Friday, July 10, 2009
Best site for punk rock lyrics ...
Forget googling for punk lyrics and ending up on some completely ad-riddled page. Head over to plyrics.com. Ok, they do still have ads but it doesn't seem as bad as some sites. And ok, I'm pretty sure they are actually the same as one of the big, top hitting lyrics sites. Regardless, they have only punk bands and it's great.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Me & 14 year olds .... love All Time Low.
I've been meaning to write a post about All Time Low for a couple months now. I discovered their EP "Put Up or Shut Up" through iTunes genius and the song "Coffee Shop Soundtrack" awoken the musical core in me. That sounds ridiculous but I don't know how else to describe it. As I've gotten older, it's become harder and harder to find new music that rocks my roll as they say. When I was younger there was a vast sea out there just waiting for my discovery. But now ... now I know what I like. I should like new music. I should like hipster rock - 80s? Punk? Rockabilly? The combo should be perfect for me ... but it's just not. I guess I'm too much of a purist or something.
The truth is that the music I have always loved the most has been cheesy boy pop punk (i.e. MxPx) and authentic girlie ska/pop punk (Dance Hall Crashers, Tragic Kingdom-era No Doubt). (Don't you hate music labels? I mean what does authentic girlie ska/pop punk even mean? Granted I made it up but still.) Occasionally, I go through phases of listening to other stuff but the truth is that it always comes down to music that appeals to 14 year olds. Which is interesting because when I was actually 14, I was pretty much 14 going on 40. (I like to say that I've begun regressing). I'll get to the girlie ska/pop punk another day because All Time Low is pure cheesy pop punk. And I freakin' love it.
iTunes Genius recommended All Time Low because I downloaded New Found Glory's newest album at the time. I think that they sound more like Fall Out Boy than New Found Glory though. They are more nasally and Jordan-esque than FOB but All Time Low's singer's vocal stylings remind me a lot of Fall Out Boy's.
The last band to get me out of a musically devoid funk was The Loved Ones with their song "Jane." (I'm sick of feeling like I lost this fight/I'm sick of graying out the wrongs and rights ... I've got this guitar I can barely play ... If you can't forgive me for my mistakes/My heart will break, my heart will break) This time it was All Time Low's "Coffee Shop Soundtrack." (When it all comes down to a sunrise on the east side/Will you be there to carry home the remains of my wasted youth?/This wasted time on you has left me shaking and waiting for something more) Sometimes songs just hit you in that special way. You know?
All Time Low came out with a new album, "Nothing Personal," on Tuesday. I hadn't listened to it because I had MTX stuck in my head all day on Wednesday. Lately, I just have not been in a book reading mood which is very strange for me. So this morning when I got on the subway, I decided to put on "Nothing Personal." Normally, I'm too figity to just listen to music but today ... today it was just right.
"Weightless" is their first single and the first song on their album. I'm pretty sure I've heard it before. At the time it didn't strike me as anything special. This time was different. It started off with just vocals and synth-pop drums. My first thought was "really? synth-pop? gross." But then the standard pop-punk guitar crash came in, da-nut. "I'm stuck in a fucking rut/Waiting on a second hand pick me up/I'm over getting older." Um, hello? This is MY song. The song builds and then the chorus comes. "Maybe it's not my weekend but it's gonna be my year." Maybe it's not my weekend but it's gonna be my year.
And I start smiling on the 7 train to work. I start smiling even though I'm super late to work. Even though I probably look like a big fat fool. Even though there a billion things that I wanted to get done in the last few weeks but didn't.
Maybe it's not my weekend but it's gonna be my year.
Hell yeah.
Here are all the lyrics with my personal emphasis.
What songs rock your roll?
The truth is that the music I have always loved the most has been cheesy boy pop punk (i.e. MxPx) and authentic girlie ska/pop punk (Dance Hall Crashers, Tragic Kingdom-era No Doubt). (Don't you hate music labels? I mean what does authentic girlie ska/pop punk even mean? Granted I made it up but still.) Occasionally, I go through phases of listening to other stuff but the truth is that it always comes down to music that appeals to 14 year olds. Which is interesting because when I was actually 14, I was pretty much 14 going on 40. (I like to say that I've begun regressing). I'll get to the girlie ska/pop punk another day because All Time Low is pure cheesy pop punk. And I freakin' love it.
iTunes Genius recommended All Time Low because I downloaded New Found Glory's newest album at the time. I think that they sound more like Fall Out Boy than New Found Glory though. They are more nasally and Jordan-esque than FOB but All Time Low's singer's vocal stylings remind me a lot of Fall Out Boy's.
