Acoustic Monday - but that's *so* 2005

It's been a while since i've done an acoustic post, and i fancied doing something a lil different, so, yknow, why not? Heh.


# Today (acoustic) - Smashing Pumpkins

I must confess, i don't listen to this band anywhere near enough. I remember seeing them ages ago on the Simpsons and never having a clue who they were! But yea, that was when i was young and musically uninfluenced. I wasn't like i am now all my life, heh. Just makes it all the sweeter now =) But yea, this is still my favourite Smashing P's song, closely followed by Zero. I really must actually buy an album of theirs and sit down and listen to it properly :( Them and a hundred other bands. Bah.




# I Took a Beating (acoustic) - I Am the Avalanche

Is it wrong one of the deciding factors in buying I Am the Avalanche's album was the band were on the Drive Thru label? Heh. Oh well! Tis a rockin label :P What i now would muchly like, is this split ep which the above track is featured on. In fact doing this post just inspired me to order it :P This acoustic version isn't much different from the 'standard' version of the song but for the slightly softer sound i muchly prefer it.


# Semi-Charmed Life (acoustic) - Third Eye Blind

Yes, OK, i got into this band through American Pie. I've come to terms with that, and i hope you can too! It was actually their song Jumper that really made me fall in love with them, and they really are a nice middle of the road staple band. And yea, that's good enough for me, music's not all about everyone sounding as different as possible, a lead's unique voice is enough a change most the time, heh. As with the last song, the acoustic version isn't much really different to the original, but its just nice n soft. Makes a good little change from always listening to the same song again and again!

Songs of the week

Unlike last week i haven't just been addicted to half a dozen songs and listened to pretty much nothing else, however i haven't been listening to enough new stuff thanks to silly Head Automica making me happy :P as well as an addiction to reading currently quenched by The Magician's Guild. So i'm afraid it's just a couple of songs tonight, with the extra time i suggest you listen to The Razor by Head Automatica again :P


# Good Day - The Dresden Dolls

The other day, i picked out The Dresden Dolls self titled album to accompany a nice long bath, and iv often listened to it without it sinking in properly, but, this song particularly really had an effect on me =) I'll admit, it *is* the first song on the album, heh, but, usually i'm not a big fan of openers, they tend to have too much to prove, but this really is fantastic!
The Dresden Dolls have a muchly unique sound, and it's hard to define. Kinda of crazed piano wielding oddness is the nearest i can get, but its just so loverly. Listen now.

"You'd rather be a bitch than be an ordinary broken heart"


# Never There - Hoobastank

I finally got round to buying the self-titled Hoobastank album a few months back now, and since then, i've grown increasingly more in love this this track. It's got a very energetic anger to it that is unsuprisingly muchly related to the lyrics, and feeling of isolation. It's always nice for those times ur feeling a bit down or grrrr at someone.

"And i doubt, that i will ever find out, if there's a way to get out, of feeling all alone. 'Cause lately, i've been thinking maybe, that no one's gonna save me, i'll do it on my own."

Album Love: Decadence - Head Automatica

So, i thought i'd start a new featurette deely tonight - album love! My cd collection is constantly growing, but of course there are always those that stand out. And i thought it's time i go through and recognise the wonderfulness of some of these.
To start with, i had to pick Decadence. I only bought it last week which would usually refrain it from being loved to such an extent, but, i just, i can't find fault with this cd!


# King Caeser - Head Automatica

Beating Heart Baby had me hooked last week, and was more or less the reason i bought this album. Now, i only had time to listen to this cd all through a single time before i had to go to work, and i expected Beating Heart Baby to still be ringing in my ears. How wrong i was! "Hip hip hooray you're our saving grace, here's to you and your poker face" just kept going through my mind. It doesn't exactly seem that exciting, but my word is it addictive! I just love HEARING it, heh, which, is what this album really does for me. It's not just awesome lyrics, it's not just great tunes, it's the lead singers fantastic voice! I love him already and will muchly be looking into his other projects.


# The Razor - Head Automatica

This album really has a gorgeous flow to it. Theres some track changes where you cant at first even be sure the song has switched. It's beautiful, very reminiscient of some of my favourite garage compilation albums, but just done SO much better! It has a very 'albumy' feel to it. There's no random disjointed stuff, it's all got the same energy, the same passion, the same downright Rockin-ness, heh. If you like one song i'm pretty sure you'll like the rest, but, oddly i also would argue against it being too same-y? The songs are along similar lines but all have very unique feelings.

"Your body's a weapon, and you're afraid it could get out, a friend of the devil, and you're afraid it could get out"

Head Automatica have a new album coming out this year, although not until around summer time by the looks of it, but hopefully it will be rocking. You can get a demo of one of the new tracks from their unofficial fan site, and if you missed Beating Heart Baby from last week, you can get that lovely gem from their official site. Listen. Enjoy. PURCHASE! :P

Get in to: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

I only found this wonderful covers band fairly recently. Most people have heard of them, and i know a substaintional number have people listen to odd songs, but, yknow, you should buy the albums *nods* They're rockin! Go check out their official site too =)


# Uptown Girl - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

I have to confess, i've always loved this song. Even when Westlife covered it, i sang along! I'm not ashamed to love it =) It's from the album Have a Ball which also strangely enough has Mandy! Another song i don't care who it's by! But the thing is, i especially love the way Me First crafts them in decent bouncy rockin songs! It's just SO nice. I get fed up of covers that don't change anything. But with Me First, they take classics and they make them their own. It's brilliant!


