For Keane, 'Perfect Symmetry' Is A Chance to Start Anew

I had three one credit gift cards that I happened to win this summer from the music provider Upbeats.com. Three free songs from over a million to pick from. Without doing the math I'd say that the possibilities are endless.

So I started in the Top 100 section, and my eyes bulged ever so slightly. Okay, they bulged a lot. I saw a flashy album cover and beneath that the artist, Keane. I tried not to get too excited, they like to release little EPs and singles here and there. I took the single entitled 'Spiralling' to my e-Cart as quickly as I could and from there let my ears in on a little musical treat.

After that it was time to snoop. Indeed on October 13 in the UK, and only a day later for those devoted fans across the pond. The bands last full length album came in 2006 with Under The Iron Sea. However, Perfect Symmetry is promised to be a 'new, different Keane,' not only with their music but their image as well.

The single, 'Spiralling' is receiving airtime and is expected to be the best success on the album. Other notable tracks to look out for include; 'The Lovers Are Losing' and 'Love Is The End.'

The Ghost Overground

I would personally like to thank Jack's Mannequin for providing us faithful fans with a taste of what The Glass Passenger will be bringing us at the end of September.

Head over to their myspace to listen to 'The Resolution.'

I Will Be Returning...

to the blog world sometime next week.

I might need this to save my soul this semester.

I'm In Love

with a) this song b) this band c) the whole cd. Their name is Embrace. Check them out!

I Want My Vinyl, Please...

While on my ever boring lunch hour today, I was reading the Reading Eagle (gag) and came across a fantastic article in the entertainment section on how vinyl record sales are slowly reviving themselves. The article, by Sarah Skidmore talked extensively about how music fans are slowly beginning to purchase the vinyls, reaching out for the better sound quality provided by the analog sound over that of the digital.

Another product seeing a boost in sales; turntables.

While some are skeptical, there's no doubt that in independent music stores vinyl is making a comeback. The most popular album sold seems to be The Beatles with 'Abbey Road' along with favorites from the White Stripes, Foo Fighters and Pink Floyd. Other artists such as Madonna and Elvis Costello are reissuing albums into the LP format for listeners to rediscover and appreciate the vinyl sound and quality.

Don't worry, if you don't live near a local independent record store, Amazon.com has it's own section on the website dedicated to vinyl records, and BestBuy is starting to test sales in select stores and online.

Music? What's That?

Unfortunately, my summer hasn't exactly started as planned. I'm working full time, and by the time I get home I'm anything but in the mood to write.

However, I'm going to try my best to change that, especially with there being so many great releases coming up this summer.

So for those of you still dedicated enough to look at this from time to time, I'm going to do my best to keep this updated for you.

Now let's get down to business:

On iTunes, you can buy Coldplay's single, 'Viva La Vida' for the usual 99 cents as well as pre-order their album. Since I'm back in the green thanks to my job, I took the liberty of buying it...and it's genius. Hopefully it's setting the stage for the rest of the album. If it is, I'm sure that it won't fail the waves of Coldplay fans looking forward to it. Check out their website for information on tour dates as well.

Until We All Burn...

I've really taken to this song off of Narrow Stairs, it calms me down, helps me to relax. Something in his voice lets me know that everything is going to be okay.

Ladies and gents, I give thee 'Grapevine Fires.'

You Can't Do Much Better Than Narrow Stairs

I've been awaiting May 13 for quite some time. Simply for the fact that Narrow Stairs, the newest Death Cab for Cutie album would finally be in my hands.

So on my lunch hour (yes, working full time) I headed over to Best Buy to get this little beauty. After a minor heart attack when I couldn't find it, I was delighted to see the strange yet amazing cover art that made it stand out from the other new releases this week. Much to my dismay though, I had to wait another 5 hours before actually being able to listen to it. 

I've got to say... the five hours that I had to wait was definitely worth it, without a doubt. I'm trying to understand why critics who reviewed the album classified it as 'dark' and such 'a different sound,' because to me it's anything but dark. Sure, some songs have more deep lyrics then fans might be used to, but Gibbard's work far surpasses almost everything that he has done up until this point.

While the whole album (produced by Chris Walla) is practically flawless, certain songs definitely stick out. Be sure to listen to 'You Can Do Better Than Me' along with 'Your New Twin Sized Bed' and 'Bixby Canyon Bridge.'

You won't be disappointed.

Old News, New News...Something in Between

In October 2007, Dashboard Confessional released their much anticipated album, The Shade of Poison Trees, I was a bit surprised when Revolt Media posted a short letter from Chris himself saying the he was back in the studio again.

True, it was posted in late March, 5 months after the release of their previous album, but with the flack that they've been getting for The Shade of Poison Trees being rushed and underdeveloped, you'd think they'd slow it down a bit.

However, I'm not going to complain. With the hopes of being released sometime in 2008, it would be the third consecutive year that Dashboard would release a full scale album, following 2006's Dusk and Summer and 2007's The Shade of Poison Trees.

More to come as more details arise, but check out the article posted by RM for yourself.

I'm Thinking (and Feeling) Songs Of Summer...

I've got 5 days of school left, and summer and the promises of ice cream, baseball games, sunny days and vacations to the beach have left me in anything but the mood to study.

So I've been trying to avoid songs the suggest summer, but let me tell you, it's so hard. They are everywhere. 

