Jen Choi in the News! (I’m Famous! sort of)

Did anyone read the Boston Globe this morning? No?

Alright, well with MEFA’s recent decision to stop handing out student loans (along with several other private lenders), I was summoned by reporters to give my insight.

Check out the article and my little spark of intelligence.

That’s right, I’m a poor working college student that is going into debt for the rest of her life for a B.A. in journalism(?)…ack.

“Poor Little Lamb” – Tom Waits (2007 Anti) Orphans: Brawlers, Brawlers, & Bastards

I’m not Lazy, I’m Genetically Impaired (Science)

Thank you Deirdre Van Dyk for your July 30th article in Time: “Is There A Laziness Gene?“

College students around the world can rejoice! Sleeping in til 3pm is completely acceptable because its a genetic thing. Right?

Well, that’s according to UNC, Charlotte, kinesiologist, J. Timothy Lightfoot, and he sounds pretty fancy. I bet he wears a white coat and knows how to read.

For the majority of us, that’s legitimate enough.

“Oversleeping” – I’m From Barcelona (2007 Mute) Let Me Introduce You To My Friends

What I Learned from MGMT’s Making of “Electric Feel”

After missing their two, sold out, stops at Paradise Rock Club, I was pleased to see that these Wesleyan University alums (MGMT) decided to clear the air and reveal the science behind their video for “Electric Feel.”

Here’s what I learned:

1) A chemically unbalanced Imagineer in Greenpoint invented e-mail (and quite possibly the internet), not Al Gore.

2) An anti-gravity freedom machine does exist.

3) “Electric Feel” is about a “woman from the Amazon that can shock people with electricity that runs through her veins” (weird.)

4) MGMT is comparable to The Beatles

5) …and after watching the finished product, you will want to have sex with every single character from Labyrinth.

“Magic Dance” – David Bowie (1986) Labyrinth OST

Partying and Partying (Upcoming Boston Shows)

Thanks to my colleagues at WTBU, we can all rest assured knowing what shows to wedge in between partying and partying this coming school year.

The list includes:

Wolf Parade (8/2) @ Paradise Rock Club

A Place to Bury Strangers (9/16) @ Paradise Rock Club

Black Kids & The Virgins (10/2) @ Paradise Rock Club

…and much more! (I promise this isn’t just a huge promo for the Dise)

“I Know I’ll See You” – A Place To Bury Strangers (2007 Killer Pimp) A Place to Bury Strangers

Byrne & Eno: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

According to Brooklyn Vegan, all of our wildest dreams have come true.

David Bryne and Brian Eno, members of the Talking Heads and true pioneers of experimental music, have recorded an album together and are going on tour! The record will be titled Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.

On the duo’s webpage, tour dates are said to be “coming soon;” yet, tickets are already on sale!

Too good to be true? Fuck that!

It’s about time.

“Crosseyed and Painless” – Talking Heads (1999 EMI) Sand In The Vaseline

Absolutely Tragic (Mamihlapinatapai)

Mamihlapinatapai (n.) probably the most tragic word ever.

Listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the “most succinct word,” it describes:

…a look shared by two people with each wishing that the other will initiate something that both desire but which neither one wants to start.

But sadly,

A more literal approximation is “ending up mutually at a loss as to what to do about each other”.

Tragic, right?

“The Way I Feel Inside” – The Zombies (2004) The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou OST

W. (New Oliver Stone Movie about Bush)

That’s right, the director of various cinematic master pieces including, Wall Street, Alexander, and Platoon, Oliver Stone, is releasing W. a biopic about our nation’s favorite president: George W. Bush.

Set for release just before the election on October 17th, the picture tries to answer the question: how exactly did this man become president? by following him through his crazy drunk driving years at Yale all the way up to the steps of the White House.

Watch the trailer on FirstShowing.net and try not to let it get you down. I mean there are more important things to worry about, like the recession and the war.

Goddamn.

“Georgia…Bush” – Lil’ Wayne (2008) Dedication 2

Updated Muxtape!

Bored? At Work? In the mood for some tunes? Well, I got the muxtape just for that.

Featured this time around:

“Torture” – King Khan & The Shrines (2008 Vice) The Supreme Genius of King Khan & The Shrines

Playing Middle East Upstairs this Thursday, King Khan & The Shrines is the rebirth if James Brown rock n’ roll. Check out their latest album The Supreme Genius of King Khan & The Shrines, which received a 7.5 from Pitchfork Media, as well as their debut EP What Is?!

“Visits” – Native Korean Rock (2008) Demo

I’m sure by now many of you have listened to or at least seen pictures of (Union Pool last Monday) Karen O’s newest project, Native Korean Rock.  It’s absolutely fantastic and probably the best thing that happened to Korea since..well…me (and Kimchi).

..and there you have it. Listen to all 12 tracks at jenchoi.muxtape.com!

Goth Emo Russians Encourage Suicide? (Fashion)

Fashionista, in their July 21st article, “Russian Dressing: In Schools, Goth and Emo May Be Banned,” reported how Russian public school’s have recently been banning these cultural phenomena (which were so 2001) because the “outfits encourage suicides.”

Indeed, Goth and Emo may not exactly be eye candy; however, things get better and fashion improves. In 5 years time all those forlorn 14-year-olds will stop listening to Bauhaus, start listening to hardcore, and eventually become huge party-crazed fans of Matt & Kim. That just how it works.

Anyway, lets not forget the strife Mexico’s Emo community currently battles.

“Agenda Suicide” – The Faint (2001 Saddle Creek) Danse Macabre

Jammin’ Thursdays (BU’s Fall Dance Party?)

According to a recent article featured on the BU’s WTBU blog, Boston’s notoriously lame 18+ Thursday night dance parties (Paper & Campus) have new, school sponsored competition: Jammin’ Thursdays.

Vanessa Arenas, a BU student working on the event, says:

“Jammin’ Thursdays has an urban feel to it and will be Feat. DJ CASE who spins the best of hip hop, r&b, top 40, latin and more. We are currently working out the details to get a 21+ cash bar.”

Whoa whoa whoa! Alcohol..that’s intense.

But, Jammin’ Thursdays will have to put up a fight to pry me away from my favorite Thursday  night dance party: Sleepy Thursdays at Mr. Miyagi’s Playhouse.

The first Jammin’ Thursday dance party will be on the first Thursday of the school year, September 4th, from midnight to 2AM in the back court of the GSU. Admission is free with a BU ID and $5 for up to two guests.

“Like I Give A Care (RAC Mix)” – You Say Party! We Say Die! (2007) Stereogum Presents…RAC vol. 1