CWG - Everything's ok

Ohh man..I had such a laugh reading today's newspaper. Everyone is suddenly very happy about the arrangements for the CWG! The Australians...who did a sting operation to "expose" security holes at the venues (which was claimed to be bogus by Delhi Police), gave a thumbs up about everything. Fennel says there have been "considerable" improvements and that he is very happy. England who said that the decision rests on a "knife-edge"have confirmed their participation. Although there are pullouts but those very ppl who were going on and on about how sh*tty everything has been, have suddenly made a U-turn. The newspaper suggests it's because of India's presence and importance in their economies. The TOI says (and I quote :D) "Diplomats agree the consequences of walking away from Delhi, capital of a rising economic superpower would be grave".  Hahaha..dont mess with us bi*ches! \m/.

P.S. All said and done, this would still not repair the image which has already seeped into the minds of the international community. It would have been so much cooler if all of this was handled like it should have been.

CWG - The embarrassment continues

I woke up today to the news that the delegates who came to see the Commonwealth Games Village deemed the place as "unlivable". It was appalling to read that laborers had defecated inside the flats and stray dogs were all over the beds and stuff! What made me even more disappointed were guys (foreigners) commenting stuff like - "Get over it India..you cannot host the commonwealth games" and "Third world stuff expected from a third world nation". Damn..that was when it really hurt. The worst part is that we cannot even deny it! India has been stereotyped for all the wrong reasons in the past and this episode has confirmed that stereotype. India's image has definitely been damaged for sure. I wonder how embarrassing would the OC be feeling right now. Considering the c*nts that they have been...I don't think it would have affected them. Up till now, I was kinda feeling for the OC. Right from the starting everyone had been against them. The media had been highlighting whats wrong about the entire thing right from day one. Ppl abroad were always raving about the lack of security and mismanagement. It was like everyone wanted the games to fail...even before it started. I wanted the OC to pull it off and then have a thing or two to say to the media and the others. But it did not work that way at all. First there was this corruption issue, then, the deadlines going bust...venues not being ready...flyovers coming down..the list is still going strong. The worst part about all this was that it could have been so easily avoided. If there was this sense of pride about hosting such a big international event among the ppl managing the entire thing, it would not have been THIS bad. Its a shame really and it sucks. As bad as it sounds....we don't deserve the CWG.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

It was 9:00 am and I was still in bed. I did not realize it was this late..I thought it was like 6:00 am or something. In fact I was kinda happy with myself for waking up early! It was still dark outside and it was raining heavily. For a moment I thought the AC was still on. Thats when I got up to see and my eyes fell on the clock. It showed 9:15!! It was literally a downpour outside and the weather had become sooo cold. We dint even switch on the fan the entire day! It lasted for like 8 hours or so..dad told me that it started at 7:30. By the time it finished, it was 3 pm. Well its technically over now..but there are signs of more rain by the looks of it. Anyways, the rain made me very lazy (i mean...lazier than I usually am). I was soo lazy today that I din't even play on the Xbox! After breakfast, I messed around with the guitar and saw The Simpsons marathon. I kinda fell asleep midway through it. I woke up for lunch...and slept after that till 6! Seriously..this has been the laziest Sunday after a very looong time. I hope to make up for it now though. According to my training schedule for the half marathon, (which I still cant believe how I got myself into it), I have to run 6.4 km today. I usually run a 4.5 these days. Pretty sure would be wheezing after the run. Thats why I am kinda afraid to start.

The ol' Sunday sulk (the sulking feeling you get on Sunday evenings about going to work the next day) has crept in. Kinda sad that the weekend's over. Loads of stuff to do next week. To make matters worse, my office timings shifted half an hour before the usual time. We have to reach the office at 8 am and leave at 5pm because of the CWG lane and stuff. My cab is scheduled to pick me up at 7:40 in the morning!! I remember waking up for school at these timings! Its ridiculous. Waiting for the cab with the school kids in the morning is kinda weird. They keep staring at you with their big eyes seemingly saying "Are you waiting for the school bus?..How come you are soo old (and fat) and still go to school?" Man..just writing about it is making me sad. I want a holiday!!..loads of it.

