Yes, I dropped three-hundred out of the blue today. Well, not really out of the blue—I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. I’m just surprised I actually took the plunge that I didn’t think I’d take.

Next up is a 40-46″ LCD HDTV. I’m so indecisive about big purchases. I’ve been reading so many reviews and ratings, and I feel even more confused than before. Oh, and the reason behind it all:

Final Fantasy XIII. Come to me, please. Final Fantasy XIV, Uncharted 2, Assassins Creed 2, and God of War 3 are also welcome.

I am in love. Her name is Marina Diamandis, or rather Marina and the Diamonds and she’s all I think about anymore. I mentioned her back in July, and my crush has increased tenfold in the time past.

Since discovering this gem (har har, see what I did there?), she’s released two EPs, three singles (two officially for her debut album, I believe) and three music videos to accompany those tracks. In order newest to oldest: Hollywood, Mowgli’s Road, and I Am Not A Robot. On February 22, her debut album, The Family Jewels will drop. Mark it on your calendars.

For those of you who know nothing of Marina, it’s hard for me to explain what she sounds like. Wikipedia lists her as “alternative, indie, new wave, pop”. A very understated description, I must say. There’s really just no one like her. And by the way, it’s just her—Marina & the Diamonds is not a band. She is Marina, and we [ her fans] are The Diamonds.

As usual, here are a few favorite tracks accompanied by poorly-written comments and scattered thoughts of a crazed fanboy.

Shampain — Drinking champagne, a bottle to myself, savor the taste of fabricated wealth — Easily one of my favorite tracks [ if not my absolutely favorite ]. I’ve been in love with the demo version for about a year now and it’s lovely to hear the final studio version. It’s so much louder with pulsing synths and beats. It’s one of those songs that instantly send me into a state of euphoria. Shampain definitely lands on the far electronic / synth end of Marina’s spectrum. I’d say it’s about as loud and synthetic as the album gets.

Hollywood — I’ve been living in a movie scene, puking American dreams — I had never heard this until the music video dropped for it in late November. It was love at first listen, really. Hollywood’s music and structure seemed mild and less bizarre than all the other songs I had known by Marina. Didn’t mean a thing though. Hollywood talks of Marina’s ongoing obsession with American culture. In several blog posts, she mentions her favorite American toys, candies, cartoons, etc. from her childhood.

The Outsider — Is there more to lose than gain, If I go on my own again? — For months I had been listening to a low-quality webrip of the final version—I was that desperate. The intro and bridge of this song really make it. It starts with vocals and piano and at the fourteen-second mark, in jumps a pulsing synth bass line. Three-quarters way through the bridge introduces a dreamy clap / tambourine pattern right before busting into a loud final chorus.

Numb — I feel numb most of the time, lower I get the higher I’ll climb — Numb really proves how diverse this album is. While a good deal of these have a synthetic new-wave sound, this track couldn’t be any further away. The layers of vocals create these beautiful church-choir-like harmonies that send chills.

Mowgli’s Road — There’s a fork in the road, I do as I’m told, and I don’t know who I want to be — I could watch this music video over and over for the rest of my life. It’s so simple and bizarre I just can’t take my eyes off of it. [ Pssst: I posted the link up a little bit. ] The song itself is equally as strange and beautiful with it’s catchy “cuckoo!” and whistling hooks.

Oh No! — TV taught me how to feel, now real life has no appeal … I know exactly why I walk and talk like a machine — Probably my second favorite track. The first time I listened to the thirty-second previews on UK iTunes, Oh No! stuck out and struck me instantly. Maybe because it was my first time hearing the song, while most of the others I had either heard leaks or demos of. Along with Shampain and Hollywood, I imagine Oh No! having some mainstream attention [ hopefully ]. Unfortunately I don’t foresee anything by Marina popping up on American top-forty radio, seeing as how no one really does unless they are Taylor Swift or Lil Wayne. Luckily, shows like Gossip Girl have given emerging indie-pop artists a bit of spotlight, which could be a nice way for Marina to add a few more Diamonds to her collection.

By the way, all of these amazing live photos are by Holly Erskine and Camille Promérat. Check out their flickrs for more Marina shots and lovely photos of other artists!

I’m usually not one for classical or victorian interiors—you can ask any of my friends. However, gosh I could watch Marie Antoinette on repeat for the rest of my life just taking in the set and costume design. The obnoxious candy colors and patterns are intoxicating. I’m really not so sure how historically correct the style is, but I don’t care. This film is visually a great piece of art.

Om nom nom.

pretty pretty please?

I’m always thirsty for inspiration. Here are a few random images I’ve collected over the past week.

Sources (not necessarily in order): decor8, emma’s designblogg, fine little day, graphic-exchange.

I’ve spoken about my addiction to Final Fantasy XI and consequently my obsession with Final Fantasy XIV before. Well, that was eight months ago and I’m still in the same state. I’m waiting impatiently for the online game which will destroy my social life more than both work and the internet already have.

These beautiful pictures are screenshots of a pre-rendered movie for the game. Most likely an opening scene. Besides these, a few in-game screenshots, and a page here and there of details, there hasn’t been much information released. Right now I don’t have much to say, but expect crazy fanboy entries as we move closer to a release date.

And what have we done? Another year over, a new one just begun.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I hope everyone’s having as much fun as I am.

I’ve been quite busy lately, especially with work. Also, for a while there, my hosting was down. Now that it’s back, I’m just sloppily posting things that I lusted over during its downtime.

I have little to no information about this Swedish home furnishings company. Only these pictures from their newest catalog. But I’m content with just being inspired by these photos.

Via husmusen.

While in the mall the other day, I heard a song by these gals and instantly fell in love. Thank the song-id gods that Shazam picked it up and introduced me to this wonderful duo.

Wait Another Day — I will wait to love you, I will wait another day. For you I’d leave all this behind. I will wait for you tonight, I will waste another dream on you. Always run to you. — Holy crap, I can’t get over how addicted I am to this song. This song has a lovely, relaxed, but powerful sound to it. It’s seductive and sends chills down my spine. It’s the perfect balance between indie rock and synth. Very soft and dreamy sounding. Maybe I’m crazy, but their voices in the chorus sound a little like the sisters of Eisley. The end.