Vids for the Kids: 10/31

When I was preparing tylerconta.com, my blog, and simply preparing what to give you all...I asked "what do you want?"

I got lots of responses:
Music (Check: Song of the Moment/SotM)
Food (Check: Munchies)
Quotes
Heroes
Good Deeds
Things to Do (Check: Do-It)
and finally...
TV/Video/Movies

Well...for the first time, I bring to you...

VIDS FOR THE KIDS!

I will do my best to review TV shows, movies, videos on the web, and more. If you have any suggestions or recommendations, please send them my way! I gladly accept, and use, song recommendations for SotM...so please send Vid recommendations to! I really appreciate it!

So kiddies...in light of Halloween being today and all, and a friend showing me this hilarious video....I present the first ever...

Vids for the Kids 10/31
The KXVO Pumpkin Dance

HAPPY HALLOWEEN MY FRIENDS!!

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SotM: 10/29

I got things to do today, so I'll keep it brief.

Lupe Fiasco is my favorite rapper. I think he's a genius. Listen to his words. Listen to his flow, his beats, his soul in the music. He's definitely a genius. Sadly, the record label has (supposedly) sort of been screwing with him (just to make money off of him) so there are rumors his upcoming album (to be released in March 2011) will be his last. I'll cry if that's true. I saw him live and he opened for Kanye West/Rihanna/N.E.R.D. ...let's just say Lupe is WAY too good to be the opening act there. Regardless, he put on a great show with some "Go Go Gadget Flow", "Hip Hop Saved My Life", "Superstar", "Daydreamin", "Kick Push", and tons more. If you don't know these songs...GO LOOK THEM UP!

For today, I got for you a great track by Lupe, supposedly it will be on his upcoming album, LASERS. You know...this track didn't really grab me the first time...but it grew on me. So give it a shot and let me know what you think of...

Song of the Moment 10/29
I'm Beamin by Lupe Fiasco




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SotM: 10/28

I'm afraid of heights, failure, and drowning.

For today's song I'm bringing you a tune I randomly found online. It comes from a band that recently formed out of an old band named Wakefield...whoever they were. They released their album a couple weeks ago on iTunes and AmazonMP3. The reviews of their new album seem to be pretty good (except people wishing for more tracks) and I plan to look into the rest of their stuff when I get time. For now, I picked this song with its upbeat guitar combined with some stomping percussion, the occasional falsetto vocals, and the cool theme of fears.

Please don't be afraid my child, just check out the...

Song of the Moment 10/28
Fears by Fox in the Henhouse




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SotM: 10/27

Well my loyal followers...better late than never, right?!

To help you get through "hump day" (which I literally used to think had something to do with humping...I was wrong) I've got a present for you. For your listening pleasure I'm going to throw at you the Hump Day Combo Meal. Get ready for greatness, folks.

Today is a little bit of a throwback Combo Meal...so get ready to travel alllllll the way back to the early/mid-2000's!

1) I'm a fan of Jack White's new band, The Raconteurs, but I decided on a good throwback of The White Stripes from their 2000 album titled De Stijl.
2) Here's a song coming from the first Kaiser Chiefs' album from 2005, Employment.
3) This song comes from about 2007, from a Cali band that I've actually never heard of. But I heard this song and liked it. (Video coming soon on the band's website)

Please feast upon this lovely Hump Day Combo Meal and enjoy your toy....

Song(s) of the Moment 10/27

Hello Operator by The White Stripes

I Predict a Riot by Kaiser Chiefs

New Low by Middle Class Rut

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Halloween: Candy Corn Sucks

...and that means it's almost time for another holiday that is kind of weird. The concept is: kids put on a weird costume, threaten to trick/prank you if they don't get candy, and everyone celebrates spooky stuff.

1) Most kid's costumes are lame. If they're not lame, then most of them are bought by college girls who don't properly fit into the costume, yet they wear it anyways because it's common knowledge that Halloween is an excuse to reveal what a skank you truly are, and how your big butt, in fact, does not fit into a youth medium sized costume of a police officer.
2) Kids will NEVER prank you if you don't give them candy. The only pranks that happen are teenagers that TP a house or too. Oh no! Not that!
3) I thought people hated being scared? So why do we only love it on this one single day?

