I have this habit where I listen to a specific track on repeat for a week or so, which means that my top 25 most played are songs that I just can't get the hell out of my head.
When I got my Laptop back in December, I basically never listened to it, I only downloaded music to it, which I then transferred to my PC. Well, now that my desktop doesn't get internet, I almost never use it, so it's drastically altered where I listen to music. The Top 25 on my Laptop and Desktop are very different, and my top 25 on my laptop are from July or August, when my old hard drive broke and I had to get a new one.
So, my Top 25 Most Played Songs and Why
1. Fall Out Boy - From Now On, We Are Enemies
I've gone on and on about this song in other posts. It's an incredibly addictive song with a gorgeous chorus, and I'll never be able to get Patrick Stump's voice out of my head. It's just so soothing to me. This song seemed to be a very good mix of the sounds they had in each of their albums, and as a band they've grown so much over the years. It's such a shame that FOB died along with their greatest hits record.
2. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
This song is like an adult lullaby for me. Anthony Followill's voice drones on so melodically that I can't not sway when I hear the song. The words are so full of emotion and, while the lyrics aren't always sensical, the way he sings it says more than the words ever could. Listening to it makes my brain dance. ...which makes no sense to anyone but me, but that's fine.
3. Jay Brannan - Bowlegged and Starving
(if you don't want to hear him speak, jump to 0.53)
Jay Brannan is one of the most brilliant young singer/songwriters out there, and this song is the best he could write. The verses sound kind of silly, but the stark juxtaposition between the verse and the chorus is stunning. Sure, the lyrics are a little sophomoric in places, but this is another song that makes my brain dance. It's just so damn beautiful. I guarantee you, this song will soon be the number one on my top 25. I cannot get this mans voice out of my head.
4. All Time Low - Damned if I Do Ya, Damned if I Don't (MTV Unplugged version)
I love when a punk or pop song goes acoustic, and All Time Low does it like a pro with this rendition of Damned if I Do Ya. Alex Gaskarth has so much fucking fun with this band, and loves every second of performing with them. They're a bunch of scrawny goofballs who suddenly have all the ladies... and they're not gonna let you forget them anytime soon. :-)
5. Carly Lind feat. Jesse Devine - Breakeven
This girl is gonna be all sorts of famous someday. Every song she sings, she feels 100%. When she covers Tik Tok or Telephone, she can't stop herself from dancing. When she sings Breakeven, she looks like she's about to cry. The original song Breakeven is by a group called The Script, and it's one of those songs that absolutely needed to be acoustic, and Carly and Jesse do a killer job with it. I've been listening to this on repeat for a few days now and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.
6. Cartel - The Minstrel's Prayer
It's a song about making music not for money, fame, fortune.... but to win hearts.
This is seriously the only Cartel song that I can tolerate. I think what gets me with it is that boom, boom-boom. I can't get that out of my head.
7. Say Anything - Crush'd (acoustic)
Say Anything was actually my first concert. This song is just completely addictive with it's blend of shallow and sophisticated lyrics, simple guitar riffs, and lyrical breakdown of love. It's worth listening to on repeat for a few days.
8. Jay Brannan - Housewife
A beautiful tribute to the boy we'll never have. What can I say, I love Jay's voice. Mmmm.
9. Jay Brannan - Both Hands (album version)
I can't seem to find the album version of this anywhere on youtube... but anyway, this song is addictive, and due to it only being 1.27 long, it made it into my top 25 very quickly.
10. The Cab - Risky Business
What got me with this song is honestly when they sing "'cuz I'm coming over" and the background vocal goes up a few notes. I know that sounds silly, but I love hearing it. I know, I know. ...I'm weird.
11. Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You Into the Dark
This is one of the first songs I learned how to play properly on Jam Sessions DS, so I spent a lot of time listening to it to make sure I was getting it somewhere near correct. Yeah, I'm embarrassed that this is on my countdown....
12. The Maine - I Must Be Dreaming (acoustic)
I didn't like the album version of this song very much, but I love this version. ...I guess I love upbeat acoustic songs? I dunno, but the lyrics of this song are so freakin' beautiful. It's such a simple explanation of what love is.
13. Ke$ha - Tik Tok
Okay, so I did a whole Ke$ha post so I'm not gonna talk about this. I'm gonna post the video and the Carly Lind cover.
14. The Scene Aesthetic - Untitled
I found this song on Andrew DeTorres' tumblr or something, and I have no idea how to go about finding it for y'all. Just trust me that it's fucking adorable.
15. The Friday Night Boys - Stuttering
The Friday Night Boys may have sold out a bit (they used to be completely electronica-pop, but when they got signed to FBR they knew they had to up their game a bit) but I can't get enough of this song. It's so much fun, and I love the repetition. Something about the Stutter in a song has always gotten me. LOVE it.
