sugababes sample k-doe, become girls aloud

SONG: "Girls"
ARTIST: Sugababes
RATING: OOOO
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. More like a machine than a pop group, but one that pops out brilliant shimmery girl-empowering pop like trailer trash mamas pop out babies. Their line-up changes seem to do nothing to take away from the Sugababe perfect pop formula. Their lead singles are always the most chewy and addictive out of their albums. There was the forceful and gritty "Freak Like Me", the perky bouncy "Push The Button", the boyfriend bashing "Hole In The Head" and the power chorus-ed "About You Now", all of which reached number one on the UK charts. Now, after releasing an album just last year, comes a new single called "Girls" in which the blur between Sugababes and power pop robots becomes even more unnoticeable. The song's got an interpolation of Ernie K-Doe's "Here Comes The Girls" and well, it sounds like they're trying to recreate the gritty aura that their early hits "Freak Like Me" and "Round Round" had. But without Richard X, who helmed their earlier hits, has gone off to knock high heels with Girls Aloud, it sounds flatter and more messy. It's not a weak single though. In fact, it's one of the most unique songs the Sugababes have had. And that's saying something. It's just a bit too much like a flatter wanna-be version of a Girls Aloud song. Anyways, this is off their upcoming sixth album. That's right. Sixth. In eight years, that's just...mechanic. Enjoy. Hazim. Out.

ooh. i like oxford collapse-the birthday wars!

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. Yep.Yeps. I don't know what I think of their new album Bits, but I love Oxford Collapse's "The Birthday Wars" and "The Children's Crusade". I'm going to check out the album now...Hazim. Out.

album reviewed:solange knowles and the hadley st. dreams

hazim and the new asymptotes

ARTIST: Solange Knowles
ALBUM: Sol-Angel And The Hadley St. Dreams
GRADE: OOOO
hey. hazim here...again. Well, I wonder who actually listens to albums anymore. But whatever to that. I do. And Beyonce's less famous sister has just put out an album worth noting, worth giving a spin. And more than once.
WHAT'S GOOD: Solange Knowles didn't hit gold with her debut because it was safe and lacked any sort of personality. It merely hung on the fact that she was Beyonce's sister. And because of that lack of ambition, it was limp. Here though, the younger Miss Knowles gets itchy. Sure, it's still typical Motown in another dress, but it's never been presented in such a fun, flirty, uninhibited way such as it is with Sol-Angel & The Hadley Street Dreams. Here, she gets gooey-eyed and quirky such as on "Sandcastle Disco", where honesty and realness wins over her fragile sandcastle of a voice. The samples are used sparingly, totally unlike an album Kanye West would put out (littered with them). Where Beyonce's B'Day was brash and in-your-face, this album is arrestingly sweet and likeable. The electronic bits are strewn in perfectly in the seemingly disorganized mess that Solange and her crew coo and stutter over. And as startling as the act of her using Boards Of Canada's "Slow This Bird Down" as a sample, it's just another step she takes, while her mind wanders as far as it can away from her surname.
WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD: Solange's voice is wafer thin. Like litmus paper and sometimes the beats just weigh her down. And sometimes, this newly found ambition of hers is larger than life. Too large, in fact, in songs like the embarrassing "Cosmic Journey" in which she tries too hard to distance herself from her big Sis. When she gets all doe and sad, it's boring, like a plaid coat.
SOOOOO...: This is fantastic stuff. or rather, a fantastic start in her quest to be different. Only time will tell whether she can improve on this stroke of a quirk genius of an album. Where would she go after Motown? But the fact that this album leaves you pondering on that, means that Solange has put out a fantastic album. And Beyonce should be nervous.
THERE'S THIS SONG I LIKE: "Sandcastle Disco" "I Decided" "This Bird"
ARTIST WEBSITE: Solange Knowles

fefe dobson moves! RAWR.

SONG: "Watch Me Move"
ARTIST: Fefe Dobson
RATING: OOO1/2
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. After a great first album that showed how real Avril-lites should do it, and a second album which never saw official release (of course the internet made it available). Then she was dropped from her label. So, it kinda looked like we wouldn't be seeing Fefe Dobson nyeah nyeah and chew guitars and spit out crunchy bubblegum pop-rock still more awesome than anything Avril conjures up on The Best Damn Thing. But here, she is, new single in tow. A short spasmic piece of grrrrl power attitude with a bouncy chorus slapped on like black masking tape. She's the Energizer Bunny of pop-rock princesses, not letting down after being dropped. Not sure if this from her upcoming third album, but hey, this might actually make it big. It's been featured in commercials for Lipstick Jungle and Margaret Cho's using it for her show. But it's so short though, not even reaching a full 2 minutes. Whatever. This is a good sign of things to come from Fefe. I swear, if her third album doesn't see official release, I'm going to strip naked and smear SAVE FEFE on my chest with paint and run though music stores across the country. Hazim. Out.,

