Don’t think…just let it flow…
Finally a blog post after quite a long time. I’ve been busy with my semester and well, I’m an engineering major, so by convention, there mustn’t be any free time for me. :/
But I’ve found some, thanks to Spring Break (I am loaded with assignments but I still believe you all deserve to hear about something which I absolutely adore).
As a big fan of electronic music, I have found new love for one of the best acts in the genre, the dynamic duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Yes I’m referring to THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS. Their history goes back into the rave days of playing out club beats, and have now found themselves composing film soundtracks, what a journey has it been for them.
One thing that stands out in particular is of course, their concerts. Their music involves neo-psychedelia with epic visuals and of course, those beats that will keep on ringing in your ears for years after you hear them. For note, their concert footage has been their on some occasions. One of the famous footage is done by BBC as part of their Glastonbury coverage. But since a lot of acts play out in festivals, BBC could only cover some portion of their DJ set and that, in my opinion, doesn’t do ChemBros any justice. So ChemBros decided to get their entire performance of their set recorded in a movie and with Flat Nose George (real name Adam Smith), it gave rise to “Don’t Think”.
“Don’t Think” is basically a concert film, and I might sound biased but really, it IS one of the best concert films I’ve ever seen. The height of it all is that I enjoyed it by epic proportions. “Don’t Think” comprises of set played by ChemBros as the headline act of Fuji Rock Festival 2011. Fuji Rock takes place every year in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The beauty of the film is in two aspects, one is the fact that those stunning visuals which mesmerize you right from the start and actually make you feel part of the enticed Japanese crowd, second is that it’s not just a camera which is stuck right on the main front to record the entire thing live, it tries to capture a fan perspective and it can be said that “Don’t Think” is a true fan film.
Japan is one awesome concert crowd in my opinion, and boy does it look they had a grand time at that performance there. Now this is not footage right from the film, it’s a televised footage, but I’m pretty sure an avid concert-goer can feel the excitement as that rhythmic noisy beat from ‘Swoon’ kicks in.
It might seem to one that ChemBros are going commercial with this, since Daft Punk, a brand act known for epic concerts decided not to be recorded live and instead let the fans upload the footage. But then again, I’ll argue that ChemBros have some great music at their disposal and that being presented in full high-definition is pure ‘eargasm’ (yes I’m an audiophile, it IS eargasm). ChemBros have never performed in the Middle East, although I really hope they do someday and I get to see them live, and so the “Don’t Think” screenings which took place in major cities around the world was a perfect opportunity for those hoping to experience that euphoria of a ChemBros concert.
In my opinion, go out there and grab yourself a “Don’t Think” DVD or Blu-Ray if you can, make sure you have a Playstation 3, Blu-Ray player or a DVD player, a full 1080p HDTV and surround sound system. I don’t even have to say where this is going, it’s way too obvious now. Just close all the lights, turn up the volume, and as the lyrics of “Don’t Think” go, you ‘just let it flow’. :D
Life Update: One step closer to the books
Well I haven’t been on my blog for a while and I thought I’d clear those who have missed me (if any :p ). Anyways, well if you guys know, I graduated high school back in 2010 and haven’t been in college for all this while. But now, with some glimpse of hope, I can say I’ll be starting college after all.
My problems were in finance mainly, since I had applied to a university here, but the fees was so much, that the 10% scholarship didn’t account much and so some sort of extra help was required. After much ado, I heard from them, and I’ve got some 14800 AED in grant, and I guess it’d be enough to pay fees for this semester. The college here by the way is the American University of Sharjah or AUS. It may seem pathetic but looking at it, at least for now, isn’t a bad idea. I mean the faculty here, they’re doctorates and stuff, some from great places like Georgia Tech and Michigan. The facilities here are great and the place is nice (although really far to commute from Abu Dhabi, so I’ve got dorms). The bad part is obviously, the money. It’s expensive for an average person. Not only tuition fees, but living and other expenses as well.
So before last week, I had TOEFL worries. I had given TOEFL iBT in 2009 and by the time of my uni app, the score had expired (it was good fyi). So I had to repeat TOEFL for admission in AUS (it was the ITP paper based this time) which took me hell long to go from Abu Dhabi, clear doubts and come back. I started feeling sad and a bit changed. Changed in the sense, that now, I was certain uni life will start in a few days, and I was initially in the mindset that I’ll be going back to Pakistan. And sad, because I was about to be away from family for most of my time.
