Lately, I have really been embracing the fact that pop music makes me happy. Those who know me know that I really love the separate entities of music. Good lyrics, impressive guitar work, solid bass and drum lines. Basically, I love the parts as much as I love the whole. With pop though, it's all about the catchiness, the simplicity, being able to get away from overthinking and just giving yourself over to the fun of it. I am a firm believer that a song doesn't need to be all that well-crafted to be fun, in fact, sometimes it's more fun when it's NOT that good. Sometimes all it needs is a hook and some not-too-deep lyrics, but, of course, I also appreciate the fun, catchy songs that do have a little more than meets the eye as well. Basically, if it makes me want to roll down the windows and blare it and sing along, it's good.
My friend and I went to see Jonas Brothers 3D on Friday. I think when I first heard this was happening, I wanted to go to laugh at it. My place with the Jonas Brothers is a little weird, mostly because I think I am too old to like them as much as I do. I actually put off listening to them because I was afraid I would like them and then would have to figure out what to do with that like. I finally did it anyway and from the first day I was familiar with them, I could not begrudge them. Say what you want about their voices, their image, their corporate Disneyfication, they are three guys who write their own songs, play some of their own instruments and put on a damn good show. I started to love certain songs of theirs because listening to them made me happy. I spent so much of the actual age of boybands listening to Fleetwood Mac and REM, but I also spent an awful lot of time listening to Middle of Nowhere and N'Sync and it would be a lie if I said that I didn't buy Millenium the day it came out and even have a Backstreet Boys poster up in my room for a short time. That little bit of pop fan that lived in me when I actually was 15 is still a part of that 15 year old that refuses to exit my system and can't deny the Jonas Brothers.
And yet I still went to this movie with the mindset that I was only going because I was curious. Like, oh my God, this movie exists and I can go and pretend I love them and dance around to all the songs that I happen to know because I only like them ironically. It only took a few minutes for me to realize that I may actually legitimately love them. I think it was around the third laugh at Kevin Jonas. The first two were closer to the camp of ""OMG KEVIN JONAAAAS!" because he was being hardcore dork and I was like, seriously, what are you doing? Then they just started to be closer to "OMG KEVIN JONAAAAAS" because he was being hardcore dork and I was like, omg, I love you, the pop world needs more of you, marry me. Then Joe and Nick started doing back flips and when they pounded drums, water came flying up into our 3D glasses-wearing faces and then I almost got hit in the head with Nick's drum stick and I reached out to touch Joe's hand and Kevin spun around four times fast while still playing guitar chords and I kept realizing what a freaking frontman Joe is (and how he can sing better than I thought) and then they all stood around in Central Park and Nick played a white piano and Joe wore a red bowtie and pigeons flew at me and I think that's when I declared that I was having the most amazing experience I'd ever had in a movie theater. Totally cheesy, I'm going to act like I'm twelve years younger than I am, fun.
What's really great about a movie that takes place at a concert is that because you kind of want it to be an actual concert, it starts to become one a little bit. We'd clap along when Kevin told us to, sing when they pointed the mic in our faces, cheer when the best songs started up and cheer some more when they ended. By the end, there were even a few people who would stand up and dance for a few seconds before sitting back down. I can see this thing becoming a little out of hand as far as the participation goes, yet if it does, I'd want to be there for it! My favorite was when one little girl in the front stood up to touch Joe, as if he was really right there, prompting all these people to yell "sit. DOWN!" Amazing.
And I mean, there is a reason why these guys have the devotion of the amount of people that they do. People put down pop acts because of a lack of depth or musicianship but that's not what it is about. These are performers. If you're lucky, they happen to write their own music or play an instrument and be more than just a pretty face. Sometimes they dance and harmonize, sometimes they play their own guitar parts, sometimes they really do just run around the stage looking good and getting people psyched up, but they put on massive, entertaining shows. It's funny too because I've seen fans of classic rock acting like this concept of people who have limited writing/playing experience and mostly just sing and perform is purely generational and this wave of it is so baffling. This genre of music has existed for a long time, maybe not as corporately pushed as it is now, but the quality and style of music is nothing new. Leif Garrett, the Bay City Rollers, David Cassidy and the like all existed at the same time what we now consider classic rock was being created. Tiger Beat was launched in the 60s and it's main purpose was to give teenage girls/fans more info on their idols. So the concept has been kicking around for awhile. And really, if the worst thing a 12 year old girl is doing is finding singing/songwriting/purity-ring wearing Nick Jonas to be the best thing since sliced bread, well, that's better than a LOT of other things.
If only my weekend of pop music ended there, but no. I went to a friend's for the weekend and we ended up watching N'Sync's PopOdyssey in its entirety, which just furthered my love for the genre and proved even more so how powerful it can be. I mean, these guys knew how to put on a SHOW. By this point in their career, it was bordering on ridiculous, with the set changes and the costumes and props (and mechanical bulls?), but even aside from all of that, they do not stop the entire time. Just running around, full out dancing, singing and sounding great. That moment where Justin falls to his knees during "Gone" is one of my favorite moments in entertainment history. It's just a world of its own. A world that I am happy to visit from time to time.
