Good Lord, this woman has gems for songs. The musical arrangements have been made even richer, her vocals are as enchanting as ever, and her lyrics, perhaps even more than it did before, stir the soul. I’m actually still in *gasp* mode, so I am in absolutely no condition to critique and give a proper review without squealing like a rabid schoolgirl.

Vienna Teng, being the genius of analogies that she is, managed to make the lyrics of all the songs in this album appear somewhat war-themed but actually describe various battles of the heart. The songs depict the challenges of living life to the fullest, dealing with a broken family, finding your soulmate, and all sorts of battles that are not unheard of but not really pondered upon much by most. And they are all performed beautifully. Even if you don’t get the tasty little metaphors sandwiched between each verse, you’ll still enjoy the layers and layers of lush, indulgent sound. Tracks I recommend are The Last Snowfall, Antebellum, Kansas, Stray Italian Greyhound, No Gringo, and St. Stephen’s Cross. Playing Vienna Teng songs loudly is recommended.

I’m gonna enjoy this some more. With tea. Mmm.

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 15 people including me. Try not to repeat a song title.

Pick Your Artist:
Vienna Teng

Are you male or female?
Daughter

Describe yourself:
Nothing Without You

How do you feel about yourself:
I Don’t Feel So Well

Describe where you currently live:
1 BR/ 1 BA

If you could be anywhere, where would you be:
St. Stephen’s Cross

Your favorite form of transportation:
Blue Caravan

Your best friend is:
In Another Life

Your favorite color is:
White Light

What’s the weather like:
Drought

Favorite time of day:
Transcontinental, 1:30 AM

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
My Medea

What is life to you:
Whatever You Want

What is the best advice you have to give:
Soon Love Soon

If you could change your name, what would it be:
Hope On Fire

Your favorite food is:
Stray Italian Greyhound

Thought for the Day:
Love Turns 40

When I was a student there, it was an all-girl Catholic high school. You’d think the bands would be more decent now that they’ve got guys playing in them. But instead of feeling disappointed, I was rather amused at how they horrendous they sounded, and how they concentrated more on their antics than their sound. Also amusing was how some things didn’t change, particularly in how kids write songs for a songwriting contest. The younger bands still take things too literally, making something almost jingle-like in nature. The older bands are either subtle or totally off the mark. What else didn’t change? Lead guitarists still can’t shred worth squat.

These kids actually remember me as the drummer of the senior band seven years ago. They still remember me as the quiet leader of the band who tuned everyone’s instruments and sang back up vocals behind a drum set. Loners were usually laughed at, but for a loner, people found me quite cool if only because I was in a band. It admittedly got to my head for a while. I constantly criticized how bands played (my own band included), just because I knew how to play virtually every instrument the regular small town folk knew of. That didn’t take too long, though. I eventually got tired of my kibitzing and just enjoyed the music. And I screamed like a rabid fangirl whenever necessary. But I knew fully well from experience how assholes musicians can be, so I decided to never date a musician. At least not the kind who took it as seriously as I did.

Judging for a high school band competition was especially amusing, as I haven’t criticized high school bands in a long time. They sounded worse than any high school band I’ve ever heard (so much that I wanted to get on stage and tune their guitars), but I found myself enjoying their performances. The highest score I gave was a measly 55%, but it was fun.

Nope, I still wouldn’t date a musician. I’m happily taken, and even if I weren’t, music is too precious to me for me to risk being all cynical about it again. But hey, I’d still stalk Trent Reznor, Stephen Jenkins, and the Kaulitz twins.

Gibson Les Paul Goddess

I don’t care if Gibson Guitars are overpriced. I drool over the Les Paul Goddess. It’s the perfect guitar for girls. Aside from it being really pretty, it’s really comfortable, too. It has a lightweight mahogany body and a slimmer profile neck (for smaller hands). And as expected from a Gibson, it’s got awesome craftsmanship and sound. The Goddess has powerful 490T and 498R humbucking pick-ups to make it produce strong, commanding sounds when played loud, and subtle and responsive tones at lower volumes. They’re made specifically for female guitar players, but I know a lot of guys who would actually be willing to play this axe simply for the no-frills comfort it provides and the no-bullcrap sound it makes. And at 1,700 USD, it’s pretty cheap for a Gibson.

Of course I’d want to have one of these if I could actually get my hands on one as these models have been discontinued. What still IS there that looks promising is the Les Paul Vixen, which I have yet to try out. And I’d get an electric guitar if and when I feel confident enough in my playing. For now, unless someone gets me an electric guitar, I’m sticking my good ol’ acoustic Gibson SG-shaped axe.

Apple iPod Classic 120GB

No, I actually do NOT have a portable mp3 player. Shocking. I’d buy a cheap one, but I need a lot of space to store a lot of songs, as I get tired of overplayed songs pretty easily. Except for Vienna Teng’s. But I digress.

Despite the popularity and the kickass features of the iPod touch, I’d want to have an iPod Classic with 120 GB of space. I won’t go into detail as to how wonderful iPods are, but I will say why I want an iPod Classic more than an iPod Touch. More than sweet graphics and additional features like gaming and internet, I need the space for the music I’m too stingy to put in my laptop, and other junk I have in my files (papers, PSD’s, graphic design resources, coffee recipes, etc.). And God knows I’m pretty clumsy accident-prone, so I’ll need something a little tougher than the iPod touch. Something that isn’t gonna get cracked by my hips or my derriere.

Yes, I have heard of the Microsoft Zune, but um…I’m too much of an Apple whore to consider other brands. If Apple has it, chances are I get the Apple version.

Grado GS1000

I’m more of a music nerd than an audiophile, so I don’t appreciate audiophile headphones as much. And I’m too stingy to spend for audiophile headphones. But my word, the Grado GS1000 Headphones blew me away when I first tried them out. These are, without a doubt, the finest set of cans I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, even if it was for roughly just five minutes. There is no special super advanced technology that makes these cans deliver such wonderful sonics. Just excellent craftsmanship, and pure design genius. The mahogany housing combined with high-powered drivers deliver absolutely immaculate, flawlessly balanced sound. The dynamics are unbeatable, the top end is pristine, and the bass is deep but crisp. All these are enjoyed with an enlarged soundstage (thanks to the specially-made room in the cushions for the ears), resulting in amazing separation, making the listener hear every single layer of music. Layman’s terms? Unlike most headphones that make you feel like you’re on the front row of a live performance, the Grado GS1000 makes you feel like you’re on stage with the artist. It feels like the artist is right in front of you. You can almost feel their breath.

For professional use, like for recording or engineering music, I’d get a Sennheiser. But for sheer eargasm, I’m sold to these wooden babies.