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Fan Mail
Fan Mail: Darren Reid
Darren Reid's journey into his current painting practice could be described as fortuitous. Four years ago, the self-taught artist found himself in a sad predicament. He needed to either put his dog to sleep or commit to giving her a shot of insulin every eight hours. In choosing the latter, Reid found his life transformed into a restrictive cycle of caretaking that meant he was at home often, so he took up painting. Now the artist's work is collected by a number of galleries and private collectors.
North Mill (2012) is a rendition of the view outside his house at the time he began to paint. Prior to his artistic practice, works of old painting masters such as Caravaggio, Canaletto, and Holbein held an allure for Reid. "The skill required to render something so perfectly in paint always fascinated me," Reid explains. Referencing Holbein's The Ambassadors (1533) as an example of work that inspired a love for intricate craftsmanship, Reid is also drawn to the genre for its documentary value, especially in this post-photography age.
For example, in The Things We Leave Behind (2013), Reid wanted to capture the destruction generated by the rapid development happening in his local environment. In painting, the technical rigor required to render a realistic image demands a concomitantly higher level of attention from the viewer; it calls for a deeper engagement with the subject matter at hand. And even though the current fad in contemporary painting encourages more abstract forms, the interest Reid's work has garnered thus far indicates that skill is still an appreciated quality in art.
Reid's process is simple but laborious. He begins by taking a number of photographs of scenes and landscapes that are familiar to him, and then selects the image that he finds most technically challenging. In the process of making Before the Storm (2015), for instance, Reid meticulously outlined every detail in the image before he painted it, and the result is a picture-perfect depiction of a harbor in Brixham, uncanny in its photographic quality. The question Reid faces is this: Why create paintings identical to photographs when he could paint from imagination? For Reid, his painting practice might be labeled as photorealist, but his interpretation of the images he chooses to paint has a narrative quality not always prevalent in photographs.
Reid spends 200–250 hours on each painting. Works such as Sunrise, I Left You Sleeping (2015), with its challenging composition of minuscule proportions, reveal the artist's knack for perfecting the details. For a self-taught painter who has had no formal training in painting, the skill and dexterity with which Reid produces his work is formidable. In some ways, the lack of an art education has been liberating for Reid, who started painting out of a simple desire to fill his homebound time, with no real regard for the art market and its demands. Described as "emotionally quiet," Reid's paintings reflect the inherent calmness in the act of painting.
Darren Reid is an artist based in Belper, England. His work is focused on contemporary realism painting, for which he was shortlisted for the John Ruskin Prize in 2014. Reid is represented by Plus One Gallery in London.


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Chapter ONE
The rain is pouring down heavily, pattering angrily against the tin roof; an irritating pat pat pat that seems to drill minute holes in my head. Though most people hate the rain, I have always welcomed it gladly, not regarding the fact that the sound of each drop against the tin sometimes feel like it could drive me off my sanity. On days like this, I feel as if the world is giving me a long, cold, and comfortable hug, and that when I strain my ears hard enough, I can almost hear the winds laughing lightly as it whips against me. I don't know why but everything seems a lot better when it's raining, as if the rain is bringing a veil of peace along with it.
Looking across the road, I can almost not make up Reese's father's hand as it reaches out toward Mrs. Reese. I have long figured that on cold days like this, Mr. and Mrs. Reese are a lot sweeter, never a minute going without them exchanging a brief, meaningful touch. On days like this, it is easier to imagine that everything can go well; that Mr. and Mrs. Reese never lost a child; that the Claytons' talk in a gentler manner; and that downstairs, my mother is humming softly to herself as she cooks for my father who will soon come home with a bouquet of tulips for her, much like the way they were on their last anniversary.
Closing the window, I sigh deeply as Mr. and Mrs. Reese kissed, as John Clayton crossed the street in his overalls toward the Baker Street, and as I realize that no matter how perfect everything is at the moment, my life will never be.
"Sid?" My mom peeks through my door and when she sees the tears rolling down my cheeks, she enters and sits beside me.
"What's the problem, honey?" she asks gently and I hug her tightly.
"Nothing mom," I managed to whisper as she runs her hand through my hair, comforting me. Why, in the thousands and millions of people in this world, do I have to be the one to experience this?
I continue to question my existence, my unhappiness; I continue to ask God everything and then suddenly a hysterical sob escapes through my lips. I hug my mom tighter, trying to strangle the overpowering urge to break down and cry my heart out. Why does it have to be me? Why does it have to be me?
"Mom…" I wail. "Mom, I'm so sorry."
"I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry…" I cry harder, clutching her tighter as I apologize for something she absolutely have no idea of but as if realizing the severity of the reason behind my tears, she hugged me tighter, her voice quailing as she reassured me.
"Honey, it's alright… It will all be alright… You'll be alright…" she shushed me. For a moment, I believed her. I want to believe her. But the envelope on my pocket suddenly seems heavier, burning against the fabric of my pocket to my skin. I fished it out, handing it gingerly to her.
Wiping the few tears that escaped her control, she reaches out for the letter and as everything become clearer to her, she break down in a heart-breaking cry.
"My baby… Oh my baby…My baby girl…" she cries as she clutch me tighter, and I cry, and the heaven cries with us.
A brain tumor grew in my head, and in less than a year, I will be nothing but a voice amongst the other voices in the wind.
"Honey, are you sure you'll be fine?" Mom asks for the nth time and I answer her with a patient smile.
"Mom, I'll be fine. It's alright. I'm all good," I answer her, reassuring her although the concern on her eyes did not even tone down a little.
It's been a week since I gave her the envelope containing my laboratory result and diagnosis on it and I can still clearly remember my mom begging God to let it all be a mistake. But it isn't a mistake, and at night when I lay on my bed, I can almost feel the tumor inside my head, as if beating with its own heart, waiting to rear its ugly face in me.
I want to believe that I am one of those brave, strong girls who, despite how morbid their illnesses are, still continue their life like nothing is wrong but I am not.
On that past week I spent pretending I have nothing wrong, continuing my life as if the envelope I brought home contained nothing but a friendly letter from someone, I felt worse than if I told my adviser my status and listened to her pity. As if the hours I spent pretending I have nothing wrong were being paid back at night, when I am alone and I lay myself on my bed; the energy I spent pretending in the day were seeping away from my body in double amount, consuming my tired muscles, leaving me beat and weak.
Because of the awful feeling I have in pretending, I decided to quit school today and decided not to let my friends know what I am going through, what I have. I'm guessing they'd all wail and break down and hug me and say pitiful things at me when they learn of my condition and I don't want to deal with those just yet. If only for a little time, I want to spend some of my remaining days living as if nothing's wrong, as if I'm merely taking an extended vacation from school while everyone got back already.
Entering the dean's office, I immediately know Mr. Varner already knew of my illness since he immediately stood up and rushed to me, seeming to assist me. I wonder if I look sicker now. Or again, maybe knowing something affects your perception of things too.
"Um, sir," I started and he seems to shift in his chair infinitesimally. "I'd like to drop out of school now," I said after a moment and he nods knowingly. He nodded so much that I don't know whether he's doing it on purpose or if he's contemplating so much on what to tell me that he absentmindedly nods his head. After a long while, and as I grow more awkward looking at him nod his head off, he stop nodding and clears his throat.
"Child, how are you?" He asks, and I roll my eyes in my thoughts. I knew they'd all react like this and even if I know already that they're doing whatever they do out of goodwill, I can't help but be exasperated. All the attention is making me tired and somehow, their reactions make it all a lot worse. Their nodding and sympathy and kind words, although I know it's their human instinct that make them unconsciously react in that way, still irks me. It's pretentious and stupid and it adds to the millions of hateful things I am angry with but I cannot tell them outright that it's frustrating looking and listening to them like that because I know it will only make me more pathetic to them, and elicit more fake sympathy from them. Clearing my head of unkind thoughts by thinking that I might be thinking and reacting the same way if it isn't me who's suffering from this, I struggle to place a kind smile in my face.
"I'm alright, Mr. Varner, thank you. It will probably be months before I show any kind of manifestation," I answered and he starts nodding his head off again. I wait another good two minutes before Mr. Varner recovers from his nodding his head, clearing his throat again.
"What do you want to do with your peers then, child? Do you want us to hold some assembly for you to announce your," he clears his throat, "farewell?"
"Oh no sir, thank you," I answer in a hurry, not wanting him to get far from that thought and start planning what else in his head, although I have half a mind that he has already thought of the things he wants to say in his nodding time. "I will tell them when I am ready to tell them the truth sir, if you understand," I added.
"Oh, I understand child. I understand, alright," he said, his face somewhat registering some look of hurt, as if my answer gives him some unknown pain. I pretend I do not recognize what I can barely see in his face, and he starts fumbling for some papers in his desk then.
