Chester Bennington Leaves Us All "Numb"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kXYiU_JCYtU

Dear Family, Friends, Readers and Listeners,

Linkin Park is my number Four band in my top Five All-Time Favorite Bands.

Today July 20, 2017, the news about Chester Bennington committing suicide is making it’s round across the world.  The first time I heard about Linkin Park was when I saw the CD Hybrid Theory.  I received this album as a gift for Christmas.  I exchanged the gift for Creed's Weathered album.

During the summer of 2003, I heard "Somewhere I Belong” and “Faint” on   VH1. I became hooked.  My Grammy purchased their second LP, Meteora, for me during this same summer.  The first time I listened to it, I was on the way to Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, Texas. I remember hearing the music and looking at the bands’ artwork inside.  I remember being careful with it due to having sunscreen on.

After listening to Meteora and watching the band collaborate on making the artwork, I became a fan. I made a copy of Hybrid Theory via my brother, who purchased that CD after I got rid of it.  Then I eventually repurchased the CD for myself and started listening to all of their stuff.  I became part of the Linkin Park fan club, Linkin Park Underground. I did this and still do this so I can listen to demos and remixes.

My brother and I saw them with our aunt Sheila in Houston on February 26, 2004.  It was school night and I did have a huge test the next day, but the concert was worth it.  Also after the concert my aunt told us she felt old.

Eventually I would get into the members early projects like Grey Daze and Tasty Snax.  Then the works the band was featured on or just individually featured on.  Then their future side projects such as Fort Minor, Dead by Sunrise, and Stone Temple Pilots.

During the last fourteen years for me, I’ve graduated from high school, college (twice) and earning my money to pay my bills since 2012.  During some of these years, I have struggled with depression and sad days just like many people do.  Just like many people struggle with suicide, I have struggled with it to.

In December 2016, I offered to design a website for a movement called Stay Kind.  I have slowly been working on this project off and on since December 2016.  I hope when it is finished that it will help the fight against suicide. Spreading kindness around the world.

I know that Chester has struggled with drugs, alcohol, depression, and suicide.  Also I know he was a huge fan of Chris Cornell.  Today would’ve been Chris Cornell’s 53rd birthday. Also strangely today I found a post from May 16 by Jane Train:

Troy McLawhorn (of Evanescence/Seether/doubleDrive): I am shocked and saddened by the news of Chris Cornell dying. He was a huge influence on me as an artist growing up. I just can’t believe it.

Pope Francis: God makes His most beautiful flowers grow among the driest stones.

In conclusion I am writing this post in hope that if you are feeling suicidal.  Find a way to talk to the people around you.  If you can’t talk to them you can dial this number 1-800-273-8255 and talk to someone. You can not be replaced.

Love,

Kyle Sullivan

of The Art of Kyle / Oh! Kyle. Radio

#chesterbennington #numb #linkinpark #meteora #ripChesterBennington

Criticizing, Judging, & Hypocrites

Three things on my mind - Criticizing, Judging, & Hypocrites. The first two topics relate to Kanye West, who is being hospitalized for a mental disorder as well as being a danger to himself. For those who are not aware of this:

https://www.google.com/amp/people.com/music/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-children-concerns/amp/?client=safari

1.) Criticizing: 

Back in 2009, I started Kyle's Muzak Corner to review music. I wanted to originally have an internet review show similar to Doug Walker's Nostalgia Critic. Many critics such as Walker review a subject such as movies with heavily complaints. Which is fine we all are entitled to our own opinion. 

I personally wanted to stay away from criticizing music on Kyle's Muzak Corner. Instead I wanted to share music I liked. Avoid all music I don't like. Even with that original goal set, I still became a victim of criticizing music that I don't like such as Kanye West. From that criticizing came a strong dislike for Kanye. Now where I crossed a line is laughing at him when he is going through something very serious. Which I did. 

2.) Judging: 

Judging might be the wrong word here for my second topic. If it is my apologizes. I'm sticking with it. 

