As you all know, we are getting to the end of the year. The end of the year means it's time to make the "best of 09" lists. December will be the month of my top albums, EPs, and individual songs of the year. I have been trying to put a list together, however I have realized the order can change by the minute. I will post my top 10 alphabetically, with my top 3 actually stated. That will take up most of December.
Today's song of the day is Marla Singer Doesn't Take Standardized Tests (Disposable Smile) by Analog Rebellion. Analog Rebellion is Dan Hunter, formerly known as PlayRadioPlay! The recent name change was his choice in order to remove similarities between him and other bands such as NeverShoutNever. I don't agree with his decisions, however I do like this song. However, it is much different from the Texas album. Compared to PlayRadioPlay, it is much less electric and has more guitar. As always, Dan keeps his music extremely catchy. The bridge has a big guitar part, another major break from PlayRadioPlay songs. I'm curious to see how Analog Rebellion works out. He also has a 40 song PlayRadioPlay B-sides album out soon. Check him out on myspace HERE.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Artist Profie - Oh No Not Stereo
Let me start by wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving. And with that, I also give thanks to a band that was extremely friendly to me at the Manatour. Oh No Not Stereo was not even supposed to be on the tour, but due to personal issues I Rival had to drop off the tour, opening a spot for ONNS. I don’t think I met a single person at the show who had heard of them beforehand.
They easily won the crowd over with their intense, wild rock music. The first song they played, Let’s Get It Started, is the perfect opener. The chorus is something everyone can get pumped up and sing along to. Hurricanes, played second, is another song that I knew before the show. The lyrics are strong, as shown by the extended metaphor encompassing the song. The powerful guitar solo easily fits in with the flow of the song. By the end of this song, people were finally getting interested in the band. They closed with This Friday Night, a song I had not known before the show. They made sure to get crowd participation by telling them what to do at the chorus. Along with the fact that the show took place on a Friday, the crowd was psyched. However, they did not play my favorite song of theirs; 12 Years Later. Due to the quiet acoustic nature of the song, I can see why they didn’t play it. Lyrically, the song is very strong and meaningful. The chorus is extremely catchy, especially for an acoustic song. The song builds up by the end and finishes with intensity.
After the show, they met with all their fans. They were extremely friendly guys, and the lead singer, Skyler, even gave out his cell number. I’ve talked to him on occasion and he’s a great guy. He and the rest of his band deserved to go out on this big tour with Hit The Lights and There For Tomorrow. Additionally, they are giving away their whole catalog on their website. Check it out here and download all of their music for FREE.
They easily won the crowd over with their intense, wild rock music. The first song they played, Let’s Get It Started, is the perfect opener. The chorus is something everyone can get pumped up and sing along to. Hurricanes, played second, is another song that I knew before the show. The lyrics are strong, as shown by the extended metaphor encompassing the song. The powerful guitar solo easily fits in with the flow of the song. By the end of this song, people were finally getting interested in the band. They closed with This Friday Night, a song I had not known before the show. They made sure to get crowd participation by telling them what to do at the chorus. Along with the fact that the show took place on a Friday, the crowd was psyched. However, they did not play my favorite song of theirs; 12 Years Later. Due to the quiet acoustic nature of the song, I can see why they didn’t play it. Lyrically, the song is very strong and meaningful. The chorus is extremely catchy, especially for an acoustic song. The song builds up by the end and finishes with intensity.
After the show, they met with all their fans. They were extremely friendly guys, and the lead singer, Skyler, even gave out his cell number. I’ve talked to him on occasion and he’s a great guy. He and the rest of his band deserved to go out on this big tour with Hit The Lights and There For Tomorrow. Additionally, they are giving away their whole catalog on their website. Check it out here and download all of their music for FREE.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Song Of The Day - 11/24/09
Today's song of the day comes with a new feature. A free download! I have gotten permission from The Fold (the band who has this song) to spread it around. The link to download the song is HERE.
The song is Every Band In The USA by The Fold. If you can't tell by now, it's a parody of the Miley Cyrus "hit" "song". The song is an observation of all the fads in music this day and age. They talk about the "neon" craze of fans and autotuned bands. They then talk about the craze of popular song covers. The best part about it is the irony of putting that in a popular song. However, my favorite part of the song is in the bridge and last chorus. The phrase "Glamour Kills won't sponsor us, so All Time Low won't tour with us" is one of the best lines in the song. ATL seems to only tour with Glamour Kills bands, as seen by their hundreds of tours with the exact same bands. In the chorus, they even put in a "br00tal" breakdown which any hardcore band wouldn't be ashamed of. The Fold makes extremely good points about the state of music these days. And while doing that, they make one of the best parodies I've heard. Check them out on myspace here.