#3 is now where I focus my attention. I LOVE scary movies, I love a good scare, yet most people don't. What I'm going to encourage everyone to do this Halloween is:

GET SCARED.

I recommend a haunted house, corn maze, forest, trail, cabin, hay ride, cave, etc.
If you're too much of a wuss, then just rent Nightmare on Elm Street or The Exorcist and invite a bunch of friends.

If you live near a city you're bound to have some fun Halloween stuff to do, such as Richmond's Haunted Insane Asylum! Regardless of where you're from, check this site out to see what kind of haunted things are around you (it's sort of hard to see but there might be multiple pages of venues, click the orange links to the next page at the bottom, after you search your area)!
Last year, my best friends and I all went together (BatCave + SafeHarbor) to a cavern in the Shenandoah Valley called Endless Caverns. They had a pretty good Haunted Cave with lots of fog, a weird guide, lots of surprises, and of course...chainsaws. I got scared a few times, and also had a great time not warning Casey when someone was sneaking up on her so that I could watch her practically wet herself. Good times. The guys and I even convinced the owners to give us free shirts so we could advertise the Haunted Cave. Free shirt and a good scare. Great Halloween!

Now go and get scared!

-People may not always enjoy being scared or frightened, but sometimes, in good company, a decent scare can make us really feel alive.

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An Epic Moment

One time this summer, while in heaven (thanks to the World Cup), I defined "epic" as follows:

1) a monumental happening
2) a tale of great trials & tribulations
3) Landon Donovan's game-winning goal in stoppage time

While those are all still true, "epic" for me now means the unveiling of tylerconta.com

After lots of planning and hard work, it's come together. Only one small section remains, and that will come in time. I've been blogging recently, waiting, passing the time until this day! I knew that at tylerconta.com the home page would be my blog! So, a while ago I asked the public what they wanted me to blog about. The majority said: music, food, movies, quotes, heroes, and good deeds. I have been blogging some of those things (in my own cynical and sarcastic way) and more, but now I intend to blog about all of them in their own time! I hope that visitors will enjoy my blogging and will give feedback like lots of my readers do. Thanks for the feedback, friends!

Along with some silly little blog that only some nerdy nerds read, I have more goodies. The original intent of tylerconta.com is for it to be a place for me to truly be me (blog), while also showcasing my talents, my work, and the things I am most passionate about. I love video, photography, graphic design, and art in general. That is why my website is a portfolio in addition to the blog. It will feature my photography, my graphic design, and soon my video work. My contact information, resume, LinkedIn, blog, etc are also listed in case anyone wants to stalk me/contact me for potential work/jobs. (I am currently a freelance videographer and am looking for full-time work in the media arts field!)

Enough about me. How are you doing? Well...in case you forgot...I don't care. But please, enjoy TYLERCONTA.com and all that it has to offer. Please come back often to read my blog. Please hire me. Enjoy this epic moment with me as http://www.tylerconta.com comes to life!

(Thanks to everyone who has helped me with my blog and with this: whether encouragement, being a model, challenging/editing/critiquing/supporting my work, or simply being you and helping me along the way! A HUGE thanks to Jess Lonett, who built the website with my ideas, JPEGs, and Photoshop Docs. I couldn't have done it without her. I owe you big time, Jess!)

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SOTM: 10/25

Here's the quick and dirty:

This is a song of the moment....but I've got something awesome coming later on today actually. I'm pumped.

For now though...here's a song that was released in 2009, has a great music video with a Michael Jackson-esque tribute, and has confetti instead of blood and guts. Awesome. I was a fan when I heard the song and am now an even bigger fan, now that I've seen the music video. So, please enjoy this werewolf dance party, just a few days before Halloween, with...

Song of the Moment 10/25
Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs




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SOTM: 10/24

Sorry this is arriving so late in the day...but I promise to make up for it. (Wink!)

