Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Feb 4, 2012, 2:34 pm
For the past handful of years I’ve touted Wes Anderson’s high school odyssey, “Rushmore,” as my favorite of his quirky masterpieces.  Its picturesque visuals, angsty boyhood plot, and overall tender presentation always resonated pretty deeply with me; the ending pull-back scene with everyon...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 29, 2012, 12:51 am
... of the new millennium” with his grade school sweetheart, Lisa Gobar.  Not surprisingly, Mills ... up finding so much more in Hotchkiss’ dancing classes.  Having lost his wife recently, Keane begins to see dancing as a way to “exercise his ... they end up joining Keane at Hotchkiss’...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Jan 28, 2012, 1:17 pm
I just wish people were as gung ho as I am.  I feel that in every endeavor I’ve ever wanted to spear head, I’m constantly alone.  Everyone likes to talk big, like they’re going to make waves in the world.  And I’m finding out ever so surely that most people don’t have that kind of gumpt...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Jan 28, 2012, 1:01 am
Hm. It appears the last time I came on here I complained about being single.  Guess that’s my thing now.  I blog on “Homes for Butterflies” when I need to vent about my lack of physical activity with the opposite sex.  It sucks.  It really sucks.  It really only sucks as bad as how I have...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 27, 2012, 6:41 pm
It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen a movie of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’s” caliber.  It’s an espionage film teeming with shadows, deceit, false-turns, back-alley deals, murders, and acres of foreign names and bending plot points.  In short this is a thinking man’s movie.  I...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 27, 2012, 3:02 pm
Roman Polanski is getting better with age.  “Ghost Writer” (Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor) was one of the first movies I truly enjoyed of his and “Carnage” is now another spectacular addition to his filmography.  With a dazzling cast of four (Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Chr...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 27, 2012, 11:43 am
It’s a challenge trying to come up with objective thoughts on a film that has more buzz than a bee-hive.  As I sat in the theater watching Michael Hazanavicius’ Oscar Nominated movie, “The Artist,” I kept struggling with how I felt towards it.  “Is this really Oscar worthy?”  “Is Je...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 26, 2012, 1:51 pm
“Monogamy,” at its core, is about so much more than a “struggling couple” as so many synopses collect.  What I got from it was a much deeper look into sexual deviancy and how we all possess it whether we care to accept such a fact, or try and reject it because we’re convinced we’re “n...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 26, 2012, 1:02 am
There was a lot of buzz around Neil Burger’s Summer blockbuster, “Limitless.”  Some said the storyline was too offensive– why is there a movie that portrays drugs as being life-enhancing?  Some said the movie was pure shit and others said it was pure gold.  Even the great Robert Deniro’...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 25, 2012, 11:48 am
Have you ever heard “Monarch” by Leslie Feist?  It’s her first “album,” so to speak.  It’s actually so irrelevant that in her big documentary DVD its existence isn’t even mentioned.  If you ever bother to check it out, you’ll hear it’s a rough and tumble pop record.  It jams pr...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 25, 2012, 2:27 am
Everyone always says how the beginning of a relationship is the most fun part; getting to know someone’s “likes,” “dislikes,” their quirks and ideals.  Honestly, that’s my biggest hurdle when trying to jump into the dating scene.  I have talked myself out of so many potential dates and...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 18, 2012, 1:42 pm
Sometimes things are just worth sharing… Please read this article and see how pointless the argument is: http://tv.yahoo.com/news/toddlers-cuss-word-modern-family-draws-ire-024407751.html I think Levitan wins the match right where he says, “We’ve all been through this.”  That’s really p...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 17, 2012, 12:43 pm
“I miss in old school games how when you died you had to go right back to the beginning (and do it all over again).”– Kevin Portelli, gamer, audio engineer We’ve come a long way in gaming conventions.  From regenerative health, to auto save, to the complete elimination of the HUD, someone ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 17, 2012, 2:42 am
Here are the photos from Esquire’s shoot of Katrina Bowden.  Stumbled upon these by accident and want to share the wealth.  Miss Bowden is everything sweet and sexy you could ask for in a girl with the appropriate dash of “high school prom queen” making her figure and smile all worth melting...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Jan 15, 2012, 1:50 am
I’m really tired of being single.  It’s totally my own damn fault though.  Or… is it?  So what if I have high standards?  So what if I’m not a damn slut? Listening to my mix of Sake Bomb currently.  Its damn good in my opinion.  For how quick and rough the recording process was?  Thi...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 14, 2012, 2:56 pm
2011 has come and gone, to state the obvious.  And within this year I bought a lot of new music.  For a while there it was every week that I was looking forward to something new.  Nevertheless, I bought a lot of duds this year.  Many a band that I anticipated left me wholly unsatisfied and some ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 14, 2012, 2:26 am
