My Monkey's Gone to Heaven

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." 

April 22, 2006 is a day that will forever be engraved in my heart. That was the day that I rescued Gabby from a life of loneliness and brought her home to be with me. I wanted to get a dog because I needed a good distraction to get over a broken heart and when I had mentioned it to my stepmother, she said her vet was trying to rehome a young male Maltese dog. The only Maltese I’d ever been exposed to were her dogs, and one of those wasn’t the nicest to most people. I wasn’t sure I wanted a Maltese or a male (funny how that works now, Simon), but I went ahead and called the lady that was looking for a new home for him. However, when I called about him, she mentioned to me that she also had a 5 ½ year old female Yorkie that needed a home as well and that was a dog I had always wanted. There was a bit of back and forth in the beginning as to whether or not I’d even get her because another family had just decided they’d like to take her. I was heartbroken, but when the lady said, “don’t give up hope yet, the new family may not even work out,” I just kept telling myself that if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. Sure enough, a couple of days later, Gabby and that other family didn’t work out so I made arrangements to come meet her that following weekend. I had no idea what to expect and now I can’t even remember if I’d seen any pictures of Gabby prior to meeting her, I don’t think I did. I did have some hesitation about how all of this would go. I personally had never cared for a dog and wasn’t sure how I was going to do this. All of that faded away when I got to the house and sat down and the lady handed Gabby to me. She looked up at me, her hair cutely arranged in a red and white bow, with loving eyes that basically said, “get me the hell out of here please.” And so I did. I drove straight over to my parents’ house and introduced them to the newest member of the family. It was there that we realized just how neglected Gabby had been, her teeth so bad that she had to get quite a few of them pulled when she went in to get spayed that week. Gabby had also never been properly housetrained. Remember, she lived her life mostly in a crate and was used for breeding what I’m guessing were AKC yorkie pups. I never received papers on her though. I kept thinking how people could just not want this dog and I was going to do whatever I could to give her the best life I could.

As time went on, Gabby became my #1, my sidekick, and the one thing that would be there for me during all of my moves, all of the tears, all of the laughter, all of the outings, and all of the late night snuggles. She was my Houdini dog, able to clear a 3 foot gate or a fence like it was nothing and never feared anything or anyone. She had the absolute heart of an angel and everyone that has ever met her, has fallen in love with her, yorkie bad breath and all. When she was about to turn 12, I brought a new addition into our family, Simon. I’m pretty sure she’s never forgiven me for that. I’m not sure how they feel about each other now as there have been some pretty nasty fights over the years, including one just this past weekend, but I am glad that she had company during these last few years to watch over her.

When Gabby was diagnosed with renal failure this past March, I knew that would be the end of a special journey that began so many years ago. Suddenly, she was a different dog that was not able to jump on the bed anymore (her only refuge from Simon since he can’t jump that high), she didn’t feel like doing much anymore, but hung in there for some long walks. Gabby was never much of a snuggler or a lap dog unless we weren’t home. I think it was her way to make sure I didn’t leave her somewhere, haha. During these last weeks, she’s slept closer to me at night than she ever had. She still greeted me at the door, but it was after I’d been home a while and she finally realized I was there. I can’t tell you how many times I came home, waiting to see if she was breathing or if she’d passed on while I was away. It is so very hard to see such a sweet soul deteriorate like that. I felt helpless and lost and have cried more in the past few months than I have in such a long time.

My sweet Gabby and I enjoying the waves in Galveston on one of our last outings together. 