Recently, I saw the video for this song and thought it was kind of weird, but it's a great song. I heard the song recently on the indie radio station I sometimes listen to too, and that just reinforced the need to make this a Song of the Moment. This tune comes from a relatively new band, formed in 2006, in New York. They gathered a surprising amount of attention within their first year, even opening for Tokyo Police Club on tour! Today's song is a recent single of theirs, from their 2010 album titled The Orchard. This song here is a great track that I also think does a great job of incorporating the cello and violins, which I fell in love with the first time I heard the song. I've always liked classical music and classical instruments and am always suckered in when a band effectively uses those types of instruments in their stuff. Ra Ra Riot succeeds in that way for sure! Now enjoy!

Song of the Moment 10/24
Boy by Ra Ra Riot




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SOTM: 10/23

After a long day of work all I wanted to do was get home, change into gym shorts, listen to some good music, and do nothing all night. My plans have slightly changed and I'm heading out in a minute...but first I had to post this song I've been rocking out to recently.

My friend is a DJ/hosts his own radio show in Harrisonburg, and I tuned in online this week. He always plays great stuff, check him out! This time he played a song I distinctly remember hearing him play before, and I searched what song it was while it was playing. Now I know! I decided to add to it a new song of theirs I found recently. They're some tunes from an indie band that comes from Liverpool, England. The first song was released in 2006, re-released in 2008, and is freaking awesome! Thanks Andrew! The second song is a single from their 2nd album, which is still untitled, and is sure to impress! And...oddly enough both songs for today deal with other cities in the world. Liverpool must suck I guess? (Well, Liverpool FC sure does suck this year. Ouch!)

So, please enjoy some Killer Sushi inspired music via Mr. Coffee with...

Song(s) of the Moment 10/23

Moving to New York by The Wombats


Tokyo (Vampires & Werewolves) by The Wombats



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SOTM: 10/22

Here it is again...

Simply because alliteration is the only way to be cool...I'm going to make this Friday a flashback to good ole tunes...I'll call it "Throwback Friday." Wait...that doesn't make sense. Oh yeah that's because alliteration was only cool in elementary school.

Welcome to another Throwback Friday!

After a great weekend in Harrisonburg, VA for JMU's Homecoming, I knew exactly what song was needed for the next installment of Throwback Friday. While there, I heard a great old song that I had totally forgotten existed. Thanks Danny and Mike for dusting off this oldie for me.

So, I've got for you this awesome ole Phil Collins tune...plus I thought I'd give you a little treat...it's coupled with literally one of my favorite songs ever. Yes. Today will be a 2-for-1 Throwback Friday. And don't ask me for any more! Little beggars.

The other song is by George Harrison, my favorite Beatle, and this song has 2 music videos...and I think that this one is TERRIBLE. Yet, Harrison was fantastic. The first ex-Beatle to have a #1 hit and the last as well. This song was his last #1 hit in the U.S., even though he didn't write the song! So, please enjoy some Phil Collins (with hair) and some George Harrison in this installment of Throwback Friday's....

Song(s) of the Moment 10/22

Sussudio by Phil Collins


Got My Mind Set on You by George Harrison

SOTM: 10/20

.....And I'm back! I hope you didn't miss me too much this weekend! In case you were wondering...I didn't miss you at all.

JMU's Homecoming was fantastic. I could talk about it a bunch, but I don't want to bore you/tell you the important details in my life, because I don't like you enough to do. Except, on Saturday night there was an epic dance party in the basement of the Blue Nile that I was present for. Sweaty dancing, awesome beats, great tunes, sick jams, and an amazing time were all provided by Cocaine Mortgage. Thanks guys...I look forward to another good time in the future.

They mashed up a bunch of great songs that I've been listening to lately, played some old songs I forget existed (one of which will DEFINITELY be used for Throwback Friday this week), and played some stuff I've never heard before. Afterward, I thought about some songs that I've been neglecting, or that others neglected, and thus I bring to you these songs for the...

Hump Day Combo Meal.
To help you get through "hump day" (which I literally used to think had something to do with humping...I was wrong) I've got a present for you. For your listening pleasure I'm going to throw at you the Hump Day Combo Meal. Get ready for greatness, folks.

