Holy Fuck Day

I declare today as Holy Fuck Day! Holy Fuck as in the band, you perverts. I have no idea how to really classify them. Electronic Rock? Progressive? Experimental? Well, the point is, their music is awesome. My theory is that they were experimenting randomly and one of them said "Holy fuck! That was actually pretty good!" and one of the other guys then replied "Holy Fuck! That's an awesome band name!" I might be terribly wrong though.

Holy Fuck - Milkshake


Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen


Holy Fuck - Royal Gregory


Holy Fuck - Super Inuit


Holy Fuck - The Pulse

For a full live show by them on Channel M, scroll down to the previous post.

Signing out

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Holy Fucking Hell

Be aware. This is a 23-minute video. It's a full live show.

Holy Fuck is a great name for a band.



Now, if only they performed in York.

Signing out

Over and out

How To Prepare For Your Exams When You're Incurably Lazy

These are alternate exam preparations for the terminally-lazy and the can't-be-arsed camp.

Acknowledge That The Exam Exists

Then move on. You can't change the nature of the exam. You might as well enjoy yourself.

Watch Some Educational Videos

Yes, this will be helpful. Trust me. We all know all of the world's knowledge can be learnt through the media. For example, you can learn about scientific experimentation on, for example, Mythbusters. They teach you that a single data point or one single result can be used to correctly determine the probabilities of certain occurences. CSI, CSI: Miami, or even CSI Tijuana: The Swine Flu Killer, teach us that in the field of forensics, DNA tests can be completed in mere hours, and security cameras can be zoomed in and the pixels can be refined so much that you would think these cameras captured hundreds of hours of video in High-Definition. Youtube videos also provide for a place of discussion where non-experts can argue about how the big bang theory was actually two asteroids colliding on each other and that dinosaurs actually lived with humans and were kept as pets.

Borrow Books From The Library On Your Course

Then stack them up and show them off to your friends and say "my course is worse, you got to study books the thickness of a house!" After that, proceed to forget to renew the books and accumulate £50 in late fees, even though you've never actually read them.

Facebook On How Scared You Are Of Exams

Log onto Facebook and put as your facebook status "[insert name] hasn't studied anything, and exam is tomorrow." This comforts other people into thinking, "wait, I'm not the only one. I don't have to worry that much then." This works on two levels. First, you'll have an excuse for not getting that First Class you supposedly deserve, you were too lazy for it. Second, other people will also not get that First Class they actually deserve because they think not studying is the Facebook thing to do.

Stay Up Late And Party

This way, you'll still have the adrenaline rush and don't have to spend time on trivialities such as getting up, brushing your teeth and having a shower. If possible, even skip a breakfast. A hungry stomach leads to a hungry mind, and a hungry mind craves knowledge. Therefore you will automatically be psyched for your exam.

Panic (Or Look Like You Are Panicking)

When waiting outside the exam hall, mumble nonsense repeatedly. Every five minutes, shout "I thought I knew this! I can't believe this is happening!" while your hands are in the air. When asked to quiet down, tell them that they're all doomed as well, and that the lecturers/teachers deceived them in letting them think they actually understand the classes, when in fact they don't.

If you're lucky, people with low self-esteem or who just happen to be very anxious will become very nervous and either scream "I don't wanna do this!" and run to the toilet or cry in the entirety of the exam. Either way, these few people will hopefully do worse than you and take you up a few percentiles.

In Case Of Emergency, Know How To Cheat

People who say cheaters never prosper can be divided into three categories: (a) they've never cheated before, (b) they got caught doing it, or (c) they didn't cheat properly. Now there are several ways you can go about cheating, properly.

One of the most famous is the 'tattoo,' where you scribble the most important points onto a part of your anatomy. Most popular choices include the palm of your hand, the back of the palm of your hand, the leg and the back of your arm. Of course when you go into the exam hall (or wherever it is your exam is being held) you need to be subtle about it. Do not wear shorts and sleeveless shirts if you've written an entire book all over your body. Be smart about it. You can also write between your fingers or even on your nails, if your handwriting is small enough.