Today I made the toughest decision I’ve had to ever make in my life and decided it was time to let my best friend go. They say when a dog is ready to cross the rainbow bridge, they will let you know. I probably ignored many signs, refusing to let her go, even though deep down I knew it had to be this way. It was getting to the point where I didn’t feel I could take very good care of my sweet girl anymore. So many nights we were getting up for bathroom trips outside or for her to get water. So many days I was coming home to more accidents in the house. So many days when she had no energy to do anything and I had to carry her downstairs. There were still plenty of good days though which made it even harder to say goodbye. I kept asking her what she needed, what she wanted, as if by some miracle this time she’d finally answer me, but her look in her eyes said it all. I fought this decision tooth and nail, begging and pleading to God to please let her pass peacefully in her sleep, but in the end, it was me who would have to make that choice. Gabby spent 15 years in this world, and I’m pretty sure 10 of those were the best years she could ever have hoped for. Now, she’s no longer in pain or feeling sick. She’s probably jumping up for treats and stealing chocolate out of the candy jar. And wherever she is, I know she’s watching out for me and Simon and keeping our hearts alive with the love she gave us. RIP my sweet monkey dog, Gabby. I am so grateful I got to be your mom and for the love you not only gave me, but in the many ways you taught me how to love. 

Ch-Ch-Changes

I haven't written in a while and that is mostly due to quite a bit of changes and other things going on in my life. One of the first changes is this blog. When I started this blog about 5 years ago, I did it as an outlet to write about music since at that time, that was my dream job and I wasn't having any luck finding a job due to my lack of inexperience or published work. Thankfully, blogging gives us a way to do what we'd like in that sense and I did get to write for a larger platform for a short time which gave me more exposure. Over the years, however, my enthusiasm, or I suppose a better way to put it, is that my ability to take the time to sit down and write more often has waned a little. I still go to shows or hear new bands and think of words that would be a great blog post, but then life gets in the way and those words are gone. So, things have just kind of sat stagnant here for a while. In following other blogs, I have decided that I wanted to shift the sole purpose of this blog from being about music, which I will still cover occasionally, to also including other interests and aspects of my life. I am planning on redoing the layout and changing the name at some point, but for now will continue being known as The Loudest Sound. 

Another change in my life is that I recently received my certification as a Personal Trainer. In my other blog, Rebel Fit Girl, I had hoped to chronicle my life as a Beachbody coach while sharing information about our programs, fitness tips, nutrition, etc., but just like this blog, life got in the way. However, my love of health and wellness never went away and earlier this year, I decided that I wanted to see if I could get certified, mostly for myself to know I could accomplish something that I had convinced myself so many times before that I would never be able to do, but also because I do have a desire to help others with their journey to health and wellness. I studied for about 3 months and then spent a weekend in a workshop where I met some other amazing women and learned their inspiring stories. Test day came and I was so nervous, but last week I received the fantastic news that I passed! Accomplishing that goal has definitely reignited my passion and I am working hard to get in the best shape of my life since I had been slacking so much these past few months. And then I plan to start training clients early next year, so stay tuned!

And finally, probably the biggest change that has recently surfaced is that I will be starting a new job next month! I will be taking a position within the finance department of a global travel management company and leaving the offshore world behind. There have been a lot of changes within the industry  I am leaving and I would be lying if I said I wasn't starting to feel a little nervous about where I would end up. This new and exciting opportunity presented itself and I truly believe I will continue to grow in so many ways. Plus, it's always been a dream of mine to travel and maybe live abroad and with our global presence, who knows! Maybe that will all come to fruition someday soon! 

So, with all of that out there and so many exciting possibilities ahead, I can't wait to get started on the next chapter of my life and hope that you will come along for the ride!  

My Music Monday: Duran Duran

August 10th marks Duran Duran Appreciation Day, a day created several years ago by a Michigan disc jockey because it coincided with his birthday. It is a day that Duranies all over the world have grown to celebrate the 35 years of music this beloved British band has given us. Since today is Duran Duran Appreciation Day and in anticipation of their newest studio album, Paper Gods, releasing next month, I felt it only appropriate to make today's My Music Monday about one of my all time favorite bands.

I have spoken about my love affair with DD a few times on this blog. It all started back in 1984 when I was about 4 or 5 years old and my older sister had the Cinemax/MTV film "As the Lights Go Down" on VHS and we would watch it non-stop. That was when I first laid eyes on the boyishly handsome bass player, John Taylor. I was immediately in love and that crush continues today. There have been many other music loves in my life since then, but DD will always be my first music affair and it still holds strong to this day. Below are a few videos of some of my favorite songs by the band. It really was hard to not just give you their entire catalog, haha. Happy DD Appreciation Day to all my fellow Duranies! Enjoy!

