1 Act Play

Lana Del Rey

So I know she's been around for a while, but to be completely honest I wasn't interested in Lana Del Rey at all until she had a main track on The Great Gatsby album. She has a song called "Young and Beautiful", which I think is absolutely perfect. Her voice is super distinct like you would definitely remember it. She has a variety of kind of alternative with a hip hop beat in some of her songs, I don't even know. Spotify calls it retro-pop which I guess is pretty accurate. Her sound is just super interesting, and makes you want to keep listening. Plus her lyrics, are pretty strong, and I normally don't even listen to lyrics but hers just stick out. My favorites are "Young and Beautiful", "Radio", and "Blue Jeans".

"Young and Beautiful"

"Radio"

















"Blue Jeans"

Radiohead

Radiohead is a band that I don't love but I don't hate. The songs that I don't like are okay, like I'm not all "Turn it off now", but I'm never like "wow I need to hear that again for sure". I'm one of those people who, when I like an album, will listen to it over and over just because I need to keep hearing it it's so awesome. But I feel like that would never happen with a Radiohead album. I sing along when it comes on the radio but I don't deliberately get the album and listen to it again. I think some of the issues I have with Radiohead is that their tone is kind of creepy. Some of their songs like "How Do You?", "I Can't", and "Thinking About You" are some exceptions, but other than that a lot of the songs from the album Pablo Honey are just eerie to me. So, not negative but not overly positive either, Radiohead is just alright in my opinion.

"How Do You?"

"Thinking About You"

The Great Gatsby- Soundtrack

I saw the early showing of The Great Gatsby Thursday night, and I really enjoyed the movie. I thought the music added to it so much. Whoever thought up the soundtrack for that movie was a really smart dude because I felt that almost every song that was played just went along with the whole theme of The Great Gatsby and the 1920's mixed with modern influence and keeping you interested. Every song would fit the situation, and just went along perfectly. The whole idea behind the book was the outrageous extravagance of everything in that time period, and everyone's crazy way of life, and the music just made it sound so much cooler. It was a wide variety of artists with a variety of styles but all kind of flowed together. Some of the artists include Lana Del Rey, JAY Z, Beyoncé, Gotye, and Florence + the Machine. And a bunch of other really cool people. I know the songs that stuck out and I absolutely remember the parts they played in and just fit perfectly were "100$ Bill" by JAY Z, "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody" by Fergie, Q-Tip, and Goonrock, and "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey. The first two songs play in some party scenes that look so cool and the last song is played throughout the movie. Overall, whoever did this did an awesome job and the movie rocked.
"Young and Beautiful"

"A Little Party Never Killed Nobody"

"100$ Bill"

Smashing Pumpkins

We listened to Smashing Pumpkins today in class and I recognized one or two songs but for sure do not know them fully. After listening to them a lot more, I'm starting to really like them. They have a really laid back sound but at the same time it's unique. I especially like the singer's voice just because it sounds so good while being different at the same time. I really like they're style because it's definitely the kind of music I'm into normally with a little bit of variety. They aren't really hard core like some of the bands that were out at the time (in the 90's) and in a way I feel like they kind of brought back the really good alternative music into style. I like that it also kind of has a rock edge to it sometimes though. Overall the Smashing Pumpkins are really good and my favorite songs of theirs are "1979", "Tonight Tonight", and "Today".

"1979"

Kenny Chesney-Life On A Rock

Kenny Chesney came out with a new album called Life On A Rock this week and I think it's pretty good but not his best. There's like a reggae song on it and he's country so I don't really think that mixes well but he kind of pulls it off. It's a weird mix of his islandy/reggae music with his country but I've found that the more I've listened to it the more it grows on me because I think it's so different than anything that it just stands out a lot and becomes super catchy. My favorite song from the album is one that he released early called "Pirate Flag", which has his classic country as the majority but adds a little bit of island feel and that's the mix that I like the best, not when it's heavy on the island side and not on the country side. The reggae song is called "Spread the Love", and to be honest, I don't think it sounds country at all except for Kenny Chesney's voice. So I wish, since he's more of a country artist he would have mixed the different genres a little bit better but other than that I really like the album. My favorite songs are "Pirate Flag", "It's That Time Of Day", and "Marley", because they're the most laid back songs with the good mix of country and islandy sounds.