# I'll Be There - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

The lyrics of this song are awesome, and it does seem to be regularly covered, but sadly, not enough by more punk pop rock bands. THANKYOU Me First for giving me a version i can love forever :P I actually want this to be played at my wedding, hehehe. Sadly, i think it'd be inapropriate. But this song will play in one form or another. It comes from by far my favourite of the Me First albums Take a Break which is their most recent i own (being from 2003, only one other having been released since as far as i'm aware) and it really is rocking. It also contains I Believe I Can Fly and Nothing Compares 2 u, which both become credible songs in these forms! YAY :P


# You've Got a Friend - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

As a random little bonus, this track comes from a Japanese EP, and i'm really dissapointed it has yet to feature on a main album released over here. 'Here' being in fact America and then imported, but, yknow. Hush. I love the opening and closing *tribute* to the Ramones, heh. Oh, and, if you're wondering, no its NOT the disney song featured in Toy Story :P It's BETTER!

Topic Time: post break-up

So, after doing the break-up post deely, i noticed a few great songs much more geared to the pain and problems after the initial shock/trauma/pain/general crapness. If it meant something, then it can hurt a long time after, sometimes surprisingly long...

# Take Me Away - Plain White T's

I only found this song more recently, and thanks to Amazon estimating 2-4 weeks for the album to arrive, it's all i've got for a lil while. But i love this song. It's brilliant! It's not of the addictive 'i cant listen to anything else' variety, but, its just GOOD. Very good =) Hehe, yknow, it's nice having reltable songs, even if they are in regards to Katie, heh. For those who don't know me so well, i seem to know a few katie's, and it gets confusing between them, but, one word's all you get for each :P
I just, im not one of these people who feels "this was written for me", but, it just fits? And i'm sure it does to at least a few of you too. Confusion, anger, pain, all brought on by having to confront an ex with her new bloke.

"I thought she was perfect, she thought i was perfect too, perfect until she found someone new"


# Hello Tomorrow - Zebrahead

I love Zebrahead with a fiery passion. They mix such great bouncy tunes with fantastic lyrics. They deliver both agression and subtlety, as well as a relaxed more humorous side. This song is all about getting over the ex. It's over, although "We may never find the answers, or know the reason why, why we both decided we should say goodbye". That lovely confusion and lost feeling when its just suddenly over. But now it's DONE and it's time to focus on dealing with it. Not there quite yet "I'm still waiting for tomorrow, tired of living in yesterday, i've been waiting, waiting for the day i'd be over you" but definately working on it =)

"Say goodbye now and mean it forever, gotta move on and keep it together, forget the things that you've said and you've done, that's in the past, here comes the sun..."


# Brand New Baby - Semisonic

A much calmer responce than Plain White T's when confronted with her new guy. It's a nice defiance, just, getting on with it, much like Zebrahead. Heh. There is i guess on a limited amount of song types for this topic, id say sad/hurt (obviously), angry, indifferent/defiant or happy? ["Waking up all alone waking up so relieved" - Radio, Alkaline Trio] On a side note, the song comes from Semisonics first album proper, Great Divide, which may not compare to their main two albums, but is definately worth a gander. Or a listen. Yea....

"Well if it makes you happy now, I guess that's great, i guess you're not mine."


# One Year, Six Months - Yellowcard

I went through a phase of just sitting in my room crying to this song. It's weird, because, however nice it can be looking back at something you once had, it can be so insanely painful bringing yourself back to reality afterwards. But that's what makes this song so beautiful. That wonderful mix of pleasure/pain, happy/sad, that in reality all our lives are filled with. It's not a simple case of happy memories, or sad memories, time and circumstances change that, and songs which evoke strong emotions of any kinda are always nice and refreshing for me. *sobs* :P

"So many nights, legs tangled tight, wrap me up in a dream with you..."

Get in to: Charlie Brown

Now, i know, it's sunday and it *should* be Songs of the Week. However, i've been so addicted to some songs this week, i've posted them already! (Namely - Where We Go, Beating Heart Baby and Where's the Pleasure) So, i was a little stumped what to do today. There's nothing major new i fancied delving into, and, hmmm. It's a hard life :P Anyway, i suddenly remembered a little Charlie Brown-fest i had on Winamp yesterday i'd loved muchly. So... Time to get into them :P Heh

Charlie Brown are a fantastimatic local band, who've gathered themselves a somewhat cultish following of fans. Admitadly, it appears that a large number of these are small rich girls who need to be slapped around (maybe not literally) so they realise that life's not all about being Daddy's Little Money Blower, and that getting drunk and going to sweaty gigs makes them neither cool nor breakaways. [Edit: Not to say getting drunk and going to gigs is uncool, it's just... They suck] It's tragic. Anyway, the core of this following is more around the same age as the band, so the 17-19 year old area, which results in muchly drunken bouncing and singing along at their gigs.

# Figured Out - Charlie Brown

I'll admit, the first Charlie Brown gig i went to, i didnt really notice them. I remember hearing more soft melodic music, but, i noticed none of the bands playing. I confess, i was utterly wasted, and busy faffing around at the back of the Pool Club doing god knows what. Anyway, i do remember hearing a bit, and liking it. Of course this fond memory came slowly back a few days later. Anyway. This was i believe, Charlie Brown's first proper gig. Everyone seemed to have fallen in love with them there and then (except me, as noted - drunk).
Luckily, through a wonderful friend, i managed to get hold of a few Charlie Brown songs on cd. Sadly not a proper release, just an early set of demo type recordings. I loved it. Amazing! Figured Out was the first track i really went for, and, it had me hooked. From then on i went to as many gigs of theirs as i could, and ended up meeting some very likeminded drunken people along the way *hugs Tommy P* :P


# Soft Drinks and Bubblegum Machines - Charlie Brown

The next song here has become a bit of a gig favourite, with lots of wonderful "hey's" added in. It's a nice simple word that is so much fun to chant along whilst drunken getting lost in the music. I do mean the audience when talking about all this drunken gig-ness. For the most part... ;)
Anyway, Charlie Brown are definately still progressing. They won some competition a while back which gave them a free session in a loverly recording studio, which resulted in their first EP proper, Operation Persuation. It's a wonderful little four track ep, which they've sadly now run out of. Which is a shame... Oh well, hopefully will mean we get a new one this year! Fingers crossed.