I feel like I've crossed a line by judging Kanye West. I became very judgmental of Kanye after the Taylor Swift incident at Video Music Awards (VMAs)where he jumped on stage during her acceptance speech. I felt like he was rude and I stopped taking him serious. 

I thought he was a joke when in fact he is human. He is a human being. A celebrity who we think it is okay to bash sometimes. No regardless of his status, he is still a human. As a human Kanye is going to make mistakes. As a human he is going to get sick. Mental illness is a concerning illness. That isn't always treated that way. 

I'm not going to start criticizing or judging if a lot of people don't treat mental illness with respect. What I will say is mental illnesses can range from small to big. This illness is battle everyday in your head. Medicine can help, but that requires finical security. Both types of health are important - Mental & Physical.

3.) Hypocritical:

Originally this last statement was going to be forgiveness. I was going to talk about Taylor Swift and Kanye West forgiving each other. Though I want to write about how I am someone who is a hypocrite.

I'm a hypocrite for not liking church due to people possibly judging me and criticizing me. I dislike that I am this way, but I feel that sometimes I'm not welcomed. Though that is a mental related issue for another day. What I will say is this that mental issue has caused me to be hypocrite and hesitant in going to church.

Back to me being a hypocrite. I feel like a hypocrite to church for quickly judging a whole community of people just because I felt judged and not welcomed after past mistakes. I felt I should be forgiving, but forgiveness isn't something you are owed. It is a gift.

Being a hypocrite towards a mass of Christians is wrong. Judging and criticizing any Religion or Race due to history or current events is wrong. I feel bad treating people this way. I'm going to work harder on treating people better. First starting with Kanye West. 

The Confederate flag doesn't represent what you think it means. Unless you know that it represents the South - the former Confederacy nation. The Confederate nation prior to the Civil War made a flag to represent their union. Most people mistakenly think that the sole basis of the Civil War was slavery. Wrong. It was fought on the bases on how to run businesses of the nation. The North wanted to run factories up North meanwhile grow different sorts of crops in the South. Meanwhile the South wanted to have some factories in the South so that businesses could be quickly across the board. Slavery was a part of the war, but not necessarily the sole purpose of the war. Abraham Lincoln did abolished slavery during the war, which probably was why we remember slavery during this time.

Now people still feel threaten by this image similar to another flag of another country 70+ years later. If you don't know the flag in which I speak of, then type in the phrase "World War II" in your search engines. I'm sure you'll find eventually. So what is the sole problem at hand here. There isn't one. The problem with the United States of America and probably the whole world is people. Some people just don't understand or want to understand others. While I was growing up in Asia, I was surrounded by other cultures. Also I've been to several kinds of churches growing up (Methodist/Baptist/Catholic). So I'm very accepting of others. This is a trait I want to pass down to my kids.

So how does America/World solve this problem? There is no cookie cutter way around it. We still are going to have wars and other issues. People haven't been getting along for thousands of years. We get frustrated fairly easy and our moods change on a daily basis. Somedays we are happy. Somedays we are sad. Somedays we are mad.

Okay I'm not sure where I was going with that, but one solution to this problem is people need to get out of this "What are you going to do to help me?" state of mind. Get up and work for it. I personally though find it hard to do this. I currently get up and go make a wage that I don't think is truly fair, but I do. I treat it as the job I want, but it gets hard especially when it isn't a fair wage for service I provide. Though there are people who don't even try to do what I'm doing and they succeed more.

I wasn't expecting to to write this this morning. I never even thought about this stuff until I saw it EVERYWHERE on social media. I'm tired of viewing this stuff on social media. I love and I hate social media. I love it, because one of my close friends met his wife via Facebook. Also on a personal note, I was able to keep up a classmate via Facebook who is now my girlfriend. Though I do hate Facebook somedays because it become addicting.