The song is Every Band In The USA by The Fold. If you can't tell by now, it's a parody of the Miley Cyrus "hit" "song". The song is an observation of all the fads in music this day and age. They talk about the "neon" craze of fans and autotuned bands. They then talk about the craze of popular song covers. The best part about it is the irony of putting that in a popular song. However, my favorite part of the song is in the bridge and last chorus. The phrase "Glamour Kills won't sponsor us, so All Time Low won't tour with us" is one of the best lines in the song. ATL seems to only tour with Glamour Kills bands, as seen by their hundreds of tours with the exact same bands. In the chorus, they even put in a "br00tal" breakdown which any hardcore band wouldn't be ashamed of. The Fold makes extremely good points about the state of music these days. And while doing that, they make one of the best parodies I've heard. Check them out on myspace here.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Song Of The Day - 11/23/09
Today's song of the day is Fall Asleep First by Go Radio. Or is it Mayday Parade? It sounds like them, so it must be them! However, it's Go Radio. Go Radio is actually the former second singer of Mayday Parade, Jason Lancaster. I've always felt he was the driving force behind Mayday. He was the song writer and his vocals were easily better than Derek's. Anyone who listens to Miserable At Best or any of the other old Mayday songs should realize that. This song is what Mayday could have been on their newest album. It's upsetting to see the old Mayday change; however, their sound is not gone. Go Radio has it and will continue to use it. Old Mayday fans need to learn Go Radio, because Go Radio's next album will be as good as A Lesson For Romantics. Check them out on myspace HERE.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Song Of The Day - 11/22/09
So, I'm bored and I haven't done a post yet today other than the R.I.P. post, so I'm going to do a SOTD post.
Today's song is Silhouettes by Swimming With Dolphins. One might think they sound exactly like Owl City. Well, Adam Young from Owl City actually produced SWD's album. Additionally, the female voice during the chorus of The Saltwater Room is actually featured in this song as well. Her name is Breanne Duren for whoever is wondering. They also have toured together several times, including one tour this summer with another of my favorite bands, Holiday Parade. SWD has the same ambient sound as Owl City, however with less random beeps and boops. Any Owl City fan will easily like SWD. Check them out on their myspace HERE.
Today's song is Silhouettes by Swimming With Dolphins. One might think they sound exactly like Owl City. Well, Adam Young from Owl City actually produced SWD's album. Additionally, the female voice during the chorus of The Saltwater Room is actually featured in this song as well. Her name is Breanne Duren for whoever is wondering. They also have toured together several times, including one tour this summer with another of my favorite bands, Holiday Parade. SWD has the same ambient sound as Owl City, however with less random beeps and boops. Any Owl City fan will easily like SWD. Check them out on their myspace HERE.
R.I.P. Girls Get All The Action
I usually don't do actual news posts, but this is extremely important to me. These guys influenced me to start this blog. Once I got the idea of starting it, I took it to Jason, one of the members. He said it was a great idea. A few hours later the blog was up. A day later the first blog post was a review of them, which you can read here. My writing has drastically changed from there, but that article still means a lot to me. I even met Jason at the Hey Monday concert. That meeting was the moment of the night, which included meeting the members of all the other bands. That's how much they meant to me. This is a sad day in my musical life. I hate to see bands like that just break up due to things not working out. I will keep everyone updated on upcoming side projects for all the other bands. But this is just something I felt I needed to mention.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Damn Rough Night EP Review - Artist Vs. Poet
Track listing:1. Damn Rough Night
2. Gateway
3. Rescue
4. To Hell With The Letdown
Artist Vs. Poet returns with their first released material since their self titled EP over a year ago. The first EP got a great review from me earlier on the blog. This catchy pop-rock EP is a great follow up to the EP and preview to the upcoming album.
The title track, Damn Rough Night, is a fun song about the epicness which is turning 21. The lyrics express all the emotions of going all out on that night, including the fun, the craziness, and the forgotten memories. The catchy chorus has been stuck in my head for a while. Additionally, Forever The Sickest Kids, currently on tour with Artist Vs. Poet, give some guest vocals in the bridge.
Gateway is another song of the similar formula: Catchy lyrics and a catchy beat. The verses aren't their best, but the chorus is still great. Rescue sounds like a song right out of an All Time Low album. I mean that in a good way. It's a great song that again follows their formula of success. To Hell With The Letdown is a song that isn't my favorite, but maybe it will grow on me. The chorus just seems boring to me. It's not a bad song, but it's not their best.
As said earlier, Artist Vs. Poet follows their formula to success. I would love to see them add some diversity, but with a four song EP that is not important. However, for their full length they need to add some change. These guys have a load of potential, especially on Fearless. Their full length is probably going to be one of my most awaited albums of 2010. Check Artist Vs Poet out on Myspace HERE.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Song Of The Day - 11/19/09
Just as a little advertisement, I now have my own facebook fan page. If you become a fan of it you will automatically be updated on your news feed every time I post an update. Makes your life a lot easier. Link is HERE.
Anyways, on to the song of the day.
Today's song of the day is by a band known as Chasing Thrill. I found them a few weeks ago and automatically fell in love. Did you love Saosin before they sucked? Well, I found a new favorite band for you. My Ballad is a slower song than most of their other songs, but it is epic. The singer's vocals are amazing and the vocals are powerful. And it sounds like old Saosin, if not better. Check them out on myspace HERE. I can't wait til these guys get out a full length.
Anyways, on to the song of the day.
Today's song of the day is by a band known as Chasing Thrill. I found them a few weeks ago and automatically fell in love. Did you love Saosin before they sucked? Well, I found a new favorite band for you. My Ballad is a slower song than most of their other songs, but it is epic. The singer's vocals are amazing and the vocals are powerful. And it sounds like old Saosin, if not better. Check them out on myspace HERE. I can't wait til these guys get out a full length.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Song Of The Day - 11/17/09
Today I'm starting a new feature. In order to keep posting even when I am busy, I'm going to do a song of the day segment. Basically I'll post a song, give a brief review of it, give similar artists, etc etc.