1) The first track off Kings of Leon's 2008 album which I think is an underrated song. It has a great build-up to the track and has an awesome dark feel to it. (Their new album, Come Around Sundown, is being released today in North America, and so far it has mixed reviews. Check out my older post that includes the 1st single off the album.)
2) A Mumford & Sons single from March that did well in the foreign charts, but I swear it should've done better!
3) The single off newest album from The New Pornographers, it's gotten mixed reviews, but I kind of dig it, and it's kind of a nice change from some of their previous stuff.

So, please show some super-sized Hump Day Combo Meal love to these tunes...
Song(s) of the Moment 10/20

Closer by Kings of Leon


The Cave by Mumford & Sons


Your Hands (Together) by The New Pornographers

Working for the Weekend too?

Well actually I didn't work Thursday or today...so I stopped working for the weekend on Wednesday. Sorry. In other news: in a few short hours I return to my other home. I'm going back to JMU for Homecoming 2010!!

I'm not sure what to do with myself. I'm excited to pick up Chaney for the drive, I'm pumped to see Kevin Gibson and SEBO, my lady, all my O-Team friends, my Safe Harbor girls, some SA friends, and a bunch of those random folks I don't care about. (Kidding) Because of my excitement to return home for my first ever Homecoming as an alum...I truly don't know what to do with myself...so I'm going to lay a bunch of my blogging crap on you. Most of it will deal with JMU-type things...so if you didn't go to JMU...then I feel sorry for you. Also, if you didn't go there, then just say "I missed out" and go ahead and check out what I got for you anyways! Enjoy!
PS: Go Dukes!!

Music:
Song of the Moment 10/15
Paris (Ooh La La) by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals


Food:
Peanut Butter Ice Cream

First off...WTF?! According to the blog spell check "ice cream" is 2 words?! Well that's news to me! Anyways...if you're ever eating some place that is a buffet (D-Hall/E-Hall/Mrs. Green's/Golden Corral?) you need to make your own dessert. Side note: NEVER spell "dessert" wrong. We always want more of it, that's why it has more "s"s in the word. Duh. So, you need to grab a bowl about the size of a cereal bowl. Go for the soft-serve vanilla ice cream (try chocolate later if you'd like) and get a decent portion with room to spare. Then head to wherever they have peanut butter and hit that stuff up. Drop in a large spoonful of creamy peanut butter. Then, grab a seat, grab a spoon, vigorously stir it up so the peanut butter is evenly distributed, then enjoy. It's good stuff.

Quote:
I think this is all too true...
"Ask yourself whether you are happy and you cease to be so." - John Stuart Mill
For the most part, I agree. I think that once you question your happiness, you then doubt your happiness, and doubt can be a destructive thing, thus ending your happiness. Yet, I think Abe Lincoln spoke equally true words when he said....
"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. " - Abraham Lincoln
So...just be happy my friends!



Do-It:
Enjoy your weekend. Whether it's at JMU or not. Just live it up. Get up early, go for a hike or a walk in your park. Go to your local farmer's market. Go to the JMU football game. Go out for a drink with a friend you haven't seen in a while. Soak it all up while you live it up. It's going to be a great weekend with the potential to be a fantastic one. So.....LIVE IT UP.

That's all I've got for you peeps. Now stop reading this crap and go do something.

SOTM: 10/14

I'm so sorry I forgot your Hump Day Combo Meal of music! Forgive me! I woke up later than I would've liked and had to run to work. Blogging got cut in the early morning routine. It's expendable. Just like you all.

ANYWAYS! To make up for it I'll be having a 2-for-1 Song of the Moment today followed by some good stuff on Friday morning before my glorious return to Harrisonburg. I had an easy time picking the songs for today because they were both suggested a few days ago by the same person. Her name is Shivani and she has great taste in music. It's a little different from my own, but still she's got great taste in tunes (and a great voice to match). So she recommended me a song by a woman I've never even heard of before, and a soon-to-be-released single from a good band. I'm a huge fan of the new single especially!
Please enjoy this Shivani Thursday dosage of this woman's fantastically emotional music video and a band's "not-yet-released-as-a-single" single with a GREAT video.

