The Return of Music Monday

I've been informed a couple different times (by a couple different people, interestingly enough) that I really need to post on my blog more often.  And they're right.  I do.  So my apologies for neglecting this.  College life gives other things precedence--though with the amount of time I spend procrastinating, I could just as easily post at least twice daily.  Hahaha.  Oops.  Oh wellz.

Anyway, as long as it's Monday (and--hey look, I'm procrastinating!) I'll cover some music.  So let's get to it!

First up is The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus's new album, Am I The Enemy.

The album art is interesting.  (Did you know I used to discuss just album art back when I first started writing this blog?  I did.  It made for some interesting posts...)

Anyway.  I'm rather fond of this new album.  The particularly interesting/cool thing about this band is that every single album and EP they produce has a completely different feel/sound than the last one did.  Even still, they manage to maintain what they had in the previous album.  This album and Don't You Fake It are so completely different you might not even guess they were the same band if you listened to them blind--except that there's still strains of Don't You Fake It to be found in Am I The Enemy if you know what you're listening for/to.  No two albums are the same, and no two songs on each album are the same.    I was playing some samples from each album for my roommate and it's just incredible how dynamic this band is.  Their music is an amalgamation of new ideas and old sentiments wrapped together in a unique, powerful motion of sound.

Patrick Stump was the vocalist for Fall Out Boy until apparently he decided he needed to go solo.  He and Pete Wentz have very different creative processes and directions and after the extensive amount of time they spent together, it was time to break away and go out alone.
Personally, I've always had a thing for Patrick Stump's voice.  I think it's nice to listen to and it slides down the back of my neck and my arms like the velvety shampoo you're rinsing out of your hair with water that perfect balance between hot and hot.  His voice is this brilliant shade of tangerine and I love it.
This is the single Patrick released from his album Soul Punk which will become available on October 18th.  Personally, I will be buying this album without hesitation.  I'm in love with "This City" featuring Lupe Fiasco, even though I can't exactly identify with it--i.e. it's definitely not my theme song. hahaha.
This is the video.  Take a listen.  Oh.  And I rather enjoy this video, too.  Patrick's come a long way (physically) from the kid that started singing for FOB all those years ago.  He's had ups and downs--as have we all--and he's definitely in an up right now.  I wouldn't say I have a crush on Patrick, but he's definitely attractive.  But then, I'm attracted to talent and a pretty voice, so we can't go strictly on my opinion, can we?

The next song I'm going to talk about is "Broken" by Lifehouse.  It's a relatively old song, I know, released in mid-2008, and I'm certain most of you are already familiar with it, but it's a song that I kind of rediscovered a few days ago and fell in love with all over again.

The thing about this song is that it makes me want to cry.  It's beautiful, it's sad, it's moving, and I identify far too well/easily.  But I think that most people can relate to this song on some level or another.  Our hearts have all broken.  We've all lost our way and we've all watched ourselves careen into a disaster we couldn't prevent.  You might argue with me when you read this, but think really hard about your life.  Spend a few minutes to really analyze some of your life and you'll probably find that on some psychological level, I'm right.

The video doesn't help the urge to cry.  It just makes it worse.  Even still, I love it.  And I've listened to this song at least a couple dozen times in the last few days.

So there's this band called My Darkest Days.  They're a hard rock band and have this totally badass, grab your gut and make you wanna move kind of sound that throws an adrenaline rush.  I love it.

The song they're best known for is Porn Star Dancing--and hell yes I love that song.  It's incredibly inappropriate, but since when has that mattered to me?  I mean really.  Chad Kroeger (Nickelback vocalist) discovered them a couple years back and signed them to his label, 604 Records.  He's in the Porn Star Dancing video and actually sings at least a portion of one verse.  It's totally bad ass.  And the video is... well... fitting.  But it's hot.  I like it.  A lot.  It makes me want to dance--and somehow I sort of think that's the point.

Dirty singles aside, they have a lot of really good music--and it doesn't all regard/involve sex, either.  Actually most of it doesn't but whatever.  I'm a fan and I'll be on the lookout for this album, too.  Color me impressed.

And Mylanta the vocalist of this band is sexy.  Look them up.  I'm not posting Porn Star Dancing on my blog.  No way. hahaha

And with that, I think I'm done.  It's past 2 am.  I have to be up in less than 5 hours because I desperately need to shower before I leave for my biology lab--which I need to leave for slightly early so I can print it out in the computer lab in my building. Lol. Because that's how I roll. hahah. (Usually I print it out the night before but we had printer difficulties and haven't bothered to actually contend with them. So. Whatever.)  And my roommate has to get up in 3.5 hours.  She's on the hockey team.  I... couldn't do it.  Hellz no.  No way.