The last band to get me out of a musically devoid funk was The Loved Ones with their song "Jane." (I'm sick of feeling like I lost this fight/I'm sick of graying out the wrongs and rights ... I've got this guitar I can barely play ... If you can't forgive me for my mistakes/My heart will break, my heart will break) This time it was All Time Low's "Coffee Shop Soundtrack." (When it all comes down to a sunrise on the east side/Will you be there to carry home the remains of my wasted youth?/This wasted time on you has left me shaking and waiting for something more) Sometimes songs just hit you in that special way. You know?
All Time Low came out with a new album, "Nothing Personal," on Tuesday. I hadn't listened to it because I had MTX stuck in my head all day on Wednesday. Lately, I just have not been in a book reading mood which is very strange for me. So this morning when I got on the subway, I decided to put on "Nothing Personal." Normally, I'm too figity to just listen to music but today ... today it was just right.
"Weightless" is their first single and the first song on their album. I'm pretty sure I've heard it before. At the time it didn't strike me as anything special. This time was different. It started off with just vocals and synth-pop drums. My first thought was "really? synth-pop? gross." But then the standard pop-punk guitar crash came in, da-nut. "I'm stuck in a fucking rut/Waiting on a second hand pick me up/I'm over getting older." Um, hello? This is MY song. The song builds and then the chorus comes. "Maybe it's not my weekend but it's gonna be my year." Maybe it's not my weekend but it's gonna be my year.
And I start smiling on the 7 train to work. I start smiling even though I'm super late to work. Even though I probably look like a big fat fool. Even though there a billion things that I wanted to get done in the last few weeks but didn't.
Maybe it's not my weekend but it's gonna be my year.
Hell yeah.
Here are all the lyrics with my personal emphasis.
Manage me, I'm a mess
Turn a page, I'm a book
Half unread
I wanna be laughed at
Laughed with, just because
I wanna feel weightless
And that should be enough
But I'm stuck in this fucking rut
Waiting on a second hand pick me up
And I'm over, getting older
If I could just find the time
Then I would never let another day go by
I'm over, getting old
Maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere
And this is my reaction
To everything I fear
Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here
Make believe that I impress
That every word
By design
Turns a head
I wanna feel reckless
I wanna live it up, just because
I wanna feel weightless
Cause that would be enough
If I could just find the time
Then I would never let another day go by
I'm over, getting old
Maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere
And this is my reaction
To everything I fear
Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here
This could be all that I've waited for
(I've waited, I've waited for)
And this could be everything
I don't wanna dream anymore
Maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year
And I've been going crazy
I'm stuck in here
Maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year (it's gonna be my year)
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere (go nowhere)
And this is my reaction
To everything I fear (everything I fear)
Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here
Turn a page, I'm a book
Half unread
I wanna be laughed at
Laughed with, just because
I wanna feel weightless
And that should be enough
But I'm stuck in this fucking rut
Waiting on a second hand pick me up
And I'm over, getting older
If I could just find the time
Then I would never let another day go by
I'm over, getting old
Maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere
And this is my reaction
To everything I fear
Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here
Make believe that I impress
That every word
By design
Turns a head
I wanna feel reckless
I wanna live it up, just because
I wanna feel weightless
Cause that would be enough
If I could just find the time
Then I would never let another day go by
I'm over, getting old
Maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere
And this is my reaction
To everything I fear
Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here
This could be all that I've waited for
(I've waited, I've waited for)
And this could be everything
I don't wanna dream anymore
Maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year
And I've been going crazy
I'm stuck in here
Maybe it's not my weekend
But it's gonna be my year (it's gonna be my year)
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere (go nowhere)
And this is my reaction
To everything I fear (everything I fear)
Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here
What songs rock your roll?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Billy Bragg at the Grand Ballroom, New York, NY
Tonight I had the privilege of seeing Billy Bragg live for the first time. The show was extra special because it was Adam's Birthday present ... and it was awesome.
