Throwback Thursday - February 28th

This last week, I took a little trip down memory lane and was reminiscing about the rock that I grew up on. Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Cold, Creed, Disturbed, and others just to name a few. For this week's throwback, I decided to choose the song "Suffocate" by Cold, off their 2003 album Year Of The Spider. This song is one of my favorites off of the album, which is also one of my favorite albums to listen to. Besides the childhood memories it brings back, it is a fantastic rock record, with varying types of songs and emotions throughout. Suffocate is a song that's on the more angry end of the spectrum, but it is also tinged with sounds of regret and sadness. The vocalist, Scooter Ward, sings of a lover or friend who is condescending, judgmental, and not understanding in the slightest. The instrumental helps reinforce these themes, with a gritty tone that is not too distorted. It's angry, but in a way that allows you to hear the story and not be turned off by the song being overly aggressive. I listened to this song many times when I was angry as a kid growing up, and still use it today if I'm mad about something going on. It's a well done song, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes rock from the early 00's.

Five Song Friday - February 22nd

Yet another Friday is here, and another installment of Five Song Friday! This week was a more pop oriented week, thanks to listening to the radio one day during the week. Listen to what I've been hooked on this week, and see if any of the songs tickle your fancy.

1. Scream & Shout (feat. Britney Spears) - will.i.am
   I first heard this song last Friday on the radio, I was somewhat skeptical  It seemed a little odd to me. However, by the end of the song, I noticed myself singing along with the chorus. It's catchy. I had noticed the song floating around the top 10 on iTunes for the last few weeks, but had never bothered to listen, mainly because it featured Britney Spears. I made a judgement call, and found myself in error after buying the song and listening to it many times this last week. The song is a great dance song, with a driving beat and sweet synth lines. I can imagine it's a hit in clubs, and probably will be for a while. 5/5
2. Where Have You Been - Rihanna
   I liked this song when I first heard it, specifically for the chorus and the instrumental right after each one. The sound used for the synth line is unique, and was what hooked my on the song from the beginning. The rest of the song is fairly catchy, but I mainly just like listening for that one synth line. It's another great dance song, and I'm sure it's also popular in clubs currently. 4/5
3. Started From The Bottom - Drake
   Some of Drake's songs are good; some aren't so great. This song falls in the first category. Now, if you listen, don't expect anything profound or incredibly creative. It's a modern hip-hop song; it's got a repeating piano line, a beat with a deep bass drum, and rapping. Nothing genre breaking, but it's got a sense of swagger to it. It also has a fair amount of swearing, so I wouldn't recommend it to those of you who don't enjoy that. Drake did a good job on this song though. I like his raps, and specifically like the "bridge" where he does his half singing/half rapping thing. Overall, a good rap song, recommended for fans of Lil Wayne, Tyga, and Wiz Khalifa. 4/5
4. Rebel Beat - The Goo Goo Dolls
   I have to give credit to my girlfriend, Lauren, for getting me into The Goo Goo Dolls. She knew that this song was coming out before I did, and told me to look it up. I thoroughly enjoy it, with it's upbeat and appealing nature. It has a positive feel to it, and fits in the vein of what The Goo Goo Dolls have done in their career. It has a pop sound, but it has an organic, natural feel; not stuffed full of synthesizers and electronic beats. That's one of the reasons that their songs are considered pop, yet are still popular years after their release, which is not what the current formula for most pop songs is today. They put out quality songs with thought out lyrics and well built instrumentals. Definitely a song I'll be listening to for a while. I'd recommend it to fans of The Goo Goo Dolls, along with those of you who like Lifehouse and Train. 5/5
5. If I Lose Myself - OneRepublic
   OneRepublic has captured my attention since they appeared on the scene thanks to Timbaland's influence. Their sound has been a great one to watch the progression, going from a more acoustic/alternative sound to a heavily pop influenced sound. I don't think that is a bad thing; a band's sound will naturally change and adapt to what they're listening to and what direction they want to take their music. This song in particular is an indicator of the pop influence, with a presence of synth lines, electronic beats, and a bit of autotune evident in the vocals. This is not necessarily a bad thing, for it fits the vibe of the song. My favorite part of the song is the bridge, where they use gang vocals and an acoustic guitar to bring the song down for a few seconds and create contrasting aspects of the song. It's another solid hit from OneRepublic, and I look forward to the new album, Native, expected to release March 26th of this year. I'd recommend it to fans of The Fray, Maroon 5, and The Script. 5/5
   
   
   
   
   
   

Throwback Thursday - February 21st

For this week's throwback, I decided to choose "Johnny Be Goode" by Chuck Berry. I made this decision because I watched "Back To The Future" a few nights ago and remembered how great the song is. It's a classic rock & roll tune, released back in March of 1958. Since it's release, it has received many praises and honors, including being named by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that have helped shape rock and roll, as well as being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. This song is a timeless classic. It has a groove that will make you want to dance, no matter what age. And by dancing, I mean real dancing, not the movement that is considered to be "dancing" at school dances today. Dancing that had class, style, and a sensuality that inspired romance. This song brings a different era to the mind, one that I think would have been exciting to live through. I absolutely love this song, and recommend it to those who are wondering where rock and roll began. Go check it out!

Five Song Friday - February 15th

Here it is, the latest installment of Five Song Friday! New music has grabbed my attention, and I hope you enjoy it!

