vincentbwang

[vincentbwang]

Con Hour 20

Welcome to the 20th, Twentieth installment of Vincent’s Condescension Hour. I am Vincent. This summer is going to be crazy for music. Some release Tuesdays are stacked with bands that I am so incredibly stoked for. It's gonna be a great summer for metal, so expect that. These are some records that I found lately and I feel obligated to share with you:

1) Monuments’ “The Amanuensis” - Progressive Metal / Djent (2014, Century Media

2) Tyrant of Death's "Ascendancy" - Extreme Industrial Metal (2014, Self Released)

3) Origin's "Omnipresent" - Technical Death Metal (2014, Nuclear Blast Records)

4) Volumes' "No Sleep" - Progressive Metalcore / Djent (2014, Mediaskare Records)

5) Livio Gianola's "Otro Sitio (A Palette Of Latin Colors) - Flamenco / Guitar-Based Latin (2014, Europe-Amstel Records)

Djent is a total fad. It’s kinda lame and pretty predictable and sometimes I feel silly when I’m so on board with it as a genre/musical style (just like how I kinda renounce Pop Punk / Hardcore now). I can talk about Animals As Leaders for forever and I feel like such a fanboy. But whatever, it's great music to me and that's all that matters.

Meanwhile, I can't believe I have guitar idols now. Feels weird. Like I'm betraying myself

[vincentbwang]

I got a guitar yesterday, the modestly priced Cordoba C5. I hope she'll get me through this next week of scary freelancing.

Here's to trying to get out just playing church chords and the intro to "Pollen and Salt" and "New American Classic". Why can't I just be awesome now and play CHON songs already!?

[vincentbwang]

Con Hour 19

Welcome to the nineteenth installment of Vincent’s Condescension Hour. Man, Spotify is changing up how I find music. I also finally got a turnable with a decent system running with it. I'm finding so much cool stuff and I'm spending a lot of my free expenses on music! Happy times. These are some records that I found lately and I feel obligated to share with you:

1) Kidkanevil's "My Little Ghost" - Downbeat / Electronica / Instrumental Hip-Hop (2014, Project Moon Circle)

2) The Honey Trees' "Bright Fire" - Dream Pop / Folk / Indie (2014, Self-Released)

3) Wreck And Reference's "Want" - Doom Metal / Drone / Experimental (2014, Flenser Records)

4) Glasser's "Interiors" - Electropop / Experimental / Indie (2013, True Panther Sounds)

5) Snarky Puppy's "We Like It Here" - Instrumental Fusion (2014, Ropeadope)

I saw a dear friend, James Maa, after a prolonged absence at one of Saosin/Anthony Green Reunion shows. He asked me what I've been listening to. It's hard to describe but a lot of Flenser's discography is resonating with me, at least making me feel something from music I haven't in a while. I'm excited to check out more on the label and more like it in general. I urge you to do the same.

ps. 90's Music by Kimbra is awesome. And I love how How To Dress Well has been labelled as "Glacial Neo-Soul". 

[vincentbwang]

Shout out to theangelawong for drawing me. what can i say? i love da beers!

[vincentbwang]

Might be cliché to play Ella, but had to showcase this steal of a system. Post-grad gift to myself (and @calebollivant by association).

[vincentbwang]

Con Hour 18

Welcome to the eighteenth installment of Vincent’s Condescension Hour. I've graduated! Thanks to all the friends I made there and my family along the way; I am the man I am now because of all of you. And without taking any days off, I'm in it now, working! So hopefully, now that my formal education is over, I will have more time to release and consume content. These are some records that I found lately and I feel obligated to share with you:

1) Structures' "Life Through A Window" - Progressive Metalcore / Hardcore (2014, Sumerian Records)

2) Rivers Of Nihil's "The Conscious Seed of Light" - Technical Death Metal (2013, Metal Blade Records)

3) BADBADNOTGOOD's "III" - Jazz / Electronic / Fusion (Innovative Leisure, 2014)

4) Tune-Yards' "Nikki Nack" - Indie / Experientmental (2014, 4AD)