16. Cast of Glee - Keep Holding On
Okay please don't make fun of me, but when they sang this I cried. It was important. Shut up! Stop making fun of me. Please?
17. Jay Brannan - Beautifully
(Jump to 1.40 if you don't wanna hear him talk)
I really should stop talking about Jay, but it's not like I could try to stop listening to him, so what-the-fuck-ever. He's wonderful. Just listen to this song.
18. The Follow Through - So High
Wow, I didn't realize that The Follow Through was just one whimpy lookin' kid until right about now. ...that may change how I feel about this song. ...well, it's an amazing song that gives a pretty accurate description of what true love is supposed to be like. It makes my brain dance. :-)
19. Forever the Sickest Kids feat. Selena Gomez - Woah Oh!
Love this band. ...Selena Gomez can suck it, but I love this band. They sold out hardcore though, they hang out with Nickelodeon kids and appear in Nerf Commercials. Still, I love this song.
20. Jason Mraz - If It Kills Me (acoustic)
This is the first time I heard this song, and this routine restored my faith in contemporary choreography, so yeah, this song is a little bit important to me. :-)
21. Lady Gaga - Paparazzi
I still don't know how this is up there. I think I listened to it for like a day. Yes, I am embarrassed.
22. Sam Hart - Mario Kart Love Song
If you know me at all, then you have no reason to be concerned that I only got this song about two days ago.
23. Jay Brannan - Good Mother
(skip to 0.40 if you don't want to hear the horrendous announcer do her thing)
This is actually the video that introduced me to Jay Brannan. I loved this improvised West Coast Swing so much because of this song. Then I stalked out the song and loved every second of it. Mmmmm Jay Brannan.
24. Neon Trees - Animal
It's the chorus of this song that I can never get out of my head. It's SO GOOD. Okay, it's lyrical crap, but it's simplistic and real. Also, when he says "Say goodbye to my heart tonight," it sounds like "Take a bite of my heart tonight," which quite frankly, I like better. So there.
25. Backseat Goodbye - 32 Ways to Make You Smile
It's a short adorable acoustic song. Of course it's on my 25 most played!!
Okay, there's my top 25!! Feel free to comment with your own. Does anything match up?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Album Review; Ke$Ha - Animal
Okay so it's really no secret that I'm a HUGE Ke$Ha fan. It all started with Right Round (with which Flo Rida broke the record for the most downloaded song evar) and has blossomed ever since. I LOVE her voice and couldn't get enough. When I first heard Tik Tok (and realized Kesha was white...) I played it on repeat for like two days straight (not because she's white, but because it's amazing). Tik Tok has now beaten Right Round's record, so I figure this girl is gonna go pretty far.
I spent time immediately trying to find as much as I could on the internet, and she's shot up to become one of my favorite musicians right now, along with Jay Brannan (who'll get his own post soon.) This is my standard track-by-track review of her debut album, Animal.
1. Your Love is my Drug
I think my favorite line is "My steeze is gonna be affected if I keep it up like a lovesick crackhead". This cute, bubblegum song just makes me smile. Not my fave on the album but still killer.
2. Tik Tok
Didn't I do a whole entry on this song already? Yes.
Still. This song is freakin' awesome. Check out the remix feat. Pitbull and the parody by The Midnight Beast!
3. Take It Off
Probably my favorite dance song on the album. Whenever I hear it, I think of a room full of throbbing people dancing like motherfuckers. I love "There's a place I know if you're looking for a show, where they go hardcore and there's glitter on the floor." This girl and her glitter! Love it. This song should definitely be the next single off the album.
4. Kiss N' Tell
This song is a little cutsey for me. While I really like it, I don't think it's single-worthy for me. I do like it though! It's just not horrendously exciting.
5. Stephen
This song is about a guy with a girlfriend who won't call her and it cracks me up.
"I've got it down to a simple art, just bat my eyes like this and there's a broken heart."
People can say she can't write lyrics, but they can suck it. That line is amazing.
6. Blah Blah Blah (feat. 3OH!3)
I honestly like the demo version of this song better. On 3OH!3's next album they've got a duet called My First Kiss, so I think that's why 3OH!3 is on this album. They needed another voice somewhere on the album, and they went with someone familiar. And while I love 3OH!3's contribution, it really wasn't necessary for the song. Her version just plain sounded better! ...however, I still really, really like this version. If Take It Off isn't the next single, this will be.
7. Hungover
This song may or may not be the story of my life.
This is the first slow song on the album, and it's goddamned amazing. Definitely peg this song or Animal as single number 3. It sets a good precedent for the rest of the songs, being a transition between party lyrics but ballad feel. It reminds me a bit of La La La by LMFAO - still a party song, but a more serious vibe to it.