Mostly I use Facebook a lot to keep up with music news. ReverbNation and SoundCloud are both cool, but not every artist in the world uses these social media sites. Most bands stop updating websites or even having a website due to growth of Facebook. Though there are a few artists out there who don't have a Facebook page, but the trend is to have a Facebook page. Somedays I wish there was another music Social Media site.

Until then I'll dream in color, while you'll live in black and white.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K97fin17UIw

Kyle's Muzak Corner - The Sumatran Playlist

Kyle decides to review the music from his youth for the fifth year anniversary of Kyle's Muzak Corner. 
His plans are interrupted by an alien race known as the Magolans. Carl, Beanie, Francis and Bob
come to Kyle's rescue in this three part episode. 

ALBUM REVIEW: SROS Lords - 'For Gas and Vinyl' - EP

SROS Lords is a three piece punk band hailing from Detroit, Michigan.

 The band consists of Morgan on Guitars & Vocals, Jamie on Drums, and Cait on Synth.

This Urinal Cake Records' artist released their new EP ‘For Gas and Vinyl' this past October.  The EP showcases a synthesizer sound fused with punk.  Now I don’t usually listen to this style rock music, but thanks to the synthesizers and hints of alternative rock I was able to find the music very enjoyable. 

Morgan's guitar & vocals compliment Cait's synth parts very nicely.  Jamie's drums provide a nice groove.  SROS Lords definitely show that they have developed a tight sound after starting in 2010.

Overall I found this to be a solid EP.  One of my favorite tracks was "Jesse's Girl" and no it isn't a cover of the 1981 hit by Rick Springfield.  "The End" is another track I favored off this EP.  It is actually my favorite song of 'For Gas and Vinyl’.  The theme of lyrics in this song are very apocalyptical.  This song goes well with the science fiction like sound the band has created.  The overall sound on the EP reminds me of early Blink-182 fused with the Tom DeLonge's Angel & Airwaves.

If you like rock music, SROS Lords has definitely created an EP that is worth checking out.  I hope they will continue to create music.

Here is a link to check out SROS Lords' EP:

http://sroslords.tumblr.com/lost_ep

These are the thoughts of Kyle Sullivan for Kyle’s Muzak Corner

Stone Sour at Hurricane Harry's with Papa Roach

So on February 5th, I went to College Station home of the Aggies to see Stone Sour for the first time. I also had a VIP pass to meet the band. For those of you who don't know Corey Taylor has been very influential these past few years. Pretty much my favorite vocalist and lyric writer.

Now a days getting into a venue is extremely difficult and a lot waiting. The ticket lines were ridiculously. I'm glad I got out of car and waited at Hurricane Harry's when I did. Thank GOD for the iPOD. I plugged in and listened to Chris Hardwick and The Nerdiest Podcast. Now I mention this because it will relate to one of the songs played by Stone Sour.

So like I said waiting. After you get into venue. One must wait and find a place to stand. Now since I was on the VIP list I had to get the pass before the show was over, according the lady at the merch table. So I got my pass after Papa Roach's Set. This concert I stood in many different areas.

For the opening act Otherwise, I stood on the right side of the stage. Overall I enjoyed Otherwise. They were entertaining. Though I've heard many bands like them. I mean I never heard of them and I was able to guess the next drum fill during one of their original songs. They are stationed out of Las Vegas but have family ties to Texas. The most entertaining part of Otherwise's performance was the bass player who was hooked up with a wireless input. So he came out and stood on these railings made to set your beverages on. It was pretty cool to see him do that. I also enjoyed their cover of Rage Against the Machines' Killing In The Name!

So after Otherwise, Papa Roach came on. The songs from the newer albums were good. I haven't listened to them because I'm selective on what I purchase. When I was watching Papa Roach, I thought I was back in Hattiesburg for a moment. They were the last national rock band that I know of that came to Hattiesburg. The last national act at The Bottling Company.

For Papa Roach, I was on the left side of the stage. I'm glad I was because Jacoby walked around the whole venue during the song Lifeline. He then did the a dive into the crowd to crowd surf back to the stage for the last two songs. By the way there was a lot of crowd surfing going on.