5) Destrage's "Are You Kidding Me? No" - Progressive Metal (2014, Metal Blade)

[vincentbwang]

Vincent Tries Sober: Recap

On Ash Wednesday 2014, I Vincent B. Wang, being of sound heart and mind and no religious affiliations decided to partake in Lent. I was raised Protestant and I don't consider myself religious by any means really but I decided to abstain from drinking any alcoholic beverages until April 20th. I didn't like the beer belly and I wasn't productive and I was just lazy. There were a lot of doubts in the beginning; most scoffed and laughed at my commitment. Specific people wanted to bet that I couldn't do it.

End of Week 1: Most of the doubters are now on my side. Most of my friends participating in this 44 day abstinence (because it's not so much Lent as it is the excuse to not do something) have failed except my roommate who is clean off of red meat. It was really easy getting through the first week. I turned down already multiple events for drinking and I got loads of work done. Score point for me. 

End of Week 2: I talked about it a lot and I willingly brought it up to talk about. I miss drinking and I wanna do it every night. I don't really feel like it is but I'm admitting that it was more of an issue than I'd expected. But nonetheless, it's been a successful two weeks. I haven't wavered or broken. I opted out of a party this time to save myself. Two weeks in and there is still more than a month to go.

End of Week 3: 3 weeks in 3.5 more to go. I'm more productive and I've lost all that beer belly business, which means the initial goals of this have been completed. I'm really glad, aside from my subconscious need to bring up my abstinence, that people are forgetful that I'm doing this. People feel the need to apologize to me and the fact that it isn't that big of a deal is good. There are people that are making me feel like I had a severe issue. I think a steadfast commitment is proof enough that I have this under control. 

End of Week 4.5: Three more sundays left until the end of this which equates to 2.5 weeks. I don't have much to say. I'm good. I'm doing really well; I don't feel temptation. The only thing that bums me out is that there is so little time left in the year and I was hoping to have some more beer nights before I graduate, but that's a stupid thing to worry about.

End of Week 5: It's fine. I'm good. Going strong

End of Week 6: It's fine. I'm good. I'm glad I did this; I needed this. I believe I gained more than I anticipated. I do not believe I will be going back to the way I was. I do acknowledge there was discipline to be had and that my habits are better now. I do love how much people have supported me in a positive way.

But. But, I am excited to watch Game of Thrones at night with my roommate (who has succeeded with me. great job dude. major props). I'm excited to have drinks with my friends from college at bar crawls in Culver or Downtown or Santa Monica. I am excited to brew more beer and learn more about it and make better brews. I am excited not to be so excited to drink again.

Good experience. Will I do it again?

[vincentbwang]

South Paw Brewing presents Catharsis IPA. 5.73% ABV in 12oz and 22oz bottles. Available this Saturday, April 19th 2014. (at South Paw Brewing)

[vincentbwang]

Con Hour 17

Welcome to the seventeenth installment of Vincent’s Condescension Hour. I don't know if I'm just busier lately or that my drought in finding striking new music has been difficult. Needless to say, this list is rock solid. These records are all so great. These are some records that I found lately and I feel obligated to share with you:

1) Tiny Moving Parts' "This Couch is Long & Full of Friendship" - Emo/Math Rock/Screamo (2013, Kind Of Like Records)

2) Justin Nozuka's "Ulysees" - Acoustic Rock/Soul (2014, Glassnote Records)

3) Seahaven's "Reverie Lagoon: Music For Escapism Only" - Indie Rock/Emo (2014, Run For Cover Records)

4) Manchester Orchestra's "Cope" - Indie/Rock/Alternative (2014, Favorite Gentlemen)

5) Mother Of Mercy's "IV: Symptoms Of Existence" - Hardcore Punk (2011, Bridge Nine Records)

I'm so bummed that THIS is happening in New Zealand and Australia and not the US...yet. Hopefully that it is just "yet" because I really wanna see this. Gotta get more of Madame Monae's stuff though. Also Coachella live streams were interesting. I don't understand how some of the artists got to play at such a huge festival. I didn't watch many acts but OutKast was so overhyped; Andre 3000 couldn't care less. And Pharrell's set, dare I say, was actually cool. Hopefully it is streaming next week after his voice comes back. I remember now why I liked him in the first place.

