The Loophole

NO REGRETS.

-Nick

Here are my top releases of 2011. A fair warning to everyone, this may be very biased.

Arcadia – Parallels

Pupil - Limiters of the Infinity Pool

This is admittedly one of the most colorful albums I have listened to this year. I say colorful in a sense that one can perceive the layers of music laid down in each song as you go track by track. This record nearly exceeded my expectations. It is musically imaginative and entertaining without compromising the beauty of the lyrics.

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Typecast - How Your Influence Betrays You

The two words I would use to describe this album would be mature and angry. Yup, the band’s sound has become heavier. It is an amalgam of a number of post-rock, hardcore, grunge, and metal elements. For me it surpasses their previous material in terms of its illustrative sound and its technicalities. Another impressive fact about this record is that it is independently released — meaning the record is exactly how the band wanted it to be.

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Taken By Cars – Dualist

This album is one I would describe as a love child of all things you’re looking for in an indie-rock record. It has melodic instruments paired with impressively intimate lyrics. There are actual synths on this one, making some tracks totally danceable. I also feel the need to point out the impressive build ups in Thrones: Equals. It is no wonder they have been included in the lineup for South by South West 2012 in Austin, Texas.

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Bamboo - No Water, No Moon

If you have gotten used to the political nature of the songs Bamboo (the band) have released, Bamboo’s solo album has none of it. This record provides that same feel when you’re slumped on your couch on a Sunday afternoon. The instrumentation in this record gives a panoramic visual of your life in black and white. It is comfortable and technically dynamic. Lyrically, it is different from everything else you hear on the radio. If this album were a person, I would love to go on a date with him/her.

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RUNNERS UP*:

Kamikazee – Romantico

Sandwich - Contra Tiempo

Johnny Alegre - Human Folk

Squeezers - Auto Reverse 3 motor 4 head           

Slapshock - Kinse Kalibre

*These albums have a number of commendable tracks. But overall did not quite make it to the great album category. Still, I recommend giving these a listen.

There you have it. Any other albums you think should make it to this list? Leave us a message!

-Robyn

For some people, even the task of keeping up with their own new year’s resolutions has expired. Either way, I know it’s pretty late to post about this overrated topic.

I should move on and stop trying to make one, right?

I’ve never even followed any of my new year’s resolutions. At around the 5th grade, I already stopped making new year’s resolutions, thinking that it’s useless, and I shouldn’t waste my time making unattainable lists. But when I grew a little older, and maybe even more mature, I started making them again. I realized that I actually need them. Aside from being the ‘in’ thing to do during the end and start of another year, I actually need it to straighten up myself.

Everyone needs new year’s resolutions to become, excuse my Barney-kid ways, the best person they are.

I started by looking back at the year that was. In 2011, for example…

1. I was a lazy-ass

2. I procrastinated, hence panicked, a lot

3. I slept too much when I should be productive

4. I was a lazy-ass, ate too much, that it affected my health

5. I was a lazy-ass and it made everything-the future- scarier

Okay, so I was a lazy-ass, and that pretty much sums up how I think I messed up 2011. 2012 shouldn’t be the same. I shouldn’t be so scared of the future anymore. Whether we like it or not, we will wake up tomorrow and we will have to face it.

So, in 2012…

1. I will be diligent and productive!

2. I will do my work on time. I will not cram!

3. I will wake-up early.

4. I will eat healthy

5. I will graduate on time!

There we go with a seemingly unattainable list again. Well, here’s another resolution: I will make attainable new year’s resolutions ;) 

MY ATTAINABLE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS:

1. I will follow my attainable new year’s resolutions.

2. I will utilize my planner and make realistic daily to-do list

3. Keeping note in that to-do list, I will sleep earlier (than usual) so that I can wake up early and use my day wisely.

4. I will always have a vegetable in my meals, eat at least one fruit a day, and make a fruit:junkfood ratio i.e., if I eat only one apple today, I will only have candy bar, and no more chips, chocolate, and whatever on that day.

