this is what i've been listening to lately. lately, as in since yesterday. I ♥ penguins.




P.S. - For the sake of posterity...


100 followers. Wow. Thank you all so much. *hugs*

i can't stop listening to: This song. 34 seconds of amazingness.




I've never heard of He Is We before. Until this song. I think I might just have to buy it.

Aside from my post two days ago, I haven't posted on my blog lately as much as I usually do. You may have noticed. That's because I'm having a fit of blogger fog.

*sigh*

I have tons of ideas to post, and no brainpower/motivation.

So, I decided to post about Irish reels - more specifically, Celtic music in general.

Along with Owl City, this is the current music that I've been fangirling over.

It's fairly often that you can find me going to YouTube, and then going to my favorites. There, I have a whole collection of inspiring, stirring Celtic music.

So, I decided to share it with you.

Enjoy. :D



Seven Wicked Reels by Barrage



I've listened to this song ever since I was younger and my dad was gifted with the Barrage CD (aptly self-titled Barrage). It's so energetic and always reminds me of pirates.



Allen's Bar, also by Barrage

This is where my fandom for Robin Hood comes into play. This song reminds me of Allan A Dale. Always.




He's a Pirate, by David Garrett

My friend Lonnie shared this link with me once. And though I have only seen the first POTC once, I listen to this on a daily basis. Why? I have no idea. The POTC soundtrack is simply brilliant.



The Blood of Chu Chulainn

This one I found on Malkah's blog, in her Beautiful People post. And despite its slightly weird name, it really is a beautiful song. It reminds me of valiant battles and the calm after the storm, and it makes me want to dance.
Celtique Irish Folk

And last, but not least, this is the song that was stuck in my dream from a couple of days ago - yeah, the one about Queen Elizabeth the I. I listened to this song right before bed and it got stuck in my dreams. And it was on repeat. >.< Other than that, it's a great song! ;)
I'm fully American, but my roots are Celtic. That's my heritage. These songs make me long to visit Scotland and Ireland. Because someday, I will.

First off, I have to say, it wasn't my birthday recently. That was back in April. :P The post about my frying pan was just a belated post about the experience I had upon turning another year older. A very belated post. :P

Secondly, this is another post about Owl City. Be forewarned.

Thirdly, Georgie Penn pre-ordered me Owl City's new album, All Things Bright and Beautiful.

It is... brilliant.

I saw the autumn leaves peel up off the street,
take wing on the balmy breeze and sweep you off your feet.

You blushed as they scooped you up on sugar maple wings,
to gaze down on the city below, ablaze with wondrous things.

Downy feathers kiss your face and flutter everywhere.
Reality is a lovely place but I wouldn’t want to live there.

My initial thoughts... well, when The Real World, the first track, started playing, I fell in love instantly. The piano chords and melodic feel made me endeared to the album, even if the rest of the songs stank.

They didn't.

Angels has a beautiful melody line. Deer in the Headlights made me laugh out loud the first time I heard it. Hospital Flowers is weird on first listen, and gorgeous on the second. And when January 28, 1986 played and then gave way to Galaxies, I had chills running up and down my spine.

There are a few songs I don't like as much as the others, Kamikaze being one of them. It's kind of strange, though I appreciate Adam Young's willingness to try new things. And I haven't listened to The Yacht Club or Plant Life a second time, mostly because when I get new music, I listen to a bunch of the songs more than the others. But I plan to give those two a second go later tonight.

Ocean Eyes, Owl City's first album, had more of an ocean-y feel - or at least that's how I interpreted. This album is very reminiscent of galaxies and the stars and space and astronauts and, well... all things bright and beautiful. :P It's inspiring me for Avary's story.

There's actually one more funny story I neglected to mention. On June 14th, I was excited because the CD came out. And because of the implication of "pre-ordered", I thought it would come immediately. (Good things usually never do.) So when I went to the mailbox, I was disappointed to find no package.

Yesterday, I ran to the mailbox, thinking that maybe, just maybe, today would be the day. I was sorely disappointed. But not for long. It turns out that our mail truck returned, bringing my package with it. :D

And yes, my earbuds have been in my ears ever since.

In addition to that, I realized today how many of my Polyvore sets are inspired by Owl City. So, I decided to showcase them all for you, oldest to most recent. Welcome... to Owl City.

Ever since I found out about Owl City's new CD, I've been awaiting it with anticipation. Then, when Alligator Sky was released off the new record, I thought it was weird.

It wasn't long before I fell in love with it.





I listened to it again tonight and could NOT stop hitting repeat. I couldn't understand why I liked it so much.

Then it hit me like a spaceship. (Pun thoroughly intended. :P)

I love this song because of Avary.

Where was I, when the rockets came to life?
And carried you away into the alligator sky?
Even though I'll never know what's up ahead
I'm never letting go
I'm never letting go!

In case you haven't met Avary yet... here's a glimpse of her style.


This probably won't make much sense unless you know what Avary's novel is about. I can't tell you all of it - since every author has her secrets - but I can tell you it has to do with spacecraft, stars, dear old scientists, and visiting other worlds. In other words, it's the essence of Alligator Sky. Imagination.

Remember to breathe
Because it'll take your breath away
When the engines cough
And you blast off
Ignite the night with a firecracker flash

Remember to live
Because you're gonna be thrilled to death
When the stars collide and your eyes grow wide
Take it in with your breath against the glass

Avary isn't the only character in this novel, either. There are others. Violet, Brian, Sawyer, Dr. Flanigan. They all make up this amazing novel that I call mine.

And believe it or not, I have started this novel. It's coming slowly, though. It's just one of those novels that's like soup. There are a whole bunch of ingredients that come together to make a whole. And it's going to have to simmer for a while until it's ready. But just like soup, you hope it comes out right. And somewhere, deep down, you know it probably will.

Roller coaster through the atmosphere
I'm drowning in this starry serenade
When ecstasy becomes cavalier
My imagination's taking me away

Reverie, whisper in my ear
I'm scared to death that I'll never be afraid
Roller coaster through the atmosphere
My imagination's taking me away!

Until then, I can only dream about stars and spaceships and dear old scientists. And until then, I feel like yelling this at the top of my lungs:


MY IMAGINATION'S TAKING ME AWAY!
Because... it really is. ;)

Alligator Sky by MountainFireflower on Polyvore.com