After I got my VIP pass, I got back into the crowd to find a place to watch Stone Sour. I got a little closer on the left side of stage. Now this show was awesome and entertaining Josh Rand's guitar skills were phenomenal. James "Jim" Root played just as phenomenal. Roy Mayorga was superb on the drums. Then Johnny Chow added a very warm sounding bass that completed the the overall music sound of Stone Sour. Then there was Corey Taylor. He gets better every time. His wife Stephanie would hand him bottles of water that he would keep pouring on us. One of them actually actually hit the light and bounced back and hit someone. Corey made sure he didn't hurt the person. He made sure everyone was having a good time. Now he wasn't sure how the venue was going to fit everyone, but after seeing everyone squeezed in there was no doubt.

Now thanks to the place crowded it was hot and sweated which Corey mentioned after took of his shirt. Later Roy did the same. And they gave each other a fist bump.

Okay so the Set List for Stone Sour:
Gone Sovereign
Absolute Zero
Mission Statement
Hell & Consequences
Digital (Did You Tell) - Before this song was played Corey mentioned how society doesn't unplug and how we have our faces in front of screens. I believe he is right. Though most of the things I do take place at computer. Editing photos, doing layouts, editing video, and even recording music can take place in front of a digital screen. Though it is not to have the device for certain things like looking up facts or listening to a Podcast. I could say more but this isn't the right place. So onward...

Made of Scars
A Rumor Of Skin
Reborn
Ru486
Say You'll Haunt Me
Nutshell (Alice In Chains)
Bother
Superstitious (Stevie Wonder)
Through Glass
The Travelers, Part 2
Last Of The Real
30/30-150

Then as the band bowed a recording of They're Coming to Take Me Away (Napoleon XIV)

There was no real encore so afterwards, I waited to meet the band. The VIP thing that was fulfilled was a picture with the band. I got a picture with individual members. It was hard to get a photo with all of them. Though I was happy about the ones I got. I talked to all of them.

Josh Rand talked about House of Gold & Bones, Part 2. He mentioned that it would be like a movie soundtrack and very experiential. He said James and him used very heavy gauge strings almost bass like.

James Root was very nice to meet. I told him I was following him on Instagram. He was very humorous.

Johnny Chow is funny. I talked to him about the bass. And he said thank you for laughing at his jokes.

Roy talked about Drums. Imagine that. He mentioned something about it being a long day. I said it was.

That's when they were wrapping things up so I had to hurry and get my last signature from Corey. I talked to Corey for a second but I'm glad I got to meet him and get a photo with him. Part of my bucket list is crossed off. His wife made sure I was able to well lit photo which reminded me of Dave and I at a Third Eye Blind. I think if that band tours again near Dave, I'll make sure he gets a better lit photo.

I think it was good I didn't ask Corey a lot. My only question can wait until latter because most of my questions have been answered online through interviews (written, audio, or video) and in his book. I didn't really know anything about the other guys. So it was nice to get to know the other guys.

Overall awesome night right. Plus I told someone I would have extra fun for them. I'm glad I made the decision to do the meet and greet. Best Birthday present to myself yet. Also I would like to thank my parents again for purchasing my ticket as part of my birthday present.

The event that followed was not so fun. I get back to my car. Ready to leave, but to be stopped by a police officer. I was confused at first. Anyway my passenger side view mirror was dangling. Apparently someone drunk decided to damage my car and some others . I'm just happy I thought of a solution that night to go get tape to keep the mirror from dangling. I would like to thank Wal-Mart for being open 24 hours!

I'm glad I was able to make another A on a test, I didn't get a lot of time to study for because it is my last class and had another assignment to do. Not only that. My favorite design was selected out of the six I had to turn in.

So I guess what I am saying is remain positive and keep your chin up. It gets better. Which is why I like Corey Taylor's music. It helped me deal with life and realize that I can only do what I can do. As long as I do that then no other opinions should mater.

