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Monday, June 30, 2008

Vampire Weekend-Oxford Comma

I have recently become a huge fan of Vampire Weekend.
Hearing of them for the first time in "Spin" magazine, I promptly listening to them on a Barnes and Noble listening station. I was so happy that I did that. This band is one of those that will bring a little bit of extra joy to your day.
The mixes in styles is great too. There's a bit of pop, punk, ska, a little bit of 50's, all measured together to bring about something new and exciting. Though those genres barely describe the sound you'll hear. You'll love the catchy tunes, and lyrics.
Congrats to these Ivy League grads for pursuing music, you've brought us all a great album! All the songs on their debut, and self titled album will leave you with a bubbly feeling in side (for lack of a better word). I encourage you all to check them out!
I love how the video for the song is so simple, fun, and tells a little story, but simple.

Vampire Weekend's "Oxford Comma":

"Oxford Comma" lyrics:

Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?

I've seen those English dramas too
They're cruel
so if there's any other way
To spell a word
It's fine with me, with me

Why would you speak to me that way
Especially when I always said that I
Haven't got the words for you
All your diction dripping with disdain
Through the pain
I always tell the truth

Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?
I climbed to Dharamsala too, I did
I met the highest lama
His Accent sounded fine
To me, to me

Check your handbook
It's no trick
Take the chapstick
Put it on your lips
Crack a smile
Adjust my Tie
Know your boyfriend, unlike other guys

Why would you lie about how much coal you have?
Why would you lie about something dumb like that?
Why would you lie about anything at all?
first the window, then it's through the wall
Lil' Jon, he always tells the truth

Check you passport
It's no trick
Take the chapstick
Put it on your lips
Crack a smile
Adjust my tie
Know your butler, unlike other guys

Why would you lie about how much coal you have?
Why would you lie about something dumb like that?
Why would you lie about anything at all?
First the window, then it's through the wall
Why would you tape my conversations?
Show your paintings
At the United Nations
Lil' Jon, he always tells the truth

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Muse-Starlight

I came about this band in a very different way from how I normally discover music, I heard them on the radio, which I don't really listen to all that often. In this case I'm very glad I listened to the radio that day.



I heard "Starlight" for the first time in the car almost two years ago. I didn't know the name of the song, or that of the band, but I had fallen in love. I remember scribbling part of the chorus on a piece of paper so I would have some way of figuring out what the song was. It took me until last year to find it. . .quite a while, but well worth the wait.



When I heard "Starlight" I immediately thought 80's pop-rock. I started wondering if it was an 80's song 'cause I was listening to a "mix" station. It was however too different even for that time, and had sounds that weren't used in that decade, but it did bring back that happy feeling I always get when listening to bands like Tears For Fears and Soft Cell. Though I think Muse has far surpassed that, have widened the sound to encompass so much more.

On their most recent studio album "Black Holes and Revelations" the sounds vary quite greatly. From the light 80's pop sound of "Starlight", to a Hard Techno sound in "Super massive Black Hole", to this brilliant blend of rock, orchestra, pop, and everything else you can think of in "Knights of Cydonia".

All I can say is that Muse is sheer brilliance, and I wish I had heard of them sooner. They are one of my all time favorite bands now, and "Black Holes and Revelations" certainly falls in to the favorite-albums-of-all-time category.

Without further ado, the rock and roll brilliance that is Muse!

"Starlight":

Starlight Lyrics:


Far away
This ship is taking me far away
Far away from the memories
Of the people who care if I live or die

Starlight I will be chasing the starlight
Until the end of my life
I don't know if it's worth it anymore

Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold You in my arms

My life
You electrify my life
Let's conspire to re-ignite
All the souls that would die just to feel alive

But I'll never let you go If you promised not to fade away
Never fade away

Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations
Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations

Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold You in my arms

Far away
This ship is taking me far away
Far away from the memories
Of the people who care if I live or die

And I'll never let you go If you promise not to fade away
Never fade away

Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations
Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations

Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to holdYou in my arms
I just wanted to hold

Monday, June 23, 2008

The Used - 'Thriving On Friction'

Until recently, I'd heard of The Used, and listened to a few of their songs here and there ... but I'd never gone out of my way to look into them as a band, to really discover the depths of their music. Now that I have, I'm sure glad I did, and I'm excited to share what I've discovered with the readers of this blog.
From the few songs I'd heard by The Used, I was instantly impressed with the unique sound of Bert McCracken's voice; he could sing a song clear and precise, or he could put an edgy spin on the vocals, giving the track an entirely different feel. Either way, the proper effect was acheived. Plenty of screaming is included to add even more to the songs.
The instrumentals are also noteable. Crashing symbols are present in a lot of The Used songs. Jeph Howard delivers a strong, supportive bass line and Quinn Allman supplies plenty of catchy guitar riffs and solos. Finally, the lyrics, often metaphorical and always a little out-there, deliver the message or story in the song flawlessly.
When all the pieces come together, The Used gives you songs you can't help but enjoy.