First on the list, is my all time favorite DD song. I actually found the version from that film that started it all. The first time I saw DD was in 2004 with all of the original members back together. I had the flu, but I was not missing this night. I wasn't sure if I'd get to hear my favorite song, but then Simon pulled out that flute and it ended up being one of the best versions I'd ever heard. They have been playing it during their recent shows so I am really hoping when it comes time to tour for Paper Gods, they will leave it in the set list. The original video for this song was definitely a little risque, similar to the "Girls on Film" video. To this day, this song gives me goosebumps. Pure perfection.

Next up is "The Seventh Stranger" from probably my favorite DD album, Seven and the Ragged Tiger. This song just buries itself into my soul to this day.  When I read John Taylor's autobiography, I loved how he described Simon's ability to just write a song in no time. I chose "New Religion" from my second favorite album, Rio, because it combines all of the elements that make DD so good at what they do. That bass line, those lyrics, Nick's synths and keyboards. It all comes together to create such magic. If you've never seen the VH1 special about this album, I suggest watching it. This album was cutting edge for its time. Nick is pure genius with what he did with the sounds and how they recorded this album. My favorite part of this track, aside from those bass lines, is Simon's vocals layering over each other.  In 2011, Duran Duran released one of their best albums in a long time entitled All You Need is Now. It was the first time the band teamed up with producer Mark Ronson and he took that band to an all new level but reconnected them with their old sound at the same time. I was fortunate to catch DD early on this tour and saw them at a small venue here in Houston. After that, Simon experienced many issues regarding his voice and we weren't sure if they'd finish the tour let alone if he'd ever recover. Fortunately, he and his voice made a full recovery. My absolute favorite track from that album is "The Man who Stole a Leopard". Everything about it is classic DD. Pure beauty. I found this live version as well, but I couldn't embed it. 

My Music Monday: The Clash

Last week, reports started surfacing that Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point, Tudors) would be portraying punk great Joe Strummer of The Clash in an upcoming movie called London Town. Set in 70's London, the movie, which began filming in London at the end of June and is expected to wrap up at the end of this month, is about a teenage boy who ventures into the great city in search of his estranged mother when his life is forever changed upon discovering the iconic band. As of now, there hasn't been a release date but it did get me cautiously excited about Meyers' portrayal of one of my favorite lyrical poets of all time and fortunately the film did secure rights to use original songs by The Clash which could be a good sign. I am definitely looking forward to the movie and I am sure as we get closer to it's release, more will be announced, but here are some great photos of JRM in his Strummer get up.

So for today's My Music Monday, I felt it appropriate to share some of my favorite songs by one of my most beloved bands. Strummer left this world too soon, but fortunately The Clash's music will forever live on.

First up, "Know Your Rights" from the album Combat Rock is always my go to get me going song.  Ooh, those guitars get me every time. Swoon.

  I think one of my favorite things I love about The Clash is their reggae inspired sound which is evident is song #2 today, "Straight to Hell" also from the Combat Rock album. Many might recognize this song from when it was sampled by British female rapper, M.I.A. for her song "Paper Planes". Those lyrics, though. I truly love what this band stood for. There will never be another band like The Clash or another front man like Joe Strummer. 

Duran Duran & Some Other Things

Gah, has it really been 2 1/2 months since my last post? I really didn't mean to disappear, but life got in the way and I had some things to take care of. Plus my computer has recently died on me so that's been fun.

 

Anyways, I have wanted to post about this exciting news for a while now and share it with you in case you haven't heard! My favorite boys from Birmingham, England are back and sounding as fresh and fantastic as they ever have. Teaming up with producer Mark Ronson for the second time in a row, along with some help from long time friend Nile Rodgers of Chic, Duran Duran are set to release their 14th studio album, Paper Gods, this September via Warner Bros. Records. The album features guests such as Janelle Monae, former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, and a surprising appearance by Lindsay Lohan, which should be interesting to hear.

