S4LEM - Deliciously Dark

There is not much I can say about this except... Thank you.
The genre of music (Witch House) is phenomenal.

What Is Real?

It is strange how living abroad, even for a short period of time, alters your perception of reality. Your perspective becomes skewed and your thoughts vacillate.

Distant lands become home,

Unconventional customs become one's own,

And one becomes incomprehensibly attached to a world that is not their own.

Where do I belong? How can a place that I have never been to FEEL like the place that I should have always been? Is this my life? Or was that?

Whichever it is, I have to get back to living, and leave this state of suspended animation.

The ultimate goal is to regain my equilibrium...

Borders, The Final Frontier

Arizona has created and passed a law that allows local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants. Some people are against the law, while others are for it, stating that the illegal workers are taking the jobs of "Regular Americans".

The fact of the matter is, if people can't find jobs they aren't looking hard enough or aren't willing to do the type of work that is being offered to them. Blaming that on an "illegal" that specifically came here as a way of supporting themselves by working extremely hard at jobs most people probably wouldn't want to do is wrong and extremely near-sighted.

As I read through the hatred and ignorance within the comments of articles and blog posts, I couldn't help but think that the ultimate goal for the creators of these types of laws is to incite anger and create a division between our nation's oppressed people. It's time to focus on the big picture and truly see what they are trying to do. Don't become what they want you to become...

Focus

Perceptions and appearances are a funny thing.

It is very hard for people to see themselves as acting in a way that would be viewed as immoral or unethical by others. Yet if that person were to really peer into their soul, they would be surprised by what they would succumb to… even if it was just to satisfy some sort of carnal desire or longing.

In fact these desires are what makes us who we really are, and no matter how much we try to portray a more wholesome or widely accepted persona, we are not being TRUE to ourselves.

If we continue to live by these self-imposed "handcuffs", we risk living our lives "out of focus", with only a glimpse of ourselves exposed for the world to embrace.

My question is, Is this truly leaving one's mark? Or are we scared of what we may find just under the surface if we REALLY explore our boundaries? What impression are you choosing to leave?

Still Here

My eyes still stay red... burning with the fire from within,
Darkness still beckons,
Nothing has changed,
It has only been but a minute.

More to come...

The Rebirth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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?