Love is such a powerful thing. It has the ability to consume you, all of you, and never let go until everything that you are is consumed by it. I'm in love with love and the things that it does to me. There's no filter, there's no wall, it's just there and it's smacking you in the face telling you to do exactly what you've always dreamed of doing. Everything that we truly are and everything that we ever will be is already inside of us, and it's our own logic and reasoning that keeps us away from our burrowed aspirations. You're supposed to write that play, you're supposed to kiss that girl, you were supposed to follow your heart, and the only thing keeping you away from your happiness is you. Love is what opens us. Love is what shows us that there's so much more to life than what's directly in front of us. The abstract, the miniscule, the forgotten. These are the things that we really love. The way she laughs, the Songbird on the windowsill, the flowers that still seem to grow despite everything that gets in its way. It's fascinating. Everything's just so beautiful and fascinating. All tangents aside, I really hope you enjoy this mixtape, that is the reason you're here after all.
What would Valentine's Day be like without an official JustNorman young lover's playlist? On this very day just one year before, I released my very first public mixtape, and so in honor of this sweet sweet holiday (and my day of birth), I've decided to compile an audio list of 14 of some of my favorite tracks that fit perfectly into this special occasion.
As you may remember from last year's Valentine's Day, I was somewhat pessimistic about the day to come. Not only did I not have any plans considering it was my birthday (wait, have I told you that tomorrow's my birthday?), but I also didn't have anyone to spend it with, so needless to say I was pretty bummed out. Luckily, things seem to of taken a turn for the better, and for the first time in who knows how long, I'll actually have someone. A real someone. And for this, I'm forever thankful.
I know we've only been dating for like three weeks, but she deserves a mixtape crafted in her honor, so shoutouts to Rachelle for being the lovely face for this playlist, and for being the trillest girl I know.
On behalf of Justnorman.blogspot.com, and all of its affiliate tumblrs, twitterers, and inner city street teams, I'd like to personally welcome you to 2012 AD. *Cues Bone Thugs-N-Harmony 1st of tha Month*
In honor of this fresh start, I figured what better way to ring in the new year than with an album review? As you may have guessed at this point in your following, I prefer to only associate myself with the best of the best, especially when it comes to music. As a BIG fan of The Weeknd, I absolutely refuse to allow for another day to go by without reviewing at least one of his mixtapes. I mean, all he did was change my entire outlook on both life and R&B, no big deal. Since I couldn't do this one alone, I sought the assistance of two of my very few favorite bloggers, Trent (TrentTrizzy) and Havean (HolaHavito) so without further ado. . Legggo.
Ohh but wait a second. Before we begin, if you DON'T know who The Weekend is at this point, you should probably just quit at life, or just click HERE before you even begin reading. Things might make a little more sense if you've actually listened to the music of the man that we're referring to. Okay, let's try this again.
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Blogger: HolaHavito
D.D.
What a way to start the end of a mixtape trilogy. The Weeknd’s cover of Michael Jackson’s single, Dirty Diana, is better than the original. I said it; I am prepared for legions of people transfixed on the past to murder me and moonwalk away silently. I’m sacrificing my well-being in order to illustrate what The Weeknd is trying to prove by covering this song: He is here to stay and he’s damned talented.
Montreal
Montreal is a mid tempo song in which The Weeknd “borrows” lyrics from the French song “Laisse Tomber Les Filles” by France Gall. The lyrics essentially translate to a player’s warning, “stop being a playboy, one day you’ll be the one played and you’ll be hurt.” That is the gist of the track, the narrator is heartbroken, but he’s too prideful and hurt to admit it. The tempo and the background vocals are sensual and evanescent, and are a throwback to early 90’s R&B. Picture The Weeknd in ’93 and the music video for Montreal; a brick filled loft filled with artificial smoke, a sexy girl swirling provocatively in white linen, The Weeknd singing and dancing with a clean high top fade.
Outside
Sex: The Weeknd’s second favorite topic after drugs, of any kind. Though the song is good, lyrically it’s missing the originality and tongue in cheek lyrics that accompanied songs like “Loft Music, The Zone, and The Knowing.” However, as usual the beat itself helps carry The Weeknd when he falls short lyrically from time to time. The bells and dissonant snare drums are hypnotic and trance like, and aid the storytelling of sex that is so good it puts one under a spell.
The same way that rappers like Young Jeezy, Pusha T, and Rick Ross find new ways to talk about the same white powdery substance, Able Tesfaye, better known by his stage name The Weeknd, continues to seduce our earbuds with tales of marijuana days and cocaine nights. “XO/The Host” is a beautifully narrated tragedy that tells the story of a young girl addicted to the party life. With lines like “specially when your nose red from that K/ Special Diet Coke/ You need more bread/ Now you got no rent/ You blow that money.” The Weeknd does what he’s best at; Painting pictures of tragic lifestyles that make you want to live them out, even if the outcome isn’t a good one. “The Host” serves as a prelude to “Initiation,” in which Able tells our damsel that she must pass a “test” to get his love. This was a good smooth interlude to get us ready for the craziness that’s ahead.
