Good Mood? Yes.

I'm not the kind of person who wears her heart on her sleeve. I like to keep my emotions to myself. It isn't necessarily that I'm trying to hide the way I feel, it's just that I don't really feel that I need to share it, but I guess that doesn't make too much sense. I have nothing against people who are more open with their emotions, and sometimes I wish I was that way. Anyway, even though I don't always leave much out there emotionally, there is one good way to tell how I'm feeling-look at my iPod.

What kind of music I'm listening to at any given moment tells a lot about how I'm feeling. I have certain songs and playlists for certain moods. I think that music has the power to heighten emotions, like, if you're happy, a song can make you happier, and sometimes, a happy song even makes me feel better when I'm angry or sad. Music is a powerful thing, for sure. So I guess I'm going to spend a little time over the course of the next few posts talking about songs that fit whichever mood I'm in. I'll share some of my happy songs, sad songs, angry, and so on.

So today, I'm going to start off with happy songs. I'm in a pretty good mood, so why not share the songs that reflect that?

I heard this first song for the first time when I went with a friend to work on some of her ceramics projects a few years ago. Some of her classmates had hijacked the radio, and were playing their music. I didn't know who it was at the time but I remember seriously liking the song and being put in a good mood. It took me a long time to track down who sings the song, but now I listen to it fairly often. On another note, this guy sings really high. Kinda impressive.

This next song is an old favorite. I used to hear it every day when I would walk through Cedar Point (where I worked) before the park opened. It was one of the few good songs on the soundtrack there. It's in the movie You've Got Mail, as a side-note.

The next song plays at work sometimes. I know someone who refers to it as "the happy song." It definitely seems to fit.

The next song doesn't make a lot of sense, but it makes me happy. Something about the music, I guess.

I don't really even need to introduce the next one. It needs no words, in my mind.

With a band name like The Wombats, they have no choice but to be great.

And finally...



There are a bunch of others that put me in a good mood, and I'll add them at a later date. However, this should be a good sample of what's to come. Happy listening!

Concert Season

I'm a concert person. I really am. Some people don't like them, which is fine. To each their own. Some people can take them or leave them. And some can't get enough. I fall into the third category.

Chevelle

I only saw one concert this summer. I know, I know, just one? I'm disappointed, too. I saw my first concert when I was thirteen. That was it. I was hooked. Since then I've spent a good deal of time, and a good chunk of my paychecks, going to concerts.

Halestorm

I love live music. I think that it definitely shows who has true talent, and who falls short. Being on the radio now doesn't necessarily guarantee that an artist or group actually sounds good. With so many different effects they can add to music now, it can be hard to tell who's good, and who...doesn't. This, by the way, is why I like music from decades past. There weren't fancy effects that morphed voices so that people sounded better. They really just had to have talent, at least, I'd like to imagine that's how it was. But I digress.

Shinedown

I like the concert atmosphere, but I understand why it would put some people off. Mosh pits are scary (I avoid them like the plague), being on the floor can get a little scary and crowded (nobody enjoys being that close to the person next to you), nosebleed seats aren't worth the money (I can't imagine how much they make if they're charging everyone $65 a ticket), and sometimes, it isn't worth it to find out your favorite artist really isn't all that good. I can definitely sympathize with all of these feelings. But I guess in my opinion, that's what makes it part of the experience. Those are the things that make a concert. Without these semi-annoying elements, you may as well be listening to a CD. or an MP3. Whatever the kids are listening to these days.

Halestorm

Anyway, I'm itching to go to another concert. I have a feeling that there needs to be another in my near future. Maybe I need to go to concert rehab. We'll see.

Staind

A quick list of bands that I've seen. Some of them were seen at the same concert, opening for the main act, so it really isn't as many as it seems. Here they are:

• Avril Lavigne
• Simple Plan
• Gob (yeah, I didn't really know who they were either)
• DriveBy
• Billy Talent
• My Chemical Romance
• Papa Roach
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Buckcherry
• Saving Abel
• Seether
• Nickelback (twice)
• Coheed & Cambria
  
• Halestorm (three times)
• Shinedown
• Chevelle
• Staind
• RED
• .38 Special
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Brett Michaels
• Breaking Benjamin
• Sick Puppies
  
• Van's Warped Tour (too many artists to mention)
• Local artists
  

VersaEmerge

Me and Halestorm (yes, again)

**Note: All of the pictures from above are from concerts I've been to. I used to have a lot more, but after my hard drive decided to die last summer, they all went away. It was a sad day.