I should go to sleep.  Tomorrow will undoubtedly be a very long day.  I have 3 classes, I'm donating blood, and I have to go get my glasses fixed.
Oh yeah. I broke my glasses.  It's really annoying.  I miss being able to see.  Though I'm pretty sure I need a new prescription, anyway.  Yes, I know I've only had them for four months.  But I'm pretty sure I need a stronger prescription.  I can't see anymore like I know I should be able to.  It's aggravating.

Anyway, I'm out. Before I go off on another tangent.
Ta ta.
--Emily Renae

Some Thoughts to Update

It's been awhile since I've posted so I figured I should probably come say hi, eh?  Hi!
Now that THAT'S out of the way... hahaha. (Kidding.)
Anyway, I've had a few things floating around in my head that I just... kinda feel like sharing.

For example.  I'm probably going to make an ass of myself right now, but I really feel like this needs to be said.
You know those "suicide walks" that people do? Where they walk a 5K or whatever and feel like they're doing something to prevent future suicides or raise awareness or something?  I have a few thoughts.
A.) You are aware that a teenager considering suicide isn't going to give a shit that you walked a 5K in the name of prevention...right?  Because it's not like you did anything for him/her.  You walked. Good for you.  How does that address their psychological issues in any way whatsoever?  Really.
B.)  Think about who you're walking for.  Now think about what their personality was like.  Now think about their most plausible reaction to your walking a 5K in their memory.  No, my brother was not "with you in spirit."  He was rolling his eyes at you and telling you that you're being stupid.  Because that's how he was; I'm sorry if you chose to carefully forget that part, but you're doing more of a disservice to his memory by negating parts of him than you think I am by remembering the less-shiny parts.

On a completely different note, my dad keeps asking me every time he sees me if I've been to a party yet and when I'm gonna start.  And it's making me feel extremely lame.  Simultaneously, I have multiple people vying for my attention at many given points and I just don't know how to handle that.  Like, I've never had to deal with that so I don't particularly know how to.  Last night I had to go to a concert and had 4 people expecting me to sit with them.  So I made them all sit together and I sat in the middle.  That doesn't happen to me.  I'm definitely not complaining. It's kind of nice for once.  But I won't lie that I'm kind of confused.  When and how did I suddenly become not a totally obnoxious dweeb?
Maybe when I left high school.  I knew college would be better.

Homework is getting in the way of my attempt to develop a social life.  I keep having to tell people I can't do stuff because I have work to do.  That sucks!  I haven't had a life up until now and now that I have an opportunity to have one, guess who doesn't have time.  Oh well. I've been working on this really excellent procrastination system that's been working pretty well.  I don't have to get up before 10 am 4 out of 5 days of the week.  So that's nice.
I'm also writing for the campus newspaper.  You know, I thought that I could write before.  When I write articles for this paper, I feel like a n00b.  Like, I feel like the articles I've written are terrible.  My editor tells me they're great, but I think he's just being nice to me.  Because I'm almost embarrassed by them.  I really wish I'd have actually learned anything in high school English classes; that would've been nice.

One of my instructors just decided that I should be taking private lessons for my flute since I'm actually good at it.  I'm not going to be overly humble about that because it's one of the few things that I recognize my ability to do well.  I'm not amazing, but I'm good.  And he decided I should take private lessons and be better.  But it's another $150 for this semester.  I didn't particularly want to take private lessons this semester, though I won't really complain because I love my flute and band isn't really enough playing for me.  Even still... lessons?  I'm not even a music major!

I took my Canadian roommate to Coldstone Creamery today in the mall and we discovered that we get student discounts there.  That could be a problem in the future, no lie. hahaha.  But I kinda went all out with a dipped waffle bowl and everything.  Twas excellent.  And by the time I got back to my dorm room, I was in an amazing mood.  It's crazy what ice cream can do.
I've come to the conclusion that I need copious amounts of dairy in my diet because without it, my digestive tract gets all screwed up and I start getting sick all the time.  Also, I become easily depressed and am generally slightly sad.  I've noticed that over the ages.  So I try to keep dairy in my life.  That's why I could never be a vegan.  I'd probably die. hahaha

It's a quarter to three in the morning, and I am bloody exhausted.  Like, fo' realz.  So I'm going to go to bed now.  I'll catch you at a later date--hopefully not too much later. I think I have other stuff to talk about.
I might do a couple movie reviews tomorrow. =]  We shall see.  I have a Spanish project I need to actually finish, even though I doubt I'll present until Wednesday.  About the time I count on that I'll be asked to Monday. hahaha.  So. I'm out.

Ta ta
--Emily Renae