While I'm on the topic, if you like insanely catchy pop songs, check out Tinted Windows' "Kind of a Girl". It took me a few listens to decide how I felt about this song but I have settled in with "Holy crap, this is a catchy song!" and I've even started my usual deconstruction ("this guitar solo is so crunchy!") But at the end of the day, a catchy, fun pop song and I'm digging it!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
bye-bye virgin
I can't even begin to say how depressed I am about the Virgin Megastore in Times Square closing.
It's been awhile since the news was released but the liquidation "sale" (I put that in quotes because everything is 20% the list price, which is actually more than a lot of stuff usually is!) started this week. Just the whole "Going out of Business!", "Everything Must Go!" aspect of it all is really sad! I've gotten so much stuff in that store, killed so much time in that store. I've run there on lunch breaks to pick up CDs on the day they were released, I've gone there before shows to browse, I've checked certain sections so many times in hopes of random stuff being there and succeeded. I've gotten attached to having a place to go to buy a CD or a book or DVD. With this Virgin closing and the one in Union Square not far behind, there's hardly anywhere to do that anymore. It's not even that I actually purchase a whole lot there anymore, which says a lot as to why it's closing because I'm sure I'm not the only one, but I like that it is THERE. It's my first big NYC institution that is closing!
I went to the Union Square one this afternoon, just to browse and ended up getting a Cheap Trick CD for $5 and Tales of the Beadle Bard for $10 (I'm so behind on that!). Then I decided to go to Times Square just to see what the sale was doing and ended up buying Season 6 of ER for 20% off, which was actually a good deal since I've never seen those discounted before. That's my favorite season! Seeing Carter this week made me want to watch him in all his glory. I was just going to add "His NON-DYING glory" and then realized that Carter actually spends some of Season 6 trying not to die too, so that doesn't even work!
But it is sad. I do not want it to go away!
It's been awhile since the news was released but the liquidation "sale" (I put that in quotes because everything is 20% the list price, which is actually more than a lot of stuff usually is!) started this week. Just the whole "Going out of Business!", "Everything Must Go!" aspect of it all is really sad! I've gotten so much stuff in that store, killed so much time in that store. I've run there on lunch breaks to pick up CDs on the day they were released, I've gone there before shows to browse, I've checked certain sections so many times in hopes of random stuff being there and succeeded. I've gotten attached to having a place to go to buy a CD or a book or DVD. With this Virgin closing and the one in Union Square not far behind, there's hardly anywhere to do that anymore. It's not even that I actually purchase a whole lot there anymore, which says a lot as to why it's closing because I'm sure I'm not the only one, but I like that it is THERE. It's my first big NYC institution that is closing!
I went to the Union Square one this afternoon, just to browse and ended up getting a Cheap Trick CD for $5 and Tales of the Beadle Bard for $10 (I'm so behind on that!). Then I decided to go to Times Square just to see what the sale was doing and ended up buying Season 6 of ER for 20% off, which was actually a good deal since I've never seen those discounted before. That's my favorite season! Seeing Carter this week made me want to watch him in all his glory. I was just going to add "His NON-DYING glory" and then realized that Carter actually spends some of Season 6 trying not to die too, so that doesn't even work!
But it is sad. I do not want it to go away!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
hi, i love this band
So, I have liked Kings of Leon for awhile now, thanks to a friend recommending them to me not too long after their most recent album came out. I think she said something along the lines of "they actually make real rock music and it's good" or something along those lines and so I gave them a shot. Ever since seeing them live last week, I've been even more into them, as I tend to do. You've all met me. Anyway, I decided they should be introduced properly, for they are awesome (and, this just in, GRAMMY-WINNING!)
This is them, from the Grammy Red Carpet tonight!
L to R:
- Caleb Followill, 26, lead singer/rhythm guitarist. If you've heard any of their songs without knowing it, he is the one who thinks your sex is on fire. He also wants to use somebody. He has a voice that is like a mix of all the most amazing things in the world of music. It's all rugged and raw and so freaking sexy. Also, he's hot.
- Nathan Followill, 29, drummer. I love drummers, as a fact of life, but Nathan earns his love. In some great combination of his talent and the mix of their albums, his drum lines are so present and vivid and pounding in every song and it makes them even more addicting. I was also able to get myself an okay view of him when I saw them live and he was just awesome to watch. I think he has like, three floor toms, amazing. Also, despite being the opposite of most things I find attractive in men, he's hot.
- Matthew Followill, 24, lead guitar. Matthew looks 15 and for that alone, I love him. It kind of makes him stand out among the three brothers (he's their cousin). Oh, also, he plays some pretty awesome guitar. Never too overwhelming or show-offy, just well-placed and usually quite exciting.
- Jared Followill, 22, bass. Like Nathan's drums, Jared's bass lines are so present in each song, so much a part of what makes each song work so well and makes them so addicting. Really, really awesome stuff, he does.