Today's song of the day is actually a cover song of a song almost everyone knows. Just listen to the lyrics. The song is Sunshine by Good Morning Milo. I found the band on Purevolume in the top 15, listened to them, and downloaded their album. Only after I started listening to the whole album did I hear Sunshine. I was shocked when I heard the song. Most of the song is simple acoustic guitar, although there's some full band at the end. This is one of the best covers I have heard. It takes a song almost everyone knows and totally remakes it. The rest of the album reminds me of Ludo, so if you are a fan I'd listen to the rest of the album. It's pretty good in general, so definitely give it a chance on Purevolume.
Today's song of the day is actually a cover song of a song almost everyone knows. Just listen to the lyrics. The song is Sunshine by Good Morning Milo. I found the band on Purevolume in the top 15, listened to them, and downloaded their album. Only after I started listening to the whole album did I hear Sunshine. I was shocked when I heard the song. Most of the song is simple acoustic guitar, although there's some full band at the end. This is one of the best covers I have heard. It takes a song almost everyone knows and totally remakes it. The rest of the album reminds me of Ludo, so if you are a fan I'd listen to the rest of the album. It's pretty good in general, so definitely give it a chance on Purevolume.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Album Roundup - 9/22/09 - 11/16/09
Okay. I am officially back in action. Due to my long hiatus, I have missed reviewing many albums. This post will be a brief overview of several of the ones I don't feel like doing a long review with.
Paramore - brand new eyes:
This is the album that destroyed my blog. It was mostly my fault though. I finished a really nice review, but it got deleted. I had no feelings of redoing it at all. However, the album is great. It is totally different than Riot!, but in a much more mature way. There aren't as many sure cut radio hits and there are more slow songs. Ignorance, Careful, and Bring By Boring Brick are for the Riot! fans, and the acoustic The Only Exception and the absolutely beautiful epic ballad All I Wanted are two songs that anyone should love. http://myspace.com/paramore
Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here:
What a disappointment. A Lesson In Romantics was an absolutely brilliant album. However, the loss of their songwriter and second singer Jason Lancaster, now singer of Go Radio, affected the entire band's style. Derek's voice just does not belong with these songs. There's a few good songs, however there are no amazing ones. The Silence, If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet, and The End are the three I will suggest to listen to. The bonus track, The Memory, is one of the best and if you can get that song I would. http://myspace.com/maydayparade
Relient K - Forget And Not Slow Down:
A pretty good album. I've never been a huge Relient K fan, mostly only liking the radio hits. However, I like it. It's a bit more alternative than I usually listen to, so my opinion isn't strong on this album. Songs I suggest are Forget And Not Slow Down, If You Believe Me, and the sister songs This Is The End and (If You Want It) http://myspace.com/relientk
A Rocket To The Moon - On Your Side:
Absolutely DREADFUL. Honestly, I don't even listen to it. It's totally different than their EP, which was great. This album is more acoustic alternative and less pop/rock. It's boring, the songs sound the same, and I really don't even see one song that I like. Annabelle is decent, Mr. Right isn't horrible, and On Your Side is okay. The new Dakota is nothing compared to the original and everything else is lousy. http://myspace.com/arockettothemoon
The Summer Set - Love Like This:
Absolutely BRILLIANT. And yes, the similarities in the first sentence between this and ARTTM album are on purpose. The albums both came out on the same day, both carried the same amount of hype, and both seemed very similar in the past. However, this album blows it out of the water. It exceeded even my expectations. It's easily one of my favorite albums of the year. Chelsea, The Boys You Do, Love Like This, Girls Freak Me Out, This Is How We Live, and Punch Drunk Love are all excellent sons worth taking a listen to. http://myspace.com/thesummerset
Cartel - Cycles:
I hadn't listened to Cartel in years. I liked Honestly when it was on the radio, but I was never a huge Cartel fan. However, I decided to take a listen. I actually really like this album. It's a real good pop-punk album. Let's Go, the first single, is just decent, however The Perfect Mistake, Faster Ride, It Still Remains, and the acoustic Only You are my favorites. http://myspace.com/cartel
Every Avenue - Picture Perfect.
I LOVE this album. I liked their last album, and this one beats it easily. This and The Summer Set are the two best albums during this two month time period. Tell Me I'm A Wreck was a perfect choice for the single and could easily be on the radio. I Forgive You and Mindset are two fun songs with powerful riffs. The Story Left Untold has probably the best transition in a song I have ever heard, seamlessly shifting from 4/4 to 3/4. I barely even noticed the change until I listened carefully. That's musical brilliance right there. Other great songs are Picture Perfect, Happy The Hard Way, and Clumsy Little Heart. http://myspace.com/everyavenue
I've also listened to the new Dashboard album and Faber Drive album, but not enough to give an opinion. Also I've listened to several EPs, including the Rocket Summer, Forever The Sickest Kids, and The Years Gone By. Those are possibly going to be done later this week. Additionally, I've been to two concerts in the past month with another few coming up before the end of the year. Reviews of them might come as well. Plus several other misc. things. Keep checking in, telling people about the blog, and become a fan on Facebook!
