Caroline Lufkin's Verdugo Hills

A short time ago, I did a quick review of Caroline Lufkin's 2006 album Murmurs. It's only fitting that I now do one on her latest record Verdugo Hills which was released January 25th, 2011. As with her previous record, Caroline stays close to her slower tempo and whisper-like voice roots with this record, providing a harmonious and pleasing sound while delivering the goods as far as quality.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Caroline's Verdugo Hills"][/caption]

Diving right in, the opening track "Balloons" gives you a feeling of listlessness as you are slowly lifted off your feet by Caroline's haunting and caressing voice, a very slow drum beat releasing you of your stressful day. The song is rather short, clocking in at only 1 minute and 16 seconds, but it's clear that it's not meant to make much of an impression beyond the fact that it prepares you for what's to come later in the record.

The second track is, by far, the sweet and heart warming Caroline that we all know and love. Starting with a wispy and ghost like voice, "Swimmer" explores your inner most feelings as its slow tempo and complementing lyrics wrap their soul around you and pull you onto an imaginary dance floor, compelling you to move along with them. Caroline's voice doesn't plead with you to join her, but you begin to feel that if you don't, you will miss out on the solace and serenity she brings to the proposed meeting. As the track wraps up, you feel the urge to have her continue singing, only you know that this kind of exuberance cannot last forever.

Track 10 is another that doesn't fail to deliver classic Caroline, but this time with a little more than you expect. With some of her songs, Caroline, at times, seems like a minimalist when it comes to her voice. You feel as if she were holding back from you so that she would be able to impress you with her light and satisfying voice without giving it all away too soon. Occasionally, she does purposely bring a little more for you to yearn for. "Gone" is just such a track where she offers you more flexibility in respect to her vocal talent. The song is also more up tempo which also lends reverence to her ability to offer more than just a few airy-voiced slow songs. While it is still very much a Caroline song, it lets you know that she is willing to go to a few different areas musically so that she can offer her listeners more variety and prove that she isn't some one-trick pony.

While I do appreciate her obviously singing ability, the song "Waltz" offers very little of it as far as quantity. Lending her voice to the track for only a handful of lines forces you to appreciate the tune itself and the music quality. The few times we hear her voice is pleasing, but it's absence, at times, leaves you feeling empty and slightly unfulfilled. Knowing how distinctive her voice is, I am sure Caroline purposely selected it's pronounced absence from the song, asking her audience to really give credit to the music used and not just her vocals.

Looking back and re-listening to Murmurs  definitely lets me know that Caroline, in a musical sense, is still the same woman she was in 2006. She does expand upon her original idea though, leaving you with a strong sense of satisfaction for purchasing Verdugo Hills. While I have listened to her 2008 release of the Murmurs remixes, I still find the original much more pleasing to the ear, but that is simply my personal preference as I have grown so fond of her voice. With Caroline, I find myself appreciating her work though so I do still, from time to time, listen to the remixes. I will however say that her vocals in some of those tunes is so choppy it takes away from what I love about her the most.

If you haven't done so already, definitely check her out on iTunes and Amazon and give her a listen. If you haven't heard the track "Swimmer," I have included a link to her song on youtube so give her a listen when you have the time. You may find that she will, with a single song, change your taste in music.

Hemisphere

Does it matter if
the way is lost?
To speak to so many and have its marks uneventful,
because heaven is not-in the clouds.

Moving on from that dastardly expectance,
the resale option’s justly cost
Piney forest - meadows and dusky sanction
Somewhere is the where about of serenity

Swimming and surfacing, but-
No other has won my favor.
Righteousness is a selfish path,
or is it set by one’s own heart?

Excellent as a petri dish of disease
Its growth engulfed my visual sense
Harbor lights, and many moons later,
profound justice finds me, and I am just fine.