The “Ace Combat” franchise has hardly been relevant since their Playstation 2 entry in 2001, “Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies.”  Since that critical buzz, Namco Bandai have released seven more games under the “Ace Combat” name and nary a single title gained much popularity.  Even now wit...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 13, 2012, 1:51 pm
It’s not often that I find a new band to listen to.  I have to search through tons of garbage before something really shines.  Ask anyone who knows my musical tastes intimately– I’m as unpredictable as they come, so when something strikes my fancy its anyone’s bet as to what it might be. ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Jan 12, 2012, 1:38 am
So here’s what I’m thinking… If I spend the $3,860 I think I’m about to spend…  All that’s left for me to keep purchasing in terms of audio are microphones and the actual professional grade stuffs.  You know, and random compressors, eqs, etc. etc.  But for the most part I will have a...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Jan 11, 2012, 1:43 am
I’ve stopped being ambitious.  I can’t remember the last time I had a truly novel, creative idea in my head.  I also can’t remember the last time I really worked hard at something.  I guess I practiced like crazy for this very last RTA show the other night…  But the performative aspect o...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 10, 2012, 2:16 pm
Looking back on things is fun.  We have a word for that.  It’s called “nostalgia.”  It’s the non-pathetic way of explaining why you can’t get over your first love from high school or the real reason why you still like “All That.”  In the video game world, nostalgia sometimes doesn�...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 5, 2012, 12:42 pm
Last night I had the pleasure of watching probably the most fun film of 2011.  I know that sounds clunky: “the most fun film,” but honestly, that’s the only way to describe “Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil.”  Starring Alan Tudyk (A Knight’s Tale), Tyler Labine (A Good Old Fashioned Orgy), and K...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Jan 2, 2012, 11:13 pm
I’d like to find a good romance.  You know the kind.  The type where scintillating conversation brews over a cup of coffee in a dimly lit cafe during the late evening.  I know you’ve got the image in your head.  Both of you are smiling; engaged.  It’s hard to come by that much these days....
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Dec 31, 2011, 2:50 am
I’m aware: I’m in the minority when I say I didn’t really care for David Fincher’s vision of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”  But that might be my fault for not reading the books or having any preconceived notions on what to expect.  I walked into that theater fresh-eyed and open-mi...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Dec 6, 2011, 5:54 pm
I started journaling in a notebook that I have.  It’s pink, from Staples; like the ones I’ve decided to use all through college and discovered during my Senior year at Benet.  The other day in History class I was so bored that I just started free-writing, and I felt my thoughts organizing them...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Nov 29, 2011, 5:50 pm
Okay.  I’ll admit it.  I’ll confront it.  I am so sick of putting in effort and watching as nobody else cares.  I was thinking about that today…  How idealistic I was growing up…  Thinking I might make it as a musician by the time I was 21– get lucky and be famous…  I suppose it a...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Nov 2, 2011, 3:09 pm
Contemplating skipping class.  I’m not sure I can really focus anyways.  I’m about to pass out at work.  Not sure what to do at this juncture…  Am I just a lazy fuck?  Nah. I’m tired of schoolin’– that’s all.  So done with sitting in front of a projector screen taking notes, list...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Nov 2, 2011, 10:15 am
I have to admit.  It’s terribly wonderful seeing my writing on Entertainment Rocks.  It’s a pop culture website run by my friend, Pablo Romero, whom I met while on vacation back in the Summer going into college.  I was handing out copies of my CD, “Steal the Sky,” for free and he came up ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Nov 1, 2011, 9:45 pm
Losing so much steam.  I just can’t keep doing this school thing.  Couldn’t be more over it.  I’m cutting corners at every single… corner.  OMG.  What a dykey looking haircut, Jesse.  You have SUCH potential to be gorgeous, yet you squander it away to be artsy. Really excited to play ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Nov 1, 2011, 7:51 pm
It’s officially November 1st!  And we all know what that means: Christmas shopping season has begun.  Although most of us won’t be thinking about it until at least December (usually the week or two before the 25th, really…), it’s fair game to start talking presents.  If you wanna talk abo...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 31, 2011, 6:45 pm
Today I tried out for a touring band.  I also thought for a second I would start giving a shit about school.  But as I listen to “We Don’t Need To Whisper” in a mini preparation for LOVE, Angels and Airwaves’ new album, I realize that I don’t want any of that.  I especially don’t want...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 28, 2011, 10:35 am
All I want to do is listen to The Envy Corps.  After seeing them live and finding out they’re only the nicest guys ever, I can’t help but want to support them ten-fold.  It’s been a long time since I’ve met a group of musicians and been like, “Yeah. You’re actually the man.”  Even m...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 25, 2011, 9:47 pm
Thinking it’s not such a crazy idea that moving away from here would make me ultimately happier/allow me to find likeminded musicians.  When was the last time a band came out of Chicago that I actually enjoyed?  It’s all coming out of the coasts…  Don’t like Fall Out Boy or Smashing Pumpk...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 25, 2011, 9:31 pm