Photos from the event. No particular order:

Looking Back at 2012

So before 2012 ends, I want to take a look back at some of my favorite and not so favorite moments this year. So pull up a chair, grasp your favorite beverage, and take a seat.
You might want to strap in, there will be turbulence.

So at the beginning of this year, I was about to turn 25. I was still living in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I just had a good Christmas in 2011. Got to see the majority of my relatives. I was really happy about that. Also I started an Instagram account.

So at the end of January, I had an awesome time celebrating my birthday with my friends in New Orleans at Wizard World. Got to meet Doug Jones and Adam Baldwin. Plus we saw the new Underworld movie. Amazing by the way and I'm currently watching it.

I also had a great dinner with my grandparents at Red Lobster. Plus I got to purchase some movies.

After my Birthday, we had inventory at work. That was a fun and interesting experience. For those of you reading and didn't I was working at Bed Bath & Beyond at the time. I had my year review on Feb. 3rd.

It was around early February or the Monday after the Super Bowl that I started three weeks of inventory. My favorite moment during that time was spending a week in Meridian, MS with my friend Nathan McPhail.

Also around that time I got to see Fuel with Venrez. Amazing show.

In late March, I started a blog writing movie reviews but put those on the back burner since they became hard to type up vs watching a movie. I posted my last review in May.

I'm proud of the reviews I typed but something else was brewing in the back of my mind. A short movie called The Return of Carl Hughes. One of my favorite things I have ever done. Plus I had a my friend/co-worker Josh help with a scene. thanks again Josh!!

I did all the artwork and the editing. Filmed the majority of the project.

Now for those of you, who don't know Carl Hughes is a character I created in the December of 2009 for Random Ninja Attack's web series Power On.

He started out as the evil Kyle but grew into the anti Hero and just a fun character.

http://blip.tv/carlhughes/the-return-of-carl-huges-6330604

The Art of One released a podcast during the summer updating everyone on our current status after a year and a half.

Also in May, my co-worker/friend Shelly retired from Bed Bath & Beyond and headed northwest to Montana with her husband and all of their animals. It was sad to see her go.

I would be moving myself later in the summer, I'll get to that later.

In June I finished filming/editing The Return of Carl Hughes but the movie wasn't finished until August when I got the scene filmed by my RNA co-creator/friend Eric Hesselberg.

Before the movie was released I entered a contest to get my artwork used in the CD booklet of a new side project of members of Alter Bridge/Creed/Tremonti/Sevendust know as Projected. I got two submissions of four into the CD booklet. It was a important moment for me.

In July after giving Bed Bath & Beyond notice I was moving. I moved the week before I moved I started posted my daily Song of the Day on a Monday.

I also had a going away party with my friends who are truly amazing.
Sean, Nathan, Heather, and Dave.

My mom, my siblings, and I packed up my belongings. And headed to Houston on July 14.

It has been hard since I left that day, but I keep moving forward to bigger and better things. Before staying in Waco. I enjoyed some off time with my family. Vacation. It was my first week off since I started with Bed Bath & Beyond in 2011. Anyway I had a blast with my siblings.

In August I started living in Waco. I started working again at Bed Bath & Beyond. Scheduled a doctor's appointment that helped me discover that I don't have sleep apnea.

Soon school started up again for me after I finished editing and uploaded The Return of Carl Hughes.
I was starting school for drafting which I discovered wasn't for me. I also got see the band 10 Years with Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

I got to go to Wizard World in Austin where I got Sir Patrick Stewart and Eliza Dushku's signatures. Went to some Q&As as well. I had a blast going with my brother Kellen and Aunt Kathy.

In November, my friend Eric Hesselberg married his fiancé Ashley.

And after the Thanksgiving holidays, final exams. I made 3 As and a C. Then the Christmas holiday season and now it is New Years Eve.

Hope everyone has a fantastic New Year!

- Kyle Sullivan