Book Release Date Tentatively Set

I had set a date for myself of Tuesday May 14th, 2011. I have to keep it tentative because I am still in the process of going over the book, final draft. I am also having trouble locating the cover art that I want for it via public domain. If anyone happens to know of a site that has public domain photos, please drop me in a line via email which can be located in the Contact Me section of the blog. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. It rather difficult to describe what exact it is that I am looking for, but I am looking at having a single individual on the cover...either that or perhaps a decent landscape or a photo of an object that harbors strong artistic merit.

Should this date change (I really don't want it to) I will provide an update with a new release date.

The book will be available via Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com, and will be readable on most eReaders including the Kindle and the Nook as well as on PCs and Macs.

Acknowledgments

So since my date of release is looming, I decided to get together my acknowledgments page and I am trying to think of all the people who have helped me in getting this project off the ground and kept me inspired through its development. Some people are very obvious while others I am still trying to nail down. I am not putting people in it just to appease friends or family. I am looking for those who have offered some sincere insight into what I have been trying to do.

Looking back to the end of October when I just opened up Word and started writing with no real purpose, things have changed a great deal and some people have played a role in the completion of my book. It saddens me to think that there have actually been 2-3 people who have looked down on me not only for writing, but even for going back to school. I kept thinking to myself how awful their lives must be to find nothing better to do that to try and tear someone's dream down and make them feel as if they will never accomplish anything. Well, I am happy to say to those few people who hated on me...KISS MY ASS.

In less than a month, my dream of putting my work out there for people to read is going to come true, and to be honest, I don't care if i sell just a measly 10 copies. I will be happy to be read by any and all readers, and if my work can leave even the slightest impact, I will feel as if I have accomplished my goal. It's not often that people can see a life dream come to fruition, but I am thankful that it will for me. Obviously, any money I make off the project will be welcomed as I am still just a poor college student. I never expected to get rich off of this; all I wanted was to be heard.

Well, as the day draws closer, I am clearing my throat and hoping for the best. That being said, even if the best doesn't happen, I will never stop writing...I can't stop writing. My mind will never rest. I have accepted that. It is the reason I cannot sleep. I wake in the middle of the night after maybe an hour's rest and cannot help but turn on my computer and write until my fingers tingle with pain and fatigue. And the few hours I am able to sleep, the dreams never stop coming. They haunt me and speak to me and the voices carry on like a choir of musing. The inspiration surrounds me from all sides as if i am being pursued by a ghost of ideas as it desperately pleads with me to share it's ideas with the world.

I will always be that outcast and I will always be different from everyone else, and now I know why. I am who I am and I write what I feel, and the voices in my head will not rest. Ever. My legacy will be intertwined with my creations, and through my work, they and I will live forever.

Master Document Done...Mostly

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Masterful Document!"][/caption]

All the chapters are in and 99% of the formatting is complete. I have just a couple of more items to add in till its complete. Great thing is after i get it all set...I get to read the whole thing all over again for like the 87th time. Hooray!

It is nice to finally have it though and all this time I've put into it will hopefully pay off. If it doesn't...guess it's back to the lab again. I still feel its a very good story and the plot has terrific twists and turns along the way. I did purposely wrap in some allegory to give people a little something to think about. I hope it will, at the very least, entertain. I like to think that the characters are dynamic enough to allow for some of my readers to relate to them. Each of them have their own unique set of circumstances so I think there is a little something for most people in it.

2nd Revision on All Chapters - Complete

In what has seemingly been a marathon of revising, I finally finished going through all chapters and finished making major corrections. Those chapters in the master document, which already had a third look, are about to get a forth as I was able to see a few errors I somehow managed to miss in the revision which placed them in the master document. While I have no plans on tearing apart the master, I do think going through all of them one last time would be a good idea.

