[A Brief Review] Souled Out - Jhene Aiko

This month Jhene Aiko dropped her debut studio album "Souled Out". I was a big fan of "sailing souls" and "Sail Out" so it's exciting to see her finally release a studio album.

On first listen, it sounds pretty much EXACTLY like all of her previous stuff. Really mellow, trance-y, music you just chill to. And I get it, it's her style and its what makes her unique as a female artist so I can't be mad at that. I kind of wish that the album had more of a unique sound in comparison to her other works but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy listening to the album. It kind of reminds me of if Drake were a woman and released a straight R&B album. Really emotional, raw and honest. I was hoping for more songs like "Comfort Inn Freestyle" but I feel like a song like that comes out at just the right moment and it's hard to force emotion like that for a studio album.

It's one of those albums that you can listen to in the background of what you're doing and it doesn't really get in the way of anything. I wish I could say that I was blown away but I don't really know what I was expecting. The songs all sound extremely similar and tend to blend together, which makes the album flow really well, but it kind of just plays like one really really long song. If you're not actively paying attention, you won't know what song you're listening to, or how many songs have passed.

Overall it was solid and had good vibes but I was unimpressed and bored listening to it.

Notable songs that I enjoyed:
To Love & Die ft. Cocaine 80's
Lyin King
Brave
Pretty Bird ft. Common
Blue Dream

But my opinion means nothing. Listen for yourself. 

Broad City drops a new web clip! [The Epcot of Cereal]

A new web clip of Broad City came out today and it's just as glorious as I would have thought. In said clip, Ilana and Abbi are video-chatting and eating cereal.

I can't express how ready I am for new episodes!! [Coming January 2015] 

Luckily in the meantime you can eat 5 different types of cereal while watching the ENTIRE first season on CC.com.

You're welcome!

For more of my thoughts on Broad City refer to 'The Summer Netflix Binge of 2014' 

[Movie Review] Guardians of the Galaxy/Chris Pratt Appreciation post

 I will attempt to make this more of a review of Guardians of the Galaxy and not a Chris Pratt appreciation post.

I'm not really one for movies derived from comic books but GotG had a much different vibe than I expected. It was filled with snarky comments and clever puns that was great comic relief from the action.

All of the characters had lovable qualities which is really what made the movie for me.

First of all Groot. Probably Vin Deisels best piece of work. Then baby Groot?? *swoons*
Zoe Saldana, beautiful, talented and terrifying at the same time. And for some reason always painted.
Bradley Cooper has never been cuter than when he is portraying a raccoon.
Dave Bautista was huge and sexy..and seemed sort of like an add on. Drax's character didn't make very much sense to me but at the same time I'm not versed in any Marvel comic books or story lines.

I have had a thing for Chris Pratt since like 2011 and it's so crazy to me that he is now a huge star. The only complaint I have about the movie is that Starlord seemed suspiciously similar to a certain Andy Dwyer. Same sense of humor and quirkiness. I would love to see Chris branch out and explore different styles of acting. I'd love to see more "Zero Dark Thirty" Pratt. But I digress.

I would definitely reccommend Guardians of the Galaxy if you are into superhero movies. If not, it's a great flick to have on the in the background of other activities you are partaking in. 

[Movie Review] As Above, So Below

[Includes spoilers]
I love this time of year, not because of the amazing gloomy weather, or impending darkness that is fall and winter, but because of the influx of scary movies as Halloween approaches.

I love a GOOD scary movie.

That being said. As Above, So Below was a lazy attempt at what could have been a great horror movie. The whole documentary-style horror flick, that abruptly explains the whole journey has been done to death and this movie barely stood out among similar titles.

The premise of the story was good. A smart girl is looking to somewhat avenge her fathers dead in search of a hidden artifact that he dedicated his life to finding. Her and a filmmaker and a group of other young people break into the underground catacombs of Paris and end up literally crawling through the gates of hell, despite MANY warning signs that they should not do what they are inevitably going to do anyways, they carry on. Many of them die. A few survive. The movie ends very abruptly.

The scariest part of the movie was imaging yourself in the position of the characters. It was actually a terrifying scenario to be in. Claustrophobia, darkness, and well being in hell.
The majority of the scary parts were actually given away in the trailer.

