Nocturnal Notions

The Rebirth

2009-12-16T01:52:00.002-05:00

The words are empty,
emotions are fleeting,
These concepts match my innermost thoughts.

Trapped within a quandary,
Despair is inevitable,
Are these really my innermost thoughts?

Time to reconnect with oneself,
Metamorphose into the entity that one craves to be,
A formal re-introduction of sorts,
Unravel the mystery and reveal thyself!

Hello Seahorse! - Bestia

2009-08-28T02:07:00.004-04:00

Hello Seahorse! is a Mexican, Bi-lingual Alternative Rock/Pop band that was started a couple of years ago. Although their second album "Bestia" was released a couple of months ago, I am happy that they are really starting to get the respect they deserve. They will be in the NYC area in a few weeks, so I am definitely going to go and check them out.

Enjoy their title track Bestia below!!!

Umberto Boccioni - States of Mind

2009-08-28T01:08:00.010-04:00

Umberto Boccioni was an Italian-born, futurist painter and sculptor. In my opinion, his "States of Mind" collection (which consists of "The Farewells", "Those Who Go" and "Those Who Stay") are a standout among his work.

Boccioni’s “The Ones Who Go” has a melancholy and nostalgic feel. It makes me think of when family comes to visit that you don’t see too often and the whirlwind of emotion that one goes through when you first greet them, become re-accustomed to their presence, and the finally have to once again separate. This only reinforces the thought that most of the emotions we humans feel are transitory and never find a permanent home within us.

Boccioni’s “Those Who Stay” has always appealed to me because of the deep, dark aura that surrounds it and the inescapable weight of emotion it casts upon its viewers. When two people part it is a bit easier to be the one leaving as opposed to the one who is left behind. The vertical lines give the impression that sadness and clouds of loneliness are raining down and suffocating the people who are left behind.

A Walk Through The Dark

2009-06-16T02:32:00.005-04:00

Why is it that I am so alive... so vibrant while the rest of the world lies motionless in slumber. These words have no point, yet to a point they rush.

These thoughts torment me.
Incessant urging...
Know thyself,
Deny not your slightest whim.

How can one truly go on wondering,
When one's unfeigned character is clear as day,
When one's true nature no longer hibernates.

I travel these dank corridors...
not as a way to ecape, but as a mode of ingress.

Picasso - Dark Master

2009-06-15T02:51:00.005-04:00

Pablo Picasso is a true master and in “Guernica” he utilizes symbolism to covey his messages. I am moved by this painting visually because of the carnage and humanity in dire straights. I am attracted and all the while repelled by its “in your face” death and suffering.

Picasso’s “Rest” is a favorite of mine and was painted during his “blue period”. The soft, almost angelic features of his subject’s face are in sharp contradiction with the twists of her intertwined fingers which underscores this painting’s beauty and the contradictory nature of our existence. The figure’s outline provides order for the bold colors he chose for this selection.

The Irony of Man

2009-05-12T20:44:00.005-04:00

I received a text the other day which made me think about how absurd we sometimes are. The text read something like "90 people get infected with swine flu and people wear face masks, 90,000 people are infected with HIV and people still refuse to wear condoms".

Just a little food for thought...

Keith Haring - Street Art

2009-04-24T02:55:00.009-04:00

Keith Haring was an artist whose was primarily known for his "Street Art", although he also created other forms of art. Since he was personally moved by the environment around him he chose to create art which contained social commentary or political statements. Part of what made Keith different was the fact that he chose to draw on public property. This within itself tells me that he wanted to make a statement, or rebel against authority.

Some of his work was sexually charged and explicit while others stressed unity or carried a message. I definitely think he was ahead of his time and feel that his work was needed then and even now. His repetitive use of pigs and dollar signs ($$) in a number of his creations says a lot about the way he felt about our obsession with money and the extent that people are willing to go for it.

My interpretation of his art makes me think he was angry about certain ideas about society. The fact that he was openly gay, which at that time was lifestyle that was frowned upon, coupled with his social activism, his support for unpopular crusades and his distrust of the government influenced his work. His use of simple shapes and images with clear messages and focused point of view as opposed to complex pieces made his work easy to decipher by the masses. Much of his work can still be seen all over New York City today.

They're Back - Dave Matthews Band

2009-04-24T02:30:00.006-04:00

There is not much I can say about the Dave Matthews Band band except that they are truly amazing and have been missed dearly.