So far, my collection of The Used songs consists of the following tracks;

The Used (2002)
- The Taste Of Ink
- Blue And Yellow

In Love And Death (2004)
- Take It Away
- I Caught Fire
- All That I've Got

Lies For The Liars (2007)
-The Bird And The Worm

Collaborations:
- The Used & My Chemical Romance:
- Under Pressure (2005)

Throughout the course of their career, The Used has presented fans with catchy and original tracks time and time again. I look forward to discovering even more songs by this talented group, and I encourage you to learn more about The Used as well.

The Used's website offers plenty of information on the band.

If you're interested in looking up lyrics, this website has the lyrics to all the songs on all three of the band's studio released albums, as well as bonus tracks and other songs by The Used.

You can also check out the posts I've made previously on music.is.life featuring The Used's song The Bird And The Worm and their collaboration with My Chemical Romance in recording Under Pressure.

To get you started, here's the lyrics and music video for what is probably my favorite The Used song to date; The Taste Of Ink. The lyrics speak such a strong message about making the most of your life, no matter what.
Enjoy!

The Used - The Taste Of Ink Official Music Video



The Taste Of Ink
The Used

Is it worth the can you even hear me
Standing with your spotlight on me
Not enough to feed the hungry
I'm tired and I felt it for awhile now
In this sea of lonely
The taste of ink is getting old
It's four o' clock in the f***ing morning
Each day gets more and more like the last day
Still I can see it coming
While I'm standing in the river drowning
This could be my chance to break out
This could be my chance to say goodbye
At last it's finally over
Couldn't take this town much longer
Being half dead wasn't what I planned to be
Now I'm ready to be free

So here I am, it's in my hands
And I'll savor every moment of this
So here I am, alive at last
And I'll savor every moment of this

Won't you think I'm pretty
When I'm standing 'top the bright-lit city
And I'll take your hand and pick you up
And keep you there so you can see it
As long as you're alive and care
I promise I will take you there
We'll drink and dance the night away
We'll drink and dance the night away

So here I am, it's in my hands
And I'll savor every moment of this
So here I am, alive at last
And I'll savor every moment of this
Savor every moment of this

(As long as you're alive, here I am...)

As long as you're alive
Here I am
I promise I will take you there

As long as you're alive
Here I am
I promise I will take you there

Won't you think I'm pretty
When I'm standing 'top the bright-lit city
And I'll take your hand and pick you up
And keep you there so you can see it
So long as you're alive and care
I promise I will take you there
So long as you're alive and care
I promise I will take you there

So here I am, it's in my hands
And I'll savor every moment of this
So here I am, alive at last
And I'll savor every moment of this
Savor every moment of this
Savor every moment of this

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Life Is Wonderful



I first discovered Jason Mraz about five years back. He's always been a favorite of mine. More music that just makes you smile. You fall in love with his charming lyrics, and his happy melodies.
He has this unique style, the way he mixes his fast paced vocals with the slight reggae sound every so often, but the specail thing about "Mr. A-Z" is that he sounds better live than recorded. If you haven't heard a live cut, you haven't heard Jason Mraz. That's very unique, and makes him even more fun.

I heard "Life is Wonderful" for the first time last summer when I borrowed his album "Mr. A-Z" from the library. You'll want to sing along the minute he starts the chorus of "Ahlalalalalala-life is wonderful". What struck me most about the live version I found (recorded originally on T.V. in Korea), is that he and his band-mate play the horn section. . .with their voices! It's amazing. They sound like they're playing instruments! Very cool stuff.

I reccomend that you check out all of his stuff. He is truely a great and unique artist, and will most certainly bring a smile to your face.

His Albums, In Order of Release:
Waiting For My Rocket To Come
Mr. A-Z
We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

Enjoy!

