Love Being Haunted by the Black Ghosts

BEDA Day 7

I know the Twilight soundtrack has been out forever, but I can't seem to get it out of my CD player. Actually, I can't get off the third track. The Black Ghosts has this a-MAZE-ing song "Full Moon" that rocks my socks. I'm addicted to it so I figured, why not make it the song of the week?

I don't know why, but every time I hear this song the word "deconstructed" pops into my head. It isn't really deconstructed. It is a solid and well organized piece. I think what makes me think deconstruction is it's exposure of all its nuts and bolds. This band cleverly tears apart it's components and builds it back up piece by piece. For some reason hearing them lay those parts on top of each other makes the ending so much more powerful then the beginning even though it's basically the same thing. Oh, and to top it off, it has a killer base line. A good base line can make or break a song, and this is the perfect example of how much better the song is because of that line. And the ending has this random bell note that goes back to that deconstructed thing. That note is so unexpected, but after hearing it, you can't help but think it's necessary. If they were to take it out now, the song would be ruined.

Musical logistics not your thing? Don't worry lyric lovers, this song will be right up your alley. Seriously, check this out: "But I don't know where I am and I don't trust who I've been". Stellar.

Want to give it a listen? Check out the Twilight soundtrack today!

Seether crawls out from under the covers

This week I have been laid up with some HORRIBLE sinus disgustingness. (Oh, haven't you heard? When you're sick you can make up words). I don't know about the rest of you, but I hate being so sick that you can't do anything but watch daytime law shows who all have some sort of "shocking" DNA baby-momma-drama revelations. It causes a person's mind to wander in circles like a stationary bike.

Speaking of going around in circles, is anyone else a little done with the Flo Rida cover "Right Round"? It totally rips off that 80's song "You Spin Me Round" by Dead or Alive. Great groovin' tune, but really, who are you fooling? Nothing original there except the scandalous lyrics.

Don't me wrong, I love a good cover, but call it what it is; somone else's. I firmly believe you can make a remake special and sometimes re-doing something is neccessary. When I shoot pool I call it the red-head-re-do, which I suppose really only applies to me, but there people who can do it right. There are bands who really know how to apply a fresh sound. Take "Careless Whisper". Seether, who I have loved way before that Amy Lee girl ever did, recreated a George Michael classic. I sort of wish that I could have heard this version first because it is so, so good. I can actually see them never dancing again, just standing there like melancholy wall flowers *sigh*. Mediocre song retold by a fantastic artist = great cover.

Sometimes really great songs are redone by even better artists. There is nothing like a music icon paying homage to a not-so-distant masterpiece. Think about the Johnny Cash remake of the Nine Inch Nails song, "Hurt". If his version doesn't make your heart ache, then no loss ever will. And I will never forget when I went to a Motely Crew concert and they opened up their show with System of a Down's "Suite-Pee". Midgets and clowns never seemed so right.

So here's for not covering up the good stuff, but for reinventing it, making "Careless Whisper" the song of the week.

White Lies never hurt any one

"Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies" - Fleetwood Mac

Finally, a band with class.

I was watching David Letterman the other night, when I saw the greatest band play. It was kismet. I was meant to see that performance. I never watch Dave; I'm a Jay/Jimmy/TMZ girl. But OMG! I may be flipping to CBS more often.

Usually I'm disappointed when a band gets some cred before they are even a blip on my radar, but not this time. Not only were the band members foxy, the music rocked. And the band rocked it out. I don't know what was better, the sultry Doors-ish sound they had, or the fact that everyone was wearing suits, even the drummer. It's nice to see a band that can class it up, both is artistic style and fashions style.

Normally I pick a song of the week, but White Lies is too good to be picky. I downloaded the album from iTunes, and it is one amazing song after another. So instead of a song of the week, I invite you to listen to the album of the week.

They are in a class all of their own.

Battling for Miss Independent

Ne-Yo or Kelly Clarkson.... Ne-Yo or Kelly Clarkson...

Yesterday I was cruising downtown to see the parade when the Ne-Yo, "Miss Independent" song came on. I really dig that song. I can't listen to it and not head groove a little. So while I'm rocking out St Paddy's style, I realized that the little computer on my car stereo said Kelly Clarkson, "Miss Independent". Weird, but I figured it was a glitch or something. Not exactly. That satellite link must have just been early because the very next song that came on was Kelly Clarkson's version of women who can do their own thing their own way, her "Miss Independent".