I'm very excited about their new single "Funny The Way It Is" from their upcoming album "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King"

Below is a taste of what millions of fans round the world have come to enjoy for years.

R.I.P. LeRoi Moore...

Robi Draco Rosa - Vagabundo Con Su Propio Estilo

2009-03-31T00:17:00.002-04:00

I can't believe I've been blogging this long and haven't written anything about Draco. Those of you that know me personally know that I'm a Huge Draco fan, yet I haven't expressed any of my thoughts till now. Maybe I was waiting for the right words, or maybe the right songs or videos to show... or maybe I didn't want to run off on a tangent (like now). Whatever the reason, the time is NOW!!!

The New York-born, former Menudo member, of Puerto Rican descent, is for lack of words... awesome! Besides penning many of fellow Menudo Alumni Ricky Martin's biggest hits (Livin la Vida Loca, Maria, The Cup of Life and She Bangs), his style and look is the furthest thing from mainstream pop music. With lyrics sung in Spanish and English, Draco effortlessly blends Rock, Jazz, Pop, Alternative, Flamenco, and many other musical styles and influences into his music and takes inspiration from the many people that he has met in his travels all over the world.

His live shows are also phenomenal! I have had the pleasure of seeing him live three times, and have walked away from each show with a new appreciation and love for his music. Dark and brooding, fast and pulsating, hardcore beat-driven and melody filled music is what you'll hear. Every album showcasing his constant evolution as an artist. Like I said before, Draco has something for anyone that appreciates good music that doesn't always fit into "cookie-cutter" genres. He is an engima unto himself! Below are a few of my favorite Draco joints (can't fit them all on here). Draco es lo mejor en musica hoy en dia!!!

Salvador Dali - The Picture Within

2009-03-29T05:21:00.001-04:00

Salvador Dali was a spanish artist whose work incorporates symbolism and surrealism. Many of his paintings contain somewhat random images and pictures within them. The beautiful images and dream-like arrangements give one the appearance of having escaped from Dali's subconscious and leaked out onto the canvas, creating an intoxicating world comprised of blended images both tangible and imagined.

There is always something new to be discovered or rediscovered when you observe his work. The profound meaning that I find in his work, not to mention the breathtaking effects that the placement of these images create, inspire me. His incongruous visions challenge me to burrow beneath the superficial shell and truly explore the picture within the picture, as I simultaneously look at myself and learn to examine the man within the man...

Juan Son - Nada

2009-03-14T01:02:00.002-04:00

The eclectic soul that is Juan Son from Porter, the Mexican-based band, is back. But this time in support of his first solo album, Mermaid Sashimi. Juan has created an album comprised of very diverse sounds and influences, but still within the same vein of his past contributions to music. As always the album has tracks that are sung in both spanish and english with lyrics that are at times indecipherable and at others all too raw. Juan Son's voice is undeniably distinct in that Bjork-like fashion, and his enigmatic stage presence adds to the surrealistic and dreamlike qualities that he is wrapped up in.

Nada is the first single and video off of the album which was released last month. It is a bit bizare and psychedelic, with its dark, trippy visuals and hallucinogenic feel... not to mention the sight of Juan spinning around in some sort of straight-jacket and halo combination. It is no wonder that I like it. Enjoy!!

The Redefinition Of Photography - Annie Leibovitz

2009-03-10T01:33:00.011-04:00

The artist that I am presenting is Annie Leibovitz. Annie is a very well respected and accomplished photographer. She has garnered this acclaim due to the intimacy that is portrayed in many of her photographs. Having worked for “Rolling Stone” magazine during its infancy, she is said to be responsible for giving the magazine its signature, up-close and personal feel with its subjects. After her stint with Rolling Stone she has gone on to work with Vogue and Vanity Fair magazines on numerous successful and highly publicized projects.

There is a quality about her portraits that makes you feel like only you and the person or persons being photographed exist at that moment in time. Her portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono conveys the message that most people in the country were feeling at that time. Yoko was seen and the person who broke up “The Beatles” and an icy figure in John’s life. Her perceived coldness, immobile stiffness and dark dress are an extreme contrast to John’s flexibility, warmth and stark nudeness. The picture shows him practically hanging off of her while she seems to lie there unflinchingly with her gazed fixed on some distant point. Metaphorically, it reminds me of how within a relationship one party is willing go out of their way and bend to the will of the other while the second party doesn’t even seem to notice.