Life Is Wonderful-Live


Life Is Wonderful Lyrics

It takes a crane to build a crane
It takes two floors to make a story
It takes an egg to make a hen
It takes a hen to make an egg
There is no end to what I'm saying

It takes a thought to make a word
And it takes some words to make an action
It takes some work to make it work
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction

La la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Al la la la la

It takes a night to make it dawn
And it takes a day to make you yawn brother
And it takes some old to make you young
It takes some cold to know the sun
It takes the one to have the other

And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some fears to make you trust
It takes those tears to make it rust
It takes the dust to have it polished

Ha la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is so full of
Ah la la la la la la life is so rough
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is our love
Ah la la la la la

It takes some silence to make sound
It takes a loss before you found it
And it takes a road to go nowhere
It takes a toll to make you care
It takes a hole to make a mountain

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ha la la la la la life is wonderful
Ha la la la la la life is meaningful
Ha la la la la la life is wonderful
Ha la la la la la life it is...so... wonderful
It is so meaningful
It is so wonderful
It is meaningful
It is wonderful
It is meaningful
It goes full circle
Wonderful
Meaningful
Full circle
Wonderful

Fake It

I forgot how much I loved this song until I heard it again a few days ago. After hearing it again for the first time in forever, I just couldn't stop listening; Fake It has been on repeat on my iPod for days now, because I just can't seem to get enough of it.
From the first few seconds of the song, the mood is set. This is another song that makes me wish I was a bass player. Anyway. This song has so much emotion behind it. The way the lyrics are presented have a "get-out-of-my-face" tone about them, but the lyrics themselves have an almost desperate, lost message. The song in general reminds me of the person who puts on a tough act to cover up a world of pain.
The music video also delivers an important message about the music industry and how "fake" it can all be at times.
Here's Fake It by Seether. Enjoy!

Seether - Fake It Official Music Video



Fake It
Seether

Who's to know if your soul will fade at all
The one you sold to fool the world
You lost your self-esteem along the way

Good God, you're coming up with reasons
Good God, you're dragging it out
Good God, it's the changing of the seasons
I feel so raped, so follow me down

And just fake it, if you're out of direction
Fake it, if you don't belong here
Fake it, if you feel like affection
Woah, you're such a f***ing hypocrite

And you should know that the lies won't hide your flaws
No sense in hiding all of yours
You gave up on your dreams along the way
Yeah

Good God, you're coming up with reasons
Good God, you're dragging it out
Good God, it's the changing of the seasons
I feel so raped, so follow me down

And just fake it, if you're out of direction
Fake it, if you don't belong here
Fake it, if you feel like affection
Woah, you're such a f***ing hypocrite

I can fake with the best of anyone
I can fake with the best of 'em all
I can fake with the best of anyone
I can fake it all ...

Who's to know if your soul will fade at all
The one you sold to fool the world
You lost your self-esteem along the way
Yeah

Good God, you're coming up with reasons
Good God, you're dragging it out
Good God, it's the changing of the seasons
I feel so raped, so follow me down

And just fake it, if you're out of direction
Fake it, if you don't belong here
Fake it, if you feel like affection
Woah, you're such a f***ing hypocrite

Fake it if you're out of direction
Fake it if you don't belong here
Fake it if you feel like infection
Woah you're such a f***ing hypocrite

Friday, June 20, 2008

Requiem For A Dream

I haven't seen the movie, but I heard this song for the very first time Janurary, in a dance class.

Ou jazz teacher chose this music for a dance we were working on. I heard it and immediately thought "Wow. That's amazing."

The way it starts, with faint vocals and a slow sad tune. Soon going into strings. This song is beautifully eerie. It sends chills down the spine, but in a very good way.
The song picks up towards the middle, louder, faster, and then slows again, only to pick up once again.

This soung gets your adrenaline running, along with all of your emotions. "Three Cheers" for Clint Mansel on composing this piece, it's sheer brilliance!

There's not much else I can say about it. You truely have to listen to this to understand the splendor!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Vitamin String Quartet - A New Spin On Old Favorites

