saigoheiki.com

I meant to blog yesterday, but my server had to be completely down for the entire day.. ah well.

I was also getting a little hypochondriac lately, worrying about things when I really.. shouldn’t. It’s really too easy to say things like “There’s nothing to worry about”, because believe me, I’ve tried telling myself that a million times but my mind kept wandering back to the same ol’ thing, and what would happen if that particular thing I was worrying about came true (choi wtf) and kept imagining myself in a dozen situations and much more and GOD I JUST WISH MY MIND WOULD STOP. Maybe I need a hypnosis session to bloody direct my mind to something else – and already right now, I’ve erected some mental barriers which I hope would bloody work.

But then!! Yesterday evening at about 4pm (when I was still in class) I received a phone call from the Fantasy music store in Pyramid, saying that my ordered CD had arrived! I was ecstatic. :D Happy :D Excited :D Gloriously high :D

The CD in question is:


Across the Universe Soundtrack Deluxe Edition (2 CDs)!!!

Sigh so happy was I, I ended up spending 2 hours listening to the discs and another hour plus to sort the songs out in iTunes (adding album art, lyrics, composer names, standardising album name and stuffs like that).

And.. because I feel like it, I’m reviewing every single song in the 2 discs!

---

Across the Universe [Deluxe Version] Disc 1

Track 1 – Jim Sturgess – Girl
A song that only lasts for 1 minute and 4 seconds, but that’s also because it was used in the introduction of the movie when Jude was crooning the song to the girl he loved. I thought it was a good opener.
RATING: 4/5

Track 2 – Evan Rachel Wood – Hold Me Tight
Fun and fast tempo throughout the song, catchy lyrics that you’d sing along too – accompanied by mostly drums, guitar, and a trumpet if I’m not mistaken. Also a short abridged version like Girl.
RATING: 4/5

Track 3 – Jim Sturgess – All My Loving
Another abridged song, it starts with Sturgess singing without any musical accompaniment, and at the next stanza of the lyrics, the drums and the tambourine? lead in quite nicely.
RATING: 3.5/5

Track 4 – T.V. Carpio – I Want to Hold Your Hand
Barry (Ooi), whom I was chatting at about 1.30am yesterday (or this morning), told me that he hated this song wtf – apparently her voice annoyed him hahahaha so did her character Prudence. But I kinda liked this song, and her voice was unique.
RATING: 4/5

Track 5 – Jim Sturgess; Joe Anderson – With a Little Help from My Friends
A brilliant, fun buddy duet song to sing along with your friends (maybe wtf) – simple lyrics (some parts in the form of questions and answers) with a rockish tune that certainly does beat the original, that has a limited range of tunes specifically written for Ringo Starr who can’t sing very well.
RATING: 5/5 – CLEM’S SEAL OF APPROVAL

Track 6 – Evan Rachel Wood – It Won’t Be Long
Catchy, upbeat, liberal use of back-up singers, lovely to listen to. I liked it.
RATING: 4.5/5

Track 7 – Jim Sturgess – I’ve Just Seen a Face
Interesting quick beat, reminds me of the setting at a cowboy bar for some reason – but it’s a good song all the same.
RATING: 3.5/5

Track 8 – Carol Woods; Timothy T. Mitchum – Let It Be
Done gospel style – I frigging love this song. It carries a certain tinge of sadness and regret, yet triumphing over them through gathered courage.
RATING: 5/5 – CLEM’S SEAL OF APPROVAL

Track 9 – Joe Cocker – Come Together
So-so to me, took some time to get used to listening it. Evokes images of singing in a closed private concert with only a bass guitar.
RATING: 2.5/5

Track 10 – Dana Fuchs – Why Don’t We Do It In the Road?
Her voice is particularly strong, manly, and unique – but I don’t like the song that much.
RATING: 2/5

Track 11 – Evan Rachel Wood – If I Fell
Lovely serenading parts after 40 seconds, sung at fairly high notes. Quite calming.
RATING: 3.5/5

Track 12 – Joe Anderson; Dana Fuchs; T.V. Carpio – I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
Quite a weird song, but I sort of liked the “I want you so badddd” parts for some odd reason. A hate-it love-it song, and I fall right in between.
RATING: 3/5

Track 13 – Dana Fuchs Band; Evan Rachel Wood; Jim Sturgess; T.V. Carpio – Dear Prudence
Loved the song the moment I heard it on the film. I also kinda like collaborative songs in which a few people sing together, and this is one of ‘em. Gives off a mystical feel for some reason, especially the middle parts when the lyrics goes “Look around, round, round, round, round”, probably because of the slightly otherworldly scenes in the movie.
RATING: 5/5 – CLEM’S SEAL OF APPROVAL

Track 14 – Secret Machines – Flying [Instrumental]
Oddly reminds me of 16-bit videogames, but unfortunately I don’t like it that much.
RATING: 2/5

Track 15 – Secret Machines – Blue Jay Way
Quite a pointless song imo.
RATING: 1/5

---

Across the Universe [Deluxe Version] Disc 2
Track 1 – Bono; Secret Machines – I Am the Walrus
I hated this song when I first listened to it, but after a while, it wasn’t as bad as I thought – the original version was much awful imo. But yeah, it has nonsensical lyrics that doesn’t make much sense: “I am the eggman, they are the eggmen / I am the walrus, coo coo cachoo”. wtf.
RATING: 3/5

Track 2 – Eddie Izzard – Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Obvious circus music – another weird, nonsensical song, but it’s fun to listen to.
RATING: 3/5

Track 3 – Dana Fuchs Band; Evan Rachel Wood; Jim Sturgess; Joe Anderson; Martin Luther “M.L.” McCoy; T.V. Carpio – Because
A very magical, mysterious song on harmonious vocals that seems to want to sneak off your soul to some place else.
RATING: 5/5 – CLEM’S SEAL OF APPROVAL