Her portraits of Barack Obama and William Burroughs depict intense gazes and other-worldly stares that are conjured up from her subjects and mesmerize their audiences. Barack’s intense fixed look evokes a feeling of quiet confidence, while William Burroughs seems to almost look through you.

Who Will Watch The Watchmen?

2009-03-05T01:37:00.002-05:00

Finally! There are only about 24 hrs left. The Watchmen will be coming to theaters. Not only has this film adaptation far exceeded my expectations (keep in mind that I am making this assessment based on the footage from the trailer), but it looks like it is pretty close to the comic! That in itself is quite an accomplishment.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with most celebrated graphic novel of all time and the alternate New York City (circa 1985) that Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created, below is the movie trailer.

Laurie Lipton - Embrace The Darkness

2009-02-05T21:15:00.000-05:00

I am not going to add too much commentary on these pieces as I believe it would take away from their impact. Laurie Lipton is an American artist, who was born in New York, although she has since relocated to London. Most of her work consists of charcoal and pencil on paper. She is a true master of the art of shading. I absolutely love her macabre style and dark subject matter as well as the way she tells a unique story in each image.

Beneath The Surface

2009-01-29T02:03:00.003-05:00

You tell me you can not venture out, I ask you why not?
You tell me this time it is different, I ask you what has changed?
A hidden past… to never see the light of day,
An immoral romance, whose siren song was intoxicating and unrelenting,
Be I the weaker of the two? Be I the more indulgent in lustful fantasies?

Beneath the surface, rages a river on the brink of explosion,
Beneath this dispassionate façade and calm exterior, surges an uncontrollable desire.
Simulations of platonic affection constituting outward farces… for the benefit of whom?
Friends… what mockery we would make of the word

So I stubbornly agree… what once was can no longer be,
One must at times be gracious in the most woeful of defeats.
But what will now follow? What will this new idealistic and “respectful” bond consist of?

What brand of true “friendship” could be had, when one couldn't very well even share a libation or two?
Would this "friendship" be limited to sparse communications and the occasional meal at a very public eatery?
Or should we refrain from all contact in order to preserve our “friendship”?
So I ask of you now… Would acting in this manner constitute a friendship in which each party is true to themselves, or would it just be the watered-down reality of two people who feel it would be in their best interests to act accordingly... even if it is in fact fictitious?
Or should we again delve into the watery depths of this star-crossed union, knowing full well that once this path has been taken it will be impossible to reemerge unscathed?

Chuck Close - Pixelated

2009-01-24T01:42:00.001-05:00

The artist I am presenting is Chuck Close. Chuck is a very well known photorealist painter and accomplished photographer. His large scale works based on photographs have been on display at the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art and continue to be displayed throughout the world.

Chuck’s work has a meticulous quality that is evident througout his many pieces. The type of dedication that only comes with true love for one’s work. The pixelated appearance and detail of his massive portraits when one examines them at close range is amazing. The arrangement of various colors and how they blend in together from afar give me the sense that he was envisioning the bigger picture in his mind in order to perfect each minute detail. This particular quality about his work really gets me to think about how easy it is to get caught up in everyday problems and how difficult it is to really appreciate life unless you step back for a moment and take a second look. Chuck really seems to capture his subjects’ personalities and true essences in their gazes, whether intense or indifferent.

Tragically, he was paralyzed in 1988 due to a blood clot that was found in his spinal cord which caused a very rare spinal artery collapse. However, despite this career threatening event Chuck underwent months of physical therapy and once he regained some use of his arms began to paint again with brushes strapped to his fingers and arms.

New President, New Speech, New America

2009-01-23T00:43:00.007-05:00

In one of the most significant and monumental events in the history of this country, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America. BARACK OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT!!!

On a chilly afternoon in DC, Barack was sworn in and delivered a speech that the nation needed to hear. Many expected a grandiose address filled with rhetoric and wordiness. Although at times he spoke in his usual articulate and eloquent style, there was a sense of urgency in his voice. The message he delivered was one of laser-sharp, direct action outlining the directives for his presidency. This is a "New era of responsibility", he declared because of our country's "Failure to make hard choices" . He spoke to the nation and the world about being "In the midst of crisis" and "shuttered homes". However bleak the and sobering the speech seemed at times, there were words and statements of unity and encouragement. Obama conjouring up the dead spirits of our fathers and reminding the nation that the people of our great country are what once made us great. Our innovation, our services, our technology, and least of all our resilience ... all things that make us what we are.