One thing that really bothers me is when movies take a documentary-style approach is when they add a score and sound effects. It really kills the illusion.

All in all. If you love scary movies, I would recommend watching this movie on Netflix..if you already have an account..and no spend any money trying to do so. Basically it was pretty unmemorable.

Welcome back to Stars Hollow

I woke up kind of 'eh' about today and then something wonderful happened.

GILMORE GIRLS IS COMING TO NETFLIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now let's pretend for a moment that I don't have the first four seasons on DVD. 

Gilmore Girls was every nerdy girls coming of age story, basically. Everyone wished they lived in a small town with a single, hot young mom, and then 2 years later wished they were smart enough to get in to Yale and work for the newspaper and become a journalist. Or that could have been just me..

I was like the Rory's understudy...I wished I could be like her but something in my brain couldn't comprehend things like math and tests and clearly people don't just GET IN to Yale..but I liked to think we would've been good friends.

Side Note: 

I hate/love how famous Melissa McCarthy is now and will shout at the next person who says, "isn't she the fat lady from Bridesmaids"

NO. She is f*cking Sookie St. James from 6 seasons of this glorious show. 

Netflix will drop ALL SEVEN SEASONS of the show on October 1. 

If you need another reason to watch it, here are 3:

If you don't understand my excitement, you are just not about that life. 

It's raining...

Whenever it rains I like to take a break from being the ray of sunshine that I am and be really moody and melancholy. During this time I like to actively look for new places to live where it never rains..i.e. California, shop online for black long sleeve shirts and leggings and do yoga in the dark.

Enjoy this playlist to make you feel just as distant and moody as I do..when it's raining.
Its a lot of Lana Del Rey...but are you surprised?

My dear, you're a...Freakshow!

I love all things creepy so I'm pretty excited for American Horror Story: Freak Show.
I actually have mixed feelings about this season because I have been following the show since it started and nothing has really compared to the first season..like STILL. Assylum was good but lost me towards the end. Coven COULD have been great but it reminded me of a high school drama.
Something about Connie Britton in a haunted house....

But anyways the new teasers for this season are out and just YES!
Thank you for the glorious nightmares that will ensue.

I know the characters in the teasers are usually not in the actual show but that creepy scream face...he should be hidden in every episode.

We Made it in America

Last weekend I attended the 2014 Budweiser Made in America Festival in Philly and it was everything I hoped it would be. These were some memorable moments in no particular order.

1. Kanye. He rapped. He sang. He ranted. He wanted people to mosh? It was Kanye.
2. Pharrell. So it rained that day. and we waited 2 hours IN the pouring rain. ended up getting front row spots. Pharrell was incredible and killed it obviously.
3. Drugs and Beer. Festivals are one of the only places where people just openly do drugs and its like...eh. The BEST part actually was the people who took just one step too far. Lets make a reality show that follows all of the paramedics that take all the drunk druggies away.
4. Rain. It poured. Like literally POURED. They told everyone to evacuate so obviously no one did. Instead we took the opportunity to get front row seats for Pharrell.
RIP shoes and crown :(

Other memorable moments:
5. Kings of Leon doing an encore with Sex on Fire.
6. Losing my phone and friends during J Cole's set.
7. Danny Brown being weird AF and it being amazing.
8. A constant stream of house music.
9. YG's FREE MEEK set.
10. Dressing 'festival chic'

 Here are some low quality pics and from my SnapChat.  


 

The Summer Netflix Binge of 2014

*update* After writing this post I realized it probably seems like I have no life or job which is not TOTALLY true. Ok the 'no life' part is true but I do have a job. and have actually been quite busy this summer. Wait why am I even justifying my TV show obsession? Good bye. I went on a Netflix binge starting about 3 months ago. Here are my thoughts on the shows I watched.  

Friday Night Lights

Clear eyes...full hearts....can't...stop....crying. I realized I'm about 6 years late on Friday Night Lights. After being recommended to me by like 7 different people and feeling extremely left out of the FNL fandom on Tumblr, I caved. Best. Decision. Ever. This was probably one of the best shows I have ever watched in my life. Like crying during every episode good. and not the sad kind of crying..like worlds-happiest-mother crying because I am so happy for these characters (very out of character). Even as the series progressed and old characters left and new characters took over...which is usually the sign of a shows demise...it was STILL good. Like just as good. I don't even know what it is. I'm not super into football or high school dramas but this show was different.    