# My Favourite Jeans - Charlie Brown

I expect to see you at their next gig, getting wasted, dancing like a madmen, and hopefully having a generally fantastic time. Hehe =)

Get in to: Son of Dork

DON'T ignore this post you bastards :P I'm watching you! GIVE THEM A TRY :P Now, i was VERY scheptical of this band. And, lets face it, they're kinda annoying already, and the songs they've released as singles, well. They're management should be sacked. But i guess it does appeal to their target audience. What people miss, is that with any band, is however "targetted" they are, some of their materal will stray, and dare i say if you investigated it without saying "oh god no not them" after having heard maybe even TWO whole songs then you might be plesantly suprised. There are a few exceptions. For me? However hard i try and cannot like Pete Doherty, and, every Babyshambles song iv so far heard just, reminds me of him and wants me to bring a sledgehammer to his head. Exception? For Lovers. Great song. So, actually, iv kinda just crumpled my own point... But that's Just FEATURING Pete, heh. The other ones, the BIG ones, Black Eyed Peas. Believe me, i TRIED and i TRIED to like them! I dont like disliknig any group as much as i do them, but, its just. ARGH. Their songs are shit, the people always annoy me, and the girl is beyond unatractive. In fact, see, its not about being ugly, its portraid personality. She MAY be nice in real life, but, she seems so into herself on stage that i want to, well, once again. Sledgehammer. Wow quite a ramble.

So, BACK to my point, delve a bit. With everything. It's how i've come to like so much random crap. Maybe it's not the best way, but, it's fun =) On with the songs...


# Slacker - Son of Dork

I heard the opening single, and was just gutted. I wasn't sure they were gonna be good, and, sadly, it made me feel i was right in my reservations. Then i heard Slacker. Very Busted-esq. Bouncy, kinda non-sense but with good quirky lyrics "Can't even get an add on myspace!" It jsut drew me in straight away. In fact, i loved it so much that i bought the album. It was either that or the Ticket Outta Loserville single to get this track on cd, and, well, the former was NOT an option.
I put the album into my player, and, hmm. I wanted to cry. The first track, Ticket Outta Loserville i obviously wasnt a big fan of. What i wasn't expecting was the next three tracks to be just as poor quality. I mean, just, the lyrics were uninspired, the melodies were so....frustrating! It was clearly targetted at the little girls thinking they're cool liking them or in absolute love with the guys before they've heard a single song because they're "so cute". Redeeming factor? Use of the word 'tool'. Sadly, it wasn't enough... But THEN! I was ready to turn it off, but...track 5! Boyband! I've posted it previously so won't do so again today. It really worked for me, was bouncy in a good way and the lyrics rocked! In fact it's whast the blog was named after...

"Good Charlotte said they liked McFly, is half their fanbase gonna cry? It's so pathetic dry your eyes, when you gonna realise a tunes a tune? I don't know why, the metal heads want us to die, but these days they're all under nine, so i'll be fine."


# Sick - Son of Dork

The following track, which, i was ready and waiting for with new found energy, was Sick. Very dark, VERY impressed. I think it helped having lost Katie when i heard it, heh. It was an unexpected look on the anger after a relationship ends. And yea, it was very cool. I think, something like this with jsut a couple of lyrical changes could easily be by a more reputable band, such as Hoobastank or on a closer link, Simple Plan.
The songs after this were better than the first four, of course including Slacker, and Murder in the Mosh, and it just reminded me why i buy lots of albums, why i listen to so many bands. There's some really great stuff out there if you just hunt for it.


# Two Princes - Son of Dork [wma file - sorry!]

This final little track, just for the hell of it, is a cover of the Spin Doctors CLASSIC, hehe. I love this song, and, hmmm. For some reason SOD decided to cover it without changing much. It's got enough to make it worth listening to, and being based on such a rockin' song always helps! But yea, if nothing else they're reminding small people of great songs (as recently featured in the HEFFALUMP MOVIE TRAILER! GAWD YES!).

Current happer stuff?

So, i've been listening to these songs a lot lately, the first in particular. There's no reason to these other than they keep cheering me up if im feeling a bit down, or make me crazy if im already happy :P Hopefully they'll work the same for you!


# Beating Heart Baby - Head Automatica

I. Love. This. Song. First time i listened after Jo sent it to me i didnt really appreciate it. Second time and i was addictied. I've been playing it more and more and keep wacking it on repeat caus its just exactly the song to make me smile. Especially with the chorus making me think of Rachel every time =)
Baby is this love for real? Let me in your arms to feel, your beating heart baby, the beating of your heart baby


# Where Go We - KILLRADIO

I randomly came across this band on PureVolume, and, well, they ROCK! You know i'm a complete sucker for pop punk rock, hehe. They're very addictive, and this song in particular at the moment keeps standing out. If you like this, check out Whose World, another rockin song. =)


# Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix) - The Prodigy

I'm really not sure if i've posted this before, appologies if i have... The last two times at Zest they've played this and i've LOVED it. I heard it once, a fair few months back, on Radio 1. I fell in love. Sadly, i found nowhere i could obtain it online, and it wasnt for a long time that i discovered it was gonna be released on the bonus remix disc with the Prodigy's Their Law album. However, jsut before i bought this, i found a better discovery. £1.99, this song, and an Audio Bullys cover of Out of Space. Both were on the bonus disc, but, this was much cheaper than £13.99! And the cd ROCKS! Buy it if you can. I'm not usually a fan of 2 track singles, but, its 10 minutes of awesomeness!