It's impossible to escape them, believe me... I've been trying.

Some of my favorites to kick back and sign along to? I'm glad you asked.

'The Garden' - Cut Chemist - Not exactly sing along to material, but has the perfect rhythm for a lazy day by the pool. I'm addicted to it even though I have no clue what the girl who is singing happens to be saying.

'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' - Tears For Fears - Okay so scorn me for the fact that a) it's not indie and b) it's from the 80's (my favorite decade by far, wish I could have spent more time in it), but this song is to me, classic teenage summer rebellion song. And hello, it was in the fantastic movie Real Genius. 

'Atoms for Peace' - Thom Yorke - Yes, the lead singer for Radiohead released some solo work in 2006, and this happens to be my favorite song from the disc. It's relaxing, making it perfect for lazy summer nights.

'Dusk and Summer' - Dashboard Confessional - Off of the 2006 release in which the song gets it's name, you can expect some pretty beachy tunes to come off the CD. And you can't deny it, there are some great tracks that you can listen to over and over while in front of the waves. Rumor has it that Chris Carrabba and the crew are back in the studio....I'm looking forward to finding out if that's true (don't worry, I'll let you know!).

'Satellite' - Guster - Anyone who knows me personally knows that I obnoxiously sing this song when ever I get the chance. Why not listen to it and do the same? It's perfect to shout out while running through the nice cool grass. For a change of pace try out The Astronaut's Radio Remix. I'm sure that the fact they both have to do with space is sheer coincidence. 

'Brighter Than Sunshine' - Aqualung - Ya know, for the cloudy days that summer might bring.

'New Soul' - Yael Naim - Quite honestly, this song just makes me want to stand up and dance around. I think I'd even be content dancing around in the rain if this song was on. And I know someone else who feels the same way about this song.

Others to consider: 'Mushaboom' - The Postal Service Remix, 'Talking Like Turnstiles' - Death Cab for Cutie, 'Holiday From Real' - Jack's Mannequin, 'Sitting, Waiting, Wishing' - Jack Johnson, and (another blast from the past) 'Take On Me' - A-ha.

Happy summer everyone!

Posting Shall

return to normal tomorrow.

I've finally finished all work until at least Friday afternoon.

See you then. =)

I'm Taking A Break

from my usual music tonight and attending a completely different kind of concert.

One without moshpits and screaming crowds and crazy people all over the place.

I'll be attending a sit down shut your mouth and don't move for three hours concert. It's for my quite talented 13 year old brother.

He made it into the Berk's County Junior Band, Chorus and Orchestra concert. Yup, all three. He's pretty awesome.

So as for the change of pace, I'm kinda looking forward to it.

I Apologize

for my lack of updates this week. There's not much time left before finals and I'm racing to get papers and projects done before the semester is over.

Lame excuse, I know.

Anyways, on to better things. I'm trying to compile a list of some of the concerts I really really really want to go to this summer.

There's a lot of them. So sometime tonight I'll post them along with some other musical note.

I just wanted to get something up here so you know I'm alive and well.

We Were Boxing

We were boxing the stars...

We were boxing...

You were swingin for Mars...

Dark blue have you ever been alone in a crowded room?

                          I'm here with you.

I'm Writing A Paper About Boondock Saints

I realize that has nothing to do about music, but this does.

A video, just for you. 

I really need to get my paws on Hotel by Moby, pronto.

And if you watch the video, you'll understand my little play on words. 

Somebody Asked Me A Tough Question (Sad Face)

Last night, someone asked me what I consider to be a tough question. To some, it may not seem like it's that big of a deal, but to me it was pretty tough to answer. So now, the tough question that was given to me?

What is your favorite song?

Well to be honest I was about ready to cry. I sat around for about ten minutes before stating quite simply that I had no idea. So I was inspired. Why not write down some of my favorite songs but just to give me a better idea, not actually forcing me to actually pick a favorite song, which apparently is clearly impossible for me to do.

So my Top 5 favorite songs, in no particular order:

Cue the Sun - Daphne Loves Derby - I've been in love with Daphne Loves Derby for about six years, but when I heard this song last summer, I fell hard. With it's simple acoustic sound, excellent lyrics and even a harmonica (score...really that adds points) this song just makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.

Hamburg Song - Keane - When Under the Iron Sea came out in 2006, this song stuck out to me like the North Star in the night sky (go ahead and make fun of me for that but it's true). The song itself holds a lot of meaning for my close friends and I, each in different ways. But honestly for me it's the lyrics that get me, like most of the songs that I love. If I could post the whole lyrics to the song here I would, but I'll link it and you can just go read them for yourself.

Slipping Away - Moby - I've been listening to Moby a lot lately, and some of his songs are amazing, even without lyrics. The song is off of his 2005 album Hotel, and although there are plenty of other amazing songs off of the two disc release, just read this please:

Open to everything happy and sad

Seeing the good when it's all going bad

Seeing the sun when I can't really see

Hoping the sun will at least look at me

Focus on everything better today

All that I needed I never could say

Hold on to people, they're slipping away

Hold on to this while it's slipping away

Two words, my friends: Freaking Amazing.

I Want to Know Your Plans - Say Anything - For once, the musical aspect of this song outweighs the lyrics for me. Although both are amazingly fantastic in their own right, I can't down either, but the music to me is what makes this song complete. And it's a song about love, so of course I'm all for it.