Dig in my hungry friends...

Song(s) of the Moment 10/14

Cold War by Janelle Monae


Blue Blood by Foals

SOTM: 10/12

I hope you are all relaxed and rested after a long and eventful Columbus Day. I know mine was crazy. But seriously...it was. Ask anyone.

Today for you now I've got a song that was released in December 2009 from a great band's EP. I love their sound, it's kind of a mix of punk/rock/indie/soul. I think the soul aspect of their music is what really attracts me. It's really unique sounding. You can hear it in the piano as it jams and in the lead vocals in this song. Now, enough jibba jabba!

Please enjoy...

Song of the Moment 10/12
Audience by Cold War Kids

SOTM: 10/11

Hooray Columbus Day! It's a day where we don't celebrate anything. Yet, if you're weird and actually do...I can only hope it's a true celebration of the sheer dumb luck that befell Columbus.

"I found India! Hooray" - Christopher Columbus

Good looks Chris...good looks. Anyways, for your Columbus Day festivities I have for you now a couple of good'uns. One is from a Chi-town band's 4th album, put out in 2009. The other is from a band of Canucks who released this album in 2009, and this is the 4th single off the record. It's great stuff from both bands.

But...straight to the point...like Columbus went straight to India:

Song(s) of the Moment 10/11

Ruminant Band by Fruit Bats

Gold Guns Girls by Metric

Beautiful Fall

A few days ago I posed about my dislike for Fall. While I didn't think it was that harsh, my friend Jamie let me know how much she disliked me and my post. Well...I still stand by my opinion of raking leaves and falling acorns (as multiple ones continue to loudly hit my roof and freak me out). Yet, I have to admit...I kind of like Fall.

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

Don't get the wrong idea and assume that I'm going soft, or that I'll take back what I say because a friend called me out. Instead, just know that ever since she called me out, I've realized sometimes it's just as much fun to be a cynic as it is to be filled with....something other than cynicism.

So...here's what you all should do:

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, ENJOY THE CHANGING LEAVES WITH A WINDOWS-DOWN-CRUISE-ON-THE-BACK-ROADS DRIVE.

One of my all-time favorite memories of college was after having a bad day, going to Brittany and telling her I needed to get out and clear my mind. We got in my car, she blasted the tunes, we put the windows down, and cruised down Route 33 West from Harrisonburg, VA. We drove past Blue Hole, kept going until we didn't know where we were, and noticed the trees began to grow over the road now. There were beautiful colors, you could smell Fall in the air, the light barely broke through the tree coverage to sparkle on the road, and I felt fantastic. If you're in Harrisonburg...you NEED to make that drive. Just drive until you feel like turning back...then go a little further...THEN turn around. It's liberating and cleansing and you get to see the beauty that's in nature with fresh eyes.

-We should never take for granted the glories that surround us every day, simply because we are surrounded by them every day. Try looking at it again, perhaps in a different way, on a different day, or with a new friend along for the ride. Then, hopefully, you'll see true beauty.

SOTM: 10/7-10

I'm going to be out of town for a while to see someone special, then to go to a football game with my family (Packers vs. Skins)! So I figure it would be nice if I loaded you all up with some tunes before I peace out.

First...don't forget to check out Cocaine Mortgage's song choice for the weekend when they put it up on Friday. It's always guaranteed to be a good one!

Now....here we go....your songs for the weekend (4 out of 5 are recommended by friends...keep 'em coming!) are as follows:

1) A new Jimmy Eat World track off their new album, Invented.
2) I first heard this song on a commercial for that dumb looking movie about Facebook...but the track has an epic beat to it and Kanye's rap isn't too bad!
3) The video is TERRIBLE (because I never liked The Wild Thornberrys) but it's a great song full of cheer...plus I love Simon!
4) My friend Alyssa recommended this song by Those Dancing Days...I approve! :)
5) Tara gave me a CD a while back that had this song on it...I've always loved this song for the voice, the piano, and the soul to it. One of my favorites, despite another terrible user-made video.