Topic Time: Meant to Be

I just watched Serendipity. It's always a problem. It really gets to me... I love it so much. If you haven't seen it, it's about two people who meet for just a few hours but are both already in relationships. They let fate decide if they'll ever meet again, and the film follows the failure of their other relationships as the world draws them together again. Yes, i'm sure most people hate it, but i like to believe in such love. Such possiblity. And that's why i've picked the songs today.


# All Time Love - Will Young

I know starting off with master Young isn't exactly the *best* way to win people over, but, i've been suprised at my liking of his latest album. Some random family person (duno who!) got it for christmas, so i swiped it onto here. Switch It On was the song that really grabbed me, but, as i was flicking through the lyrics booklet deely, i noticed how gorgeous the words to this one was. It's exactly the dream =)


# Such Great Heights - The Postal Service

Okay, i had no intetion of posting this song after already giving you Sleeping In by the band a cover of another of their songs yesterday, *however*, lately this song has really, really got to me. It's so...mmmmmm! The lyrics are wonderful and it's all so YAY! I love songs like that. It doesn't ever make me feel "yuk", just, kinda warm inside, heh.


# The Best of Me - The Starting Line

So you've had an acoustic version of this before, and i'm sure most of you know it, but, as a reminder listen to it NOW! Relationships aren't easy, but, when they're right you'll know, and you'll fight every little bit to keep things together. This also kinda follows the trend of long distanceness seen in the last song, hehe. Damn intermaweb...

I know these three songs are muchly different in style, but, they still all give me that same kinda feeling. Hope is a wonderful thing. I don't mean to sound so cheesy and stupid, but, hope is all we have most the time, the idea of something better. Whether it be of true love, world peace, or that your new mp3 player arrives before you have to travel to Wales, it's all important. Now stop reading my rambles and do something nice. Smile =)

Songs of the week

So, here we are. It's sunday. I'm free to POST! Yay! Heh. Anyway, lets just get straight on with it shall we?

# Where's the Pleasure - Protocol

Jo/Roo sent me this track, but, sadly, i know nothing about the band or anything, and obviously Protocol is a fairly commonly used band name, so not much luck in trying to look anything up online about them. But oh well. It's a cool song which i keep coming back to this week. Give it a listen, and if you know more about them or a website i can find them at, let me know =)


# Simple Sincerity - Radish

I've loved this song ever since Katie sent it to me a while back now, and i finally got hold of the album it's from last week. Tis muchly cool. I suggest you check it out if you like the song =) It's not available 'new' anymore as the band split a while back (around 98 i think?) but it's great kinda grunge-pop to dance/jig/poke people to.


# We Will Become Silhouettes - The Shins

I FINALLY saw Garden State this week, and i was rather impressed, particularly with the soundtrack! It was fantastic. And when i heard an acoustic cover of Such Great Heights i was ready to explode! It turns out that cover (by Iron and Wine) featured on the single (/ep?) for Such Great Heights, along with this lovely cover by The Shins (who also feature on the Garden State soundtrack, thankyou Sub Pop records, hehe). Anyway, the day it arrived i must've listened to the lil 4 track cd about a dozen times, i love it! I think this track really stood out though, because, i really like the lyrics to WWBS, but it's never really been an *awesome* song for me. This acoustic version of it really does make it sound so much better to me, and yea. I love it. It's no Such Great Heights, but it's still beautiful :P

Topic Time: Breaking Up

So, i thought maybe some topical psots would be a nice change of pace, because it basically lets me group together some awesome songs, and, well, it's my blog so why am i jsutifying this :P
As i kinda hope you've managed to deduce from the title, this first 'topic/theme' deely is about breaking up. There's just, loads and loads and LOADS of songs about it, which isn;t exactly a suprise, but, i thought i'd share with you a few of my favourites and most emotive [Is that the right word? :|]


# How To Be Dead - Snow Patrol

I love this song. It always seems so short to me, despite being over 3 minutes. It's a great song about the sheer exasperation (sp?) of a break up. Or at least i'm sure what will undoubtably soon be a break up, heh. You know what it's like though, when you're trying to calm the other person calm, and explain and discuss whats going on, but they're too busy being emotional and crazy. Of course, as the song develops we learn more of whats going on (am i the only one who hears Four Non Blondes in their head everytime someone says those three words?! XD) and the drug-related issues that have created a rift. This just sweetens the deal for me. The whole collapse being the 'fault' of the central figure, again, im sure we've all been there, in one form or another.
"You've not heard a single word i have said, oh my god...."


# The Moment i Said It - Imogen Heap

I find this song such a great expression of that first gut wrenching feeling, when it feels like the worlds just dissapeared from under your feet. The tone of the entire piece just sums up the whole lost confusion and desperation. Yea, fine, so its not a very HAPPY song, heh, but, i find it so beautiful. Admitadly, i don't think it's one to really 'help'. But at least it's nice being forced to realise you're not the only one. Just listen to it, and relive those horrifying moments of pain and trauma =)
NOTE: The song is taken fromt he end of miss Heap's album, and has a horrible long silence at the end of the file (roughly 50 seconds long). I *still* have no mp3 chopping programme deely, so, you'll either have to deal with it yourself or live with it like i do :P


# Get Happy - Bowling For Soup

I always like this. There are few break-up songs with such optimism. Even if most of it i'm sure is fake, it's nice focussing on the 'happiness' brought from the idea that it's all for the best. "Maybe you're right, we've had a good time...". Of course, the idea of you being stuck in the same place whilst they moves on can be quite painful too, but even when it's not true, most people often feel the other person is probably off enjoying themselves while you're at home crying. This also shows that when they *want* to, Bowlnig For Soup have a rockin' 'serious' side =)


# Nothing Left To Lose - American Hi-Fi

From optimism to sheer agression. In the past Disturbed would've been my band of choice for such a time, but American Hi-Fi's lyrics always seem to be less "ARRRGGHHHHH DEATH DIE FUCKER" and more "damn you mofo" Haha. Yea, softcore Disturbed with more focussed emotion. That's clearly what this song is :D Heh.
Personally, this was my song for losing Katie. It's their fault it's over, even if it's not, and damn hell if you're gonna be sorry or in fact anything but angry :)
"You wanna hear i'm sorry, whatever..."