8. Party at a Rich Dude's House
This song is strange for me, because it could have been one of my favorite songs on the album if I hadn't heard the demo version first. For some reason, they decided that this needed to be a clean album, which is ridiculous considering who Kesha is. There's a spoken line in the demo where she sounds like she's stumbling around and says "And the sun is comin' up and oh my god I think I'm still fucked up..." but in the clean version she says "drunk" instead of "fucked up" and anyone that's woken up drunk knows that you don't exactly know what's going on, and you're more than likely to say fuck. I know that's how I feel. Otherwise, killer track.
9. Backstabber
This song is basically great. Amazing for when you're in a bitter mood. I totally see this as being single #4. (This track also has a demo that's a bit naughtier)
10. Blind
The chorus of this song reminds me of something, but I can't quite place it.
Anyways, this track is a guilty pleasure for me. ...actually, all of the slow songs on this CD are. It's amazing. This songs nice though, and it's good for the album.
11. D.I.N.O.S.A.U.R.
I liked the demo version of this one better, too! It had a few more instruments involved. I kinda like that the background drum beat sounds a bit like when you're riding Yoshi in Super Mario World, though.... I wish this song had been closer to the beginning of the album, because the second half of the album has more mature lyrics, whereas this song could have been written by any high school girl who's seen Bring it On.
12. Dancing with Tears in My Eyes
I like this song a lot. It's one of the more mature songs on the album, but it's still Ke$ha through and through. I like whatever it is that the guitar does throughout the song, it's nice. Definitely one of my favorites on the album.
13. Boots & Boys
While this is nowhere near one of my favorite songs on the album, but I like the concept. It's basically a parody of all the songs men write about women and cars, and objectifying men just as much as they've objectified women. Not the most creative song on the album, but I respect the effort.
14. Animal
"I am in love with what we are, not what we should be. And I am starstruck with every part of this whole story." This is a song that's incredibly pertinent to my life right now, and I really love listening to it. It might be my favorite track on the album right now.
There are various deluxes, bonus tracks, and unreleased tracks all over the net, so I'm gonna review some of my favorites and why you should listen to them.
! - Aliens Invading
This is a song about Aliens Invading and then Ke$ha having sex with them. Yes. This song is freaking amazing and I can't imagine why it wasn't on the album - I would SO choreograph something to this. Seriously, it has a mess of plays on my iTunes.
@ - Taio Cruz - Dirty Picture (feat. Ke$Ha)
This song takes a second to heat up, but then it's amazing! It's all about sexting. It makes me giggle with naughty delight listening to it. If people knew who Taio Cruz was, this would be a club banger in ten seconds flat.
# - Paris Hilton's Closet
What is there to say? This is a song about Kesha getting wasted and throwing up in Paris Hilton's Closet. AMAZING.
$ - Never Know About Love (Trashy Boy)
I just love how this song sounds. It's a bit of the nastier version of Kesha vs. the bubblegum pop version. I definitely love this version of Ke$ha.
% - This Love
She made her own version and then gave it to The Veronicas, who did do an amazing job of it. I love their version, but I also LOVE Ke$ha's version a whole bunch. I, like a dork, layered one on top of the other so I could hear both at the same time. Ke$ha's actually done a bunch of writing, check her wikipedia page to see what all she's had a hand in.
^ - Slow Motion (feat. Three 6 Mafia)
It looks to me like Ke$ha originally had a far sluttier, hip-hoppier album lined up, but decided to go with the bubblegum. It's a shame, because I like a lot of the grittier stuff that she's kept hidden. This song's great.
& - Mr. Watson
This is a song about hooking up with a teacher. ...it makes me giggle.
* - Boom Boom Bang (feat. Busbee)
Same situation as Slow Motion, it's a grittier, hip-hoppier song that I really like.
( - Mouth
I just found this one seconds ago, and I can't quite tell if it's Ke$ha or not, but I certainly hope it is, because I'm digging this song!
Okay, let's review!
Ke$Ha can be spelled 3 different ways - Ke$Ha, Ke$ha, and Kesha. The $ was used out of irony, since she made no money from Right Round.
She wrote or co-wrote her entire album.
She is NOT trying to be Lady Gaga. Try actually listening to her music, and you'll see this. I like and defend Ke$ha probably the same way some people respond to Lady Gaga, but they're such different people. Gaga is representing herself as an artist - Ke$ha is representing herself as a walking party. If you're gonna compare her to ANYONE, go with Katy Perry. Ke$ha herself appreciates that comparison.
Single predictions:
1. Tik Tok (obviously)
2. Take It Off, Blah Blah Blah
3. Hungover, Animal
4. Backstabber, or whichever song didn't make single #2
There does tend to be a formula for singles, and I'm hoping she decides to follow the formula.
Buy the album! It's only $6.99 on Amazon!