Part Nader Rally, part punk rock show, part acoustic performance at a coffee shop, on-stage, Billy Bragg, is not like any performer I've ever seen - partly because he spent about as much time talking as he did playing. He bitched out an audience member who was heckling him about war in Ireland. He talked about the excitement he felt in the US over this election and warned us that, like Britain when Blair became PM after Thatcher, our expectations were high and likely to not be met. However, if Obama is elected, we shouldn't be cynical because this election, while it doesn't represent a change in the world, it does represent possibility. He was so good that I even enjoyed one of my least favorite songs - "Sexuality."
There were two especially profound moments for me though. The first was when he related an anecdote about going to see The Clash at the first Rock Against Racism show. At the time he was working in an office with a bunch of racist, sexist assholes but he never said anything to them because he felt like he was alone in his disgust. After going to the Clash show, his perspective changed and he went into work the next Monday and told the guys in his office what he thought. The point of the story was that people say that "what we are doing here is preaching to the choir" but he sees it as a way to come together and become invigorated with the notion that we are not alone in our beliefs. Then we can go out in the world and stand up for what is right with the backing of that knowledge.
The second special moment for me involved the interesting crowd. There were 2 meat-headish guys standing in front of us. Not the kind of guys you'd think would be at a Billy Bragg show. One of them was particularly into the show. When Billy began playing "There's Power In a Union," this guy along with half the crowd raised his fist for every "The Union Forever" and he dude-hugged his friend at every "With our brothers and our sisters from many far-off lands/
There is power in a Union." The friend - like many in the crowd - seemed a little uncomfortable at first but by the end of the song he was raising his fist with everyone else.
When I was a teenager, I would go to shows and be profoundly moved by the energy of the crowd - the bodies swaying together, the voices singing together, the towering-yet-accessible guy on stage. That's a feeling that is - for better or worse - no longer really a part of my life.
Tonight's show was a grown up version of that teenage feeling of camaraderie, energy, and hope and Billy Bragg is nothing short of a modern Woody Guthrie.*
* In fact, he played a Woody Guthrie song and noted how poignant and relevant the lyrics to Guthrie's songs are today.
Part Nader Rally, part punk rock show, part acoustic performance at a coffee shop, on-stage, Billy Bragg, is not like any performer I've ever seen - partly because he spent about as much time talking as he did playing. He bitched out an audience member who was heckling him about war in Ireland. He talked about the excitement he felt in the US over this election and warned us that, like Britain when Blair became PM after Thatcher, our expectations were high and likely to not be met. However, if Obama is elected, we shouldn't be cynical because this election, while it doesn't represent a change in the world, it does represent possibility. He was so good that I even enjoyed one of my least favorite songs - "Sexuality."
There were two especially profound moments for me though. The first was when he related an anecdote about going to see The Clash at the first Rock Against Racism show. At the time he was working in an office with a bunch of racist, sexist assholes but he never said anything to them because he felt like he was alone in his disgust. After going to the Clash show, his perspective changed and he went into work the next Monday and told the guys in his office what he thought. The point of the story was that people say that "what we are doing here is preaching to the choir" but he sees it as a way to come together and become invigorated with the notion that we are not alone in our beliefs. Then we can go out in the world and stand up for what is right with the backing of that knowledge.
The second special moment for me involved the interesting crowd. There were 2 meat-headish guys standing in front of us. Not the kind of guys you'd think would be at a Billy Bragg show. One of them was particularly into the show. When Billy began playing "There's Power In a Union," this guy along with half the crowd raised his fist for every "The Union Forever" and he dude-hugged his friend at every "With our brothers and our sisters from many far-off lands/
There is power in a Union." The friend - like many in the crowd - seemed a little uncomfortable at first but by the end of the song he was raising his fist with everyone else.
When I was a teenager, I would go to shows and be profoundly moved by the energy of the crowd - the bodies swaying together, the voices singing together, the towering-yet-accessible guy on stage. That's a feeling that is - for better or worse - no longer really a part of my life.
Tonight's show was a grown up version of that teenage feeling of camaraderie, energy, and hope and Billy Bragg is nothing short of a modern Woody Guthrie.*
* In fact, he played a Woody Guthrie song and noted how poignant and relevant the lyrics to Guthrie's songs are today.