Long gone was the Obama we marvelled at during the debates for his oratory skills. This was a man who entered this race as a politician and emerged a leader! Now is the time to stand beside our chosen representative and take action... time to take our country back!

Porkchop Sandwiches!

2009-01-11T02:22:00.003-05:00

It is 2009!!! I have been away from the keyboard for a spell... trying to get past the holidays and the present state of the economy. So I figured I would start this year off with something light as opposed to some deep introspective analysis of whatever.

I remember growing up watching cartoons and "afterschool specials" that always had positive messages. Below is video that I have been watching continuously for about 2 years or so. Someone took a public service announcement from G.I. Joe, dubbed it and turned into one of the funniest vids I have seen in a long time, as well as giving birth to one of my favorite catch-phrases... Porkchop Sandwiches!!!

The Pain

2008-12-12T03:41:00.007-05:00

Neurotic ramblings or unequivocal prose,
The pain is ever-present,
The pain… like cold caresses,
No words escape your blistered lips.

Your ideas fill me with purpose,
Stab me with tenacity,
Puncture my very essence,
Help me to become desensitized.

The meaning of life? What true comedy!
The pursuit of happiness? What a miserable existence!
The truth is obvious… The fruit lies within the perceived fruitlessness,
Within the barren wind-swept wastelands.

Oh what a wretched bunch we men are,
Embrace that which you fear! And only then can you truly escape the pain…

Warhol - Current Influences

2008-12-03T02:37:00.001-05:00

Andy Warhol was an American artist whose name was synonymous with "Pop Art". He initially painted simple mass-produced items like Coke bottles and Campbell soup cans. My choice to present his work is based on his subject matter and color selections. Some of Andy’s works portray identical scenes or people repeated various times on canvases, where the only variation between each is a different bold color selection. The repetition on the canvases was done with the use of a silk-screen. Andy’s choices of colors were what conveyed his message and feelings. Whether he chose to summon a melancholy aura, express his rage for a particular topic or simply painted what was near him, he allowed his differences in hue tell the story for him.

The feeling that I get from his self-portrait seems to evolve every time I look at it. The changes in the colors, whether the images are “solarized” or not, convey a message of gloominess/despondency or a superficial façade of happiness that Andy used to put on… although he was not truly understood in his times. Some may argue that even in our present day whether many of his works and the mystery surrounding his "seriousness" towards some of his subject matter was in fact legitimate. Art lovers, critics and the masses speculate as to what the meaning are behind his masterpieces while others regard them as rubbish. Either way the world will never see another Warhol... an artist whose influence we still see today in pieces ranging from potrayals of Che Guevara to "Warhol-esque" t-shirts with Obama's face emblazoned on them.

Coldplay - Life in Technicolor II

2008-11-25T01:45:00.000-05:00

They did it again!!! I absolutely loved Coldplay’s last album “Viva La Vida”. However, there was one track that I really wished they had added lyrics to… the opening track “Life in Technicolor”. Maybe it was the song’s sweet melody, the pulsating rhythm, its atmospheric vibe, or maybe it was the “OOHHHHH” “OOHHHHH” that Chris sings towards the end. Whatever the reason, that song was awesome untouched, but of course the perfectionist in me craved for just a bit more.

Fast forward to Coldplay’s new EP release named “Prospekts March” which contains previously unreleased material, and the first track is… “Life in Technicolor II”. Chris Martin delivers some solid vocals on the track which much to my delight was extended to just over four minutes from the original two and a half minutes. Ahhhh, bliss. Enjoy!!!

You can download the new version below:

Coldplay – Life in Technicolor II

Anne Sexton - The Other Woman

2008-11-13T00:51:00.000-05:00

I just finished re-reading some poems by Anne Sexton. Most of her work is appealing to me in a "different" way. One poem in particular that stuck out for me was “You All Know The Story Of The Other Woman”.

The poem is basically about a woman whose significant other is cheating on her. The poem focuses on Sexton’s idea of what the man’s relationship with his mistress consists of. Sexton comforts herself by imagining the other woman as an inanimate object rather than viewing her as a real person. By not seeing the other woman as a person, she disqualifies any bond that her significant other and his mistress can possibly have. She says the other woman is the man’s selection part time, but when he is done with her he will put her back. This thought process makes it easier for her to accept the betrayal and still keep her self-worth. Sexton doesn’t deny the physical relationship that her significant other has with the other woman, but believes it is limited to just that. Sexton sums up the man’s relationship with the other woman as merely a carnal pursuit that takes place during nocturnal hours for strictly for the fulfillment of his lustful desires. Sexton also assumes that the other woman can’t truly know her significant other very well due to the limited amount of time they spent together. She tells herself that the mistress is his “play-thing” and she is the woman he really cares about. She thinks she is the woman who has a real connection with him because he always comes back to her in the light of day. I believe it was Sexton’s intention to show this particular point of view in order for the reader to identify with her.

