Yes, I am. I realize my horribleness...and I apologize it. And the worst thing is that I still don't have an actual update today. But I can tell you what's been going on that so distracted me from making even one lousy post...

Well, actually, I don't have a real excuse. But listen, I have recently brought an iPod, and that means...perhaps, just perhaps...easier uploads and maybe even playlists! Not that it matters much.

I guess another lousy excuse would be school and everything about it. Speaking of which, I had the oddest dream in which a mass murderer murdered a bunch of people...but that is of no real importance. So I figure I better shut up now. But wait, I almost forgot to say the whole point of school is that standarized testing are next week, and although I don't really care, it does appear that we have more homework.

But I won't abandon this blog. I won't. Because I've already given up on too many things, and plus I really enjoy sharing music, and I'm sure you all enjoy listening to this music...right?

So let's start out with something happy and catchy and...well, I know I've posted quite a bit of pop punk already, but this song is so energetic that I can't not share it. The band is the Matches, whom you may or may not have heard of but should listen to. Actually, this is the only song I've heard by them, but it's so great that I'm sure all they're other songs are great...but don't take my word, listen for yourself!
The Matches (YouShareIt link)

It has also been brought to my attention that there are people in this world who have not heard of the classics. Velvet Underground, Pixies, that type of thing. So I'm going to educate all of you ignorant souls, and we'll start with a classic from the VU, otherwise known as the band that started it all.
Velvet Underground

I don't know much about What Made Milwaukee Famous, but I do know that this song by them is incredibly cool. It's sing along, stuck in your head, but there's also something undeniably indie about their music. Hmm.
What Made Milkwakee Famous

The Decemberists has got some new music out. Even though you've probably already heard Engine Driver, it's still my favorite song off the CD. Come on, it's got a line that says "I am a writer, writer of fictions..." Who can resist?
Decemberists (YouShareIt link)

Beck also got a new CD, and Guero (the title track) is really interesting. You should all know by now that this CD sounds more like Odelay, but less grungier. This song has got a really interesting background, with people constantly calling Guero, which, in case you didn't know, means "white boy". Only Beck, right?
Beck (YouShareIt link)

So I just realized that I have not yet presented you with hardcore punx rock...which is sad. So lemme think for a moment...how about some classic T.S.O.L.? That'll make you rebel like nothing else can. Well...no, but it's still an awesome song.
T.S.O.L.

Speaking of hardcore punx rock, I'm getting sick of people not understand what EMO is. It's not Taking Back Sunday, The Used, or even (*gasp*) My Chemical Romance or Hawthorne Heights. Without discussing the ability of forementioned musicians, I'll just leave it that those are pop rock or screamo bands, and in fact have nothing to do with emo. Let's go back to a classic emo band, the Rites of Spring. Listen and learn the true nature of what emotional hardcore is all about.
Rites of Spring (YouShareIt link)

There ya go, seven, a lucky number. Have fun, and one last thing. While going on this uploading spree I've decided to upload a complete CD as well. Want it? All you have to do is to leave a comment. Seriously. Include your email. I'm not going to tell you what CD it is, but I promise that it's amazing. Enjoy :).

...my last post is a bunch of days ago but feels like it's really recent. It gives me no motivation to spread new music. So...to make it up to you, I promise to give extra wonderful and extra numbers of mp3s tomorrow. A couple from every genre, new and old. Okay? Okay. Just make sure to come back and leave a comment :). I'm going to start uploading them today so I won't get all disconbobulated tomorrow.

leads to wonderful pop punk of the Dead Milkmen variety. Because yesterday I listened to The Queers for the first time (I've heard a lot about them before this) and felt the need to share their awesome music. Now, when I say of the Dead Milkmen variety, I mean they're truer to their punk rock roots than, say, New Found Glory. But of course they're still playful and entertaining and--catchy. Come on, I wouldn't be spenting time trying to get you to listen if they weren't (most would be surprised at this bold statement, but most do not understand the importantness of catchyness). And because they're a PUNK pop band, their songs generally don't appear to be longer than...oh, three minutes. Which is good since you can listen to more songs in a row :D. Go listen to them now.

