Spring Break/Anthem by Ayn Rand

whostosay — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:05:44 +0000

It has been a month and three days since Matt or I has posted anything on Who’s To Say… but it seems to be (as I have already said) a lack of the summer feeling. When summer comes lashing you in the face for a few days and then you here that your town is due for 3 to 4 inches of snow it kinda sucks, badly. However, Spring Break has begun! Kids and their families can go enjoy nice times under the sun in places around the country or around the world. If one is to stay in suburbia I would understand if them to would receive a lack of interest on anything, really. But I have decided to come out of hibernation and start posting on Who’s To Say… again.

Anthem by Ayn Rand was a good book… at first. Anthem takes place in a future earth where a civilizations have been erased due to some war which is not stated directly in the context. The main character, Equality 7-2521, is the protagonist of the story. In his world, the word “I” is replaced with the word “we”, making individuality impossible to experience. However, after finding a “tunnel” he quickly becomes interesting in the so called, “Unmentionable Times” which one should assume is our day of life. From there, Equality and his sexy girlfriend go off and have a gay old time in the… find out if you dare to read.

In this book, Ayn Rand demonstrates her personal beliefs such objectivism. Her beliefs are strong but her beliefs are hard to agree with, with some people such as I or Matt. Her beliefs were easy to understand because of our English teacher teaching them to us and be capable to purchase and book about objectivism itself. However, it is hard to keep reading an author’s book when her beliefs practically scream at you on every page. It’s good to have a book which leaves you thinking, but not a book which leaves you annoyed. Although I have learned to dislike the book, or maybe just not fully appreciate it. I would like to say reading it benefited me; it opened my eyes to new views in which I can have or in which others could have also. So, if you wish go read Anthem by Ayn Rand. It may or may not help you.

- Mike Regan

CURRENTLY LISTENING TO: Something is Not Right With Me.

Think About that One!

whostosay — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:10:50 +0000

So, my dear friend Kaley Smith showed me a cool website in which it asks questions that most people would die to know the answer for.

Go to it HERE.

-Mike Regan

January, February, March… Who’s to say they’re special? They aren’t.

whostosay — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:15:05 +0000

Lately, Matthew and I have been up to nothing of interest. Sure, maybe some good hang out sessions; a few stops to good’ol 7-Eleven but besides that we have been in hibernation. The winter months have finally kicked in. The holidays are the joyous and pleasant times on this time we called cold but it’s only like two damn weeks. WE WANT SUMMER! So, Who’s to Say readers we will be watching our television sets, reading our books, and listening to our music hoping, only wishing for summer to arrive looking out for interesting sparks to write about.

Stay tuned…

-Mike Regan

Best of All…

whostosay — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:16:41 +0000

What is the best time of your life. I have been thinking about this topic for a week or two. Taking trips into the past to try and find the answer. I can think for hours, but never can get the answer. Take a moment and think about that. The best time of your life, nothing will ever feel, look, smell, or even taste as good as it did then. The tip of your life. The best feeling you will ever feel. Your Nirvana! I’m hooked on finding the answer. Just imagine, your living the best moment of your life and you don’t even know it. Amazing.

Stand By Me: Four kids taking a trip into the best time of their lives.

-Matt O’Keefe

Lily Allen

whostosay — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:40:26 +0000

While Matt has had his full attention of the Black Lips recently leaked album 200 Million Thousand I have learned of a new singer. Her name is Lily Allen and she is a british pop singer who caught my attention on this month’s Spin Magazine. Allen is 23-years-old and daughter of film producer Alison Owen and actor/comedian Keith Allen. She went to school with the Clash’s Joe Strummer and Mick Jones and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd children. She is not afraid to express what she if feeling – if it leads to writing it in her songs or myspace blogs to getting arrested for attacking a paparazzi. Allen has got the attention of a lot of people including myself.

Allen is soon to realase the album It’s Not Me, It’s You on February 9. On the album the song and single “The Fear” talks about Allen’s hate for being famous. The tabloids have a tendency of singling the singer out and comparing her to Amy Whinehouse as uncontrollable drug-addict. However, Allen has said she has control of her career and knows the track she is heading. The 23-year-old appears to be out-going but is really a down to earth, spazzy, girl from the UK. Make sure to check out her upcoming album and her myspace!

You can see her music video to “The Fear” here.

You can go to her myspace here.

-Mike Regan

Song of The Day: The Strokes’ Last Nite

whostosay — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:21:27 +0000

I walked into my room with only one thought on my mind. To listen to Is This It by the Strokes. My overhead light was turned on and shining a bright cast throughout my room. I felt a sense of warmth but then I felt my stomach fill with butterflies as I accidentally turned to track five – “Last Nite”. The song in which I have a heard frequently poured a story out for me and made my day not only for it’s charming melody but I understood the lyrics in my own way.

Is This It came out in 2001 and is the Strokes debut album. The Strokes became big in the UK before entering the US, however, the band is from New York. The band’s well-known songs off the album are: “The Modern Age”, “Last Nite“, “Hard to Explain” and “Someday”. “Last Nite” surprisingly being one of those. Is This It claimed to be one of the greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone also named the final song on the album: “Take It or Leave it” number 71 on their list of 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. The band has influenced many bands including the Schillers and grabs the attention of thousands of rock-thriving-teenagers.