surprise. dido does 'dido'...again

SONG: "Look No Further"
ARTIST: Dido
RATING: OOO
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. So...uh, Dido's got this new song available as a free mp3 download on her official website (Click HERE freebee lovers). And uh...what does it sound like? It's a sparse simple ballad about 'poets walking on moons'. The lyrics get a bit cringe-worthy. Her voice is still beautiful, as always, it remains something you can count on, like an old dog. But it's been a long time since her last album and the music scene has changed drastically. If this is the type of music Dido wants to put out, then good for her. But bad for her career. "Look No Further" was produced by Jon Brion and you can catch glimmers of an orchestra, his signature, but this isn't worth the long 5 year wait. Dido's upcoming album will be titled Safe Trip Home, and apparently, this is just a song to garner excitement for the album. Not the official single. But this will still be on the album. Boo. I was expecting something more though. This could have been a hidden track off Life For Rent or No Angel. All I know is, even Jem would snort at this. Her next song had better be better. Or am I just an unhappy fanboy? Yeah, that's it. Still, at least she didn't take as long as Axl Rose. Hazim. Out.

so uh,...post?

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. I'm planning to get a new computer soon. I'm really excited for that. Anyways, I was reading the newspaper recently and I found out that the next Harry Potter movie is delayed until next year. On account that I've seen the trailer for it and on account that I'm not spurred to write positive things about it, I don't very much care. Harry Potter, surprisingly, I'm doing fine without it.

Anyhow and ways, I'm reserving my next post for this weekend, when I'll be at home. Home is good. Home has free internet connection and my mother's beef curry. Hazim. Out.

Beyonce's sister skins Big Bird, wears it in music video

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. I first heard this track earlier this year with no music video to accompany it. The song is really awesome stuff, the kind you can't get out of your head unless you go for a memory transplant. So anyways, if you've got bad eyesight like mine, then consider yourself lucky. This music video for Solange Knowles' "Sandcastle Disco" is dizzying and corny. And if you've ever wondered why they don't make muppet movies anymore, have a look at the various contraptions Solange dons in this video. She skinned Big Bird and pals and wrapped them around her. PETA's going to be giving her a call soon. The special effects look like a 3 year old did them blindfolded, and the overall effect is that of someone who went out of the loony bin way too early. But despite the insanity streak Solange is on with this horrendous video, the song is super catchy. And I love it. But I'll stick to just listening to it. It's a must watch. Once only though. This video won't make Beyonce nervous at all. Hazim. Out.

fever to tell. top 3 "fevers" in music!

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. God must hate my guts. After having my phone stolen by an unknown bastard, I now have been stuck with a high fever for three days now, and still counting. I feel hungry and thirsty all the time, but when I DO eat, I feel like throwing up and I don't finish my food. Sucks. But these three songs don't though. First off is Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" off their famous Fever To Tell. Then, there's Kylie Minogue's "Fever" off her famous Fever album (ya know...the one with the Na Na Na Na...single). And lastly, there's the band Dengue Fever with "Seeing Hands" because ya know...they've got fever in their name. And the band is cool. So while I'm trying to get through this annoyingly annoying fever of mine, I'll be listening to these. Especially the Kylie Minogue one. Yups. Yups. Enjoy. Hazim. Out.

Dengue Fever-Seeing Hands

Kylie Minogue-Fever

Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Maps

there's this song i like:keane-spiraling

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. I'm not a big fan of Keane. Their first album was great. Their second was okay. But they never really made me excited. Mainly cus I thought that they sounded like The Bravery with a heavy accent most of the time. But this! THIS! This song is like a total complete unashamed full-plated serving of sugar rush. The lyrics aren't as happy go lucky as the spiraling house beat that Tom Chaplin squeals over. But this serves as a slice of retro awesomeness in a time when The Killers aren't killer anymore, and ABBA are dead. This song, "Spiraling" comes from the band's upcoming third album Perfect Symmetry. And yes, the talked out verse after the second chorus is a bit grating, but the whole "WHOO!" thing going on in the song makes you feel like Tom and his band just filled up a big fat syringe with sugar and injected your brain with it. Yeah, it hurts. But it hurts so good. Hazim. Out.

the streets get epic

SONG: "The Escapist"
ARTIST: The Streets
RATING: OOOOO
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. After that horrendous track that was leaked, ya know, the one where Muse and The Streets are featured on together "Who Knows Who", I was kinda expecting something yucky (again) for The Streets next album. One man band Mike Skinner really won me over with his Original Pirate Material. His snark was obvious even if it was delivered through Sheryl Crow-plain-speak. And we got a lazier remake of that with the last one, The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living, even though we did get the spectacular "Dry Your Eyes". This time, it might look different though. Here's "The Escapist", a new track supposed to be coming from his upcoming release Everything Is Borrowed. And just like the title, this is a bit of Asobi Seksu with the same intellect that won him credibility and an Ivor Novello. There's a layer of orchestra feel blanketing the song staying true to his claims that his new direction has "a peaceful, coming to terms" vibe, and in my opinion, this is probably his best song ever, like ever! And I haven't even listened to the rest of the album yet (mainly cus it's not released yet). If you're tired of school or your job, at the end of the day, you could just plug this into your eardrums and...escape (duh). Mike Skinner plays with words like he's on par with UK's other great rapper-Dizzee Rascal. Bur Rascal's gone soft, so Skinner's going softer.
This beats Coldplay's "The Escapist" off their latest album by a good ten thousand miles. And the video is simple, but effective too with Mike Skinner just showing his back to the camera (like we really want to see his ass for 5 minutes and 25 seconds). But this song means there's still hope. Mike Skinner plans to release only five albums, like J.K Rowling with her seven Harry Potter books. With this track, it's hopeful he'll pull off a better closing than a not-dead Harry Potter. Hazim. Out.