Pieces of the People We Love - The Rapture - Someone (a very awesome someone) introduced me to The Rapture over the summer, and let me tell you...I love them. Their sound is quite original and this song reminds me so much of the summer that it makes me want to lounge by the pool or hang out on the beach. It's also really great for summer parties...just sayin'.

So, there, my five favorite songs. And although there happen to be oodles more that I love, these five stand out to me the most.

Also, this post is dedicated to my dear friend SAMM. Who owes me a York Peppermint Patty on Tuesday. ;-)

No No No

I don't believe it. :(

Read that first line. And cry.

Post One of the Day...

I'm officially going to see Death Cab on June 12.

Yay!

I'll update later. With something better. Promise!

8 More Days....

until the new Jack's Mannequin CD.

Let's hope anyways, I can't seem to find it on pre-sale anywhere.



And I'm going to apologize in advance for my lack of updating. I'm getting slammed with end of the year papers and projects thatare taking up oodles of my time. But I'm going to try and post you with some form of musical information a few more times this week.

There's This Band

Named The Swimmers.

And I quite enjoy them. Especially this song, in which you can watch the video and find out for yourself why they are amazing.

The Swimmers are from Philadelphia, PA and recently released their first full length album, Fighting Trees was released on March 4 with MAD Dragon Records (affiliated with Drexel Universtiy.)

So listen. I command thee.

AKA: Brittany Needs to Find More Music

So there's three things that everyone should know about me: I like music, a lot (although that should be painfully obvious by now), I love to shop, and I love knowing about places that include both. So naturally, when I was exposed to a place that puts all three of these things in one, I'm going to be entranced. And speechless. Which I was when I walked into AKA Music in Philadelphia. I had no clue what to do with myself.

I tried to contain my excitment (and my dumbfounded look) as I walked through the store, and I browsed through everything since I really had no clue where to begin or what exactly I was looking for. But I will say this: if you go in there and can't find anything, you might have a problem. Their selection spans pretty much every genre from world to rock, rap and hip hop, indie, jazz, big band, local...I'm pretty sure you get my point.

And the prices are what I consider to be quite reasonable, since they deal with both new releases, used CDs, and vinyl. But back to the prices...new releases priced about the same as they would be at your local Best Buy, but the deals come in when you go searching through the used CDs. Their newer selection of used CDs starts at 99 cents. Yes, exactly, only 99 cents. Now, it requires you to have a watchful eye because you have to search through neatly packed boxes, but you can't go wrong. After that the prices go up a bit, but you're able to find that most used CDs are between $5 and $10 each.

So seriously, if you ever take a trip to Philadelphia, or you live there and have never been to AKA Music, I recomment that you make your way there ASAP. Find more information on their myspace site here, or head down to 27 N. Second Street Philadelphia PA.

It's heaven. Promise. Even if it makes you feel like you've never listened to any decent music before.

I Won't Leave You Hanging...I Swear.

Some things to look forward to in the next week from yours truly.

• If you're currently looking for some new music and unsure of where to get it, I've found a place. It's decently priced, and there are so many artists there that even I feel like a music reject.
• In conjunction with bullet No. 1 I'll talk about the John Ralston CD that I came upon. We have a fate-like relationship, I swear.
• And maybe a write up about The Swimmers, whom we should all start to enjoy rather quickly.

These of course will come in no particular order. So sit tight, they'll be out for you sometime this week.

So My Should Have Been...

long winded rant about how extremely upset I was (you have no idea, honestly!) with Death Cab for Cutie not coming to the Philly area at all after their new cd comes out in May shall cease to exist.

Silly me forgot to look at myspace, where they actually have their whole tour schedule posted.

So shall we say that....

June 12, 2008 I'll be at The Mann Center in Philadelphia?

Sounds like a date to me!

Hold On Now Youngsters…Don’t Go Sticking Fingers Into Sockets

So let me explain something. I love crazy sounding music. A lot, probably a bit too much. And when my friend introduced me to Los Campesinos! I pretty much jumped on them and was in love with their music instantly.

The group, from Cardiff, Wales has been together since 2006 and has released one full length album, Hold On Now, Youngster and two EPs, their most notable one being 2007’s Sticking Fingers into Sockets.

Their EP released the single, ‘You! Me! Dancing!’ and it’s a poppy little number that starts off slow and builds into an explosion of musical mayhem that my ears can’t seem to get enough of. Other tracks of interest from the Sticking Fingers into Sockets EP include; ‘We Throw Parties/You Throw Knives’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me to Do The Math(s).’ One thing is for sure, no two songs sound the same.

The full length CD, which was released for digital download on February 25th, 2008 for those in the UK, while the physical CD came out today, April 1st (No joke!) for those of us state-side. Thanks to iTunes, I got a few of the songs back in February, and they don’t disappoint. Hold On Now, Youngster has it’s share of great tracks as well, including ‘Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Broken Breakbeats’ and ‘Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks.’

Although their sounds may not be music to everyone’s ears, give them a chance. If anything, it may strike up the sudden urge to dance around.

O Yes....

I know this came out over a year ago. But I'm still in love with this song.

And the video isn't half bad either.

Whoops!