Get in to: Nickelback

I'm sure a few of you having just read the title thought "eurgh". Well, more than anyone, this is for you. I don't like it when people dislike a band before they've really listened to them. Of course, many people HAVE listened to Nickelback, and still "don't like them", but i find this hard to grasp. No, they're nothing groundbreaking, but they're also not crap. Nickelback provide a staple quality random of songs to sing along to. They manage good songs with good lyrics, sometimes even great to both of us. Their downside is not quite managing to make an 'amazing' album. The Long Road was damn close, for them. However, the pure disjointedness that makes their albums such a pleasure to listen to also makes it harder to keep in the same spirit? There's always a blend of lighter more balladic (Come on Oxford, add it to the next edition!) songs and much harder harsher songs. Of course, most people know How You Remind Me, and the much seen-as -'clone' Someday (we'll not mention Photograph off the latest shall we...) but don't venture further. So, after that lil ramble of rambliness, now you shall. Bitch.

# Leader of Men - Nickelback

This comes off their second album, The State. To me, it's very reminiscient of Tomorrow by Silverchair. Okay some of the lyrics aren't exactly genious, but, it works well, and i really like the song. Of the two, of course, i'd pick Silverchair. At the same time, because there's a possibly-similar, better song out there, should you ignore the other? NO! Heh. Well my opinion anyway...


# Next Contestant - Nickelback

This is my fav of the 'heavier' stuff off the latest album, All the Right Reasons. What Nickelback seem to do is more create an escapism character in their songs instead of one you can relate to yourself? Of course, this isn't true about all their songs by far, but there's a lot that revolve around a very messed up life and perspective (Never Again, Believe It or Not...etc). This doesn't make them worse songs, just, something different to get lost in. This song specifically is all about a flirtacious girlfriend and the jealous boyfriend beating the crap out of people for going near her? Which, well, is a nice image, haha. It explores emotions that maybe even you yourself aren't currently feeling, again for me at least, much in the same way getting lost in a film can. This is obviously not a trait unique to Nickelback, more of all music, but it seems to be something they focus on instead of nurturing the listeners. They're a story telling band, hehe =) It's a nice get away.


# We Will Rock You - Nickelback

A little while back, i gave you the badns cover of Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) and so i thought i'd finish off this little intromaduction with another cover of theirs, this time Queen, which appeared as a b-side on what as far as i know is still their most recent single, Photograph.

More new stuff to ramble about...

I had a quick count this morning. Excluding ep's, singles, copied cd's and compilation albums i've got about 200 albums. Now, i'm not sure if that seems like a lot or not. Oh well, i'll just keep spending way too much money on them anyway. I've got my old cd rack back off my sister as well now, so i can fit all my cds in stuff when the new ones arrive from Amazon =) Anyway....


# Sleeping In - The Postal Service

I've had the Postal Service album for a fair while now, on my computer. And, i've always liked it, but, never really got into it... So, the other day i FINALLY got round to picking it up from HMV, and im SO glad i did. Iv fallen asleep to it twice already =) This album really is gorgeous. And the guy i bought it off said they've got a new album coming out soon? But he then said other stuff about it and i didn't really hear caus i had to move to get discount... :S Anyway! This album is muchly relaxing and lovely, and has some really beautiful lyrics. The song i've chosen for you here is a fantastic song for lazy mornings, or lazy nights when you don't have to get up the next morning. Makes me feel all snuggly and yay, hehe. Best, song, description, EVER!
If you want to listen to their more famous song Such Great Heights, you can download it from the subpop site for them.


# Ever So Sweet - The Early November

Lovely Rachel [*huggles* =)] sent me a song by this band a few days back, and i really liked it, and so when i went in to hmv and found one of their albums sitting so nicely there, i had to buy it, hehe. This is the first track off of the album, The Room's Too Cold, and i just really like it :) Im a sucker for acoustic emo stuff though, so, yknow, it was expected :P Just give it a lsiten and i guess you'll find uot fairly quickly if it's your kind of thing :)


# New Disaster - I Am the Avalanche

Another great band on Drive-thru records that i've recently found is I Am the Avalanche. An angst filled album of grrr-ness is how i'd currently describe it, hehe. But its all good. I'm jsut really enjoying the change of style from listening to Panic! over and over again, heh. The song here, along with an acoustic version of I Took a Beating, are what made me buy the album =)



I've actually got a fair few more odds and sods that i've really liked atm but i'm gonna save them because, well, i can :P So check back soon and we'll see what else comes up, heh.
Oh, and , feel free to click on the google adds at the top of the page. For those who don't know, i get an ickle amount of money for each time someone goes onto one of the linked pages. They're mostly randomly dull things, but, yea. Especially as my hours have been cut drastically, any extra money coming in is muchly appreaciated! Cheers!