losing my religion...my phone

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. Sorting through what has happened since the last time I posted, there's only one thing I remember. My phone got stolen. True, it was just an X-Plore PDA phone 2004 model, but it looked smart enough to come across as something that could be pawned for a considerable amount. It was flashy, but the functions kinda sucked. Despite that, I still really liked it. And the fact that it was stolen from my own apartment was what made it worse. Errrmm, sorry...I mean, MAKES, it worse. I'm still grieving about it. I expect it to be at least a year before I fully recover from the shock. Then I have to deal with the anger phase, and then the regret phase. I left it charging in the living room while I was in the bedroom and some desperate bastard sneaked in and unplugged it from the charger and whisked off with it. Kinda stupid he didn't take the charger since an X Plore PDA phone's battery life is about as extensive as Danny DeVito is tall. Usually, I have to recharge every single day. Most of the time, it's a common thing for me to lose things and misplace them everywhere. My roommates are used to it by now, but this time, I am a billion percent sure that someone stole it from me while I was in the bathroom reading.
But yeah, the phone's gone. Stolen. So, excuse me, while I go to the temple, mosque, and church to pray unspeakable things for the bastard who stole it. I'm not used to something other than my privates vibrating in my pants once every five minutes. Withdrawal. It's gonna suck. No phone is no life. Hazim. Out.

anjd when malysia almost didn't win a gold...

"Some Rezona Under Here Would Very Much Be Appreciated!"
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. In my opinion, I come from an underdog country that's always being overshadowed by neighbors Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. Especially on the world stage whether it's sports or politics. But when I found out Lee Chong Wei had made it to the finals of the Men's singles badminton for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I was kind of ecstatic and proud. So I sat in front of the telly last night with a bowl of instant noodles, thinking it was going to be a long and grueling match for Lee, the world's number two badminton player and the world number one Lin Dan. And it wasn't. Lee looked unfocused and distracted and the horrible Chinese majority crowd booed him (I would have thrown my racket at the crowd for being so noisy) and got annoyingly noisy for their hero. But the boos were few as Chong Wei didn't score a lot of points, sweating profusely and committing simple but costly errors, losing badly to Lin Dan. But Malaysia hasn't won a single medal for a decade more or less. And silver is still something to celebrate, right? So when I heard a someone calling in to the radio station complaining about Chong Wei, it pissed me off. Hey, why don't YOU try and play badminton in the Olympics? Anyways and how, I'm content with a silver medal and I'm happy with Chong Wei, regardless of the terrible loss. Malaysia's still the underdog. It's kind of boring to see China scoop all the medals up, but that's competition, isn't it? Hazim. Out.

oasis suck. like, really really suck

Oasis. Gallagher Brothers' Egos Too Big Too Fit In Picture
hazim and the new asymptotes
SONG: "The Shock of The Lightning"
ARTIST: Oasis
RATING: O
hey. hazim here...again. Fufufu. Internet connection is really slow, but it's the only connection I have access to at the moment at this dump college. Anyhow and ways, when was the last time you enjoyed an oasis song? For me, it was probably only once, when "Wonderwall" was released and that's it. You know why? I can't stand Noel Gallagher's humongous Kanye West-worthy ego. He's a dick and I'm so glad Jay Z dissed him in "Jockin". really glad. His brother's a dick too. They're both dicks. And not the good kind either. So with that totally unbiased opinion of Oasis prerequisite, this is "The Shock of The Lightning". Through the years, while Noel's ego has been growing bigger, his band's songs are getting less and less fantastic. And this song supposedly took just 8 minutes to write. Yeah, we can believe it. Apparent lack of melody? Check. Elton John-predictable lyrics? Check. Noel's snark and smarts have been replaced with volume. And when a band like Kean could do better in their sleep, this track just doesn't cut it. Especially when your ego's as big as the Gallagher's. In the end, "The Shock Of The Lightning" isn't shocking at all. Hazim. Out.

did the jonas brothers make a good album? or is Blender crazy?

Yep. I Just Posted A Picture Of The Jonas Brothers On My Blog. Shoot Me
hazim and the new asymptotes

hey. hazim here...again. I really don't get the Jonas Brothers cus I think only one is a heartthrob who should have a good stint as solo artist in the future, but to think that they could have so many hits in so little time, winning out over Miley on the charts and whatnot. Well, apparently, Blender magazine loves their latest release A Little Bit Longer so much they awarded four stars. I'm not one to be influenced by reviews, but this has piqued my interest...kinda...maybe...yeah. Check it out in the link below or listen to their latest single "Tonight" and gauge. I can't. Figure. It Out. "Burning Up" was banal. "When You Look Me In The Eyes" was painful. And their tight fittingclothes post a question mark on their sexuality (sure to put off hormone induced teenage girls should they find out Nick, Joe and the other guy like it man to man). Whatever the case may be, Blender, the magazine I heart and love has endorsed the Jonas Brothers. Shudder. Maybe I'll just check the album out and see...eek. I'm scared. Hazim. Out.

