Where Have I Been and Other Updates

Hey,
I can't believe I haven't updated this blog since June 1st. Where did the time go?
Well, actually, I know the answer to that question. This summer, before my senior year of high school, I decided to compile some of my writings into a compilation and self-publish it. I thought it would be a simple, fun project to just do in my off-time, but it ended up taking six hours a day for three months straight, just writing, organizing, and editing. I definitely enjoyed doing it; I just miscalculated how long it actually takes to do it all alone. I published it last weekend and received my proof copy today, so I can finally say, with much elation and pride, that it is done! :) If you would like to read the book, to check out my 19 poems and 5 short stories, click here.

Now, that the book is finished, I can finally get back to writing on here! I've missed updating you all on what I'm listening to, as I have found some incredible bands over the summer. I have some full-length  posts planned for the coming weeks, but tonight, I'll just give you a little teaser.

Tonight, I present my track of the summer, AKA, the track that I couldn't stop listening to no matter how many times I played it: "Things We Lost In the Fire" by Bastille. Bastille is a British group and they are fantastically talented. they always bring something original to their music and this track is no exception. The tribal-feeling percussion in the beginning, giving way to the full instrumentation, and plucking string section all complement the emotional lyrics, making it feel like the emotions are rising with the instrumentation and vice versa.
I feel like Bastille is going to blow up a la Imagine Dragons very soon. Keep your eyes on them and soon, I will post a full review of their album. :)

Thanks for reading.
Until next week,
Bella

Another Edition of "What is Bella Listening To"

Hey,
I'm actually posting on my promised day. Can you believe it? Me either.
So, this week, I have compiled five songs that I have discovered and are so good, I simply have to share them with you. :) It's been a while since I've done something like this, so this should be fun. :)


5. "Wake Up" by AWOLNATION- Yes, this is the man behind "Sail." This track gives "Sail" a run for its money. It's certainly less emotional, but holy crap, not by much. From what I can deduce, the song is about him encouraging people to wake up from a zombie-like sleep and live life, leaving behind the negativity and "haters." Coupled with the steady percussion, simple yet effective chord progression in the chorus, and the background vocals, this song is at the top of my running playlist. Worth checking out.

4. "Colour Fade" by Funeral Suits- This track is technically 2 years old, but I am so obsessed with it, I simply had to include it. This is one of my favorite finds on this list. I love the twinkling guitars, the layered vocals (especially with the falsetto around the 2:00 mark), and the line "I'm a machine/That sends the colour to your head." If you're into complex melodies and slight distortion, this may be the track for you. :)

3. "Carry Me Home" by The Dig- This track leads in with minimalistic piano, gradually adding in the percussion, the guitars, and finally the vocals. The vocalist sounds like a mix of Nate Reuss and the lead singer of the Neighbourhood, resulting in a finely-tuned croon with a rock edge. The lyrics from what I can tell, are not meant to be taken literally; people are not really going to carry him home. Instead, I think he is talking to his girlfriend/significant other who has died and he is trying to get killed one way or another so they can be together once more. Or, they could just be emotionally separated, but based on the line about a river carrying him home, I think he means he wants to die to be reunited with his special person.

2. "Head is Not My Home" by MS MR- Fresh off  of MS MR's debut album, this song is a true standout. The shocking changes in tempo and the move from piano to fortissimo adds to the emotional complexity of this track. The song is about how they feel that their head is not really their own, overrun with thoughts and other people. The chorus, boasting lusty lyrics such as  "my mouth/your lips/your hands/my hips," suggests that their frustrations can be solved by carnal measures. The bold statement is memorable and full of pitiable complexity. Fantastic.

1. "Global Concepts" by Robert Delong- I found this song a few months ago, wrote the name down, lost the paper, and then heard the song on AltNation the other day. Thank goodness. :) This song takes the number one spot, as Robert expertly combines alt-rock with electronica beats, resulting in this strangely addictive song. Instrumentally, Robert is a genius, from what I've read online. He uses computer programs, drum kits, and even video game controllers to make his sounds and he does it all by himself. He truly is a one man band and his music is fantastic, seriously. Instrumental elements aside, his lyrics are simply killer. This song is about how when he dies, he'll be able to assess his life and while he knows that he's made mistakes, he hopes that above all he made people dance with his music, which is the one thing that unites us all, his "global concept." Gorgeous.

Alright, that's it for this week. Be sure to check out those track and come back next week for another review.

Until then,
Bella

Lyrics Part Three

Hey,

So, in this week's installment of my series on lyrics, I will be breaking down repetition. Repetition is a commonly used literary technique and a fantastic one, at that. However, like everything else in music/literature, a little goes a long ways. Unfortunately for us, most mainstream musicians have yet discover this. On the other hand, alternative musicians utilize repetition as a tool, wielding it to accomplish something, whereas mainstream musicians' songs are 80% repetition.

Here are some examples:

First, let's compare "Scream and Shout" by Will.I.AM ft. Britney Spears with one of Noel Gallgher's High Flying Birds' songs.

"When you hear this in the club
You gotta turn the sh*t up
You gotta turn the sh*t up
You gotta turn the sh*t up
When we up in the club
All eyes on us
All eyes on us
All eyes on us
See the boys in the club
They watching us
They watching us
They watching us
Everybody in the club
All eyes on us
All eyes on us
All eyes on us

I wanna scream and shout, and let it all out
And scream and shout, and let it out
We saying, oh wee oh wee oh wee oh wee oh
We saying, oh wee oh wee oh wee oh wee oh
I wanna scream and shout, and let it all out
And scream and shout, and let it out
We saying, oh wee oh wee oh wee oh wee oh

You are now rocking with Will.i.am and Britney, b-tch

[beat break]

Oh yeah....
Bring the action

Rock and roll, everybody let's lose control
All the bottom we let it go
Going fast, we aint going slow, no
Hear the beat, now let's hit the floor
Drink it up, and then drink some more
Light it up, and let's let it blow
Hey yo, rock it out, rock it now
If you know what we talking 'bout
Turn it up, and burn down the house, hooouse
Hey yo, turn it up, and don't turn it down
Here we go, we gon shake the ground
Cause everywhere that we go we BRING THE ACTION."

I didn't finish copying the rest of the lyrics because they just repeat that turning the music up an oh-we-oh crap (what even is "oh we oh?). Wanna guess how many writers came up with that? If you guessed three, then you win 100 blog points (which are totally useless). Yes, three writers actually wrote this. This song pretty much 100% repetition. They rarely, until they get to that dumb verse about drinking up, say any idea just once. How many times is it necessary to remind the listener that your music must be turned up?