I probably should have added this:

Album Art & Tour Dates = The Beginning of A Countdown to May 13

Death Cab for Cutie released it's album artwork this week. You can find the pre-order information on iTunes and Bestbuy.com.

I already pre-ordered mine. :)

Along with the album artwork for Narrow Stairs, they released some tour dates, as well as the official track listing. Unfortunately they aren't coming anywhere too close to me, but I've always wanted to go to Boston...

In the month of May we've got:

9 - Providence, R.I. @ Providence Piers
10 - Boston, Mass. @ Bank of America Pavilion
24 - Bend, Ore. @ Les Schwab Amphitheater
28 - Morrison, Colo. @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

In the month of June we've got:

9 - Columbia, Md. @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
13 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Plain Dealer Pavilion
17 - Grand Prairie, Texas @ Nokia Theatre

We've also been blessed with a complete and set track listing! Horray!

1. Bixby Canyon Bridge
2. I Will Possess Your Heart (available online at amazon.com and iTunes)
3. No Sunlight
4. Cath…
5. Talking Bird
6. You Can Do Better Than Me
7. Grapevine Fires
8. Your New Twin Sized Bed
9. Long Division
10. Pity and Fear
11. The Ice Is Getting Thinner

I hope that they realize that this isn't making my wait any easier...

Pretty. Odd...And I Mean That In A Positive Way.

So honestly, Panic! At the Disco's new CD threw me for a quite plesent loop since yesterday. They've seemingly managed to completely change their sound from jittery emo-pop to....well, indie.

I'm a little bit shocked, to put it bluntly. This wasn't exactly the career move that I predicted from them.

However, I've been listening to the CD on Youtube, which is suiting me just fine for now, but I'm pretty sure that I'll have to add this one to my collection of favorites sometimes soon.

Check a song or two out for yourself.

William Tell Isn't Just An Overture Anymore...

Okay, so honestly the first thing I used to think of when I heard 'William Tell' was the famous overture. I don't however think of the former guitarist for the band Something Corporate. So wasn't I amazed a few months ago when I saw that he too started a solo project endeavor like those of band mates Andrew McMahon and Brian Ireland (by way of joining the band Streamline as their drummer).

So why exactly should you care?

Well, mostly because I'm telling you to, but mainly because most artists with actual talent don't seem to get the recognition that they rightfully deserve. Tell's CD entitled You Can Hold Me Down was released March 13, 2007, and unfortunately (for people like me) most of us knew nothing about it. I didn't find out anything about his solo release until I was looking up information on his previous band, Something Corporate, on Wikipedia.

Thus further prompting further investigation on my part to see (or hear, if you please) what on Earth this could sound like.

And I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. Although it doesn't quite compare to the solo debute by McMahon, it is original and edgy in it's own right. With it's pop-piano sound slightly similar to that of Something Corporate but with Tell's free range on the lyrics and guitar, it is blended together to create the California style that I'm quite used to hearing. Notable tracks include 'Slipping Under (Sing Along to Your Favorite Song), 'Fairfax (You're Still the Same)', and of course the track from which the CD gets it's name, 'You Can Hold Me Down'.

With seven other tracks to add to the list, there is definately something for everyone to bob their heads to in delight. See below for a youtube video (by a fan) of a live performance of 'Slipping Under' or visit his myspace page for more songs and extra information.

Dear DCFC,

It is currently 12:31 am on March 18, and your single is supposed to be available for me to download. However, I'm sitting here impatiently waiting and it is nowhere to be found. I'm disappointed and I'm going to bed.

Love (but not really until I get my single),
Brittany

P.S. I'll be updating later today.

Update No. 1: It's 7:31 am and the opening notes of 'I Will Possess Your Heart' are filling my ears...what a good feeling to have some new Death Cab music in my ears.

Surprises?! I Love Surprises!

So I'm trying to cut back on my myspace usage, I really am. But after today there's clearly a reason that I surf this site a little bit too much. John Ralston, who yes, I realize I wrote a blog about a mere 19 days ago, is just too amazing that it would be horrible for me not to give him any attention. But back to the main point (as I assure you there is one) this little EP entitled White Spiders was released March 11 on iTunes and March 4 on eMusic.

And the five songs for a price tag of $2.99 on iTunes is cheaper than normal, which works out quite fine for my budget, not to mention my ears. Since this EP is only available online, I had no choice but to go digital for this purchase. White Spiders has a much lighter tone than Ralston's previous albums, and the tracks bounce along on this little acoustic wonder.

The title track, 'White Spiders' opens this disc with a sound that is slightly in tune with that of The Shins, with a pure acoustic sound. The lyrics are great as well, ending with; 'sky writers are writing white smoke on blue/ they were building an empire out of me and you.' 'Blood Thirsty' is a short and sweet little number that bounces along with a simple percussion part that speaks of 'blood thirsty angels bouncing around the room.'

'Don't Go to Sleep' is the third song on the 13 minute album and is again reminiscent of The Shins, boasting lyrics in it's chorus stating, 'just don't go to sleep/ don't go to sleep/ I need you to be here looking after me.' The longest song on the album, 'Jenny With the Long Dark Hair' is the summer fling love song that nearly everyone can relate to in some way or another. 'Room With a View' is another Ralston classic in the making. The song goes on to talk about a relationship in which he nkows he will never be able to be there for the other person.