New stuff

Yes, well, the format and general update-ness of this blog is still in a complete mess, but iv just been so busy and so tired lately its hard! I finish 'full-time' work this sunday though, when i revert down to Saturdays and Sundays, which, despite meaning i'll be broke soon after, means i'll have muchly more free time if only for a few weeks while i get myself sorted with something else.
Anyway, to tide things over (again) i decided to throw a few songs i've more recently found that i really like. So yea, lets go on with it....

# I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic! At the Disco

A few weeks back now, my copy of A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (And no i did NOT pay that ridiculous price, i got it for like £15 including first class post, yay!) and i've become even more addicted to the album now i own it physically. The whole thing rocks, and i've litsened to it countless times, we're talking when i first got it like 5 times a day?! Which for me anyway is very unusual.
The song you're treated with today is definately one of my current favourites, and just as importantly is their opening single for the album. Both come out sometime in Feburary i do believe, although Radio 1 have already begun playing it. YAY! I'm not a massive radio fan but it's nice to stay "connected" on a regular basis, and, yes. Heh. Radio 1 have alsob egun playing Sugar, We're Goin' Down as it's finally being released as a single early this year. But back to Panic! You have to buy this album. You will love this album. That is all...


# I Want to Hear What You Have Got to Say - The Subways

As heard on the OC apparently? Not that i recall it. Not that i would.... Heh. I'll get round to rewatching it soon! Anyway, this song seems to have sprung up all over the place of late and made The Subways a household name (at least in small Indie student residences/flats/dumps). Just listen to it a couple of times. It grows disturbingly quickly. All together now.... Another day is here and i am still alive...


# Ever After You (live) - The Gabe Dixon Band

Ever get annoyed when random bands add you as friends on Myspace? Well, as most people do i'm sure, as long as i'm not grumpy, i'll listen to their songs and if they're any good, add them! Well, with THIS band, i kinda fell in love insanely quickly. If you like Gavin DeGraw you WILL like mr Dixon. The song i've picked is deinfately my favourite so far. It's all about, well, really liking someone, and not being able to do much about it? Which, shockingly, is my perfect kinda song when done well. It comes from this live album which can be purchased via amazon (and will be as soon as i can afford it!) but you can also download it and many other songs (including all of their cd released songs) for free at their website which just made me love them even more. You know what i get like with any band that gives me 'free' mp3s! So yes, its more reason to order their albums :D Hopefully you'll like the band too and maybe consider doing the same!


# Will The Violins Be Playing? - Last Days of April

Until the other day the only song i had ever heard by this band was Aspirins and Alcohol which i absolutely *love*, so having finally got round to ordering the cd from Deep Elm Records, i eagerly popped it into my cd player. Now, from first listen i knew it'd be a grower instead of an instant love, but there were some really good lyrics in there, and i loved a line from this song especially, which is why it's here today.
"As if me taking all the blame would make you feel much better now"


Enjoy =)

'Best' of 2005

So, spending a night in this new years, in fact what has become a night in on my own thanks to my family actually doing stuff, i decided instead of just going to sleep i'd do a blog post. I hate the fact iv let this slide, but, life's been a bit odd again lately. Just not feeling....right? But we'll ignore it and just take it as a phase. Anyway. I was thinking of all these different ways of doing this; Best Tracks, Best Albums, Best new artists, so many different things. What i finally decided on though, is, well, an insanely minaturised version of my year in musical terms. I can't look at it chronolically caus a lot of stuff has happened (and its really scary thinking quite how much) so i thought i'd pick a few songs that have really meant something to me this year, one way or another. With each i intend to include why it's made the list, but, yknow, i'll try not to ramble about my life tooooo much? But yknow, as always, you dont like it you dont have to read. Or DONT you?! Dun dun dun....


# I Miss You - ...And Then i Turned Seven...

Back in the early months of this year i'm sure a few of you will remember me rambling on about this band. I fell in love. Generally speaking fairly poorly written emo acoustic (and to me THIS is emo and what its about) thats not made to be the next award winning masterpiece, but, more music to be pained by? Or with? I know that doesn't sound good, but, it works when you're low. And at the time i was very much so. The lyrics aren't really what's important here, the point being the songs off the album (Broken Summer) were just about sharing something a bit deeper, knowing you weren't the only one out there. With this song specifically, i found myself angressively singing along at the end every time. The idea of being able to hurt him back filed me with fantastic levels of emotion that were such a great change from sadness, and the idea he might ever have to relate to them was just, well, it felt good. I won't bother telling you who it was aimed at, but i think many of you know who he is...

"I did nothing at all, nothing at all, it's all my fault you're gone"


# Jumper - Third Eye Blind

Following on from the place in my life of the last, i played this song on repeat for litereally hours. It just felt like it was me in there. In the song. It's funny, a couple of years ago, i couldn't relate to music. It's so cool being able to now, and so much more. I won't go into any more detail other than to say thankyou Lindsey for waking me up =)
But yes, shockingly, this song is about suicide (at least it is to me, heh) and was just basically the soundtrack to my low point of the year. The best part is, unlike Goodbye (I'm Sorry) - ...And Then I Turned Seven... & The Day That i Die - Good Charlotte i can listen to this song now and feel that i've grown. Our past makes us who we are, no matter how much we don't want it to.

"Everyone i know has got a reason, to say, put the past away"


# Just Friends - Gavin DeGraw

I wish they weren't such a big part of my year, but at the same time it led me to listen to a lot of very awesome music lots and lots :P I never listened to this song with the story/message intended. To me it was just, my way of trying to accept the idea of Lindsey and Chris as a couple, and, it was hard. Lets be honest it still is. I can't help that, it's the way i feel. I don't believe feelings can be "wrong" (Except mike's incestual ones :P) and it's just another thing to accept. This song comes from a very good album, Chariot, which i fell in love with this year. It would be sitting in my top 5 albums of the year if i'd actually done one. All the songs are just so well written and are very emotive. Assuming i've used the word right! I'd look it up but i'm so not that bothered, you know what i mean. Good time to stop.