Something Vague

This is one of my favorite Bright Eyes songs. I'm learning how to play it. It's a work in progress. So I thought I'd share the real song.




It's pretty sad, which in no way reflects my current mood. But it's good.

The 90's.

Have you ever heard a song and thought to yourself, "Man, that song is so 70's/80's/90's/etc!" Yeah, I have. More than once. It's funny how some decades have certain sounds and styles of music that you can attribute to them. For me, while I love all of the other decades, I'm a big fan of the 90's.

Let's get this straight. I don't like all 90's music. Some of it was pretty awful, and could have never been produced and I would have been okay. That can be said about a lot of decades, though. And I'm probably missing a good chunk of the decade. But I like the majority of it.

I don't really know what kind of sound to attribute to it...there was so much going on. It started with grunge, with the "bubblegum pop" catching the tail end. So I don't know what kind of style I could define it as, but I really like how versatile it was.

One of my favorite 90's bands was the Goo Goo Dolls. They're most popular for their song "Iris" that was featured in the movie City of Angels, y'know, the one with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. That's not my favorite Goo Goo Dolls song, though. My favorite is probably "Black Balloon" with "Sympathy" coming in at a very close second. I really love "Black Balloon." The lyrics are up for interpretation, but the music is nothing short of beautiful, to me. One of the better bands from the decade.

Another good 90's band is Matchbox Twenty. They had a lot of popular radio hits, but some of their better songs can be found on their albums, not on the radio, like the song "Hang." It surprised me that Rob Thomas launched his own solo career, but that the group was able to come back together for their "Exile on Mainstream" album. Then he put out another solo album. Go figure.

I wouldn't be talking about the 90's (and doing them justice) if I didn't talk about the "grunge" music. From what I understand, grunge came around in the early part of the decade, and included bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, (who released an album in the very late 80's, but I'm calling them 90's). They called it the "Seattle sound" and it was super popular until around the time Cobain died, and Pearl Jam decided they hated Ticketmaster. At least that's what I've read. It was pretty influential, though. It created an era of "post-grunge" bands, which can be classified in other genres too, like Bush, and Stone Temple Pilots. The real grunge movement might have been over quickly, but it really influenced the 90's.





Some of my other favorite 90's artists are Oasis, Alanis Morissette, and Third Eye Blind. There are others, I'm sure. All in all, I think that the decade was a good time for music. It might not have had a defining sound, but it definitely sticks out in my mind.






Also, I like this song. I think she was a one hit wonder, and from Australia.


I guess to wrap it up, the 90's was good. There were a lot of good songs, and I just don't have the space to include all of them. But then, I'm biased, because the 90's was the only decade that I can remember. So, I'm open for opinions. Either way, I <3 the 90's.

Get over it.

"Ain't it just a bitch? What a pain...
Well it's all a crying shame. What
left to do but complain? Better find someone to blame.

Hey! Get, get, get, get over it!"


And this is how I feel for the day. That's all I have to say, for the moment.

VersaEmerge: A Review

Vultures Unite


Do you have a vulture fetish? Do you like well thought out lyrics and catchy guitar riffs? Do you wish “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was a musical genre? Then the new album, “Fixed at Zero,” by the band VersaEmerge, is for you.

After releasing several much shorter EP’s, the band’s first full length album was met with much anticipation from their growing fan-base. Released on June 21, 2010 by their label, Fueled by Ramen (which also represents bands such as Paramore, Gym Class Heroes, and A Rocket to the Moon), the eleven track, 46 minute album can be picked up for a cool $10.98 on Amazon.com, or on the bands website, www.versaemergemusic.com.

Playing like full-on punk rock, edgy alternative, and the soundtrack from an eerie, Tim Burton-esque movie, the album has created a good balance. The wailing guitars, thoughtful lyrics, and mysterious melodies create a more unique sound than what most other bands are offering at this time. VersaEmerge sounds like a combination of Paramore, Flyleaf, and Evanescence, with the punk edge of bands like OK Go, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. By blending the sounds of different genres and adding their own twist, VersaEmerge creates a distinctive, and pleasant listening experience.

The band’s first single and title-track, “Fixed at Zero,” is surely one of the strongest. The line from the chorus, “There’s a vulture on my shoulder,” has sparked a following, calling themselves the “Versa Vultures,” an entire line of VersaEmerge vulture-related clothing, and the name for the band’s upcoming tour, the “Vultures Unite” tour. The song shows the frustration behind feeling trapped, and the pressure from outside sources to give up, without trying. While some bands’ title-tracks leave the audience disappointed, hoping the other songs make up for it, VersaEmerge succeeds in pleasing the audience and leaving them hoping for more.