Overall this surprise EP is addicting to the ears and proves that once more John Ralston has won me over with his mere simplicity in sound and amazing lyrics.

The Hood Internet: Bringing Indie and Rap Together for Some Seriously Fierce Mash-ups

Since March 2007, two extremely creative guys have teamed up to create the website known as thehoodinternet, which mixes indie rock and rap together to make some really awesome and completely original sounds. Aaron Brink (known as ABX) and Steve Reidell (known as STV STL) work separately to mix their songs, but post and update their site on a daily basis for listeners.

Since they began a year ago, the two have released three CD (The Hood Internet Mixtape Volumes 1 and 2, The Hood Internet vs. The Pack Mixtape) and have also released 137 single tracks for public download. While the word of the website is slowly starting to spread, another thing that makes this website unique is one amazing factor:

Everything is free.

Yup, that's right, I said it. Everything is free. You can preview and download every album or single track, and you won't be charged a single penny for any of it. All you have to do is select one of the three file sharing sites that you want to download it from, and the site takes care of the rest. After the download is complete simply open the file with your music player of choice, and the files are loaded in complete with album art and all.

So even if you aren't a big fan of rap, you might as well give this site a try and be amazed over some of the stuff they mash together for our ears. After all, the only thing you might end up losing is some space on your hard drive.

Oh I'm Sneaky...

So while surfing songmeanings.net I found a link to a Youtube video for a song off of Narrow Stairs, entitled 'Cath...'. See below:



And it's amazing. The link to songmeanings.net takes you directly to the lyrics for the song. But for some fun I decided to include Ben Gibbard's rant on the Black Eyed Peas. (PS. There is some adult language in this one! Cover the kids ears!)

With Spring Right Around the Corner, Rumors of New Releases Are Blossoming Everywhere

After a seemingly long winter with few releases to make note of, plenty of artists are coming out of the woodwork to announce their new releases for the spring and early summer of 2008. Here are two that I'm eagerly anticipating to bring me into the summer months.



The Glass Passenger
Jack's Mannequin
Release Date: April 22, 2008

With a release date finally confirmed by AP.net, the growing crowds of impatient JM lovers can rest a little easier. After being featured as Alternative Press' Most Anticipated Albums of 2008 (January '08 issue), the disc is expected to include 10 tracks with a seven minute long song that came out of a hospital stay (Andrew McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia three months before the release of Everything in Transit in 2005). McMahon seems to be keeping most of the details on the CD a secret, as many of the tracks have names that are to be determined, and pre-sale information is nonexistent.

And for anyone in the Lancaster/Lebanon area, JM will be playing a set at the Chameleon Club on April 15, 2008.





Narrow Stairs
Death Cab for Cutie
Release Date: May 13, 2008

With it's first single "I Will Possess Your Heart" set to be released on March 18 and distributed to radio stations on March 24, the DCFC crew is on their way to releasing what fans hope to be another steller album to follow Plans (2005). With talks of a much darker and creepier sounds then previous albums, critic James Montgomery of MTV said that it is 'unquestionably the best thing they've ever done.' Kicking off the album will be a nine-minute long 'Bixby Canyon Bridge' and will be followed by ten more tracks. One thing is for sure, the second week of May will not come soon enough.

Girls and Boys...I Give Thee Ingrid Michaelson

For lovers of the hit shows Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill, hearing cuts off of Ingrid Michaelson's sophomore release of Girls and Boys is really nothing out of the ordinary. Her songs are perfectly placed at pivotal and emotional parts of both shows, with her soft lyrics and piano based instrumental parts to match. Since being released on September 18, 2007, it has peaked at number 64 on the Billboard 200 charts, and gained her plenty of national attention on Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kelly, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and the Carson Daly Show.

Notable and well known tracks off of Girls and Boys include "The Way I Am," "Breakable," "Overboard," and "Corner of Your Heart." "The Way I Am" has been featured on campaigns for Old Navy and used on both Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill. The song, although a short 2 minutes and 15 seconds long boasts adorable lyrics about how the person she loves takes her for how she is, even if the things she does may be seen as small and insignificant: 'You need a light, I'd find a match.../If you are chilly, here take my sweater./Your head is aching, I'll make it better.' The title of the CD comes off of the lyrics in the track "Breakable" which opens with fantastic lyrics: 'Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?/Just a cage of rib bones and other various parts./ So it's fairly simple to cut right through the mess./ And to stop the muscle that makes us confess.' The song goes on to talk about her regret in not being able to love her significant other back as much as he loves her, and how every one of us are 'breakable girls and boys.'

"Overboard" is probably my favorite song off of the disc. Michaelson starts off with a sassy attitude about all the things she can do by herself, and that people can stop treating her like a little girl, but when she falls in love still wants to be caught by the person she's fallen for. It gives perspective on today's lifestyle, how girls are expected to be smart and solve all these probems but refuse to fall and rely on someone else to catch them. But by the end of the song she realizes that it might not be so bad to fall, even if she eventually has to pick herself up alone. Finally, "Corner of Your Heart" is a haunting song about how she would do just about anything to have just a piece of this guy's heart. 'There is room beneath your bed just for me.../I will leave this man just to occupy one minute of your day.../ Just to stay in the corner of your heart.' Those lyrics show the lengths that she would go to and the almost desperate attempts that she would go to just to win him over. To go along with the haunting lyrics, the repetitive piano part in the background adds to the mystique of the whole song.