Okay, so that sucks. Now, let's look at a good example of repetition with (Stranded On) the Wrong Beach" by Noel Gallgher's High Flying Birds {one of my favorite bands}.

"Falling, I see you on the way down
I'll meet you on the rebound somewhere in between
Calling out across the airwaves
Faces that you can't say are calling out for me

And oh me, oh my, say so long baby, bye-bye
Pour me one for the road, it's a long journey baby
Where it's gonna take me just depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load

So long, I'll see you in the next one
Cause everybody's been and gone, there's no one here but me

And oh me, oh my, say so long baby, bye-bye
Pour me one for the road, it's a long journey baby
Where it's gonna take me just depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load

And oh me, oh my, say so long baby, bye-bye
Pour me one for the road, it's a long journey baby
Where it's gonna take me just depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load

Dry land sinking in the quicksand
Stranded on the wrong beach, come and rescue me."

Here, the repetition accomplishes something. It is not mindless, like Will.I.Am's song. In that other song, the repetition is filler. It feels like the three writers ran out of material and just decided to repeat everything they had already written. In Noel's song, in which he is the only writer, the more he repeats the "....depends on the weight of my load" you can feel the load getting heavier, referencing a long journey that he is about to undertake, whilst carrying something. Good use. :)

Finally, let's look at another use of poor repetition in One Direction's "Rock Me," a silly stab at sexual lyrics.

"Do you remember summer ‘09
Wanna go back there every night
Just can't lie it was the best time of my life

Lying on the beach as the sun blew out
Playing this guitar by the fire too loud
Oh my my they could never shut us down
I used to think that I was better alone
Why did I ever want to let you go
Under the moonlight as we stared at the sea
The words you whispered I will always believe

I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me, yeahh
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah
I want you to hit the pedal heavy metal show me you care
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah

Yeah we were together summer ‘09
Wanna roll back like press and rewind
You were mine and we never said goodbye i-i-i
I used to think that I was better alone

Why did I ever want to let you go?
Under the moonlight as we stared to the sea
The words you whispered I will always believe

I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me, yeahh
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah
I want you to hit the pedal heavy metal show me you care
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah

R-O-C-K me again
R-O-C-K me again
R-O-C-K me again yeah
I want you to
R-O-C-K me again
R-O-C-K me again
R-O-C-K me again yeah

I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me, yeahh
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah
I want you to hit the pedal heavy metal show me you care
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah

I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me, yeahh
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah
I want you to hit the pedal heavy metal show me you care
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah."
Let's play the "guess the number of songwriters game." Ready? 5 writers, yet none of the actual group members. Now, I will admit I see what they did here. :) "Rock me" obviously is referring to sex. I'm not dumb and the repetition is like a rocking motion, happening over and over. However, it's overkill here. You really can have too much of a good thing. They say the phrase "rock me" 23 times. Yeesh. Too much repetition. Cut out a few of  them and take out that awful auto-tune and it could be a half decent song. (I said half!)

Next week, I'll wrap up the lyrics series with a topic TBD. Then, I'll get back to highlighting new music and artists.
Until then,
Bella

2012 Has Been Amazing!

Hey,

I cannot believe just how incredible this last year has been. One year ago today, I wrote my first blog post, a brief introduction to myself and posted a Saturday Night Live sketch that made me laugh. My intentions were to simply review music, hopefully find some fellow music lovers, and create an outlet for my music-related thoughts. And it has been all I wished for and more! I never expected to have over 1900 views in one year; 1,000 was my two year goal. The highest amount of views I've had on a blog post is 112! 112, guys! It may not seem like much, but to me, that's crazy. And I am so thankful for every single one of those views. Some of my favorite moments from this year came from reviewing amazing bands, such as Beecher's Fault and Get Cubs.

Thank you so much for reading my posts each week, tweeting about them, posting them on facebook, e-mailing me with new ideas, and making my blog a part of your lives. It means so much to me and I can't wait to see what this next year will bring!

So, at this one year point, I thought I would take a minute and introduce myself a little further.

I've signed all of my blogposts as Bella, though I went anonymous for a while, and my full name is indeed Isabella. :) I am, as you might have guessed, a Twilight fan--more Twilight soundtrack reviews coming in the following weeks--though I'm not nearly as whiny as my namesake, nor am I in a love triangle with a vampire and a werewolf. :) I'm 16 and I live in central Iowa, which is a pretty nice place and boasts some incredible concert venues that I like to take advantage of when a good band comes.


So, on Friday, expect a typical blog post from me. I just wanted to take some time and thank every single one of my readers. You guys are the best!

Please e-mail me, tweet at me, and/or comment with your favorite blog post from this year and any suggestions you have for the next year, whether it's a band you want me to review, suggestions for the website itself, or anything along those lines!

Until Friday,
Bella

Eight Songs of the Eighties

Hey,

So, I like I promised, here are eight of my favorite 1980's music videos. It's hard to limit it to just eight, but I figured "eight" as in "eighties." It's kind of creative if you don't think about it.

Without further ado....

8. Maneater by Hall & Oates- I love Hall and Oates and am eternally jealous that my mom got to see them in concert. Lucky. J Hall and Oates are an essential eighties band. They have a smooth, layered sound, familiar saxophone line, synthesizers, and no editing, save for a cute echoing effect that many bands used. Great song.

7. Tainted Love by Soft Cell- And the award for weirdest music video goes to Soft Cell. I swear, the music video makes little to no sense, but it’s still a great song. If my future relationships ever fail, I’m just going to say we broke up because of tainted love. No one my age will get it, but I’ll feel cool for 15 seconds. Anyways, the song is a cover of Gloria Jonses’ song and I think this a definite case of “the cover is better than the original” that we love to pin on songs. J This song deserves it. Those synthesizers really made this song special. Add in the cover of “Where Did Our Love Go” at the end, and you’ve got a perfect example of the eighties.

6. One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx- I put this song on one of my favorite music video lists before, but I figured the actual song deserved a few seconds of recognition. The lyrics are simple but at least I think they have a point; I’m not completely sure. J I love the effects, the backing vocals, strong guitar lines, and the infectious melody. Such great songwriting.

5. Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles- I realize that everybody who has any knowledge of the eighties will say “Everybody knows that song. It was the first song on VH1. Gah, Bella, choose something interesting.” Oh, hush. This song is legendary. It’s one of the best one hit wonders to come out the eighties, probably because of the originality, unforgettable intro, and a distinctive sound. When this comes on, most people—I’m excluding stupid people—know what song it is.

4. Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood- A wild card, yes, yes, yes…I know. This song is just so eighties I feel I would be minimizing its importance if I chose not to include it. Between the envelope-pushing music video, sexual lyrics, and dance-pop elements, this song was a big milestone of the eighties. It’s not necessarily the best song and the lyrics are mediocre, but it’s very memorable. J  

3. Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz- Oh, my goodness. I remember the first time I heard this song. I had that chorus stuck in my head all weekend. This song is a perfect example of how to create a good song. All the parts beautifully merge together, creating one of my favorite, and often overlooked, singles of the 1980’s.

2. View To a Kill by Duran Duran- yes, this is the song from the James Bond movie. J Any band that uses a 60-piece orchestra automatically gets my respect. The lyrics seem silly unless one remembers that the song is supposed to be the theme for the James Bond movie of the same name. I love the horns and how the lead singer’s voice just soars over all the creative instrumentation. Can I say that this may be the best James Bond theme yet? No? Oh, well. I will anyways. J

1. That’s All by genesis- Phil Collins…enough said. But I’ll say more anyways. I love that electric piano at the beginning, that organ solo in the middle, the way the drumming intensifies, and distorted guitar near the end. Beautiful.

I hope you enjoyed my top 8 songs of the eighties, though I realize I could have included 20 other tracks on there, but it’s a nice start. Who knows? I might add to it later.

Until next week.

Bella

Terrible Music Videos

Hey,

It’s been really fun this week to log on Blogger to see how many views the review of Beecher’s Fault has been getting. I’m super excited by the turnout and hopeful for the band. You guys are cool and you have an awesome set of fans! J

So, this week I’m writing about music videos again. I’ve highlighted a bunch of good ones, but I’ve never done any terrible ones. It was hard to narrow down the list, but I came up with two/three recent ones and a throwback.

Wild Ones by Flo Rida Ft. Sia
Ah, yes, my favorite rapper, Flo Rida. Or as I call him, Florida. I’m kidding; I don’t like his music. I do, however, respect Sia quite a bit, though I wonder if this is truly making her happy. She’s making money, but is this considered selling out? If we’re going to argue that she sold out, shouldn’t we argue that Gotye and Fun, most recently, sold out? I digress. Okay, so the music video is ridiculously tame. For such a “wild” music video, with a notably absent Sia, I expected more than…this. With 102, 952, 772 views, I assumed this might be okay. Never assume with these people. Just a word of advice from a teenager. J These “wild” things: he skydives while making crappy gang signs (Isn’t he such a wild guy!), he raps with two mildly attractive women on either side of him while going down a body of water, he drives a car, he does a nice promotion for Nokia and BMW, he rides a motorcycle, he dances in a club, he drinks, he drives a bunch of vehicles, and takes his sunglasses on and off. Yeah, Flo, really wild.

Payphone by Maroon 5. I can’t hate this song, as much as I try. It’s stupid, simplistic, and really annoys me, but I don’t know what it is. Ugh. But, the music video was just plain stupid. The first time I saw it I was watching E! News with my mom (we never watch it, but we were bored that night) and we sat there laughing at the sheer stupidity of it. It was so stupid. The song’s about a failing relationship. But, do we show that in the music video? Nope. We have a robbery. Yes, nothing says “Oh, no, our relationship isn’t what it used to be” like robbing a bank. Adam (the lead singer) steals a car, runs from the police, and looks awful in a pair of creeper glasses. I have nothing more to say except it’s dumb. I honestly think their (being Maroon 5) music videos have gotten really dumb. The music video for “One More Night” is another big fail. Again, the song is about a bad relationship, how he needs to leave, but won’t. Do we show that? Nope. This time, Adam (the lead singer) is a boxer, who trains and competes too much, doesn’t pay attention to his wife and eventually she leaves him. Where’s the connection here? The lyrics: “Got you stuck on my body like a tattoo/so I cross my heart and I hope to die/ that I’ll only stay with you one more night/ I know I’ve said it a million times/try to tell you no/ but my body keeps on telling you yes/ Try to tell you stop/ but your lipstick gets me so out of breath/ I’ll be waking up feeling satisfied but guilty as hell.” See the boxing connection? Me neither.

When I Grow Up By the Pussycat Dolls  I know that this song is old (3 years, to be exact) but it still cracks me up when I think about how terrible this music video is. I mean, honestly, do you get any dumber than starting a music video featuring all the members stuck in rush-hour traffic, clad in nothing more than leather and lingerie? It’s like, hm, let’s forget about the music and emphasize the girls’ goodies. Nicole (the brunette lady who’s hogging the camera) is practically falling out of her shirt. That’s called selling bodies, not music. So, then what happens? Well, these girls decide, “hey, we have some time to kill. Let’s hop out of the car!” Instead of what should have happened (where everyone screams “Hey, get back in your car.” Honk honk) people just smile. I bet their clothes have nothing to do with everyone’s unnatural happiness. Then, these idiots decide to climb on the cars. Yes, nothing says fun like slinking across cars. Oooh, it gets better. They dance on the cars! Ha, what a revolutionary idea! Sounds like fun. Until you’re arrested. Maybe their outfits are magical; police officers know not to arrest these girls. I don’t know, just a theory. The rest of the music video shows them strutting down the sidewalk, climbing on a construction site, they have a really awkward, badly placed dance break, and they sing the chorus a gazillion times. Same story, different girls. I know they were trying really hard to be sexy, but I think they did the opposite. They just looked desperate…for many things. Money, especially. Speaking of which, I wonder how much money they spent on that music video. It could not have been cheap. Rather boring music video for such an “amazing” (that’s sarcasm) song.

Until next week,

Bella

Twitter: twitter.com/tsoml2012

e-mail: thesoundtrackofmylife2012@gmail.com

Beecher's Fault

Hey,
Happy Friday! Granted, for most students like me, Friday is just another day of the week, but if you're working good for you. You survived another week. For me, I'm just happy I survived the heat; it's supposed to be 100 degrees this weekend. But I'm keeping cool, exercising indoors and listening to good music. :)

So, speaking of good music...