This poem made me think about the many excuses that people can come up with to fool themselves into thinking they are in a normal relationship. People suffer many different types of abuse, whether it is physical, verbal or emotional. It is easy to say that you would react a specific way if you ever found yourself in a certain hypothetical situation, until you actually found yourself in the real situation. It is also very easy to judge other people’s decisions without knowing all of the factors that lead to those decisions. The poem illustrates how we can become accustomed to and rationalize just about any situation we encounter no matter how absurd it may actually be. It also makes me wonder just what would be considered out of the question nowadays…

Iraq - A Just War? A Look Back

2008-11-10T01:11:00.009-05:00

The issue of War and Terrorism is one that is always present, especially now since the United States is no longer perceived as a safe haven from the world’s violence. This country which was once “untouched” in terms of mass deaths due to terrorism, has now taken a more realistic view of itself and its vulnerabilities. Our current war or “act of aggression” and whether it is just or not can also be turned on its head depending on who you ask.

A just war is supposed to have three requirements according to Thomas Aquinas:

The war must be started and controlled by the authority of state or ruler.
There must be a just cause.
The war must be for good, or against evil. Law and order must always be restored.

The causes of this war, although initially clearly stated have become muddled with ulterior motives and double-talk. This war against Iraq or Jihad has been viewed as a holy war from the other side. Our acts of patriotism and "peacekeeping" are seen as terrorism by the Muslim world. War in this country has always been declared once an enemy first attacked our troops (Pearl Harbor for example), thus making it a just war. In this particular case President Bush instituted a preemptive war, which although we were never attacked, he justified by claiming Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Iraq was attacked and invaded, the ruling party (Saddam Hussein) was ousted and then subsequently executed. Years have passed and we continue to occupy the country in order to “quell” insurgent uprisings. Our current president’s aggressive stance and actions in this case could cause a huge backlash against the United States, by other counties who now see us as an aggressor among peaceful nations.

To make things worse, the ethnocentric media that we as Americans are exposed to is rather limited and you would be surprised how much more you would learn by watching the newscasts aimed at a different audience besides predominantly American viewers. I'm glad that this "reign" is almost over...

New Zoé - Reptilectric

2008-11-07T02:40:00.002-05:00

Zoé is an influential Mexican rock band which formed back in the 1990s. Although the majority of their songs are in spanish their sound seems to transcend the spanish rock genre and infect diverse audiences. Their style is one that has evolved and changed over the years with definite influences from the Britpop and Grunge movements.

This new upcoming release “Reptilectric” (Release date 11/11/2008) is the fourth studio album for them and a follow up to the highly acclaimed “Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea”.

I have also had the pleasure of seeing this band live 3 times and have never been disappointed. Their unique stage presence is undeniable and their atmospheric sound unmatched.

Below is the video for their first single and title track named “Reptilectric”

Cindy Sherman - Conceptual Photography

2008-11-06T04:15:00.006-05:00

Cindy Sherman is an artist who is primarily known for her visionary self-portraits in which she focuses on concepts rather than aesthetics. There are typically messages or social commentary behind each of her images, which she uses her body to convey. Her use of various costumes and distinct style, which contribute to her ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia, bewilderment, wonder or repulsion within her audiences, is unrivaled. Other photographers of her era were pointing the camera outward to capture and record the world, while she turned the lens on herself to metamorphose and truly show the world what she wanted to express.

What one immediately grasps when you look at her work is the strength and vision in each of her images. Creating iconic impressions in a physical form that depicted the stereotypical attitude that society had towards women in movies, magazines and other forms of media called attention to the unjust practices. There is an almost dream-like and personal quality about her work that makes me feel like I am the person taking the picture. When one looks at her pictures one is not truly seeing her, but the character she wishes to show you. There is an anonymous quality about her personally, where she actually becomes the subject. There is an intensity found in her eyes whether she is playing the part of a glitzy celebrity, sex-pot or even woman in death. I find her work to be somewhat of a pioneer for other forms of visual artists that have since followed.