Well this Friday, on 27th January (which was my birthday Tumblr peeps!), I had my orientation and there, I cleared further doubts and stuff. I could’ve stayed at the dorms there, but instead, I kept my luggage in my dorm room, and came back home to spend an extra day with family, and my homeboy Ausaf.
After that weekend, then I went and hurried all the way to AUS for my orientation week. I was scared at first, venturing into something for the first time, and in all this not at my comfort of family. But with Allah’s grace and smile, it went good. I got to knew some of my peers. Some in engineering itself (I’m an engineer, chemical engineer, prospective one of course for now), some in other disciplines, some from Pakistan, others from different countries. I had different activities and all, and I find the people nice, at least for now. The newbies aren’t shunning off or really rude right now. Which is an absolute plus for me.
I must say the girls I’ve seen in AUS right now (especially the Pakistani ones), most of them are well y’know, really beautiful and sweet (if you are reading this, girls of AUS, the ones whom I’m really referring to, well you know how I feel about you ;)) and not-bitchy compared to the girls I’ve seen in other schools around the country or in my school life.
There have been some hassles in managing my expenses for the uni, and settling stuff into the dorms, and some worries regarding my legal stuff and others, but I’m sure they’ll adjust with time. Well after a great first week and finding so many nice and welcoming people, I returned home for the weekend. I spent today with Ausaf, who’s my best friend and will now be leaving for Pakistan on Saturday, 4th Feb (I’ll miss you bro!). And well I’ll be leaving on Saturday as well, for Sharjah, to prepare myself a step closer to the books, closer to my future, and finally initiate my university life. Here’s a good luck and a sheer optimism for my next 4 years! :D
Epic remix stuff from A-Trak (for those of you who don’t know, he’s one half of ‘Duck Sauce’).
Source: SoundCloud / A-Trak
Epic and philosophical (from Lagaan)
- Goli: Will our dream ever come true? No, Bhuvan. It hurts too much to dream like that.
- Bhuvan: Have faith, Goli. He who has truth and courage in his heart shall win in the end.
The bat is the savior yet again
Batman Arkham Asylum was hailed by everyone as being the ‘proper’ Batman game. Not just for nice visuals and environments, but that was one game, which allowed you to really feel the character of Bruce Wayne or Batman and how he copes with the situation from his perspective. It also allowed you a nice combat and gadget system all in all given in, to a extent, a free-roam environment. Pure sandbox superheroism. A great combination.
After some 2 years, we again get to have this feel in Batman Arkham City. This time the story’s a bit different. It’s not an asylum anymore but it’s not less than an asylum either. So spoilers are ahead, be aware. The game’s story is basically that after Arkham Asylum was damaged in the last game, Hugo Strange with some accomplices has got himself Arkham City, it’s basically a section of Gotham City which has been divided into creating an entire section of a city as an ‘asylum’ where all the corrupt are imprisoned. Giving the danger it presents to being so near to Gotham, Bruce Wayne is campaigning to enter politics in order to stop Arkham City but during his speech, he’s abducted into Arkham City and is made aware of something called ‘Protocol Ten’ which will prove dangerous.
For me, the benchmark of this game is basically its predecessor which has set some great standards. And to me, Arkham City does live up to that. The game’s visuals have progressed, and taking the aura from a really dark asylum to a night-time cordoned section of a city, that’s some real work. Nonetheless it still presents an epic visual for the player. The use of NVIDIA PhysX also shows quality as well. The story of Arkham City may have that ‘scripted’ feel from last time, but to be honest, it has a little edge on it’s predecessor this time. Coming to gameplay, and that’s one thing in my opinion which haven’t changed much; the mouse-click combat, takedowns, and use of gadgetry has this similar feel from last time. The core story takes as much time as Batman Arkham Asylum to finish, but Arkham City is packed with a larger area, filled with riddles, trophies, and also side missions which can keep you for a longer playtime than you could think.
The use of Catwoman for the character was meh to me, although she does play a part in the main storyline later. So what’s bad in this game? Well for me, the fact of ‘City’ has to be one. From what everyone had been imagining was that you get to play in Gotham as the real Dark Knight with a true sandbox nature. Arkham City does provide that sandbox feel, but it’s limited in my opinion. Now that I’ve played it wasn’t that bad.
In short, Batman Arkham City is a great game, and definitely a must-buy for superhero fans. If you don’t like superheroes, well it’s a nice package for a good action-adventure gamer.
Chemical engineering major, studying in UAE, and blogging about pretty much everything out there: music, video games, football, movies, politics, science etc.