I love social media. It goes without saying that social media connects us, brings us together, and introduces us to new people/ new things we might never have found otherwise. I was slow to join twitter. I thought, honestly, I have an e-mail account, Facebook, and a blog. What else do I need? It turns out, I was missing out. In the past, bands tried to reach new ears by way of MySpace and now, they use Twitter. One day when I logged on my account, with my unbearably long e-mail address (thesoundtrackofmylife2012@gmail.com)  I saw I had a new follower. Usually, it’s just like one of my sister’s friends, but it turned out to be a new band I had never heard of (hence the word “new”) called Beecher’s Fault. Curious, I clicked on the link to their Facebook page and listened to their song “Misbehavior.” I am so glad I did.

          These guys are incredible. The band is comprised of three guys from Astoria, New York : vocalist/guitarist Ben Taylor, vocalist/keyboardist Ken Lamken and drummer Eric Levine. Their music boasts many features such as a beautiful indie vibe, some aspects of modern alternative sounds, and an unmistakable sound. When they come on my Spotify playlist I know automatically who it is. They are very distinctive and I like that. I find even in alternative circles that bands tend to get lazy and bang out a boring melody and some mediocre lyrics. Maybe it’s just me, but I like bands that put effort into their sound. With Beecher’s Fault, you never have to doubt that they worked at their music. All of their tender loving care really paid off.

                My favorite songs are Leftover People and Conductor. Leftover People is cool because the piano intro leads into the song perfectly, the drum line fits perfectly, and the overall beautiful simplicity with a touch of chaos. Simplicity and chaos, though they might be antonyms, work well with each other. And Conductor stands out because of the emotional lyrics, simple instrumentation, and the vocals give me goose bumps.

They also have really cool music videos. I especially enjoyed the music video for Liars, which uses shoes to tell a story. Very creative. I loved it. J

So, in the end, I really enjoy their music. I like the polished yet slightly gritty sound. They embody alternative music and I hope nothing but success comes their way.

If you want to connect with these guys, their music is available on iTunes, Spotify, and their website. You can find them on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and their official website.

Here are the links:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/beechers_fault

Website: http://beechersfault.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeechersFault

MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/beechersfault

YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/beechersfault

If you are in an undiscovered band or if you are a fan on an undiscovered band and would like a review on my blog, please leave a comment, e-mail me, or tweet me at twitter.com/tsoml2012

Until next week,

Bella

My Playlist

Hey,
Well, I haven't done a "what's on my playlist" sort of post for quite some time, so here we go. :)

In no particular order...

5. Clap Your Hands by Sia
You may know her because, frankly, she's kind of everywhere right now. She collabed on seperate tracks with David Guetta and Flo Rida. I say, good for her. I've been listening to her for about three years now and totally respect her decisions. So, while everyone's tweeting now "OMG, Sia's such a good singer. I love her music!" or "I am titanium. :) #YOLO," I can sit back and laugh, because they have no idea that she's been around for years and that quoting lyics makes them look kind of dumb. Sure, I'm guilty of quoting some here and there, but never on Facebook/Twitter or getting a tramp stamp with them. That said, I do write down lines I like from songs, but only well-written songs. I should do a post about that sometime...I love this song because it's catchy, the lyrics are fun, Sia has a powerful, unique voice, quite unlike any other female vocalist I've heard before, and it sounds incredible turned up super loud. :)

4. Credible Threats by One AM Radio
I found this band a few years back when Amazon had a free sampler from their label, Dangerbird. This song is weird, which makes it very cool. Allow me to explain before you roll your eyes, dude. The musical aspect is amazing, with the steady, manic drum part, the beautiful synthesizers, and the perfect harmonies; the song reminds me of something from the 1960's. But, the lyrics are all about ways the guys could die. It's similar to Pumped Up Kicks, though Credible Threats came first; it's an upbeat song with very mellow, depressing, out of the ordinary lyrics. The best part: it works.

3. Pacchua Sunrise by Minus the Bear
I also discovered this band through the free Dangerbird sampler on Amazon and I feel deeply in love with their song "My Time." I've listened to quite a bit of the their stuff and while I hate their super early stuff, their newer stuff (in the last 5 years or so) is incredible. It's worth mentioning I am a sucker for acoustic stuff, and this song is no exception. With the lead singer's emotional vocals that straddle the line between raw and polished, the simple, strong beat, and the minimal instrumentation. I like how they just let the lyrics do the heavy-lifting and don't try to bury them with heavy guitar lines or an attenion-seeking bass line. Approved!

2. You Always Make Me Smile by Kyle Andrews
This song has been making me dance like a little girl--a talentless little girl, but that's okay--since January or so, but I fished it out a month or so ago because it's a perfect summer jam. It's bouncy, fun, and the romantic lyrics make all us single people want to find a person just so we can play this song for them. Just me? Oh, well. I like the guitar in the background too. :)

1. Do Or Die by 3OH!3
These guys have a new album coming out this fall and you can bet I'll review it. If you're listening to this song while or after reading my review, you're probably wondering why I have this song in my playlist. Honestly, it's just so different from everything I ever listen to. It's catchy--which doesn't necessarily mean it's good music; I understand that--and has some dubstep in it, which is cool with me, though I'm certainly not a dubstep fan. I like that they did something Fun. did; they used autotune as an instrument, not because it's ncessary. It gives it a very futurtistic feeling, very Star Trek, spaceage. What I also like is that they experiment with different music styles. I'm all for experimentation as long as it's not forced. But, I like this song, so, that's all. :)

Next week, I'll review some music videos hopefully. :)

Until next week,
Bella

I'm NOT A Hipster; I Swear On My Vinyl Records Because MP3s are Too Mainstream

Hey!

before I get to my promised post, I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who is reading my blog. It means the world to me, truly!

Tonight, I would like to explain, on behalf of moderate hipsters everywhere--like myself--what we are trying to say when we--mostly they--make seemingly stupid comments. To clarify, I am not a hipster when it comes to clothes, speech, or who I associate with, but I do share similar ideals when it comes to music. Remember: not a hipster, just agrees with them on music from time to time. :)

For example, I find myself saying this a lot: "Mainstream music sucks."
You're probably thinking "Put a sock in it. This is my jam!" Fine, it can be your "jam," but number one, I don't think anyone has said that since like 1990 and number two, your "jam" maker has no talent. By saying that mainstream music sucks, what I'm saying is that artist has no talent, really, like I just said. If their voice is pumped full of auto-tune, does that mean they are a good singer? Nope. Mainstream music, any more, is dominated by idiotic rappers and "singers" who get high on the love they have for themselves. That's why mainstream music sucks.