Starting to think there might be something wrong with me.  Why can’t I get a girlfriend?  I can’t even generate any interest in any female persons.  No one has looked at me or met me in the past two years and been like, “You seem interesting.”  And all the girls I’ve tried going after ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 25, 2011, 9:16 pm
Every so often I’ll listen to Minus the Bear and realize I’m not making the music I want to be making.  I’m close.  I need new people to play with.  Chicago just is not the music scene I’m meant to be a part of.  Too many metalheads, too many reverbed out punks.  I need some people who ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Oct 24, 2011, 8:37 pm
Christmas comes early this year with Michael Buble’s eponymous album, “Christmas.”  However, this is no tacky add-on to his stylish discography of jazz standards and pop hits (I’m looking at you, She & Him).  Turns out “The Office’s” Michael Scott didn’t need to pay for an upright ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Oct 24, 2011, 6:30 pm
I’ve been an ardent fan of Coldplay since the “A Rush of Blood to the Head” days.  Although I miss the stripped down, gritty sounds of their first two records, I still find the beauty in their more lush, layered works like “X&Y” and “Viva La Vida.”  Now with “Mylo Xyloto” on stor...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 18, 2011, 1:58 pm
The inefficiency of lightbulbs are good for one thing: during the Winter, all that excess heat they produce is mildly a good thing. My biggest complaint about cold weather is how tired and lazy I always feel.  My joints are stiffer, my skin drier, my comfort level obliterated…  All I want to do...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 17, 2011, 4:09 pm
I might just be setting myself up for the best year ever… 2011 was quite introspective and quiet. If 2012 goes as well as my plans might dictate… I will have a very excellent year ahead of me.
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Oct 14, 2011, 11:53 pm
When I first heard “It Culls You” by the Envy Corps I was admittedly disappointed.  I was underwhelmed by the seemingly boring new record by the hallowed Ames, Iowa indie rockers.  Nevertheless, I didn’t lose hope right away.  The band that produced such amazing gems as “Dwell” and “K...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 12, 2011, 12:18 pm
Listening to “It Culls You” by the Envy Corps on CD finally.  My package with stickers and a t-shirt came yesterday.  I’m now awaiting the 180 gram vinyl with another t-shirt and a signed poster.  Consider me JUICED.  And I get to see the beautiful Iowa-natives on October 26th with Melanie...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Oct 11, 2011, 8:00 pm
Frasier was first aired in 1993.  With Netflix just acquiring the Emmy-winning television sitcom starring Kelsey Grammer, John Mahoney, and David Hyde Pierce, I’ve been trucking through all eight seasons at a rather liberal pace (at least an episode a day…).  My reason for coming here to write...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 10, 2011, 5:17 pm
Oh yeah. I think I deleted my past on accident last week. All my old photos… documents… videos… everything, gone.  It’s now just a matter of time for… well… time to keep moving and for me to forget every shred of my adolescence. Just a thought.
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 10, 2011, 4:46 pm
Really listless lately.  Been trying to write something for the past few days and have come up with nothing. The issue continues.
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Oct 6, 2011, 9:50 pm
Can’t tell you why, but I am drawn to her immensely.  I finally really feel a genuine attraction towards a female.  I saw her today and I can already tell you it made my entire week awesome.  I know nothing about her really, but I want to make her mine.  Waiting for a person like her makes wai...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Oct 4, 2011, 10:22 pm
Oh BABY.  “Odd Soul” by MuteMath dropped today and my feelings towards it are hot as can be.  This scorching, gritty, atmospheric, melodic, skittish record is unlike anything else in your CD player and demands your attention immediately.  From the hard hitting, soulful opener, “Odd Soul” ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Oct 3, 2011, 5:00 pm
I’ll be honest with you from the start: I’m not finished playing “El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron.”  But I just have to say something.  I especially have to say something because you probably have no idea what the hell I’m talking about. El Shaddai is a Japanese game that garnered...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Sep 27, 2011, 7:14 pm
Track 14.  “I’m Lost With You.”  It’s 2003 and I’m wrapping up my first full listen through of blink-182′s untitled record.  I’m sitting in my room, at my desk, on a brisk fall day soaking up every power-hungry riff, every earth-shattering drum beat, every chord, note, and nuance. ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Homes for Butterflies. - Sep 27, 2011, 11:44 am
I’m feeling so inspired.  This new blink record is amazing.  It has some weak points, but nothing I’m going to really get pissy over.  I’ll take what I can get from them after 8 years.  It makes me want to be in love.  Reminds me of the thrill and excitement of high school.  I thought I ...
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Stephen Mortensen posted an article on Paper Triangle - Sep 27, 2011, 11:16 am
Although it has low points, the peaks of “Neighborhoods” are so cool and inspiring, that I can’t help but want to keep this new blink-182 album on repeat.  There are some questionable riffs and drum beats, yet I think there’s enough awesome here for you to look past it.  Because really, wh...
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