"Pirate Flag"

 

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Okay for one, I thought this album was wayyy to long. I really liked a lot of the songs, but after a while, it got really old and I was really tired of listening to it, unless it was a really good song that stuck out. I thought that a lot of the songs were weird lyrics wise, but I really liked all the music behind the singing. The lead singer's voice was not my favorite because it was a little too rough in this album in my opinion, but I like a lot of their later stuff when he sounds a lot softer. Like for example in "The Power of Equality", the chorus is what I like, but it kind of sounds like a version of the Beastie Boys in between that. My favorite songs from this album were "Breaking the Girl", "Funky Monks", "I Could Have Lied", "Give It Away", and "Under The Bridge". These songs were softer or had a cool beat and I like them a lot.

"Give It Away"

 

"Under The Bridge"



Muse

So, I've kind of recently just started listening to Muse and I'm really liking it. The lead singer has such a memorable voice and it's not one that's just memorable because it's weird; I really like it because I think it sounds so pretty. He just has such a cool tone and like it's about to be raspy but then it's not, it's just so good. Then, there's all the random instruments in the background that go so perfectly together. It's like they figured out the exact random sounds that go awesome togther. Like the deep base, and electric guitar, and weird marimbas or something like that but it sounds so beautiful. My favoite songs by them are "Madness", "Starlight", and "Undisclosed Desires".

"Madness"

 



"Starlight"

 

"Undisclosed Desires"





Pearl Jam

I listened to the Pearl Jam album, Ten, and for the most part I really liked it. There were a lot more songs I recognized than I realized I would. My dad is a fan of Pearl Jam so I knew the songs and didn't even realize it. When we watched the video of them performing though, it made me like them a lot more. Their concerts seemed like so much fun and the lead singer was super funny. He was like a monkey climbing on everything and it seemed like a ton of fun to be there and made me want to go. So they're very entertaining, which I really liked. I think the singer has a pretty interesting voice too. I don't think that they were something new and interesting or anything and that's why their so great, I think they're great because every single song you just want to get up a jam to. Even though it's not new, it's a constant sound that won't get old. So many people love this type of music and you can just listen to it and have a good time, and I think that's why it was and has been so popular. My favorite songs are "Alive" and "Even Flow". I liked "Even Flow" the best just because the chorus is such a jam out chorus and you just can't help but have it stuck in your head and sing along.

"Alive"

"Even Flow"

Phillip Phillips

Okay, so I told myself I wasn't gonna jump on the bandwagon and start liking Phillip Phillips, because come on he was on American Idol. I was trying to be a hipster but it totally didn't work out because it turns out that I'm like in love with Phillip Phillips. I've been hearing him on the radio all the time lately and everytime I shazam the song it's always him and it's just like ugh I wasn't planning on liking you but you're so good. So what can I do...not care about being hipster anymore. Of course everyone's heard is most popular song "Home" which is amazing. But I've been hearing the song "Gone,Gone, Gone" all the time and it's SO GOOD. I've been listening to it nonstop. I really like his style of music because it's not exactly like Mumford & Sons and Lumineers and Young the Giant mixed or something in that category but it's not exactly pop either. Plus his voice sounds a little bit like Jason Mraz to me. Because I have to admit, when I listen to Mumford for too long it just gets so old and I won't listen to them again for like a month or two. But Phillip Phillips doesn't really get old to me. He also has a ton of variety. Because if you listen to "Home" and then "Get Up Get Down" it's completely different which I actually really like. "Man On The Moon" is also a song I have been listening to a lot. To be honest if you listen to his whole new album called The World From the Side of the Moon just rocks. So I highly recommend it.

"Get Up Get Down"

 

"Gone, Gone, Gone"



"Man On The Moon"

Nirvana

I recognized a couple of the Nirvana songs that were on the album Nevermind when I listened to it, but only a couple. I kinda sorta enjoyed this album. It was pretty much so-so for me. I didn't like that on some of the songs, they were really heavy and kind of screamo and on others they were really calm and soft rock, which I like. So there were a couple of songs that I liked, like "Nevermind, It's An Interview", Lithium", "Polly", and "Something In The Way". And of course everyone recognizes "Smells Like Teen Spirit", which I think might be the weirdest and most random song ever..but whatever. And I don't know what it's called but the bonus track on the album, I thought was COMPLETELY TERRIBLE. Like why? Why would you add that to a pretty much ok album and make it turn to terrible. Like when that started playing I wanted to run somehwhere far away just to get it out of my head. Terrible. Anyways, the drumming was also really amazing on this album I thought, then again I notice good drumming like every album so maybe I have low standards or something. But I really did think it was awesome. Besides the screamy songs like "Territorial Pissings". The more I listen to them the weirder I think they are...but over all I liked the softer songs.

