Life can take unexpected turns at times; open new doors and slam other ones. I’ve neglected this blog for a year but decided to give this blogging thing another chance. I started up curveistheword because it’s something I truly believe in. No matter your shape or size, you are beautiful. The media tends to leave that out almost 99% of the time and even if one person reads a post and learns that from me, I’ll be happy. So follow along because curve is truly the word.
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It’s just one of those days when you’re not quite feeling like yourself. You know the ones I’m talking about where it’s hard to find the motivation to do anything; you keep flipping back and forth between TLC reruns, you order a chicken bowl from KFC but take out the chicken, constantly go from Facebook to Twitter to Facebook and back to Twitter just in case you miss something. Something just feels off, like you’re unbalanced. Maybe it’s the fact that I have been on a strict no talking order from my doctor, or that I had major oral surgery last week and have a crazy amount of meds pumping through my system, but I can sense that I’m just, off.
To be honest, the daunting task of doing 365 album reviews in 365 days started freaking me out so I just stopped. Of course no one was holding me to such a task except my self, but isn’t there a saying that if you put something on the Internet, it makes you obligated to do it? I don’t know, now I’m blabbering at this point but seeing as it’s my blog, I’m going to blab all I want.
The point trying to be made is being off and how sometimes, the only medicine we need is music. There’s this feeling that you get when you make a great playlist or stumble upon new music that is just…heartwarming. Endearing. Maybe even soul satisfying. It’s great. So yeah, I feel like I’m constantly being hit in the mouth with a baseball bat, but as long as I have sweet tunes creeping out of my speakers, the pain is mollified a bit.
Back In Black
I haven’t been able to stop listening to these songs (and the honorable mentions below) for the past couple of days. One could say I was in a bit of a musical drought, only listening to my overly-extensive workout playlist when I was hitting up the gym. So sit back, take a listen and enjoy. No, seriously, enjoy it.
What can I say? I’m back in black.
It’s only fitting that this album came out the year (actually, weeks before) I turn 24. You’ll understand the meaning of that sentence as soon as you listen to the first track (or click play below). I discovered The Vaccines a couple of months ago, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t feel like I’ve been listening to them for years. Come of Age is still the same guitar/slightly mo-town sound of What Did You Expect but it’s like that feeling you got when you read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – pure happiness.
That’s all I have to add on this topic. Check the video below.
“What’s a boy to do if he’ll never be a gangsta”… This pretty much somes up TuNe-YaRds. If you ever get a chance to see her, I highly suggest it. Does she have the best albums ever? No, but she does put on one of the best, and liveliest shows. After seeing her live, I have mad respect for her because not only does she loop her vocals and rhythms to build the songs, but she can sing like like it’s nobody’s business. Oh, right, without any effort at all. She’d put to shame most of the singing reality TV show contestants within 5 bars of a song.
Okay, enough of that. Pitchfork loves Merrill (TuNe-YaRdS herself) but really, the album is really fun. It’s one of those records you listen to in the summer or fall and just dance to. It’s been a long week. That’s all my mind can muster at this point in time.
If you have never listened to LCD Soundsystem, I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems and James Murphy ain’t one. Yeah, I just rapped Jay-Z, get over it. Seriously though, LCD Soundsystem is one of those bands, similar to Girl Talk, where you can put on any album and a party will break loose (or, if you are having a party, you can put on the album and everyone will dance).
This Is Happening has been praised and hailed as one of the best albums of the 2000s (go check Pitchfork). If you love HBO’s “Girls” as much as I do, you’ve actually heard “I Can Change” (it’s the episode where Marnie meets Booth Jonathan and then goes into the bathroom to do….). I first listened to “Drunk Girls” when I was a panelist on one of the new music shows on my college radio station (fun fact: I found many good bands from that show!).
Warning, most songs are well over 6 minutes in length, but really, don’t judge the album based off that because you legitimately get your moneys worth. So go listen to it. Now.
Post script: I had the opportunity to see LCD Soundsystem AND Hot Chip and didn’t sieze it. I kick myself almost every day for that.
It’s no secret that I have many guilty pleasures (Spice Girls, Troll 2, Ice Road Truckers…) and All Time Low is one of them. At first it started out in high school, all innocent and sweet. Heck, I thought I was so punk for listening to them (when you come from a school where you’re the minority and everyone around you is either playing Ja Rule or Britney Spears….). Fast forward to college where I listened to “So Wrong, It’s Right” every single day, I was still thinking I was cool. My roommate will always associate ATL with me, which is fine (if it wasn’t for her, I would still be listening to horrible music, props to her). Anyways, 4 years later, I still love em. I’ve seen them a handful of times and will be seeing them in a few short days, but enough about that.