First off, who knew? Had it not been for my car stereo, I may have never noticed. Now that I have though, I have just one question. Why didn't the independent Clarkson get upset when Ne-Yo bogarted her song title? It seems a little shocking that a woman who wrote a song about standing up for herself and being her own person wouldn't want to stand up for her title. Now I'm not saying Ne-Yo stole anything. Miss Independent is a someone popular phrase, and the songs sound totally different. His is more fun, dancy, and appreciative, while hers is about angst, betrayal and despair. Not the same at all. But still. There's a lot to be said about a name.

So this week it is a battle of the Miss Independents for the song of the week. Give them a listen and let me know, which lady takes the cake?

One Tree Hill is not lying!

One Tree Hill has been playing the good stuff!

This past Friday was my birthday, so I treated myself right by catching up on some quality trash TV. You know, Gossip Girl, America's Next Top Model, Make Me a Supermodel and my new fave, One Tree Hill. I know OTH has been around for years, but I never was able to catch it. Once I checked out the boxed seasons sets I became obsessed, and now my TiVo is on overdrive.

Much like these other pseudo-soap operas, I think it's the music that takes it to the next level. I swear that once I heard Carolina Liar's "Show Me What I'm Looking For" come on into some unnecessarily dramatic scene with Payton, Lucas, and a doctors office, I got a little choked up. There may have been some tears, I'm not gonna lie. Good music will do that to you; it makes even the most ridiculous scene seem fantastic. Talk about knowing your audience!

So the song of the week is the song that had me reaching for the tissues.

Touched by the Veronicas

Have you ever heard a song that gives you a sensory memory?

I am all about that Veronicas' song "Untouched". It's not just because it has a rockin' beat. It's not just because there is no way you can sing to the chorus and not shake your head like a wanna be 80's punk rocker (go ahead and try, I dare you). I love that this band is two sisters singing their hearts out. That song totally takes me back to when I was ten years old, dancing in my parent's living room with my sister.

Every time I hear it I flash back to this Paula Abdul song "Two Steps Forward". Back in the day, when MTV played videos and not reality TV, that song's video had Paula and a cartoon fox dancing with each other. At the time, my sister had an imaginary friend Robin who just so happened to be a fox. Not the "oh my he's hot" kind of fox, but the actual red tail, four legged critter fox. So of course after we saw that video we HAD to dance like it. She was always Paula and I was always the fox (kind of prophetic, since I'm so foxy! *cough*). It is one of my greatest memories, rocking out with my sister.

I know there is nothing musically similar between these two songs, but I love how hearing these sisters sing makes me think of my sister. I think it's really cool that they not only make good music, but they still have fun with each other. They make me remember a simpler time, when dance contests really did rule the world.

I may have to call my sister for a little dance off....

Take home a Grammy

I got so lost in my disgust for Chris Brown's actions before the Grammy's that I completely forgot to talk about the Grammy's themselves! Ugh, I need to get him out of my head! Talk about a waste of energy.

I was really glad to see Jennifer Hudson rock the house with her performance, and even more happy to see her take home a Grammy. Take that Simon! But the thing I was the most happy for was to see Adele win Best New Artist of the Year. I love her sound. It is classic but still really fresh. I am crazy for her song, "Right as Rain" and I don't know about you, but I need to be refreshed. This song is uber refreshing. It's just as Fleetwood Mac says "when the rain washes you clean then you'll know". The line may be dated, but it is so true.

So get your vibe washed clean, and if afterwords if you feel nostalgic about this year's Grammy's, check out these other 2009 winners:

Album of the Year: Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Kraus

Best Rap Album: The Carter III by Lil Wayne

Best Rock Album: Viva la Vida by Coldplay

Best Country Performance by Duo or Group: "Stay" by Sugarland

Best R&B Album: Jennifer Hudson by Jennifer Hudson

Best Instrumental Performance: "Peaches En Regalia" by Frank Zappa

Best Metal Performance: "My Apacolypse" by Metalica

Best Solo Rock Performance: "Gravity" by John Mayer

Best Alternative Music Album: In Rainbows by Radiohead

Best Pop Vocal Album: Rockferry by Duffy

Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "I dreamed there was no war" by the Eagles

Best Contemporary R&B Album: Growing Pains by Mary J. Blige

Best R&B Song: "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Superwoman" by Alicia Keyes

Best Compilation Album from a Motion Picture: Juno

Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: The Dark Knight by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer

Best Electronic Dance Album: Alive 2007 by Daft Punk

Best Long Form Music Video: "Runnin Down a Dream" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Best Short Form Music Video: "Pork and Beans" by Weezer

Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "Last Name" by Carrie Underwood

The Pussycat Dolls are making me a hater

I think the Pussycat Dolls are making me a hater.

