Monday, February 09, 2009

Really, what is the point? The Music you say? Hmmm....

I really really wish i had the commitment to have ever made this a proper blog. However, working on my website skills and putting in time and effort are things that just, no... I much prefer promoting music personally and rambling on when no one really cares. Sort of like this I suppose. Oh well.
Anyway, this post has been brought about after noticing how many people are dragged to this site from google. I'm not really sure why, but I have the first picture for "And Then I Turned Seven" as well as being the first result for the lyric "I'll make you crazy". Intriguing. But enough, i digress, on to the music.


# Champagne's For Celebrating (I'll Have A Martini) - Jess Mollica [Mayday Parade cover]

Ok, so todays theme is covers. And not professional covers, but people sitting at home, and with the help of youtube, showing themselves off/embarassing themselves in front of thousands of listeners worldwide. If you haven't already, i highly recommend pciknig a few of your favourite songs and checking out peoples covers on youtube. There's some really great stuff out there (mixed in with entertaining hillarious crap). It's like your own personalised version of the X Factor.
Anyway, all this text, and no comment. Erm, lovely voice, haha. Would be interesting to hear her voice in better conditions, but this does the job for a Mayday Parade cover.


# The First Single - Yvette [The Format cover]

This is a great song, and I think it sounds really nice with female vocals. The singer isn't amazing, but she does pretty well on this. On a brief tangent, check out Fun, Nate's new band. Can't wait for the album =)


# I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Esoteric Chords [Death Cab For Cutie cover]

Ok, slight cheat, these two are an unsigned duo who did this cover for fun, but it's still awesome. And of course it's a beautiful song in the first place. I also really like one of their own songs, Today Is The 10th. Check out their MySpace. Having just checked it, they've updated recently and have an EP for sale, yay! I'll let you know what it's like...


# Polygraph, Right Now - Nick Glover [The Spill Canvas cover]

The ultimate gem of youtube hunting, this is the only Polygraph cover that did it justice. Nick's voice is brilliant, and he manages to execute this and a number of other songs to perfection. Check out his other stuff. He's actually done an amazing cover of I Will Follow You Into The Dark, but below is one of his own songs.


Friday, May 30, 2008

A lesson in romantics...




So, as most of you are now aware, i recently fell in love with Mayday Parade. I heard a couple of their songs a while ago, but stayed mostly clear of their stuff until i could get hold of the new album, A Lesson In Romantics. It, is, awesome. It's actually nigh on impossible to work out which track you need to hear, hmmmmm. Let's see....


# Champagne's For Celebrating (I'll Have A Martini) - Mayday Parade

Ok, that one will do, heh. Let's face it, most of you will already have the entire album, and i'd like to think my exceptionally annoying continuous harassment played a part in that. Maybe one of you might even buy it =P Karma's made slightly better by the fact i already own it twice. Damn bonus tracks. And my weekness. ANYWAY. As the title suggests, the whole album is a very typiacl emo-y relationship fest of wonder, which suits me like, erm, alcohol? Although with less of a hangover. This is really going off topic. The album is kind of like one big emotional cliché, but in a good way. Try it. Love it.

Save a sad song for the sing-a-long.


# Your House 2007 - Jimmy Eat World

I picked up this lovely edition of the Bleed American album in hmv the other day (i know i normally link Amazon, but HMV are selling it £9 cheaper!). It has a total of 21 bonus tracks, a combination of b-sides, acoustic and live versions. My personal favourite though has to be this new version of Your House. At first i thought it was just a bit odd, now i can't really see why i liked the older version, heh. It's a really good improvement, and sounds awesome. Again, buy this album!

I had you once, but i can't forget that, sometimes i wish i could lose you again.


# Not Asking You To Leave - Motion City Soundtrack

As well as an iTunes bonus track (BOOO!) this track was the b-side for one of the This Is Real 7" singles. And? Suprise suprise, it's great, heh. I prefer this to most of the tracks that actually made it on to Even If It Kills Me. I'm just glad i finally managed to get an mp3 copy of it! If anyone fancies buying me a better soundcard to rip my 7"s it'd be muchly appreciated =P
Whilst on the topic, you also need to buy Even If It Kills Me. My personal favourite MCS album so far. Awesome band.