Next, I will say "This band should be famous, not that one." That, readers, is jealousy. I am so jealous that bands like Maroon 5--who are a shabby excuse for a band--and The Wanted--can you believe that people consider them a band?--are making millions of dollars each year, selling tickets at ridiculously inflated prices, and have sold so many songs on iTunes, while more talented, "real" bands are making a little money here and there, but if you asked a random person on the street who MuteMath was, they'd probably just stare at you. Ask them who Bieber is, though, and they'd be able to tell you. It's just wrong. Many people--hipsters, maybe--listen to other bands with more talent who deserve the appearances and sponsorships. It's just kind of sad, for us, I suppose. That one is explained by jealousy and sadness.

Then, we say "I liked this song before it was popular." yes, I know everyone has heard someone say this before and you're probably annoyed by it. Let me explain it with a fantastic simile, let's pretend that you love searching for treasure--bear with me here--and you find a huge one, with trillions of dollars in it and you're just super rich and happy and everything. But then, the word gets out about your treasure and pretty soon everyone wants a piece of that treasure and they go back to where you found it and start taking all your money and pretty soon, you only have like, five hundred thousand. You're probably pretty sad at this point. Okay, get it? No? I'll explain. the treasure is the music, the people stealing the treasure are the dopes who are too lazy to find the music on their own and bum off your discovery and then claim it for themselves. Understand now? here's another way to look at it: I'll give you an example from my own life. "We Are Young" by Fun. is an incredible song and I discovered it because I have been a huge Fun. fan for the last year or so and I downloaded it back in September or so and loved it. I showed it to a friend of mine who loved it just as much, though for different reasons--I was drawn to the drum patterns and Nate's vocal range while she liked how sing-along-ready it was--and then a couple of months went by and BOOM! That song was huge. I had to transition from learning the lyrics on my own--most lyric websites do not post new lyrics very quickly, especially from alt/indie bands--to reading every 12 year old with a YOLO agenda posting the lyrics every hour. I get it, kids, it's really exciting to be 12 when you can't drive, drink, or smoke. How I envy you. Not. Anyways, that's why I like songs before they reach massive success.

Finally, I sometimes will say "I liked this band before they got big." You're probably shaking your head, thinking, "didn't you just say you wanted some of your alt bands to blow up?" Not really. I want my bands to have the type of success that Linkin Park or bands similar to them have had, success where they do not change their sound. Mainstream success often leads to some fancy producer or manager or greed taking over and trying to change the band. they land on the cover of magazines, start relying on a computer to do all the musical heavy lifting for them, and/or change their style completely. That only hurts their fans, the people who followed them when they had 50 Likes on Facebook, the people who went to their concerts, and bought their tee-shirts. But, when it comes to money and fame, they tend to forget that. And that is terribly unfortunate. I wish bands would stick up for themselves more often and stick with what works. Sadly, these producers/managers/greed will want them to change their stuff so that it is more appealing to 12 year old girls and 21-year-old party freaks. That's stupidity, in its finest form.


Next week, I will post about different bands/singers/people I've found on YouTube, all music related, though. :)

Until next week,
Bella

Why I Hate Mainstream Music (AKA Why I Support Alternative Artists)

Hey,

So I thought I should explain why I did not post last week about hipster/alternative philosophy. In short, I watched a really good documentary, got freaked out by The Walking Dead, and forgot about my blog until pretty late. Therefore, I had to whip something together fairly quickly—for me, that meant almost 50 minutes. I put a lot of time/effort into each blog post, fyi. So, no, I’m not an amnesiac and I’m not like Dory; I don’t have short term memory loss (P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney) Tonight, a night early, I’m aware of that-I’m going to my grandparents’ house and don’t want to feel tied to a computer—I’m making up for what I meant to write last week: why I like alternative music.

I’m deeper than just “Oh, I hate mainstream music ‘cuz it’s popular.” That’s a pathetic disgrace to music and logic. My disgust with music stems from my musical roots. I have two parents who prefer to listen to music from yesteryear as opposed to today. My mom listens to country—not my favorite, but at least back in the 70’s and before they were talented and knew how to write good quality music. My dad listens to 1980’s music, primarily, with a little 1970’s tossed in there for good measure. The 80’s were great. The artists were talented, they knew how to play instruments—a band is not a band unless they are playing instruments when you see them in concert—and they were much less concerned about their backup dancers or celebrity gossip or how much humping can one fit into a 3 minute music video. It was just about the music.

That’s what we are missing today.

The 1980’s boasted bands like Men At Work, Duran Duran, the B-52’s, The Buggles, Devo, Blondie, and Soft Cell. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but did Devo ever autotune their vocals because they did not possess the talent to sing? I don’t think so.

Today, artists don’t even need talent. They need money, powerful parents, an agent, and a willing producer who will make them sound like WALL-E. Maybe it’s just me but I thought robots were supposed to do chores and stuff, not sing. A robot chorus, now that could be interesting. I would like that. I would like that very much.

Back to the point, the 1980’s and previous generations had what this and the last decade or two have missed: an emphasis on talent, not how well an album will sell or who’s sexy. That doesn’t matter, but yet, today, it does. Rihanna, for example, is pretty much talentless, save for her constantly wagging butt and boobs busting beyond her bikini. That will sell.

All the blame cannot be dumped on the artists and the producers. Anyone one who buys this crap is supporting it, which encourages them to make more of it. Don’t encourage them. Ever. Even if you’re someone—and I do this occasionally—who buys  or listens to just one song on Sportify, where they earn money, you’re also in the wrong.

As well, it’s never “funny” to buy or listen to a song as a joke, because it earns them money and makes them feel important. Take Rebecca Black, for example. That frightening excuse for a singer appeared out of nowhere and got a billion gazillion views on YouTube. She, and those two scary guys, are rolling in the dough right now, laughing all the way to the bank. Congratulations, idiots, you just made a ton of money for some talentless fools.  That is something we need to avoid, as a whole.

Well, what can we do?

 What we need to do is stand up to these talentless zombies and remind them what music is supposed to sound like. It is up to us to boycott their music, videos, TV specials, movies, what have you, because there are thousands of struggling artists right now who want so badly to show they world that they possess real talent, not this fake stuff we’ve been digesting for the last twenty-two years or so. We should support these alternative/indie artists. That is why I started this blog, so these musicians can hopefully reach a greater audience. That’s my goal, at least.