"Well then child, I do not know what to tell you now," he admits and I smiled at him. Finally! An admission that they really don't know what I'm feeling!
"It's okay sir," I said in sympathy. The poor man… "If you will excuse me sir, I'd like to go and tell my friends I'm dropping out already," I added and he starts nodding again, bidding me goodbye as I turn in my heels and walk out of his office.
By the time I arrive at our house, I am already exhausted. Everyone bugged me, asking me why I would drop out of school when we're already on our third year. I only told them it will only be for a while, that I will have to sort something that requires my whole time and then be back again next year. Of course it was an awful lie but no one knew better except me, and I only wish they'll forgive me when they find out the truth someday. I know it's selfish of me to not tell them the truth but I have to attend to myself first, don't I? If I see them on the streets and see their eyes brimming with sympathy, I don't think I can handle it.
Plopping down on my bed, I lay still, basking in the silence and peacefulness of my room after a very busy day, beginning to contemplate Elise's reaction the whole time I was saying goodbye. Somehow, I think she knows about the real reason already, although her casual evasion from my questioning looks suggests other things. Have I hurt her because I didn't tell her about this first? I lay still for a long while, turning things in my head as I debate whether to tell my best friend the truth already or not when I unconsciously drifted off to a peaceful dream.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Gardens at Barry Road
8300 NW Barry Road Kansas City MO 64153
for a local A Place for Mom advisor
Now offering virtual tours. Call us now to schedule.The Gardens at Barry Road supports seniors and gives them the help they need to maintain their independence through our assisted living and memory care options. We understand the important decisions that you face when transitioning to a retirement community and we want to help you every step of the way as you look at assisted living options.
Promoting the social, spiritual, and physical health of each resident is our highest priority. Our daily activities and wellness programs keep seniors energized and ensure they get to be social and have fun.
Not all assisted living or retirement communities are the same. Bethesda Senior Living Communities are a faith-based nonprofit organization. Across all our communities, faith is a cornerstone of how we operate, which means everything we do is in service of our residents. We have 55 years of senior care experience with 19 communities in six states and offer an environment where our residents feel at home and enjoy high quality of life. Voted Best Assisted Living Community in the Northland five years in a row, The Gardens at Barry Road follows a compassionate approach to senior care. Our individualized attention and care enhances the comfort and happiness of our residents to gently ease them through this important lifestyle transition.
We strive to cultivate a vibrant, active, healthy community with wellness programs designed to care for and support individuals and families. Our warm and friendly living environment is close to fine dining, shopping, and local churches, and it offers all the comforts of home without the responsibilities of maintenance or supervision.
We know that every senior has specific needs and requirements and we assess those so that we can tailor our services accordingly through individualized care packages. We also discuss retirement lifestyle options at length with individuals and their families. Whether it is personalized daily care, therapeutic services, memory care, or occasional support, we work in tandem with outside agencies to provide all the assistance needed.
Our mission is to serve seniors by enriching their physical, emotional and spiritual health in a nurturing environment. Bethesda Senior Living Communities will serve others and our communities by sharing God's love through care, advocacy, respect and virtuous business practices. Our vision is to expand Bethesda Senior Living Communities' outreach and service to as many communities as God wills through expansion, acquisition, management contracts, and programming.
Pricing at The Gardens at Barry Road
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*Prices quoted are monthly rental charges and are provided by the communities themselves. Actual prices may differ due to one-time fees, timing and care services required. Speak with your Senior Living Advisor to learn more.
Reviews of The Gardens at Barry Road
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The features and amenities that are displayed on this page contain marketing information provided by the community. A Place for Mom has not confirmed the completeness of the provided information, and cannot guarantee its accuracy.
To conduct a complete investigation, seniors and their families should:
- Tour any listed location to confirm the accuracy of the community description;
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- Check additional licensing and state audit information.
If you become aware of any information that should be updated or noted, please contact A Place for Mom.


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Questia has more than 50,000 titles in the humanities and social sciences
disciplines and plans to further expand the service to about 250,000 titles
in 2003. Users are able to search the service's entire collection for free,
but a subscription fee is required to read the full text of books and to
use the set of research and writing tools.
Troy Williams, CEO and founder of Questia Media, Inc., said: "Students
and faculty around the world have been frustrated by the fact that quality
content, such as what is found in a library, is simply not available online
today. Simply put, before today, the Internet has not effectively helped
students in their research. Starting today, the Questia service changes
that. Most of this content has never been available online and much of
it is available in print form only to a limited number of people with access
to the best libraries. We believe that by providing students with 24-hour,
unlimited access to the full text of books, Questia will encourage students
to devote more time delving into their topics, consulting a wider array
of resources, and formulating and articulating a thesis or argument. The
service eliminates many of the unproductive and frustrating aspects currently
associated with the paper-writing process."
The Questia business model compensates publishers every time a page
is viewed and creates a new, incremental revenue stream for them by capturing
the revenue they miss with single-copy sales. After the initial sale, books
are checked out and photocopied by library patrons thousands of times each
year with no additional revenue to the publisher. All titles, including
older, out-of-print titles that currently generate no revenue, benefit
from increased visibility and usage through Questia's model, which enables
an unlimited number of users to read a book simultaneously. According to
the announcement, Questia has found a way to create this new revenue for
publishers while keeping the cost affordable for users. The company has
negotiated agreements with more than 170 publishers, including Harvard
University Press, Stanford University Press, Columbia University Press,
University of Chicago Press, W.W. Norton and Co., Pearson PLC, Greenwood
Publishing Group, and Perseus Books Group.
According to the company, a team of 10 professional librarians on staff
has built the Questia collection using both traditional library collection-development
techniques and innovative methods. This will ensure proper representation
of all major humanities and social sciences disciplines, and create the
most useful possible collection for undergraduates.
Users can subscribe annually for $149.95, monthly for $19.95, or on a
short-term basis (48 hours) for $14.95.
Source: Questia Media, Inc., Houston, 713/358-2704; http://www.questia.com.


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Book Review – Protection
Book Review: Protection
by T Baggins / S.A. Reid
People have many different ideas and thoughts about prison, especially if you are innocent of the crime that sent you there. "Everyone claims to be innocent" in prison, but few if any really are.
Dr. Joseph Cooper entered Wentworth Prison (in England) in 1931 sentenced for a mistake. Through no direct fault of his own, a woman and her newborn child were dead and he took the fall. Walking into prison, an innocent man, a man who was recently engaged, a doctor with a life of prestige and wealth stripped from him, he stood tall, though afraid.
Gabriel MacKenna, sentenced for a double murder was sure he wanted Joey to know who was in charge and he was going to prove it. Taking Joey in the shower supported Gabriel's personal decision to never let anyone "Take" him. To further prove his powers, Gabriel had Joey assigned to his room. The man who raped him was now his room mate!
Fear and personal strength kept Joey alive. Joey new he would need protection for the 18 year sentence, but at what price? What was his life worth? Was it worth allowing himself to be raped by this beast of a man who slept in the bunk below him?
He told Gabriel about his innocence, his engagement, and his fears. Though everyone in prison says they are innocent, Gabriel believed Joey and decided to not only leave him alone, to be his protector as well. He wants Joey, but will not force the issue again.
[Tweet "Baggins drew me in. She built characters that I wanted to know better"]Was Gabriel really a cold hearted double murderer or were there circumstances he didn't reveal? Joey's fears, his story, his love for medicine, his love for a woman who would never know him as her husband, his ability to understand Gabriel better than Gabriel did, kept me reading. I wanted more and was not disappointed.
As the story built, I was drawn further into the lives of Joey and Gabriel, others around them, their daily routines, visitation rights, and how they learned to live with and love each other. The romance that built was powerful, strong, and yet delicate. Love has many facets and Baggins showed as many as possible given the constraints of Wentworth prison.
I usually read in the evening after I've completed my own writing projects for the day. When I am presented with a good book, one that draws me in – in to the story, the characters, the environment, I am taken away from my daily routine. Protection did that for me.
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Well, here it is, September 1st, the day I set to re-evaluate my blogging life. It has been an interesting 1 1/2 months. I have accomplished A LOT! I have been set free! I have exercised! I have spent time in my house, with my children, actually getting things done! I have really not missed blogging at all!
I finally came to realize that the computer world got a hold of me and what was going on was something akin to an addiction. I didn't recognize it (or at least I wouldn't allow myself to recognize it) until I was away from it. In retrospect, it is kind of scary to realize the power that "a computer" can wield over a person.
Essentially what was happening to me was that I was spending more and more of my day in front of the computer and less and less of my day involved with my family. It started out with just posting. Then it became reading more and more blogs. Then I started to read all the e-newsletters that I would get in my inbox. Then I began to click on links within the newsletters and read those articles. AAAHHH. No wonder I wasn't accomplishing anything!