Initiation
This track is hands down the best song on the album in my opinion. Everything about this song, from the eerie instrumental that lurks over the slurred and sporadic pitch of the verses, to lyrics such as, “Roll that weed, blow the fire out/ Taste that lean when you kiss my mouth/ Get so wet when I eat you out” is what attracts people to The Weeknd’s music. He possesses the unique ability to croon the phrases and brash descriptions commonly found in rap music without the slightest hesitation. Women feel sexy singing it, and men still feel at home while listening to it. Win Win.
Same Old Song
This song could’ve easily been titled “Shot for Me pt 2." Here we find Able reflecting with a woman about how she left him when he needed her most, and now that he’s big, she’s coming around again. We’ve heard this story again and a again, and as much as I appreciate the lyrics and the overall message of this song, the emphasized belting of the hook eventually gets to be a bit much for my ears. Not one of my favorites, but still a decent song.
As we head towards the end of the mixtape, we see that thing are beginning to slow down drastically as the story progresses. The track reveals itself to be extremely deep, dark, and ominous, which is a common theme for The Weeknd. When listened to on a pair of over-the-ear headphones, the song seems to give off a surround sound effect as if one were being whispered to by a swarm of meth heads at four in the morning. I thought it to be a pretty decent track, but to go along with what Havean has stated previously, it seems to fall short lyrical, but is carried along into the "ohh that's my jam" category due to the oustanding production.
Next
Next is quite possibly one of my least favorite tracks of the mixtape. I've never been a big fan of the whole gloomy, orchestral piano ballad thing, and despite the fact it's The Weeknd who's singing these lyrics, I still don't think I'll ever be able to appreciate it fully. As usual with this guy, I continue to listen to the entire six minutes due to that wonderfully uncanny voice of his, even after I reach the conclusion that I'm almost completely annoyed by the whole idea of the production. In the end, it was a song that I could probably due without, but he needed nine tracks so. . well, I guess that's that.
Echoes of Silence
While I wasn't much of a fan of this track either (sorry for bringing down the vibe), it seems to tie in well with the overarching theme of the entire mixtape. Drugs, parties, and the potential for greatness seems to draw the attention of a variety of curious women. While our main protagonist attempts to tell them (or her) that he is offering nothing more than the superficial, they have no choice but to either oblige, or to end up alone, but due to the nature of the situation at hand, they choose both.
Our top three per section:
Overall I thought this to be was a fairly decent mixtape, and while it wasn't my favorite (House of Ballons for the win), I feel as if it was a nice way to wrap up a series of releases that has recently propelled him to the very top of underground stardom. While The Weeknd still has much more maturing to do before he's able to fully compete with the higher ends of the music world, there is no doubt in my mind that Abel Tesfaye is soon to be in the very forefront of both our minds, and the R&B game as a whole.
Winter break is finally here, and what a better way to start it off than with Houston's 7th annual Punxmas Fest. I know it may not seem as such, but Norman and punk music have quite the history with one another. Way back when in my band geek days, I went through a fairly heavy ska-punk-psychobilly phase, which has consequently had a major effect upon the types of music that I listen to today. While I may not fancy listening to The Casualties or GBH as much as I used to, I still can't seem to escape from the thrills of a good show, reminding me of all those things I've been missing while I've been away at school.
The show kicked off around five or so featuring around eleven bands in total, but the ones in particular that more or less so caught my attention played much later on the set list, so on time was definitely not mandatory. Now I don't know if I've ever really mention them by name before, but Kelin and Garret, aka my white friends, aka white boy mob, were the two dudes that I went with, and just for future reference, if you ever hear me speaking about a show, these two guys are more than likely the individuals that I rode with. But they weren't the only ones who came with me, oh no, there were more. Not only did I get to see a few old band mates from high school, Rachelle and Raveen took a few hours out of their "busy" schedule to come chill with your boy, and for that they deserve both the blue link and the mention (V TEVM SVLUTE).
As usual with these types of functions, I had a trill ass time, despite the fact that Devin and I decided to part ways a few weeks back (slipped that in there real classy like didn't I?). I know it seems like we just got together, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be, so maybe it's best that we just leave it at that for today. On a lighter note, my afro and my mustache is lookin' mad thick these days, and I've even caught the attention of one of the baddest black hipster girls on campus, so hey, I'm doing all right. *proceeds to pop multiple collars*
||Bands seen here: Roots of Exile, Rats in the Attic, Fuska, Blackmarket Syndicate, The Ghost Storys, Molotov Compromise||
Oh, and I hope you enjoy the changes I've made to the site, things were getting a little too crowded for me, I needed to get my zen together and this was the outcome. If you have any suggestions or comments pertaining to the site, the photos, the post, anything, don't be afraid to shoot me a comment or an email. We're all in this together you know.
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