So...please don't go and use these all up at once! :

Song(s) of the Moment 10/7-10

Heart is Hard to Find by Jimmy Eat World


Power by Kanye West ft. Dwele


Father and Daughter by Paul Simon


Run Run by Those Dancing Days


Lids by Lotus Child

SOTM: 10/6

Here it is again...

To help you get through "hump day" (which I literally used to think had something to do with humping...I was wrong) I've got a present for you. For your listening pleasure I'm going to throw at you the Hump Day Combo Meal. Get ready for greatness, folks.

This time I have for you a little Beatles-esque double feature. Get excited. Both of them have an older Beatles feel to them...back before too much LSD got involved.

1) I couldn't find out much about them...but the band is called Revolver...if that isn't Beatle-y I don't know what is. (Revolver: album by The Beatles from 1966 that featured songs like Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine)
2) This band consists of a couple guys who used to be in Panic! at the Disco...well now they're making tunes like this one! I'm a fan and I hope you all are too!

Please enjoy this music that reminds me of my favorite band of all time (tied with Carbon Leaf) : The Beatles.

Have a double helping of:

Song(s) of the Moment 10/6

Balulalow by Revolver




Take a Vacation by The Young Veins

SOTM: 10/4

Ever need music to wake up? Sometimes I do. Yet, if you're like me, it has to be a good balance. If it's too slow (Coldplay, Simon & Garfunkel, etc) you stay in bed. If it's too upbeat (techno, Jackson 5, etc) then you get really annoyed and stay in bed until the things you've been throwing at your stereo finally shut it up.

To me the perfect balance are some of those bands: Kings of Leon, Carbon Leaf, Sequoyah Prep School, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Guster, and Cee Lo.

Well, to add to that list is today's Song of the Moment. It comes from a US rock band who put out this album in 2008, and had this great song off of it. It has a great combination of acoustic and strings, with electric, a steady calming voice to start, with some loud tenor vocals. It's great stuff that is on my short list of songs allowed to get me out of bed.

I hope that you can find it easier to roll out of bed with:

Song of the Moment 10/4
Old Enough by The Raconteurs

Stupid Fall

I miss summer already. I never even had a chance to get a really good tan this summer! And now, I'm already raking leaves, picking up hundreds of acorns, and freezing while I wear shorts during the 60 degree weather. Where did summer go? Right about now we're usually still in an Indian Summer and playing frisbee or kicking the soccer ball around...and that keeps up until November. I'm not cool with this. Get warmer!

Here is my attempt at making it warmer...putting up some pictures from this summer: sunsets, summer storms, boating, swimming, etc. Hopefully the weather will remember what it should be doing and get itself back in line.

Photos courtesy of Tyler Conta and the Premature Goosebump Company.
Click on images if you wish to view them in a larger size.

SOTM: 10/1 II

Here it is again...

Simply because alliteration is the only way to be cool...I'm going to make this Friday a flashback to good ole tunes...I'll call it "Throwback Friday." Wait...that doesn't make sense. Oh yeah that's because alliteration was only cool in elementary school.

Welcome to another Throwback Friday!

For this installment we have featured for you another song that deals with continents. Last week was about Australia with a good ole Men at Work song. Now this time we have another terrible music video with an awesome classic of a song.

So, kwaheri, and I hope you have a blessed day with:

Song of the Moment 10/1
Africa by Toto

SOTM: 10/1

It's Friday suckas! Well on Fridays everyone looks forward to the weekend, can't wait to party or sleep in or crack open a nice cold brew. Well hopefully I can give you something to help pass the minutes until you clock out or finish with classes.

My friends, Mike and Danny, have been posting Friday/weekend party songs every week on their Cocaine Mortgage blog....as of right now it IS up, and trust me, all they're recommendations are AWESOME. Go here to see their jams for the weekend!

Here's mine...not exactly a party song though...but my friend Emily said something about this song the other day and I haven't listened to Florence + the Machine in a while. This band took 2009 by storm, they've definitely been rocking out 2010 but I just haven't been listening as much I guess....

Despite that, here is your Friday tune, and October's first....

Song of the Moment 10/1
Dog Days are Over by Florence + the Machine