I could also feel myself having to fight a physical force of laziness. It felt like I was fighting off someone sitting on me in order to get up and do the things I knew I had to do - like cook and clean. Scary stuff. All stuff I wouldn't allow myself to admit to while I was in the middle of it.
So, you wonder, why am I telling all of this? Because I have read many other women's blogs who say that they are struggling with all of the things they need to do in their lives and I am wondering if they are suffering from the same problem as I was? Maybe this will be food for thought for someone? It certainly made me sit back and rethink the whole blogging thing.
So, you wonder again, what does this mean for my blog? I'm not 100% sure. The blog itself wasn't bad, it was my inability to control it. I think it will remain, as long as I can put it in its proper place. I will continue to visit here, although on a much more infrequent basis. If you see me back here every day again, drop me a note and ask me to step back and make sure I have things in their proper order! I think blogs have a place in the world, but for a mother of a large, homeschooling family, I don't think it should be an everyday thing. Thanks for listening. I hope this helps someone else!


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Warning: Many of the before and after photographs on this website contain nudity.The photographs are meant for educational purposes. If you are offended by such material or are under the age of 18, please do not continue to read.


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Reds Captain Martin Cranie has been ruled out for a minimum of three weeks after suffering a hamstring tear.
The centre-half was withdrawn from Tuesday night's defeat against Leicester after just 20 minutes following a challenge he made in the Barnsley box.
Whilst speaking to the press this afternoon, Wilson said, "He's got a tear in his hamstring from the tackle the other night. He'll be out for quite a few weeks - about three weeks I would expect."
Meanwhile, on-loan defender Peter Ramage has also been sidelined due to a hamstring injury, but Wilson confirmed his injury 'isn't as bad as Martin's' but will know more of the extent later this week.
Club News
Cranie Out For 'A Few Weeks' - Wilson
13 March 2014
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Creative Communication and Graphics | Creative Projects
Creative Communications and Graphics, Inc. is an affordable design company serving New Jersey, Philadelphia & Delaware. You can view a list of our recent creative projects to learn more. Some of our project samples include: creative web designs, print design services, multimedia, business to business branding, flash presentations, back end development, corporate event production and video services.


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Why now?
Archive for the 'Oregon Ducks' Category
Should 'SC Tank 2009?August 17, 2009
Coaches Waiting to FailMarch 14, 2009
There's a saying that goes something like "cemeteries are full of irreplaceable people." Try telling that to the college football world, where a more appropriate credo seems to be "never follow a legend."
Seriously, Homerism is struggling to think of one instance in the last three decades in which a coach was able to step in and successfully replace a legendary predecessor. (The situations at Miami in the '80s and LSU this decade come to mind, but the men who started these sustained periods of excellence, Howard Schnellenger and Nick Saban, both had relatively short tenures.)
Yet, you could write a biblical-like genealogy of successors who have failed to live up to the lofty expectations established by an icon:
- Oklahoma: Switzer begat Gibbs, who begat Schnellenberger, who begat Blake;
- Notre Dame: Holtz begat Davie, who begat Willingham, who begat Weis;
- Nebraska: Osborne begat Solich, who begat Callahan;
- Florida: Spurrier begat Zook;
So yesterday's news that Mike Bellotti had decided to hand over the reins at Oregon to predestined successor Chip Kelly got Homerism to thinking about this trend of "coaches-in-waiting." Specifically, other than money, why the hell would any up-and-coming assistant like Kelly be interested in this kind of arrangement?
Kelly's situation isn't much different from that of Will Muschamp at Texas, Jimbo Fisher at Florida State, or even Joker Phillips at Kentucky. All are highly regarded assistants with no head coaching experience who parlayed outside interest from other schools into lucrative guarantees from their current employers.
Sure, the allure of "continuity" is understandable. And maybe coaches actually do benefit from apprenticing at the side of a legend.


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Take this App and call me in the morning: The future of digital health tech...
Digital Health has become a growing phenomenon within the healthcare industry. Society is increasingly dealing with an ageing population, an increase of ill health related to work stress, and constraints on healthcare budgets. Add to this the golden age of entrepreneurship and we are seeing the way we identify, track, monitor, store and learn to manage chronic conditions or how we use medication is changing but how quickly? In this session, we will explore the future of prescribing of digital health apps, wearables and devices. The benefits, challenges and impact on the current healthcare system.
Seminar fees
Melbourne Health employees: Free with discount code. Contact email@example.com for the discount code
External applicants: $15 Early Bird / $25 Full Registration
Christopher Kommatas, Melbourne Health
Chris Kommatas is currently the Innovation Manager & Accelerator Program Director at the Melbourne Health. He is also the founder and CEO of Amplify Health Ventures, a Melbourne-based digital health strategy and engagement company. Chris' former life included clinical roles in physical medicine and rehabilitation at a major hospital systems in NYC and Long Island as well as over 15 years in pharma/medtech commercial leadership roles at GSK, Merck, Hospira (now Pfizer) and ConvaTec across the US, UK and Asia Pacific. He began his own entrepreneurial journey in 2013 as founder of Australia's largest early-stage HealthTech startup community, Startup HealthTech. He focuses his energy building and advocating a strong, connected startup healthtech ecosystem that enables health system collaboration, maximises sunk investment in research and the realisation of latent IP.
Dr James Dromey, Chief Operating Officer, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
James is chief operating officer at MCRI, one of Australia's largest research institutes with close to 2000 researchers working across all areas of child and adolescent health. Prior to this he was General Manager – Business Development and Strategy at MCRI, where he led the development and commercialisation of a pipeline of more than 400 research projects on new drugs, devices, diagnostics and digital health technologies.
James championed MCRI's drive into digital health and has positioned the Institute as an international leader in this area. He led the development and implementation of a new model in medical research that facilitates greater collaboration and knowledge transfer across health and technology, engineering and ICT sectors.
James has over 17 years' experience in health and medical research, both as a research scientist and in technology innovation and commercialisation. Previously, James was Business Development Manager at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute where he led a number of strategic collaborations with industry partners ranging from SMEs, to top 5 international pharmaceutical and Fortune 500 companies. As a research scientist he was part of a team that developed a first-in-class vaccine for celiac disease that went on to raise over $35 million and is now in clinical trials. His work has resulted in the filing of three patent applications, two of which have been commercialised. James is currently a Non-Executive Director of GI Therapies, an unlisted spin-out from MCRI.
Nadia Miller, Melbourne Health
Senior Music Clinician, Nadia Miller, has 12 years clinical experience in cancer care and neurology and is part of the team building the Music Therapy App due for release later this year. She will present a paper co-designed with Dr Emma O'Brien OAM who is the founder and manager of Music therapy at RMH and the lead practitioner on the App Development. This presentation will focus on 'From the bedside to the App Store' - Inspiration, Evolution, Challenge's and the Unknown'
Tim Blake, Semantic Consulting
Tim is the Managing Director of Semantic Consulting, a consulting firm focused on leading digital change in healthcare. Tim is passionate about enabling engaged patients, activating carers, the use of mobile solutions in health, consumer health technology, precision medicine, consumer genomics and many other components of Digital Health that are disrupting healthcare in positive and exciting ways. He has formerly held roles as Chief Information Officer of the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services (and member of the Tasmanian Health Executive Team), Director of Rural eHealth Strategy at New South Wales Health and Strategic Advisor at Australia's National eHealth Transition Authority (NEHTA) and the Commonwealth Dept of Health.
Grace Lethlean, ANDHealth
Grace Lethlean has a proven track record in commercialisation, clinical validation and project management within both the medtech and digital health sector. She has previously held roles in the Project Management team at CSL Group (2010-2012) and has been involved in the creation of multiple medtech businesses in her role as Business Development Manager of technology commercialisation firm Grey Innovation. Grace is a co-inventor on a now ASX listed digital health technology and has been actively involved in the development of health technologies from invention, through clinical trials, to commercialisation. With degrees in both Chemical Engineering and Immunology from the University of Melbourne, Grace is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Monash University, a reviewer on the NHMRC Development granting panel and sits on the Victorian Government Advanced Manufacturing Council. Grace is passionate about digital medical technology start-ups and is a regular mentor for programs such as the Metech's Got Talent Program.
Room venue
Seminar Room 1, The Function and Convention Centre
More information
Chris Kommatas at email@example.com


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(Click for larger image)
Cray, Fred. FRED CRAY: UNTITLED ORIGINAL ARTWORK. New York City, NY: Fred Cray Studios, 2008. Other. First Edition/First Printing. 1 pages. As New.