Paramore - brand new eyes:
This is the album that destroyed my blog. It was mostly my fault though. I finished a really nice review, but it got deleted. I had no feelings of redoing it at all. However, the album is great. It is totally different than Riot!, but in a much more mature way. There aren't as many sure cut radio hits and there are more slow songs. Ignorance, Careful, and Bring By Boring Brick are for the Riot! fans, and the acoustic The Only Exception and the absolutely beautiful epic ballad All I Wanted are two songs that anyone should love. http://myspace.com/paramore
Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here:
What a disappointment. A Lesson In Romantics was an absolutely brilliant album. However, the loss of their songwriter and second singer Jason Lancaster, now singer of Go Radio, affected the entire band's style. Derek's voice just does not belong with these songs. There's a few good songs, however there are no amazing ones. The Silence, If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet, and The End are the three I will suggest to listen to. The bonus track, The Memory, is one of the best and if you can get that song I would. http://myspace.com/maydayparade
Relient K - Forget And Not Slow Down:
A pretty good album. I've never been a huge Relient K fan, mostly only liking the radio hits. However, I like it. It's a bit more alternative than I usually listen to, so my opinion isn't strong on this album. Songs I suggest are Forget And Not Slow Down, If You Believe Me, and the sister songs This Is The End and (If You Want It) http://myspace.com/relientk
A Rocket To The Moon - On Your Side:
Absolutely DREADFUL. Honestly, I don't even listen to it. It's totally different than their EP, which was great. This album is more acoustic alternative and less pop/rock. It's boring, the songs sound the same, and I really don't even see one song that I like. Annabelle is decent, Mr. Right isn't horrible, and On Your Side is okay. The new Dakota is nothing compared to the original and everything else is lousy. http://myspace.com/arockettothemoon
The Summer Set - Love Like This:
Absolutely BRILLIANT. And yes, the similarities in the first sentence between this and ARTTM album are on purpose. The albums both came out on the same day, both carried the same amount of hype, and both seemed very similar in the past. However, this album blows it out of the water. It exceeded even my expectations. It's easily one of my favorite albums of the year. Chelsea, The Boys You Do, Love Like This, Girls Freak Me Out, This Is How We Live, and Punch Drunk Love are all excellent sons worth taking a listen to. http://myspace.com/thesummerset
Cartel - Cycles:
I hadn't listened to Cartel in years. I liked Honestly when it was on the radio, but I was never a huge Cartel fan. However, I decided to take a listen. I actually really like this album. It's a real good pop-punk album. Let's Go, the first single, is just decent, however The Perfect Mistake, Faster Ride, It Still Remains, and the acoustic Only You are my favorites. http://myspace.com/cartel
Every Avenue - Picture Perfect.
I LOVE this album. I liked their last album, and this one beats it easily. This and The Summer Set are the two best albums during this two month time period. Tell Me I'm A Wreck was a perfect choice for the single and could easily be on the radio. I Forgive You and Mindset are two fun songs with powerful riffs. The Story Left Untold has probably the best transition in a song I have ever heard, seamlessly shifting from 4/4 to 3/4. I barely even noticed the change until I listened carefully. That's musical brilliance right there. Other great songs are Picture Perfect, Happy The Hard Way, and Clumsy Little Heart. http://myspace.com/everyavenue
I've also listened to the new Dashboard album and Faber Drive album, but not enough to give an opinion. Also I've listened to several EPs, including the Rocket Summer, Forever The Sickest Kids, and The Years Gone By. Those are possibly going to be done later this week. Additionally, I've been to two concerts in the past month with another few coming up before the end of the year. Reviews of them might come as well. Plus several other misc. things. Keep checking in, telling people about the blog, and become a fan on Facebook!
Muzik Dizcovery Now On Facebook! And Updates
Join the Muzik Dizcovery fan page on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Muzik-Dizcovery-Blog/327159180262?ref=nf
Additionally, I'm planning on starting writing again soon. Any requests please post in comments.
Additionally, I'm planning on starting writing again soon. Any requests please post in comments.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Artist Profile - Picture Me Broken
I'll admit it now. I think I have a new crush. It's Layla from Picture Me Broken. She has the clean vocals of Katy Perry, she's a female screamer, and her band is awesome. Oh yeah, did I mention she's 16?
Dearest I'm So Sorry immediately hits you with a wicked breakdown. You immediately notice the similarity of vocals to Katy Perry. Well, maybe if Katy Perry blasted insane screams. This is one of the first female screamo bands I've heard of. Eyes Set To Kill is screamo, but their female does not scream. There may be a few rough edges around parts of the song, but otherwise it sounds great.
Breaking The Fall combines another breakdown with great synth. Layla does the synth in the band along with vocals. You get to hear the male screams during this song. It's crazy how a 16 year old kid can do screams like this. I'm 16 and there's absolutely no way I could do any of that.
They show they can do slow songs as well. If I Never Wake Again slows things down with passionate vocals along with occasional screams. The piano along with the sirens during the intro creates the emotional mood. The vocals are not great in the beginning, but she goes up very high on the register and her voice obviously isn't ready for that. With some practice and rerecording this song could be amazing.
The other three songs on the EP are just as good as these three. Picture Me Broken just won a VMA for best breakout Bay Area Artist. It may be surprising, but they deserved it. I see this band getting into the 15-20 million listen range on Myspace. All they need is someone to give them a chance. Tragic Hero, Epitaph, and Fearless are definitely great fits for them. I think Tragic Hero would be the best for them at this point, seeing as TH started both Alesana and A Skylit Drive's careers. They are currently giving away their EP on purevolume for free, so go check it out HERE.