Source: Blender

rachael yamagata and her elephants

Rachael Considers Consuming The Microphone
hazim and the new asymptotes

hey. hazim here...again. I had a good but mostly boring weekend full of really slow internet connection. The weekend saw me staying in and pretending I was studying hard and hitting the books. I used be so studious. The Starbucks drinking, spectacle wearing, serious faced librarian type who listened to Damien Rice and Rachael Yamagata. And while my love for Damien Rice has been flushed down a toilet bowl, my anticipation for new material from the pixie of posture and mistress of mourning not named Fiona Apple, Kate Bush, or PJ Harvey-Rachael Yamagata, that is, remains strong. She's pretty brilliant with her debut album Happenstance, the way the paino tinkling complements her "Hi-I-Smoke-Too-Much" husky vocal delivery. Anyways, and how, she's releasing a new second batch of new material this year. This new album by Rachael entitled Elephants/Sinking Into Heart will be produced by Bright Eyes and Rilo kiley producer Mike Mogis. Aside from the WTF album title, will have another surprise. It'll be in two parts. Whether this means a separation into two or two different CDs of material, i don't know, but I'm crossing my fingers hoping it's the latter. She describes it as being PJ-Harvey and Tom Wait-ish. Because PJ's voice is smoky like Rachael's, my hopes are definitely up. I love and love and love listening to "Worn Me Down", her best song ever-in my opinion. The acoustic kicks ass too. So I'll post the video and you'll watch it and fall in love with her too. Because this time around, her music will NOT be featured in The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants 2. Hazim. Out.

hazim's top 4 favorite music videos, like, EVAH!

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey.hazim here...again. Does anybody care about the MTV Video Music Awards? It's not really credible anymore and it's been this way even before the mess that was last year's ceremony with footage of singing in hotels and Britney's disastrous performance. Okay, it was pretty hot to see Madonna and Britney share tongue a few years back. But now, it's just a sad excuse for teens to turn on the telly. Anyways, nominations are under way for this year's round of sadness. And while I won't care much for the actual nominees, here are four videos that in my opinion should have won in their respective years. Bjork's for being just plain cute with the cat and David Hasselhoff's for making me snort grape soda up my nose while watching it. Oh, and I'll throw in The Bird and The Bee's "Polite Dance Song" because seeing an old disgusting looking man try to dance was amusing and makes me glad my sperm is still fertile. And Katy Perry's "U R So Gay" because of the proper use of Barbies. That one is still eligible though. Hazim. Out.

Bjork-Triumph Of The Heart



David Hasselhoff-Hooked On A feeling



The Bird and The Bee-Polite Dance Song



Katy Perry-Ur So Gay

Pink grows down, bottoms up

Pink recommends a new substitue for cigarettes to a lukewarm reception

hazim and the new asymptotes

SONG: "So What"

ARTIST: Pink

RATING: OO1/2

hey. hazim here...again. Her last album was a sleeper hit. With "Stupid Girls" the lead single appearing and disappearing rapidly on the charts. The follow up hits "Who Knew" and "U + Ur Hand" fared much better, bumping I'm Not Dead from the grave to the top 50. So what new direction will Pink go to now? This new single from her upcoming album is, I guess, her attempt to reclaim her attitude after all the Avrils and Ashlees have stolen it. But Avril had a number one worldwide smash and Ashlee gained some cred with a decent album. So how's Pink going to change things up? By dumbing herself down after the smart and mature record I'm Not Dead was. This song, no matter how much Pink brags about it in the lyrics, lacks attitude. The fake snarling. The weird out of place lyrics sound translated from J-Pop fluff. She's name dropping Jessica Simpson for no concrete reason, and her rally and cry of "So What" falls flatter than Calista Flockheart's breats. This from the woman who had a top ten hit about masturbation? Sorry, Pink. Please please try again. Hazim. Out.

in honor of the Beijing Summer Olympic 2008, I present to you...william hung!

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. So...the games are underway and everything. And I'll be watching when I can. I could have posted the theme song to the games, but nooo... I have to be true to myself and unleash this again to soon-to-be-deaf again ears. You might or might not recover. But hey, the Hong Kong born William Hung IS Chinese right? An excuse to post this? Yes. I'm not going to wait for the Winter Olympics, ya know...Enjoy the video. Or don't.Hazim. Out.

wasn't the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony super awesome?!? gush.gush.gush.

Aren't the mascots super duper whoop-er ultra fucking cute shit!?!
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey hazim here...again. Last night I got all teary eyed and sisy-hearted. Why? I was watching the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, and my heart melted like a snowball on a frying pan. Amidst all the murky political smog blanketing the games, people were aware that the games are, like the President of the committee said, for the athletes. And for the people. Like me, watching and hoping and crossing my fingers that my own country Malaysia wins some medals. I loved watching all the countries march out, studying their selection of garbs to don and their flag bearers, famous or not (Roger Federer and Chia Ming get roars from me).