Rare Fred Cray collectible artwork. An original artwork that the artist has produced once a year to celebrate the Holiday Season and welcome the New Year. This particular piece measures 8 X 12 inches. The piece is unique. Presents Fred Cray's "Untitled Original Artwork", one of a Series of unique pieces that he makes once a year, the work of art as thoughtful gesture. The art is Surrealist-inspired, with a touch of Symbolism, and consists of two juxtaposed "found" items that are pasted on hand-cut paper board: A New York Lottery ticket (which symbolizes the ultimate good luck-wish for the New Year) and a gauzy female nude image (which symbolizes the ultimate mystery and beauty of art and life itself). His dedication is hand-written at the back. In this truly wonderful Series, Cray uses the juxtaposition of photographs, the most easily reproducible medium, to make something unique, literally one-of-a-kind. Despite its reproducible character, the photograph does not diminish or undermine Cray's ability to create a unique work of art that reflects his personal vision. He reminds us that the most serious and ambitious contemporary art is increasingly more, not less, photographically-based. An esoteric, somewhat eccentric figure, Cray keeps American Surrealism and the very idea of art alive in our time, which desperately needs it. Fred Cray has not received the kind of recognition that he deserves because his art is quirkily personal. But he is The Real Thing: Thoughtful yet intuitive, and deeply moving. As such, he is an anomaly in the midst of industrial-scale, manufactured art. His time will come because it is on his side. An absolute "must-have" artwork for Fred Cray collectors. This 8 X 12 inch original artwork is very prominently and beautifully signed and inscribed in pencil on verso by the artist: "Hope you're well. Happy Holidays as always. Love, Fred Cray". The recipient is named, an important figure in the art photography world. This is the only such artwork available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. A rare signed piece thus. 1 original artwork. One of the most brilliant American artists of our time. A collectible piece. (SEE ALSO OTHER FRED CRAY TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). $100.00


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SSENSE : Kali Uchis' Climb Towards Paradise
Interview and Styling: Nazanin Shahnavaz
Photography: Sandy Kim
High-up on a Los Angeles rooftop, Kali Uchis appears fearless. Eyes shut, she gently leans back and dangles her shoulders over the building's edge as her long hair spills over the city below. She is unhurried and relaxed. A breeze kisses her face and reminds her of the mountains of her childhood, where she would climb to the highest point in the dead of night. The 22-year-old artist from Colombia-via-Virginia has captivated audiences with her soul-inflected pop since her debut mixtape. 2012's Drunken Babble ushered her into the music industry and made possible collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Tyler, The Creator, along with a host of other famous voices. Her music has now reached every corner of the globe, although not without costs. From her childhood in Colombia, to her years of early musical experimentation in L.A., Kali Uchis' path to success has been defined by a maelstrom of challenges—culture shock, authority clash, family struggle, shit-talking exes. All of this has led the singer to establish herself within the pop world on her own unique terms. Shaded under a thicket of flowers, the singer-songwriter discusses how themes of burning love, the frailty of human endeavor, and the transience of worldly things, have informed all of her work.
Nazanin Shahnavaz: When people ask you where you are from, what do you say?
Kali Uchis: I say Colombian and American. Technically, I'm a dual citizen and I grew up in both places. I don't feel directly affiliated with one more than the other, so I say both.
How do you feel when people ask you that? Is it any of their business?
I mean, I did it to myself. I'm so proud of where I come from that I've always had my roots at the forefront of my identity. I've always said "I'm Colombian. I love my country. I love my city. I love my family." It's always been a big part of me.
What are your childhood memories of Colombia?
Sudden downpours of rain. Warm rain, rainbows, and giant colorful butterflies. It felt like such a magical place to have a childhood. Sleeping on the roof with my cousins, under the stars. Going to the farm where we could ride horses and be friends with the animals, or milk cows. Then you could be in the city and you could go to the coast, and you could go to Cali or Barranquilla, or to the islands and shit. I remember long car rides in my Dad's Wrangler, we would drive all the way up the mountain in the middle of the night. It would be totally pitch black. It was fun, but I remember trusting my dad with my life. I feel like you can have so many different experiences in Colombia, even though it's a country that is so much smaller than the United States.
And how did that compare to adolescence in Virginia?
Virginia felt less magical. I no longer had the unpredictable weather, I no longer had the nature. I no longer had my mountain-top swing where my feet would dangle 300ft above the river beneath me. But, I still had family with me. In Colombia, I grew up with my cousins, uncles, and aunts. We all lived in the same house. When I went to Virginia, it was similar. My dad was bringing people over from Colombia and it was kind of like an immigrant house. It was like, "Come here first, get on your feet, and then find somewhere to live." As I got older, a lot of my family ended up moving back to Colombia, including my parents. After they left, I started to feel lonely, and that's when I moved to L.A.
"I wouldn't want to be in L.A. trying to make Latin music with a German guy or something."
When you feel homesick, where do you feel homesick for?
It's hard! When I go back to Virginia most of the places that I experienced as a child are torn-down and gentrified. They've built big houses where little houses used to be. It's not the same experience. It doesn't feel like the Virginia I grew up in. For the most part, I just go back to Colombia to see my parents.
I'm actually going at the end of August to visit and shoot a couple of videos. I'm coming out with a lot more Latin songs, and I think it's important to spend more time with the community there. In the same way, I came to L.A. for a couple years to be around like-minded people and make music. All the people I was working with at the time on the album were people that happened to be in L.A. Now, I'm trying to focus more on Latin music, so it's vital for me to immerse myself in Latino culture. I wouldn't want to be in L.A. trying to make Latin music with a German guy or something.
Describe yourself as a teenager—what were you into?
I struggled a lot with authority figures.
I can imagine that.
I struggled with the idea of having to do something just because someone told me to. I was good at school, but I never wanted to be there. I lost interest in the public-school system, and I felt like most of the teachers weren't there to teach kids, they were there to boss someone around. I got over it quickly. It felt more like a power struggle than an education. I focused more on my art classes, photography and video. Those teachers actually cared about the kids and wanted us to learn more about ourselves and what we wanted to do. I wanted to emancipate and get my GED. I wanted to grow up fast. I wanted to be on my own and do my own thing.
And what did you end up doing?
I decided to stick it out and graduate high school. But as soon as I turned 17, I left my parent's house. I had this strong sense of like, "I don't want to go to art school to learn how to make music or learn how to make videos. I want to build myself as an artist." Everyone is different, but for me the best way to learn was through experience. I was learning shit by doing it myself and figuring out how to make shit work. I always had this idea in my head that anything I decided to do, I was going to be successful at, and I just had to decide. And, I just chose this. I thought it was what would genuinely make me happiest, and I thought it was my actual purpose.
It's difficult when you're a teenager—if you don't conform you're labelled as a bad seed. You can't see much further into the future than tomorrow, and you have all these people coming at you from all these different angles, telling you what you should be doing with your life. I think the most important thing to do is have a strong sense of self, be an independent thinker, and understand that what worked for someone else may not necessarily work for you. You put yourself in a rut if you live for other people. You're not letting yourself synchronize. You're blocking yourself.
Did you always know what you wanted to be?
I think with a lot of kids that come from a difficult childhood, you imagine adulthood as this place where you can finally be free. I was just like, "I just want my own apartment, I just want my own space where no one will tell me what to do, I can do whatever I want and no one will bother me ever again." I just wanted to be free.
What did you do for fun as a teen?
When I was like 15, we just used to get drunk, sneak out of the house. We were the worst kids. I used to lie so much to my parents. It was terrible. We'd go to college parties because we thought we were cool being 15-year-olds at a college party, hanging out with older guys, hanging out with gang bangers and shit! Hanging out with gang members, female gangs. I used to think that was really cool, and just kind of being a mess. What else did I do? I did a lot of bad shit when I was little, I was such a little brat.
Was self-image something you thought about at that age?
I didn't really start thinking about beauty until I started becoming more of a woman. Now, if I look at a picture of myself from when I was younger, I'll be like, "Oh my god." You know how you always do, like, "What the fuck was I thinking?" It was cute, though. I didn't wear makeup. I was very tomboy, then I was very punk-rock. I went through a chola phase. I used to box-dye and cut my own hair, it was always different shades of blonde because I didn't know how to match tones. I used to do press-on nails from CVS and they would always be coming off. I was that cashier with my press-on nails that would come off in your bag when I was bagging groceries. I just didn't want to waste money on these things. I was like, "Nail salon, $25? Fuck no." I always thought that was so extra, like, "Who the hell goes to the hair salon? Who the hell goes to the nail salon? I can do that shit myself for free." It seemed so indulgent. Even now, I still cut my own hair, my friend dyes it—except I don't use box dyes anymore. And I got my nails done today!
"I was that cashier with my press-on nails that would come off in your bag when I was bagging groceries."
What makes someone beautiful?
For me the most beautiful thing about people is humor. I used to think confidence, because a lot of people would tell me confidence is the most beautiful thing a woman can have. For a long time, I tried to overcompensate with confidence, because I wasn't secure in myself. I thought as long as I own it, then whatever. And there's truth to that, but I also find shy people beautiful and people that aren't so confident beautiful, too. I also think imperfections are beautiful. A lot of people are starting to look the same with all the procedures they're getting, they are losing their unique qualities. Uniqueness is the most beautiful thing.