Paper Gods is willbe released in four formats including a deluxe edition with bonus tracks and a deluxe LP box set so there will be a little something for all Duranies to add to their collections. The first single, "Pressure Off", was released a few weeks ago and has that familiar Mark Ronson "Uptown Funk"/"Girls on Film" vibe going for it. The track also features guests previously mentioned guests Nile Rodgers and Janelle Monae. This song is sure to get added into your workout mix. How can you not want to get moving once you hear it? I loved what Ronson did with All You Need is Now so I really can't wait to hear what he does for this album with these lovely lads. Although Duran Duran is on a small tour now, there has been no dates mentioned of a larger scale tour once the album is released so here's to hoping for a stop in Houston.
 

Some other things...I'll be posting about a few things, some of which are non-music related in a sort, in the coming weeks. I will be going to New Orleans in a few weeks and plan to share tidbits of that trip as well as some upcoming movies that I am looking forward to. For the first time in a long time, I don't have any upcoming concerts planned for a while. I am hoping to catch my friend Jonah Smith's new band The Azalea Project next week when they stop here. Beach House is making a stop in Houston in October as is Garbage so there will be plenty to share from those shows and I will be back next week with more "My Music Monday" posts. Hope everyone is having a fabulous summer so far! Stay cool my friends!

My Music Monday: GvsB5 Lineup

I have been having a rough time coming down from that amazing Peter Hook & The Light show from last Friday in Dallas so today is an exciting day because the first lineup for GvsB5 was just announced! Gorilla vs. Bear is one of my favorite music blogs out there that I discovered a few years ago thanks to Blog Radio on Sirius XMU and if you're into new music, you definitely need to pay them a visit. For the last five years, the GVB gang has hosted a night of music at the Granada Theater in Dallas. Past lineups have included The Chromatics, Glass Candy, Grimes, and Panda Bear. I have been anxiously awaiting this year's lineup because I was hoping it would include a certain band from Baltimore and Chris certainly delivered. Not only will Lower Dens be performing, but the lineup will also include Jamie XX from the band The XX, Yumi Zouma, Tei Shi, and Prince Innocence. More bands will be added in the following months. And because GVB has grown over the past few years, this year's fun will not only include The Granada Theater in Dallas on Friday, July 31st, but will also head over to The Mohawk in Austin on Saturday, August 1st. Tickets will go on sale this Friday! And I will see you in Austin GvsB5!

Today's My Music Monday features the bands from today's GvsB5 lineup announcement starting with my current loves, Lower Dens. This band came into my life a few years ago thanks to a suggestion from a friend who knows me and my music tastes pretty well. I dug their sound initially, but it wasn't until their latest release Escape from Evil that I have absolutely fallen in love with this band. I've said it before that bands and songs seem to find me at the right moment, and this album deals a bit with relationships and Jana Hunter's lyrics basically say everything I've wished I'd been able to say to someone about how I felt about them. The first single released, "To Die in L.A.", immediately captured my heart with it's throwback synth sound and melodic guitars. The video was filmed in L.A. and also carries that '80s vibe and even features a cameo from fashion designer Marc Jacobs. Since I have listened to the album about 500 times by now, it is definitely in my top albums for the year. I will do a feature post on Lower Dens later but for now here is the first single from that album.

Another band that came into my life I believe at the recommendation of that same friend was The XX. Since their last album release, one of the members, Jamie XX, has been working on a new solo album entitled In Colour which will be released in the near future via Young Turks records. In anticipation of the album, Jamie has released a few tracks, one of which,"Loud Places", features fellow XX bandmate Romy Madley Croft on vocals. Upon the lineup announcement today, a new video for the track "Gosh" just debuted and features the same house, electronic sound as his other tracks. 

Tei Shi is an artist I'm only recently discovering thanks to GVB. She recently took over the music blog's website for a day which allowed fans to get a deeper sense of her style. Her EP Verde is available in a digital format with physical releases slated for May. I am quickly falling in love with her sound. 

Yumi Zouma is another recent discovery. I haven't been able to catch Chris' show on Thursdays too much lately, but did get a chance to listen some last week and heard this track. Are you able to see a trend here with sounds today? 

Prince Innocence is an artist I hadn't heard of until today. They seem to have been around for a few years and have sort of a chill electronic sound. I chose an older track from them today called "To My Right" because it flowed well with the other tracks from today. 