There are several other methods, including the duct-tape method, the bra-hide (if you're a female) or the calculator-hide method (if your exam involves a calculator).


Note: If you actually follow these instructions, you're terminally stupid. I don't condone cheating, and this was intended as a joke. And yes, I should be studying.

Signing out

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Now playing: Quarashi - Make a Move
via FoxyTunes

Chop 'Em Down

Would you like your meal of American breakbeat be added with a little Jewish Hassidic reggae? Then you might like this video.

The Crystal Method - Drown In The Now (Feat. Matisyahu)

You can download the mp3 for free from the link below:


I'm not a big fan of Crystal Method, but I am a big fan of Matisyahu. Both his albums 'Youth' and 'Shake Off The Dust... Arise' were amazing. Tracks to check out are 'King Without A Crown,' 'Time Of Your Song' and 'Jerusalem'.

Matisyahu - King Without A Crown


Matisyahu - I Will Be Light

Yes, despite the youtuber claiming it's called It Can't Wait, it's actually called 'I Will Be Light.' It's on the Shattered EP.

Signing out

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Now playing: Matisyahu - I Will Be Light
via FoxyTunes

Peggy Sue & The Everchanging Name

I found them just a few minutes ago, when looking at the upcoming shows in The Basement at the City Screen, York. I'm thinking of going. Peggy Sue, or formerly known as Peggy Sue & The Pirates, which I think is a more awesome band name. But that's probably due to my bias when it comes to pirates. Pirates versus Ninjas? Pirates everytime.

We'll see.

Peggy Sue & The Pirates - The New Song

Peggy Sue & The Pirates - Alice In The Kitchen

Their song, Pupils Blink, was used for a Topshop podcast. So things are going well for them, I guess.

I lied about there being no more posts today. But I did get some work done.

Signing out

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Now playing: Peggy Sue & The Pirates - Eisenstien
via FoxyTunes

One Post

Yes, one post a day keeps the, urm, doctors away.

Anyway, I wanted to post early in the morning so I wouldn't post anything after this, as I'm about to do some work.

So because of that, I'll just post some videos. What will be a good one to post? Some favourites from the past few years, I guess.

Ladytron - Runaway

The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of Understatement

Late Of The Pier - Focker

And last, but not least:

The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover

Now, back to work.

Signing out

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Now playing: The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover
via FoxyTunes

Feel-Good Teenagers

This song has been out for quite a while, but I still do listen to it from time to time.

The Teenagers - Feeling Better

Apparently this was on Gossip Girl, a show which I despise. Why I hate it to the very core of my being is not even worth a dignified explanation. But from what I've been hearing, the show a good soundtrack. It did introduce Peter Bjorn & John to the mainstream. That's got to redeem the show a little bit.

Anyway, this video was made by combining fan-made videos which took part in a competition. I guess it fits with the theme of the song. When you need to feel better, just listen to The Teenagers and buy their t-shirts. Pretty appropriate for a band that actually started out as a joke. And if you did not notice from the accent, they're French. Maybe it's the accent, maybe it's the self-aware humour, but they remind me of Soko.

The next video you're about to see is 'Homecoming.' This song is bordering on sexist, but if you think it is, then you're probably missing the point of the song, which is how gullible people can be when promised love, and how insensitive people are when it comes to relationships. So here we have two people singing about one instance of romance, from two completely different perspectives. One is a misogynistic guy who only sees women as sexual objects, and the other is a naive woman who thinks she has found true love. Two extremes, a tragic song, disguised in brilliant synth-pop.

There is profanity, so don't say you weren't warned.

The Teenagers - Homecoming

Their album, Reality Check, which was released about a year ago, is quite good. If you like the two songs here, you'll probably like the whole album.

Signing out

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Now playing: The Teenagers - Wheel of Fortune
via FoxyTunes

What's My Age Again?

This video made my day. It also made me feel nostalgic, when Blink 182 was on my speakers every day, and when I was in choir (on and off). I was either a tenor or a bass, depending on where most of my friends were at. Hahaha.

I'm still a shit singer.