The Tai-Chi exhibition? Cool. The glowing floating disco ball thingy with acrobats walking, defying gravity on it? Super cool! The running of that Chinese gymnast on the inside wall of the Bird's Nest Stadium carrying the Olympic Torch to its final destination while the image of a scroll unraveling showed behind? Super dooper cool! And the mascots? The cutest shiznits ever!


I think it's the coolest thing to be an athlete competing....I'm dreaming. Whatever. It's cool enough to sit in front of the television with a bag of chips and root beer cheering on my favorites. Anyways, here are some links to other places on the web for more information, including a link to more pcitures. Check out the disco ball thingy. It's worth it. And what's worth more is seeing people just not give a damn about all the politics or China's stained human rights record or color or sex or religion or beliefs and look like they're just focused on steamrolling the competition to oblivion. That might have made me piss my pants. MIGHT HAVE. Hazim. Out.



For some more pictures of the Opening ceremony: CLICK HERE

For pretty good coverage of the games that will take you until the end: CLICK HERE

For an OK entry about the games in Wikipedia: CLICK HERE

there's this song i like: telekinesis!-imaginary friend

Telekinesis! Hates Flash Photography
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. I can't keep still while waiting for the Olympics opening ceremony tonight! It's going to be great, despite all the backlash and the bad press China's been getting. And with the pollution problems and Tibetan troubles swept under the rug for the time being, you can only focus on the games. And thatr's what's important right now. Right? Anyways and how, I was surfing through Stereogum's free MP3 section and I found this artist I really really really love! He calls himself Telekinesis! I like the name, being an X-Men comic book freak. I have no idea whether he's already got a record label or not. His real name is unfortunately NOT Telekinesis! (wouldn't that be cool though?), but Michael Benjamin Lerner. Apparently, Death Cab For Cuite like them as well, if that's supposed to mean anything (rolls eyes). Yeah, his songs are exactly the kind of stuff I like listening to. Sunny. Catchy. Melodious. And a bevy of Blah Blah Blahs. Off his MySpace, I heart this track the most. It's called "Imaginary Friend". Lyrics kind of remind me of me! "When I was little, I had imaginary friends, and we had lots of fun". "Then one day, my mother told me they're just pretend, and then I had noone." Isn't that true? Better to imagine your friends. Reality bites. Anyways and how, enjoy the download links. So I just sent him a friend request on MySpace. And added this brilliant song to my profile. If you like him, do the same, and spread the word! Remember. I, Hazim, would never NEVER endorse music I don't like. Well, except for maybe that time I was coerced into holding that I LOVE YOU MILEY at a Ms. Cyrus' concert. I kid. For now though, I don't have the download link for "Imaginary Friend", so if you want to listen to it, go to his MySpace page. I do howver have downloads to two of his other songs which are also awesome. Do it. NOW. Click.Hazim. Out.


Download Telekinesis!-Coast of Carolina
Download Telekinesis!-February 5th 2008


Telekinesis! at: MySpace


Telekinesis! at: TheSixtyOne

Telekinesis! at: LastFM

omg! M.I.A's actually on the US charts!

M.I.A. a possible chart topper? Maybe.I.Am
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. You know that feeling that some people get when they discover an "underground" artist? And they think they're so cool because of it? Well, I kinda had that when i first listened to M.I.A's Arular. I thought I'd discovered a gem. A Sri Lankan motor mouth with a penchant for writing lyrics about sweaty sex and religion, often in the same line, and dribbling them over jungle rhythms and bongo beats. Not even the similiar sounding Santogold could topple her after the relase of her second album Kala. That album had a lot of gems, including the Bollywood inspired "Jimmy" and the crazy "Boyz". This song, censored or not, is the crowning glory. M.I.A usually doesn't give a damn whether her sound is mainstream or not but here, she accidentally stumbles into a catchy pop hook and a melody as undeniable as a newborn puppy. And it payed off. The song's hit the ground running, getting in at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 28 in Canada. It's not long before she sees herself in the top 10. And thank god. And finally. Please please knock that annoying "I Kissed A Girl" off the top. Crosses fingers. Here's the music video for this brilliant song about illegal immigrants. And whatever you do, do NOT look for the cover by Rihanna. You might be looking for hearing aids afterwards. My fair warning. Hazim. Out.

dido's got a new album coming out! can you say "finally"?

Dido's efforts to hail a cab in the rain turned fruitless
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. Does anybody remember back in 2001, when Eminem and Dr. dre sampled Dido's "Thank You" for their own smash hit "Stan"? And then "Thank You" did better than "Stan" climbing to number 3 on the US and the UK charts?And then her debut album No Angel sold a whopping 13 million albums. And then her second album sold 8 million? And she had another big hit "White Flag"? And how she's been gone so long that her niche in the music world might have been taken over by the likes of Rachael Yamagata, KT Tunstall, and Jem?