On the opposite end, the albums least inspiring tracks, while still catchy and admirable, are “You’ll Never Know” and “Up There.” The outside melody that precedes most songs on the album, that ties the song together, just doesn’t fit with “You’ll Never Know,” and leaves it sounding more awkward than moving. The most straight-forward track of the album, telling of an un-requited love, doesn’t share the same thought-provoking lyrics that can be found on the remainder of the record. While the attempt is admirable, and clearly vulnerable on the part of the writer and vocalist, Sierra Kusterbeck, it seems to have difficulty meshing with the remainder of the album. While “Up There” doesn’t have the same lyrical problem, it does share the same melodic inconsistencies, making it a more difficult listen than the other tracks on the album, though still reasonably interesting.

Other notable tracks include: “Mind Reader,” “Stranger,” “Fire [Aim Your Arrows High],” and “Lost Tree.” “Mind Reader,” a very close second to the title-track, if not a tie, is not only catchy, but thought-provoking. Telling of the obvious frustrations of having someone always seem know what you’re thinking, the song continues to delve deeper. “Lost Tree” adds an interesting quality by repeating key phrases from the other songs on the album, and truly tops the album off with a nice conclusion, leaving the listener feeling content.



Sierra Kusterbeck’s vocals play a wide range through the album, from the power behind “Figure it Out” to the quieter, more melodic “Lost Tree.” It’s clear the girl has talent. Hitting notes that span the spectrum, she has found an amazing control over her voice. Band-mate Blake Harnage adds background vocals, and harmonizes during their duets in the tracks “Your Own LoVE,” and “Fire [Aim Your Arrows High].” Occasionally Sierra’s pitch hits an almost too-high, irritating level, but overall, her voice is more astonishing than annoying.

If you’re looking for a catchy, up-beat dance song, this album is not for you. However, if you’re looking for a deeper, more meaningful listening experience that nicely combines melody and lyrics, this is an album that is definitely worth the money.


(The above was the review that we had to write for class. It was edited very slightly, but only in structure, not content. I just single spaced it and took some of the tabs out, and added a few links. Otherwise, all of the words are the same, that part wasn't changed. I felt it nicely tied into my blog, so I'm glad that we had to post it.)

Unwinding.

After a long day of working, studying, and finishing my review, I'm trying to unwind. Listening to stuff like this definitely helps.

Love Will Keep Us Together?

Aside from listening to music, which I do a lot of, I also really enjoy reading. I find that lately I haven't had much time to sit down and enjoy a good book, but it's something that I'd like to pick up again. I don't have a particular style of book that I prefer, usually just what catches my eye when walking through Borders with a friend. However, when I found a book that could combine my love of reading and love of music, I was intrigued.

The book is called Love Will Tear Us Apart, by Sarah Rainone. I haven't finished it yet, but so far, I would say that it's a pretty good book. The plot involves a group of young adults that return home for their mutual friends' wedding. The guests feel like their lives are falling apart, and that they didn't live up to a certain potential. Their feelings are only intensified by how the bride and groom seem to lead such perfect lives, and have everything so together.

How does this relate to music? Each chapter starts with a different song title, ranging from "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to "Beat It" to "Like a Prayer." The song/chapter title appropriately corresponds with what is happening in the book, and sets the atmosphere for what is to come. By adding the song titles, the author has added a soundtrack to the book. Since soundtracks are usually only found in movies or TV shows, this book, by most standards, is fairly unique.

The idea of having a soundtrack to go along with the book was what initially drew me to the book. I've never seen a book structured the way this one is, and though it was confusing at first, it was easy to pick up on the author's style.

Overall, I think that the author's experiment with style and creativity was successful, but then again, I'm not any kind of a professional critic. The book isn't for everyone. Sometimes some strong language is used, and some might not appreciate some of the topics discussed. That was just a disclaimer. However, it ultimately depends on the person. For me, though the novel pushed the line a bit, it helped offer a more "real" depiction of the problems that some young adults may face. There are some things that could be improved upon, but ultimately, it was an interesting approach, and a creative style.

I really feel like I just wrote another review, but not for class. Weird.

As a side note, this is the song that the novel title is referencing:


And this is the song that it always makes me think of:


I have no idea why.

Distracting.

This is my current distraction.

Cover Story

There are a lot of good songs. This is nothing new. However, there are a lot of good songs that are copies of good songs.