Seriously, lately I've been noticing how that I've been flippin for things that talk about hate. I just finished this amazing book, Hate That Cat, and I have to admit I was digging the angst. I really think this started when I really began liking the song "I Hate This Part".

I kind of hate that I like that song. I am so not a big fan of the Pussycat Dolls. I have never been into groups that are together because a producer told them to be. While I boycotted Making the Band on MTV, I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that there was a TV show on the CW for the Next Pussycat Doll. What is even more ridiculous that the "winner" isn't even really one of the Dolls, so what did she win exactly? It makes my blood boil that music is more of a business of being a show then making good music. The Pussycat Dolls are the truest form of that business. I think music should be written by the people performing it. I think music should be performed by people who have been together for more then a second. And I really think music should be performed by people wearing more clothing then a bathing suit. Call me crazy but I will never understand the relationship between pleather and good vocals.

But yet here I am, downloading the single and turning up the volume to full blast every time "I Hate This Part" comes on. Never before has a song said so simply how I feel about the end of a relationship. I hate it. And I love this song for saying what I can't, even if deep down I hate myself a little for starting to dig this band.

Shaking it with Metro Station

So the artist of the week is one that has been blowing up my iPod for a few months now. I'm not gonna lie, I am a more then a little obsessed with Metro Station. I completely dig that they have this 1980's electronica vibe to them that makes me want to shake it (I kind of set myself up for that one!). I'm not joking. I probably shouldn't be admitting this, but it is more then a little possible that I have had dance parties at my apartment with my one year old niece to "Seventeen Forever". And when I say with my niece, I actually mean alone by myself. Or both. Semantics.

Anyways, I just now realized that one of the members, Trace Cyrus, is actually the brother of Miley Cyrus. Who knew? Everyone, apparently. Does that family have the gift or what? Is there a single Cyrus who doesn't have a platinum album?

So the song this week I'm featuring is one of their lesser known treasures, "Kelsey". Hop on over to our MySpace page if you want to see a side of Metro Station that gives "Shake It" a run for it's money.

I need a Paper Route

Who doesn't love a little electronica?

Paper Route is the band of the week. Never heard of them? I'm not surprised. I sort of came across them by accident. I Googled something wrong and bam, music to my ears. Talk about a happy accident. They have this wanna be 80's flash back vibe with a little mellow techno thrown in. Very nice. As far as I can tell, this band is on the newer side. I've only been able to track down the EP's from iTunes and occasionally on a website. I think they're from the UK. So while it may be hard to get your hands on a hard copy, it is definitely worth a trip to our MySpace page to check them out.

"You Kill Me" is the perfect song for anyone who has had their heart a little roughed up by someone they love, but they don't want to whine about it. Sometimes love sucks, but it's not worth the time or energy to gripe about it for a hundred years. This song will not bring you to tears, it will not speak to your soul on some primal level, it's just a good little piece that says "wow, this sucks".

We've all been there. It's almost as common as the paper.

Silversun Pick-me-Up with a Tegan and Sara Twist

"I've been waiting for this moment all my life, but it's not quite right" - Silversun Pickups

This week we're having a double helping of the song of the week. This week needs it. Have you ever had those weeks when your brain is in a funk? When you keep forgetting things you want to ask your friends because you just feel blah? That's been my week so far. I needed to clear my brain, so this morning I took my sure fire pick-me-up; indie rock.

I don't know what it is about indie rock that has me singing along at the top of my lungs. I don't know why singing at the top of my lungs boosts my mood. It may be because I grew up in the angst days of Alanis Morrisset, but deep down I know there are other angry rockers out there besides me. And indie isn't angry. It's too pretty to be angry. Seriously though, raging it out until your head gets clear is not a bad way to release stress. The Silversun Pickups are the perfect band to take you on a ride to clarity. They have a weird sound. They are just off enough to make them interesting, but not so interesting that you have to concentrate to enjoy them. Their level of off is the perfect music description of a good funk. Go to our MySpace page and listen to their song "Lazy Eye" and you'll see why this band is indie rock at it's finest. Words can't describe. It is easy bliss.

And I don't know why more people don't like Tegan and Sara, or for that matter have even heard of Tegan and Sara. I fell in love with them when they wrote "I Was Walking With the Ghost". In fact, that has been at the top of my shuffle for a few years now. This new song, "The Con," (which you can hear on our MySpace page), has me flipping for them all over again. I would tell you to get on the band wagon, but first we need to make a band wagon. Help me create a cultural phenomenon.

Get over funks the indie way, with a Tegan and Sara twist.

Beyonce "Knowles" the single ladies

All the single ladies, all the single ladies...