Dearest I'm So Sorry immediately hits you with a wicked breakdown. You immediately notice the similarity of vocals to Katy Perry. Well, maybe if Katy Perry blasted insane screams. This is one of the first female screamo bands I've heard of. Eyes Set To Kill is screamo, but their female does not scream. There may be a few rough edges around parts of the song, but otherwise it sounds great.
Breaking The Fall combines another breakdown with great synth. Layla does the synth in the band along with vocals. You get to hear the male screams during this song. It's crazy how a 16 year old kid can do screams like this. I'm 16 and there's absolutely no way I could do any of that.
They show they can do slow songs as well. If I Never Wake Again slows things down with passionate vocals along with occasional screams. The piano along with the sirens during the intro creates the emotional mood. The vocals are not great in the beginning, but she goes up very high on the register and her voice obviously isn't ready for that. With some practice and rerecording this song could be amazing.
The other three songs on the EP are just as good as these three. Picture Me Broken just won a VMA for best breakout Bay Area Artist. It may be surprising, but they deserved it. I see this band getting into the 15-20 million listen range on Myspace. All they need is someone to give them a chance. Tragic Hero, Epitaph, and Fearless are definitely great fits for them. I think Tragic Hero would be the best for them at this point, seeing as TH started both Alesana and A Skylit Drive's careers. They are currently giving away their EP on purevolume for free, so go check it out HERE.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Brand New Eyes Listening Party - Paramore
I was at the listening party for the new Paramore album. Instead of the full review I did last time, I'm just going to put some my quick take in bullets. Once the album leaks, I will have a full review.
And I just noticed they didn't play track one. Depressing much...
And I just noticed they didn't play track one. Depressing much...
- There were many more slow songs than were in Riot! The album title reflects that. It seems kind of obvious that Riot! would have more energy than Brand New Eyes. There were 4 or 5 slow songs in the whole album.
- Ignorance and Brick By Boring Brick are great. Those are the two songs I've heard more than once. They will definitely be my favorite tracks at the end of my adjusting to the album.
- Track 6, The Only Exception, was an all out acoustic song. That's brand new to Paramore. It was actually a very good song. The chorus can get a bit repetitive, but I see it becoming a constant in my playlists.
- Track 9 started soft. Very soft. And slow. But the guitar exploded right before the second chorus. I'm serious. I jumped. It definitely puts excitement back into the album.
Paramore Brand New Eyes Listening Party
I'll be there tonight. Will definitely post something about it later.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Apologies
I've been extremely busy lately with school starting. For a while I will probably only write for big album reviews. The site isn't dead. Keep showing up.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Love Drunk Album Review - Boys Like Girls
1. Heart Heart Heartbreak2. Love Drunk
3. She's Got a Boyfriend Now
4. Two is Better Than One (featuring Taylor Swift)
5. Contagious
6. Real Thing
7. Someone Like You
8. The Shot Heard 'Round the World
9. The First One
10. Chemicals Collide
11. Go
This album very quickly became one of my most awaited albums of the late summer. Once I became "Love Drunk" for the single, there was no ending of the hype I had for this album. Even Jason Tate from AbsolutePunk said that it was one of the best Pop/Rock mainstream albums of the year. As of now, most of the album is living up to its hype.
Heart Heart Heartbreak was one of the first clips from the album to be heard. BLG released it soon after getting 250k friends on facebook. The song definitely has single potential. The angry guitar of the verses definitely agree with the point of the song. The guitar lightens up for the chorus and is full of addicting hooks. I won't be surprised if this song hits the charts.
Love Drunk is a song everyone has heard. I have also reviewed it in the past. All I need to say is that this song instantly became one of my favorites. It is on the way surging to the top of the charts. In the other post I said it would go top 10. It's looking like that is going to come true.
She's Got A Boyfriend Now is the second single released. It is also the only other song currently on sale on Itunes. It's a catchy and fun song that will be on many teens' playlists. Nothing about the song is amazing, but the individual parts add up. The verses, chorus, beats, melodies, and everything else are good. Another song to definitely add.
Two Is Better Than One is much slower than the first three songs. It also is the song I say will rule the charts. I mostly say that because Taylor Swift is in it. Her recent radio success guarantees domination with this song. I'm not saying that this song isn't good (it is) but Swift will bring many more listeners. It's a slow song that starts acoustic while gradually picking up instrumentation and intensity. By the end of the song it is a powerful ballad that stands out in the album. The album is now 4/4 so far on great songs.
Contagious is the song that instantly stood out to me from the first listen. Definitely one of the most upbeat songs on the album, the strong guitar and flow of the song make it more towards the rock spectrum of the album. This is the song that will probably be most praised by the less mainstream people. The chorus is extremely catchy and energetic. This song would have single potential, but compared to the first four songs it won't have a chance to live up to its potential.
The next song, The Real Thing, is the end of the single caliber music. This song just doesn't stand out to me at all. It seems more filler than anything. The verses aren't great and I don't like the flow or the vocals of the chorus. It reminds me of my opinion of Hello Brooklyn. Definitely the first track on the album I wouldn't suggest buying if you have limited resources.
Someone Like You sounds like it doesn't belong on this album. It's a slow, Christian ballad. The lyrics are obviously about faith. This is just nothing like anything they have done before. I sure hope they don't go on this direction anymore. This song won't get them anywhere.
The Shot Heard Round The World finally puts the album back on track. It opens strong and continues with intensity throughout the song. I'm not a fan of Martin's vocals in this song. This and the last few songs don't sound like old BLG. The chorus is good, but takes a few listens to enjoy. This song is better than the last two, but still isn't great.