Signing out

Over and out

Brakes (With The Voluntary Butler Scheme) in Oxford

I was in Oxford yesterday, and not just to see the Pill. This time, we've got Brakes to look forward to as well. This is the second gig I went in Oxford (I think it's the third for Pill), the first being Foals at The Oxford Academy. I was thinking, if Brakes is half as good as Foals was live, then we're in for a treat.

Anyway, I got there in Oxford at around 4pm by train from Paddington. I've been to Oxford so many times, and I do love the city. It's funny though watching Oxford students walking around in scholars' robes (that's just a made-up name, I don't know what it's actually called) for their exams. Never gets old.

The Pill enjoying her G&D ice cream near Muniri's place

We got there at The Bullingdon at 7pm after stopping by at Muniri's place to drop off her Breakfast At Tiffany's DVD, which is one of my favourite films. We got stamped at around 8.15pm and the gig started at around 9pm.


The support band - who tours along with Brakes - is a one-man multi-instrumentalist brilliantly-monikered as The Voluntary Butler Scheme, real name Rob Jones. So you can see with a name like Rob Jones why he chose to have a far more interesting pseudonym. Inbetween songs he gets a few laughs from the crowd as he endearingly shows the self-deprecating humour that's also evident in his lyrics.

By the way, pardon for the low quality of the video. It was very dark, and I've only got a 2-megapixel cameraphone. I wanna get a proper video camera by the end of the year, solely for gigs.

The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Tabasco Sole

The Voluntary Butler Scheme - (Unknown Title)

One of the best songs was Trading Things In, which has great lines such as "If you were a broccoli I would turn vegetarian for you" and "Just like coffee and tea, I need you regularly." The chorus is as catchy as the flu in the middle of winter, where he begs, "baby don't go for anyone." Unfortunately I did not record this particular song, but I did find a music video for it, and it's also in his EP, also titled "Trading Things In." I bought it at the show for a bargain £2. We managed to get it signed as well. Result.

Trading Things In EP

His autograph

The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Trading Things In

Then there came Brakes onto the stages rockin'. By the way, the gig is an 18+ event, so half of the audience was 30-40 year olds. The crowd was reluctant to start anything. They just bobbed their heads back and forth. Sometimes I miss the annoying 15-year-olds that push you back, if only for their energy.

Brakes - Hey Hey

Brakes - (Unknown Title - Two Songs)

Brakes - Do You Feel The Same?

Anyway, it took quite a while for the crowd to get going. But when it did, it was brilliant stuff. Most of Brakes's old stuff are short bursts of punk folk rock goodness, like for instance "Porcupine Or Pineapple," and the absurdly short "Comma, Comma, Comma, Fullstop," which they played three times in about a minute.

Brakes - Porcupine Or Pineapple (Music Video)

For a review of their new album, "Touchdown," read the previous entry. Anyway, Brakes is an explosive band live, with the aforementioned short tracks that run just over the minute mark, and longer ones that are epic in the rockin' out department. No wonder they had about 30 songs on their setlist.

So I got back to London at around 1am, and uploaded most of the videos onto youtube. And now here I am after a seven hour journey, back in York York York.

Signing out

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Now playing: The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Trading Things In
via FoxyTunes

Review: Brakes - Touchdown

Album: Touchdown
Artist: Brakes (or BrakesBrakesBrakes)
Rating: 4 out of 5
In a nutshell: Country punk/pop/rock perfection

I've been listening to Brakes - or as they're known in the US of America, BrakesBrakes Brakes (due to a copyright dispute) - ever since Pill introduced them to me. Something along the lines of British Sea Power (Eamon Hamilton, the vocalist in Brakes, was a member) and Belle & Sebastian, Brakes have come out with an accessible album that's got some amazing songs and catchy, intriguing lyrics.


One of the best songs in the album is "Don't Take Me To Space (Man)," a song about alien abduction that's sweet and dangerously catchy. The lyrics are what you expect from the band. It's often absurd, but (or perhaps because of it) you end up intrigued and unable to take your mind off them. By then it's too late. Brakes songs have now infected your head with yelping vocals and indie pop folk guitar goodness.

