isn't it grand?

i'm still dying over spring awakening. the soundtrack has ben on repeat for the last two days.
and i probably know almost all the words now. dear lord.

but nowwwwww i have even more ear candy ... that being the long awaited **~GRAND~** ... matt and kim's new album!
i was a little hesitant to listen to it at first because it's obviously not out yet.
it leaked on the interwebs ... i figured, a download won't hurt as long as i buy it on the 22nd.
so i listened to it. four times already. it's fantastic.



i was afraid that it would sound different from their previous material considering they just got signed to a new label, but it was recorded in matt's bedroom, so you can't expect clean studio quality. and by no means do i WANT clean studio quality. the rough edges are what i love about matt and kim's music. it's not overproduced at all. it was the perfect way to follow up on their self-titled release. hand claps, exciting synths, a melodica!? OH MY GOSH!
i was so happy to finally hear the new songs that i'd been hearing them play since 2007 on recording.
it gave me that feeling like "ohh...that's this song!" i love that! haha.
"cutdown" is that song i've referred to as the "5-4-3-2-1 song" for the past year and a half. so good, and "cinders" is the super fast song where matt goes crazy and sticks his leg out.
"don't slow down" and "i'll take us home" are probably my two favorite tracks right now.
i'm sure that'll change over time, but they're the two that are really sticking in my head at the moment.

their album release show next thursday will be epic (i still have yet to hear who these "special guests" are), despite the fact that i have my history midterm the day after :o
whatevz, i'll be fine.

in other news, kid sister's show at bowery got postponed ONCE AGAIN!
this is the 50 billionth time, basically.
but it's definitely because she's totally pregnant.
or at least i think she is.
i mean, do i have to show you?? i think i do.
did anyone else notice her baby bump at the woodie awards?
the only pictures mtvu posted of her on the website are from the boobs up...not showing her tummy. peculiar.

EVIDENCE:









now, don't tell me you CAN'T see that!!

when i first thought she was pregnant, it was mid november. she looked about two or three months in. so in theory, by the end of april, it will have been 9 months and that baby will be out, and she'll be able to throw her baby into a-trak's arms and play that goddamn show!
hopefully this won't affect the release date of the album which is SUPPOSED to come out on the 27th ... 2 weeks from this thursday.

oh wait, wtf ... so as i was writing this blog, i came across some information.
it's now set to drop in march! FLIPPIN MARCH! WHAT THE HELL?? I'M SO UPSET!

i've been waiting for this album for ... forever, and it has been postponed three four times.
kid sister, why are you so unreliable?
really now?
i'm becoming far too impatient for this.
apparently it's already available in europe, and you can purchase the import on amazon, but i can't find a leak of it ANYWHERE.
anyone got one?

ANYWAYZZZZZZZZ ... further along the line, on february 7th, as i've mentioned many times already, beirut is playing at bam.
it will be magnificent. i haven't seen him since september 2007, and all this talk in U.S. History II about gulags, cherbourg, rhineland, and beirut the country is making me crazy!
i want beirut nowww!

litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto ...

yesterday, i had the pleasure of seeing Spring Awakening ... yes, just a week before it closes.
and i'm so incredibly glad.
i almost have no words to describe how amazing it was.
i'm just in awe ... it was incredible.
life changing? yes.
fantastic? of course.
touching? most definitely.



one of hunter parrish's understudies, matt doyle was melchior in this production.
apparently matt doyle usually plays the role of hanschen, one of the gay boys ... and i could've easily imagined that, but jesse swensen played a fine hanschen.
and um ... matt doyle has a nice butt.
i'm such a creep!

i can't stop listening to the soundtrack.
really, if you haven't seen it already, and can get even a crappy seat for the last few performances, TAKE IT!

hopefully i'll have the chance to see it when they go on tour.
hello, birthday idea?
and yeah, it's gonna be in philly ON MY BIRTHDAY!

really owen?

dear owen pallett,

why would you book your shows in NY on the exact same days as both of beirut's shows at BAM?
did it not occur to you that most people who enjoy the music you create also enjoy beirut?

obviously there is no competition considering everyone bought their beirut tickets already and sold out all of his shows that week, and you didn't announce your shows until AFTER that was done.
i understand that you will be back later in february with grizzly bear and the bklyn philharmonic at BAM, but tickets are too expensive for my liking.
i'm poor and need to pay for all of the other shows i haven't bought tickets for yet.
no sense in paying $55 for ONE show, right?

why couldn't you just play WITH beirut?
i just don't understand.

love,
devyn

oh, and a quick note to brandon bethancourt of alaska in winter in regards to his two NY dates.
i have come to accept that i will never see you.
i've waited long enough for you to come to NY, and now that you have two dates here, one is 19+ and the other is 21+ ... that doesn't help me. at all. ever. i'm too young. once again, and this is why i've missed and will miss 85 billion shows.
this is tragic.

and one more note to owen pallett, zach condon, brandon bethancourt and ed droste.
why can't you all make our lives a million times easier and ALL play a show together.
you're all friends, obviously.
and you're all going to be in new york at the same time ... literally.
why NOT play together?
i'm just saying, it would make my life, and i'd pay a large sum of money to see that happen.
and while you're at it, invite patrick wolf ... and andrew bird.
then get arcade fire to play too.
i'm going overboard now, but imagine how magical that would be?



lolz.

are you a unicorn?

i've probably watched this 30 times, and it never fails to make me laugh.

i've never

made any new years resolutions before.
i think now is the time.

this year, i will:
get my permit in the event that i don't fail my written test. ... i failed it.
figure out where i want to go for college.
not fuck up my grades and perhaps only have to take my latin final and nothing else.
do my homework AT HOME ... i don't do my homework, period.
actually go to school club meetings rather than just skipping all the time.
beat last year's record of 55 shows.
actually practice playing bass ... i need to stop half-assing and pick up my instrument.
teach myself every uke beirut song.
buy some spandex.
make some shorts.
take more pictures.
get new glasses. i can't see!
learn how to listen.
knit a scarf ... i've never finished one. ever.
drink less yoohoo ... i swear, i bleed that shit.
go back to philly for another adventure.
buy a wristwatch.
wear a wristwatch.
actually have a phone that lasts more than a month.
clean my room.
modify that old polaroid camera so it can use 600 film.
be nicer to my friends.
be more patient.
stop being so obnoxious.
make new friends.
figure out who matters and who doesn't.
finish writing that letter.

...that's all.