Tag Archive for 'rob-croft'

14
Jul

How far must one go to hear something grand?

By Rob 0 Comments
Categories: Music and Reviews

So here I am, working at Thousand Pines for the entire summer.  It’s wicked awesome.  But I need a break every now and then.  Saturday brought forth my opportunity to attend the MuteMath Listening Party in Los Angeles, where in the VIP Lounge of Club Nokia, one could sit and listen to the entire new MuteMath album “Armistice” which doesn’t drop until mid-August.  Woo-bally-hoo.  Or whatever.

Rob and Carlos at VIP access

Rob and Carlos at VIP access

MuteMath, if you don’t know, is one of the more unique modern rock bands of today, featuring one of the most energetic live shows you could possibly attend.  I’m not sure, but I believe Alternative Press gave them the ranking of the #1 show to see before you die in one of their articles a few years ago.  Ain’t it the truth.  If you’re not sure, check out MuteMath’s live DVD, “Flesh and Bones: Electric Fun” for a good time.

Us with Greg, MuteMaths guitarist

Us with Greg, MuteMath's guitarist

I have no doubts that their new album “Armistice” will be well received by MuteMath’s current fans, as it features even more of what we’ve come to love from Paul, Roy, Greg, and Darren: high energy, electronic driven rock with soaring vocals and epic ambience.  Listening to the CD, I thought “Great, more of the same” which is totally not a bad thing, having waited this long for new material, but halfway through, I really started being blown away by what I was hearing.  A new vulnerability in the lyrics and melodies.  The ability to pace a song, letting it groove smoothly through without rushing, a lack of fear to slow down and be melodic with the guitars and keys.  Maturity.  Without necessarily changing their sound, MuteMath has been able to provide an album that shows growth and experimentation.  This was music that was more than just putting on in the background as you play videogames or drive fast; it was music you can put on, sit down, listen to, AND think about, letting your mind wrap around what you’re hearing, and processing it at your own pace.  After talking with Greg, their guitarist, it felt like they had produced something they were proud of and totally stoked to show people, and play nonstop for the next few years on tour after tour.  They’ll be in southern California this October, tickets are available now.  GO see them before you die.

Kody, Carlos, and I in Club Nokia, listening to Armistice

Kody, Carlos, and I in Club Nokia, listening to "Armistice"

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Play by FoxSaver®
28
Mar

Recent Updates

By Rob 3 Comments
Categories: Links and Podcasts

I know it has been so terribly long since I’ve graced this site with articles, but that’s part of the price I pay for refusing to post meaningless blogs about my personal life, and meandering thoughts of nothingness.  However, since this is CAREER and SITE related matters, I don’t feel bad about this update.

You may have noticed on the right, I’ve added a few extra pages to keep this site interesting.  I’ve added two portfolios of my work!  My radio production portfolio features liners and spots that I produced for Biola Radio, where I currently hold the position of production director.  My other page focuses on one of the crowning achievements of my college career, my old radio show!  On the Rob and the Guy page, I will periodically be posting some of my favorite clips of old for your listening pleasure.  Sketches, commercials, and characters abound all the while hilarity ensues.  Feel free to check it out, as I’ve already posted a few clips, starting with the first appearance of THE WORLD’S WORST WORSHIP LEADER character.

And if you’re not interested in living in the PAST, I currently am actively involved in the culture driven website ConversantLife.com, who has just recently released their first in a series of weekly(ish) podcasts featuring live artists, songs, and culture updates.  YOURS TRULY also wrote and plays a role in the podcast, so head on over, and give it a listen.  The entire podcast is only about 15 minutes long and my segment and character shows up at the very end (hint hint, it’s a parody of ultra-relevant pastor Mark Driscoll).  If you’ve got professional advice or feedback…. do it.  Now.

18
Feb

How the Christian market sucks (Part 2)

By Rob 3 Comments
Categories: Misc., Music and TV/Film

Let’s pick up where I left off, shall we?