Liking this band has been pretty fun for me. First of all, they possess a lot of classic rock-like qualities that I have always loved but have not been able to find in many bands of my own generation. They are music. They are solid guitars and drums and bass and vocals and words and they create an amazing sound. I tend to love bands of brothers (seriously, four of my favorite bands are comprised of brothers/family) and I think part of that is because I love the quality of music that comes from people who have literally been doing this together their entire lives. That quality can't be created out of nothing. I love the tightness of the sound, the creation that's allowed and the dynamics of the band that comes from that kind of circumstance. It's also fun to love a band that's just hitting big as we speak. I was at their first sold-out arena show in this country, despite the fact that they've been putting out albums for six years. They are huge in the UK and Australia for years, but they are just now hitting here and it's exciting to watch happen, even if there's that every present missing of the boat feeling that I always have. It would have been cool to be into them prior to this, but to be honest, I'm not sure I would have loved them as much if I hadn't heard Only by the Night first. I love the earlier stuff now but it helps that I know what it led to and what it led to is more my style. And now, they're winning Grammy's and announcing spring stadium tours and people are bitching that they've changed from that down home southern band from Tennessee, but hot damn, they're amazing all around, now and then, and I'm really excited to like them so much! They are kickass, for real.
For a nice taste of the band, watch these!
Sex on Fire
Use Somebody
Fans
Notion
This is them, from the Grammy Red Carpet tonight!
L to R:
- Caleb Followill, 26, lead singer/rhythm guitarist. If you've heard any of their songs without knowing it, he is the one who thinks your sex is on fire. He also wants to use somebody. He has a voice that is like a mix of all the most amazing things in the world of music. It's all rugged and raw and so freaking sexy. Also, he's hot.
- Nathan Followill, 29, drummer. I love drummers, as a fact of life, but Nathan earns his love. In some great combination of his talent and the mix of their albums, his drum lines are so present and vivid and pounding in every song and it makes them even more addicting. I was also able to get myself an okay view of him when I saw them live and he was just awesome to watch. I think he has like, three floor toms, amazing. Also, despite being the opposite of most things I find attractive in men, he's hot.
- Matthew Followill, 24, lead guitar. Matthew looks 15 and for that alone, I love him. It kind of makes him stand out among the three brothers (he's their cousin). Oh, also, he plays some pretty awesome guitar. Never too overwhelming or show-offy, just well-placed and usually quite exciting.
- Jared Followill, 22, bass. Like Nathan's drums, Jared's bass lines are so present in each song, so much a part of what makes each song work so well and makes them so addicting. Really, really awesome stuff, he does.
Liking this band has been pretty fun for me. First of all, they possess a lot of classic rock-like qualities that I have always loved but have not been able to find in many bands of my own generation. They are music. They are solid guitars and drums and bass and vocals and words and they create an amazing sound. I tend to love bands of brothers (seriously, four of my favorite bands are comprised of brothers/family) and I think part of that is because I love the quality of music that comes from people who have literally been doing this together their entire lives. That quality can't be created out of nothing. I love the tightness of the sound, the creation that's allowed and the dynamics of the band that comes from that kind of circumstance. It's also fun to love a band that's just hitting big as we speak. I was at their first sold-out arena show in this country, despite the fact that they've been putting out albums for six years. They are huge in the UK and Australia for years, but they are just now hitting here and it's exciting to watch happen, even if there's that every present missing of the boat feeling that I always have. It would have been cool to be into them prior to this, but to be honest, I'm not sure I would have loved them as much if I hadn't heard Only by the Night first. I love the earlier stuff now but it helps that I know what it led to and what it led to is more my style. And now, they're winning Grammy's and announcing spring stadium tours and people are bitching that they've changed from that down home southern band from Tennessee, but hot damn, they're amazing all around, now and then, and I'm really excited to like them so much! They are kickass, for real.
For a nice taste of the band, watch these!
Sex on Fire
Use Somebody
Fans
Notion
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
good music is good times
Kyle Riabko needs to come back to NYC and play some gigs. I just went on a spree, buying his new album and the Trevor Jackson album and gah, his original stuff is just so good. The TJ stuff is hilarious too, tuba! Plus, The Parkdale Sessions has a straight version of "Left Behind" that is just gorgeous and an R&B version of "The Guilty Ones", and Kyle Riabko and Boots Factor Are... has this awesome cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere" that reminds me a bit of "Say You Love Me" from The Dance. Love it. Can more people I already love cover Fleetwood Mac for me?
I'm really on a kick of bands I saw open for other people and ended up loving. I still can't stop listening to Everybody Else. It felt like legit love from the start, but considering it's been over a month since I last saw them live, I think it's really legit now. I go through phases with some new bands I like where I'm like "OMG LOVE" for a bit until I wear the song out and it no longer feels as awesome as it did, but pretty much every song I loved of theirs is still on high rotation. I still listen to Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers quite a bit too. I never got quite that actively into them, but those fave songs of theirs that I loved in May still get a lot of play and now I'm back into listening to the other stuff quite a bit too and loving it. Then there's Kyle, who kind of slides into that group even though he wasn't in the Sixers anymore by the time I saw them because he was already rehearsing for Spring Awakening which I then saw him in which prompted me to buy his solo album and see him at Joe's Pub and then Stephen and Boots were there! And did songs with him, including a cover of "Up on Cripple Creek"! A little convoluted but awesome! And hell, I'm even stuck on a few Dave Barnes songs lately!
