Album Covers: Big Pun

The Original & Alternate covers to all of Big Pun's solo albums.

Capital Punishment

Yeeeah Baby

Endangered Species

-Dont Just Be A Robot, Be Happy

Anime: School Rumble Season 1

       
  School Rumble is a wild, over the top romantic comedy.  In it there's a pretty messed up love triangle.  (You can't really call it a triangle.  See chart.)  Tenma is the female lead.  She is in love with Kurasuma, who is oblivious to this no matter how obvious she is about it.  Harima is the male lead , who is madly in love with Tenma.  He's in the same situation as her but is worst off, because he can't seem to tell that she likes Kurasuma. The main plot point through out the entire series is that no one can muster up the courage to confess their feelings to the one they love.  This makes for a lot of funny moments, awkward silences, and misunderstandings.
          Each episode is divided into three sections.  Each section has it's own title and focus on a single event, sometimes they'll cross over into the next part of the episode if it's something important.  Most times they're self contained stories that provide little progress to the series as a whole.  Some people think that this is a bad thing, but I think it's exactly how life is.  Life is full of little moments that when put together tell a story.  None of which have any direct impact on anything on their own, but together you can see the big picture.
          With (young) love being the major driving force of the show, there is a strong sense of innocence.  As I mentioned before the show is over the top and never takes itself too seriously. There is an episode where Harima finds enlightenment and can tell peoples fortune through animals.  (Those animals come back in future episodes for more gags.)  School Rumble is lighthearted and sweet.  (Everything you need to feel good inside.)

-Don't Just Be A Robot, Be Happy

Music: Grieves & Budo - 88 Keys & Counting

          I picked up 88 Keys & Counting because I saw Budo's name on it.  I had no idea who Grieves was at the time, but after listening to it I went out and bought Irreversible. (His first album and marked my calender for Together/Apart release too.)  For the past month Gwenevieve is the first song I put on when I get in my car.  The album is mostly about lost love and loneliness. (I like that emo shit, if you haven't noticed.)
          The title refers to the number of keys on a piano/keyboard adding that they are counting more.  (Like saying it's something you've never heard before.)  I love these kind of projects, where the album is composed  completely by one artist and one producer.  It makes for a more personal record (regardless of the subject matter) and this is no exception.  88 Keys & Counting lets you look at the world through the eyes of someone fighting off their inner demons.  Though dark and depressing, hope can still be found.


Gems (Top Three)


1.)Gwenevieve - Track #7
In this song Grieves describes a girl who is giving up on happiness.  She really believes it wasn't meant for her and becomes numb to the world.  He's bothered by her outlook on life.  He asks himself whether he should passively dismiss it with a smile or help her with her burden.  He points out that she is the reason things are the way they are.  Her negative outlook keeps people at bay, truly keeping her away from happiness.  Though not directly stated in the song, the message I got from it is that we are in control of our lives and life is what you make it.  What will you make yours?

2.)Nature Vs. Nurture - Track #9
The title says it all.  Nature Vs. Nurture is the question that asks; what makes us - Us?  I think Grieves uses it to ask; what broke us?  I'm not sure if he means depression or insanity, but either way there's no true answer.  No real cause or culprit that can be blamed and avoided.  There's no moment when you become depress or insane.  It's like a seed that slowly grows till it becomes this truth you can't argue with but can't accept.

3.)Dead In The Water - Track #5
Here he talks to an ex girlfriend after the relationship has ended.  Hurt by how things turned out he asks; "what did you want from me?"  The question, if considered implies he didn't want this.  He wanted things to be better.  It further suggest that she only wanted to hurt him.  This (for me) is confirmed when he tells her at the end of each verse; "You got a problem."  In hindsight he sees all the things she done, though he describes them through metaphors that clearly portrayed her intentions.  In the last line he says.  "I hope you find what your looking for and leave."  Which to me is kind of like saying this will never make you happy but don't look to me when you realize that.

-Don't Just Be A Robot, Be Happy