The First One is another slow song. I'm surprised to see this many slow songs on the album. So far this is three. The vocals are much improved and I really enjoy them. The chorus is great with lots of emotion. I'm really glad that the album got back on track with this song. There doesn't seem to be much middle territory in this album. The songs are either great or lousy.
Chemicals Collide is definitely another more punk pop song. The verses definitely seem like something out of Relient K. The chorus is much more mainstream and I really enjoy it. This song is definitely up with the first five on the album.
The final track, Go, is also the final slow song. It's also the only true acoustic song. The lyrics are great and the vocals are great as well. The chorus definitely shows both of those. It's a perfect end to a great album.
The album definitely has its ups and downs. However, the ups are exponentially more impacting than the downs. I'm not sure if it's a top 5 album for me this year so far, but it's definitely top 10. I'm expecting mainstream chart domination from this album for the next year. This album was definitely created wanting to rule the charts. It'll live up to that. Check out the whole album on myspace HERE.
Contagious is the song that instantly stood out to me from the first listen. Definitely one of the most upbeat songs on the album, the strong guitar and flow of the song make it more towards the rock spectrum of the album. This is the song that will probably be most praised by the less mainstream people. The chorus is extremely catchy and energetic. This song would have single potential, but compared to the first four songs it won't have a chance to live up to its potential.
The next song, The Real Thing, is the end of the single caliber music. This song just doesn't stand out to me at all. It seems more filler than anything. The verses aren't great and I don't like the flow or the vocals of the chorus. It reminds me of my opinion of Hello Brooklyn. Definitely the first track on the album I wouldn't suggest buying if you have limited resources.
Someone Like You sounds like it doesn't belong on this album. It's a slow, Christian ballad. The lyrics are obviously about faith. This is just nothing like anything they have done before. I sure hope they don't go on this direction anymore. This song won't get them anywhere.
The Shot Heard Round The World finally puts the album back on track. It opens strong and continues with intensity throughout the song. I'm not a fan of Martin's vocals in this song. This and the last few songs don't sound like old BLG. The chorus is good, but takes a few listens to enjoy. This song is better than the last two, but still isn't great.
The First One is another slow song. I'm surprised to see this many slow songs on the album. So far this is three. The vocals are much improved and I really enjoy them. The chorus is great with lots of emotion. I'm really glad that the album got back on track with this song. There doesn't seem to be much middle territory in this album. The songs are either great or lousy.
Chemicals Collide is definitely another more punk pop song. The verses definitely seem like something out of Relient K. The chorus is much more mainstream and I really enjoy it. This song is definitely up with the first five on the album.
The final track, Go, is also the final slow song. It's also the only true acoustic song. The lyrics are great and the vocals are great as well. The chorus definitely shows both of those. It's a perfect end to a great album.
The album definitely has its ups and downs. However, the ups are exponentially more impacting than the downs. I'm not sure if it's a top 5 album for me this year so far, but it's definitely top 10. I'm expecting mainstream chart domination from this album for the next year. This album was definitely created wanting to rule the charts. It'll live up to that. Check out the whole album on myspace HERE.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Playlist - August Singles Part 1
This post will go along fragmented. I will do one song at a time, but will update the post often.
The Summer Set - Chelsea. This song is the first single of The Summer Set's soon to be released album, Love Like This. It is actually the new version of a very old demo by them. I've had the demo song for months while waiting for the real version. It's easily a very catchy song and could also easily break mainstream. The chorus is irresistible and the verses are catchy. Definitely a huge highlight to one of my most awaited albums. Love Like This will be out October 13th. Listen to The Summer Set on myspace HERE.
Hayley Williams - Teenagers. This song is part of the Jennifer's Body soundtrack. It is also Hayley's first solo song. It's an extremely short song, just clocking in over two minutes. It sounds like nothing Paramore has ever done. It is an acoustic guitar song with handclaps in the end. Hayley does the guitar herself, making it a solo song. I really like it. It's nothing like anything I usually listen to, but it's grown on me quickly. Check out Hayley in Paramore on myspace HERE.
We The Kings - Heaven Can Wait. This song was just released on iTunes yesterday, but I had heard it for a week or two now. I actually really did not like this song when it first came out, but it has grown on me a lot. The chorus sounds exactly like The Academy Is on Fast Times At Barrington High. I'm still not much of a fan of the chorus, but it may grow on me. The verses definitely are great. I hope this song is not going to be the best on the album. This doesn't even compare to Check Yes Juliet and Secret Valentine. Check out We The Kings on Myspace HERE.
The Summer Set - Chelsea. This song is the first single of The Summer Set's soon to be released album, Love Like This. It is actually the new version of a very old demo by them. I've had the demo song for months while waiting for the real version. It's easily a very catchy song and could also easily break mainstream. The chorus is irresistible and the verses are catchy. Definitely a huge highlight to one of my most awaited albums. Love Like This will be out October 13th. Listen to The Summer Set on myspace HERE.
Hayley Williams - Teenagers. This song is part of the Jennifer's Body soundtrack. It is also Hayley's first solo song. It's an extremely short song, just clocking in over two minutes. It sounds like nothing Paramore has ever done. It is an acoustic guitar song with handclaps in the end. Hayley does the guitar herself, making it a solo song. I really like it. It's nothing like anything I usually listen to, but it's grown on me quickly. Check out Hayley in Paramore on myspace HERE.