In addition to that, I'm also listening to a lot of classic rock lately. Doobie Brothers, Boston, Allman Brothers, The Band, those types. "The Shape I'm In" and "Ophelia" and "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove" and "Soulshine" and "Foreplay/Long Time" and stuff that is so much more than just music. The stuff that reminds me that I was born into the wrong era.
I'm really on a kick of bands I saw open for other people and ended up loving. I still can't stop listening to Everybody Else. It felt like legit love from the start, but considering it's been over a month since I last saw them live, I think it's really legit now. I go through phases with some new bands I like where I'm like "OMG LOVE" for a bit until I wear the song out and it no longer feels as awesome as it did, but pretty much every song I loved of theirs is still on high rotation. I still listen to Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers quite a bit too. I never got quite that actively into them, but those fave songs of theirs that I loved in May still get a lot of play and now I'm back into listening to the other stuff quite a bit too and loving it. Then there's Kyle, who kind of slides into that group even though he wasn't in the Sixers anymore by the time I saw them because he was already rehearsing for Spring Awakening which I then saw him in which prompted me to buy his solo album and see him at Joe's Pub and then Stephen and Boots were there! And did songs with him, including a cover of "Up on Cripple Creek"! A little convoluted but awesome! And hell, I'm even stuck on a few Dave Barnes songs lately!
In addition to that, I'm also listening to a lot of classic rock lately. Doobie Brothers, Boston, Allman Brothers, The Band, those types. "The Shape I'm In" and "Ophelia" and "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove" and "Soulshine" and "Foreplay/Long Time" and stuff that is so much more than just music. The stuff that reminds me that I was born into the wrong era.
Monday, November 24, 2008
iTunes check-in!
I'm going to have to reset my play counts in about a week, so it's time for another one of these!
Let's do Top 25! With comments! Oh yeah.
25. "The Longest Hour of My Life", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
My current fave EBE song. Love Carrick's voice on this one and really just like the vibe of it. It's not as light as it sounds musically, but it's very enjoyable. I ironically listened to it the first time while waiting an hour to vote on Election Day, so I now have fond memories of how that turned out whenever I hear this song!
24. "Rip It Up", Hanson, Underneath Acoustic/"Go" single
Crowd participation plus an awesome Isaac vocal. Pretty random, but awesome! It makes me want to be at a concert though!
23. "Where Did I Go Wrong?", Martin Sexton, Live Wide Open
Really love this song. And this dude. His style is quite quirky, which I find quite appealing. This song is especially wonderful, with the falsetto coming in and just very relaxing and pleasant.
22. "Gift of Screws", Lindsey Buckingham, Gift of Screws
I cannot listen to this song and not crack up. The beat, the delivery, the maniacal laughing that occurs throughout. The yelping? The various activities that could be done whilst listening thanks to the in-song instructions? Amazing. "To the left, to the right, up an down, in and out!"
21. "Bullets", Bob Schneider, Lonelyland
Either music venues or other bands love this dude, because this song is always on the house mix before a concert. I loved it every time I heard it and I finally sought it out. Such a cool tune. Jazzy, with a horn section, kind of scatty, with a few bouts of rapid fire lyrics.
20. "Don't Stop Me Now", Queen, Jazz
It is appropriate that the album this song is on is called Jazz, because I always envision the most elaborate and exciting jazz dance routine in my mind when I listen to this song. I would use it to audition for So You Think You Can Dance. It starts all slow and then boom, you're going and going and soon you're flying and you're not going to stop! Exhiliration!
19. "Kiss and Run", Fleetwood Mac, Tusk (Remastered Edition)
I've always found that when you love a band for a long time, the new stuff gets more play than the old stuff you've always had (there may be an entry on this later). So this song, an outtake from the Tusk recording sessions, gets lots of love. Random chatting, an awesome Stevie/Christine/Lindsey harmony, just basic instrumental and a really catchy tune. I wish there was more of it, but I love it!
18. "Filthy/Gorgeous", The Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters
If I ever do karaoke in a public place, this is the song I'm doing. I absolutely love it. Nothing is better than shaking your ass and singing insulting remarks in falsetto. "You're disgusting! Oooh, and you're nasty!"
17. "Love From Here, Love From There", Lindsey Buckingham, Law & Order
It makes me laugh how high this song is. I admit that this is my least favorite Lindsey solo album, I barely even listened to it until recently and I found this song hilarious the first time I heard it. Now I can't stop listening to it. It's like this cheesy country song that could totally be line danced to, yet it's also Lindsey? The combination is oddly irrestible.