Labels:
album review,
Jay Brannan,
Ke$ha,
LMFAO,
The Veronicas
Friday, December 11, 2009
My Christmas (Play)List
Hey guys! Sorry for not updating frequently... new job means that I don't have time for things that I love anymore :'(
I thought, in honor of this holiday, I'd post some of my favorite christmas songs.
I gotta let you know though, I work retail now. Nothing blows more than retail during this fucking season.
So.
This is my Non-Traditional Christmas Playlist.
The Pussycat Dolls - Santa Baby
I of course listen to the studio version, but this is a fun little performance by The Pussycat Dolls feat. Carmen Electra. All kinds of fun. :-)
Spice Girls - Sleigh Ride
Willa Ford - Santa Baby (Gimme Gimme Gimme)
Skye Sweetnam - Why Doesn't Santa Like Me
Something Corporate - Forget December
Eve 6 - Noel! Noel!
Mel Blanc - The Hat I Got For Christmas is Too Big
Fall Out Boy - Yule Shoot Your Eye Out
From First to Last - Christmassacre
Good Charlotte - Christmas by the Phone
Jewel - Hands (Christmas version)
Jimmy Robbins - Christmas (Hurry Back to Me)
Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree
The Maine - Mr. Winter
The Maine - Santa Stole My Girlfriend
And there you have it! A playlist of my favorite christmas songs. Download, enjoy, and have a happy holiday.
Also, don't be a little shit when you do any retail shopping this year, mmkay? thanks.
I thought, in honor of this holiday, I'd post some of my favorite christmas songs.
I gotta let you know though, I work retail now. Nothing blows more than retail during this fucking season.
So.
This is my Non-Traditional Christmas Playlist.
The Pussycat Dolls - Santa Baby
I of course listen to the studio version, but this is a fun little performance by The Pussycat Dolls feat. Carmen Electra. All kinds of fun. :-)
Spice Girls - Sleigh Ride
Willa Ford - Santa Baby (Gimme Gimme Gimme)
Skye Sweetnam - Why Doesn't Santa Like Me
Something Corporate - Forget December
Eve 6 - Noel! Noel!
Mel Blanc - The Hat I Got For Christmas is Too Big
Fall Out Boy - Yule Shoot Your Eye Out
From First to Last - Christmassacre
Good Charlotte - Christmas by the Phone
Jewel - Hands (Christmas version)
Jimmy Robbins - Christmas (Hurry Back to Me)
Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree
The Maine - Mr. Winter
The Maine - Santa Stole My Girlfriend
And there you have it! A playlist of my favorite christmas songs. Download, enjoy, and have a happy holiday.
Also, don't be a little shit when you do any retail shopping this year, mmkay? thanks.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Believers Never Die - Album Review
Album Review:
Believers Never Die - Fall Out Boy's Greatest Hits
I'll admit, I've not actually gotten this album, I merely have basically ever Fall Out Boy song ever.
So here's the deal. I'm going to go through, track-by-track, and talk about them. Because I'm cool like that. :-)
1. Dead On Arrival
" I know I'm not your favorite record. The songs you grow to like never stick at first."
This is an essential early Fall Out Boy song. It's a song about songs, it's catchy, it's quintessential early-millennial punk rock. First released in 2003, it really set the stage for the band.
2. Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy?
Ahh, the band's first music video. This video really shows the band at the beginning of their rise to fame - fun, happy, totally bamf. Sure, they seemed like a rip off of Blink-182, but they clearly have a bit of their own in here too. This is the song that early Fall Out Boy fans think of when they fondly reminisce about the band.
3. Saturday
"And I read about the afterlife, but I never really lived more than an hour"
A beautiful, early Fall Out Boy track. When they played this at the concert, the fans went batshit, so clearly this song has stuck in our heads over the years.
4. Sugar, We're Going Down
This is when most of the world noticed Fall Out Boy. I remember seeing this music video at about three in the morning on vh1 and thinking "...I need everything this band has ever made or ever will make." Of course, a couple weeks later, they started playing the video during the day and I wasn't the only new believer. Of course, Pat's slurring vocals spurred a line of spoofs, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
5. Dance, Dance
This video really started Fall Out Boy off, and everyone that didn't hear Sugar, We're Going Down sure as hell heard Dance, Dance. This also spurred Fall Out Boy in a more creative direction with their videos. (My favorite parts are where Pete licks someone's guitar, and tries to kiss Pat. That shit is hot.)
6. A Little Less "Sixteen Candles", a Little More "Touch Me"
"I don't blame you for being you, but you can't hate me for hating it."
This song was a bit of a return to their sound from Take this to your Grave, and also had an incredibly creative video. A strong rock anthem, it showed where they came from and where they're going. Also at this point, Fall Out Boy had established themselves enough as musicians that in the video, they introduced us to Panic! at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes.
7. This Ain't a Scene, it's an Arms Race
"All the boys who the dance floor never loved, and all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough, Sing - until your lungs give out."
