12 shades of gray

I'm such a huge fan of Jay-Z it's not even explainable...and recently my hatred of the Beatles has evolved into a dull acceptance.

Then I was introduced to the Gray album, produced by DJ Danger Mouse. Bad. Ass. It's the instrumental of the Beatles and lyrics of Jay-Z (sung by Jay-Z) all mixed together into an album. When I first heard about this, I thought it was absudr. In my mind these two artisits were complete opposies...but it works so well.

I think mash-ups and new mixes are the coolest thing. Taking two things, whether they're completely different or very similar, and mixing them together and having an incredible new track...that's magic.

What tha fox say?!

Guys I can't stop watching this. It's like a learning song for children...on acid. (the song's on acid, not the children) I think it's crazy that someone paid money to produce this; crazy in an incredible way. I think that with this music video is a good time to talk about the value of art.

Sure, to some people this song and espicially the music video will be absurd and worthless. Even to me, I don't love the inspirational lyrics: "dog goes woof" "cow goes moo" "what does the fox say?", but I love the faith people have in music. I mean really, it's not a poorly produced video, someone put a lot of time and money into this. Now, I don't know much about this band and I rarely opt to be ignorant, but really, I just don't care. BUT SOMEBODY DOES!

Somebody cares about every thing on this planet; from bad music to bad people to broken lamps and misshapen cocktail rings. You know the saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure" but people don't appreciate that anymore. It's ironic, really, how much people care about meaningless things. While you're reading this, someone's probably judging you. Judging your clothes or your hair or the fact that you're reading a blog. who knows. But they probably don't know you. They don't yknow you're story or why you're doing what you're doing. They don't know why it's important to you, they just know it's different from them.

I think that freaks people out, realizing how different they are from some people, usually, a lot of people. I also think that people get mean when they freak out, I know I do. If I'm stressed about a test or something...I get SO cranky. Oh lord. but that doesn't give me a right to bash something thta somebody else loves.

So really, just be nice, and realize that everything is loved by someone, or it wouldn't be here for you to hate.

Maybe "hate" is a strong word.

Some people pride themselves on being Beatles lovers. enthusiasts. obsessesers. whatever.

I'm not one of those people.

I feel like a lot of their music sounds the same, which yeah, is why they're a bad and did an album, I get it. But it just gets old. Two of my favorite albums are Night Visions (which is really a completion of the EP Continued Silence), by Imagine Dragons, and A Thousand Suns by Linkin Park. WAY DIFFERENT, RIGHT? I know. weird.

The Imagine Dragons album hits on everything I like to hear through out the day. Round and Round is slow, chill, almost swingy; good for studying or drifting into a nap. (or both at the same time) On Top of the World makes me want to get up and dance and flash smiles everywhere. Really it's lovely, if you're sad right now, go listen to it and come back. Songs like Bleeding Out and Nothing Left to Say, really powerful songs laced with emotion and strong back beats. I think those are my favorite, just those kinds of songs. I think you get it, I love everything on this album.

But Linkin Park? A Thousand Suns open with this really eery instrumental that slowly builds into the coolest robot woman voice. Like, that's the only way to describe it. The end of this song immediately bleeds into the beginning of the next one: a snippet of a speech, on top of the same beat. The whole album, when listened to in song order is journey. Yeah, I know that sounds so dumb, like what? But really. It is. It's worth listening to. The songs are individually great, like, you probably heard Burning in the Skies, the third song on the album. I think that's the only song of this album that made it to the radio, which is SUCH a shame. This album was made with the intention of the listener listening to it straight through. The songs connect. It's really rad guys. Check it out. All forty seven minutes and fifty six seconds of it. (cool side note, the last song on the album is actually the album all the way through, entitled A Thousand Suns: The Full Experience) How true is that though? It IS an experience.

Music is an experience. Some people love certain things. Some people love swimming...some people get their calfs chewed by sharks. That doesn't make the possible joy in swimming any less valuable or important. I just hate the Beatles.

Five minute blog post.

I really love Priscilla Ann. Well, I love her music in the same way that some people love soda; they only drink Dr. Pepper. I only love her song Dream. Maybe I just love pretty people with lovely voices. Maybe I love thinking about feeding teddy bears tree bark under my treehouse. Childhood flashback, ready: go.

Pandora bliss at last.

So, I categorize all my music in iTunes into genre playlists. For example: Rap Jams, Pop, Jesus Music, and my personal favorite; Chill Weird Vibes. Bands like Walk The Moon, Foster the People, The Head and The Heart, Dan Black, Capital Cities, ect. You get it, lots of alternative songs geared to spark teenage interest. I'm a rerocd labels dream target, and I'm pretty okay with that. But my library gets old.