What do AC/DC, Death Cab For Cutie, and Linkin Park all have in common? The Vitamin String Quartet has covered all of their songs - using the violin, viola, and cello!
From the very first time I heard the Vitamin String Quartet cover of My Chemical Romance's Helena, I was hooked. I was instantly drawn in by the talent the Quartet had to not only play the song, but perform it, with just the right amount of emotion to tell the story of the song, without any lyrics to back it up. After hearing the Quartet's My Chemical Romance covers I went on to look up some of their other work, and was surprised and delighted by the sheer volume in which they had recorded. They had covered songs from an unmeasurable amount of artists in seemingly every genre.
But not only had they recorded tributes to individual artists, the Quartet had also recorded themed albums; there was the "Rock N' Roll Wedding Collection", the "String Quartet Baby Shower Collection" ... There were tributes dedicated to specific genres, or the biggest hits of a particular year. And not only were there string covers, but piano covers as well ... I was slightly overwhelmed by the mass amount of recordings, but loved every minute of discovering the Quartet's work. Every once in a while, they'd branch out past the strings or keys and incorporate a different instrument when it would add just the right touch; the Vitamin String Quartet's cover of Guns N' Roses' Don't Cry includes a snare drum roll, and at the end of the cover of My Chemical Romance's Teenagers, an electric violin joins the group, imitating the punk-rock sound of an electric guitar.
All in all, I am blown away by the talent of this Quartet, and have loved listening to their covers of so many amazing songs. I encourage you to check out the Quartet for yourself, because what I post on this blog could never do the group justice. Please, do yourself a favor; go to vitaminrecords.com and see all of the amazing recordings this group has done. You won't be disappointed.
But, for now, check out a few of my favorite Vitamin String Quartet covers in the videos below.
Enjoy!

Vitamin String Quartet - String Tribute to Helena by My Chemical Romance



Vitamin String Quartet - String Tribute to Broken by Seether feat. Amy Lee



Vitamin String Quartet - String Tribute to I Write Sins Not Tragedies by Panic! At The Disco

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Yellow

Hi, Amy here. This is my first post on Music.Is.Life, and I wanted to make it special, so I chose quite possibly my favorite song of all time.



Coldplay's "Yellow":

I have been a Coldplay fan for a while. I remember first hearing them in a movie theater, I think the song playing was "Fix You" off their album "X & Y". I was utterly amazed by Chris Marten's voice. It was so soft, and it had so much emotion behind it.
It took me a few years to stumble across "Parachutes" in a library, but when I did it gave me my first "favorite song". "Yellow".
No matter what mood you're in you can listen to this song and it'll make you happy. No matter what. Try it.
Once again, the emotion behind Chris's vocals, and the perfect and simple melody. It screamed "perfection" to me a million and one times. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

Yellow:



Yellow Lyrics



Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do,
Yeah, they were all yellow.

I came along,
I wrote a song for you,
And all the things you do,
And it was called "Yellow."

So then I took my turn,
Oh what a thing to have done,
And it was all "Yellow."

Your skin
Oh yeah, your skin and bones,
Turn into something beautiful,
You know, you know I love you so,
You know I love you so.

I swam across,
I jumped across for you,
Oh what a thing to do.

Cos you were all "Yellow,"
I drew a line,
I drew a line for you,
Oh what a thing to do,
And it was all "Yellow."

Your skin,
Oh yeah your skin and bones,
Turn into something beautiful,
And you know for you,
I'd bleed myself dry for you,
I'd bleed myself dry.

It's true, look how they shine for you,
Look how they shine for you,
Look how they shine for,
Look how they shine for you,
Look how they shine for you,
Look how they shine.

Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you,
And all the things that you do.

Introductions

I'd like to take a brief moment to introduce music.is.life's newest contributor - Amy!
Amy stumbled across music.is.life one day and left a comment on one of my posts, and since then we've become regular visitors to each other's blogs. After noticing that many of the posts on her blog related to music - and loving the music she introduced me to! - I couldn't resist sending her an invitation to contribute to my music blog.
I'm so glad she accepted the invitation, and that music.is.life has a new contributor! I look forward to Amy's first post on this blog, and the influence she will have on this site!
Welcome, Amy! :)

Shut Up And Let Me Go

What a fun song!
I was introduced to this one while watching the premier of F'N MTV a few days ago. The premier of the show also marked the premier of the music video for this ridiculously catchy song.
The minute the techno melody of the song broke out after a few measures of bass drum pounding, I was beaming; the sound was so unique and catchy, I couldn't help but tap my toes. And as soon as Katie White started singing the lyrics, I was sold; her British accent sounded so good matched with the style of the song. I knew this was one track I would have to have on my iPod, for all those moment when you just want to get up and dance.
Listen to Shut Up And Let Me Go by The Ting Tings at your own risk - it's guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days! Even so, I advise you take a listen; this song is one I just can't get enough of!

I apologize; I can't find a good-quality music video that can be embedded onto my blog :( So, if you want to watch the video, you'll have to follow the link below. The quality of the video linked is much better than any I could post on this page.




