Nine In The Afternoon

I am madly in love with Panic At The Disco's latest single, from their new release album Pretty. Odd. (2008). This one's called Nine In The Afternoon, and, in my opinion, it is a masterpiece.
First, let me get this out of the way; I deeply mourn the loss of the exclamation point after the "Panic" in Panic! At The Disco, which the group abandoned with the release of Pretty. Odd. . So, in memory of the long-lost punctuation mark, I will continue to call this band Panic! and will refer to it as such in this post, both as a shorthand and as a memoriam. Rest in peace, exclamation point. You will be forever missed.
Now that that random moment of dorky-ness is taken care of, moving on to my review.
Panic! has always been a band that's not afraid to be out of the ordinary. This single is no exception. The instrumentals in this song really caught my attention; Panic! wasn't afraid to bring in brass instruments to give this song a completely unique sound, and, in the end, I don't think this track would be the same without the trumpet in the chorus; it's the hook that makes this song so catchy. The vocals are also extremely well presented, with a certain edgy feel that just works. Panic!'s lead singer, Brendon Urie, definitely has talent for what he does. More catchy hooks include the clapping near the end of the song and the background vocals that sound nearly like a choir. The lyrics, which are usually what stands out the most to me in a song, are not the defining feature of this track, but are not to be left unmentioned. All the quirky, catchy aspects of this song come together to make one heck of a single; perfect in a way only Panic! could pull off.
So, for your listening pleasure, here's Nine In The Afternoon by Panic At The Disco.

Panic At The Disco - Nine In The Afternoon Music Video

Nine In The Afternoon
Panic At The Disco

Back to the street where we began
Feeling as good as lovers can, you know
Yeah we're feeling so good
Picking up things we shouldn't read
It looks like the end of history as we know
It's just the end of the world

Back to the street where we began
Feeling as good as love, you could you can

Into a place, where thoughts can bloom
Into a room where it's nine in the afternoon
And we know that it could be
And we know that it should
And you know that you feel it, too

'Cause it's nine in the afternoon
And your eyes are the size of the moon
You could, 'cause you can, so you do
We're feeling so good
Just the way that we do
When it's nine in the afternoon

Your eyes are the size of the moon
You could, 'cause you can, so you do
We're feeling so good

Back to the street
Down to our feet
Losing the feeling of feeling unique
Do you know what I mean?

Back to the place
Where we used to say
Man it feels good to feel this way
Now I know what I mean

Back to the street, back to the place
Back to the room where it all began
Back to the room where it all began

'Cause it's nine in the afternoon
Your eyes are the size of the moon
You could, 'cause you can, so you do
We're feeling so good
Just the way that we do

When it's nine in the afternoon
Your eyes are the size of the moon
You could, 'cause you can, so you do
We're feeling so good
Just the way that we do
When it's nine in the afternoon

Your eyes are the size of the moon
You could, 'cause you can, so you do
We're feeling so good
Just the way that we do
When it's nine in the afternoon

Tonight, Tonight

I've been a fan of Panic At The Disco for a pretty long time now, and am just starting to get into the Smashing Pumpkins' music, too. The first song I heard from the Pumpkins was Tonight, Tonight, and I was instantly impressed but the dramatic styling of the song and the beautiful, inspiring lyrics.
When I heard Panic! did a cover of the song, I was speechless. I knew Panic's lead singer, Brendon Urie, had just the theatrical style to pull off the elegant track.
And boy, I was anything but disappointed when I heard the cover for the first time! Brendon and the rest of the band went above and beyond in covering an already spectacular song. Even more astounding is the fact that this cover was never recorded; the only version of it available is a live performance!
Usually I don't post live videos on this site, and I try to keep from posting about the same artist over and over ... but this cover was too perfect to resist sharing. It really stand on it's own; this cover embodies all that is Panic At The Disco, while giving tribute to the timeless band who recorded it first.
This is Tonight, Tonight, originally by the Smashing Pumpkins, covered by Panic At The Disco.