...I'm not gonna lie, I hated this song when I first heard it. It was more heavily produced, more electric guitar-y. It marked a different style of singing from Pat, a new style of writing from Pete,
and a new sound from the band. However, like they predicted in Dead on Arrival, "the songs you grow to like never stick at first." Once I got used to the bands new sound, I definitely liked the track a lot more. It's still probably one of my least favorite tracks on the album, but it was still an amazing album all around.
8. Thnks fr th Mmrs
This is still one of my favorite tracks from the band. It's a lot of fun, but it shows that Fall Out Boy has recognized itself as a ferreal band. There's so much synthesis between them and they're becoming more Fall Out Boy and less Pat + Pete, plus those other guys.
9. The Take Over, the Break's Over
"Don't pretend you ever forgot about me."
I didn't like the track when I first got the CD, but it really grew on me. They used the video as an interesting opportunity to address fans who felt that they'd "sold out", which was really neat. I understood them most at this point in their career. They finally had the money to be in a good studio with good equipment and a label that supported their every endeavor, so now they were making the music they've always wanted to make. As the opening track of the album, Thriller, states, "Fans are won and lost and won again but our hearts beat for the Die Hards."
10. "I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)"
"The best way to make it through with hearts and wrists intact is to realize that Two out of Three ain't bad"
A very different sound for the band, the first real ballad-esque song they'd really done and made a single. A fantastic love song that proves once again that Love is so Punk Rock.
11. Beat It (feat. John Mayer)
There's not really too much to say about this track, since it's a cover. It's a good cover though, but I'm not a big Michael Jackson fan, so it only does so much for me.
12. I Don't Care
"I don't care what you think, as long as it's about me"
Not the deepest lyric writing out of Pete, honestly. This is another track that I really didn't care for right off the bat, but it makes a very good first single in the same way that This Ain't A Scene did. It's definitely a toe-tapper with an interesting video, but I think it's probably one of the weakest songs on the entire CD. Once again, that doesn't mean I don't like it, I just think they released it because it's radio-friendly, catchy, and simple - not because it was a piece to be proud of.
13. America's Suitehearts
"Down set one, hut-hut hike! Media Blitz."
I chose those lyrics because they're the most misunderstood lyrics. Otherwise, this is a lyrically weak song. ...actually, in retrospect, this is a lyrically weak album, but I think a lot of that comes from their sudden obsession with politics and celebrities this album, Pete of course forgetting he's become as much tabloid as the rest of Hollywood that he despises so much. While the album has the strongest sound out of all of them, the strength of it seems to be brought on solely by Stump, who writes all of the music. Pete, who writes the lyrics, seems to have really staggered on this album, possibly due to his rise to superstardom, marriage, age, lack of maturity, etc. I followed him on twitter for a while until I realized that he sounds like an idiot. All the maturity on this album clearly comes from Patrick.
I will give them props, however, for featuring Cassadee Pope of Hey Monday fame in the video, just like they've done with so many artists in the past.
14. What a Catch, Donnie
"They say the captain goes down with the ship; So, when the world ends, will God go down with it?"
This is my favorite Fall Out Boy song of all time. Literally, the first time I heard it, I cried. The reprise is a beautiful selection that represents their growth and time together as a band.
The song was originally written for Patrick by Pete Wentz, which just shows the beautiful bromance between Pat and Pete. The video itself features Patrick, and has cameos by people that have helped them and been with them throughout their journey, and the rest of the band minus Pete (the original version had him in for a second, but the green screen effect really bothered them, so they took him out entirely.) It was really beautiful for Pete to release the spotlight like that for Pat. I sing this song while walking around my house all the time, it's bad. I love this song.
15. Alpha Dog
"You're not the first or the last, but you're possibly the prettiest."
Originally appearing on the Citizens for our Betterment mixtape, this track was always a nice track, but I never really thought it was single-worthy. ...I still don't, but then again, Fall Out Boy and I work on different mindsets. It's still a great track though.
16. From Now On, We Are Enemies
I'm not gonna lie, as I'm typing this, I'm listening to this song for the first time... I kind of really, really like it. I guarantee you this will hardly be the last time I listen to this song. I'm not sure why they titled it the way they did, but it's a very good track. Nice and melodic, heavy on vocals and pretty instruments, it's a lot softer and happier sounding than some of their other tracks. It's definitely making me smile.
17. Yule Shoot Your Eyes Out
"Merry Christmas, I could care less."
This is probably my favorite Christmas song, which weird my family out. Whatever. I love it. I actually listen to it basically all year long, it's a very amazing track.
18. Growing Up
"I guess I'm my own better half."