I'm not alone, just lonely all of the time.


# Shut Up And Dance - Love Automatic

Let's finish up with a random bouncy song shall we? Myspace and PureVolume wanderings are such excellent ways of finding great new bands. Who cares if they ever produce a great album, or even if they get signed. So many bands that never make it produce at least one great song. It's not groundbreaking. It's not the best song ever. But it's good, and makes me want to dance (dance dance dance dancing the night away =P).

The doctor said for me to see if i can sweat you out of me.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

We live like vampires

It's been annoying me how many songs I want to tell everyone about at the moment. Lots of little bits and pieces keep cropping up. But I spose if i told you about them all it wouldn't be as fun =P
Anyway, just some randoms today.



# Slow Suicide - JamisonParker

I bought this album a while ago, purely based on the wonderful Here's Everything I've Always Meant To Say, but never really got into the rest of the album. Maybe i'll give it another go, as i somehow missed this song back then. It came up on shuffle, and i've fallen madly in love with it at the moment. Typical general-emo-ness but with a great tune to back it up that just makes me want to dance. Or, like, jiggidy flail. Yeah...

It's the smoke and the drinks, and the smiles that it brings, it's the pain and the sex, disguised as innocence.


# Do It Again! - You, Me, And Everyone We Know

Free songs are great. Free EPs are even better. I'm not even sure where I came across this band, but I was most certainly enticed by 8 whole tracks for free. What's strange about this band is they seem so familiar yet, not? For me they emit the vibes of Panic! [I refuse to drop that exclamation mark], Fall Out Boy and even Say Anything. You can get the whole EP here. I personally love the song title I'd Be More Interested If You Were Already Spoken For... I wonder why? =P
Oh, and, I've found the song title as Do It Again (You're Not Making Me Want To Touch You) which is probably the 'correct' way but i've already uploaded the song, so change it yourself in the unlikely event you care, heh.

I'm feeling wreckless and i feel the need to stress this, i'm stepping out and i'll do this 'til im somebody else.


# Imperfections - 2 Hour Parking

Saving money is considerably harder when albums you just *have* to buy crop up. I've wanted this cd for absolutely ages. I tried many times to get hold of it from various places but i just never could. Thankfully i was randomly looking at their myspace page the other day, and found a link (in the COMMENTS for fook sake) for buying the album from a print on demand supplier. Anyway, i love a number of songs on here, and have posted most of them already, but i thought i'd share another today.
This band are far from groundbreaking, but they have good lyrics and good tunes, and that's what counts.

In our hearts we both know that all my imperfections will never add up to all your high expectations.


# You And Me (demo) - One Night Only

Another Emma pick here (isn't she great?), this band seem to have appeared out of nowhere to be lauded by various radio presenters and music magazines as an up and coming Kooks-esq hit. On first listen i wasn't blown over by the album, but i've been distracted by lots of other things lately. It'll get another rotation soon enough i'm sure. One thing i did notice though was the massive drop in quality of this song, from the version Emma sent me to the album version. Admitadly, the album comes with three bonus downloads, including this version of the song. I think it sounds so much better, i'm not quite sure why they've toned down the track on cd. But anyway, it's still great. Albeit a bit cheesy.

People say, I only hear what I want to, that much is true. People say, I only see what I want to, so why do I see you?

Thursday, February 14, 2008

*That* day.



So far in my life, i've celebrated V day just the once, so, it's fairly easy to ignore. I mean, one day out of over 7,000 isn't really that big a deal to forget, heh. And apparently i had because i'd forgotten about the pasta. But anyway. Instead of going for anything remotely romantic, i thought today should be about music love, so here's the only four tracks that have a 5 star rating in my iTunes. All are gorgeous songs that i truely adore.
And yes i'm pretty sure all of these have been posted previously. I'm making an exception. It is Dan's 21st today after all...