Are you a confident woman now?
I would like to say I am.
Is confidence something that grows as you mature?
When I was growing up and life was shitty, my friends would be like, "You're so strong, you're so strong," because when I would go through something I would never show it. A lot of fucked up things happened to me and my family that none of my friends in Virginia had even heard of. They'd be like, "Wow, you're a survivor," and I'd be like, "What are these bitches talking about?" It took a lot of time to be able to reflect on that period, but it helped me understand that no matter what I'm going through, everything is fleeting and momentary. Another thing that helped me find strength was to imagine my life as a movie. I would say to myself, "This is just the shitty part in the movie, every movie has that moment where everything goes to shit and everything is so terrible, and this just means something better is around the corner." This helped me persevere a lot. I was able to be like, "I'm still in the movie and I'm still me. I'm the main character, and as long as I'm still here, I have an opportunity to have a better life someday."
What was the shit that was going down with you and your family?
It was a lot of really personal things happening at once, and over time. I don't think they would like me to talk about it.
You've got a new album coming out this year. I understand that it was like a two-year process putting it together. Is the album a snapshot of that period of your life?
Everything I write is autobiographical, so every song I wrote is about a different experience I had—not even within those last two years of my life, but something I was reflecting on, maybe from my childhood or something that resonated so deeply that I felt the need to make a song about it. I can go from a heartbreak song, to a song about the oppression of working class people, to a song about escaping a life as an involuntarily sex worker.
Why do these topics resonate with you?
A lot of it just came from my experiences and my upbringing—the things I witnessed people doing, the things people were forced to do for money. Life is so fleeting, but there are people where all that matters to them is this inconceivable thing, this piece of paper that can get you whatever you want with, if you have enough of it. It's so important to people. They would slave their lives away, doing things they hate, for a guy that has his feet up on the desk. The guy who exploits others to make money, who lets people work for minimum wage while he collects the thousands and thousands of dollars that they deserve. Is this what life is about? Is this what society is about? Doing what I'm doing now, I knew I was taking the risk of potentially being hungry and having to do things I didn't necessarily want to do for money. But I made things work in whatever capacity I could. I feel like that is an important discussion to have.
"As an artist, in order to help people heal, we have to bare our own truths and bare our own pain into the music."
Some people say that suffering is necessary to make great art. Do you think that's true?
From my last project, the songs that resonated most with people were the songs that came from a place of sadness. "Loner" is about being used like a cigarette. Someone needs you, uses you, and then tosses you away. The idea was that I would rather be alone than used as an object in someone's life. And "Riding Around," that came from a really hurtful time. I had already started making music and I was in a relationship with someone that was popular in the city. We had a bad split, and he was making things up about me. I felt like I was being attacked by my peers and by people who didn't know me and didn't know what happened. I wrote the song as a way of getting that off my chest. Both of those songs came from times of hurt and, at the end of the day, music is intended to help people heal. As artists, in order to help people heal, we have to bare our own truths and bare our own pain in the music. There are so many songs I've listened to where I was able to cry, and get shit out of my system, and without those songs I wouldn't have been able to.
What songs do you listen to when you cry?
I wouldn't want to share those. I don't want you to listen to them and be like, "this is what she cries to."
What does your paradise look like?
For a long time, one of my long-term goals was to buy an island and to create a new civilization. I understand realistically it would take a lot of money. Islands aren't necessarily that expensive, but then I'm going to need Wi-Fi out there, and an airport in case I need to leave for any reason. I started thinking about all the logistics. On this island, anyone who was nasty or committed a crime wouldn't be put in prison—there would be no jail—but we would rehabilitate them and teach them how to be better people. There wouldn't be greed because we would all be rich. I would have so much money I'd fund everyone in the town and they would all have comfort. Anyone that seemed like they weren't going to fit in our society, which will be made up of people with good energy and good intentions, we would all decide to kick off the island. It would just be as simple as that.


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These past few weeks have been something of a mission for me. I was walking home one day when, lo and behold, there was a big white truck sitting in a parking lot. There were quite a few people lining up in front of said truck and … getting food? What sorcery is this? Looks like I stumbled upon a fabled food truck. I've heard so much about them, but always in other cities. Places like San Diego and Los Angeles. I had never seen one in real life before, yet here it was. Naturally, I got in line and from that first bite and conversation, I was hooked. Cue adventure time.
Food Cabbie // @FoodCabbie // Facebook
Food Cabbie has been around for about 5 months now, with the chef (a very nice man!) coming from California and bringing with him American cuisine with a touch of Mexican flair. They have different sandwich specials each day, each sounding taster and tastier than the last. I can't believe that I've been living a block away, yes, ONE block, and I had never seen this place until last week. Of course, to make amends, I visited them twice last week and will probably go tomorrow too. That philly cheese steak is looking extra tempting. Food Cabbie is parked on Queen St. E between Shuter and Dalhousie from Monday-Friday 11-5!
The Ortega Cheeseburger // $6.50
Pico de gallo (my weakness), sour cream, lettuce, and secret burger sauce. The description alone is what intrigued me, I mean, who has ever put sour cream on a burger? Worth a shot. The burger was nice and juicy, basically leaking into my mouth (this is a good thing, people!). It was nice, tart, and fresh with the bun lightly toasted but soft. Filled me up quite nicely, too!
The Carne Asada Burrito // $6
Smoky grilled steak with refried beans and tomatos. It's like they channelled my soul when creating this menu. I'm a sucker for refried beans. And steak. And burrito. A proper burrito where they grill the outside as well! I can't say how many places I've been to where the tortilla is just flimsy and doughy, completely ruins the whole integrity of my meal. But this, this was amazing. Enjoy my gross photo of a half eaten burrito and cry if you haven't had a Food Cabbie burrito! Yum. :)
Caplansky's Deli Truck // @CaplanskyTruck // Website
Right next-door to the Food Cabbie is where Thunderin' Thelma is parked. Yes, the truck's name is Thunderin' Thelma, named after the owner's Nana, which I think means grandmother. Caplansky's Deli was featured in Toronto Life's April 2012 issue along with Food Cabbie and 8 other GTA-serving mobile eateries. As the chalk-based menu suggests, their items change up every so often with items such as the Brisket and Smoked Meat being staple.
When you see something called Maple Beef-Bacon Donuts, you don't just walk away. You look the man in the window in the eyes, nut up, and order these strange little creatures. At about a dollar each, depending on how many you buy, you can't really go wrong. Unless you have blood suger problems, in which case you do what you do. The outside was nice and crispy while the inside was a bit doughy. It does give you a satisfying bite though. These balls were dense and bacon-y and sweet, dripping in a thick maple syrup. It reminded me of something like baklava and that really sweet syrupy indian dessert. Different, strange, not bad. Definitely couldn't eat more to 3 by myself.
BBQ Brisket Sandwich // $7
Let's talk about this amazing sandwich for a second. Or five. Or forever. First of all, onion bun. AMAZING. Secondly, the brisket was nice and soft. Savoury and smokey. Not too sweet as some BBQ sandwiches tend to be. So much meat on one sandwich that it's incredibly satisfying. What sets this sandwich apart from others for me? The super crunchy and crispy deep fried onions sitting there between the meat and the bun. Such a nice contrast between the softness of the bun and the meatiness of the brisket. So so so yummy. An incredibly dangerous sandwich. Guaranteed if you try this you'll be coming back for more and more and more.
With my appetite whet by these two food trucks, when I heard about the FoodTruckEats pop-up in Liberty Village, I just had to be there. It rained mighty hard in the morning but after my meeting, I trekked out the with my umbrella, and my hole-y flats, and my hungry hungry belly. 3 food trucks were featured that day for three hours between 11AM and 2PM: Caplansky's Deli, Blue Donkey Streatery, and
El Gastronomo Vagabundo // @ElGastronomo // Website
Unfortunately, my meeting ran late so I only had time to stand in line for one truck, and I'm so glad I chose this one. Although Blue Donkey is supposed to be mind-blowing, El Gastronomo's feature was something I just couldn't turn down. There were tons of people standing in line and waiting for food, and the air was electric. Or it might have just been me, but the rain had temporarily let up, food smells are wafting up in the air, the excitement was building up. I. Was. PUMPED. BRING IT ON.