Well, none of that soon. Cus they're all going to have to make way for the original (after Portishead, Kate Bush, and Sarah Mclachlan of course). She's coming out with a new album in November, with first single "Don't Believe In Love" being released to radios in September, the 16th to be exact. Let's hope the record label keeps to their word. The album's been delayed so many times. The long gestation time is probably due to the death of her father earlier this year.



She's been working with producer Brian Eno, who's famous for his work with Kanye West and Fiona Appl.e Although I liked her second album Life For Rent, it was a little too similiar to No Angel, just a little more polished. I'm hoping that she changes up her sound a bit though.



Anyways here are three videos, in my opinion, of Dido's three best music videos.Enjoy. Hazim. Out.



"Thank You"


"Don't Leave Home>




"Stan

3 days away to the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics: the whole pollution thing

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. There has been a bevy of goodness this year from Lil Wayne's new album to The Dark Knight. Entertainment, the world, has spoiled us this year and with some exceptions (Eddie Murphy's latest flop of a movie and Madonna's Hard Candy), it's been really good so far. Now, with the Beijing Olympics coming up, I have a good reason (watching fit athletes duke it out) and an excuse (supposed patriotism) to just sit in front of the telly and just be a vegetable. Malaysia's sending a good number this year and yeah, I'll be rooting for them especially since the Chinese have always ruled the roost.
One big issue is pollution, as in the athletes don't want to go there cus they're all worried about pollution. The pollution index is at 87 so duh, they should be worried (although I do think some of the athletes are a bit prissy and need a wet towel slapped across their faces). The WHO's recommended index? 50. That's uh.......37 more than it should be! My math stinks...like Avril Lavigne on a good day. Most won't be affected though, not directly anyways. I mean, if they suddenly have unhealthy lungs, they're gonna shove their cigarettes away and point their index finger to the face of China. But marathon runners have been complaining badly about it and...I guess I feel bad for them. I'm a runner and avid jogger, and I hate hate HATE it when someone burns trash outside and the smoke reaches my nose and it throws me off focus. It sucks. But nevertheless, I think everyone should just stop whining and just enjoy the Olympics for what it is-a chance to see swimming suit clad babes up close. Or if you're gay, there's always Michael Phelps, I guess. Whatever floats your boat. Hazim. Out.

SOURCE: Bloomberg

Oh, and P.S. Here's a link to a video of a horrible Chinese singer. Just because. Just because. 'Insert smiley'
CLICK HERE

my friend's sad little birthday party

hazim and the new asymptotes

hey. hazim here...again. It's nighttime right now, and I just got back from something really weird. My friend. She has lots of friends. But it was her birthday today, and not a lot of people seemed to notice. Her boyfriend had asked me to cook a beef dip thingy which is about the only thing I can cook without setting the kitchen on fire. It was wrapped up nice and snug in Indian Chapatti bread. I thought I was cooking for 20 people, but when I brought the food from my college apartment, I found only 6, plus 2 cats. It was sad. Other friends had completely forgotten or were out shopping in the city. Fufufufu. I don't want friends to be like that towards ME. Forget my birthday and all. Anyways, although little, as in the number of shower-uppers, it was still nice to joke and eat and eat and eat and eat and...yeah. I'm full. But now that I think of it. These kinds of things can always be used as a way to find out who your real friends are. Right? Hazim. Out.

backtrack: annie-chewing gum (2004)

Annie-Chewing Gum

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. I posted something about Mirah yesterday. Well. her voice sort of kinda reminds me of Annie. I really really dug her album Anniemal and the following album Dj Kicks. It was a bevy of electronica smash and Euro trance bits that kind of takes over like a maelstrom of blended genres in your eardrums, banging the tunes into your head 'til you can't even sleep without the song reverberating in your head. Yep, that was Anniemal, her debut album made after her hubby sadly passed away. Annie, the pop sprite from Norway, took over the dance charts and even got this song-the crowning glory of her debut- to appear on an episode of Grey's Anatomy. It's "Chewing Gum", and in it, she tells off herself, chewing and spitting out boys like bubblegum. The song, itself, is bubblegum pop so pure and obvious, a blind person could identify what genre it was. Too bad the Grammys always ignore artists like her. Who trusts them anymore? Especially after rewarding U2 with their undeserved Grammys for How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. And their repulsive love of all things John Mayer.

Anyways, and how. The video is simple, but sexy. Her dancing is HOT! You'd definitely be watching her in a club (besides the fact that she's already an acoomplished DJ). She's got a new album called Don't Stop due out later this year. Supposedly, Girls Aloud was supposed to help her out on a track called My Love Is Better, but that track will be appearing without their vocals on it. Wait...wait...wait..the next post will give more details about her upcoming album, yeah? Hazim. Out.

my connection is crawling like Star Jones on a treadmill

mhazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. I'm not going to be posting much today on account my connection speed today is extremely truly madly deeply slow. Like turtles swimming through spilled molasses. Like Air Asia flights. Like Star Jones on a treadmill! Hazim. Out.

there's this song i like: mirah-dreamboat

Mirah Needs A Bath Now!

