The last mp3 player I had -and still have with me- was a 1GB Creative Zen Stone. Cheap, of reasonable quality, and perfect for my daily commutes. I had a 40GB iPod 4th gen previous to that, the drastic drop in storage needed adjustment, but all I had to think about was how my first portable media player was: a TAPE Walkman.

Presently, my Nokia E63 was my all-in-one gadget, but I know how the sound jack it has was pretty off when I listen to music, radio, or an audio book, even with good earphones. The phone wasn’t meant for that purpose, so its not at fault.

My initial choices consisted of the usual devices that pretty much derive its features from the evolved iPod Nano concept: same storage capacity (4GB-8GB), same candybar phone-sized screen, video capability. I didn’t allot a generous budget for this purchase, so there’s also that to consider, which also does easily cancel out what would be the most obvious choice for me: a 160GB iPod Classic.

I saw the Sansa Clip device being sold over at TipidPC before, but didn’t really put it up as a candidate. That is, until the day I realized I didn’t need one common feature that comes standard now with media players: VIDEO. My phone has video capabilities already, and even with that, I don’t use the feature as much.

So there’s my story, here’s the brief review:

• Sound quality is the best I’ve heard on ANY player I’ve had my hands on.
• Has an equalizer with presets, and a custom preset as well.
• You can record radio broadcasts! This would be so cool if only we had really good radio shows to record.
• Standard audio file tagging is supported, but you wouldn’t need any media player software to transfer files (its all drag-and-drop), unless you want to make playlists. In that case, Windows Media Player and even Winamp will do.
• Small form factor is well designed, and though I’m researching for a silicone case for this, it doesn’t look like it will scratch easily.
• Connects to PC via standard mini-USB cable; charges from there, too.

Other features to note:

• Battery: 15 hours of playback
• Radio: FM tuner/20 presets
• Recorder: Built-in microphone
• File Support: MP3, OGG, FLAC, secure WMA & Audible files

This was chosen as Anythingbutipod‘s #1 mp3 player of 2008. Check the 4 star rating and the detailed user reviews 5 star rating over at Amazon.

Wait, is the unit available locally, you ask? No. So, yes, no warranty to speak of except from a personal one I got from the local seller where I got it from.

Cost: 5k pesos.

More of the Sansa Clip here: http://www.sansa.com/players/sansa_clip

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• January 2, 2009 -- REVIEW: Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler (1)
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Having stumbled upon the new Darren Aronofsky release, The Wrestler, a few weeks back, I knew, instantly, this will be a treat. I’ve seen all this director’s previous films: Pi (its now a blur to me now, though), the frantic and just-alright Requiem for a Dream, and a critically-panned flop, The Fountain, which I actually liked.

Let it be said that there is nothing new, plot-wise, with The Wrestler. In sum, we really just see an aging professional wrestler struggling with real world facts: that he’s old and damaged, that he’s past his career prime, that his neglected daughter hates him, and that the stripper he gets lap-dances from is ultimately hesitant in starting a relationship with him. He wants to correct each mistake, make everything as happy and content, like his beloved hair-metal songs, the soundtrack of his life, his once-celebrated career.

A look of wonder will creep into your face when you see a tanned, bodybuilder-heavy Mickey Rourke in tights, with his behind to the audience, in what looks like a nursery school room. We only get to see his face minutes after, in the wrestling ring. A few minutes more, after a coordinated victory, we see what its like behind the show, the faces behind the characters of any larger-than-life persona you can think of: mayhem, hate, and of course, the contrasting all-American hero. Mickey Rourke plays Ram Robinson, and yes, he is that hero.

Not a hero to the daughter he left behind and never got back to, though. Same at his thankless day-job at the supermarket. Maybe a little to Marisa Tomei’s Cassidy, but not that much. To his fellow wrestler-kindred he is, since he still is the main draw at the final matches, though if we are to make that quick assessment, he’s only a seasoned elder to this circus-show brotherhood, nothing more.

The movie’s main strength relies solely on Rourke’s Ram, and each scene he is in resonates so favorably onscreen, and which such tenderness, that we can easily forgive where the movie is weak. Everyone else’s supporting roles stay as they are: as suitable character pegs to mark how Ram more than stumbled with his real-life, non-stage dealings. The wrestling matches are non-highlights, unlike the Rocky Balboa and clones spectacles we’re all familiar with by now, as they do exist to make one main point: that behind this brutal-looking ballet, there is real blood shed, there is crushed muscle and bone, and that Ram endures this because it what makes him significant.

When you notice yourself predicting, correctly, what will be the eventual outcome of one predicament to the next, you will not find yourself whispering I-thought-so to your movie-date. You will shut up and finish the damn movie.

Trailer for The Wrestler

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I said this back in 2005:

Up Dharma Down’s current single [Maybe] is good, and frantic with energy. The rest of their stuff sadly doesn’t deliver as much.

Then when Fragmented came out, I was abroad as an OFW, so I settled for one of those mp3 copies you can find over the interwebs. I proved myself wrong about my previous proclamation, forced the officemates to listen to ‘Oo‘ (which they dismissed, but got into when they became aware it was popular back home), and have made it a point to watch the band when I get back home, and yes, get a copy of their cd.

Despite their current mass appeal, I still don’t think Up Dharma Down’s music can really be that much of a major draw in the local music industry. When I got to hear their newer songs live, I honestly believed the next album would be a stretch for your casual OPM fan. I loved where they were going, with the swirly shoegazing, and post-rock power, underlined with sort of drum programming that recalls recent Radiohead. It was clearly undeniable that this was a music collective that may be too massive, too complex, not enough pop to it. I didn’t factor in Armi Millare‘s singing in, because that’s one factor a listener can’t help but be in awe of; even if pogi-rock followers say her singing’s just too odd.

Ean of Up Dharma Down

Last Friday, at the launching of their second album, Bipolar, I was again proved horribly wrong. The odd choice of a venue (Hexagon Lounge, RCBC Plaza, Makati City) appeared to be the size of a normal rock club. I was lucky I belonged to the first 20 or so attendees, because less than an hour after the start of the performance, the room was packed, which was confirmed later by the band. A friend texted me saying that the line was way too long, and this was probably halfway through the gig already. They had to stop people from coming in, and that’s when I also noticed the venue’s air-conditioning probably gave up.

The performance was mesmerizing. It also helped that Armi came out stunning that night, which I believe was the collective sentiment of everyone else who watched as well.

Up Dharma Down

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It has been a long time since I took gig photos from a place I’ve never been in. I was instantly dismayed by a stage that stretched too wide, where it will be difficult to take layered images of the performers (unless you can move around liberally). I didn’t have high hopes for the lights as well, and I was right: the reason my photos are in black and white would be for consistency, since the colored lights washed the band with unflattering colors.

Anyway, it was a night that satisfied. I can’t stop listening to the album.

My seven photos of the gig can be found here.

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