Panic At The Disco - Tonight, Tonight Live Performance

Tonight, Tonight
Panic At The Disco
Originally Recorded by the Smashing Pumpkins

Time is never time at all
You can never ever leave without leaving a piece of youth
And our lives are forever changed
We will never be the same
The more you change the less you feel

Believe, believe in me, believe
Believe that life can change
That you re not stuck in vain
Were not the same, we're different tonight
Tonight, so bright
Tonight

And you know you're never sure
But you're sure you could be right
If you held yourself up to the light
And the embers never fade, in your city by the lake
The place where you were born

Believe, believe in me, believe
Believe in the resolute urgency of now
And if you believe there's not a chance tonight
Tonight, so bright
Tonight

We'll crucify the insincere tonight
We'll make things right, we'll feel it all tonight
We'll find a way to offer up the night, tonight
The indescribable moments of your life, tonight
The impossible is possible tonight
Believe in me as I believe in you, tonight

Panic! At The Disco - A Flair For The Dramatic

I know this is a music blog; but Panic! At The Disco may be recieving most praises from me about their music videos!
Like so many others, I've heard I Write Sins Not Tragedies more times than I could possibly count, thanks to its huge mainstream success. Along with the release of their latest album (Pretty. Odd. - 2008), Panic! has come along with another mainstream hit; I'm sure we've all heard Nine In The Afternoon?
While both these tracks were huge mainstream successes, they were not quite enough to sell me on Panic!'s sound. What was it about these guys, exactly, that had Panic! fans so dedicated? What made these guys so like-able?
That's when I watched the music video for Nine In The Afternoon; the first Panic! video I'd ever seen. I fell in love instantly. Their creativity, their artistry ... Brendon Urie, lead vocalist, has a flair for the dramatic that made this video a total stand-out. After watching the video for I Write Sins Not Tragedies - and being blown away by it as well - I realized that this ability to be unique, to stand out ... this was what made Panic! so well adored. I'm not sure I, myself, would like the group as much as I do if it weren't for their stellar videos!
I have taken it upon myself to watch several Panic! music videos and I must say I have yet to be disappointed; the group's stylistic approach to the videos has left me astonished time and again. Currently I have seen the videos for the above mentioned songs, as well as But It's Better If You Do and That Green Gentleman. However, the one that has left me breathless is the music video for Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Off Her Clothes. Simply beautiful; a true work of creative genius.
I admit it; I'm a Panic! fan in the making. As soon as I get my hands on some of their albums, I'll let you know what I think of their lesser-known tracks. But until then, rest assured; they've got me sold on their music videos.
Here's Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Off Her Clothes, by Panic! At The Disco.

Panic! At The Disco - Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Off Her Clothes Music Video

Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Off Her Clothes
Panic! At The Disco

Is it still me that makes you sweat?
Am I who you think about in bed?
When the lights are dim and your hands are shaking as you're sliding off your dress?
Then think of what you did
And how I hope to God he was worth it
When the lights are dim and your heart is racing as your fingers touch his skin
I've got more wit, a better kiss, a hotter touch, a better f***
Than any boy you'll ever meet, sweetie you had me
Girl I was it, look past the sweat, a better love deserving of
Exchanging body heat in the passenger seat?
No, no, no, you know it will always just be me

Let's get these teen hearts beating, faster, faster
So testosterone boys and harlequin girls
Will you dance to this beat, and hold a lover close?
So testosterone boys and harlequin girls,
Will you dance to this beat, and hold a lover close

So I guess we're back to us, oh cameraman, swing the focus
In case I lost my train of thought, where was it that we last left off?
(Let's pick up, pick up)

Oh now I do recall, we were just getting to the part
Where the shock sets in, and the stomach acid finds a new way to make you get sick
I hope you didn't expect that you'd get all of the attention
Now let's not get selfish
Did you really think I'd let you kill this chorus?

Let's get these teen hearts beating, faster, faster
So testosterone boys and harlequin girls,
Will you dance to this beat, and hold a lover close?
So testosterone boys and harlequin girls,
Will you dance to this beat, and hold a lover close?