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. I was bored. Like, really unbelievably bored. I was making baked beans for my roommate. I NEVER cook for people. So that's how bored and unoccupied I was when I happened to come across this artist while surfing (being unbelievably bored). This artist...is not new. indie undergournd lovers probably know her already. But I didn't. And what's the harm in discovering her now, right?
Now, about this artist. Uh, she's Mirah. And uh, she's horny. Like, really extremely unusually horny. As in, her lyrics feature sex, sex , and sex. But that's just on the surface, but if you pay attention, there's bad love, love gone wrong, and a sad tinge. Anyways, she's got a new album, so Pitchfork Media was reviewing her so i decided to go and click on her because ya know I was bored and I needed something to do. The album's called The Old Days Feeling. And I've listened to a few songs. One, I particularly like. OK, so it's not 'particularly like'. More like it's because that's the only YouTube video with a song from the album that I could find. Haha. The song, however, is a nice appetizer for the real meat the album's got to offer. She's got her dirty lyrics down pat with sad laments trolling underneath the songs. Most of the time, it's in a cutesy voice though, kinda reminds me of Annie. The Chewing Gum Annie. But Mirah's definitely less electronic-y. And I'm going to find out more about her before posting anymore. For now, enjoy "Dreamboat". Because bored Hazim sure did...again and again. Plus, the song's really short anyways. Should take -4 seconds to load. How fantastic if you're busy. Junk food for bored people like me. I needs me some more music...NOW. Hazim. Out.

Mirah's Official Artist MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/coldcoldwater

i'm hungry.

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey.hazim here...again. I'm hungry. i just am. So I'm going to eat. NOW. lol. Hazim. Out.

can't log in to myspace...aaaarrrgh!!!!

hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. Today, something out of the ordinary happened. Something Mulder and Scully wouldn't be able to figure out. Something stranger than the Jonas Brothers' sexuality. I went to MySpace like I usually do and guess what? I couldn't log in. I have no idea why. I typed in my email and my password (which is...haha. Yeah, like I'm posting my password here) like I usually do and clicked the Log In button, and it led me back to the homepage as if I hadn't logged in yet, prompting me to type everything all over again. Thus, I, who was surprisingly patient at the tim,e typed my email and password an abysmal total of 10 times before blowing a raspberry to the computer monitor screen. I already emailed them about the problem so i hope they're fixing it soon. Cus if they don't, I'll be forced to while away my time on boring application filled filled Facebook. So 'aaaarrrgh!" I say. Fucking "Aaaarrrghh!". Hazim. Out.

b-b-b-b-back...i needs me some tea

Tea Is Sexy.
hazim and the new asymptotes

hey.hazim here...again. I just got back to college after an almost and almost illegal (haha...) two week hiatus. It was just me staying at home doing nothing for the whole time. It was quite fun actually. Just being lazy, not smelling good and not washing my hair which is something I get lazy to do sometimes. Anyways, since I've been away, I haven't been able to drink tea. yes, tea! A big LOL to that cus it's true! I miss drinking tea but I only drink it in college. I bought 2 big packets with teabags inside. It's my addiction.

I drink when I'm studying. I drink it watching the television. I drink it when I'm reading. It's like life support. So, then when I got back and looked into my stash of teabags I found out that it was empty. yeah....EMPTY! I couldn't believe it either when I reached my hands into the locker and found out there were no teabags left.



Asians are supposed to like drinking tea, right? It's the stereotype that fits me, while others (like Asians are smart or Asians play piano at 2 years old) are not.



I prefer the Boh tea from Cameron Highlands or the ones from Sri Lanka. Green tea sucks by the way. I heard it promotes cellulite. Yucks. This is becoming something like an unhealthy hobby for me right now. Haha.



So now I need me some tea. If I don't, I won't be sane. I'll blubber and walk like I've got a chainsaw stuck in my ass (not cool). Withdrawal sucks. Don't do drugs. I'm going to the store later. This is just a random thing my mind conjured up because being thirsty for tea is the only thing I'm thinking right now, really. Honestly. Hazim. Out.

eye for I (and other eye related puns to follow!). the story of my cornea transplant. pretend you care!

Eye and I.
hazim and the new asymptotes
hey. hazim here...again. It's been almost three months since I've had a new cornea grafted onto my eye. It's called keratoplasty or a keratograft or a cornea transplant. I call it a second chance. I get nervous everyday that my body will reject the foreign tissue and I'll be forced to learn the piano in hopes of becoming the next Stevie Wonder. But I don't even know where the C note would be, let alone the W note (I know there's no such thing, but I didn't know that before!). Anyways, in December, I discovered I had keratoconnus, a disease (what a horrible ugly word) that causes your cornea to elongate into abonormal shapes, and morph (what a cool word) into a mountain peak. So glasses wouldn't help. You wouldnt believe how many times people told me I needed glasses. I'm not sure why this wasn't detected earlier, but whatever. My friend, Sharon, has the same disease, but hers is not so bad. She can wear contact lens to fix it. Hers is a hill, and mine are mountains. And no, I'm not talking about breast size. I'm talking about the peak of the cornea.

