"They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said..."

"Sure. What the heck."

Good for you, Amy Winehouse. Good for you.

Unfortunately, summer has not been a time of music festivals and rock concerts for this little Floridian. But between jobs and trips I’ve been racing to my local Best Buy to purchase some tunes. Here’s what I think.

This CD is amazing. All around one of the best sophomore albums I’ve heard. It felt like it took a while for this little group to put out something new, and there are only ten songs, but I feel like they didn’t force anything. Each track is great.

One of my biggest complaints with bands is that they try to overcompensate for their inability to follow up previous hits (ct. Infinity On High). Eisley does add a chorus for “Come Clean,” but they keep their simple piano parts, and even their beloved toy piano at times. You can really feel the band’s growth in this track; the words and melodies are still enchanting and simple, but Eisley’s not afraid to rock out, either.
A+.

I can hardly bring myself to say anything negative about this band. It hurts, it really does. But I have yet to feel the need to listen to The Needles The Space over and over. I love Straylight Run’s originality—and of course you know about my thing with piano-driven music. Sadly, though, this CD’s success will surely fall short of its predecessor, except perhaps with the band’s more loyal following.

That said, this is not a bad CD. It’s got some catchy tracks, my favorite being “The Miracle That Never Came.”

One thumbs up.

Ah, The Starting Line. Feels like just yesterday I was a middle-school kid listening to “The Best of Me,” which will probably forever be these guys’ best (and only?) hit.

I’ve heard friends say this album is a return to the “good stuff,” as if Based on a True Story was straying from all that was decent TSL music. I hear it as a combination of the past two CDs, and additional maturation at the same time. It’s kind of like watching a little kid grow up: after they’ve grown, it makes sense that they look and act the way they do, but at the same time, you never could’ve predicted it years ago.

Ken, the lead singer, has finally gained full control of his voice. The lyrics are also slightly more mature (i.e. less bitter/full of angst). What amazed me most, though, was the quality of the accompaniment parts, which often take a melody all their own, sometimes better than the vocal line.

One smiley face.

I know you saw this one coming. Yes, Paramore’s sophomore album is out, and in my opinion, a bit misnomer-ed. These guys aren’t trying to start a riot. If anything, they’re consoling emo kids with tracks like, “We Are Broken.”

So now they’re all over MTV and the covers of magazines like Alternative Press. Why? First, their first CD developed a good fan base, and touring with the right bands (see above review) helps, too. In addition, however, this album is much more commercial. The songs are notably more catchy, and I’ve already covered the teen-angst anthem “We Are Broken,” so I won’t say anything more.

More commercial doesn’t necessarily mean bad. I was quite impressed at this young band’s ability to come up with a second CD of such good quality so quickly. Besides, you can’t blame them for knowing their audience.

Three gold stars. Out of what? Oh, I don’t know.

See you soon.

Read more!

It's been a while...

(Paramore: picture from purevolume.com)

...since I’ve written anything. I’ve had some password issues.
So here’s a summary of my most recent purchases.


1. Santi: The Academy Is…

The Academy Is broke onto the music scene with Almost Here in 2005. They had a successful tour with Panic!, Hellogoodbye, and Acceptance. Their second full length album, Santi, came out last month, and was a less than adequate follow-up. The songs are good, but even my favorite, “Neighbors," has a chorus that is anticlimactic compared to the Almost Here’s catchy and energetic refrains. It’s not surprising that TAI will be touring with my second disappointing download, Fall Out Boy.

2. Infinity On High: Fall Out Boy

The only explanation I can offer for this disaster is that FOB was budget-happy. After the roaring success of From Under the Cork Tree, the industry that is Fall Out Boy received a major budget inflation. The CD includes dozens of new, unnecessary instruments and a full chorus whenever possible. I won’t even go into the guest appearance of Jay-Z. I will bring up the point that the band fell in love with a single line, “This ain’t a scene, it’s a goddamn arms race.” I will pay someone $5 dollars to count how many times this line is said during the first single released for the album. Consider this deal; you could use it to purchase the new Spill Canvas EP.

3. Denial Feels So Good EP: The Spill Canvas

For many people, The Spill Canvas’ last CD was too chill. My advice for these people: don’t bother giving them a second chance. If One Fell Swoop wasn’t for you, Denial definitely won’t be. I, personally, am a TSC fan, but I was less than satisfied with this EP. The “remix” of Stapplegunned is hardly an exciting change from the original; I think I noticed one added echo. The title track brings back a bit of the band’s aggressive edge, and is the most worthwhile listen on the CD. The rest has a new sound for the group, but isn’t worth more than a few replays.

4. All We Know is Falling: Paramore

I have to admit, I liked this one. I’ll recommend it for fans of Anberlin, Taking Back Sunday, or Plain White Ts. I always enjoy a decent rocker chick, and lead singer Hayley provides this rare sound in today’s music scene. Don’t be fooled by their 14-year-old emo following. Give it a listen.

6. A different light: Sherwood

This is my up-beat, catchy, running album of the month. If you’re a fan of Relient K, Cartel, or The Fold, you may want to check out Sherwood. Actually, I was surprised to hear a very Postal Service-esque track, Alley Cat. The lyrics aren’t anything groundbreaking, but it’s a fun listen. The Simple Life even begins with a hint of The Decemberists. I’ll leave you with my favorite track, “Song In My Head.” Enjoy.

7. The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch: Cute is What We Aim for

I can live with a preposition at the end of a title. That's fine. It's the cocky, predictable lyrics of CIWWAF that I cannot stand. I saw them at my first Jack's Mannequin concert at the House of Blues in Orlando. They were a joke in performance, dress, and musical ability. For some reason, I thought I'd give them a second chance, and it was a waste of time. I was probably just putting off studying for finals.

That’s all for now. Happy summer all!

-Jackie

Read more!