"Why weren't you true? You know i trusted you, when you were just friends..."


# Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy) - Fall Out Boy

I'm not sure how my musical tastes would've panned out without this band. They're fucking amazing. After listening to the tracks available at the time on Purevolume i ordered the album (Take This To Your Grave) as soon as i could. But this was always my first and foremost love off it. It always reminded me of that feeling of being the better man? Not in a cocky way, and not really even in a "he's a dickwad" way (note the mature insult), but it's just inevitable (hehe, i need to watch Team America again) that you feel that "GARGH why are you with him and not me?!" moment. Personally, this was my song for it for a while this year.

"You need him, i could be him, i could be an accident but i'm still trying, and that's more than i can say for him"


# Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap

Along with every one else, i heard this on the O.C, played for Caleb's funeral. When i became addicted to it though was in fact the day of the London Bombings. It's all i listened to. It summed up the pain, and the opening verse just summed up the shock and trauma that seemed to consume the country. Enough said.

Where are We? What the hell is going on?
The dust has only just begun to form, crop circles in the carpet.
Sinking feeling.
Spin me round again and rub my eyes, this can't be happening.
When busy streets a mess with people, would stop to hold their heads heavy.



There are of course dozens if not hundreds more songs that really moved me this year, that have helped me become more of who i am today. However, i haven't got the time (nor webspace!) to go into all those. I realise that there's a great focus on negative emotions in this post, but, to be hounest, that's been my year's main focus. No it hasn't all sucked, but i'm sitting here alone at 11:45pm on New Years Eve. I'll leave you with my New Years song though.

# This Will Be My Year - Semisonic

"You tell yourself, what you want to hear, caus' you have to believe, this will be my year"

Merry Christmas!

Finally finished work until Tuesday, so i'm gonna wedge in a quick christmas post before i run into town. I'm very annoyed i couldn't manage my post this week, but should be more or less back to normal by Monday? I won't bother with an actual Christmas day post caus that's sad, hehe, although i keep getting confused that it is already 3pm on christmas eve. Oh dear. I NEED TO GO TO TOWN. So lets cut this short. I do indeed wish you all a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Here's a few songs i loike (Right up to the Suffolk language) to get you in the mood!

# Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World

# All I want for Christmas is You - My Chemical Romance

# I'll be Home for Christmas - The Gabe Dixon Band

# Santa Baby - Calista Flockhart [That's Ally McBeal :)]

Hope you get everything you wanted (unless you're a spoilt brat) and basically have muchly fun with friends and family alike =)

Christmas - the time of year it's *ok* to be CHEESE! [Literal interpretations also true]

Busy busy busy

I'm afraid to say it's wednesday and no post yet this week, and i cant see it happened until at least Saturday? I'm working nights atm which involves working until the early hours, coming home still "in gear" so not being able to properly sleep....then sleeping in late, getting up, eating, and going to work. The reason that sounds so dull is because it IS. I'm getting about a couple of hours a day to myself atm at max, and thats not really enough time to fit in trying to lsiten to new music AND do the blog?! :P I know which comes first i'm afraid, but i'll try and make up for it after christmas?! I've got a couple of crimbo songs i'll try and post up xmas eve, late attempt to get in the christmas spirit. And a new band to get you into. I'm in love! Oh and i just finished the first series of Ally McBeal if anyones interested, heh, its muchly awesome. The odd times i AM on msn it tends to be amazing quotes from that which attain the privelaged status of my s/n :P
Hope everyones having a fun time! I feel bad i dont even have time to post a single track now but it takes too much time and iv gotta run. :(

Songs of the week

This week has been rather cool, and also seen me trying to absorb way more bands than i can physically manage. I've been talking to lots of new people about music which has obviously led to me wanting to listen to more stuff, i've found a few more really awesome mp3 blogs (which will be added to the list on the right later on sometime.... :S) and i've got some more cd's! Heh. My Bon Jovi 100,000,000 fans can't be wrong arrived from Amazon, along with All Hands on the Bad One by Sleater-Kinney, my Panic! At the Disco album FINALLY ARRIVED XD and i also recieved a Thrice album from Mikey B last night for my christmas present :) Friends ROCK. But yea, so basically, iv all but filled my hard drive (about 0.6gb spare right now?! Opps?!) with random music, and, erm, hmmmm. I need to try and get through more. But its hard to keep up with my own thirst for music. Yea i'm sane.

So the first track today comes from the large volume of music found in the Bon Jovi set. I have yet to watch the dvd that came with it, but iv litened to a lot of the trascks off the 4 cd's. I wasn't really impressed with the demos, but the unreleased songs include a few gems. My current personal pic has to be the following. It's one of those songs where i found myself going "YES, thats how it feels"! I love getting that after listening to a song for the first time. It's just, that great feeling of after breaking up with someone who was like "this will last forever" and "I'll never be able to live without you" and then seeing them run off with someone else.... It's not the anger at them, but the latter consideration of "well, why AREN'T you dead?!". I like that muchly. And yes Katie this is a hint. :P

# Why Aren't You Dead? - Bon Jovi


The second track today is much more depressing but in a good way. I'm sure most of you won't like it, but, i do, and i'd like to share it. It actually comes from the Ally McBeal "A Very Ally Christmas" soundtrack, with lots of random christmas songs. And this is kind of christmassy in passing, but that's not the focus at all. I believe after having a quick check on t'internet that it was originally done by Joni Mitchell, but, this is the first time i'd heard it. And i like it muchly. He has such a gorgeous voice. I'd love to be serrenaded. I'm sure my perfect girl will do that. *nods* Heh. I'm waiting.... :P

# River - Robert Downey, jr.

Get in to: Semisonic

So, this is weird, sitting here in just a pair of shorts and one of my waterstones tops (yup, was too tired to actually bother removing it last night...) at 1pm on a Friday. Hmmm. It gets weirder when you think i've got to go to work in 5 hours. My head cant handle this confusion! Oh well. I'll eat muchly before i go, and drink lots of tea, and other such cunning plans of awakeness. Anyway. What this means for YOU luck people is an earlier post than normal, so, lets rock 'n' roll with that.