# I Wish - Semisonic

From the awesome album All About Chemistry, this rather length song is a really beautiful yet somewhat emo ramble of love-ness. Obviously it's perfect for me, always wanting to be the sad little puppy or some such! It's still a gorgeous song, you can do so much for someone you care about, but you can't make them love you. You can't control how they feel about you and what you do. Continues to stay true. Maybe one day, i'll create some form of Pax deely...ok, may have just watched Serenity. Hushing.

I can climb the trees for you, twist in the breeze for you, but the one thing that I can never do, I can't believe for you, I can't believe in me for you.


# Self-Conclusion - The Spill Canvas

Suprise suprise I like a song about suicide. But this one's special. It's the lovely story of a girl, standing at the top of these cliffs, about to kill herself. But someone else is there. He just gives her a simple alternative. Give living another shot. It's just so...hmmm. Makes me happy.

Settle precious I know what you're going through, 'cause ten minutes before you got here I was gonna jump too.


# Dear You (Far Away) - Zebrahead

Ok, I don't really think many people i've ever spoken to have not been somehow forced to listen to MFZB, but there's a good reason for that. It's a brilliant album. And for all the awesome actchy and bouncy songs on there, i think this will remain my favourite part. After all the rest, all the heartache and problems, it all comes down to a calm chat and a drink. Ignoring The Fear of course...

She said that's right, i don't wanna leave now.


# Disintegration - Jimmy Eat World

I randomly picked up the 5 track Stay On My Side EP in HMV as soon as I saw it, not really sure such a short little cd could really be worth £6. However, it rapidly became my favourite Jimmy Eat World cd, and probably my favourite ever EP. This opening track, and an equally brilliant follow-up Over make this a must-have purchase. Or at least must-have download for all you scummy non-cd-buying student types =P

This poison comes instruction free. Do what you want, but i'm drinking.


On a slight tangent, i've finally switched over to using iSproggler for Scrobbling Last.fm tracks. It seems pretty good so far.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Have me! Have me, i'm a love albatross...

Heh, just watched the first episode of Bottom, and i'd forgotten how awesome it was. The above quote is from about five and a half minutes in...



Anyway, i suppose some form of music is in order. [Note: due to limited webspace, i've had to take a couple of tracks down a few days early. But it's your fault for not picking them up already if you haven't =P] In the mood to just pick some tracks from awesome bands. I may have posted before, but i doubt it, heh. First up...


# His World (Zebrahead version) - Zebrahead

This track was done for a recent Sonic game, but the game version was done with Crush 40 so doesn't have the proper Zebrahead sound to it. They decided to randomly record this version too. Well, ok, i doubt it was entirely random, but y'know. It's not that great a song, but i still like it. Because it's Zebrahead. They also have a new dvd out, so go buy that.


# Glutton Of Sympathy - The Format

This was a b-side to the UK 7" release of Time Bomb, and it made buying my turntable worthwhile. It's a cover of Jellyfish, but i only discovered the original through this. They both rock. But this one's The Format. Mor recently it made its way onto their b-sides and rarerities album, awesomely titled B-sides and Rarerities.
I am however absolutely gutted that the band have basically now 'split', although on apparently happy terms. However, despite an awesome new Dan Wilson album, a similar parting of ways with Semisonic hasn't exactly been a massive advantage over some form of shouty break-up. I suppose they *might* eventually do another album this way. Boop.


# Never You Mind (live) - Semisonic

Talking of Semisonic, i might as well post a track. I think i prefer this more vocally based live rendition of the song over the studio recording, but maybe that's just beacuse it's a nice change? This was also a b-side, to the lovely Get A Grip single. Which i now also want to post. But hopefully you have that already. If not, you really should go and buy both Feeling Strangely Fine and All About Chemistry, both very necessary purchase albums.