Brakes - Hey Hey

Then there's "Hey Hey," an indie rock tune which apparently needs a video about a rebel, day-dreaming doughnut to tell its story. "Two Shocks" and "Worry About It Later" are pleasant in the sense playing guitar in a hayfield is pleasant. Very, if you must ask.

I will see them tomorrow (or is it today?) in Oxford. Very much looking forward to it.

Signing out

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Now playing: Brakes - Eternal Return
via FoxyTunes

The Little Kid You Didn't Expect

My band of the day is The Boy Least Likely To. Pill found them on youtube. Twee-pop, anyone? Or country disco, as they like to call their music.

The Boy Least Likely To - Every Goliath Has Its David

That's it. I'll update more once I have a better connection.

Signing out

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Now playing: The Boy Least Likely To - A Fairytale Ending
via FoxyTunes

Danis Es Dakillas Teh

Das da setari af teh. Hara hara des chinoko Empera waka alun dasiti waulssy, bo watin por san kamap. Des chinoko Empera sitssy sher oun dakillas, dakillas, dakillas. Jula. En Jula bagari patin das totoka das kura lifas burtassy.

Hothot das likas watar inakap lifas malakssy. Des chinoko Empera bagari la mied huru huru sharusbari malbarnssy. Sanyaka:

Bari teh dimagi,
Lifas se dimakssy,
Wakasi lo burtassy,
Likas bo hatamsi,
Ma Empera thastssy.

Majigta blafiva bo erba teh hothot gateri kusta forki, niro forki, forki tasarbakssy. Da leksporo aiserporo por aiserporana lo aiserporana, por kapara lo kapara, por tarakka lo tarakka. Tasakssy es. En tula teh setari.

Indus.

Huloas,

Malo bonas.

Fran & Josh + Paper Heroes, Leeds

I'm in Leeds right now, full after eating a spicy bean burger meal with onion bhaji. Filling stuff.

So why am I in Leeds? Because it's my first and only stop on my way to London. Conveniently Fran & Josh decided to do a show in Leeds the same night I'm here. I went, with Sam, after his BCG test-run didn't go as planned. So he didn't need to sneak out from it after all. It's his first gig. Not a bad one to start with.

How was it, I here you ask?

Absolutely fucking amazing. Low attendance aside, it was brilliant stuff.

Ashesinthefall reminds me of Funeral For A Friend, which I thought was a bit out of place when put before Fran & Josh and Paper Heroes.

These guys sure can play, but really, when it came down to it, their songs were a bit on the formulaic side.

Ashesinthefall - I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry cover)

Support Band #2 - who are called The Night Herons - are not bad. They sound to me like a cross-breed of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Last Shadow Puppets, which is as complimentary as it sounds. They also had a tinge of ska, which I liked. More than danceable, their songs showed their potential. Now, if only the vocalist would show some confidence in herself.

The Night Herons - Systematic Error

The Mid Nineties was a little on the dull side. Not very exciting, I was disappointed because I thought for some reason they were Paper Heroes, as I've never seen Paper Heroes live. By that stage, I would think Sam was secretly scared that the night would be a disappointment. I do see potential though from them, just maybe they're on the rough side. Very, very rough.

The Mid-Nineties - ?

Fran & Josh are amazing musicians. They're very nice people as well, and I give them some much deserved respect for actually remembering me from their free show in London, and even remembering my favourite song from them. I love these guys.

While playing one song, the crowd actually started a circle pit, which I thought was absolutely hilarious. I can now claim to have seen a Flamenco pit. My life is almost complete. It got Sam in the front row, jumping, dancing and clapping. His first-gig-shyness syndrome is now cured.

Fran & Josh - Better Off Alone

A shorter, higher-quality recording courtesy of Sam

Next was Skins favourite, Paper Heroes. I wasn't that big a fan before this. Their myspace page didn't really impress me much. But after seeing them live, I've totally converted to Paper Heroism. They're absolutely blindingly amazing live.

Paper Heroes - ?

Now, what else to do in Leeds?