My Music Monday: Joy Division

As a teenager growing up in the '90s, I was never attracted to the mainstream sounds of grunge or whatever else was playing on the radio at the time. I didn't understand why everyone had to be screaming to get their point across. Instead, I latched onto bands from earlier years. Obviously, The Cure was an important band as were Siouxsie and the Banshees, Depeche Mode and New Order. Internet was just getting started during those days so finding music was not as simple as a quick download and to find the music I wanted to listen to required a little digging and research. I was probably about 14 when I had learned that New Order was first an entirely different band named Joy Division.

Joy Division, a band synonymous with the post-punk movement in music, credited as pioneers in the darker sound that came with it thanks to their driving bass lines, haunting melodies and singer Ian Curtis' deep, baritone voice. The first Joy Division song I remember fully embracing was actually a cover of "Dead Souls" by Nine Inch Nails from The Crow movie soundtrack. From there, Joy Division became one of those bands that were more than a band to me. I was going through a pretty rough time during my teenage years with my parents' divorce, that feeling of not fitting in that most teens feel and just the overwhelming urge to escape and find my own place in the world. Their music was like an old friend that understood everything I was feeling. Joy Division released two albums in their short career. Prior to their U.S. tour, Curtis took his own life and the band eventually continued on as New Order.

  

 

This Friday, a few friends and I will be making a trek to Dallas to see bassist Peter Hook and his band The Light as they perform those Joy Division albums Closer and Unknown Pleasures in their entirety along with a special set of New Order tracks. As I have gotten older, those songs have taken on a whole new meaning to me as I am able to relate more to the words because of my own life experiences. Friday night will definitely be a special night for the young teenage girl that still lingers inside me who would spend hours in her room listening to these songs over and over. Below are a few of my favorite tracks.

 

"Transmission" was released in 1979 as the band's first single and has since been covered by Bauhaus/Peter Murphy, Hot Chip, and the cast of the Ian Curtis biographical film Control.

 



"She's Lost Control" first appeared on Unknown Pleasures before it was released again as a more electronic version in 1980. This song features a bass sound where Peter Hook played higher up on the neck.
 

 

One of the earliest songs recorded by Joy Division, and it is also said to be the last song performed at their May 2, 1980 show.
 

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" is probably the most popular or at least most recognizable Joy Division song. The lyrics not only represent Curtis' deteriorating marriage to his wife Deborah, but also his state of mind at the time. It is still my favorite of all their songs, followed very closely by the next one.
 

I'm not sure words would describe the love I have for this song. It was one of the last songs that Ian Curtis penned. When New Order formed, they re-released the song and that version has gained more popularity over the years. Curtis' words, "Heaven knows it's got to be this time" will probably just always clutch a special place in my  heart. RIP Ian.

34 Years of Faith

On this day in 1981, The Cure released their third studio album, Faith. Considered by many to be the second of their "dark trilogy" albums which also includes 1980's Seventeen Seconds and 1982's Pornography. With Faith, we saw the band cut back to a trio that included Robert Smith, Laurence Tolhurst and Simon Gallup. This album also marks the first time Smith would use a six-string bass creating their signature sound for many years to come. The cassette release was backed by an instrumental piece entitled "Carnage Visors" that was the soundtrack to a short film the band would feature at the beginning of their shows. I remember falling asleep to CV since it was so light and ambient and was perfect for drifting off to dreamland. In 2006, a deluxe remastered edition was released which also featured the non-album single, "Charlotte Sometimes", an alternate version of "Carnage Visors" and many previously unreleased tracks from the recording sessions of the album. While there are many beloved tracks on this album, the title track "Faith" is probably the most popular with it being one of those elusive live show songs that rarely got played for many years. The most popular performance of this song would be the Rome show in 1989 in which Smith dedicated it to those that had lost their lives that day in China's Tiananmen Square. That version is below along with some other live treats from that album. Happy Anniversary to Faith!