I'm really glad Fall Out Boy chose to finish out the album with this track. It's from the first EP they released, where Patrick Stump actually did all the lyric writing. It's a really good indication of where they wanted to go, and putting it on their Greatest Hits as the final track says "...yep. We did it. We've achieved our dreams - we've Grown Up."
Fall Out Boy has shaped how our music sounds nowadays. It's forced a need for strong vocals, strong writing, strong music, and strong personalities. When they started, they rode on the coattails of the success of bands like Blink-182 and Sum 41, but now bands hope to sound like Fall Out Boy. They heralded in the success of The Academy Is..., Hey Monday, All Time Low, Gym Class Heroes, and many others. They will always be one of our most remembered bands throughout history, and thanks to their gradual rise to fame, they managed to remain stable and way more than just a one-hit wonder.
Believers Never Die - Fall Out Boy's Greatest Hits
I'll admit, I've not actually gotten this album, I merely have basically ever Fall Out Boy song ever.
So here's the deal. I'm going to go through, track-by-track, and talk about them. Because I'm cool like that. :-)
1. Dead On Arrival
" I know I'm not your favorite record. The songs you grow to like never stick at first."
This is an essential early Fall Out Boy song. It's a song about songs, it's catchy, it's quintessential early-millennial punk rock. First released in 2003, it really set the stage for the band.
2. Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy?
Ahh, the band's first music video. This video really shows the band at the beginning of their rise to fame - fun, happy, totally bamf. Sure, they seemed like a rip off of Blink-182, but they clearly have a bit of their own in here too. This is the song that early Fall Out Boy fans think of when they fondly reminisce about the band.
3. Saturday
"And I read about the afterlife, but I never really lived more than an hour"
A beautiful, early Fall Out Boy track. When they played this at the concert, the fans went batshit, so clearly this song has stuck in our heads over the years.
4. Sugar, We're Going Down
This is when most of the world noticed Fall Out Boy. I remember seeing this music video at about three in the morning on vh1 and thinking "...I need everything this band has ever made or ever will make." Of course, a couple weeks later, they started playing the video during the day and I wasn't the only new believer. Of course, Pat's slurring vocals spurred a line of spoofs, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
5. Dance, Dance
This video really started Fall Out Boy off, and everyone that didn't hear Sugar, We're Going Down sure as hell heard Dance, Dance. This also spurred Fall Out Boy in a more creative direction with their videos. (My favorite parts are where Pete licks someone's guitar, and tries to kiss Pat. That shit is hot.)
6. A Little Less "Sixteen Candles", a Little More "Touch Me"
"I don't blame you for being you, but you can't hate me for hating it."
This song was a bit of a return to their sound from Take this to your Grave, and also had an incredibly creative video. A strong rock anthem, it showed where they came from and where they're going. Also at this point, Fall Out Boy had established themselves enough as musicians that in the video, they introduced us to Panic! at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes.
7. This Ain't a Scene, it's an Arms Race
"All the boys who the dance floor never loved, and all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough, Sing - until your lungs give out."
...I'm not gonna lie, I hated this song when I first heard it. It was more heavily produced, more electric guitar-y. It marked a different style of singing from Pat, a new style of writing from Pete,
and a new sound from the band. However, like they predicted in Dead on Arrival, "the songs you grow to like never stick at first." Once I got used to the bands new sound, I definitely liked the track a lot more. It's still probably one of my least favorite tracks on the album, but it was still an amazing album all around.
8. Thnks fr th Mmrs
This is still one of my favorite tracks from the band. It's a lot of fun, but it shows that Fall Out Boy has recognized itself as a ferreal band. There's so much synthesis between them and they're becoming more Fall Out Boy and less Pat + Pete, plus those other guys.
9. The Take Over, the Break's Over
"Don't pretend you ever forgot about me."
I didn't like the track when I first got the CD, but it really grew on me. They used the video as an interesting opportunity to address fans who felt that they'd "sold out", which was really neat. I understood them most at this point in their career. They finally had the money to be in a good studio with good equipment and a label that supported their every endeavor, so now they were making the music they've always wanted to make. As the opening track of the album, Thriller, states, "Fans are won and lost and won again but our hearts beat for the Die Hards."
10. "I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)"
"The best way to make it through with hearts and wrists intact is to realize that Two out of Three ain't bad"
A very different sound for the band, the first real ballad-esque song they'd really done and made a single. A fantastic love song that proves once again that Love is so Punk Rock.
11. Beat It (feat. John Mayer)
There's not really too much to say about this track, since it's a cover. It's a good cover though, but I'm not a big Michael Jackson fan, so it only does so much for me.
12. I Don't Care
"I don't care what you think, as long as it's about me"
Not the deepest lyric writing out of Pete, honestly. This is another track that I really didn't care for right off the bat, but it makes a very good first single in the same way that This Ain't A Scene did. It's definitely a toe-tapper with an interesting video, but I think it's probably one of the weakest songs on the entire CD. Once again, that doesn't mean I don't like it, I just think they released it because it's radio-friendly, catchy, and simple - not because it was a piece to be proud of.