I have to do it. There's no way to avoid it. I have to feature Beyonce's track, "Single Ladies", which you can hear on our MySpace page. I know that I usually display music that is complicated or underground, but sometimes the song that needs to be added to the rotation is the simple stuff, the stuff you dance to. I fell in love with Chris Brown because of one single line in one single song ("Look what I can do with my feet") and sometimes that's what music should be; randomness.

However this week's song is not completely random. I was inspired by three specific things. The first was an awesome GNO with my two cousins who are twelve and thirteen that have thankfully filled me in on a ton of Jonas Brothers/Miley Cyrus drama. These single ladies dig this tune. The second reason why this song is this weeks must play is honor of my niece, Phoebe, who turns one today. I kid you not, every time the song comes on, she starts shakin' it. Just imagine a baby doing a serious head nod to the beat while she gansta leans in her car seat. She even brings out the sideways thug point with her hand. It is HI-larious! But most importantly this song is getting its props as we approach the mother of all unreasonably, ridiculous romantic holidays. I don't know why New Years has turned into a couples holiday. Everyone has to change the calendar whether they have someone when the ball drops or not. Beyonce's okay with the singles, so why isn't Rockin' Eve?

So let's hear it for the single ladies (and guys) who know their worth no matter what. The people who are funny, thoughtful and good friends. The people who know how to ring the new year in style. Let's face it, if you are reading this blog on a regular basis, then clearly you have fabulous taste.

And if you like it, then you should put a ring on it. Or at least put us in your favorites.

Concert karma holiday style

'Tis the season for bragging rights.

By the mother of all things random, I have excellent concert karma. About three years ago, my friend and I went to Akron to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra. After a fabulous show, my friend and I waited in line for over an hour to have them sign our programs. In fact we were the very last people to go through the line. As we left, they started wrapping things up, and we heard the creator, Paul O'Neill, mention that they were going to head over to this restaurant across the street. My friend, an Akron native, turned to him and said, "I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. O'Neill, but I have to tell you, that restaurant is terrible. You'd be better off going to the grill around the corner". To make a long story short, this is how I chilled with TSO.

We became their pseudo tour guides for the night, and after four of the best hours of my life, we exchanged email addresses and contact information. I would have thought that would have been the end, but still to this day every time they come to the Cleveland/Akron area, someone gets in touch with us. I email back and forth with their light guy all the time. They treat me and my friend like more then just crazed fans. In fact, Paul O'Neill sent me a congratulations card when my niece was born last December. Oh yeah, and he has given my friends son a hundred bucks each Christmas since. So in appreciation to the coolest group of rockers that like to get down holiday style, the song of the week is "Wish Liszt" by TSO. Check out our MySpace page and see the awesome video of a Christmas light display featuring this amazing song.

Want to rock out this Christmas? Request a copy of their CD!

Happy Holidays!

Forget being in the know, be ahead of it

As you may or may not know, I like to keep my ear to the pulse of the underground music movement in Cleveland. Back in the day, I used to hit up the old Peabody's downtown to see Mushroomhead. This was back before they got "discovered" and were ruined by great reviews and conformity. This was also a time when mosh pits were a response to music, not a desire to get your face elbowed. Sigh...enough of my trip down musical memory lane. I still like to know what's hot before everyone else does. I like saying to people, "Oh yeah, I've been listening to them for years." I'm a little bit of a snob that way. On that note, let me introduce you to a stellar progressive rock band, Ruled by Reason.

This band is so new to the scene that their songs don't have names only numbers. They haven't gone to the recoding studio yet. It's worth a listen, though. I found out about this group because I work with Chris Glavac, the bassist. He is unbelievably cool, and then when we started talking music I realized he had fab taste. Seriously, check out their MySpace page and look at their friend list. The list of bands is amazing. And this band is amazing. If they don't blow up the prog rock scene, there is be no justice in the world. I do want to give you a heads up that this band is not for the faint of heart. It is intense, heavy, deliciously beautiful metal. Those brave pop rock listeners what are looking to push the envelope are in for a shocking, unexpected treat. Check out our MySpace page and you'll see what all my hype is about.

I'm loving it!

Have you heard the latest song by Kanye West, "Love Lockdown"? It is amazing! For the life of me, I don't know exactly what it is about this song that I'm addicted to. Unlike most of the music I like, this song isn't too complicated, it isn't too wordy, and it's slightly repetitive. Despite myself, I keep hitting the repeat button over and over again on my CD player. When I first heard it on the radio, I couldn't get to iTunes fast enough. I'm a little surprised by my reaction. As an individual Kanye is so self-centered that he makes my blood boil. I hate to admit it but his music is sheer genius. I can't get enough. Normally when I have an ear worm (those songs that get stuck in your head) I get really annoyed. This tune has been floating around like my own personal soundtrack, and let me say, I'm digging it. I've even caught myself strolling through the library to the mental pulsing beat. Check it out on our MySpace page and get back to me. I need to know if I'm the only Kanye West fan locked down out there.