There's a really long awful story about why I don't use spotify so I'm a Pandora girl for life. [Side note, I really love that Pandora keeps all your stations in chronological order from creation in that nifty side bar, just in case you want to relive your transition from being a capella obsessed to bi-curious with Taylor Swift and Skrilex to finally mellowing out with a few Coldplay inspired stations spiked with Lil' Wane and Big Sean...oh the days]

I've always been on the lookout for a super chill, lovely, listen-to-able station to have running while I'm working or just find myself in a really chill kind of mood. I tried plugging in singers like Eliza Doolittle, Regina Spektor, even went out on a limb with the Florence and the Machine...nothing ever really met my expectations. Until Miley Cryus.

Yeah. What the fuck?

Her newest (okay that's not true at all, it's not now but the scandalous music video is. Which, another side note, did exactly what she wanted it to. People like me, who had never heard this song or anything from her album, are talking about her. Props Miley, haters gonna hate) anyway, that "new" song Wrecking Ball....I dig it. I dig it a lot. Maybe I'm just wallowing in my pong of stress form college apps or maybe deep inside I have the urge to swing around like Miley and not give a damn what anyone thinks. wither way, I love the song...and so does Pandora! Finally, I plugged in her single and out came a wonderful station I've been listening to for a few hours now. I haven't heard one song I already know...and that's the best feeling.

My favorite lovely Lady: Kate Martin. Just...youtube her song Apples.
honorable mention: Charlotte Sometimes (I really hope that's her real name....not the product of a rebellious teenage name change)

Lord Have Mercy, life's crazy.

I'm a strong believer in fate and knowing that things happen for a reason; that people go through events in their life to build an increible and beautiful person. Well, life built Brady Toops.

His most recent and album, Brady Toops, has become overwhelmingly popular, making it to number eight the day of it's release. Brady played baseball through high school and attended camp and Kanakuk, a christian youth retreat. Through the years his experiences built him into an amazing man. His abilities, both musical and athletic have touched so many others.

His christian songs talk about the Love of God, but in a new and wonderful way. His music is calming and beautiful. His voice is soothing with almost every song being backed with a chorus.  I don't think you have to be Christian to appreciate his music; you have to be human. Whether or not you believe in a God, anybody can realize and feel the true passion and love in Brady's voice. That's what music is about; sharing passion. Sharing what you love most with people you might not know. Being so overcome with joy that you have to sing about it. Thank you Brady, for this album, may you always know how your music has touched those around you.

Discovering Shovels and Rope, Portugal. The Man, and realizing I hate Vampire weekend

When I first heard "We're Going Down" by Vampire weekend, I really enjoyed it. It was simple and catchy and had a nice soft funky beat. that was months ago...and I can not express how over it I am.

Moving on to my new-found loves. Birmingham, When I, Hells Bells. My top three favorite Shovels and Rope songs. This couple is so different. They really sound like The head and the heart mixed with...just a raw awesome twang. "It ain't what you got, it's what you make" - Birmingham. I love their geniune lyrics and just the simple churchy almost uncomfortable tones their voices make together. This music makes me want to dance and sing and, I just love it.

Purple Yellow Red & Blue. Their most popular song with one of the strangest music videos I have ever seen. Three seconds into the song you find this super catchy soft fuck beat. Thirty seconds in it bangs into a very anthem-like sound. The whole vibe of this song in particular song is so badass, in the best of modern alternative music ways. Portugal. The Man will for sure have one more member in their audience at ACL.

The importance of music in my life.

Since a small age, lusic has been a connection between my dad and I. Music has grown with me, choir becoming equally important as finding new bands to go out and enjoy. I think that people who associate songs with moments and memories in their lives have a stronger connection to the music. When you hear a song, it has such a great ability to take you back to the first moment you heard that song. The song of your first kiss or the first time you drove down 183 with the windows down, radio on full blast. Music gives people a real connection through time.

Music has always been important to me. Seeing it be equally important to other people can be such a moving experience, too. When I'm listening to a song I like knowing the story behind it. Maybe it's snobbish, but I like knowing that I'm listening to something genuine. Whether it be an overplayed pop song on the radio or a sweet independent artist writing about a recent breakup, I love knowing the story.

Music holds small snippets of life, both from the listeners and artists life. Music has the power to connect people, and I think that's a beautiful thing.