16. "Oh! Darling", Across the Universe
I. Love. This. Version. Of. This. Song. It's one of my alltime favorite Beatles songs, but Dana Fuchs just makes it all the more amazing, and dude on it (don't remember his name, eek!) also sounds absolutely amazing. Can't get enough of this!
15. "Grown Man", New Kids on the Block, The Block
This song could not be much more ridiculous and that is why I love it. "Gonna give you some grown man! Gonna give you some grown man!" When I saw NKOTB live, they actually had the Pussycat Doll who's vocals are featured on the song on a video screen. It's so bad it's good. Really good.
14. "Great Divide", Hanson, The Walk
I heard this song for the first time a little less than a year ago and my life hasn't been the same since. I remember hearing it that first time and being completely transported. This is the song that made me realize that Hanson was not just a part of my past, that it was time to pay attention again. It's also the song that sums up so much of their charity work, which I have to come to care quite a bit about. A really powerful, kickass song.
13. "Sweet Sophia", Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Glassjaw Boxer
I absolutely love the piano line on this song. It actually hurts to turn this song off because I love the piano line that much. Love Stephen's voice on this one, and the lyric "Stole my soul with a laugh and a look, and your heart shaped lips and my breath that you took."
12. "Rock and Roll Band", Boston, Boston
Everything I love about classic rock, rolled into three minutes of pure, fun, amazingness. The drum line in this song kills me, and Brad Delp's vocals are beyond sublime. I admit that I laugh every time they say "dancin' in the streets of Hyannis!", but I can't listen to this song and not end up with a huge grin on my face due to the absolute awesomeness.
11. "Fire on the Mountain", Hanson, The Walk
It's hard for me to remember a time when I didn't know that post-11-year-old Zac Hanson actually sang lead, but such a time did exist. Then I heard this song and haven't stopped listening to it since. It's probably the song I've listened to the most over the past year. I love the theme of it, the vibe of it, the vocals, and most of all, the lyrics. "Can we pick the pieces up? We're mending Babylon, trying to right the wrong. Can we pick the pieces up? Live, learn, life, love, die, dust, gone."
10. "I Wanna Take You Higher", Sly and the Family Stone
Honestly, I downloaded this song when I found out Hanson was covering it this leg and ended up adoring it. One of the songs that make me wish I could be a part of the coke-induced craziness of the 70's. Wailing away. Rocking out. And playing drums.
9. "Bold as Love", John Mayer, Continuum
This is one of those songs I ignored for far too long and one day accidentally kept on and realized I was in love with it. Mayer sells the song, vocally and with the guitar work. Just love it. Whenever I'm at work and this song comes on, it's time to mentally check out for a few. "My yellow in this case is not so mellow!"
8. "Traci Brown (A Song for You)", Hanson
Seriously? This song exists because of a contest where the winner got a song written about them. "Traci Brown, she's got what you need/A blue-eyed West Virginian who knows what she believes." Maybe it's because they're the type of band that does that kind of thing. Maybe it's because I love the melody. Maybe it's because of all the songs Zac Hanson sings, he sounds the absolute best on this one. Needless to say, this song gets a lot of play, random as it is.
7. "Something Going Round", Hanson, The Walk
This was one of my favorite "new" Hanson songs when I rediscovered them early last year. It's safe to say I'm addicted to it. It doesn't help that this is the song they opened every show with this past leg of the tour so hearing it makes me think of the fun of seeing them live. The opening drum beats, the built in "singalong" section in the middle, just a great feel-good song.
6. "Rock 'n' Roll Razorblade", Hanson, The Best of Hanson Live and Electric
It took awhile for this song to grow on me, but I adore it now. It has a very 90s rock feel to it, vaguely Smashing Pumpkins. Amazing piano solo and just a chill rock vibe to it. The harmony at the end of this is also ridiculous. Zac is singing so high I'm pretty sure the sound is coming out his nose.
5. "Makeup", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
Catchy as hell. I remember getting up when I was seeing them live to hit the bar and the merch stand during this song and just dancing away from seat and all the way back. Again, the song itself isn't as light as it sounds but it's really a fun tune. Plus, any song with the lyric "you've got a long walk home, but you've got headphones", is going to get some points.
4. "Summertime", New Kids on the Block, The Block
Oh man, this song! Makes me smile every time it's on and then I start dancing and then I envision the video and laugh. The song has everything that made NKOTB so amazingly ridiculous in 1988. They didn't even update themselves, it's just 1988 again in 2008. And I love it. And please, Donnie with his speaking over the singing? Doesn't get much better than that.
3. "Every Word I Say", Hanson, The Best of Hanson Live and Electric
This is one of those songs that I heard about before I actually had it. Hanson fans adore this song and before I heard it, I didn't get what could possibly cause it to get the reaction that it does. I get it now. It's one of those songs that just stops me from what I'm doing whenever it comes on and I'm lost in it. Taylor's voice is a little more rugged and by the end of the song, Isaac is wailing away. It's a bit different for them too, which adds to why I love it. Powerful and moving and freaking awesome.