Next week, I will define some hipster terms/ explain their logic. Then, I’ll get back to music reviews and different things like that.

Until next week,
Bella

Neon Trees- Picture Show Review

Hey,

So, here’s my review of Neon Tree’s newest album Picture Show. I’m rating each song on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best song I’ve heard—lol not quite—and one meaning, um, this song kinda stinks. Then, I’ll do two things I like, two things I don’t like, just to keep it short and sweet, considering it’s a pretty long album. Got it? Cool.

HEEEREEE we go….

1.      Moving In the Dark. 9/10 Like: The fiery, passionate vocals and lyrics “Set fire/with just a little spark/just how it goes/when you’re moving in the dark”; the minor key tonality. Dislike: That’s hard, actually. I really like this song. Um, I guess the background vocals.

2.      Teenage Sounds. 6/10 Like: the steady drum beat and the vocal effects.  Dislike: the heavy guitars at the beginning, just a little too metal-garange-band for me and the drum-lines are kind of like “woo!” in your face. Yeesh, calm down. Though, I do agree with one of their lines “We’re sick of everyone trying to be famous.”

3.      Everybody Talks. 10/10. Best song on the CD, hands down. Yes, this has been played on the radio and I think I see why. This is the most polished, cool song. I like the vocal runs and the dance-ready beat. Very good. No dislikes here…

4.      Mad Love. 8/10 Like: the softer vocals, it’s a nice side to see/hear. The harmony between the male/female voices. Dislike: the drums and guitars kind of overpower the vocals, which is terribly unfortunate.

5.      Weekend. 7/10 Like: his growly, punk-rooted voice, the guitar lines. Dislike: The song is kind of forgettable. There’s nothing very memorable about it, including the lyrics.

6.      Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night) 10/10. Second best song on the album; I’d quite like to see this song go mainstream, mostly because it makes me look cool for liking it. Just kidding. J Like: the collab with Kaskade proved to be insanely full of coolness. I like the laid-back vibe with the lyrics, the way Tyler—the lead singer—projects his voice, the electronica elements, the fact that the drummer Elaine is a little more chill and that the song straddles the alternative/Top-40 soundtrack very well.

7.      Trust 7/10 Like: The jazzy-funk rhythms, the vocal effects. Dislike: Not much, really, just the over-all sound is a little obnoxious after a while.

8.      Close To You. 8/10 Like: The song is a very mellow, with their cool, creative guitar lines and heartfelt lyrics blending together perfectly. It has a 70’s sort of vibe to it, with a 2012 twist. Dislike: Occasionally, the song seems to pick up the pace and then calm down. I would have recommended picking one tempo, at least with this sort of effect they’re going for, but that’s just my opinion.

9.      Hooray For Hollywood. 7/10 Like: very energetic song, I like the synthesizers in the background and the syncopation. Dislike: The la-la section, that’s pretty annoying. Nice song, though.

10.  Still Young 6/10 Like:   “Love is a game we could play/ even if only for today.” I like that line; I like that line a lot. Dislike: This sounds like a mass-produced, movie-soundtrack-esque track that I would expect to hear on the end of some medicore movie flop. Just sayin’

11.  I Am The DJ 2/10 Okay, I’ve been working on this for forever—I had to split this post into two writing sessions—and I’m feeling tired listening to this CD. Not going to lie, I went into this thinking, “Ooh, I love Neon Trees. ‘Animal,’ ‘1983’ and ‘Everybody Talks’ are great songs. I bet their other stuff is good too.” Wrong. It’s kind of starting to go downhill the more I listen to it. It’s just very forgettable. I think they put on too many tracks that sound like each other. They probably should have done 7 or 8 tracks intead of 14 blah songs. This track in particular stinks, badly. It’s just kind of meh. I’m only finishing this because I can’t quit. I push myself. I’m a pusher. (Nice little Mean Girls reference, no?)

12.  Show 8/10 Like: Simple, elegant guitar line. Tyler’s vocals are better on this track. Dislike: a little repetitive. An improvement, for sure.

13.  Tell Me You Love Me 4/10  Sure, I love you. Now can this album end? Just kidding…not really, but whatever. Like: Not much. This sounds just like all the other songs, probably in the same key too.

14.  Take Me For A Ride 8/10 Like: The bass line, the steady, light drum line, and the beautiful background vocals. Dislike: Tyler’s voice is not very versatile. It sounds the exact same in every song. Other, talnted singers that I like are able to push their voices to produce a falsetto, project it, whisper, change keys with ease, and know when a little vibrato turns into too much. Oh, well.

Conclusion: Neon Trees have experienced some success on the main charts, and I used to wonder “Why have only two of their songs done really well, but not the rest?” I got my answer. This was painful. It was like listening to a mainstream, overproduced album that most likely required little prep time. I enjoyed a few of their songs, but they got a very poor score, based on my scale I created. If you like them, good for you, but I think I’ll stick to their few, good songs and my other bands. J

So, next week is going to be a review of Asa Taccone’s project Electric Guest, hopefully they get a better score. ;)

Comment with suggestions for albums I should review! :)

XOXOXO

(My signature sucks) 

Gotye's Making Mirrors Album Review

Hey,


So, I promised a track-by-track review of Gotye's newest release "Making Mirrors." (Next week, I'm doing a track-by-track review of Neon Trees new album "Picture Show.")


1. Making Mirrors. This is the title track and begins with a slow instrumental introduction, with the vocals fading in. Beautiful, goose-bump inducing song. Gotye whispers, almost murmurs his way through the 1:01 song, which makes you listen a little closer.

2. Easy Way Out. I've talked about this track before, but I should discuss it again. It is still one of my favorite songs off the album. Gotye is known for heavily sampling songs, and he obviously chose "Daytripper" by The Beatles, which I approve of, as I love that song. What do I love? The various instruments in the background, the base line, and the airy sounding vocals. I'm not "looking for an easy way out" of this song.

3. Somebody That I Used to Know. Chances are you've heard this one before. In fact, if you're anything like me, you cannot escape from it. Believe me, it's a good song; their voices (Gotye and Kimbra) fit together like puzzle pieces, much like The Civil Wars. It's just overplayed and I like it, but it's not my favorite on the album. Anyways, the song samples "Seville" by Luiz Bonfa (there's supposed to be an accent there...whoops) and leads in with a catchy xylophone line that will be/already is stuck in your head. Cool track, even cooler music video.

