Matt Nathanson

I am having a serious obsession over the singer, Matt Nathanson at the moment.

I know I posted a YouTube video of his current single very recently but after finally getting my paws on his new album (due to it being sent to my home address and me being here in Cambridge), I feel he is worth another blog post!

(Looking rather chuffed with my new album :P)

His new album "Modern Love" is simply beautiful and inspiring.
I have been non-stop listening to it since I got it and it has certainly been added to list of my all time favourite albums!

The piece of writing within the album artwork states the album's purpose, it really gets you thinking..

"If they're done right, records
should do seemingly opposing things.
On one hand, they transport you...
They drop you somewhere else
but, at the same time, they root
you deeper in yourself.


The way the songs are sequenced,
the artwork,
the arc of the record,
it's all part of the experience.


This record's a collection of
stories about love
and how it exists now...
In a time where technology
and warp speed and instant
gratification are the premium.


This record was made around the idea
of opposing things smashed up
against each other.
Working together.


Head vs. Gut
Pristine vs. Messy
Technology vs. Heart
Computers vs. Acoustic Guitars


Modern Love."


I feel this to be an excellent description of the album.
It gives everything. 
Slow songs, upbeat songs, happiness, sadness, seriousness, light-heartedness...
Opposing things that all seem to work so, so well together.
He certainly captures the idea of modern love.
It's complications, it's excitement, it's up and downs.
It's uncertainty, intensity and loneliness.


There is not one song I do not like and I am even struggling to find a favourite!
Each song has it's own individual meaning and a story that draws you in and enables you to reflect and explore different feelings and emotions.

This new album certainly doesn't fail to live up to the standards of Matt's previous albums.
If anything, with each album he becomes that little bit better (if that's even possible!)


Be sure to check out this new album, you definitely won't be disappointed.


I shall leave you with the song that I seem to be enjoying the most on the album at the moment.
The song sounds so beautiful and mesmerising.
The lyrics are full of meaning, yet still slips in a bit of humor.

This year all but disappeared,
bought into fairy tales,
but sleeping beauty just kept score
and tried to sleep more.


She said, "I'm not quite myself tonight,
but the way you touch me
makes me tongue tied,
but that could be the wine too."


"Kiss quick, I got a line out the door
who all think they can save me.
One by one they lay the world at my feet,
one by one they drive me crazy."


She said, "I know love,
and it's all push and shove,
so stop talking, and put your back into it."
Loaded, oh my hands shook to hold her,
I turned her body on...
I turned her body on myself.

"Kiss quick, I got a line out the door

who all think they can save me.

One by one they lay the world at my feet,

one by one they drive me crazy.

Shut your mouth, pull me out before this all goes grey.

One by one they lay the world at my feet,

one by one they go away."

"Sold my blood for money, baby... baby,

and I love how it feels."
And this year, all but disappeared.

Julie
xx

Faster

Nothing much to update you on.

Just so you know, I've decided to spend this month doing next to nothing. I feel I owe it to myself to just relax and have some me time. :)

This has included catching up on all the music I love, and catching up on artists that have released new music and going on tours etc.

This is song my current music love at the moment:

Julie
xx

It's a Dog's Life..

Trying to find time between partying, sleeping and eating is such a challenge at the moment! :P (as you can see, I am thoroughly enjoying my summer!)

However, I have found a little bit of time to make a stop motion animation with modeling clay.

It was mainly an experiment to see what I could do, but I also based it on my dog Misty, who seems to have ever changing moods.

I hope you enjoy it. I do plan to put music/sounds to it at some point.
I am definitely going to do more and try to make the images in my next animation look smoother and also have better lighting (and work out how to make the lighting stay the same in each frame).

Julie

xx

Flying Pigs...

They really do exist!!!

One landed on my window sill today!

Haha! I'm only joking.
I made this little cutie from clay, acrylic and feathers.
It was a small joke between a friend and I, and I think I have taken it a tad too far.

We have named him Bertie the pig.

I think I may have gone slightly crazy recently...

Julie

xx

A Trip to the Emerald Isle

Sorry for my recent absence on here, I have spent the past week in Ireland.

We (Mum, Dad, Nan, Grandad & I) all travelled over to Ireland for a family wedding, and combined our visit with seeing lots of family.

I think most of our time was spent either driving (as everyone seems to live so far apart from each other) or eating!

Everywhere we visited offered a cup of tea (which of course you cannot decline!) and you can't just have tea on it's own, so biscuits, cakes, sandwiches also followed!

I think we've all come home about a stone heavier!

The wedding was beautiful and we were fortunate enough to have the weather on our side.

For some reason, we all got far too caught up in the whirlwind of the wedding that we forgot to take many pictures.

The Straw Bride and Groom

I couldn't resist putting a picture up of the gorgeous cat that lives with the family we stayed with! :)

I did take my sketchbook with me, I had huge intentions to do lots of drawing!!
However, that failed miserably and I still have no drawings in my summer sketchbook!
Oh well, still plenty of time yet! :)

Julie

xx

Stop Motion Animation

Ok, so the other day I was saying about trying some more animation. So, here I am.

I was inspired to try stop motion animation after viewing this video, it's so beautiful and very well done.

I know I would not be able to ever achieve this standard.

But here is my attempt at stop motion.

I know it's not very good, I just had a moment of wanting to try it and this small attempt satisfied this urge.

I will definitely try some more stop motion in the future, with proper lighting and an actual story line/plan.

The previous redness on the video has now been corrected!

I hope you enjoy watching the crazy bear :)

Julie

xx

My First (Sort of) Animation

In our Photoshop lessons, we were asked to make a small animation to go with a piece of music.

We had to create this animation using Photoshop.

The animation didn't have to be a complex sequence, more of a series of images changing in time with the music.

So, below is the animation I made.

It's not exactly one of the best things I have ever done, but as it's my first animation I have ever made (with the added complication of trying to figure out how to do it in Photoshop) I think I have done alright. Although I know I could have done so much better, however, this can be a challenge for me in the future.

The animation is based on the song 'Sunshine' by The All American Rejects.

I shall definitely try to make some more animations in the future.

Julie

xx