5. I will take not of all deadlines, and make sure to be able to meet them with less stress than before.

More attainable, yeah? Unlike the first attempt where I just have these things I want to do, but don’t even know how to do them.

Analyze, make goals, and make sure you know how to reach them. You don’t even have to do this only at the start of the year. Make them monthly, weekly, daily, when you think your life is going down the drain D: …just whenever you need to!

I actually just made mine a couple of days ago, myself. I realized that I really have to star anew because I woke-up with heartburn, hence resolution #4.

There will be a tomorrow, always. Whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or don’t, the sun will come out, betcha bottom dollar ;)

-Taylor 

More on Taylor:

No matter what time, no matter where you are, and no matter what you’re feeling, it’s nice to know that there’s always that someone you can turn to. That’s me, and this is the bubblegum smile I’ll be wearing for you. Life’s a pie in the sky, but I’m right here ;)

it’s been a hell of a year. most importantly, i learned a couple of things.

one.

no matter how hard you try to keep things staying the same, the course of life will always prevail.

it’s funny. i try so hard to be connected to someone, or a group of people, or a pen for example, and later find out that that pen is bound to be lost. that that pen, won’t write. or better yet, that you’d drop the pen tint first, deforming the tip, making it impossible to ever write again. i mean, sure, we bought the pen for its writing ability, the ergonomic design that fits your hand perfectly, its aesthetic quality, the clarity of the ink and what-not, we wanted that pen. whatever the causality of buying that pen, it would always be a gamble. gambling in the sense that that pen wouldn’t always perform the way we imagined it would be. this year i learned that, things, whether good or bad, will happen. but, if both parties willed or wanted the same thing to happen, they’d succeed in getting it.

two.

always bank on two things, God and music.

i have always turned to Him when everything else goes disarray and kaput. He’s a great provider, a great listener, a great sanctuary, a great friend, a great father. the list could go on and on, with every word the human brain could ever utter to better glorify Him. He’s great. He’s always there to save me from everything. music on the other hand, has always been a great companion. music’s my best friend. dunno if the feeling’s mutual, but i’ve always loved music. the world would be dull without it. music still is the best thing man has ever created. oh, the sheer art of it. the kind that puts you out of a slump or throws you into one. the kind that gives you multiple favorite songs. the kind that leaps you to your seat and makes you dance. the kind that shows visual references to your ears. man, no one does it better.

three.

stay grounded.

overthinking, pessimism and false hubris are bad habits. i always think of it as a way of creating for myself a self-defense mechanism. you anticipate for the worse, so when the worse does happen, you’re well prepared. but you know what, it does more damage than you think. the paranoia kills you, making you nervous. it hazes your consciousness, clouds your sound judgement on things. simply put, it makes you do more stupid things. wag mong pangunahan ang hindi pa nangyayari. but at the same time, be prepared for anything. there’s a difference in being prepared and being presumptuous. accept and let go.

four.

be thankful for what you have, never aspire for more than what you can have

i’ve always had this sickness. i’ve always wanted more things, expensive things. the secret to happiness is not the amount of money you have, or the best gadget, or the best job in the world or whatever. the secret to happiness is contentment. be contented with what you have. be happy that you have things to use, clothes to wear, food to eat, a roof over your head, a school to go to, a family to go home to, friends to have fun with, etc. with these things under your belt, you have everything going for you. be happy :)

five.

never force love

love will come to you. never force it, chances are, she’s not the right one. never wait for it, chances are, you’ll lose hope. never play with it, chances are, you’ll get played. it will come at the right time and in the right moment. your path is being prepared so when that time comes, you’re perfect for each other. it’s as simple as that. be patient, it will all be worth it soon enough. i may not know her right now, but i am definite that she’s on her way, longing to better know me too.

this coming two thousand and twelve, i’m eager to start things anew. everything will turn out right, everything will turn out for the best :)

-Pete