Signing out

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Now playing: Fran & Josh - The Box Song
via FoxyTunes

Happy Birthday

Today is the birthday of one of the most important people in my life.

Dk Rafidah Binti Pg Hj Ahmad.

Oh yes, I had to put your full name. Hahaha.

My bestfriend for almost ten years. Wow. Almost a decade. Of course since this is her birthday I'm going to talk about her, probably at length.

Where do I start?

I don't even remember how we started to become best friends. I remember we used to make fun and throw insults at each other when we were in Form 1. That was funny. I really can't remember though how we jumped from that to being very close friends.


What I do remember is hanging out at the canteen (picture above). We were quite different people actually, the two of us. Our way of thinking, sometimes even our group of friends. I think it really was (and is) a complementary friendship.


She's a very good friend. She's always been there for me. As best friends, we were inseparable in school. We hung out together so much people thought we were a couple, which I thought was absolutely hilarious. It just shows you how unreliable gossip is. I mean, come on. She was dating someone else at the time. Some people thought we were sharing her! That was just too damn funny. And actually kind of pathetic.

Some people think I'm a really patient guy. Well, when you're bestfriends with Fee, you've got many chances to practice. Hahaha. Seriously though, being friends to her has directly and indirectly taught me to never judge people.

She's got a great singing voice. Excellent, even. And then there's me, who's tone deaf and plays no music. Told you we're two different people.

She was the best part of my teenage life. No doubt about it. I cannot imagine my high school years without her. I can, but it would be so weird, and I'd probably turn out into someone quite different. So yes, she did help shape myself into who I am today.

The days of listening to System Of A Down in my Serena. Hanging out at her place till late. Listening to her singing in the K-Box while constantly refusing to sing myself. The night we were at the sports complex near Dibah's house with Yumnie and Dibah. Sitting at the Mall selling Chef Wan tickets.

Happy birthday, bestfriend.

I love you to bits. And I hope you're having fun in Paris right now.

I can't wait to see you.

Signing out

Over and out

Review: Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

Album: Two Suns
Artist: Bat For Lashes
Rating: 4 out of 5
In a nutshell: surreal synth-folk, captivating and mesmerising at its best

I didn't listen to the Mercury and Brit-nominated debut album by Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes's real name), but after listening to the follow-up, I undoubtedly will grab the CD the next time I end up looking aimlessly for cheap DVDs in HMV.

Bat For Lashes - Daniel

From the first track I immediately fell in love with her voice. "I will rise now," she sings as her first line on the first track, 'Glass.'. And indeed, she rises, with no low points in the whole album. The whole album is themed with duality, thus the title 'Two Suns.' There are songs called 'Moon and Moon' and 'Two Planets.' She even has an alter ego in the fake-blond Pearl, who sings in 'Siren Song' and 'Pearl's Dream.' Pearl is "a destructive, self-absorbed, blonde, femme fatale of a persona who acts as a direct foil to Khan's more mystical, desert-born spiritual self." The theme of duality carries on, between Man & Woman, good and evil and the different sides of personality and self.

But even without going deep into the imagery-filled songwriting or themes of duality and division, you can still appreciate the sheer brilliance of the music. From heart-felt piano tracks to 80's sounding songs to Bjork-ish folktronica, Khan does them all, and does them all brilliantly.

Now. Time for revision and my essay.

Signing out

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Now playing: Bat For Lashes - Good Love
via FoxyTunes

Examination Provocation

Okay. I'm posting this here so I'll see it every time I come to my own blog so I'll be reminded to get the fuck off the internet and do some revision.

Tue 28/04/09
- [16.30-18.30] History Of English II (ATB056/7)

Sat 02/05/09
- [09.00-10.00] Structure Of English II (ATB056/7)

Then all of my exams hereafter will be in Central Hall, the building that looks like a concrete UFO that crashed into a lake.