# Outlaws Of Love - Bon Jovi

Had to finish this up with a Bon Jovi track. Probably the hardest to pick though. Wanted to pick something a bit more random, so 100,000,000 Fans... was the album of choice. However, i've already posted my favourite two tracks from it, being Good Guys Don't Always Wear White and Why Aren't You Dead? which are both easily full album quality in my books. This one's a moderately rocky number, but it's far from original for them. Then again, that's not why we love them is it? No Ste, no it's not.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Woop, another post. Yeah, currently increasingly concerned with any repeat songs? I know it's not really a big deal, but, it feels wrong, so i'm having to actually think back. It's tough =P



# In Our Bedroom After The War - Stars

Now, i know I posted another track off this album last wednesday, but since then i've fallen madly in love with this track. It's equally sad/lovely, but on a better topic. This one's all about the end of a relationship, and just, no matter what you had, how you feel, the fighting's done, the hard crap is *over* and that's enough. Yup. I love it =)

If there's no one there, then there's no one there, but at least the war is over.


# Find Me - Lost Anthem

I founs this track a while back on the ever-wonderous PureVolume. Completely random pop-rocky band, but i really love this track. I know i use the word 'bouncy' way to often (mayhaps i should just start using the turtle dude here...) but it *is*. The band don't seem to be up to loads though, and their official website seems to have just died, but oh well. If all the random bands we'll never really know can just produce one great song, i'll be happy.

I'm not in the mood to be on Earth tonight, I don't even wanna be a satellite.


# Somebody More Like You - Nickel Creek

Mackenzie was the first person to tell me about this band. Shortly after The Long Road came out, her mum went in to HMV to buy a Nickelback album, got confused, and bought a Nickel Creek cd instead. Apparently, it was really good. Didn't think much of it until i saw a random post about them a while ago, and low and behold, they *are* actually pretty damn good. This has to be my favourite song of theirs at the moment, certain feelings and all that, but not quite in the way you think. If you do so at all. Yeah...

I didn't hear you say you're sorry, the fault must be mine.


# Blackest Eyes - Porcupine Tree

I don't think i posted this after Download, which is a bit of a suprise. I only really saw this band because they ewre right before Paramore, and also because their name amused me. I was really not dissapointed. This and Halo really stuck with me, and were awesome live. As yet, more of the studio recordings haven't really made me go "wow", but i'm still happy enouhg to now know and love this song. Awesome mix of heavy guitar and soft lyrics.

I will try something under the trees that made you cry, it's so erotic when your makeup runs.

Friday, February 01, 2008

What you gonna spend your free life on?

I know, i know. Maybe more than anything this just shows that i need to get out more, but i like the idea of getting this blog back onto a regular thing. Yay =)
On with the show-ness...




# Head Spin - Jamestown Story

# Distant And Faded - Jamestown Story

So, i've bene looking at the random google referals i keep getting for this site, and this post is one of the most popular by far. The bands first album has come back into moderately heavy rotation in the kitchen at the moment. The one thing that bugs me about them is the name change. The've changed their name twice, starting out as ...and then i turned seven... , then like P!ATD have recently done, and in my mind equally crazy, they dropped the punctuation. However that wasn't good enough either, so And Then I Turned Seven became Jamestown Story. They're still good, and a name isn't everything, but at least for me it's one of the main reasons i'll check out a band in the first place, and i doubt i would have bothered with Jamestown Story? But oh well. You'll just have to take my word that they're coolies, heh.


# Frequently Baby (She's A Teenage Maniac) - Mêlée

Now this one's for all you pop-loving 'i don't care how sad you think this is possibly because i'm wasted' bouncy people out there. Or maybe just me. This band were recommended on the One:Day:Life Podcast a while back, and i really liked them. The whole album is really nice and has coolies lyrics, but this is the track that i love listening to the most. There's better on there, but I find addictive songs like this the best openers to really getting into them.


# Breathless - Dan Wilson

One of my all time favourite bands has to be Semisonic. They're brilliant, the All About Chemistry album especially is that great combination of soft-rockin' and amazing lyrics. Now, the band haven't really officially split up (they played a gig June '07 i believe), but they are all working on seperate projects. The lead singer, Dan Wilson, has realised a solo album that is easily on par with all the best of Semisonic. The song above is a perfect example, and for me the whole album keeps to the same quality. I ordered my copy through Newbury Comics and got a beautiful extra signed lyrics booklet. Well worth getting!