We The Kings - Heaven Can Wait. This song was just released on iTunes yesterday, but I had heard it for a week or two now. I actually really did not like this song when it first came out, but it has grown on me a lot. The chorus sounds exactly like The Academy Is on Fast Times At Barrington High. I'm still not much of a fan of the chorus, but it may grow on me. The verses definitely are great. I hope this song is not going to be the best on the album. This doesn't even compare to Check Yes Juliet and Secret Valentine. Check out We The Kings on Myspace HERE.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Updates
So, the blog has been running for approximately two months now. In that time I've had over 8000 page views. I'm genuinely shocked how well this is doing. I never thought when I started this I'd last for even this long. You people are the only reason I keep doing this. I'm glad you all appreciate what I do.
I'm leaving in half an hour for the week. As a result there will be no articles until at least next Saturday. I have a request. I want everyone to come onto this post and comment. Make a request. Praise the blog. Beat down the blog with a giant stick. I don't care. But comment. Also, the best thing you guys can do is surprise me with the view counts when I get back. I understand they will be down from usual, but hopefully you guys can bring me some more. Every single person counts.
I've added several things in the past few weeks. On the right hand column there is a list of bands that have advertised the blog. I'd like to thank every one of them personally here; Girls Get All The Action, The Arrival, Catch The Sunrise, Hello Hollywood, Runner Runner, Show Me The Skyline, Boys Will Be Boys, and The Icarus Account. They are all amazing bands full of amazing people and you all should check them out. Also, I will be updating the upcoming album list I posted last week. I made it easily linked to also in the right hand column.
After I get home, I hope to do a few more articles. Then school starts. From there I might not be able to do an article a day. I will continue to do the best I can. I hope to reintroduce the cover song articles soon. I totally ran out of ones to write about so any suggestions are definitely appreciated and will be noted in the review.
Finally, I'd like to thank some individual people that have helped me so far. Andy for attempting to work on the layout. Megan for making the banner (and much much more). Jason from Girls Get All The Action for being a big inspiration to the creation of this blog. All the people from AP.net that have totally bashed me for writing but at the same time have inspired me to go on longer. My three (four?) chatbox fangirls that always bring me both entertainment and annoyance. All my friends for helping me advertise and for giving me a big start. And my family, especially my mom for giving me this idea and would never have been made without it.
- Casey
I'm leaving in half an hour for the week. As a result there will be no articles until at least next Saturday. I have a request. I want everyone to come onto this post and comment. Make a request. Praise the blog. Beat down the blog with a giant stick. I don't care. But comment. Also, the best thing you guys can do is surprise me with the view counts when I get back. I understand they will be down from usual, but hopefully you guys can bring me some more. Every single person counts.
I've added several things in the past few weeks. On the right hand column there is a list of bands that have advertised the blog. I'd like to thank every one of them personally here; Girls Get All The Action, The Arrival, Catch The Sunrise, Hello Hollywood, Runner Runner, Show Me The Skyline, Boys Will Be Boys, and The Icarus Account. They are all amazing bands full of amazing people and you all should check them out. Also, I will be updating the upcoming album list I posted last week. I made it easily linked to also in the right hand column.
After I get home, I hope to do a few more articles. Then school starts. From there I might not be able to do an article a day. I will continue to do the best I can. I hope to reintroduce the cover song articles soon. I totally ran out of ones to write about so any suggestions are definitely appreciated and will be noted in the review.
Finally, I'd like to thank some individual people that have helped me so far. Andy for attempting to work on the layout. Megan for making the banner (and much much more). Jason from Girls Get All The Action for being a big inspiration to the creation of this blog. All the people from AP.net that have totally bashed me for writing but at the same time have inspired me to go on longer. My three (four?) chatbox fangirls that always bring me both entertainment and annoyance. All my friends for helping me advertise and for giving me a big start. And my family, especially my mom for giving me this idea and would never have been made without it.
- Casey
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Emotion EP Review - Breathe Electric
Tracklist:01. Emotion
02. What Would You Say
03. The Best Of All
04. Let Go
05. The Average
06. The Endless Fight
The title track, Emotion, hooked me instantly. Every time I hear the opening beat it reminds me of a Paul Oakenfold song I heard on the radio a few years ago. I think it was called Faster Kill Pussycat. If you know it, tell me if you agree. The beats are extremely catchy although not heard before by Breathe Electric. The chorus hooks with the secondary vocals before going back into the lead singer's lower pitched voice. This is a great electropop song and definitely introduces many new techniques into the band's arsenal of tricks.
What Would You Say features the lead singer of a fairly well known band as guest vocals. The guest vocalist is Tom Higgenson from the Plain White T's. It's a pretty unorthodox combination of vocalists. The piano goes along with the electronics extremely well. It also seems more mainstream than usual. Tom Higgenson might even lead the song to top 40 radio. I wouldn't be surprised at all of that happens. It's different to hear Tom's voice electrofied instead of his usual raw vocals. He will get a lot of complaints for that. It is still a good song and definitely a highlight of the album.
The Best Of All sounds like a song that Between The Trees would do if they were a little bit poppier. The piano led first verse definitely resembles Between The Trees. The first verse doesn't seem to go along with the rest of the song. The chorus sounds just like I Can Get Back Now by You, Me, And Everyone We Know. It's another song that is a lot less electronic than usual Breathe Electric. The last chorus includes another slow piano part that as earlier does not fit in at all. The song would be much better without those slow parts. Overall, the song is still pretty good.