[Update] Ohh man..I had the most awesome run. I was scared for nothing. I did not run 6.4 km...I ran 7.2 km instead \,,/. I just went on and on. I finished strong. Thanks to Iron Maiden - Angel and the Gambler and Lamb of God - Vigil; two great songs which made my run feel liberating. And it made me stop sulking too..the endorphins are kicking in :)

Airtel Delhi Half Marathon

I went for a run in the evening and when I came back I took an impulsive decision to register for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. I was all pumped up and the extra adrenaline in my blood at the moment gave me the confidence for doing the same. Now that my parasympathetic nervous system is back in control..I realized that I am soooo f*cked. The half marathon is 9 weeks from now and the fastest/shortest training schedule for training is 9 weeks! However, the pre-requisite is that the person should have been running continuously for 2 months. My past 2 months were spent in boozing...eating and sleeping! Sh*t!!

Rohit's leaving

My childhood friend Rohit...who was actually one of the first friends I made when I moved to Mayur Vihar; is leaving tomorrow to the U.S for higher studies. All of us..i.e. the rest of my childhood friends...Harman and Sam decided to meet up for dinner (and drinks) in the evening. The plan was to meet up at Mayur Vihar, spend some time and head back...cuz Rohit had to reach back home early. Since I had to stay up at office for sometime, I told them that I would meet up at 8. My cab request was at 7:30 from the office. When it was 7:30..it started to rain but I somehow reached on time. We kinda sat at CODE...reminisced over the good ol' times and had some beers till about 9:30 when Harman started to rave bout this place in Kailash Colony called Salim's. He told us that we had been there...but I swore I dint remember. It  was decided that we would have dinner there even if Rohit was late @ home :) . Anyways at 9:30..I still had some leftover appetite for beer. Harman promised we would have some on the way. So, we headed off to Kailash Colony after grabbin' 3 more beers from Mayur Vihar. On the way...it kinda got finished pretty early (with no fault of my own contrary to popular belief). We grabbed 2 more from the way and reached the place. On the way, Rohit learnt the skill of opening the bottle with his teeth...a skill we all already possessed. This was something spl...atleast for him. 

Anyways...we reached Salim's...ordered a truck load of food...finished 'em all up and went to Giani's for ice-cream afterwards.  Phew..I was soo full! The drive today was pretty awesome. It had just rained and it was nice and breezy. I had an awesome time. It was one of the rare moments when all of us met up and had a blast..maybe cuz we all realized it was a rare occasion and actually took the time out for it. I wish Rohit all the best for the U.S and hope he doesn't change his sexual preference and get married to a guy!!

The Final Frontier - Iron Maiden

I had pre-ordered the CD on Flipkart long before it got released. This was one album I was desperately waiting for. It finally arrived a few weeks ago and I've been continuously listening to it ever since. After 35 years of metal, they are still going strong. The cover art is brilliant as usual with a nice, mean alien Eddy this time . As the cover suggests, the theme is sci-fi with plenty of songs about venturing into the unknown and flying into space. 

Satellite 15 .. The Final Frontier

The first track is very different from what you expect. It starts with a fast heavy bass line which literally makes your woofers shiver like anything. Nicko McBrain comes in with his drums sounding like a fast approaching train! The guitars come in with shrieks...like a revving engine coming closer and closer..creating a nervous atmosphere. It goes on for quiet sometime before Bruce comes screaming in with "I try to call the Earth's command, desperation in my voice. I'm drifting way off course now, with very little choice..." As soon as the verse ends, everyone comes in again and I swear it'll give you goosebumps. There's this li'l solo and suddenly everything goes silent. The track then explodes with The Final Frontier. Phew! what an intro!! Its soo not expected from Maiden. Usually its just some solid fast riff which opens the album but this time around it was different...good different. The Final Frontier is a nice catchy song...it welcomes the listener and warms him up for the onslaught that is to follow.

El Dorado

This was up for a free download a month back on the maiden website. If the first track was different..the second track is classic Maiden. The galloping bass is soo freakin' awesome...sounds like 50 f*ckin horses coming straight at you! If anyone really wants to know what heavy metal is all about, this song is a perfect example. The opening riff is a nice stop-start guitar with the trademark heavy metal gallop at the background. The verses are low, almost like a sneer, the chorus is high and the solo is a twin guitar attack. This is where maiden is really good at...plain ol' old school metal. Awesome track.

Mother of Mercy

Mother of Mercy is an epic song which anyone can hum along. It sounds great during drives and drinks :). The theme is of war..a theme not new for Iron Maiden (or for that matter any metal band). The song is about soldiers not knowing why they fighting and who they are fighting with. "Why are we here? In this place..here to kill. Please god forgive us for what we've done.".. thats how the verse goes. And when Bruce ends with "I'm a soldier of war"..the chorus punches its way in, destroying everything in its path! Bruce sings with passion in this awesome song.