On the other side of the dice, is the entire idea of godsploitation. It works in profound ways that so many people are blind to, not just in film, but certainly within the radio, music, and literary industries. A vast majority of Christians refuse to partake in “secular” culture because what they are exposed to will ruin their lives forever. This leads Christians to seek out the “Christian Alternative” bands. Back when I was growing up it was: “What? You like Limp Bizkit? Try listening to P.O.D., it’s just as good except without the evil!” What developed through the years of pleasing the Christian population with safe products is a terrifying entity: the Christian market. Continue reading ‘How the Christian market sucks (Part 2)’

20
Jan

RobotFires.com’s Inauguration Day.

By Rob 6 Comments
Categories: Misc.

As you can see, my blog site has been completely revamped, and nestled safely in its new home. Props to my main man, DB for setting that up for me. I’d like to think of this new and improved web space as a representative of the journey that I’m taking in my life. Now that doesn’t mean that the site will wander aimlessly through the streets of southern California or stay up until 4am watching YouTube videos of Bob Saget comedy routines til I fall asleep. It doesn’t mean that at all.

I have dreams. Dreams that could fuel your fires. I’d like to share those dreams, thoughts, ideas, and stories I have with you, Webnation. Won’t you join me on my quest to find:

  • A career in radio broadcasting
  • The most quaffable brew
  • True love
  • My place in this world

Okay, the last one I stole from the great M.W. Smith, but it still means something!  This is my chance to start fresh.  So let the great inauguration day of my blog commence!  I’ve arranged to have a parade through the streets of Washington D.C., one of the major web networking capitols in America, and they did NOT disappoint.  Although I wasn’t expecting such a huge turnout.  I didn’t advertise as much as I had planned, mostly because my PR campaign was put on hold to catch up on LOST on ABC (premiering this WEDNESDAY NIGHT), but I guess blogs advertise themselves these days.  Anyway, I’m pleased to take part in this journey, and like you, Webnation, I have no idea where it will lead.  Hold my hand (no worries, my palms don’t sweat) as we jump, NO… leap, NO… pounce on each new day.

TODAY’S QUOTE OF THE… DAY.

“…it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job, which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.”   -  January 20th 2009

Like every quote of the day, if you name who said it, you will receive something very, very special.  Today’s is pretty simple.

25
Dec

Christmas with the…

By Rob 3 Comments
Categories: Biographical and Misc.

Visiting the family during the holidays is different for everyone.

Before Christmastime

Before Christmastime

…and…

Before Christmastime

Before Christmastime

Now compare.

During Christmastime

During Christmastime

…and…

During Christmastime

During Christmastime

At least I could give ‘em points for consistency.  Maybe next year?

15
Dec

Memories and Sunshine

By Rob 2 Comments
Categories: TV/Film

Living with four roommates in an apartment is an interesting experience when it comes to entertainment.  One giant television in the living beckons for the community experience, yet it’s nearly impossible to have people in the same room at the same time for a film.  With three of my roommates having girlfriends, I find myself in situations where I get to be that extra wheel in the room.  I didn’t mind this evening when a couple wanted to pop in a film, and watch one of my all-time favorites: Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind.  A unique look into the world of the human memory, and how we are affected, but not defined by our experiences and memories, both the good and the bad.

This movie’s about 4 years old, so I won’t go into a full on review.  Just keep in mind that I place this film in my top 3 favorite films of all time.  If you’re familiar with the writer Charlie Kaufman’s works (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation), you’ll know that the themes, structure, and story devices are very similar, and require a bit of thought to really unpack.

The plot in a few sentences: Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) both submit to a memory-erasing procedure to rid their minds of each other after a rocky patch in their relationship.  While racing through his memories during the procedure, Joel realizes he wants to keep his memories, and risks everything to save them.

That’s right, the majority of the film takes place in Joel’s mind.  My last semester in school, I gave a presentation on three of Charlie Kaufman films: Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and this one.  Some would consider the three to be a sort of trilogy concerning the nature of human identity and it’s resilience within existence.  Without giving too much away, Eternal Sunshine really drives home the idea that our disposition, our nature, cannot be changed by our memories, or be removed (if there was a way to have our memories removed).  At the same time, we see that throughout life’s ups and downs, there are things we’ll always want to hold on to.  Joel realizes that although there are some uneventful memories in his life with Clementine, but all the good, meaningful ones that they share make the bad ones worth keeping, and they certainly were not a waste of time.