Biltong Belly Tacos // 2 for $8
Twice-cooked "Biltong" pork belly, jalapeno aioli, pickled daikon on corn tortillas. Is your belly crying yet? Because it should be. These things were amazing. I don't think the above photo does it much justice because in my eyes, it looked like this. I'm pretty sure I heard an angelic choir singing somewhere. I was just going to take it on the streetcar and eat it, but no, I was too excited. Who cares if I was late for work, this was clearly more important, and it was so worth it. I sprinkled lime juice along the tacos and dug in. The pork, oh gosh the pork. Crispy. Tender. Not fatty like other servings of pork belly. Seasoned with this mysterious biltong pixie dust. I'm pretty sure I looked insane as I sat down by myself snarfing these down with a weird smile on my face. But then it was gone. How did these two tacos go by so fast? I don't know. It was simultaneously the best moment of my life as well as the worst. Gone so fast. I was so tempted to go grab another one, but we all know where that leads us. Sitting curbside, constantly refreshing twitter, clutching onto the food truck's bumper begging for more, draining our bank accounts, "Will dance for El Gastronomo." Right, guys? Heh… heh..
Seriously. Amazing.
Definitely not my last food truck experience. These last few weeks have been amazing, and it's just the beginning. I plan to try every last one of the GTA food trucks.
- Gorilla Cheese
- Cupcake Diner
- Toasted Tangerine
- Bonfire Catering
- Blue Donkey Streatery
- Smoke's Poutinerie
- Twirlee's Ice Cream
- Shriner's Creek Kettle Popcorn
From what I glean, there is a bit of struggle in the city of Toronto whereby food trucks are not allowed to operate on pay-to-pay parking lots for more than 10 minutes to sell food even if they've bought all the necessary permits, and adhere to regulations that are even more strict than restaurants. So! Go and sign this petition so that Toronto can have more of this wonderful food, all the time! :)


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It always amazes me how every group of first graders I teach is different. Yes, there are some things that are the same about all first graders. They are still very little, they are excited about learning new things, there is a huge range with regard to first grade reading abilities, they still cry in first grade, and they love when their teacher acts silly. All of those things tend to hold true with each first grade class I teach. However, there are so many other things that make each group of first graders uniquely different from the previous groups. My class this year is no exception. There are so many things that amaze me about my current group of first graders. I know what you're thinking. Of course they are different from your last group because each child is different. When you have a different group of kids you have a completely different classroom. Yes, I can't argue with that. However, it's more than that. This group of kids...this group of personalities that has been put together to make up my wonderful classroom, has a very different vibe.
One of the things that I love about young learners is their excitement. My current group of first graders gets excited about everything, even little things. Little things, like Cougar Paw stickers, pleases them. They beam with pride when they are recognized for working hard or helping a friend. Just the simple gesture of sticking a tiny Cougar Paw on a hand is enough. This class also loves, loves, loves to dance and sing. During morning meeting they happily sing songs/poems for our fluency practice. They enjoy creating hand movements to go along with the songs. They even sing songs that they remember from previous weeks. When we add new poems/songs each Friday to our Poetry Notebooks you find many flipping back through the pages to read or sing their favorite poems and songs.
One of the best things I noticed about this group is how much they love to work on their blogs. They love connecting with other first grades in our classroom and from around the world. They also enjoy creating new blog posts and they come of with some very creative topics. Topics like, My First Grade Chores, Walking in the Hallway, The Best Halloween, and My Favorite Story to name a few. This weekend I found myself approving 69 comments. That's a huge increase compared to last year's class. Whenever we have a short week due to a holiday break or other school closing the first thing my students want me to do is to establish a time when they can reschedule their blog day. I also have more parents and relatives commenting on their child's blog this year. Many of my first graders are even using their blogs after school and on weekend. I don't think I've ever had as much excitement about blogging as I have this year.
I have a very thoughtful group of first graders this year. I continue to get tons of "love notes" and drawings that are created especially for me. I get tons of hugs as they enter the classroom or leave for recess or at dismissal. I have kids who enjoy helping their peers with drawing bat wings because they are "bat experts" or putting away supplies for a friend who forgot to clean up after an activity, or volunteering to switch a Daily 5 choice so that a classmate would have a partner for buddy reading. I could go on and on and on. The thing is, this group of kids has a special place in my heart. It's not possible for me to have a "bad day" because every day that I have the pleasure of teaching this group of kids makes for a "very, very good day".
What's different about your group of students this year? Please leave a comment. I would love to know.


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11 December 2017
The ATTIWLTMOWOS Top 50 songs of 2017
Who doesn't like an end of year list? No-one! They tell you they don't, but inside they secretly do. So, as we approach the end of 2017, it is time for the traditional look at the best songs of 2017. The quality of the tracks this year has been outstanding, any song in this list could have easily topped it, but there can be only one. So, let's see what is the time 50 songs of 2017:
50 - Foo Fighters - Run
"Run" was the first single to be released from Concrete & Gold, which keeps up the tradition that the Foo's have of releasing the best song from the album first! It's your standard stadium anthem that has become their forte, it's not a massive shift in style, but it's still as catchy as the common cold!
49 - Erasure - Love You To The Sky
With the sound of pounding drums, Messrs Bell & Clark start this album with a song about being in a solid relationship and love is at the top of the agenda. It is a powerful, joyous pop song that has every trapping of their old-school sound, mixed in with modern synths and a sense of fun which is lacking in a lot of music at the moment. Is it a deep song, no; but is that what a pop song should be, a little flippant number that sends your heart racing, digging into your head for hours afterwards and just bring sunshine in the world by just existing!
48 - The Afghan Whigs - To The Floor
Well, they do like to add drama to the proceedings, you have to give them that. Ending this album with a flourish, The Afghan Whigs ponder the need to crash and burn to grow strong once again. Starting with a dramatic clash of sound, slowing it down slightly and then building upwards with a pace as slow as a funeral march and as poetic as a Shakespearian sonnet. It certainly ends In Spades in flames and thunder, the perfect way to end an Afghan Whigs album in my opinion.
47 - Son of Dave - Six Weeks
The start of "Six Weeks" is what I am used to with Son of Dave, just one man, his harmonicas and very basic percussion. But it doesn't last, and the full band come in, but there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it sounds great, this song feels like it is designed for the road, it is a journeyman's song and it is one of the defining moments of this record. In fact, it's my favourite song on Music for Cop Shows this album, it's a brilliant number!
46 - Beck - Square One
"Square One" is the penultimate song on Colors, a song which transcendence the overall empty feeling of the album. It reminds me a lot of Ben Folds at his most outlandish, there is a humour to the song that has sorely been missing from this record. Everything comes together, production, music, performance and the result is head and shoulders above everything else on the album. Beck has always been able to do pop, this is proof positive of that.
45 - Biters - Let It Roll
It is another back to basics rock & roll anthem, it has all the right ingredients to be an instant classic in their live set. A riff that keeps on giving, a solo that will have people wishing they can play the guitar, a song that is designed for the rock dance floor and it will have people hitting the peddle when it comes on it the car. I love this sort of song, it just gets in your head and it opens The Future Ain't What It Used To Be in style.
44 - Cloakroom - Concrete Gallery
Taken from the album Time Well, "Concrete Gallery" is a slow, sludge-like, indie song that sounds as if My Bloody Valentine managed to get Bob Mould to slow down for a second and jam with them. Coming in at over six minutes in length, it will sort out the casual fans from the fanatics. But I have a feeling that this band don't worry about issues like this, they just worry about creating sonic noise and that's exactly what they deliver!
43 - alt-J - Deadcrush
alt-J have always been able to write a fantastic song or two, their album might sometimes be sketchy, but they always have at least one track that snares my interest. "Deadcrush" is taken from their third album, RELAXER, which is their finest work so far. With its art-house/indie hybrid, it really has no right being such an earworm, but it has a hypnotic effect, one which you will want to repeat many times over.
42 - METZ - Drained Lake
"Drained Lake" can only be described as a force of nature, it's a whirlwind of a song that smashes straight out of your speakers and into your heart. Taken from the album Strange Peace, "Drained Lake" is a song that highlights all the positives of METZ, their power, their passion and their ability to sound incredibly pissed off.
41 - William the Conqueror - In My Dreams
With the wounded howl of a man in pain and drowning in sorrow, 'In My Dreams' starts off Proud Disturber of the Peace in fine form. It is an apprehensive and solid country/rock number which has a dark noir tale of self-destruction, the vocals are hypnotic and the relentless pace of the music is stunning as well. There is a mixture of style here, a little bit of post-grunge, a little country, a lot of rock attitude and a confidence that cannot be measured. It is unlike anything I have heard from this (or any other) genre in many moons, it is definitely one of the best pieces of music in 2017, what a stunning opener.
40 - wecamefromwolves - The Peak Beneath The Sea
Starting with a fade in, they start "The Peak Beneath The Sea" in strong style as they deal with the subject of wanting to reach safety and trying to access the refuge that all people seek when everything becomes too much. It is a strong song, the hook in the chorus is catchy, the performance is as good, perhaps a bit better than their previous material and it makes you want to hear further songs from the band. It still sounds like them, but with improvements on each level that comes from experience and working together.