Dance to this beat
Dance to this beat
Dance to this beat

Let's get these teen hearts beating, faster, faster
Let's get these teen hearts beating, faster

I've got more wit, a better kiss, a hotter touch, a better f***
Than any boy you'll ever meet, sweetie you had me
Girl I was it, look past the sweat, a better love deserving of
Exchanging body heat in the passenger seat?
No, no, no, you know it will always just be me

Let's get these teen hearts beating, faster, faster
So testosterone boys and harlequin girls,
Will you dance to this beat, and hold a lover close?
So testosterone boys and harlequin girls,
Will you dance to this beat, and hold a lover close?

So testosterone boys and harlequin girls
Dance to this beat
So testosterone boys and harlequin girls
Dance to this beat
And hold a lover close
Let's get these teen hearts beating, faster, faster
Let's get these teen hearts beating, faster

My City Screams - Earning Respect The Right Way

This post will be unlike others on music.is.life. This band has no music videos for me to share. I've never heard a complete song by them, so I have no lyrics to share, either. I can't tell you to go out and purchase their album, because they dont have one. What I can share with you, readers of this blog, is a short tale about a guy I met who's just trying to make it work for he and his band.

I was at my local mall yesterday, casually wandering, headed for f.y.e to see what new albums may have come in stores. On my way I got stoppd by a guy I'd never seen before, with white gauges and a Social Distortion tee shirt. He asked me what kind of music I liked, if I listened to local music, and then explained that he was in a local, unsigned band and was going around the mall telling people about the band, trying to hook new listeners and fans. He pulled out an iPod and let me listen to some of their stuff. And I guess you can assume I iked what I heard; why else would I be talking about it on this site?
The guy (named Avery, as I discovered by checking out the band's MySpace the next day) compared their sound to Death Cab for Cutie, but I have to say I liked the sound of his band - My City Screams - much better. A mix of indie, electronic, and acoustics, the whole vibe of the tracks I heard were very, very cool. I could see myself listening to this stuff on a regular basis. I got a chance to listen to their "intro track" and their "single", neither of which I learned the title. I do know that the intro had an almost industrial-metal-meets-techno beat, and that the vocal melodies of their single were beautiful.
Avery explained that My City Screams was in the running against five other unsigned hopefuls to become one of three to open for Panic At The Disco at an upcoming show, and that he was selling My City Screams' first demo at the mall to fund such a gig, should his band be selected to open for Panic!. Regretfully, I didn't have the money on me at the time to purchase the demo. So, since I couldn't support this up-and-coming band with money, I thought the least I could do was spread word-of-mouth about them on my blog.
I'm extremelly happy to see a band actually working for the recognition they desired. In this day and age, it's odd to see something like what Avery was doing; a band actually making an honest effort to get the word out about their music. So many talentless artists these days are getting signed and then just hitching a ride on whatever gig their managers think up - often times drifting away from what they really wanted to do as artists in the first place. I'm proud of Avery for going out of his way to try and make this work for he and his band, and I wish My City Screams the best of luck with getting to open for Panic!. And believe me - that's one show I'd pay to see ;)

So, with no music videos, no lyrics, and no official band websites to share ... the only thing I can offer you, readers, is the link to My City Screams' MySpace. And my own word about this band's talents.

http://www.myspace.com/mycityscreamz

Keep an eye out for these guys; they may be the next great thing.

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

Hey, Soul Sister

Gonna take a short break from my "Then & Now" series to step back into the present, and confess that I am whole-hearted-ly addicted to this track.

...I think it's the ukulele. I'm sort of into that lately. Or maybe it's the reggae styling; sort of been into that lately, too. But I think most of all, as usual, it's the lyrics; it's the soul in the track Hey, Soul Sister that first caught my attention. From the very opening lyric; "Lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains"... that's so good. I love it. I don't know why I love it, I just do.