Faith album cover designed by Porl Thompson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Music Monday: Johnny Jewel

I had originally planned for a different band to be featured today to go along with a theme for next week, but then something awesome happened last week. Anyone that knows me knows that I kind of have a slight love for Ryan Gosling. Aside from those boyish good looks, I appreciate his ways of approaching films and he also has pretty great taste in music as there is this lovely photo of him and my rebel brother iAN out there from a BRMC show in L.A. from years ago. Plus he just seems like a really cool guy to hang out with. Ryan has recently made his directorial debut with the film "Lost River", released last Friday in limited theaters, including Austin, as well as On Demand. Knowing my love for Ryan and how I had been anticipating the release of this movie, a friend informed me that Gosling would be in Austin at the Alamo Draft House conducting a Q&A session in addition to the film being shown. Tickets quickly sold out for that showing, but then a later showing was announced that would feature a live introduction to the movie by Ryan himself so of course I immediately purchased my ticket and I am so excited to say that Thursday evening, weather permitting since that seems to be my curse with ATX lately, I will be making a burn & turn trip to see my beloved Ryan Gosling and the film "Lost River", which features a soundtrack composed by another favorite of mine, Johnny Jewel.

I first discovered Johnny Jewel from Gosling's movie "Drive" which was released back in 2011. The native Houstonian is the mastermind behind synth-pop bands that I have come to adore, The Chromatics, Desire, Glass Candy, and Symmetry. He was originally Gosling's first choice to compose the score for that film, but director Nicolas Winding Refn decided to go a different route and instead featured songs by Jewel's bands. It's no secret that Jewel's music helped create the atmosphere for the movie so when Gosling was setting out on his first endeavor as a film director, he contacted his old friend and asked him to score the soundtrack. "Lost River" is a film that is described as a "dark fairy tale about love, family and the fight for survival in the face of danger." The film opens with the song "Tell Me", featuring actress Saoirse Ronan who plays "Rat" in the film. The song serves as sort of a lullaby that Rat sings to herself every night as a way to deal with everything dark going on around her. The story behind recording the song is that Saoirse was in L.A. doing voice overs for the film and Ryan contacted Johnny to get the track laid down. Ronan had never recorded a pop song before and was very nervous to sing so Jewel and Gosling barricaded themselves with Ronan in a kitchen at the sound stage where they were recording and with nothing but an 8-track and a single microphone, the trio turned off all the lights, sat on the floor and the moment was captured. It is a lovely song reminiscent of something that would have been on "Twin Peaks" and I have been listening to it non-stop since it was first released two weeks ago. The soundtrack will be released on Jewel's Italians Do it Better label and will include a limited edition vinyl as part of its release. In spite of the critical bashing this film has received so far, I've also seen many positive reviews and I am looking forward to seeing it on Thursday. And Ryan as well of course. I hope you enjoy this track as much as I have. Happy listening!

 

 

When I was looking for the link for the "Tell Me" video, I stumbled upon a cover The Chromatics did of Joy Division/New Order classic track "Ceremony" which I am posting below as it goes along with the theme for next week. It's different, but nothing drastic from the original. Just a different take and it is growing on me. The description says it features Glass Candy vocalist  Ida No, but I think it's only Chromatics front woman Ruth Radelet that is on the track.  



 

My Music Monday: Ceremony

This week I am launching a new feature called "My Music Monday" where I will feature bands I have recently discovered or old bands that already had a special place in my heart. Ceremony is a band that I recently discovered thanks to Sirius XMU. This California based band, usually known for a more hardcore punk sound, are about to release their fifth studio album entitled The L-Shaped Man via Matador Records next month. They recently released the first two singles for the album, "The Separation" and "The Understanding" as one long video directed by Ross Thomas. Both songs  help tell the story of singer Ross Farrar’s recent breakup and features a more stripped down version of the band. When I first heard "The Separation," I immediately thought that their sound reminded me of fellow post-punk band, Wire, along with a little Joy Division, which makes sense as both bands are listed as influences. I am looking forward to hearing more from this band as they do share a label with a few others I like, Interpol and Perfume Genius to name a couple. L-Shaped Man comes out May 19th so check them out. I hope you enjoy their sound as much as I do. Happy listening!