Gossip Girl doesn't know everything

The other day I was catching up on some quality TiVo time when I started a Gossip Girl marathon. What can I say? I'm addicted. I can't resist the fashion, the music and of course, the drama. I was a huge O.C. fan back in the day, and one of the hidden treasures in this type of show is the music. They play some of the greatest tunes behind all that girl scandal. Gossip Girl introduced me to the Pierces one episode, and the very next day I rushed to our catalog to hunt down their album.

The song I was searching for is the closest thing to a love ballad that a girl like me can stomach. I'd much rather listen to emo-screamo rock then hear Beyonce tell me how she wished she was a boy. But here I was, intrigued. I waited all day long to pop that CD into my car. I was sure I was going to be blown away. Boy, I could not be more disappointed. Imagine old school Gwen Steffani trying to sing with marbles in her mouth with the random cat meow thrown into the mix. That drivel is the core of this album. Having heard "Three Wishes" I don't understand what happened. So, this week, the song I'm featuring is the saving grace of that album, "Three Wishes". Check it out on our MySpace page and you'll see why I went to the effort. Doubt that the rest of the album is as bad as I claim? Check it out and get back to me. Maybe I'm missing something.

In the mean time, I have three wishes of my own:

Wish 1: Gossip Girl will warn us when the albums they feature suck

Wish 2: Gwen Steffani will give the Pierces voice lessons

Wish 3: Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby Ice Cream becomes healthier then vegetables

A girl can dream, can't she?

Advice from a bunch of Kooks

For this week's song choice I was completely inspired by a recent trip I took to the United Kingdom. I spent the last week touring London, soaking in the fashion and the stellar accents. Everywhere you go, there are people with their iPhones rocking out to their favorite tunes. I was amazed by how much American music infiltrates British culture and was a little disappointed that I wasn't overwhelmed with new and exciting sounds. Two days before I left I was riding the subway when it stalled out and we were stuck for a good half an hour. While stranded, I ended up meeting three "footballers" from Wales who filled me in on some of Britain's finest modern musicians. The song of the week is called "Naive" and is preformed by a group called the Kooks. I am so glad those rowdy athletes have great taste in music and I hope all you can imagine strolling down cobbled streets and riding double-decker buses when you hear this tune, featured on our MySpace page.

If you are interested in listening to other musicians from the UK, there are other great artists such as the Darknes, Girls that Scream, Lunarblues, Adele, DragonForce, M.I.A, Paul Oakenfold and Coldplay. MPL has many of these artists in our collection, so be sure to visit our branches.

Talk about progressive!

The song of the week for this week is from one of my favorite prog-rock bands, Coheed and Cambria. Progressive rock is not for the faint of heart. It can be intense. What makes this form of rock "progressive" is that an entire album is centered off one central theme. Pink Flyod launched the prog-rock movement with their album Dark Side of the Moon which was completely inspired by space. As the movement grew the music became darker and heavier, and artists started seeking inspiration for more abstract sources. The band Mastodon created a metal album entirely about Moby Dick.

What makes Coheed and Cambria so amazing is that the creators wrote the music as a way to increase sales of their graphic novel series, Coheed and Cambria. The band blew up in the prog-rock metal market, and now the graphic novel series is released in limited addition. No one could have expected that authors could have created such a musical phenomenon.

For those of you interested in beginning your experience with prog-rock, check out Coheed and Cambria's "The Suffering" on our MySpace page. If you fall in love with this band like I did, check out their albums from our catalog.

Under my umbrella

Being the most eclectic music fan known to man kind, I am constantly rocking out to something all the time. In my car, at my house, sitting at the reference desk, you name it. I'm either listening, singing or trying to get the "ear worms" out of my head. I have decided to share my random music preference by featuring a song or music artist of the week. With the weather outside today being all gloomy and rainy, Scott Simon's version of "Umbrella" is definitely the way to go.

Don't get me wrong, I am an avid Rihanna fan. Just this morning I was blasting "Please Don't Stop the Music" while zipping in and out of traffic, but she has nothing on Scott Simon. His take could mellow out the most highly stessed soul and will probably be a song that fathers and daughters will dance to on wedding days. It will change your view on pop music forever. Feel free to check it out on our MySpace page!

If you listen to something that really rocks your socks, please recommend it to me! I love hearing new stuff, and I want to know what you think we should feature.