NEW SONG from Soul Asylum!

American alternative rockers Soul Asylum just released their new song - Let's All Kill Each Other, for the 2008 USA presidential elections. The song is available as a free download for a limited time in their number one fansite - EnterTheSoulAsylum.com. The fansite has other info about the new song, as well as a message from the band's frontman, Dave Pirner (in behalf of Soul Asylum).

Congrats to the fansite! It's amazing that the band we idolize so much acknowledge the existence of the best SA fansite there is!

I also appreciate the message from Dave. Is it sincere? I think so. So thanks, Dave - and also to the whole band.

I also found it funny when he said he overestimated the intelligence of their audience. You certainly overestimated mine! (" ;)

Regarding the song - I don't mean to be too harsh but the title sounds ominously horrible... I haven't listened to it yet and haven't read the lyrics. Maybe I have to lower my expectations first to be able to give an unbiased critic to the song (I have a rather horrid experience with Guns 'N Roses upcoming single/album: Chinese Democracy).

Will update later... UPDATE!!!

First of all, I would like to express my reverence to the genius who requested to take down the first half of Dave Pirner's message. 3.8 applauds with a sincere air of SARCASM (do you need somebody to shove it on your face, Einstein?) and HUMILITY.

Am I not suppose to give a review of the song? Riiiiight.

Title: There is nothing to hide from the bluntly titled song. Let's All Kill Each Other unpretentiously screams cynicism and dark humor. Unfortunately, the title does not offer any mystery to the song - it doesn't feed to a bystander's curiosity, which is either a risk (for which we should give the band a commendation) or a big turn-off. The band's other political anthem, Lately, still remains the best titled song.

Length: For a song that runs for a whopping 2 minutes and 34 seconds, Let's All Kill Each Other is enough to get the message through. Mostly, political songs stretches to incredible lengths until someone sets himself on fire (remember Black Gold? It's a good song - BUT...). Not this one, though. Short song=not a whiny song, a good sign.

Intro: There is something cute about the intro - could it be the chipmunk that sang the first line? Or is it the bothersome question on who owns the abnormally high-pitch voice (and I have a very scary guess). Otherwise, the intro sounded just like a Heavy Rotation recycle - I take that back, the intro sounds like an air raid, a clever metaphor.

Lyrics: What could anyone possibly expect from a song titled Let's All Kill Each Other? Basically, it's about a guy who is so sick of the world that he somehow felt obliged to destroy everyone in it - Tomb Raider style! Now, the only thing the listener has to do is to tell himself that Pirner is not serious of doing that, it's just an attention-grabbing song to let its real meaning be noticed (hear that, genius-mentioned-above?) - a no-brainer task. Do not expect any Masquerade in this song.

Melody: The first time I heard the song, I thought "not another Jonas Brothers tune". Exasperation quickly vanished when I heard the winces and the cracks of the frontman's voice (don't worry, it's not his Tied To The Tracks voice, nor the perfect and boring vocals he used in Close). Besides, a catchy, pop-rock jingle is perfect for a satire - it would be a stubborn tune to get rid of (a wise Soul Asylum ploy).

Chorus: Repetitive, but not redundant. Ever since Misery, Soul Asylum learned the magic of choruses. A listen of the constant "Let's All Kill Each Other" is enough for it to get stuck on your head, not an extraordinary feature. One thing stood out, though - the use of the choir. A church choir singing Let's All Kill Each Other is disturbingly ominous - or maybe I'm just analyzing things too much.

Guitar Solo (someone might know why this is important to me): I do not possess enough vocabulary to describe it - but suffice to say that it is different. Instead of the formulaic electric guitar with distortion imitating the human voice, this one imitates a computer thing. It's in a higher scale than usual. Honestly I don't know what's going on there, but I welcome the change.

Verdict: Let's All Kill Each Other is a nice appetizer for the band's UPCOMING ALBUM - HAH! (that's just a wild speculation, don't you dare quote me on that)

The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

Artist: Pink Floyd

Regarded as the most successful and the most influential album of Pink Floyd's career, The Dark Side of the Moon is one of those albums one should not miss listening to. The risk of experimentation had paid off well - it became a stepping stone to what is now called as progressive rock. The concept album is rich with diverse yet interconnected themes, which is why the album needs to be listened to in its entirety. Clearly, The Dark Side of the Moon deserves its place as one of the greatest albums of all time.

By the way, this album is not for the faint hearted (watch out for sudden explosions, psycho laughs, haunting sounds, and disturbing themes). Obviously these songs are not to make you sleep.

My favorite tracks in this album are:

Why I Heart Miriam Santiago

and no, this is not a lesbian rambling (sheesh)

I visited Sen. Santiago's Blog (which is appropriately titled as Senadora Miriam's Blog - very cheeky). There was one post there that really got me, mainly because I understand half of it (miraculously). I quote our dear senator:

“With the bar examination, we tell a failed student that after eight years
of college, he cannot practice law. We’re wasting lives. With the LSAT, we tell
the student that he should not even enter law school, if he does not have the
aptitude for it"

TIGAS! Can she do that for undergrads, too?

On a quite recent news, Senator Santiago wants the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant open. About time!!!

This Blog Needs An Update

So I have been out of this world for about a month. Imagine my relief when finals and the deadlines are finally over!

09/13/2008: Circuit behind the Internet Age turns 50 years old

We sometimes forget the very heart of everything. We owe our computer age to the genius invention of integrated circuits. The tiny invention literally propelled the world from obscurity to the wonders brought by modern age.

Bizarre News: Donkey jailed for theft in Egypt

Yes, I Do Care News: 39,000 more teachers for ideal ratio

Instead of going with the trend that would die quickly, why not go for a job that is noble and patriotic and can actually help our future?

OMG, That Happened To Me Too News: MMDA posters 'out of place' in Laguna
Who cannot notice the out-of-place MMDA billboard in our highway? The fact that we are in Mindanao and not Manila and... "never forever whatever"