So, this disease, right? I had trouble seeing things properly. I could see. But it was blurry and the lights. Well, the lights throbbed in time with my heartbeat (ooh look at that stationary lamp Mom! It's moving!) and instead of seeing one point where the light comes from, it ends up scattered. Sucks. Depth perception sucks. Failed my driver's ed three times because of it. Ran into a lamp post at 10 pm at night because of it.

Anyways, I didn't have to wait long on the waiting list for a new cornea to arrive from the US of A. It came and I went for the surgery. it was uncomfortable lying there practically naked, my poor bare ass on an extremely cold steel table (which the nurses who didn't seem to like me probably imported from Antarctica especially for me), and me shivering like I swallowed a vibrator. But the surgery took just an hour and I was allowed to go home after a night in their even colder room.

So now, I'm allowed to go jogging and cycling. Two things I love. But I still can't go swimming. It should take one year for the eye to fully recover. Meanwhile I usually keep my right (your left) eye closed. It itches a lot sometimes. gets painful. But I have my medicine for that. There are risks of rejection to the new tissue, but I'm crossing my fingers. I'm going for riboflavin cross-linking treatment for the other eye cus it's not as severe. I might sign up for the organ donor thing so when I pass away (like die, like really really friggin die!) someone else can have my organs. Nobody wants my penis though, right?

I'm thankful. Sometimes I get pissed off. Like, why can't I have vision like other people? Why can't I see and they can? But then I coold down and count my blessings. I'm not blind...yet. I've still got a chance for good vision while my eye is recovering and I'm waiting to go for treatment for the other eye. While the doctor (whom is an opthamologist and loves Ironman by the way) says I won't reach 20/20 version. I'll be really thankful when I can actually see 4 feet in front of me. And if it fails? I'll get another transplant (Don't you just looove insurance coverage?). Meanwhile, I might take up piano lessons...kidding. I'm gonna play the steel drum. Haha. Hazim. Out.

For more information on keratoconnus, click here:http://www.supervisioncenter.com/keratoconus.htm
For more information on how you can help the cause, click here: http://www.supervisioncenter.com/keratoconus.htm
For more information on organ and tissue donations, click here: http://www.restoresight.org/general/faqs.htm
For more information on Stevie Wonder, click above where it says Stevie Wonder! Sure, its just a Wikipedia article but there's a percentage of credibility in there somewhere, right?

there's this song i like: wiretree-big coat

Wiretree-Big Coat

hazim & the asymptotes
hey hazim here...again. I'm a big power pop lover. I like my songs adorned with a chorus catchier than Asian Bird Flu. But I also like and appreciate cleverly written lyrics. Now, this song by Wiretree is perfect for me! I love love love it! I love the chorus bit! I love the 'du-du-du-dups' at the end! I love the voice! I love the background music cus it's so lush and evocative! This is probably my favorite song right now and it's been for so many months now. They're like shoegazer pop with a Radiohead glaze. I'd definitely suggest (have done already actually) this to my pop-loving friends. The album is called Bouldin. And I'll post a review of it later. Kevin Peroni goes on like a chirpier Elliott Smith. Now, here's the catch...he's the only guy in the band! That's right! The sound is like a full orchestra but there's one man behind it. Anyways, here's a video with the song attached so you can listen to it. I heart this song and I really suggest you get the album. Another brilliant song is "Feel Me",but for now, here's "Big Coat". Enjoy. Hazim. Out.

the joker

hazim & the asymptotes
hey hazim here...again. I just came back from watching batman, err...I mean The Dark Knight for the THIRD time! It was still great and it still had me on the edge of my seat, mainly because the music accompanying it makes it so that you might know what's going to happen next, but not when, so when it does come, it's a big surprise like dum...dum....dum...BOOoOm!!!

Hahaha...anyways, I thought that Christian Bale was brilliantas moody, dark, and contemplative. This Batman trumps all the past Batmans, especially the one which had that really weird kinky suit with a special compartment for his nipples.

Harvey Dent was great. Surprised me that I liked the character so much. We need more of him. Morgan Freeman was good, the usual. So was the butler dude.

But...the REAL amazing performance that totally blew me away, leaving an imprint on me after I left the cinemas was...Heath Ledger's incredible Joker. The Joker's one of the most badass villains in the comic book world, even though for me, DC Comics are a bit...meh. I'll always be a Marvel Man. But as a direct opposite to Jack Nicholson's kooky version some years back, he brought out the dark sadistic, really really really really evil side of the Joker. And I really mean the sadistic part. Blowing up a hospital. Carving people's faces. Attempts to coax people to blow up each other on ferries. Like, wow.

This is all me talking about Heath's performance without being influenced by the fact that he's sadly passed away. Dead or not, this performance was king. I'd say it ranks in line with Hellboy 2 or this year's top movies so far. Both are comic book movies. One is funny, the other thought-provokingly dark.

If Heath was still alive, I'd petition they do a spin-off movie on the Joker. There aren't many movies on villains ya know...and no one wants to see a movie of Venom (supposedly coming out). If he does get an Oscar nomination,not because he's gone, but because he milked thehell out of acharacter and took it to another level. Hazim.Out.