4. Eyes Wide Open. I'm pretty sure I've reviewed this song before,so that just goes to show how much I really love this dude. I've heard some rumors that this song is about a new tax in Australia. Not sure how credible that is.. I like the country-style strings in the background, the pounding drums, and his relatable lyrics.  I feel like I understand what he's saying. It's beautiful, really. He's quite the writer and I'm very impressed.

5. Smoke and Mirrors. For some reason, this song, sounds like it should have been on the Dirty Harry soundtrack. It's got that skeezy, bluesy, jazz-infused instrumentation and finger-pointing lyrics: "You're a fraud/And you know it.../it's always been a smoke and mirrors game."

6. I Feel Better. Good track, positive lyrics--in that he sounds happier than he did on Eyes Wide Open--but I don't like the horns at the beginning and I feel like he's kind of yelling; it's a happy yelling, but it's a little like whoa. It's a good song to play if your life is going well-i.e she said yes, you got a job promotion, A on your test, etc.

7. In Your Light. So creative. I love how it starts with just the guitars at the beginning and all the other instruments just trickle in. It's got a nice beat, kicking horn section, and fantastic vocals. His odd, beautiful, strong voice projects perfectly over the music. Also, the romantic lyrics are worth mentioning: "When I'm in your light/all of this is clear/just when I'm in your light/and I won't be alright if you take that light away."

8. State of the Art. One of his first songs that I fell madly in love with. I know I've talked about this one before...I had no idea how many of his songs I had already discussed. On YouTube, you can watch a mini-documentary where Gotye talks about how he made this album and more specifically, this song. It's amazing, actually. The song is about this super-cool organ he has, which, more power to him, considering most main stream artists just write about alcohol and da club. Anyways, he sampled this old jazz track and then sped it up. Very creative. For the vocals, he recorded them in a monotone-talking voice, lowered the vocals, and gave it that almost frightening, menacing, machine-like sound quality. Job well done.

9. Don't Worry We'll Be Watching You. The song leads in with whispered vocals, a simple drum beat, a little harmony, and eventually some strings. It has a mythical, fairy-tale, story-like sound to it. Honestly, it reminds me of Bon Iver a little bit, except that there's a little more variation throughout the song. My favorite part is around 1:20 when his voice gets louder and he sounds a lot like Paul Meany, the lead singer of MuteMath. In fact, this song reminds me of MM's second album Armistice.

10. Giving Me A Chance. To be honest, this is my first time ever listening to the track. So, this is completely unbiased. I approve of the synthesizers, minor key tonality, and the keyboard line. The lyrics are sad, but honest: "I get a little wrapped up in myself.../I know I let you down." Gotye's vocals are about an octave lower than usual which is a beautiful change.

11. Save Me. Don't shoot me, but the vocals at the beginning remind me of the intro to "Friday" by Rebecca Black. Ugh, horrible, right? Still, this song is amazing. One of my favorites off the album, i think. What do I love? Everything. To be more specific, I like the long notes with the faint vibrato he produces, the chorus in the background, the complex drum pattern, and his falsetto. I melt for a falsetto.

12. Bronte. Before this post, I listened to this song once, so, it's nearly as unbiased as Giving Me a Chance. It's much slower than his other tracks, so that's nice. Variety is the spice of life, or an album, in this case. This song reminds me of something very Lana Del Rey-esque, very 1960's, mixed with a slow dance song. It's breathtaking, truly. You can feel the emotion he feels. "We will be with you/when you go." Somehow, I think that line is his way of closing the album. And his promise holds true, all of his songs (the we in the lyrics) will stay with you for pretty much forever.

Conclusion: Incredible album. People will be like "Eh, he's okay for a new artist, but nothing special." In actuality, he has been around for ten years, this is his third album. Additionally, he wrote and recorded his own album in his parents' barn. Pretty impressive, I think. This guy is going up and I think he has an even brighter future coming his way. Buy his albums, go see him in concert, and comment about your opinion on Gotye.

Until next week,
Bella

New Songs on My Playlist

Hey,
Here's post number two!

So, I should probably clarify the title of the post. They're not necessarily "new" songs, but they're new to me.

5. Trouble by This Providence
I love this band. I discovered them on accident a few years ago and have been listening to them ever since. Very talented, very, very talented. They've never really had a big "breakthrough" on the charts, but they're fairly well known. Song leads in with a kicking drum, base line, and then the vocals. I love his strong voice and the bluesy influences.

4. Off To The Races by Lana Del Rey
Say what you want about Lana, but I love her. She has such a unique voice. There is nothing quite like her, or at least, not since the 50's or 60's. She's kind of stuck in that time, but I love it. People are all like "ugh, she's fake. She's stiff. She has a weird voice." really? And macy Gray, if anyone even remembers her, didn't have a strange voice? No one, save for the pop stars of Nickelodeon and Disney, has the same singing voice; they only achieve that effect by way of over-editing and shamelessness. Anyways, Off to the Races is rumored to be about the book Lolita, which, given that i haven't read it, uh, I don't have much to say to that. I can thank Wikipedia for the inspiration thing. But, it starts out kind of like slow, and progresses to goosebump territory. If you're going to listen to it, wait about 1:30 before skipping to the next track. It takes a little bit.

3. Come Away to The Water by Maroon5 and Rozzi Crane
This was from the Hunger Games soundtrack. The song is incredible. No idea who Rozzi Crane is, though I'd imagine she had some troubles getting people to spell that first name correctly. Maroon5 is, in case you weren't sure, is fronted by Adam Levine. Yes, that hot judge on The Voice, a stupid show, imo, but I digress, and yes, the dude who was dating the equally hot Anne Val(I-can't-spell-the-rest-because-she-is-Russian). Maroon5's songs are typically boring pop stuff that lands on the Top 100 within 2 days of being released. This is different. It's very bluesy, kinda gritty. Pushing Adam a little, a very good thing in my mind. I havea  feeling that some editing was required, but I still like the song.

2. Tight Rope by Alex Clare

I have already professed my love for Mr. Clare, but I keep finding more reasons as time goes on. I originally skipped over this song, but recently realized it was just as good, if not better than the others on the album. I like the reverb in the chorus, minor key, and his soaring vocals.

