Monday, March 12, 2012

*New Album* Review: 'Mountains to Masses'~ Justin Hunter

Darlings, it's time i did something different.
As opposed to my normal rambling, ranting fit about an obscure, ambiguous subject that you don't care about, this will be something I've never attempted before..
You'll either enjoy it or hate it. Either way, I'm not fussed.
My friend, Justin Hunter, who is a signed musician to 'Source Music,' has a *NEW* album out! 
So i thought i would try doing an album review for him!
The *NEW ALBUM*
drum roll please~
"Mountains to Masses" by Justin Hunter.




















Release date: 12th March 2012
Get your copy here: JB HiFi stores, ITunes
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/mountains-to-masses/id508831984?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
& also here: http://www.vitamin.net.au/albumdefault.asp?ai=512

He says this album '..is symbolic of my leaving my beloved Blue Mountains and moving to the middle of Melbourne City."
His record label says 'Justin Hunter is a passionate lover of life, absolute adventure maniac, marathon runner, electro music fan & instrumental pianist.' And 'His new album ‘Mountains to Masses’ is the musical unification of the two places Justin holds dear to his heart; the dramatic beauty and spaciousness of his home in the Blue Mountains, and the vibrant, chaotic (yet at times lonely) city that is Melbourne.'
That's what they say.. here's what i say:
 
Now, because of a loop hole, i actually got a copy of the new album months before it's release date.
I was stoked, to say the least, when it arrived in my letterbox unannounced.
Racing inside, i ripped open the package & started listening.
When Track 2 started playing, i instantly got 'X Files' vibes.
For some reason, that was my initial thought.
It was only in the first few seconds but it sounded eerie & it reminded me of something 'X Files'esque. You know that sort of ambient, warped, electro sound? Something like that.
Going through the album, it all seemed a little moody, a little mellow, a little darker than i was expecting & a lot more refined compared to his previous albums.
Each track rolled smoothly into the next.
Until.
Until i got to Track 8.
'Courage.'
I had been going about my boring, daily business while listening to 'Mountains to Masses' playing in the background. I was enjoying it but it hadn't exactly 'grabbed' me yet.
As soon as 'Courage' started to play, i stopped.
It got my attention straight away.
I actually listened to each note.
It's a far more upbeat, uptempo tune as opposed to earlier tracks.
My immediate reaction~ i loved it. It was an instant favourite & always will be.
Imagine watching a pianist's fingers dance gracefully across a keyboard. With faultless precision. Each note more perfect than the last.
That's what 'Courage' is to me.
It's the sort of track you would play if you were racing through the bush~ or the mountains~ on an adventure, trying to reach your destination~ the city perhaps?~  through thick & thin, trials & tribulations until you reach the finish & hit that euphoric sense of achievement.
You made it. Everything will be ok.
Filmed in Amsterdam, watch the music video for 'Courage' here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QuqehepSd4&feature=uploademail
***
Coming from me, someone who is definitely not a muso' of any sort, don't take this as gospel. You are all definitely smart enough to make up your own mind about his musical genius.
And honestly, if i told you i had never cried while listening to his music.. it would be a massive lie.
Even in the toughest of hearts, the most guarded of hearts, Justin's music evokes abysmal emotions that you didn't realise existed.
Let each note wash over you & enjoy the ride.
I must admit, after actually listening to the album properly a few more times, i realised how sophisticated it was.
In a word, the album is: Fabulous.
This is just my rabid opinion.
 If you think this review sounds good & you want to keep updated, 'like' his Facebook page at this link: http://www.facebook.com/justinhuntermusic 
He has also joined the weird & wonderful world of Twitter~ Follow here:
https://twitter.com/jhuntermusic
xox

Thursday, March 8, 2012

PANTS ARE GOOD.

I'm sure I'm not the first person to ever admit this, but..
I enjoy a good pair of pants every now & then.
You know the sort that just hug your bum. Yeah. Those are good.
They look good on, they feel good to wear & no one else owns them.
Is this possibly the perfect pair of pants?
Specifically, I'm talking about jeans.
But seriously, they are the WORST thing to go shopping for...
There are far too many styles, lengths, colours, materials to chose from & it only boggles your brain more.
You usually end up leaving the store empty handed in dire search of a strong latte' so you can think about which pair of jeans you will actually purchase while surveying the latest trash mag to see what Kim Kardashian has been up to & discover that Posh is still THAT skinny after 4 kids. Lipo?? Hmm..
Baggy? Flared? Bootcut? Skinny leg? Cropped? Boyfriend style?
It so frustrating! And on top of that, what if you're having a 'fat' day.. blergh. Yuck.
And what if you've fallen in love with a pair of jeans only to realise you get some wild love handles for free when you zip them up & that muffin top comes out to play.
Oh, hello there, I didn't realise you existed until these, now termed hideous, jeans latched onto my body.
See. Its tricky finding the right pair.
You might be one of those people who strike it rich, aka lucky, & find some straight away that hug & hoick you in at all the right spots, that flatten & accentuate those other spots too.. if you fall in to that category, can we swap bodies please?
Cheers, appreciate it.
I have far too many pairs of jeans. It's a joke. There's the blue ones, the white ones, the salmon pants, the grey ones, the black ones & then there's these ones..
My favourites:












Yes.
I spotted these babies online a few months ago. Love at first sight. They had to be mine.
And mine i made them.
Not knowing what size to get, without trying them on & not being able to suss out the rear end in a mirror (this is highly important for a girl) i bought them.
*Fingers crossed!*
After anxiously waiting for my parcel to arrive for what felt like the longest week of my life, they arrived.. i could finally get my dirty lil hands on them!
They were perfect. Fit like a glove. Huge sigh of relief!
New favourites!
Someone recently said to me when i wore them out on the town 
'I just finished my DJ set & i was watching you dance.. your pants are the best pants ive ever seen.. they're fantastic....!!' 
There's a bit more to that quote.. but you don't need to know what else was said ;)
I told him that was one of the best compliments I'd ever received & we high fived.
That was a special moment.
xox
ps- Do you like pants? Or are you more of a skort person? (Yes, i meant to say skort.)