Track 4 – Jim Sturgess – Something
Melancholy imbues this song – the song you’d listen to on a rainy, Sunday afternoon. I love the latter parts of the song, beginning with “You’re asking me will my love grow / I don’t know, I don’t know” onwards.
RATING: 4.5/5

Track 5 – Dana Fuchs Band; Martin Luther “M.L.” McCoy – Oh! Darling
Strong vocals from Dana as usual, and it seemed very suited for this song. Sorry if I’m reviewing songs by planting descriptive images to each wtf, but nearly each song seems to be reminding me or something, and this song reminds me of a song you’d nod your head to in a gig.
RATING: 3.5/5

Track 6 – Jim Sturgess; Joe Anderson – Strawberry Fields Forever
Just an okay song, but it reminds me of kindergartens wtf, especially when the lyrics “Strawberry Fields forever” are sung.
RATING: 3/5

Track 6 – Jim Sturgess – Revolution
Not a bad song, clever lyrics (for me at least) at “But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao / You ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow” – I only liked the beginning parts of the song.
RATING: 3.5/5

Track 7 – Martin Luther “M.L.” McCoy – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Alright song – great vocals from McCoy. Don’t quite know how to describe this song.
RATING: 2.5/5

Track 8 – Jim Sturgess – Across the Universe
The best song (imho) of the entire soundtrack – poetic, beautiful lyrics, coupled with Sturgess’ brilliant vocals (great backing vocals done at “Jai guru deva om”), and the most serene and mystical tunes incorporated into this song makes this a winner to me.
RATING: 5/5 – CLEM’S SEAL OF APPROVAL

Track 9 – Dana Fuchs Band – Helter Skelter
I think I’m not used to her type of songs – it’s just alright to me, but nothing spectacular. Could be an acquired taste.
RATING: 2.5/5

Track 10 – Joe Anderson; Selma Hayek – Happiness is a Warm Gun
I only really liked this song towards the end when the “Happiness is a warm gun” part comes on, with Selma Hayek cooing seductively (as a hot nurse in the movie).
RATING: 3.5/5

Track 11 – Evan Rachel Wood – Blackbird
A song you’d sing by the beach with the gentle breeze lifting the edges of your shirt/dress wtf. Pleasant song.
RATING: 3.5/5

Track 12 – Joe Anderson – Hey Jude
Both this and the original sound quite good – the best classic ever, and fun ending parts to sing along to. And it’d seriously make anyone feel better.
RATING: 5/5 – CLEM’S SEAL OF APPROVAL

Track 13 – Dana Fuchs Band – Don’t Let Me Down
Not too bad a song, it’s Dana’s powerful, muscular vocals again together with Martin Luther McCoy.
RATING: 3.5/5

Track 14 – Dana Fuchs Band; Jim Sturgess – All You Need is Love
First introduced to this song as part of a medley in Moulin Rouge’s Elephant Love Medley. So it’s sorta nostalgic in a curious manner – fantastic ending to the film with the repeated chants of “All you need is love”.
RATING: 4/5

Track 15 – Bono – Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Sounds almost like a typical Bono (U2) song, and it’s quite charming too.
RATING: 3.5/5

VERDICT: With the staggering amount of completely captivating songs in a single soundtrack, it’s something I’ll be repeating in my CD player for some time to come – and I think it’s a fantastic for-roadtrips album. Brilliant interpretation of the classics, and if you like The Beatles (which, again, I’ve not listened to prior to watching the movie Across the Universe), you’ll definitely love this soundtrack. It’s soothing. At RM63.50, it’s quite a good buy.

---

I watched the first episode of Prison Break (Season 4) a couple of days ago, and I was sooo pleasantly surprised that SPOILERS WARNING SARA TANCREDI IS STILL ALIVE OMG. She’s my favourite character actually in Prison Break, and I was a bit miffed that she was off-ed just like that in the previous season (due to the actress’s real life pregnancy as well), but, I’m not sure whether it’s because of the Save Sara Tancredi websites out there, but she’s well and alive again with explanations that seem to be quite similar to the ‘explanations’ that were offered on a Save Sara Tancredi website.

---

While I was in Pyramid, the first place I entered wasn’t the music store but the Maxis centre over there. I was told by Maxis’s Taipan branch that if I wanna sign up for the MNP (Mobile Number Portability) service and port over from DiGi to Maxis, I’d have to go to Pyramid’s branch as only that branch conducts such a thing during the trial period. And when I reached there, I was told they only do porting from prepaid to prepaid -___- and that I’d have to wait till the 15th of this month before they could do prepaid to postpaid, which is what I’m intending to sign up for.

After dropping by Fantasy, my dad, Brandon, and I went to the Crocs store and I bought:

Click to enlarge.

WALL-E and EVE Jibbitz for Crocs footwear!!! I was told such a thing exists by Andy a week ago or so and wanted to buy them ever since. <3 Costs RM11.90 or so for ONE Jibbitz piece I think – yeah expensive, but gotta treat myself sometimes. =)

Also spent about 2 hours this afternoon to bloody set up my DIY lightbox.. which kinda failed bah. Probably because I was using the wrong size of papers.. but anyhow, I managed a test shot of my Canon 10-22mm:

Click to enlarge again. Isn’t as good as I thought it would be – this shot was snapped using a bright white light source my dad assembled for me a long time ago, and using my Nissin Di622 as slave, controlled by my camera’s built-in flash.

I think I’m gonna ditch the whole bloody lightbox I painstakingly DIY-ed for the first time. :( My next shot was the Across the Universe Soundtrack album (the first pic of this entry), and.. it really wasn’t that good.