39 - OTHERKIN - Razorhead
Dublin based OTHERKIN are a band you overlook at your peril, "Razorhead" is taken from the album OK, which was released in September this year. OTHERKIN sound like the snot-nosed younger brother of The Strokes, with a singer who gives a shit. They have attitude, a punk rock leaning to their sound and "Razorhead" sees them in full flight.
38 - Benjamin Booker - Believe
Benjamin Booker delivers more gospel-blues infusion with "Believe", exploring the themes of inequality and racism further and sounding both hopeful and defeated in equal measure. It is a great number, one of the most powerful of the album with its heartbreaking message and timeless sound. It needs to be played daily, it needs to have its message heard far and wide, as it makes the heart heavy that there are people in the world for who this situation is a daily reality. One of the most powerful songs on Witness, stunning.
37 - Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - French Press
"French Press" is the title track from the latest EP released by Austrailian indie rockier, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. With a repetitive riff that gets under your skin, "French Press" will bring to mind feelings of summer, endless possibilities and the anticipation of things to come.
36 - Deaf Havana - Fever
"Fever" is taken from the album All Those Countless Nights, it chronicles those early days of a relationship when love is new and exciting. With a modern rock sound, Deaf Havana has been deservingly receiving praise for their work, with this being the highlight of their recent release.
35 - Quicksand - Cosmonauts
It's great to have Quicksand back, it's even better that Interiors is a brilliant album. "Cosmonauts" is a slow-Post-Hardcore number, with an effective riff that latches onto you. It's not the most instant song on the album, but it's the one that you will keep coming back to.
34 - Goldfinger - A Million Miles
Now that is how to start a Ska Punk album! An explosive start, straight out of the blocks for Goldfinger with 'A Million Miles' on their album The Knife, as they're in the process of musing the passing of time, without being able to hold back the emotional turmoil that has built up over the years. It is full of energy, it has a great riff and a chorus that is a true earworm.
33 - Wild Pink - Great Apes
'Great Apes' is the first track proper on Wild Pink and they come across as the love child of Jonah Matranga and the Weakerthans, after one of them had an affair with Sparklehorse. It is the blend of alternative rock and emo that would have been huge back in the late 1990's but is still sounding very solid in the here and now. It has a massive hook which acts as a chorus that sticks in your head, some random lyrics that will mean something to some people, and just sound like nice words to others, all packaged in a stomping song that will ignite a room in unison.
32 - The Mountain Goats - Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back to Leeds
"Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back to Leeds" shouldn't work, it has no right to sound as good as it sounds, but The Mountain Goats are a unique band, who somehow manage to take something that sound be either twee or ignored, and make it sound touching, nostalgic, slightly sad but all done in good humour. Once you hear it, you'll want to listen to it again.
31 - The Flatliners - Nicotine Lips
The theme of self-destruction is brought into the middle of the stage with 'Nicotine Lips', once more with that sense that nothing is going to stop this car crash from happening. It has one of the best chorus hooks I have heard in 2017, it explodes out of the blocks and makes me want to jump around the room with no cares and a freedom that seems to be in contrast or conflict with the actual content of the song. I love that, the song has a message and it still gives a totally different reaction - what a tune.
30 - InHeaven - Regeneration
How can one band have two stone-cold classics on one album? It hardly seems fair in some ways, but that is how the cookie crumbles. "Regeneration" is a song youthful disenchantment, isolation and the desire to escape reality. The powerful words of this song would be redundant without the music to back them up, something that InHeaven do not have to worry about. It is a great song, the highlight of the album as it has the power to make thousands of people losing themselves for a moment, where they will not feel alone because of the unity of this song.
29 - Lucky Malice - Cry Wolf
"Cry Wolf" blasts out of your speakers as a strange hybrid, mixing the frantic nature of Discharge, a hint of Echobelly meets Babes in Toyland to the vocals and then some Wildhearts/Backyard Babies vibes as well, with a large cut of hardcore to the mix as well. It is a smash 'n' grab number, a short, sharp kick to your private parts and it is better than any pop-punk out there. It's a brilliant opening, one that grabs your attention from the beginning and there is so much attitude, what is there not to love here?
28 - Kelly Lee Owens - Bird
"Bird" kicks off the second half of Kelly Lee Owens in style, it's a chill-out anthem in waiting and will be high in my own personal song of the year list. It has a lovely little repetitive chime running through the song, once again bringing the organic feeling back to the album, the energy pitches and wanes in the right places here, creating one of the best pieces of electronica in 2017, simple and delightful.
27 - Electric Guest - Zero
"Zero" could have been made in the 1980's, it's so retro that it hurts. You're taken to a world of pain and invisibility, where nothing is going to work and existence is a dull shade of grey. But those words are performed over a fantastic piece of music, a stirring piece that lifts the spirits as you sing in unison with the band. It's worth listening to Plural just for this song alone.
26 - The Charlatans - Different Days
"Different Days" is a song that reflects on a failing relationship and how things can change very quickly, all played out on one of those numbers that give a vibe like sunshine coming through a window in a dusty room. Starting with a foreign accent (apologies, I am useless when it comes to languages that are not English and I would not want to cause offense by stating it was 'X' language), this song features backing vocals from Sharon Horgan, it has a beautiful hook in the chorus and it just keeps on give with each spin of the track. This song is a driving song, one that will make miles pass in minutes and journeys will feel shorter whilst it is playing. It is a stunning song, one that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and it sounds glorious!
25 - T.S.O.L. - Sometimes
T.S.O.L. are a band who seem to have been around forever, there is something eternal about them and their style of punk and "Sometimes" is their strongest song on The Trigger Complex. It's a short, sharp, kick in the balls, with more energy that one song really requires. But I'm glad they used that energy on this song, so simple and brilliant posed.
24 - Sparks - Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)
The video for "Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" is a still-animation where the Sparks are chasing a bird through Paris, but the bird ends up capturing them in a cage and flying away. Musically this is a moody piece, one that is full of drama and a vocal performance that gives the chills that only Russell Mael can provide. This is one of those moments where a song hits all the right spots instantly, it is an instant hit from the hands of Ron and Russell, definitely one of the best songs I have heard so far in the second half of 2017.
23 - Champs - The Garden Is Overgrown
Whilst we await another album from the Isle of Wight natives, Champs decided to release "The Garden Is Overgrown" as a reminder of what we're all missing. This piece of synth-pop genius is a little gem in the modern world of pop, it also makes you yearn for more new music by the Champs, hopefully, they will release something sooner rather than later.
22 - Danko Jones - My Little R'n'R
"My Little R'n'R" is a typical Rock song, one that compares a lover to the soul of Rock 'n' Roll, with this lady having the right attitude for him, one that Mr Jones cannot help but submit to. It's a cheeky rock song, but aren't all rock numbers to a certain degree? The same could be said about all Pop numbers, Indie numbers, Deep-House numbers, and so on and so forth. It has that magic factor, the special something that makes it fun and special. When a song sounds as good as this, all that matters is the passion behind the performance and the fact that it is one of the best songs on this album. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is one of the best songs of 2017.
21 - A New Nowhere - You and Me
A New Nowhere have been creating some waves in Newcastle, and it all started with this song. "You and ME is a post-Grunge, melodic alternative rock number with a good vocal delivery, decent lyrics and a great riff (as well as a good little solo as well). If I had to draw comparisons I would go for a mixture of Blameless, Kerbdog and The Virginmarys; all of whom have released some of my favourite songs over the years. A New Nowhere are sure to do the same in the years to come.
20 - Laura Marling - Nothing, Not Nearly
'Nothing, Not Nearly' is a stunning song on the below average Semper Femina, my deity, what a tune we have here! A love song that is full of the pitfalls, traps and endings, the quality of her songwriting comes out on this song. From the first moment, I heard it, I could hear the talent behind the song, time and effort which went into creating the song. The lyrics feel as if they were written in a different age, with music that has such soul, it has huge gaps that add to the sound, and it always feels like it is going to crash at any moment. But it is held together with a talent and passion, something which is not taught, it can only come naturally and it ends the song (and album) with the door being closed, signifying that this period of her life is over.
19 - Marmozets - Play
Taken from their forthcoming album Knowing What You Know Now, "Play" has been a huge success all around the world. It's been used as a theme song for a WWE:NXT Pay Per View, mainly due to its fantastic energy of the band. It's a stone-cold beast of a track, one that you will not forget easily, not that you would want to forget it at all.
18 - Ginger Wildheart - Don't Say Goodbye
Oh, my deity, this is a heartbreak and that is in this sea of emotional torrents that we find Ginger! With a full band in the background, the words are sung with a gentle humanity and grace that reflects the fragile state of the story. Parting is a hard thing to do and this song is about leaving a loved one behind when you must be elsewhere. Being a long distant parent must be a hard thing to do, I can only imagine how it must feel, but this song gives some light to how it is for the person who is away. At first, I preferred 'My Old Friend The Blues', but I ended up falling under its gentle charms, this is a real tearjerker.