You can see the song here.

- Mike Regan

The Dirty Hands!

whostosay — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:33:38 +0000

With The Schillers on a break, me and my good friend Jon decided to start up our own little side project. The Dirty Hands was started one night in my basement with the idea to take our love for music to a new level. In The Schillers we have two electric guitars, a bass, drums, and a singer — a typical rock band. In The Dirty Hands we will mess around with many instruments. Bongos, Xylophone, Maracas, and a Mandolin have all been shipped out of their cold storage rooms and will add to the jumble of instruments in my basement.

The Dirty Hands recently put up their first original titled: “Forget About It”. The song is all instrumental and we hope to add vocals to it soon. It started with a chord change which led to a riff which led to a beat which led to a song. All in all, the song was wrote and recorded in about an hour. The song is a Hawaiian/Oldies/Garage type thing. My brother said it was “A mix between The Beatles and Little Joy”. The Dirty Hands will be posting many more originals in the coming weekend, you can check them all out right HERE! The Dirty Hands hope to bring back oldies in its own way.

As for now we spend our time in my basement eating pizza and writing songs, but, when spring comes along you might be able to catch us on the corner of your street or possibly at your favorite playground. We hope to get some shows and also some notice. Spread The Word!!!

P.S. As conceded as this blog seems, whatever

-Matt O’Keefe

Song of The Day: The Black Lips’ Short Fuse

whostosay — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:06:11 +0000

Here is yet another Black Lips post. Even though I promised Mike I would write about something else, something happened that made me write another post on them. So what was so amazing that it made me break a promise that I made to my best friend, A NEW BLACK LIPS SINGLE WAS RELEASED!!!! That’s right, Short Fuse is the new single of the Black Lips’ new album 200 Million Thousand. Short Fuse is a some what western sounding number that has a Bob Dylan kinda feel to it. When I first listened to Short Fuse I was blown away! The difference between The Black Lips’ old stuff and Short Fuse is something that only the Beatles’ would do. With Starting Over and Short Fuse giving a preview to the new album it seems as if The Black Lips are the only band sense Nirvana to get better with each album. As 200 Million Thousand isn’t set to come out for about one more month, here’s a little something for the wait.

Check out Short Fuse HERE!

-Matt O’Keefe

Comic Books

whostosay — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:58:02 +0000

Comic Books are frequently referred to as so called, “nerdy”, “dorky”, “quirky”. This is just not the case. Comics were very popular in the mid-twentieth century; many subscribed and thought it to be an everyday task to read the latest edition to the Clark Kent-Superman saga – and it was. Today one would imagine a comic book reader to be: heavy-set, taped-glasses, mama’s boy drip. I myself being a fan of comics have seen ones like such but I have also seen grown men brought to tears when purchasing a first edition copy of Batman and Robin. Comic books bring people together such as Comic-Con and a boy’s desire to be gone in the wink of an eye.

There are many comic book publishers. The most well-known ones are DC Comics and Marvel Comics. DC published many famous heroes such as: Superman, Batman, Wonder-Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, and The Green Lantern, all in DC’s The Justice League of America which is to thriving in the comic book industry. Marvel has established other famous characters: Spiderman, Captain America, The Punisher, and Daredevil, all popular movies. Both industries have made several famous super-heroes. Another comic book company is Dark Horse Comics and has established the following: Hellboy, Duffy the Vampire Slayer, and Star Wars. Many comics have been made into movies.

Everyone has seen Christopher Reed starring in the 1970’s Superman movies which he played every girl’s dream boy farmer turned man of steel, which was then followed in up in 2006’s ‘Superman Returns’ which had mixed reviews. Spiderman was originally adapted for screen in 2002’s ‘Spiderman” which had Tobey Maguire as the lead role. There are many Batman movies which have been played by many different men – going from Jack Nicholson as everyone’s favorite villain, The Joker, and then later turned into George Clooney’s terrible performance in Batman Forever featuring: Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwarzenegger and then to Heath Ledger’s both terrifying and entertaining role as The Joker. Many comic books have been adapted for film and have been both perpetuating and shut down as soon as the film began running. However, it shows the character in which comics can bring.

-Mike Regan

Black Lips: 200 Million Thousand

whostosay — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:41:57 +0000

Cole Alexander or God? February 23, 2009, Cole Alexander and his band The Black Lips will release their follow up to last year’s Good Bad Not Evil (Which was the best album of the year for sure!) 200 Million Thousand is what the Black Lips call “Our most experimental album yet.” When I was about to press play to listen to their new single “Starting Over” I though I was going to enjoy another punk country-ish song, instead I thought I was listening to The Velvet Underground. “Starting Over” is the Black Lips at their best. With some off the best production they have ever had (even though it is still shitty) makes them sound like The Velvet Underground fell down the stairs. “Starting Over” brings back the sound of Let It Bloom with riffs that sound like “Dirty Hands” and lyrics like those of Good Bad Not Evil. I’m not too sure what to expect on 200 Million Thousand, but if God made life I’m sure Cole Alexander will make something just as good on 200 Million Thousand.

Check Out “Starting Over” HERE.

-Matt O’Keefe