2. "Manhattan", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
This song currently owns me. It was one of the ones on the album I skipped the first few listens and now can't turn off any time it comes on. Like my #1, this song just has an amazing vibe to it and the vocals are so raw and moving. The lyric "we're going to show this town how to kiss these stars" nearly makes me weep every time I hear it. Which is a lot.
1. "Notion", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
This may be the perfect rock song. I'm not even lying. The first time I heard this song, I was IN it. It just has that feel to it that I love in a song, especially as a fan of the classic rock sound of the late 70's. Amazing lead vocals, a rocking guitar bit, piano. Not does the song soar, it singlehandedly gave me hope that people of my own generation can write and record songs like this.
I will need to do another one of these soon to see how things change!
Let's do Top 25! With comments! Oh yeah.
25. "The Longest Hour of My Life", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
My current fave EBE song. Love Carrick's voice on this one and really just like the vibe of it. It's not as light as it sounds musically, but it's very enjoyable. I ironically listened to it the first time while waiting an hour to vote on Election Day, so I now have fond memories of how that turned out whenever I hear this song!
24. "Rip It Up", Hanson, Underneath Acoustic/"Go" single
Crowd participation plus an awesome Isaac vocal. Pretty random, but awesome! It makes me want to be at a concert though!
23. "Where Did I Go Wrong?", Martin Sexton, Live Wide Open
Really love this song. And this dude. His style is quite quirky, which I find quite appealing. This song is especially wonderful, with the falsetto coming in and just very relaxing and pleasant.
22. "Gift of Screws", Lindsey Buckingham, Gift of Screws
I cannot listen to this song and not crack up. The beat, the delivery, the maniacal laughing that occurs throughout. The yelping? The various activities that could be done whilst listening thanks to the in-song instructions? Amazing. "To the left, to the right, up an down, in and out!"
21. "Bullets", Bob Schneider, Lonelyland
Either music venues or other bands love this dude, because this song is always on the house mix before a concert. I loved it every time I heard it and I finally sought it out. Such a cool tune. Jazzy, with a horn section, kind of scatty, with a few bouts of rapid fire lyrics.
20. "Don't Stop Me Now", Queen, Jazz
It is appropriate that the album this song is on is called Jazz, because I always envision the most elaborate and exciting jazz dance routine in my mind when I listen to this song. I would use it to audition for So You Think You Can Dance. It starts all slow and then boom, you're going and going and soon you're flying and you're not going to stop! Exhiliration!
19. "Kiss and Run", Fleetwood Mac, Tusk (Remastered Edition)
I've always found that when you love a band for a long time, the new stuff gets more play than the old stuff you've always had (there may be an entry on this later). So this song, an outtake from the Tusk recording sessions, gets lots of love. Random chatting, an awesome Stevie/Christine/Lindsey harmony, just basic instrumental and a really catchy tune. I wish there was more of it, but I love it!
18. "Filthy/Gorgeous", The Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters
If I ever do karaoke in a public place, this is the song I'm doing. I absolutely love it. Nothing is better than shaking your ass and singing insulting remarks in falsetto. "You're disgusting! Oooh, and you're nasty!"
17. "Love From Here, Love From There", Lindsey Buckingham, Law & Order
It makes me laugh how high this song is. I admit that this is my least favorite Lindsey solo album, I barely even listened to it until recently and I found this song hilarious the first time I heard it. Now I can't stop listening to it. It's like this cheesy country song that could totally be line danced to, yet it's also Lindsey? The combination is oddly irrestible.
16. "Oh! Darling", Across the Universe
I. Love. This. Version. Of. This. Song. It's one of my alltime favorite Beatles songs, but Dana Fuchs just makes it all the more amazing, and dude on it (don't remember his name, eek!) also sounds absolutely amazing. Can't get enough of this!
15. "Grown Man", New Kids on the Block, The Block
This song could not be much more ridiculous and that is why I love it. "Gonna give you some grown man! Gonna give you some grown man!" When I saw NKOTB live, they actually had the Pussycat Doll who's vocals are featured on the song on a video screen. It's so bad it's good. Really good.
14. "Great Divide", Hanson, The Walk
I heard this song for the first time a little less than a year ago and my life hasn't been the same since. I remember hearing it that first time and being completely transported. This is the song that made me realize that Hanson was not just a part of my past, that it was time to pay attention again. It's also the song that sums up so much of their charity work, which I have to come to care quite a bit about. A really powerful, kickass song.
13. "Sweet Sophia", Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Glassjaw Boxer
I absolutely love the piano line on this song. It actually hurts to turn this song off because I love the piano line that much. Love Stephen's voice on this one, and the lyric "Stole my soul with a laugh and a look, and your heart shaped lips and my breath that you took."
12. "Rock and Roll Band", Boston, Boston
Everything I love about classic rock, rolled into three minutes of pure, fun, amazingness. The drum line in this song kills me, and Brad Delp's vocals are beyond sublime. I admit that I laugh every time they say "dancin' in the streets of Hyannis!", but I can't listen to this song and not end up with a huge grin on my face due to the absolute awesomeness.