Orange is the New Black

This goes without saying. If the first season was gold then this season was platinum...or something better than gold. The character development of this show is ridiculous. I'm obsessed with all of the characters and their back stories. I actually became obsessed with Morello even more if that's possible. She is bat-shit crazy and I absolutely love it because you would never even know. Not sure what that says about my judge of character but her back story had to be my favorite. For season 3 I hope they go even deeper into why they're all actually in prison. Also less Piper, more everyone else = yes. You go Jenji Kohan.    

Bob's Burgers

If you don't watch Bobs Burgers I don't think we can even be friends because you won't get any of my jokes. You don't even have to watch it in order. Just watch like 2 episodes. I am Tina and Tina is every average adolescent girl. I'm obsessed that she is so obsessed with boys and butts. Tina perfectly embodies how it feels to be that age. I have to admit that following my Netflix binge I basically just watch Bob's Burgers on repeat now. Bob is everyone's dad and Lynn is that mom that you wish you had but also are glad is not you're mom. Every character is relate-able to the viewers in one way or another.    

Broad City

best. show. ever. If you want a brief glimpse as to what it would be like if my best friend lived in New York city and lived out our fantasies, it would be Broad City. Broad City is like a more watchable version of GIRLS. IMO. No hate on Lena Dunham but Broad City doesn't make you want to kill yourself for being an under-employed twenty-something, it makes you embrace the fact that you enjoy getting high and not really caring about the fact that you're expected to join the actual adult world. It also teaches viewers how to properly dispose of poop if the toilet stops working, and how to hide illegal substances in your vagina. LIFE LESSONS.    

House of Cards

I was hesitant about hopping on the HoC train just because its all everyone was talking about. and being a Scandal fan, I wasn't sure if I could handle another sexy political drama. At first I was skeptical. It seemed very predictable. Political corruption, backstabbing and blackmailing...blah blah blah....and then someone got pushed in front of a train and my life was turned upside down. LIKE WHAT???????????????? Like really......what????? Wasn't she the main character???? The story was JUST getting started.......WHO DOES THAT. Not even Shonda  could've written a death like that. I am still in mourning. I don't even want to finish this post. and then season 2 ended exactly how I pictured it would. Obviously I will be watching Season 3. against my will though.  

This is why moving sucks.

About a month ago I moved into my 4th apartment since moving out of my parents house. One thing about moving. It sucks.

But it sucks in levels. First you're all excited about finding a new place. You see it and immediately envision your new life there. You sign a lease and your content. Then come the fees. Everyone seems to forget about the fees. Application fee, security deposit, pet fee, cable setup fee, parking, first months rent..etc etc etc. You basically drain your entire bank account before you even get the keys.

Then there's packing. There's levels to packing as well. You look around at all your crap and estimate that you'll need a certain number of boxes. Take that number and multiply by two because you WILL need them. Every time I move I tell myself I'm going to minimize. HA.

Pro tip: down a bottle of wine and throw away everything that reminds of you things you don't want to remember. Like that shirt you wore the night you got rejected and can now never wear again. 

If you're moving into your first place or just want new stuff, you have the pleasure of getting to quickly realize how unnecessarily expensive furnishing an apartment is. Now I know what every one is going to say. "just go to Ikea, they have everything and it's cheap."

Umm yeah. Ikea sucks. You may think its like mecca for interior decorating but you're wrong. Unless you have a boyfriend willing to asseble everything from a couch to some storage bins (EVEN THE BINS DONT COME ASSEMBLED). THEN if you ever decide to move again...RIP to all the things you built yourself without really reading the instructions. Notice all the broken dressers in front of houses on your block? Those all belong to Ikea enthusiasts who thought their $100 MALM dresser would last through their twenties.

 

Here's what I can say about moving around a lot. If you need to stay in the same city, and you're young, move as much as you can. Explore new neighborhoods. But move for yourself. Don't move to leave your problems behind or to potentially be closer to someone. That never works. Your problems will follow you wherever you go so at least make sure you like where you're coming home to.