Other fantastic songs include "Glass" and "Starting Now," although all eleven tracks bring something different and refreshing to the table. For a quick listen of some of her songs see the music player below or click the link for the video of "The Way I Am" found out Youtube.

SeeqPod - Playable Search

Watch, Look and Listen? Sorry Bonnaroo I Can't Afford the Tickets

So I had what appeared to me a semi-brilliant idea. I was going to make the highlight of my summer the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Held since 2002 in Manchester, Tennessee and is hosted by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment. When I had a chance, I snooped around Bonnaroo's website and found ticket information. And that is when my semi-brilliant idea crashed to the floor.

For the four days in June that the festival is held (June 12 through the 15), ticket prices begin at $209.50. However, the tickets are released in stages, and once one stage sells out, the price goes up without notice, and by the last stage will be an astounding $244.50. Add in the service and shipping charges ($22.50 and $12.00 respectively) and you could be paying $270 per ticket until all is said and done. And where do you stay once you get there? Well, you can pitch a tent on the facilities ground, stay in a nearby hotel, or park your RV for an extra $100, but tack on an extra $25 if you bring another vehicle along with.

I have to admit, they have thrown some pretty great names out there this year, including Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, Kanye West, Willie Nelson, Tegan and Sarah, B.B. King, Vampire Weekend, and Iron & Wine, plus seventy-two other acts, they put together a lineup that gives a little something for everyone there. Throw in a comedy theater, a tent just for the kids (ages 6 & up are required to have tickets), an onsite hair salon, a yoga center, and the Bonnaroo Fountain and Market, and you're pretty much set for the whole four days you're there.

Maybe I'm overly upset about the ticket prices (and I probably am), but after all of the money that I could potentially put into this, I'd at least like to see part of the money pumped into this four day extravaganza put to some good use. However, the current website mentions nothing of the sort, but that $1 (wow, one whole dollar) of your ticket will go to a charity. While 80,000 people attend the festival annually, that's $80,000 to a charity, but compared to how much money they're making off of everything else, that's an insignificant drop in the bucket.

Hopefully I'll get to Bonnaroo one day. Not just to say that I went, but for the chance to be around music that I love and be surrounded by 80,000 other people who feel the same way. But until I'm no longer a poor college student, I'll keep complaining about the steep prices and the fact that I can't go. Just my bitching isn't going to change anything, I realize that, but maybe if the hosts took a little time to realize that 'hey, maybe people won't want to be here for four days, let's sell individual day passes at a less jaw dropping price.' Until that happens though, I'll just buy the compilation DVD for $30. It might not have everything, but hey, it's better (and a lot cheaper) than nothing.

A 3D Listening Experience...That's Like, Candy For My Ears

I waited impatiently for October 2nd to arrive. I had pre-ordered the new Dashboard Confessional release, The Shade of Poison Trees, and could't wait to get my hands on it, and the free t-shirt that came along for the ride. So imagine my surprise when another CD entitled Sorry Vampire fell out of my long awaited package. Now here's where my brutal honesty comes into play: I took one look at the cover, didn't recognize the name, and threw it into my desk drawer. And now here comes the part when I get to tell you that I could kick myself for doing such a thing.

This sophomore release is a gem in so many ways. Mixed with Charles Dye, who has worked with artists like Ricky Martin and Aerosmith, Sorry Vampire was engineered to have a 3D sound, unique enough to give the listener a new experience with each repeated listen. Over the course of two years and numerous studio sessions, the record was born. And truly, no two songs on this album are the same. While each song contains layers (sometimes up to 25 or more, like the track 'Beautifully Disarmed") the time and patience it took to completely finish each track is astonishing.

And that's before you even bring the lyrics into play. If I could write songs, I'd want to write them how John Ralston does. His ability to play on words allows for witty and genius songs that you can't compare to anything that anyone has released in a while. His ability to leave tracks open to personal interpretation coincides fantastically with his instrumental openness, and so allows for difference in opinions to each listener every time they find themselves bobbing their heads to one of the tracks.

If anything, I learned a big lesson. Don't toss the unknown CD to the side. You never know when it could happen to be the disc that you can listen to over and over and over again (yes, it gets three over's, it's that good). I'd advise you not to make the same mistake, so listen to the tracks posted to the right or scurry over to his myspace page and give the tracks some well deserved attention.

The Universe & Your Blue Eyes

Like any girl, I'm a sucker for lyrics that are guaranteed to make your heart melt the instant that the words hit your ears. I'll admit to having songs like 'My Heart Will Go On' and power ballads from bands like Styx. Not that there's anything wrong with a good power ballad, don't get me wrong, but there's something about an indie love song that for some reason or another just makes me turn my head and smile. So even though I'm nine days too late, you could be right on time with this short and sweet ten song mix tape.


Track One: 'Could Be Anything' by The Eames Era - This punchy little number was featured on the the TV show Grey's Anatomy (known for using unknown artists to provide their soundtracks) and the song has been widely played on college radio stations around the country. It gives fun lyrics with a melody to match; it's a great kick off for a mix and a new relationship.