11. "Fire on the Mountain", Hanson, The Walk
It's hard for me to remember a time when I didn't know that post-11-year-old Zac Hanson actually sang lead, but such a time did exist. Then I heard this song and haven't stopped listening to it since. It's probably the song I've listened to the most over the past year. I love the theme of it, the vibe of it, the vocals, and most of all, the lyrics. "Can we pick the pieces up? We're mending Babylon, trying to right the wrong. Can we pick the pieces up? Live, learn, life, love, die, dust, gone."
10. "I Wanna Take You Higher", Sly and the Family Stone
Honestly, I downloaded this song when I found out Hanson was covering it this leg and ended up adoring it. One of the songs that make me wish I could be a part of the coke-induced craziness of the 70's. Wailing away. Rocking out. And playing drums.
9. "Bold as Love", John Mayer, Continuum
This is one of those songs I ignored for far too long and one day accidentally kept on and realized I was in love with it. Mayer sells the song, vocally and with the guitar work. Just love it. Whenever I'm at work and this song comes on, it's time to mentally check out for a few. "My yellow in this case is not so mellow!"
8. "Traci Brown (A Song for You)", Hanson
Seriously? This song exists because of a contest where the winner got a song written about them. "Traci Brown, she's got what you need/A blue-eyed West Virginian who knows what she believes." Maybe it's because they're the type of band that does that kind of thing. Maybe it's because I love the melody. Maybe it's because of all the songs Zac Hanson sings, he sounds the absolute best on this one. Needless to say, this song gets a lot of play, random as it is.
7. "Something Going Round", Hanson, The Walk
This was one of my favorite "new" Hanson songs when I rediscovered them early last year. It's safe to say I'm addicted to it. It doesn't help that this is the song they opened every show with this past leg of the tour so hearing it makes me think of the fun of seeing them live. The opening drum beats, the built in "singalong" section in the middle, just a great feel-good song.6. "Rock 'n' Roll Razorblade", Hanson, The Best of Hanson Live and Electric
It took awhile for this song to grow on me, but I adore it now. It has a very 90s rock feel to it, vaguely Smashing Pumpkins. Amazing piano solo and just a chill rock vibe to it. The harmony at the end of this is also ridiculous. Zac is singing so high I'm pretty sure the sound is coming out his nose.
5. "Makeup", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
Catchy as hell. I remember getting up when I was seeing them live to hit the bar and the merch stand during this song and just dancing away from seat and all the way back. Again, the song itself isn't as light as it sounds but it's really a fun tune. Plus, any song with the lyric "you've got a long walk home, but you've got headphones", is going to get some points.
4. "Summertime", New Kids on the Block, The Block
Oh man, this song! Makes me smile every time it's on and then I start dancing and then I envision the video and laugh. The song has everything that made NKOTB so amazingly ridiculous in 1988. They didn't even update themselves, it's just 1988 again in 2008. And I love it. And please, Donnie with his speaking over the singing? Doesn't get much better than that.
3. "Every Word I Say", Hanson, The Best of Hanson Live and Electric
This is one of those songs that I heard about before I actually had it. Hanson fans adore this song and before I heard it, I didn't get what could possibly cause it to get the reaction that it does. I get it now. It's one of those songs that just stops me from what I'm doing whenever it comes on and I'm lost in it. Taylor's voice is a little more rugged and by the end of the song, Isaac is wailing away. It's a bit different for them too, which adds to why I love it. Powerful and moving and freaking awesome.
2. "Manhattan", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
This song currently owns me. It was one of the ones on the album I skipped the first few listens and now can't turn off any time it comes on. Like my #1, this song just has an amazing vibe to it and the vocals are so raw and moving. The lyric "we're going to show this town how to kiss these stars" nearly makes me weep every time I hear it. Which is a lot.
1. "Notion", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
This may be the perfect rock song. I'm not even lying. The first time I heard this song, I was IN it. It just has that feel to it that I love in a song, especially as a fan of the classic rock sound of the late 70's. Amazing lead vocals, a rocking guitar bit, piano. Not does the song soar, it singlehandedly gave me hope that people of my own generation can write and record songs like this.
I will need to do another one of these soon to see how things change!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
tell me, tell me lies
So David Cook's CD release thingy was tonight. He sang a whole bunch of songs from the album. "Bar-ba-sol" rocked despite having the most ridiculous title ever and I love it. It is my favorite song on the album. There were maybe 300 people there and that was kind of awesome in itself, especially since Lori and I didn't really have to put all that much effort to getting wristbands this morning. After the set, they came back out for an encore and David said "So, we're going to do a cover. It's an 80's song by a band called Fleetwood Mac." I proceeded to flip a fucking shit. Like, I think I actually screamed "OH. MY. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!" as loud as possible. I'm curious if it will be audible in other people's YouTube videos. Until then, here is MINE (post-scream, thank you) of this awesome amazingness.