I am getting a little anxious now as I realize that the finish line is definitely in sight. While it will not be released to any real praise or fan fair, I will finally be able to say that I worked on and completed a true novel, 100% on my own. All I can hope for is that I will make a modest amount on its sales. I have no real expectation money wise, thinking I will just be thrilled to be read at all. I don't expect people to like the book cover to cover, but i hope the story will touch them in someway, if even for a moment.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;

-Alexander Pope-

Orphan

Church seats are empty and the words do not come
I have nothing for the stables, so glorious run
The gleaming saint feelings of fearful regret
sit alone in this room, haunt poetry and song

Alone and bewildered and set in those ways
Along comes a nothing and stands in the way
Home is no home and I know I can’t stay
Extremities is all I can do for the length of the day

Sold off and tossed out and owned as a slave
The poise of a shackled, less wanting abode
It begs and it differs and fades in the wind
Seldom its innards come trailing kin

Wandering solely with heaven in doubt
The train loses baggage as it’s carried about
Till nothing is left, it’s just me and the rain
a little pain is just a norm across the jostling scape

Caroline Lufkin - "Murmurs"

It's not often that you run into a musical artist with any sort of true talent as far as vocals, let alone writing. In today's music industry, it can sometimes feel as if we are being spoon fed manufactured pop music which is no better for your soul than fast food is for your health. Through my various ventures in the world of music outside of the United States, I've happen upon a handful of truly terrific artists who definitely bring something to the table when it comes to real talent. One of my first discoveries was Olivia Lufkin. With her array of pop, rock, punk, electronica and, at times, borderline metal sounds, I figured her for one in a million. Little did I know that musical talent seems to flow through the blood of not only her, but most of her family. While checking out the latest Olivia news, I came across a lesser know artist which turned out to be her sister, Caroline.



While not nearly as successful as her famed sister, Caroline has slowly emerged as a force in the realm of eletronica and experimental sound. While she did recently release an album in January of this year, I'd like to focus on her first full length album. Murmurs, at a glance, doesn't seem like much, as it's cover art lacks the flash and glamor of many Japanese Pop artists. All you see is simply a girl laying about with a flower in her hair, and across the top of her record reads simply "Caroline." Nothing flashy in the least by todays standards, but this is a classic case of you cannot judge a book by its cover...or in this case, an album. Once you pop in your disc, you are greeted by the warm and, at times, seemingly playful voice of Caroline as she spreads her appeal out for all to admire.

The standout track, which you are sure to find on Youtube, is "Bicycle," a haunting yet angelic tune that finds it's way into your heart and proceeds to take you on a journey. It's softened trumpet opening caresses your ears right before Caroline's angelic voice pulls you in and asks you to give her your attention. It's slower paced and story-telling theme almost reminds you of something you may have experienced in your childhood; perhaps the first time a young girl discovers love and the effect it has on her soul. As the song progresses, you are lulled into a sort of trance that envelops your senses and just as you think you have developed a liking, perhaps even a love for the journey, it is indeed over. As soon as it concludes, oddly enough, you may find yourself looking for the back button on your player, the feelings of listening to it again overtaking you.

Another standout is "Drove Me to the Wall" which has faster pacing than that of "Bicycle," but just as haunting. It's soft musical accompaniment works well with Caroline's light voice as she stretches her singing talents, pulling off a superb vocal performance.

"Everylittlething," which is spelled correctly in this case, introduces a slightly heavier electronica sound. Still bringing the goods vocally, Caroline explores a more playful and somewhat less serious side to her music while still pulling you into her world. The track sounds as if it could evolve into a dance number if she'd decided to speed up the tempo. However, you will find yourself thanking Caroline for keeping it mellow as the song brings a comfort into your heart and lets you relax instead of beating your head against a wall as most dance music seems to do.

While far from mainstream, Caroline lets everyone know that she isn't just another Pop Princess (she is known for turning down a major label recording contract simply because they wanted to make her "too pop") as her music and voice are more than enough to make her a well respected artist in the industry. Filled with airy and wonderful vocals as well as soothing and sometimes fragile beats, Murmurs is a rare gem in this watered down, manufactured pop era.

Home, and My Company

I watch the breakers as they approach the shore,

Their frothy texture bubbling up

The distance exposes the horizon

My hand in his, and I feel home again.