Shut Up And Let Me Go
The Ting Tings

Shut up and let me go
This hurts, I tell you so
For the last time you will kiss my lips
Now shut up and let me go
Your jeans were once so clean
I bet you changed your wardrobe since we met

Now oh so easily you're over me
Gone is love
It's you that ought to be
Holding me, I'm not containable
This turns up
It's not sustainable

I ain't freakin'
I ain't fakin' this
I ain't freakin'
I ain't fakin' this
I ain't freakin'
I ain't fakin' this
Shut up and let me go
Hey!

Shut up and let me go
This hurts, but I can't show
For the last time you had me in bits
Now shut up and let me go!
For fear of leaving in regret
I changed this one when we first met

Now oh so easily your over me
Gone is love
It's me that ought to be
Moving on, you're not adorable
I was something unignorable

I ain't freakin'
I ain't fakin' this
I ain't freakin'
I ain't fakin' this
I ain't freakin'
I ain't fakin' this
Shut up and let me go
Hey!

Oh love, hold this
Hey

Shut up and let me go
This hurts, I told you so
For the last time you will kiss my lips
Now shut up and let me go
Hey!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Broken

I am so obsessed with this song.
A fan of both Evanescence and Seether, combining the two seemed like a given anyway. But, paired with beautiful, heart-wrenching lyrics and melodies ... no wonder this song has gotten so popular so fast.
This one breaks my heart every time. The emotion Shaun Morgan (of Seether) and Amy Lee (of Evanescence) both put into this song is more than words can describe. Shaun's edgy, classic-rock voice adds the perfect essence of pain and loneliness, and when paired with Amy's powerful, higher range ... it just gives you shivers. The melodies are perfectly presented and the lyrics are simply lovely. My favorite part may be the end, when the chorus is repeated over and over, adding intense guitar riffs as well as an electric violin ... wow.
The music video takes my breath away.
All in all, I just love this song. There's not much else I can say. One of those songs that doesn't even need an explanation ... just take a listen, and you'll know what I mean.
This is Broken, by Seether, featuring Amy Lee.

Seether - Broken Music Video, featuring Amy Lee



Broken
Seether featuring Amy Lee

I wanted you to know I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph and I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain

'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

You've gone away, you don't feel me, anymore

The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain

'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

You've gone away
You don't feel me here anymore

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Love Me Dead

I heard this song for the first time watching a collection of music videos on Fuse. I immediately fell in love with the slightly psychotic music video - what can I say? I appreciate an artist or group who can pull off crazy, and Ludo does it very well. Besides the entertaining and kinda skitzo music video, this song is very fun to listen to. The lyrics, directed from a broken heart to an ex-lover and speaking about his mixed feelings about her, use creative word choice and plenty of metaphors to portray the message of the song. The melodic vocals have a cabaret-type essence about them, with a couple of short-lived guitar solos thrown in to give us just enough rock to keep things interesting. All in all, a very enjoyable song to listen to, and the video makes me smile every time.
Here's Love Me Dead by Ludo.

Ludo - Love Me Dead Music Video



Love Me Dead
Ludo

Love me cancerously
Like a salt-sore soaked in the sea
'High-maintenance' means
You're a gluttonous queen
Narcissistic and mean

Kill me romantically
Fill my soul with vomit
Then ask me for a piece of gum
Bitter and dumb
You're my sugarplum
You're awful, I love you!

She moves through moonbeams slowly
She wears me down to bones in bed
Must be the sign on my head
That says, oh...
Love me dead!

You're a faith-healer on T.V.
You're an office park without any trees
Corporate and cold
Gushing for gold
Leave me alone

You suck so passionately
You're a parasitic, psycho, filthy creature
Finger-bangin' my heart
You call me up drunk
Does the fun ever start?
You're hideous and sexy!

She moves through moonbeams slowly
She knows just how to hold me
And when her edges soften
Her body is my coffin
I know she drains me slowly
She wears me down to bones in bed

Must be the sign on my head
That says, oh...
Love me dead!
Love me dead!

Love me cancerously
Brrrot-dot-da-d-da-da!
How's your new boy?
Does he know about me?
You've got the mark of the beast
You're born of a jackal! You're beautiful!

She moves through moonbeams slowly
She knows just how to hold me
And when her edges soften
Her body is my coffin
I know she drains me slowly
She wears me down to bones in bed

Wha' 'bout that sign on my head
That says, oh...
Love me dead!
Love me dead!
Oh, love me dead!