Dude puts on a good show. He still has that ease about him that I first came to love and he really does have a great voice. It is crazy to think that at this time last year, he was just a bartender playing in a band.
The event was a CD signing also and it took a long time to get that all going because of the setup of the place and David being a sweet boy and chatting a little with each person. Lori mentioned something about how awesome the show was and he told us it was "the 50th? I think?" press/event he'd done TODAY. I'm sure he was exaggerating slightly, but probably not much. I made sure to tell him that Fleetwood Mac is my favorite band and that I thought the cover was awesome, to which he grinned excitedly and put his hand over his heart like "yay, you love Fleetwood Mac, I feel ya!" and I really felt like he was happy I said that and that made me happy! He is a good boy.
I admit, I've been like "Eh, DC" lately, for a number of reasons, most of all my decline of interest. But I am super glad we went today! He is worth it and a lot of fun live. I am excited to see him again someday!
Dude puts on a good show. He still has that ease about him that I first came to love and he really does have a great voice. It is crazy to think that at this time last year, he was just a bartender playing in a band.
The event was a CD signing also and it took a long time to get that all going because of the setup of the place and David being a sweet boy and chatting a little with each person. Lori mentioned something about how awesome the show was and he told us it was "the 50th? I think?" press/event he'd done TODAY. I'm sure he was exaggerating slightly, but probably not much. I made sure to tell him that Fleetwood Mac is my favorite band and that I thought the cover was awesome, to which he grinned excitedly and put his hand over his heart like "yay, you love Fleetwood Mac, I feel ya!" and I really felt like he was happy I said that and that made me happy! He is a good boy.
I admit, I've been like "Eh, DC" lately, for a number of reasons, most of all my decline of interest. But I am super glad we went today! He is worth it and a lot of fun live. I am excited to see him again someday!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
NKOTB
Last week, my friend and I decided we wanted to go see New Kids on the Block. They were heading back to Mohegan Sun this weekend, so I got some tickets and we went! And it was pretty awesome!
We were about five rows from the back but it's the kind of concert where just being in there makes it super fun.
Highlights!
- "Stay the Same"! Oh man, I love this song and it was so awesome in such a huge crowd of swaying people. I know it is wrong to have my favorite moment of the concert be a solo song, but I can't help it!
- "My Favorite Girl" cuz Jordan sounded awesome. Falsetto!
- The B on Donnie's hat getting bigger and more full of bling with each costume change.
- How absolutely fantastic Jordan sounded during "I'll Be Loving You Forever". Perfection! And they were all dressed in white!
- They came to this rotating stage thing at the back of the floor for a few songs, which was pretty much right beneath our seats! They did "Tonight" from there! Joey was wearing his happy face jacket!
- Some "Dirty Dancing":
- Donnie solo "Cover Girl"! Oh man, Donnie is a trip, isn't he. Thanks for showing us your underpants.
- Joey literally falling to his knees during "Please Don't Go Girl".
- That moment where Jordan stands on that part of the stage by himself, his white shirt blowing behind him, his shirtlessness being zoomed in by the camera and thus taking over the entire room.
- Breaking the crowd into two to do the winkie chant in "Games" and the other half yell "Game games games games!" That song is ridiculous!
- Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
- Pose off, complete with Danny bowing down to us and Joey smelling his pit.
- Every single person in the room waving their arms in the air like they just don't care during "Hangin' Tough". Plus Celtics jerseys!
- Pyro!
I'm so glad we went! It was such a fun time and I was very impressed with their showmanship and just how energetic and awesome they were. Good times!
We were about five rows from the back but it's the kind of concert where just being in there makes it super fun.
Highlights!
- "Stay the Same"! Oh man, I love this song and it was so awesome in such a huge crowd of swaying people. I know it is wrong to have my favorite moment of the concert be a solo song, but I can't help it!
- "My Favorite Girl" cuz Jordan sounded awesome. Falsetto!
- The B on Donnie's hat getting bigger and more full of bling with each costume change.
- How absolutely fantastic Jordan sounded during "I'll Be Loving You Forever". Perfection! And they were all dressed in white!
- They came to this rotating stage thing at the back of the floor for a few songs, which was pretty much right beneath our seats! They did "Tonight" from there! Joey was wearing his happy face jacket!
- Some "Dirty Dancing":
- Donnie solo "Cover Girl"! Oh man, Donnie is a trip, isn't he. Thanks for showing us your underpants.
- Joey literally falling to his knees during "Please Don't Go Girl".
- That moment where Jordan stands on that part of the stage by himself, his white shirt blowing behind him, his shirtlessness being zoomed in by the camera and thus taking over the entire room.
- Breaking the crowd into two to do the winkie chant in "Games" and the other half yell "Game games games games!" That song is ridiculous!
- Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
- Pose off, complete with Danny bowing down to us and Joey smelling his pit.
- Every single person in the room waving their arms in the air like they just don't care during "Hangin' Tough". Plus Celtics jerseys!
- Pyro!
I'm so glad we went! It was such a fun time and I was very impressed with their showmanship and just how energetic and awesome they were. Good times!
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