 

Exceeding vistas caress my view

We go walking between the trees

The cherry blossoms, aiding my demeanor

Stroll along and smile, beside me, he breathes

 

The bustling rush and the crowded streets

Remind me of things I’ve grow tired of

While my work keeps me traveling, on the go

I long for serenity, a peaceful scene

 

Still I find myself missing this place

I’ve moved on to another

Quiet nights, and I watch him sleep

I touch his hand, and thank him for coming

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Image via Wikipedia"][/caption]

The Infamous Hamster Tonic Murder

The Infamous Hamster Tonic Murder


June 22nd 1996


Fuzz


Rain


Kill


Pain


Steal


Force


Coming home


Of course


It bit me


It bit me


It bit me


It bit me

Juicy

Working on Chapter 11 and it seems I have a new fan. I let her read a chapter, and now she is asking me for more. It's a good thing. It pushes me to continue my revising and it seems like she is giving me some really helpful feedback as far as pacing and flow. This is all good stuff that I will take into account when I go back over it a third time. This is the kind of fire i need right now. The fact that she literally lit me on fire has no bearing on this at all...ok, maybe a little.

"And if you don't know, now ya know!"

-Biggie Smalls-

Book Update: 9 Chapters in the eBook Master Document

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Cover via Amazon"][/caption]

I have my good days, and then i have my...not so good days. Today, I am making myself work on the master document as much as possible. While I have only 5 chapters in in, I have 4 others that had gone through their second revision and are getting added today. I want to get through at least 10 and 11, as far a revisions. If i am plugged in, I am going through 13 also. I want the master document completed by no later than the end of April which will be a small challenge since the end of the semester is quick approaching. I don't have much work for school which is surprising. I have maybe 3 papers left to write and thats it. I have one more group activity for Speech and then thats over. As far as math, I know enough to pass and move on so I am glad to be done with it.

Back to the master document...

Once they have all through their second revision and are added, I will go through them once again, checking for essentially the same things. Grammar, continuity, lack of details, etc.

I want to have this out and available no later than mid May. I am currently researching various avenues for self publishing on the web. Most eReaders will be able to handle the PDF format I am going with and I am currently figuring out how to make it available on Amazon as well. I've spent so much time on this that I would be happy to sell 1000 copies. If i sell more, then that'd be awesome. Enough of the jibba jabba...back to work.

 

5th Day

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5^th Day

Cherry blossoms trickle down from the sky, and the grass is soft, lush, like a bed of down on a cool, spring day. I look skyward and speculate on the clouds before me, wondering what each one looks like. Trains and trollies, and teddy bears consume my being; the light, northern breeze kisses my exposed skin. My knees are pointed up and I feel as if I am being watched, in fact I know I am for I can see her out of the corner of my eye. She stares at me and wishes her wish of carefree days and endless nights, the pattern of bittersweet days having taken their toll. Her red hair sways out across her rosy lips as the wind plucks her lavish locks out from under her hand which attempts to hold their listless flight at bay. Her heart beats and rumbles, and her blue eyes glisten with sweet delight as she steps closer to me. Finally, I turn to her and our eyes meet, and startled shivers exert their force upon her shadowed visage. Her eyes show her grief and we both know I cannot stay here like this, relaxing in her silhouette for long. Four days and six hours have passed, and every waking moment we have spent together, and every moment in slumber she has been in my arms. I’ve read her mind, her thoughts melancholic, and I know her heart for she has told me of her incorrigible desire to keep me with her. We hold each other’s gaze as we listen to sounds of children at play, our unborn child still just a dream.

The breeze picks up and she sits down beside me to show me her cruel and lovely intentions. Her theft, of such brilliant and tireless devotion, was only the beginning of our unforeseen affinity, and the loss of such a strong defense was not bitter, but a welcome circumstance. Her company was not granted, but more a luxury, a state of which much due diligence had been paid. As I turn my eyes back toward the heavens, she joins me for the critical view, and I take a breath that precludes all fallacy of reason.