Tue 26/05/09
- [09.30-11.00] Elementary Syntax (Central Hall)

Thu 28/05/09
- [09.30-11.00] Elementary Sociolinguistic Variation & Change (Central Hall)

Tue 02/06/09
- [09.30-11.30] History Of English I (Central Hall)

Wed 10/06/09
- [09.30-11.00] Elementary Phonetics & Phonology (Central Hall)

Fri 12/06/09
- [14.15-15.45] Elementary Semantics (Central Hall)

Mon 15/06/09
- [14.15-15.15] Structure of English III (Central Hall)

Signing out

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Now playing: Brakes - Worry About It Later
via FoxyTunes

Top Ten Apps For The iPod Touch

I've been using my iPod Touch for a few months now, and I've had it jailbroken for about a month, and I'm eternally grateful for Pill getting this for my birthday.

So over that period of time, I've played around with some of the apps, be it from the Apple Store or jailbroken apps from Cydia or Installer. And here are my lists of favourite apps. Note: Jailbroken apps have no price because they're free.

Favourite Games

Tap Tap Revenge 2 (Free)
A rhythm-based game that looks slick and features songs from the likes of Coldplay, Weezer, Senses Fail and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.


TapDefense (Free)
A tower defense game that's easy to learn and incredibly addictive.


Guitar Rock Tour (£3.49)
The iPod Touch's own Guitar Hero.


Fast & Furious: The Game (£3.49)
Straight from the film, even the scenes. Responsive and fun. You can even play as the police.

Real Football 09 (£3.49)
Fun and with depth. A proper football game.


Ferrari GT Evolution (£3.49)
A racing game with Ferraris. Through the streets of Rome, Athens & Madrid.


Fieldrunners (£1.79)
A tower defense game that looks amazing and will have you playing for hours.


Spore: Origins
Essentially a prologue to Spore. You play as a cell in the cell stage. When you feel like playing Spore and is nowhere near your PC, here's a decent replacement for that train journey back home.

MazeFinger (Free)
Simple, really. You navigate through mazes with your finger. Best of all, it's free.


Touchgrind (£2.99)
Remember those little fingerboards? Nurse your nostalgia with this.



Favourite Apps

Facebook (Free)
Really. Self-explanatory. It would be perfect except for the fact that you can't view groups or applications. Still, it means not having to see all those quiz results.

Zemote (£2.39)
Turns your iPod Touch into a touchpad, a keyboard and media player remote all in one. Great for being too lazy to get out from bed or watching a film.

Remote (Free)
A remote for your iTunes. Again, like Zemote, great for lazing around.

Skype (Free)
Skype. On the iPod Touch. Of course you need a microphone. And Wi-Fi. And it has no video. But it's great. It feels like you're on the phone. I can bring my Skype to the kitchen now.
Capital FM (Free)
There are loads of internet radio apps there. So I'm only going to feature this one. Features traffic and tourists photos.

Evernote (Free)
Lets you take text or audio nates, and then geo-tag them. Quite useful.

Google (Free)
Lets you access all the Google Apps from one application.

Wikiamo
Wikipedia really. Streamlined for the iPod Touch.

Telegraph
Though I don't usually read The Daily Telegraph, I like the slick and smooth interface.

Flashlight
Makes your iPod Touch into a flashlight. Useful for those late night outs when you're coming back using the shortcut under the trees and on muddy paths.

Favorite Jailbreak Apps

Winterboard
Changes how your iPod looks like (not externally, obviously). You can change the battery, the charging screen, the Springboard, even the little page dots.
FontSwap
Changes the font.

MxTube
Lets you download YouTube videos directly onto your iPod Touch


BossPrefs
Lets you hide, show, toggle basically everything on your iPod Touch.

OpenSSH
Lets you transfer files to and from your PC securely over Wi-Fi.

Five Icon Dock
Lets you add an extra icon on your dock.

BeforeAfter

iMobileCinema
Lets you play flash videos on Safari.

SBSettings
Like BossPrefs, but more accessible, even when you're on another application.

Rename
If you like to keep things organised, then Rename is another tool to keep your apps in check.

PDF+
Lets you read pdf files from the iPod Touch hard disk.

Signing out

Over and out

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Now playing: Brakes - Why Tell The Truth (When It's Easier To Lie)
via FoxyTunes