[vincentbwang]

South Paw Brewing presents: Catharsis IPA! Comes in 12oz and 22oz bottles at 5.73% ABV. Available 04.19.14 (at South Paw Brewing)

[vincentbwang]

What it do, young bitches!

[vincentbwang]

And second fermentation in the glass carboy. Catharsis IPA, coming soon. Want a bottle?

[vincentbwang]

Con Hour 16

Welcome to the sixteenth installment of Vincent’s Condescension Hour. I'm on spring break. These are some records that I found lately and I feel obligated to share with you:

1) St. Vincent "St. Vincent" - Indie Pop/Art Rock (2014, Loma Vista/Republic)

2) Ringworm's "Hammer Of The Witch" - Thrash/Hardcore (2014, Relapse Records)

3) La Dispute's "The Rooms Of The House" - Post-Hardcore/Experimental (2014, Better Living)

4) Iselia's "II: Dawn" - Post Rock/Screamo/Hardcore (2014, Self-Released) 

5) Animals As Leaders' "Joy Of Motion" - Progressive Metal/Instrumental (2014, Sumerian Records)

[vincentbwang]

My homie Pablo came to me late and asked for a sexy girl in a polka dot bikini. How could I refuse him?

I’ve had a few different projects while at Otis that featured busty women. I was always so shit at making girls so I always wanted them to be as feminine as possible. The punchline is that whenever I did a project, everyone suddenly had so many comments on critiques and how she should look. Always thought that was fun and funny.

[vincentbwang]

thoughts

1)this may be the arrogant bastard talking, be it myself or this viscous beer by stone, but the fact that Community might make it to #sixseasonsandamovie is crazy. imagine if nbc let them do a sixth season and then they did a crowd funded movie. that should would blow up. i'd drop like at least $150 on that.

2) i can't wait to get my own pad. or better yet, open-air bedroom/loft. i can have my friends from norcal come and visit me and i can have people over whenever i want. i can walk around naked and/or exercise in the house. i want a condo and it's sad that the realistic goal for it is to set up a high-end bar with mirrors and LED shelves for the liquor and a wall mounted, always chilled keg of homebrew beer while the idea of a soundproofed area for drums is too much.

[vincentbwang]

Con Hour 15

Hey you. Welcome to the fifteenth installment of Vincent’s Condescension Hour. This is a god damn solid list and February has been a great month for finding older records and listening to my anticipated releases. These are some records that I found lately and I feel obligated to share with you:

1) Helm's Alee's "Sleepwalking Sailors" - Post-Rock/Sludge (2014, Sargent House)

2) Joie De Vivre's and Prawn's "Split" - Emo/Indie-Rock/Post-Rock (2014, Topshelf Records)

3) Milan's "Glassy Eyes - EP" - "Future Soul" (2014, Self-Released)

4) The Hotelier's "Home, Like Noplace Is There" - Emo/Indie/Punk (2014, Tiny Engines)

5) Schoolboy Q's "Oxymoron" - Hip-Hop/Rap (2014, TDE / Interscope)

Bands like Traitors and Black Tongue, are the equivalent of "ignorant rap" to me. It's just fun music; lighthearted and not to taken too seriously. Traitor's S/T EP was a lot of fun. Worth a mention, but not making the list.

[vincentbwang]

I saved my thesis by deleting it.

Good news or bad news first? Bad news is that I love everything I had from the last semester in concerns to my thesis project. Everything including my PSD's, AI's, motion test, presentations, etc. I blame it on myself. I had two folders labeled thesis that were completely different and I saved one over the other.

The good news is that before realizing my grave mistake, I had already decided to rebranded, revamped, and reconstructed my thesis. The story, the tone, the idea is all the same but the execution is wildly different, all of which is in my favor. 

Good riddance, eh? Another post later about what I've learned thus far.