It gets better from there. "You're the one I have decided is one of my kind"; there's just a sort of open, honest vibe about this track, and I love that. It works so well with the instrumentals, the overall mood of this song. Everything about it ties together so beautifully, and I almost can't describe what it is about this song that has me so honestly addicted; every time I listen to it, I feel happy, and hopeful, and blissfully unaware of anything except complete and irrational optimism. It's brilliant. One hell of a single from the guys in Train; thanks for giving us this sweet little melody.

I'm not a huge fan of the music video. I like the setting; the concept is overdone. Could have done without the lyrics feature... the first time I ever saw it was on Panic at the Disco's music video for their single Northern Downpour, and now it seems that everyone from Nickelback to Green Day - and, apparently, Train - is catching on to the idea. In my opinion, nothing tops Panic's writing on the bathroom mirror and "Hey Moon" bumper stickers... but I digress.

Basically, Train's Hey, Soul Sister is a sweet and honest and soulful track, and has captured my heart completely. Hope this song makes you as happy as it makes me.

Train - Hey, Soul Sister Official Music Video

Hey, Soul Sister
Train

Hey, hey...

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains;
I knew I wouldn't forget you, and so I went and let you blow my mind.
Your sweet moonbeam; the smell of you in every single dream I dream.
I knew when we collided, you're the one I have decided who's one of my kind.

Hey soul sister, ain't the Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo;
The way you move ain't fair, ya know.
Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do tonight.

Hey, hey...

Just in time; I'm so glad you have a one-track mind like me.
You gave my life direction, a game show love connection we can't deny.
I'm so obsessed; my heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest.
I believe in you; like a virgin, you're Madonna, and I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind.

Hey soul sister, ain't the Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo;
The way you move ain't fair, ya know.
Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do tonight.

The way you can cut a rug; watching you's the only drug I need;
So gangsta, I'm so thug, you're the only one I'm dreaming of, you see.
I can be myself now, finally; in fact there's nothing I can't be.
I want the world to see you be with me.

Hey soul sister, ain't the Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo;
The way you move ain't fair, ya know.
Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do tonight.

Lions Roar

I've been listening to The Hush Sound ever since my friend Fed introduced me almost four years ago. Long before they were well known, not that they're especially well known now, which is sad because they're a great band. But the people who do listen to them normally rave about the songs with Greta's vocals like "Wine Red" and "You Are The Moon", and sadly overlook Bob's vocals.

Bob Morris has that DecayDance voice that Pete Wentz loves so much. It seems that Pete signs bands that have vocals somewhat like the vocals of his own band, Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, like Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco, and Bob Morris of The Hush Sound. But Bob's vocals bring something more, and his lyrics are always like a small fairy tale is being told in his songs.

When I first heard Lions Roar a few years back when I bought their Sophomore album "Like Vines" I think I pressed repeat five times! The song caprtures the sound of a circus gone awry. . .it's "Something Wicked This Way Comes"-esque. You feel like you're in the song, and you're watching it all play out.
When Bob Yells "Everybody Stop!", you're given this jolt, and then the song slowly picks back up into a wonderful instrumental ending.

This is a must listen for everyone who misses that little bit of fiction that used to be brought to most songs, and of course a must listen for any Hush Sound fan who hasn't heard it!

Enjoy!

Lions Roar-The Hush Sound


The lions roar and young men soar
The flames all scorch the circus floor
Puppets on strings all dance and sing
Trumpets play sick lullabies

Dellicate dame her fragile face
Was scared away wihtout a trace
Out in the cold, where did she go?
Into unkown a place I'll never. . .

Know and the desperate search began
All across this sea and land
I just knew I'd find you here
I just knew I'd find you here

Elephants rear and young men steer
The audience just claps and cheers
I asked around half empty towns
About a girl nowhere to be found

Oh and the desperate search reran
All across this sea and land
I just knew I'd find you here
I just knew I'd find you here

We did not know, we could not go
The circus songs, just carried on
Out of the crowd three men rushed out
And scream and shout "everybody stop!"