13. America's Suitehearts
"Down set one, hut-hut hike! Media Blitz."
I chose those lyrics because they're the most misunderstood lyrics. Otherwise, this is a lyrically weak song. ...actually, in retrospect, this is a lyrically weak album, but I think a lot of that comes from their sudden obsession with politics and celebrities this album, Pete of course forgetting he's become as much tabloid as the rest of Hollywood that he despises so much. While the album has the strongest sound out of all of them, the strength of it seems to be brought on solely by Stump, who writes all of the music. Pete, who writes the lyrics, seems to have really staggered on this album, possibly due to his rise to superstardom, marriage, age, lack of maturity, etc. I followed him on twitter for a while until I realized that he sounds like an idiot. All the maturity on this album clearly comes from Patrick.
I will give them props, however, for featuring Cassadee Pope of Hey Monday fame in the video, just like they've done with so many artists in the past.
14. What a Catch, Donnie
"They say the captain goes down with the ship; So, when the world ends, will God go down with it?"
This is my favorite Fall Out Boy song of all time. Literally, the first time I heard it, I cried. The reprise is a beautiful selection that represents their growth and time together as a band.
The song was originally written for Patrick by Pete Wentz, which just shows the beautiful bromance between Pat and Pete. The video itself features Patrick, and has cameos by people that have helped them and been with them throughout their journey, and the rest of the band minus Pete (the original version had him in for a second, but the green screen effect really bothered them, so they took him out entirely.) It was really beautiful for Pete to release the spotlight like that for Pat. I sing this song while walking around my house all the time, it's bad. I love this song.
15. Alpha Dog
"You're not the first or the last, but you're possibly the prettiest."
Originally appearing on the Citizens for our Betterment mixtape, this track was always a nice track, but I never really thought it was single-worthy. ...I still don't, but then again, Fall Out Boy and I work on different mindsets. It's still a great track though.
16. From Now On, We Are Enemies
I'm not gonna lie, as I'm typing this, I'm listening to this song for the first time... I kind of really, really like it. I guarantee you this will hardly be the last time I listen to this song. I'm not sure why they titled it the way they did, but it's a very good track. Nice and melodic, heavy on vocals and pretty instruments, it's a lot softer and happier sounding than some of their other tracks. It's definitely making me smile.
17. Yule Shoot Your Eyes Out
"Merry Christmas, I could care less."
This is probably my favorite Christmas song, which weird my family out. Whatever. I love it. I actually listen to it basically all year long, it's a very amazing track.
18. Growing Up
"I guess I'm my own better half."
I'm really glad Fall Out Boy chose to finish out the album with this track. It's from the first EP they released, where Patrick Stump actually did all the lyric writing. It's a really good indication of where they wanted to go, and putting it on their Greatest Hits as the final track says "...yep. We did it. We've achieved our dreams - we've Grown Up."
Fall Out Boy has shaped how our music sounds nowadays. It's forced a need for strong vocals, strong writing, strong music, and strong personalities. When they started, they rode on the coattails of the success of bands like Blink-182 and Sum 41, but now bands hope to sound like Fall Out Boy. They heralded in the success of The Academy Is..., Hey Monday, All Time Low, Gym Class Heroes, and many others. They will always be one of our most remembered bands throughout history, and thanks to their gradual rise to fame, they managed to remain stable and way more than just a one-hit wonder.
Monday, November 9, 2009
You were a Problem Child...
I've got a couple new music videos to show you guys.
First is the video for OneRepublic's newest release, All The Right Moves. It's actually a pretty decent song, and while it's still a droner, it's a lot more upbeat than the work from their last album.
In stark contrast, we have the music video for Cobra Starship's Hot Mess, a video that glorifies binge drinking and drunk driving. ...and yet, I love it.
Tune in next time when I do a full album review of the Liberty Gigoloz, a hip-hop duo based out of Philiadelphia!
http://www.libertygigoloz.com/
First is the video for OneRepublic's newest release, All The Right Moves. It's actually a pretty decent song, and while it's still a droner, it's a lot more upbeat than the work from their last album.
In stark contrast, we have the music video for Cobra Starship's Hot Mess, a video that glorifies binge drinking and drunk driving. ...and yet, I love it.
Tune in next time when I do a full album review of the Liberty Gigoloz, a hip-hop duo based out of Philiadelphia!
http://www.libertygigoloz.com/
Thursday, November 5, 2009
TiK ToK
This is probably the best song I've heard in a long, long time.
Like... seriously. I mean, I expected nothing less from the vocalist of Right Round by Flo Rida... but this song is seriously infectious. She says everything that every trashy white girl wishes they could say. That's who Ke$ha is - a trashy white girl who's not only unafraid to admit it, but embraces it all the way to a record contract. How can you turn that down? I guarantee you that by next week, this will be my ringtone.