Monday, October 13, 2008
New Playlist: "Reinventing Happiness Again"
I made this last night. It's the first playlist I've made in a long time. Significant? Perhaps.
Give it a few minutes; it takes forever to load ...
If it never loads, click here.
Give it a few minutes; it takes forever to load ...
If it never loads, click here.
How to be a Rock Star - Life lessons and other such dissapointments ...
In my previous, and also ironically titled, post, I wrote about having to make a big scary decision. Update: I wussed out in making it and now it has been made for me ... which may or may not be better. The point is this: I'm back to square one. Literally, figuratively, emotionally.
Last week, I felt like I was treading water ... and had been for a long long time. I wonder where that metaphor will take me now ... hopefully, swimming forward but then again, it might take me out of the pool entirely.
Tonight, as I paid $15 an hour to play by myself, a certain lyric I wrote long ago hit me:
Ok. Enough with the self-pitying drama. Anyone know a drummer??
Last week, I felt like I was treading water ... and had been for a long long time. I wonder where that metaphor will take me now ... hopefully, swimming forward but then again, it might take me out of the pool entirely.
Tonight, as I paid $15 an hour to play by myself, a certain lyric I wrote long ago hit me:
i was taught a lesson i'll never forget
the things i want the most are the things i'll never get
Ok. Enough with the self-pitying drama. Anyone know a drummer??
Friday, October 10, 2008
Genius Playlist: Maybe Tonight
I was messing around with Apple's new Genius feature and to try it out, I asked it to come up with a playlist for Nicole Atkin's song Maybe Tonight.
I just realized this playlist changes as it goes so instead of listing it, I'm going to list the high lights and low lights so far ...
I started with: Maybe Tonight by Nicole Atkins off Neptune City in Country - Alt Country
Highlights:
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists in Rock - Hipster
The Pretenders in 80s/New Wave
Paul Westerberg in Rock - Indie/Alternative
Pixies in Rock - Indie/Alternative - I'm not a big huge Pixies fan but I think it's nifty that it came up here
Old 97's and Rhett Miller in Country - Alt Country - Since I was introduced to Nicole Atkins when she opened for Rhett Miller recently, this is extra fitting.
Sucked Out by Superdrag off Regretfully Yours in Rock - Indie/Alternative - I'd forgotten how awesome this song is! Yay 1996!
The Clash in Punk - See! My love of country AND punk totally makes sense!
Elvis Costello
Into Action by Tim Armstrong off A Poet's Life in Ska - Excellent Song. Well played Genius.
Neko Case - Obvious but enjoyable.
Motion City Soundtrack - Hells Yeah! Teeny Boppin' Pop-Punk meets self-proclaimed 'pop noir'! It's like cheese and wine ... perfect.
Dashboard Confessional - See above.
Billy Bragg
The Muffs - Yes yes yes.
Strange/Unexpected/Unsure:
San Francisco by Vanessa Carlton off Harmonium in Pop - It's true. I like Vanessa Carlton. Go ahead and judge.
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths off Louder Than Bombs in Rock - Indie/Alternative - Those closest to me know my most hidden, shameful musical flaw - I don't really like the Smiths. However, in this context, they were quite nice.
Nellie McKay - A friend gave me this album years ago and, truth be told, I haven't listened to it much. I enjoyed her though and will probably take a few more listens.
Tegan and Sara - Tegan and Sara was a popular association for Genius. I got all my Tegan and Sara songs from a friend and really only ever listen to them on shuffle or now on this. It's not that I don't enjoy; it's just ... I don't know, perhaps on their own, it's too much hipster/indieness for me.
Not so much:
Fountains Of Wayne off Traffic and Weather in Rock - Indie/Alternative - A couple songs off this album came up and I felt the need to skip them everytime. I guess I don't like Fountains of Wayne so much - except "Leave the Biker," that song is freakin' awesome.
I just realized this playlist changes as it goes so instead of listing it, I'm going to list the high lights and low lights so far ...
I started with: Maybe Tonight by Nicole Atkins off Neptune City in Country - Alt Country
Highlights:
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists in Rock - Hipster
The Pretenders in 80s/New Wave
Paul Westerberg in Rock - Indie/Alternative
Pixies in Rock - Indie/Alternative - I'm not a big huge Pixies fan but I think it's nifty that it came up here
Old 97's and Rhett Miller in Country - Alt Country - Since I was introduced to Nicole Atkins when she opened for Rhett Miller recently, this is extra fitting.