Now, todays band are like, my all time favourites. It's soft rock at it's most awesomeness. Most of you will know them from their 'massive hit single' Secret Smile (or Closing Time if you're American) but they are far from one hit wonders, as those who bought the album Feeling Strangely Fine rapidly discovered. But one great album doesn't make a great band. However, following that with another fantastibloodymatic album, All About Chemistry, does. Especially when you add in their back-catalogued Great Divide album, which was also rather spiffing, especially with the openener F.N.T. (Fascinating New Thing). They're had a few songs feature in some pretty cool films (and by cool i mean teen-flicks) which have helped raise awareness of their potentential. Anyway, it still never really put their third album (well, fourth if you include the Pleasure EP) 'on the map', which is a shame because it, for me at least, was by far the best. You can now experience what i mean with one of my favouritist tracks on their.

# She's Got My Number - Semisonic

Now, after getting hold of the albums, i still wanted more from semisonic. Thanks to eBay, i could. I basically bought all the singles i could, and have therefore now collected a small collection of awesome b-side tracks. I was tempted to give you either a random acoustic or love track today, or even one of their strange covers (Erotic City anyone?) but instead i decided on a really cool track that was released on the Singing In My Sleep single (cd2 i think) that was sadly not included on any album.

# Makin' A Plan - Semisonic

Now, since this time, the only 'new' offering we've had was the Best Of, which was just someones personal pick of the three albums, with Over My Head included, due to its popularity in a film who's name evades me. Sadly however this wasn't even an unreleased track as it appeared on the single for Chemistry (damn good single btw) so i haven't actually bothered buying that yet. I undoubtably will, just in a vain hope to eventually own 'everything'. Although i know there's much more stuff to track down on the rarer side of things. But oh well.
Oh and Semisonic aren't really together any more. Heh. Good time to add that in. It's been a bit confusing. They never really 'broke up' as far as i'm aware, they just decided to work on different projects? *shrugs* I'll be waiting for a reunion. And maybe when i'm like 30-40, i'll get it? :D That'd rock. I'll hush now. Enjoy the songs.

Mendnesday - Mending Monday and Wednesday posts for over 5 minutes

Okay, so due to other engagements (Zest, work, sleep and the such) I couldn't post Monday, or make up for it Tuesday, and i very nearly didn't get the chance to do tonights. However, i was annoyed at the thought of missing 2 whole posts in a single week, so i thought i'd try and make up for it with an amalgamated double-whammy type post. So. Acoustic Mondays + Cover Wednesday = Mendnesday, the day of acoustic covers! Hehe. Cunning i tells ya. Oh, and you get 4 whole songs today. FOUR. Damn straight. I'd give you a fifth bonus one if i had a decent enough quality one, but sadly most acoustic covers are live, and, as such often poor quality. Of course the live lounge tracks generally rock, which is why you already get two in this post. So, without further, erm, adu? I've never had to write that word before. Or even type it. Yea. I'd look it up but i don't care. Any comments telling me how to spell it will be happily ignored. Ignorance is bliss.

I'll start off then with the two live lougne tracks. I'm not gonna go into how cool the live lounge is, i've said it before and, you should already know. These two tracks really work for me, the first because it's just, well, awesome? (albeit a loud sound file, appologies but i have no programme to change this!) The second however is so good because it proves how WHO sings a song can be so important. Im not a sugababes fan, but i sort of like the song by them. By Starsailor, it becomes awesome. I'd like to thank little miss Kateman for the second track too caus she sent it to me and i love her muchly for it :P Oh and caus she rocks and stuff etc...
So, anyway, here they are. I actually typed "hear they are" the first time. Like, a subconcious pun. Or something. Dammit! Back to the songs...

# Don't Look Back in Anger (live acoustic) - Maroon 5

# Push the Button (live acoustic) - Starsailor


The third track for today was featured on the oc and REALLY got me into the artist. Ryan Adams is fantastic at producing really well written and often highly depressing songs. It just provides a really good twist to sung a well known song. It's weird, i've got nothing against Oasis. I just think their songs are better sung by someone else? :P I don't think this song was ever put on one of the soundtrack albums? Appologies if it was. I still haven't got round to buying them yet, but they do have some really good songs. The problem is there's no real reason to them? Other than they were on the programme of course. The only exception is the third one being a themed Chrismukkah disc. Which i haven't actually heard yet... DAMMIT! I'll just hush and give you the song now...

# Wonderwall - Ryan Adams


Saving the best til last, this has become one of my favourite tracks ever. When i was first got this, it was just out of curiousity, i'd never been a fan of the original song really. But, my word. I've loved Rufus Wainwright's voice since hearing his version of Hallelujah on the Shrek soundtrack. And this live rendition of Careless Whisper truely shows how amazing his voice is, and works wonderfully with Ben Folds. For me this is what music is all about. Beauty, in the songs and how its sung. It made me cry so many times when i first listened to it. I'm sure most of you won't find this to be so moving, of course it changes person to person what really 'gets to them', but i just wanted to share with you one of my true musical loves.

# Careless Whisper (live) - Ben Folds & Rufus Wainwright