17 - The War on Drugs - Strange Thing
"Strangest Thing" is a song about how the world is a hard place, how a new direction is required to escape the limbo of existence. It starts off at a plodding pace and I was in fear that I was going to fall asleep. But then the chorus hook kicks in around the two minutes forty-second point, at this point, I almost had an accident. The build from that point is nothing short of dramatic, full of beautiful passages and heart-breaking moments of tender contemplation. When a song can make that sort of instant connection, it transcends everything else that has come before it and this is one of those moments for TWoD. It is a beautifully crafted number, one which requires patience and gives some much in return.
16 - Chris Catalyst - Wake Me Up on Monday
"Wake Me Up on Monday" is the nearest that Chris Catalyst comes to having a Big Starr/Teenage Fanclub Power Pop/Rock number on Life Is Often Brilliant. It just brings a sense of sunshine to my world each time it's played, even though Monday's can be the most hated of days to some people. But Mr Catalyst has created a joyful number here, with a great little solo in the middle and a chorus that should come with a health warning, as it is so catchy!
15 - L.A. Spring - Heart & Soul
With 'Heart And Soul', L.A. Spring wisely decided not made a carbon copy of 'Passerby', a practice of trying to re-create their first single which is a trend that a lot of bands seem to do these days. However, they have not created a song that is a thousand miles away from that first song. The music of this melancholy number sounds like it is specifically composed for the dark hours after a night out and you are talking about everything and nothing at the same time. It is the small conversations of the twilight that come together for me on this sound. The party has been going on and the party is ending, the club is closing and people are having to move on. It could have been written about the recent closure of Fabric or any other venue that you can care to think about in the UK and abroad. It turned out to be their swansong, but what a way to go.
14 - Future Island - Cave
Let's get this out of the way - "Cave" is a great song, steady beat, mid-paced in style, striking vocals and a very good hook towards the end of the song. The main difference comes in the chorus which has a slight difference and acts as a passionate call for non-believers, but apart from that it is business as usual with this indictment of God/The Gods/Is anyone out there. I really, but I have no illusions that I am listening to a song that sounds the exact same as everything on The Far Field, underneath its top layer of synth and demanding, harrowing vocals.
13 - Young Fathers - Only God Knows (Feat. Leith Congregational Choir)
The second song from Young Fathers the T2: Trainspotting OST, it's a brand new piece from this Scottish collective and by deity it is glorious. It is attacking, it is biting, the choir adds a layer of beauty to the sound, they have not blunted their sound to fit in; what this shows is that the band are already expanding how they sound and it is just as important a song as 'Shame' was on 'White Men Are Black Men Too', it is so frantic and it sounds so important.
12 - Mew - Candy Pieces All Smeared Out
I truly thought this was going to be my top song of the year, right up to the point when I started to get the list together. Starting with a heavy guitar opening, you are introduced to another song that is heavy on nostalgia and deals with the different aspects of a person's personality, being happy in someone's arms, the burden of love and how everything can be all of this and nothing at the same time. Mew love to delve into those murky waters and create a song that has so many different things happening, but on 'Candy Pieces All Smeared Out' they have really outdone themselves. This is one of the best songs I have heard in 2017, it has truly eclipsed anything else out there in terms of instant reaction, sound, passion and the ability to make me smile, no matter what mood I am in. It is sunshine in musical form, it is summer with notes, it is a fantastic song that will have crowds jumping in unison and should make the world a happier place by just existing.
11 - Maxïmo Park - What Equals Love
"What Equals Love" is a song could be read in many different ways. This song could be about a failed relationship, it could be a song that contains a political message in the mix, it could just a simple Indie Disco hit. What I can confirm is that it has an 80's vibe to the music (don't let that put you off) and bring the fun along with the message (whatever that may be). I am really enjoying this song as it works on so many different levels, it is such a fucking joy.
10 - Ghost Signals - Start Families/Avoid Hip Parties
The second single from Ghost Signals is one of those times when you truly hear a band take a leap forward, where they step up a level and move onto something new. Coming across as a cross between The Cure, New Order and The War of Drugs, Ghost Signals has upped their collective game on "Start Families/Avoid Hip Parties", a song that chronicles the change in people's lives as they start to drift away from the night's out and towards family life. I look forward to hearing more songs from them, as this song is amazing.
09 - The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets - Archnotopia
'Arachnotopia' is another horror punk number, this time it is all about spiders taking over the planet and making it a web-paradise for all of the arachnoids everywhere! It is silly, a little childish and I love it so much! It has a simple riff that goes the song and it is a catchy as a web in the face first thing in the morning. I love the way it sounds, it is so simple and effective that it is sort of surprising that it has not be created before the Dukes of Alhazred.
08 - Dunes - Love from Below
"Love from Below" is quite possibly one of my favourite songs in the last few years, just because it has that unnatural ability to be stuck in your head for weeks on end. Once it has started to be played in my house, it must be played to the end – no questions on that one. Originally released as a single demo, "Love from Below", the riff is incredibly catchy and sounds absolutely amazing. It is such a great song, that it will have Josh Homme looking to see if he wrote it himself when he catches wind of it.
07 - Cattle - Fears & Hesitation
To begin with, "Fears & Hesitation" begins with the same sort of music that started "Caring" and "Acrylic", which upon first listen was feeling like a bit of a rut, to be honest. Nothing wrong with the style, just a tad repetitive. However, around the one minute, thirty-four mark, everything start to go quiet and reverb; you are awaiting the explosion and when they drop, it feels like you are in the middle of swirling pit of noise. The riff is so good, I am not sure why it has not been created before, but I am so glad that it exists in this form – without a doubt, the best song on Nature's Champion.
06 - The NX - Swingers & Roundabouts
(Here is my review which was taken from an article published on Bearded Gentlemen Music) The NX are another Newcastle band who are currently making waves when this single was first released, it made number two in the UK iTunes rock charts. That is really good for a band who are doing all the work by themselves, they are truly making an effort with this release. The sound is about alternative sexual lifestyles, so their first version of the video was released on Porntube. They have released an office-friendly version of the video as well, which is probably just as well as the other video is the sort that might get your fired! Musically, it is a swirling hardcore punk mix that sounds like it will start a fight in an empty room, the hooks are absolutely fantastic and it has a manic personality. If you want to hear your next hardcore punk legends, look no further!
05 - Dropkick Murphys - I Had A Hat
"I Had A Hat" is a song that sounds like a fight is forming from the opening chord and the party is happening as the fists are flying at a wake, a bar and everywhere else until the "hat" is returned to its rightful owner. When the band are making this sort of song, it showcases their strengths for me; anarchic, mad as a box of frogs, full of energy and it could start a party by itself. They have other facets, but this is the one which works the best for me.
04 - Idles - Mother
"Mother" is quite possibly the strongest song on their album Brutalism, a song that has some thought-provoking lyrics; work conditions for females, scaring Tories (love those lyrics), knowledge and how to use it. The bite to the vocals will knock holes in walls, the bass line is pumping, and the guitars sound as if they are coming from the depths of the void. Its a really towering song, one which you need to hear as soon as possible.
03 - Nadine Shah - Holiday Destination
Oh, my deity, "Holiday Destination" really did make a late bid for being the song of the year (and it almost won it). It's a song about how the world is slowly but surely, turning into a fucked-up place with locals being pushed out, holidaymakers taking over the world and refugees being found in the water. Musically, this is a subtle number with a huge bass sound, Ms Shah's vocals are enthralling on this number. It's one of the best songs of 2017, and we are only two numbers into this album.
02 - Bootsy Collins - Hot Saucer (feat. Musiq Soulchild & Big Daddy Kane)
"Hot Saucer" is taken from the album World Wide Funk, it's one of many songs on that album which is about sex, love and every rude word has been replaced with the word funk. It's a song for the dancefloor, one to get the body moving and it's stupidly catchy. It's also one of the best songs of the year, it's that damn good and it has not been off my player since I first heard it, hands down it's that best song on the album.
01 - Lorde - Homemade Dynamite
"Homemade Dynamite" is one of those songs which would not give me peace, it kept cropping up and I could not avoid it. It's a song about an explosive friendship/relationship that can start a party in an empty room, where everything is an adventure and the night is full of possibilities, this is the sort of pop song that I love. It has a lot of swearing, it has a fantastic backing music, the vocals are subtle and it all comes together in a fantastic package of joy. It is the best song on Melodrama, it's now the top song of the year as well!
So - there you have it! Below is a link to our Spotify playlist (only missing three songs that were not on that service), till next year - Eddie
The ATTIWLTMOWOS top songs of 2017 on Spotify
Unhinged from the brain of Eddie Carter at 19:00
Labels: 2017, Chart, Eddie Carter, Songs of the Year
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