not just me, a lot of people agree that “The Black Parade” reminds them of Bohemian Rhapsody. Maybe so, but I think it’s likelier that Bohemian Rhapsody just happens to be a better known “operatic” rock song. I think the Beatles or more recently Guns & Roses also had some songs like that.

I also have the Killers new album, Sam’s Town. I haven’t really listened to it yet but a passing “glance” proverbially speaking , it does sound rather awful. All the 80s elements that I disliked in the last album seem to be present in full force here. Will give it a proper thrashing once I muster up the courage to sit thru the whole thing.

Any special messages for the holiday season ?

To the few of you, and I stress the word “few” who actually read this blog (You should know who you are) : Yes, I am too lazy to write each of you a personalized Christmas greeting but I do miss you so especially the ones who aren’t here in KL.

Take care of yourselves. May 2007 bring Good health and Good fortune (note the capital G-s ) in the coming year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone !!!!