Coming Home

This is when you sit back and soak up the album. This a slow track..in fact its the ballad of the album. Its a nice slow track with a strong chorus bit which kinda mixes really well with the verses. Just when you think the song is slow..the powerful chorus reminds you that you are still listening to Maiden. It has a very catchy riff which sticks to the back of your mind. The solo is really soulful and melodic.

The Alchemist

This song picks up the pace after the ballad. It takes us back to the quintessential maiden tune... fast..loud..and an immensely catchy chorus. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith start the proceedings with their blissful harmonies. I'd like to compare it with The Trooper (due to the harmonies) but I rather should not. Its everything that characterizes an Iron Maiden song. Short and sweet.

Isle of Avalon

The intro is nice and slow with a crescendo brewing...indicating the track is about to explode! Bruce's voice is so passionate on this track..esp when he sings "Mother Earth you know your time is near".. you cant help but feel the sadness in his voice. The crescendo finally culminates into an explosive chorus when Bruce screams "I can hear you!!..Can you hear me?? I can feel you...Can you feel me??" After that, I swear you cant help but move your head back and forth with those metal horns right up there. Its an epic track. The chorus is excellent on this one. "I hear her crying..the tears of an angel. The voices I hear inside of my head. Blessed the fruits are the corn of the earth..Mother Earth holy blood of the dead." Its soo bad a*s!!

Starblind

The song really takes off with this nice li'l riff at the opening seconds of the song. Its a nice mid-tempo song which has an awesome solo. In fact the song structure is really progressive...with nice smooth tempo changes. Starblind is a powerful song (almost like a power ballad) with Bruce singing at the top of his voice during most parts of the song. It's brutal..esp towards the end, everything slows down and then there's this small crescendo before they all erupt to create this awesome metal experience.

The Talisman

My favorite track of the album. The intro is kinda similar to "The Legacy" from their last album - A Matter of Life and Death. It has an acoustic intro..nice and quiet..yet indicating that something's gonna happen soon. And soon enough..the song breaks into this classic fast, powerful sound that Maiden is soo familiar with. The chorus is soo incredibly catchy with a nice li'l solo which everyone can whistle along. At a li'l over 9 minutes long..this takes you at levels which one can only expect from an Iron Maiden song. Its pure magic.

The Man who would be king

The intro is so graceful with Bruce narrating the story in his most soulful voice. The song weaves in an atmosphere similar to the seventh son album...esp till the chorus. Midway, it suddenly takes a U-Turn. Its crazy..its something inexplicable. I swear..its surreal. Everyone comes along with everything they got. The guitars..the bass..the drums...they all sound incredible. The track comes back to its original pace after this li'l interlude. It ends with a nice slow outro with Bruce singing "Far..far away..the man who would be king" indicating an end to his tale.

When the Wind Blows

This is a 11 minute song..the longest in the album. Its epic..its a magnum opus. This track reminds me of The Nomad or the The Blood Brothers. Its really melodic and it would be awesome listening to it live. The crowd would definitely hum along like they do during Fear of the dark. It has this nice li'l solo which comes in the middle at 5:00..which is soo cool!! Everyone comes together during this last song. During the end at about 9 minutes or so..there's this flash of brilliance again. Its a perfect finale to a monster album.

The Final Frontier is an epic album. I like it better than their last album - A Matter of Life and Death. Although there is no song which beats the classics like The Number of the Beast, The trooper or Hallowed be they name, but collectively, I feel, this album is right up there amongst their greatest. Up the Irons \,,/.. may heavy metal live forever!

The Real Great Indian Rock

I was just randomly youtubin' when I came across this nice li'l short film titled The Real Great Indian Rock. Its kinda like a montage of all the old GIR shows in Delhi and some moments with Killer Tomatoes. One might recognize Bumpy in the video..he is now a producer in MTV. I think I saw him in the Roadies series. It made me smile and all nostalgic and sh*t. I have been going to this fest right since I was in 12th. Its gonna happen this year in Dec. And I cant wait for it!! Anyways, it was nice to hear those old songs esp "Sneak Preview" by Orange Street (6:20) and the Killer Tomatoes song which is the signature tune which we hear @ GIR always. Its a well made film but it as the director (Bann of Orange Street) says..it could not have been completed due to lack of funds. I just hope people stop listening to sh*tty Atif Aslam stuff and start listening to some real music! Here's the video though.