Don’t Panic doesn’t come out until next week, but let me say, it’s probably one of the best they’ve put out. There was a live stream of the album yesterday and it was really good. It’s rare when you’re able to sit through an album and hate to see that you’re on the last song. Always a great feeling. If you’ve been watching ESPN lately, you’ve probably heard a couple of tracks off of their upcoming album. Heck, even the lead singer of Bayside does vocals on the track.
Folks, it’s going to be a good one. Have you pre-ordered it yet?
Back in April I found this alt playlist on Spotify and it had this song called “Headlights” by Morning Parade on it. It was a decent song, I gave it a couple of listens then just disregarded it. Fast forward to July when I get word that one of my all time favorite bands is coming to the mitten and they are touring with some British band that had a single on the local alt radio station. If you’re like me, you like to know music at shows so usually the week before I load my iTunes/Pandora/iPod/Spotify with the forthcoming bands and just let my brain absorb it. I saw Morning Parade in Lansing and sweet baby Jesus they rocked. I was the only one around me that knew who they were and also was the only one singing their single, which is a shame.
This rock outfit from Essex (hello UK) is really a great band not just live, but lyrically, musically, spiritually, etc. So far this morning I’ve listened to their album all the way through thrice and have no intentions on stopping. So this is where my little post comes in – go buy this album. It’s truly one of those albums that has enough pop infused in it that you like it. It’s no secret that I listen to a ton of British bands (not at all) but if you are able to catch this tour right now (Wombats and Morning Parade) go do yourself a favor and spend $15 and enjoy it.
I would do a top track, but really, half of the songs give me chills so just go get the record.
P.S. If you like Civil Twilight, you’ll like these guys too!
I’ve been slacking on the blogging, I’ll admit it, but I haven’t been not listening to music. Trust me. With that said, I am in L O V E with Frank Ocean’s debut LP. I loved “Novacane” but this album engulfs you in his calmness and you just fall in complete adoration with this man. Also, props for being a badass and not giving a damn about what people think about you or your orientation. You’re still on top of the world champ, and I hope you release more music bro, because words cannot do your album justice.
Also, I’m recommending this album to my mother. Mainly because her favorite album is some random Target “Booty Shakin Hits”.
Oh Cobra Starship, I don’t even know what to say. Let me start off with a “I Love You” and then follow it up with “What Are You Doing?!” Props for changing with the music times I s’pose, but really, it saddens me that you have a song with Leighton Meester.
Digressing, Viva La Cobra is a solid album. It also marks the start of the slippery slope into the pop/electro/Gossip Girl days. This record is great! Dancing! Shouting! Keytar solos! Patrick Stump! Exclamation Points! The 2007 follow up to While The City Sleeps, We Rule The Streets really surpasses the sophomore slump and encompasses what Fueled By Ramen was producing in 2007-2008. It’s one of the records that I can throw on and get work done, but feel like I’m having fun at the same time. If you’re a Cobra fan, you’ll like this album. If you think I’m talking about a version of Starship from the 80s…nope…but you might like it!
Top Tracks:
1. Guilty Pleasure
2. Kiss My Sass
3. Pleasure Ryland
4. The City Is At War
Glamour Kills came out with their fall sampler a handful of days ago and this right here is me blogging about it. It’s a solid album. That is all. Just kidding, but in all seriousness it gets me excited for the upcoming autumn months. The music on it is actually really diverse, in a boxy sort of way, but it really is a solid album. I like to listen to a record twice to get a good feel for it (and by feel, I mean if I like it or not) and I’ve listened to it a good five times (according to iTunes).
The breakaway tracks will be featured below, but one in particular stands out. Jimmie Deeghan, who is the guitarist in Every Avenue (REPRESENT), has a solo track and it’s really good. Like makes my heart melt and cuddle with puppies really good. It’s featured at the bottom with the other tracks, so make sure you listen to it.
The great thing about the sampler is it gave me more bands to listen to and I really like some! Yay! Music!
Top Tracks:
1. Crazy Stupid Love – Jimmie Deeghan
2. The Reckless & The Brave – All Time Low
3. Moonlight Ride – For The Foxes
4. Hands and Faces – The Used
5. Exits and Entrants – We Are the In Crowd
TaylerSee 