Let Go is another great song. It's pretty much a pure electronic track. The vocals are covered with Autotune throughout most of the song. However, Breathe Electric was always full of that. The whole song is extremely upbeat and there are almost no resting moments. The chorus is full of energy and is extremely catchy. It sounds different than every other song so far. The last album sounded pretty much the same all the way through, but this one definitely diversifies.
The Average is a remade version of the song from the first EP. I can't notice too many differences between the versions. The vocals seem a bit more sustained and covered by more autotune. This was my absolute favorite song from the first album. It was extremely catchy and never got tiring for me. I have replaced the old version with this one. There isn't enough difference to carry both versions, so I decided that renovated is better. Pick whichever version you want, but you better download it.
The Endless Fight is another totally different sounding track. It is another piano led track that is softer and less energetic. His vocals sound a little different but are still great. The chorus is basically a powerful chant. Also, uncustomary (for the band) guitar is throughout the song. This could be the beginning of a less electric BE. The guitar is definitely pleasing to hear after hearing so little beforehand. This song may have to grow on you, but it is definitely something good.
This album is much different than their last. There is much more diversity within the tracks. Hopefully there will be a full length out sometime soon. Definitely something to look forward to. You can listen to the whole album on their myspace HERE.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Hello Fascination Brief Review - Breathe Carolina
Tracklist:01 - Hello Fascination
02 - I'm The Type Of Person to Take It Personal
03 - Take Me To Infinity
04 - Dressed Up to Undress
05 - I.D.G.A.F
06 - Welcome To Savannah
07 - I Have to Go Return Some Video Tapes
08 - The Dressing Room
09 - Tripped and Fell in Portland
10 - Can I Take You Home
11 - My Obsession
12 - Velvet
13 - Rescue
I've already talked about Hello Fascination, so here's what I said earlier. The title track of the new Breathe Carolina CD, Hello Fascination, is much different than songs such as Birds and the Bees, Diamonds, and the cover of See You Again. There's definitely more guitar than I am used to in a BC track. It begins off sounding like a hardcore song and goes back into hardcore mode at several points during the song. I also have to admit that their vocals in the song sound similarly to The Used. I'll probably get shunned from the music world for that comment, but oh well. BC seems like they are trying to separate themselves from the other "shunned" bands of the crunkcore world. Fearless is definitely doing a good job with BC.
However, the next track I'm The Kind Of Person To Take It Personal brings them back to their old lousy self. Nothing about the song stands out. The back and forth clean vocals and screaming do nothing for me in this song. Take Me To Infinity starts catchy but gets extremely monotonous after a while. Dressed Up To Undress finally is a song I can listen to. It almost sounds like a pop song at the beginning. The beats are extremely catchy and fun. The chorus is pretty good, although not great. The bridge sounds like 3oh!3 made beats for them. There is basically no screaming throughout the whole song. While not great, it's listenable.
The next song is hard to describe. It's called I.D.G.A.F. If you don't know what that means, you shouldn't be listening to this band. The first listen through this song made my lips drop on how bad the chorus was. I still think it's bad, but it stood out to me. If a part of a song stands out this much, there must be something to it. I'll admit it's semi catchy. And about 10 minutes from now I'll slap myself for saying that. Now, before I give myself more reasons to scold myself...
Welcome To Savannah comes on next. This song is great. The chorus is extremely catchy and the screaming as backup vocals definitely brings the vocals out. It sounds nothing like BC's old songs. Which is a good thing since I only liked one or two of them. The beginning of I Have To Go Return Some Video Tapes almost stopped me from listening to it. I'm glad I took time to time to listen through that part. It still isn't a great song, but it's decent instead of horrid. The second half of the first verse is a screaming/singing part while the chorus is definitely pretty good. The verses after the first are also much better than the intro.
The Dressing Room is another song with a good chorus and decent verses. The beats definitely sound like something from their first album. However, the chorus flows extremely well and is extremely catchy. Tripped And Fell In Portland is something totally new for BC. It sounds like a hardcore song at the beginning. There's as little electronica as you can imagine in a BC song. The screaming part isn't great in this song and could definitely have been done better. The chorus is great as well. This is a song that is a huge surprise for the band. I've even heard AP.net people praising this song. Well...more than usual for BC.
Can I Take You Home is one of the best songs on the album. However, the best hasn't come yet. The beats are great and the chorus is even better. This is another song in which BC sounds nothing like their past style. My Obsession is a strange song. The beats in the verses sound like it was made from kitchen utensils. The chorus is pretty good, but still nothing special. Of course, it leads up to...
Velvet. Easily the best song on the album. The beats are upbeat and strangely addictive. The chorus has been stuck in my head for days. The lyrics flow perfectly together and are full of intensity. This is probably the most intense song I have heard by BC. The lyrics aren't great, but the song is just too darn catchy. The album then ends on Rescue. Not a great song. The lyrics sound like chants. Breathe Carolina shouldn't attempt to do a slow song. It's not part of their style. At all.
Overall, this album is decent. It reminds me of the Cobra album in my opinion of it. There's a few songs I like, but most of the album isn't special at all. However, Velvet makes the album go up more than a few points. The album comes out in two and a half hours. It will be released on myspace at midnight HERE.
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