1. Everybody Talks by Neon Trees
I've been a big fan of these guys + 1 lady for a while now. The lead singer has a legitiatemly soulful, rock n roll edge that never comes across as put-on; I approve. I like the blended genre thing. The song follows their style. It sounds like it was made in the 80's, my fav decade, and has memorable guitar lines and an infectious melody.

Next week...Graffiti6 and Eric Hutchinson concert!  I'm so psyched.
Until then,
Bella

Sad Post

Hey,
Here We Go. :(

My sad news comes from patrickstump.com. No, he's not dead. No, Brendon Urie didn't attack him (they toured together). No, Fall Out Boy hasn't magically gotten back together (Would that be sad news? Happy?)

Rather, Patrick has announced that he is taking a break from music. Apparently, critics and supposed-fans have absolutely detested his music. That makes me sad. He was a saving grace in this collapsing music industry. Through his efforts in Fall Out Boy, in the song-writing he did for various artists, and his solo career, Patrick made valiant strides to revolutionize the definition of what can make it on the Top-40 radio stations and what real music sounds like. He mentions in the blog post that Soul Punk (his full-length album) was 90% metaphors. Ask a mainstream artist (I'm thinking someone like Ke$ha) what a metaphor is and they'll probably just stare blankly back at you. The only metaphors they know are slang terms for genitalia. Sorry, but it's the truth.

I discovered Patrick's music through the P!ATD concert fiasco and realized he really was a serious musician. I feel bad for the guy. He said in the blog post that fans had mostly negative things to say about his music and his weight-loss. Fine, attack his music, we are all entitled to our opinions, but leave the weight out of it. You can't walk up to a fat person and be like "I liked you better skinny." That's considered harassment. So, you shouldn't be able to walk up to a once-heavy person and say "I liked you better fat." That's mean and unnecessary. Just because you bought concert tickets does not entitle you to the right to attack Patrick or any other artist. It's rude and I am thoroughly disgusted with whoever did that. You should be ashamed of yourself. I don't care how much of a Fall Out Boy fan you are/were; it doesn't matter. You don't get to parade and tell people (namely Patrick) that his old group was better.  You weren't involved in the band so back off. Remember the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. Is that how you would want Patrick to talk to you?

I wish Patrick would reconsider but I will respect his decision. Hopefully, he will change his mind, record again, and come back to Iowa....preferably sans Panic!.
Wishing you the best, Patrick! I loved your music and hope the future has fantastic things in store for you!

Until next week,
Bella

Happy Post

Hey,
I have a surprise, y'all...for the second week in a row you are getting 2 posts!


Top 5 Songs of the Week:
5. Your Ghost by Greg Laswell. I love this song. It was created following, what is arguably, the best recipe for beautiful music. Here it is: 1/2 cup Cover-That's-Better-Than-The-Original-Song (the song was originally recorded by Kristin Hersh back in 1994); 1/4 cup deep baritone, four tablespoons simple percussion; one teaspoon gentle piano; equal parts powerful guitar and strings; one cup perfect guitar accompaniment. Yum.

4. Holdin' on Together by Phoenix. These guys are French. They write nonsense lyrics. I have no idea what they are saying 99% of the time. . They are what I like to call "Genre Bouncers." I have a feeling you know what I'm saying; they rarely/never stay in one genre, electing to be alt/pop/dance/house/indie/mainstream all at the same time. It truly works.

3. Acoustic Kingdom Underground EP by Matt Duke. No, this is not an individual song, but an entire EP. This was released back in 2009, but I think it's still relevant. And you can't tell me differently, because this is my blog. ;) Just kidding. Anyways, this is EP is filled with 6 tracks from his first album that he re-recorded with just his voice, a guitar, and a few other strings here and there. It's beautiful. Some of his "skippable" tracks are made into something goose-bump-inducing.

2. Up Up Up by The Givers. I first heard this song at Younkers one night when I was shopping...good place to find music, quite honestly and made sure to remember this song. It's obnoxious, catchy, and cute all at the same time. Kind of like dogs and some people...haha But, really, this song is worth checking out if you like simple drum-lines, alternating female/male vocals, and songs that repeat words.

1. The Longest Road (Deadmau5 Remix Radio Edit) by Morgan Page ft. Lissie. This track came on my 3OH!3 Pandora station and I stood frozen in my bedroom, just mesmerized by the vocals. Turns out, Lissie is quite the talented lady and has been big for a while. Things I like: the minor key, the thumping bass (just like Dev, I like my bass down low. I'm not serious; I just couldn't resist), and the tinking sound in the back. It reminds me of Ellie Goulding, and lo and behold, Lissie and Ellie toured together.

So, that concludes my weekly playlist. Enjoy and check them out.

Until next week,
Bella

Introduction

Hello, bonjour, hola, hey there.
Thanks for reading this, though I'm pretty sure you stumbled on this blog by accident. It's okay, you can go back that iJustine video you were trying to watch; I'll be alright. If you're here because you actually meant to, then, welcome, and thank you.
My story? I'm a high schooler who happens to love alternative/indie music with a crazy passion. When I was younger--elementary school--, my dad used to put on The Big 80's when we drove around town, and suffice to say, that was when I got hooked. I loved music. I loved the volume, the drums, the guitars, the voices...it was all great. I'm 90% sure that I was one of the only 8 year olds who knew almost every Beatles and Men At Work song. My parents were great at exposing me to music.
Then, two of my friends corrupted me in 7th grade. They showed me the Top 40 Station. Cue the dramatic lights and sound. That type of music was so different from the 70's/80's music I'd heard. For a short period odf time, I dabbled in Christian top-40 music, but hated it so much, that after a month or two, I never listened to it again. Part of me wondered if that was going to happen again with this stuff, but instead, this music period lasted a little over a year. I learned all about 3OH!3, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Akon, and others. My parents were less than thrilled, but at the time, I thought they were silly for not loving these auto-tuned masterpieces. I later saw the light.
That moment came in 8th grade when I discovered AltNation on SiriusXM. Cue the fireworks. I had heard a little altnerative stuff, mostly from the Twilight soundtrack, but I tried my best to ignore it. In 8th grade, I couldn't. I practically waved off the Top 40 station completely and switched to AltNation. There was something crazily unpredictable about the music that I just couldn't get enough of. MuteMath, Muse (both of which were on the Twilight soundtrack), The Bravery, and others dominated every playlist. It was love at first sight.
So, every since that moment of fate, I've been a dedicated music snob, and darn proud of it.
I decided to create a blog so I could talk about it and maybe find an audience who agrees.
That is me in a nutshell. :)