Check out the video below:
"Trash is the new Glam" - Ke$ha
Like... seriously. I mean, I expected nothing less from the vocalist of Right Round by Flo Rida... but this song is seriously infectious. She says everything that every trashy white girl wishes they could say. That's who Ke$ha is - a trashy white girl who's not only unafraid to admit it, but embraces it all the way to a record contract. How can you turn that down? I guarantee you that by next week, this will be my ringtone.
Check out the video below:
"Trash is the new Glam" - Ke$ha
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I'm terrified to speak, but you'd expect that from me...
Okay so because I had a dream about Alex Gaskarth, he's a really good kisser I LOVE GOOD MUSIC, I've been listening to Remembering Sunday by All Time Low on repeat. Two different versions of it, actually. I couldn't go to sleep last night because I couldn't stop listening to this song.
Here's their live performance of it for MTV's Unplugged series (feat. Kate Voegele)
There's no actual music video for the song, but I found this fan-made one that's not too bad. It'll do. (feat. Juliet Simms of Automatic Loveletter)
Here's their live performance of it for MTV's Unplugged series (feat. Kate Voegele)
There's no actual music video for the song, but I found this fan-made one that's not too bad. It'll do. (feat. Juliet Simms of Automatic Loveletter)
Labels:
acoustic,
All Time Low,
Automatic Loveletter,
Juliet Simms,
Kate Voegele
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Damned If I Do Ya, Damned If I Don't
New video for Damned If I Do Ya, Damned If I Don't!
...of course, I like the acoustic version better, but that's because I have problems.
...of course, I like the acoustic version better, but that's because I have problems.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Pixie Lott - Turn It Up (Album Review)
You guys remember a little bit ago when I posted Pixie Lott's acoustic covers of Use Somebody? After that I started looking up a bit more of her, and on Tuesday she dropped her first full album, Turn It Up. Let's talk about it!
I. Love. This. Album.
I love this album.
This is an extremely feel-good-brit-pop album. Pixie has this beautiful Raspy voice and bubbly personality that's like if Pink and Lady Gaga had a love child, but made sure it never drank or did coke off dirty guy's penises (respectively.) The music itself sounds sorta like if AmyCrackWhinehouse and Duffy had a baby that never did drugs. Mind you, I don't really care for Amy Crackhouse or Duffy, but for some reason, everything works just right for me with Pixie Lott.
So far, the #1 Singles Mama Do and Boys and Girls are my favorites on the album, but that's also because they're definitely the most Radio-Ready songs on the album. The rest are songs that you'd maybe put on a mix cd for someone you know really well, or listen to on your iPod on the walk to work. So far, my favorite tracks other than Mama Do and Boys and Girls are Band-Aid and Turn It Up (the Fall). I also really, really like Here We Go Again (produced by Red One, producer of hits like Just Dance by Lady Gaga and Run The Show by Kat DeLuna) and Gravity. Both are just cute, catchy brit-pop tunes that make me happy.
What's especially surprising about Pixie is that she's only 18, yet she has the voice and persona of a complete seasoned professional. Show-Biz is 100% ready for Pixie. Granted, American media has only noticed her because she's blonde and has tig ol' bitties, but I (clearly) like her for a lot more than that. I'm very curious to see how far she can take it in America, but I honestly think she'll be a-okay.
Mama Do
Boys and Girls
Apologize (Live Acoustic)
I. Love. This. Album.
I love this album.
This is an extremely feel-good-brit-pop album. Pixie has this beautiful Raspy voice and bubbly personality that's like if Pink and Lady Gaga had a love child, but made sure it never drank or did coke off dirty guy's penises (respectively.) The music itself sounds sorta like if Amy
So far, the #1 Singles Mama Do and Boys and Girls are my favorites on the album, but that's also because they're definitely the most Radio-Ready songs on the album. The rest are songs that you'd maybe put on a mix cd for someone you know really well, or listen to on your iPod on the walk to work. So far, my favorite tracks other than Mama Do and Boys and Girls are Band-Aid and Turn It Up (the Fall). I also really, really like Here We Go Again (produced by Red One, producer of hits like Just Dance by Lady Gaga and Run The Show by Kat DeLuna) and Gravity. Both are just cute, catchy brit-pop tunes that make me happy.
What's especially surprising about Pixie is that she's only 18, yet she has the voice and persona of a complete seasoned professional. Show-Biz is 100% ready for Pixie. Granted, American media has only noticed her because she's blonde and has tig ol' bitties, but I (clearly) like her for a lot more than that. I'm very curious to see how far she can take it in America, but I honestly think she'll be a-okay.
Mama Do
Boys and Girls
Apologize (Live Acoustic)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)