Track Two: 'The Ocean' by Mae - Mae has a pretty amazing library of songs to choose from, so this was hard, but it's lyrics like this that really get you. 'You come over unannounced/Silence broken by your voice in the dark/I need you here tonight/Just like the ocean needs the waves./Fall around me now/like stars the shine and brighten the way./I need here tonight/just like this night needs the rain.' Okay, so maybe I put a bit much for that, but if somebody was telling you that, I'm pretty sure that you'd be smitten rather quickly.


Track Three: 'The Way I Am' by Ingrid Michaelson - In this short little number, Ingrid bares her soul to let this person know exactly how she feels. Insert some handclaps for good measure and you've got the perfect song to hum along to when you've got a certain someone on your mind.


Track Four: 'Halloween' by Matt Pond PA - I'm not going to lie, I listened to this song over and over again during the fall. As a friend of mine said, 'it reminds me of leaves falling, pumpkin patches and cuddling in sweatshirts.' I don't think they could have put it any better.


Track Five: 'Blue Eyes' by Cary Brothers - Featured on the Garden State soundtrack, this song is enough to make even those with brown pupils fall in love all over again. With a strong acoustic background and a scruffy voice, he pulls together a fantastic little number. The lyrics aren't half bad either, 'Fess it up, dot on the palm of your hand/I can help you to stand/Saved it up for this dance/Tell me all the things you can.' Note: you may not want to use this song if your significant other doesn't have blue eyes, they may become irritated or think that you forgot their eye color.


Track Six: 'Passenger Seat' by Death Cab for Cutie - I've talked about them before and I'll talk about them again. 'Passenger Seat' is Ben Gibbard and a piano, paired with amazing lyrics about letting your guard down and includes one of my favorite lyrical lines ever, 'when you feel embarrased, then I'll be your pride/when you need directions, then I'll be the guide/for all time.' Yes, as usual, Ben Gibbard wins me over with this one.


Track Seven: 'Sleep' by Azure Ray - This song itself means a lot to me. I found it at a time when I was at a huge fork in the road, and to say it helped me make my decision on which path to go would be an understatement, it simply pulled me in the direction, and I'm glad it did. It features haunting lyrics ('And so I'm reaching out for the one/And so I've learned the meaning of the sun/And all this like a message comes to shift my point of view/And watching through my own light as it tints the shade of you') and amazing key changes, this song leaves you feeling surprisingly warm and fuzzy inside.


Track Eight: 'Wait' by Get Set Go - In less than three minutes, the band clearly lets you know that if you wait for things to be perfect and just right, you might actually blow it. Thank goodness somebody said it. The cute little 'la-la's and oo-oo's' also add to the charm of this number.


Track Nine: 'Love, Love, Love (Love, Love) by As Tall As Lions - This song is clearly full of love, and is perfect for anyone who just wants to scream (or...sing melodically) off the highest building. Being the light and airy tune that it is, it is just perfect for telling someone exactly how you feel without putting any added pressure into the mix.


Track Ten: 'Universe & U (Acoustic Extravaganza)' by KT Tunstall - Okay, no grammar lessons on the title please. This song is the perfect way to end this lovely little mix. Tunstall's voice paired with amazing lyrics and her guitar playing lead you into one fantastic and low-key song about you can feel about someone, even if your miles away from them. With lyrics like this, 'You know there's no need to hide away/You know I tell the truth, we are just the same/I can feel everything you do/Everything you say/Even when you're miles away/Cos I am me the universe and you.' I can almost forgive her for singing that horrible 'Black Horse and A Cherry Tree' song.


I'm going to attempt to find a website that will allow me to make a playlist and post it on here. I know that they're out there, but finding the songs might take a bit, so hold tight. However, feel free to listen to theses songs by clicking on the links provided: here (Matt Pond PA), here (Get Set Go), here (Cary Brothers) and here (Azure Ray).

Til next time, keep it real kids.



P.S. I'm also not responsible for any claims of stalkers, post-mix-tape-giving break-ups, or any other relationship problems that may ensue after the handing over of the mix tape.

'Oh Mandy' (Warning: This is NOT Your Mother's Favorite Barry Manilow Song)

Haling from Wilmington, Delaware, The Spinto Band is a currently unsigned band of six that has been together since 1997. Since then, they’ve recorded and released six full length albums, two E.P.’s, three compilations and numerous singles. Most of the previously mentioned albums were released under Spintonic Productions, but the rest, including their most recent release Nice and Nicely Done (2005, re-release in 2006) was released under the label Radiate, a subsidiary of Virgin Records founded in 2001.

The band formed when Nick Krill, one of the guitarists for the band found lyrics written on Cracker Jack boxes by his relative Roy Spinto, thus giving the band it’s current name. While attending American University, Krill turned his bed into a mini recording studio which held all his equipment while he slept underneath. The remaining members of the band attended colleges on the east coast, including Syracuse University and Bennington College.

While they’ve been busy recording and releasing music for over a decade, the band hasn’t always had it so easy. Their scheduled release of the single ‘Oh Mandy’ was set to come out in 2004, but was overshadowed by another bands E.P., and was never released. However, since 2006 things have turned around for the band, and they toured extensively with the Arctic Monkeys and The Kooks. The bands newest single, “Oh Mandy” along with their current tour to clubs and bars is snagging them attention and fans around the country.

But don’t take my word for it, check out the video for yourself and see why people are going crazy for these guys.