Sucked Out by Superdrag off Regretfully Yours in Rock - Indie/Alternative - I'd forgotten how awesome this song is! Yay 1996!
The Clash in Punk - See! My love of country AND punk totally makes sense!
Elvis Costello
Into Action by Tim Armstrong off A Poet's Life in Ska - Excellent Song. Well played Genius.
Neko Case - Obvious but enjoyable.
Motion City Soundtrack - Hells Yeah! Teeny Boppin' Pop-Punk meets self-proclaimed 'pop noir'! It's like cheese and wine ... perfect.
Dashboard Confessional - See above.
Billy Bragg
The Muffs - Yes yes yes.
Strange/Unexpected/Unsure:
San Francisco by Vanessa Carlton off Harmonium in Pop - It's true. I like Vanessa Carlton. Go ahead and judge.
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths off Louder Than Bombs in Rock - Indie/Alternative - Those closest to me know my most hidden, shameful musical flaw - I don't really like the Smiths. However, in this context, they were quite nice.
Nellie McKay - A friend gave me this album years ago and, truth be told, I haven't listened to it much. I enjoyed her though and will probably take a few more listens.
Tegan and Sara - Tegan and Sara was a popular association for Genius. I got all my Tegan and Sara songs from a friend and really only ever listen to them on shuffle or now on this. It's not that I don't enjoy; it's just ... I don't know, perhaps on their own, it's too much hipster/indieness for me.
Not so much:
Fountains Of Wayne off Traffic and Weather in Rock - Indie/Alternative - A couple songs off this album came up and I felt the need to skip them everytime. I guess I don't like Fountains of Wayne so much - except "Leave the Biker," that song is freakin' awesome.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
And it's iTunes for the win!
Sunday I installed the new version of iTunes - usually I'm pretty lax about my updates but iTunes was giving me weird errors so I thought it would help. With the new install, came "Genius," a nifty little side bar for iTunes that recommends music or creates playlists based on a selected song.
I decided to try it out and see what it would say. To be honest, I was wary. I selected my favorite Buddy Holly song - (I don't care) Baby you're so square (which, by the way, Joni Mitchell covers - how wierd is that?). Genius created a playlist which I have yet to listen to - it was an interesting mix of old rock n roll and punk which, for me, is an excellent sign and Genius recommended a few Buddy Holly songs I didn't own.
So I begin trying this for various other artists, styles, etc. At some point, I click on The Cramps ... and what? iTunes now carries two albums - A Date with Elvis and Stay Sick - that I have had on backorder from Amazon fo-ever! Amazing!
I kept looking and end up on Face to Face. What awesomeness does iTunes recommend?? An EP called So Why Aren't You Happy? that came out with Ignorance is Bliss and was only available from Best Buy!
Dear iTunes - I love you. I know you didn't carry all this stuff before because I've searched for The Cramps album but now that you do, I am forever grateful.
On iTunes:
The Cramps - A Date with Elvis
The Cramps - Stay Sick
Face to Face - So Why Aren't You Happy? EP
I decided to try it out and see what it would say. To be honest, I was wary. I selected my favorite Buddy Holly song - (I don't care) Baby you're so square (which, by the way, Joni Mitchell covers - how wierd is that?). Genius created a playlist which I have yet to listen to - it was an interesting mix of old rock n roll and punk which, for me, is an excellent sign and Genius recommended a few Buddy Holly songs I didn't own.
So I begin trying this for various other artists, styles, etc. At some point, I click on The Cramps ... and what? iTunes now carries two albums - A Date with Elvis and Stay Sick - that I have had on backorder from Amazon fo-ever! Amazing!
I kept looking and end up on Face to Face. What awesomeness does iTunes recommend?? An EP called So Why Aren't You Happy? that came out with Ignorance is Bliss and was only available from Best Buy!
Dear iTunes - I love you. I know you didn't carry all this stuff before because I've searched for The Cramps album but now that you do, I am forever grateful.
On iTunes:
The Cramps - A Date with Elvis
The Cramps - Stay Sick
Face to Face - So Why Aren't You Happy? EP
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