***For some reason the copy and paste button isn't working on my stupid computer. Which means that you should remember: I am slaving to type everything correctly for you, and you know how long URLs get. Show your appreciation by leaving a comment and all is forgiven :D(and I have no idea what this sudden smiley craze thing came from...)

Download a couple songs at the
Lookout Records mp3 page (Find songs by artist-the Queers, right click save target as to download songs)

I like "See You Later Fuckface", "Surf Goddess" and "Punk Rock Girls" (trip down memory lane, anyone ;D)

I'm looking at the blog from a different computer and the layout (sidebar) is still messed up. So please, if you visit here, tell me what's wrong and what sort of browser you're using (Explorer, Mozilla, ect.). I don't want to post new stuff until I get everything perfect.

And I'm in a musicaly giving mood today. You get to listen to:

Ted Leo-Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?
Built To Spill-Still Flat
And finally, just for variety/fun, The Get Up Kids-I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel

Okay...so truthfully I haven't thought of any really amazing new acts I want you all to check out. But these aren't bad, either. My hosting site is giving me errors everytime I try to upload something, so until I get it all figured out, you get old (but good!) music.

Until next time.

***I'm sorry about the random posts...I found out that it was my Explorer and I fixed it.***

I know, it's been a day and I'm changing the look/layout of this blog completely. I love the graphics and everything but it's doing some weird stuff, like it shows the entries from last month then disappears, and the post a comment thing is gone too...I'm posting this to see if it'll get the last post on the page or what. This can also be considered the official request for telling me if you like the new look...

Yup. I promised to post some horror today...so I'll get you a flash piece I did. And don't forget to read my story at the Horror Library Slushpile, 2nd Runner Up. Since you probably want to listen to music while you read, I'll give you an artist worthy of the holiday. The Moldy Peaches are a really, really lo-fi pop indie band. And their lyrics are so playful and funny. Downlaod their song Nothing Came Out here.

The story is untitled, but it'd be great if you give me suggestions. Copyright 2005 by Laura Yan. Copying is bad!

It became their hangout, an abandoned parking lot behind a never constructed grocery store. Every afternoon, faithfully, they came here, cleaned up the beer bottles, the broken condoms, the mess the “cool” high school kids left behind. They sat together, faced the sun, watching until nightfall, the skies dyed orange and red and purple and pink. Most of the days one of them remembered to bring a CD player, a radio, a tattered laptop with a brand new speaker system. Samples from new artists, old favorites tucked together in one package, their sacred music shrine.

But as much as they loved music, and although none of them never said and never would say it, it was the days in which they sat in utter silence that was the best. Their thoughts became free, their bodies merely vessels, holding in what could be much more. Their bright eyes stared into the sky, sparkling with brilliance, but fogged with mystery and intrigue. They thought of different things. Worries, joys, fears, excitement. It refilled their energy and mood level, bringing them to a state of enjoyment more than any drug ever could. It filled their mouths with the taste of success and they bathed in the attention.

It showed them what they really wanted, what they were meant to live for.

In the days that followed, school would always be hell. Taunting cries, kicks to the stomach, slaps to a blushed face. But somehow, they would go through, happy, excited, bubbling with anticipation. And somehow, the next day, the kids who taunted them would always be weak, tired, fragile. Eyelids dropped, breaths hallowed and forced, faces and bodies pale as ghosts. When asked, the kids shivered and shrunk against the nearest wall, wrapping their bodies in shadows, blowing away attention. Only when a trusted friend enquired to their well being would they admit the nightmares that plagued restless nights. Monsters with fiery eyes, sharp white teeth barred, burnt tongues flickering towards their necks. A torn and demented claw, nails brittle and devoured by worms, swiping down at their, twisting on patches of skin, forcing down their throat.

Despite their way below average grades in English class, their descriptions would be vivid, detailed, every scar on every monstrous face painted with raged accuracy. Although their friends laughed and comforted, they would feel the coldness washing their bodies, drenching little joys with blackened soda. And, somehow, none of them would ever be able to completely forget what they had seen or heard.

That year, there were a greatly increased number of suicides and accidents in the school.

The four who hung out at the parking lot spend their last year of high school laughing. And, they never did stop laughing.