In my opinion, a band covering a song does not take away from the original-the original can still be good. However, it's always nice to see other people's interpretations of the song, too. So, I'd like to share a few of my favorite cover-songs, if I can find any good videos for them. There are probably a lot more that I've missed, but these are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

One of my favorite covers is the Shinedown version of "Simple Man," originally by Lynyrd Skynyrd. There are a lot of people that like Shinedown, and many who don't, but for me, I personally fall in the middle. The song, though, is good. I like the original song a lot, but I like the Shinedown one because it has a more acoustic feel to it.


Another favorite cover of mine is the VersaEmerge cover of Brittney Spears' "Toxic." I first saw VersaEmerge at Van's Warped Tour this past year, and found this cover when searching their videos on youtube. I personally don't care for Brittney Spears, but I won't hold it against people who do. I think this was an interesting way to re-do this song.


There is a series of CD's that has come out called the "Punk Goes..." series. The titles range from "Punk Goes Pop" to "Punk Goes Metal" and even "Punk Goes Crunk." I found my first CD from this series, "Punk Goes Pop 2" at Hot Topic. The series is, essentially, a bunch of bands covering an assortment of songs.

I honestly prefer this version of "Straight Up" over the Paula Abdul version, but that's just a personal opinion. I think it was an interesting way to change up the song.





The Silverstein cover stole the video from OneRepublic's version of "Apologize," but the song, overall, is good. The other two didn't have music videos. "Apologize" is my favorite of the ones I posted, but the other ones are good, too.


It's definitely a series I would recommend, but that's definitely a matter of personal taste in music. I posted a lot of videos about it, and I don't expect them all to be played. They just make me happy.

A very popular cover song that most people don't know is a cover is Reba McEntire's "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia." She covered another song, "Fancy" as well, which I posted in a previous post.

There are probably a lot more cover songs that I've missed, but I've posted a lot of videos right now. I just wanted to share a few. I'm open to suggestions about others that I've missed, and I might add them at a later date. But now, I must quit procrastinating and get back to the paper that I've been putting off. I'll leave with this:

Currently

I'm not sure what to write about today. Hopefully it comes to me later, but for now, I'll just say what I'm listening to. That will be fine, for the time being.




I heard this song first on the old iPod nano commercial, but I like it.

Gone Country

I'm not a big country fan. It's been an issue for me and my country-loving friends. They don't know why I don't like it, and I guess I can't accurately explain it either. It's nothing personal. It's just not my favorite genre of music. I don't hold it against people who like it, it just isn't for me. However, there are a few songs that I do like.

One of my favorite country artists, probably my overall favorite, is Martina McBride. I've listened to her since I was young, and of all the country artists I've heard, she's the one that's stuck with me the longest. I'm not really sure why. One of my favorite songs is "Independence Day." Even though the song is a little depressing, I think it's inspirational, in a way.

Among my other favorite Martina songs are "Whatever You Say," "Love's the Only House," and "It's My Time." I feel like a lot of her songs have a meaning to them, which is admirable, when most people just sing about sometimes pointless topics.

Reba McEntire is another favorite. I have good memories of riding in a friend's car listening to the "Reba: Greatest Hits, Volume 3" CD, on repeat. I'm not a fan of all of her songs, but she has quite a few good ones. Her song "Fancy," (which actually isn't her song, but is a cover of a Bobby Gentry song) was one of the first songs that really got her career going. Since then, she's produced many more songs, including "The Night that the Lights Went out in Georgia," which was actually another cover, "I'm a Survivor," "Why Haven't I Heard From You," and "Take it Back," among others. I think a lot of people know her for TV series, appropriately named "Reba." Funny show. I think it runs on Lifetime now.


When I was younger, I used to listen to The Dixie Chicks. There was a pretty big controversy involving them around 2001, but I don't really remember the details. Since then, I'm pretty sure they've fallen in popularity and possibly broken up, but I admit to not knowing the full extent of the details. I haven't thought of them in years, until I watched Runaway Bride. The following video is pretty sad, but shows that they're also pretty talented, like 'em or not.

There's a lot of older country I like, including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty (who some may know, surprisingly, from "Family Guy"), among others. I like Garth Brooks, some Tim McGraw, some Kenny Chesney, and a bunch of other artists whose names and song titles I can't quite remember. I'm really not a Taylor Swift fan. I barely consider her country anyway, but that's just a personal opinion.


Whether I like it or not, country music seems to be a big part of society today. It's something that I can accept.

But I'm not going to be donning my Cowboy boots and hat anytime soon. Other people can, and I'm not going to hold it against them, they can probably pull it off better than me. But I think, for me, I'll just stick with my Converse. Much more comfortable.