Everybody On...Board That Is

The release of Chris Walla's first solo venture was anticipated and for good reason. Walla, known for his work as guitarist, producer, and co-lyricist for Death Cab for Cutie, embraces his political side for Field Manual, which was released on January 29, 2008. For Walla, this was a chance to step to the front after playing a secondary role to that of Ben Gibbard, and with 12 explosive tracks, he certainly did the job.

The albums first single, "Sing Again" is the third cut off of Field Manual, and has a seemingly light hearted pop-ish feel to it while employing darker lyrics (We'd sing together with firey eyes/our anger alive in our chests). "Sing Again" was featured as NPR's Song of the Day on January 28, and has since then seen the release of a video produced by Nicholas Harmer and Bernadette Spear.

Follow suit with it's first single, there are some songs reminiscent of DCFC tracks off of Transatlanticism (2003), including "Two-Fifty", "The Score", "Everybody On" and "Geometry Et Cetera", which is a quirky love song that states: 'you don't need to speak just now/you should keep it down and let that ticker pound/let your heart keep the time.' However, the wholre album isn't all that light, in fact, one track in particular "Everybody Needs A Home", is a politically charged number in which Walla refers to FEMA railers and floods, and obvious referenceto the Hurricane Katrina tragedy that affected New Orleans in 2005. The most notable (and original title track until it was later changed) "It's Unsustainable" is Walla's attempt at an 'end of a relationship' song, and his attempt is well recieved. At nearly 6 minutes in length and with guitar riffs similar to that of DCFC's song "Stability" (The Stability EP, 2003) and lyrics that tell of his regret for how things have ended, the delivery couldn't be any better, and it pulls ever so slightly at your heartstings.

Overall, the record left me feeling quite satisfied. It was a mix of everything I had expected it to be, and then some, proving that even without his Death Cab For Cutie front man, Walla is quite capable of putting together some great and original songs that allow him to forge his own path of artistic expression.

With So Many Music Communities, Where Do I Begin?

While basically the entire world has turned to the internet for communication, the music scene is clearly no exception. Multitudes of online music communities have popped up all over the internet, and while some cater to people who enjoy specific genres, others allow for people to communicate and share their tastes with other people. Personally, I’m a member of five online music communities, each with their positives and negatives, but all allow me to communicate with other people in some form or another.

Last.fm is an international music community that takes tracks “scrobbed” from your personal music library which allows other music lovers to compare music compatibility. People can view your top played songs, artists and albums and leave comments on your musical tastes. Likewise, you can view their tracks, and offer suggestions that are relevant to their tastes. Not only can you communicate with others, but you can search for artists, record labels, and events happing around your area that coincide with your musical interests. You can get all of these features for free, and the people that you meet are full of musical insight.

For users of MOG, the idea is pretty simple, ‘discover people through music, and music through people.’ MOG doesn’t really stand for anything specific, but the concept is the same in some ways to that of Last.fm. However, users of MOG are encouraged to write blogs about music they love or hate, and even some noted musicians including Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service) update their MOG pages weekly and communicate with everyday people on their musical opinions. Like Last.fm, MOG uses a downloaded feature to categorize your likes and sends weekly recommendations on artists (known and unknown) that you might enjoy, as well as users that share similar musical compatibility with you. However, MOG is a bit more personable and easier to use, and they allow for more personal opinion than that of Last.fm.

MySpace Music is pretty simple, and expanding every day. Anybody around the world who has a MySpace account can take advantage of the music community that features artists that are signed with major record labels, minor labels and unsigned bands. It’s pretty uncommon to find a current top 100 artist without a page, which includes some of their songs, pictures, informational blog, tour dates, and a comment section for fans to post their thoughts. Although it’s possible to be ‘friends’ with these bands, the chances that they monitor and respond to you is slim, and not everyone on MySpace is as keen on being friends for the sake of music, so this source is mainly to discover new bands and check in on old ones.

For people more into a local or unsigned music scene, I suggest that you check out PureVolume. While they endorse up and coming bands, their main focus is the small local scene which they tailor to your location when you as a listening sign up. Meeting friends is a lot harder, since this site isn’t as popular, but if offers up good information on when local shows or festivals are taking place. It happens to benefit the bands more than the listeners because smaller record labels search the sight looking for new prospects, so if they get a good following on this sight, they might be heading for that next big break.

Pandora Radio, or the “Music Genome Project” is a pretty new and cool idea put together by a group of music lovers who wanted to build a massive music library and open it up for anyone who wanted to listen. Once you join, you can enter a certain artist, song, album or genre, and the site will custom make a radio preset based off of your entry, and finds things that relate specifically to what you searched. You get some songs that you may know, but it’s mostly to broaden your musical awareness and let you know that there is more out there than what you’re just listening to.

This has gotten rather lengthy rather quickly, but just a few notes before I finish. All of these sites that I mentioned are completely free, and easy to use. The accounts can be cancelled at any time if you find that you’re not happy with the service, or simply don’t have the time to keep up with it. I encourage everyone to at least try one and see what happens, and the links are posted on the right hand side of the blog site. You’ll never know when you could discover your new favorite band, or meet someone across the world with the same musical interests as you.

I’ll be back Wednesday, but this time I’ll be tackling my first review of Chris Walla’s freshman solo release, Field Manual, as well as discussing indie-pop favorites The Spinto Band.

So long, dear friends.