3 Nostalgic Books for the (Semi) Angsty Teenager in You

Admit it. Even though being a teenager is one of the most excoriating experiences one can go through, there are certain aspects that you miss. And there is nothing wrong with that. So, I have compiled a list of three books that will soothe your ache for a time when you didn’t have to do your own laundry and bitch about how about fucked up the world was without thinking up a solution.

How Soon is Never? by Marc Spitz- If you are fan of the Smiths, then this is a book for you.It’s about a music journalist who looks back on his teenage obsession with the band and then tries to reunite them. Spitz wrote for Spin magazine, so there are a lot of fun music references.

Too Much, Too Late by Marc Spitz- Yeah, he’s two for two. Did you have a band in high school or even tried to start a band. In this book Spitz tells the story of a guy trying to recapture his youth by getting his old back together with the help of a teenage girl (it’s sounds kind of creepy, but trust me it’s not). I kind of wish this book came with a soundtrack.

Girl by Blake Nelson- Andrea is going through being sixteen and is also discovering who she really is thanks to a friend introducing her to the local subculture. Every woman who had the experience of being a teenager is suburbia will relate. Plus they made a movie adaptation that features a lot of your favorite indie film stars.

Now, go order them from Amazon or go to your local bookstore.

Clarence is the Most Adorable Cartoon, Right Now

Cartoons are actually pretty well done lately. True, some are duds and are completely irritating, but I find most of them to be creative and thoughtful without being too obvious. As someone who really doesn’t have much of an excuse to watch cartoons, I find myself leaving my television on Cartoon Network more often. With that being said, my favorite at the moment is the delightfully quirky Clarence.

Clarence focuses on the zany world of an optimistic little boy living in a suburban Arizona town. Most episodes revolve around the eponymous character of Clarence getting in to darling misadventures with his two best friends, uptight Jeff and rambunctious Sumo.

What I like about the show is that it champions everybody and shows the wonderment in everyday things. Clarence loves everyone. He socializes with all and finds the good in everyone. He even refuses to quit on that obnoxious brat, Belson. He believes that everything can be something amazing. How many of us have found extreme satisfaction in a simple trip to the grocery store? We might have when we were younger, but what about now? Not only does the show teach children to be open minded, but reminds adults of same thing.

Another things that I love about the show is that each character is unique. Not only does everyone have a different personality, but it also shows that everybody lives their life in a different way yet, we can all find something in common. Clarence’s two best friends are very different from him, but hey manage to find a meaningful connection.

Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I think this is a well done series. Plus, I can’t watch it without cracking a smile.

5 Hip Hop Groups That Also Deserve Biopics

Alright,I don’t about you but, I am really excited for tomorrow’s release of Straight Outta Comptom. As,I progress in my music listening I have come to really dig N.W.A.’s work and I think there is a great story behind the music to be told.

With that said I think there are some other groups that have just as an interesting story to tell. I will also be recommending titles for these perspective features. Also, please keep in mind that this piece is written by a really geeky suburban bred girl. So, please don’t be too harsh.

Wu-Tang Clan- This is a pretty obvious choice. RZA, GZA, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon…well you know the rest. Staten Island’s finest are one the most recognizable names in hip hop and are still highly regarded ass innovators of the genre. I’m pretty sure a production is probably in development somewhere. I mean this is a movie that has to be made. My Title: A tie between Enter the Wu-Tang or Wu-Tang Forver

Public Enemy- Possibly the best thing to ever to come out of Long Island. Also, you know you want to know about Flavor Flav’s back story. How did the clock become his thing? How did Chuck D and the rest put up with him? My Title: Fight the Power.

Digital Underground- We needed another west group on this list and these guys were the pioneers of the alternative hip hop scene and they blessed us with the genius that was 2Pac. They took risks with their music that inspired a lot of artists in a way that promotes a dash of abstract concepts. Plus, I think Trent Reznor stole the rotating musicians idea from them. My Title:Same Song (I don’t think Humpty Dance would fly at the studios)

A Tribe Called Quest- Personally, I think this is a really underrated group. Not enough people know of them and that is a damn shame. They helped launch Jive records and I don’t think they get enough credit. Their songs are truly art and the lyrics are pure poetry. My title:Low End Theory

Beastie Boys- Oh, like you didn’t know that these guys were going to be on the list. Do I really have to go in detail about how these guys broke genre barriers, experimented with sound, and helped dispose of certain racial and gender stigma? Yeah, I thought so. My title:No Sleep Till Brooklyn (I also like That’s The Funky Shit

Those are my picks. What are yours?