1. Shiver Shiver - Walk The Moon
   Walk The Moon has captivated my attention for the last month or so. They have such a refreshing sound, with new and unusual ideas within their music. This song in particular has been one of my favorites of their debut self-titled album. The groove of the song makes you want to dance along and sing loudly. The bass line is fantastic, as well as the guitar and the vocals, which all help to contribute to the dance-vibe of the song. The chorus is simple, but infectiously catchy. An awesome song, great for fans of Passion Pit, Young The Giant, & Neon Trees 5/5
2. White Walls (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Hollis) - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
   Macklemore has also been in my sights for the last few months since I was introduced to him. His beats are spectacular, and his raps and flow are insane. This song is a great song for driving around to, with the kick drum being particularly loud and resounding. The song has swagger to it as well, adding to its appeal for playing while driving. An excellent track off his album, The Heist. 4/5
3. Infinity Guitars - Sleigh Bells
   Sleigh Bells have such a unique and distinct sound. This song combines a 70's distortion style guitar with banging Hip-Hop beats to create an addictive sound. My personal favorite part is the last chorus, where the sound EXPLODES into a wall of distorted noise. It's fantastic and will catch you off guard if you're not paying attention. Go listen to it! Now! 5/5
4. Mirrors - Justin Timberlake
   J.T.'s comeback has been spectacular, and this single is a contributing factor. It's a solid pop song with hip-hop influences, which is right up J.T.'s alley. The outro is a sweet, chilled out section that brings down the energy and vibe of the song to a more sensual place. Definitely great for fans of his older material. 5/5
5. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) - Matt Redman
   I didn't listen to this song as much this week, but it was special in this week specifically. One, it won a Grammy, which is spectacular for Matt Redman and well deserved. Two, it was played at Rockharbor, the church I go to. The way the worship band played it and the congregation's response was so awe inspiring. I was constantly getting chills down my back from the raw emotion and praising occurring. It was so amazing, and something I can't get out of my head. 5/5
   
   
   
   
   

Throwback Thursday - February 14th

Being Valentines Day, I thought that for this week's throwback, I'd pick a more romantic song for all the lovers and romantics out there. This week I'm bringing it way back, with Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)" from 1964. There's no denying the timelessness of Frank's voice; it continues to stay with us, wether in romantic songs such as this one, or Christmas/Holiday classics. This song in particular is one of his more famous, along with "Come Fly With Me" and "The Way You Look Tonight", both of which are great romantic songs as well. The song has a swing feel to it, and makes you want to sway to the beat with that someone special. I personally did not start to listen to as much of Sinatra's material until the past few years, but I very much enjoy what I hear. His voice brings to mind a time past, a different era of this nation and it's people. It would be a great song for dinner on this special day, or for something soothing and relaxing to set "the mood", whatever that may mean to each of you.

Mirrors - Justin Timberlake

"Mirrors", the second single from J.T.'s newest album, The 20/20 Experience, is much more in the same vein of FutureSex/LoveSounds than the first single, "Suit & Tie (feat. Jay-Z). The signature beat-box percussion sound is featured, along with a more pop/hip-hop style instrumental. J.T.'s vocals are as fantastic as always, and are also much more along the lines of his previous pop work. The backing string section is well done also, adding emphasis to certain beats and the overall pop tone. Now, while the song has the same sound as his previous albums, it also reveals a maturity that has occurred over the last 7 years since his last album, which is expected. It is a more grown up love song, and is filled with lots of lines that make me smile. I'm a romantic at heart, so this may not ring true for everyone.
Another aspect that is similar to FutureSex/LoveSounds is the outro, which almost all the songs on that album had either an outro or an intro. It features a stripped down hip-hop beat with a great bass drum, and J.T. serenading the listener while his backing vocals repeat "You are, you are, the love, of my life".

Overall, this is a spectacular song, and a perfect choice as another single for his upcoming album. I am even more excited for the release, which is expected on March 19th. Great job Justin! 5/5

Number Five - My Chemical Romance

This is it, the last single in the Conventional Weapons series. I believe that My Chemical Romance made a very smart decision in releasing these songs, because they are all fantastic songs, some of them being my favorite done by MCR. It makes me sad to be wrapping up my reviews of Conventional Weapons, but I look forward to new material from MCR in the future!

1. Surrender the Night - This song starts with a more melancholy tone, but staying edgy with a faster tempo and a slick guitar lead intro. Gerard Way's vocals never fail to fit the mood of the song, starting off low and soft to build into the chorus. The chorus is where the song shines, with Way reaching into the higher ends of his vocal range as the drums crash and the guitar repeats a line. The vocals of the chorus are my favorite parts, with Way reaching out for someone to "surrender your heart" with such passion and conviction that you want them to do as he says. It's one of those songs that pulls the listener in. I also very much enjoyed the bridge, where MCR brought the song back down again only to build it back up into the fantastic chorus. Another solid record from the boys in MCR. 5/5
2. Burn Bright - The intro of this song begins with a sweet drum intro on the toms, and Way coming in with a rasp to his voice. It's another darker song, but not in an emo way. The build into the chorus reminisces of The Black Parade and the more edgy sound that surrounded the album. The drums are standout in the song, leading the intensity of the song along with Way's vocals. This song, as well as Surrender the Night, display a more emotional aspect of MCR. When in interviews about the Conventional Weapons, the band members stated that the songs from this release would be much darker and edgier than Danger Days. After hearing all of the songs, I definitely understand what they meant. While some of the songs are more upbeat, the overall energy and emotion leans to a more gritty tone. 5/5