The most beautiful scene in a long line of beautiful scenes features Joel and Clementine reminiscing about the first night they met in Joel’s own memory about the first night they met.  Classic Kaufman.  As the unoccupied strangers’ beach house they broke into comes crashing down around them (results from the memory-erasing procedure occuring at that moment), it’s expected that Joel chickens out and bails on her like he really did that first night.  “I wish I had stayed.  I wish I had done a lot of things…”  Not only are our memories worth embracing, but the experiences we have creating such memories are ours to control.  Sometimes it isn’t until retrospect do we wish things were different, but even though they’re not, the memories are still important to us.

We are created in the image of God.  Our essence as human beings precedes our existence, and the implications of the Kaufman trilogy, exposing that nature of ours as resilient through time suggest even more interesting implications on a theistic metaphysics level.  Since I’m no expert on the topic, I’ll leave it to you the reader.  Give it a shot.

12
Dec

Is it even possible?

By Rob 2 Comments
Categories: Biographical, Links, Misc. and TV/Film

To blog.  Can I do this?  Hasn’t it been overdone?  Everybody blogs.  It should be the name of a new children’s book.  But seriously, I, Rob Croft, have decided in the early morning hours (no better time to make decisions) of Decemeber 12, 2008 to hereby proclaim my return to the web blog world.  Months of being merely an observer are no longer a satisfaction.  I have to say something.  I have to write.  No stranger to the lost art, I started blogging on classic sites such as Myspace.com or the so-retro Xanga.com.  I was young then, and brash.  There’s no excuse for the things I have written there, which remain tombstones in a public graveyard of my immature ramblings and ideas.

Since this is my first post, I had better make it a proper one.  Over time, this page will only get better.  I’ve gotten “internet lazy” thanks to automatically-take-care-of-everything sites like Facebook, so it may take some time to settle in and… redecorate.  CSS, XHTML; acronyms that mean very little to me.  In the meantime, you may be asking yourself a question.  Or several.  First and foremost, “What will I find here at HONEST TO ROB?”  I’m here to answer that.  If I may draw your attention to the title of this blog, I do, in a sense, strive for honesty and truth in writing.  I believe authenticity is key to proper communication, and I will do my best to adhere to such standards in any situation or scenario I find myself writing about.  But to really break it down, I hope to eventually provide the following:

  • Representation of various ideas that I find myself thinking about, whether they be philosphical (yeah, right), theological (sometimes) or mostly observational (booooring)
  • My take on what I see and hear that stem from our modern day culture.  My finger is on the pulse of society, and I’ll tell you what I think.
  • References to whatever I find on the internet that I consider worthwhile, from news articles to video clips
  • A closer look at my life (professional, social, musical), and my projects -podcasts, songs, written pieces (including comedic sketch writing), videos, etc.

Yes, it does seem like I’m putting my opinion out there for the whole world to see, and that is the point of a blog, ladies and gents.  I want you to look at me, and be bettered by our encounter!  Too much?  Now, I’ll explain a little bit about me, so that you’ll be aware of what type of material you may come across here.  First and foremost,  I’m a Christian, and strive to live by the teaching of Jesus Christ.  Secondly, I’m a musician, and have played in many different places, and love many different genres.  Thirdly, I have just finished four years of school at Biola University, working at a degree in communication studies, including broadcast media, journalism, and speech, with a minor in biblical studies.  I currently live in a small suburb between Los Angeles and Orange County, but will soon be moving back to my hometown in Visalia, CA, to pursue a career in my dream field of radio broadcasting.  I’ll provide more on specifics in upcoming blogs, but for now, you’ve gotten a good taste of where I currently am.  All that’s left now is to find out where I’ve come from, and where I’ve been.  In due time… for now, I recommend checking out one of my favorite sites for passing the time AND keeping up to date with the latest and greatest in television:  Hulu.com.  This site features a hefty amount of television shows and films in their entirety, all legally provided by the television studios themselves.

What I never miss:

  • The Colbert Report
  • House
  • 30 Rock
  • Fringe
  • The Office

See you in the real world.

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