"Lithium"

 

 

"Polly"

 

 

 

"Something In The Way"



Passenger

So I found this band on Spotify as usual and I am really loving it. They kinda remind me of Of Monsters and Men. I read their bio, and it also said that they have performed at SXSW so that would be so cool to see them live. They're like the usual bands that I like, really calm, but it has a lot of stuff added into it, for example some orchestra instruments. Plus the singer's voice is really distinct and sticks with you. I don't know if it's because he's from the UK or what but he just makes you remember it, and in my opinion it sounds really cool. The song that I like the best is their number 1 song "Let Her Go" from the album All the Little Lights. It has some really awesome lyrics too, and lyrics don't usually matter that much to me, but when I was listening to this song they just totally stuck out to me. Like I know at the beginning, the lyrics were:

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you’re missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go
Like how deep is that. So true too, and put in a really cool way. So conclusion, I liked this band because for once the lyrics stuck out at me, while at the same time, being the type of music that I like.  The other songs I like are "Holes" and "Golden Thread" from one of their other albums Flight of the Crow.

"Let Her Go"

"Golden "Thread"

"Holes"



Paul's Boutique

I really liked this album, because I thought it sounded like something I would listen to today, not just another 80's song. I feel like it was really different for the time because I think most people were either listening to hair metal or some rap like either Run DMC or like Grandmaster Flash and stuff like that but the Beastie Boys weren't your average rappers. They definitely put something new out there. It really did bother me that they ruined sampling music for everyone else intentionally. Like why ruin it for everyone else by doing it a bunch instead of just a little bit and letting other people enjoy sampling too? Oh well, I think it was a really cool mix of some old music with their new take on it. I think listening to the Beastie Boys for too long could get old  though because of the way they yell instead of singing. I don't think it's too bad when they are just straight rapping, but when they are trying to sing it sounds pretty weird. Specifically the songs I liked were "Shake Your Rump", "Hey Ladies", "Car Thief", "What Comes Around", and the medley song "B-Boy Bouillabaisse". Also another cool think that I liked about their album was that it all ran together so you didn't really know which song was which, but it got annoying when I liked the first part of a song and not the second part because then I couldn't say that I liked the whole song, when in reality, they were completely different.

"Shake Your Rump"

 

"Hey Ladies"



 

"B-Boy Bouillabaisse"



Blake Shelton- Based On A True Story

Blake Shelton came out with a new album this week that I have already fallen in love with. A lot of the songs are slower than e normally makes. Plus, you could say that for the most part, his previous albums are super redneck sounding, but this one is kind of a change. Aside from a couple songs, it's a deeper and sweeter album than usual. I really can't pick a favorite though because they are all so good. I think I'll just pick a couple though. The ones I really like are "Boys Round Here" which is pretty redneck I have to admit, "Do You Remember", and "Mine Would Be You". Overall the whole album rocks and I really love it. I also am just in love with Blake Shelton's personality which makes me like his album more than most. So check it out.

Rattle and Hum-U2

Overall I liked the U2 Movie Rattle and Hum but at times it got a little boring. I found that after listening to them for that long, I get a little tired of them and it all starts to run together. I think it would have been better for me if I had known more songs because I liked the parts where they sang what I already knew. A part that I thought was really cool was when U2 was in a church and were singing "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" with a background choir. I wish it was originally like that because it really added to the song. Also, during the video called Bibien the drums were so awesome. The beats were really complicated-sounding and that's all I could focus on. The one request I have is for everybody to cut their hair. Please and thank you.

Paul Simon's Graceland

I really enjoyed this album because I really like Paul Simon's style of music. It was really relaxed but never really boring to me. I especially liked his song with Lady Smith Black Mambazo because it just added to the originality. I like that his music was influenced by the genre of South African pop and that it was really new for the time that it came out. It sounds like music you would jam out to on the beach on an island. Some people don't really like his voice because it's too nasally, but I actually really like his voice because I think it goes really well with the genre of music he's singing. One of my favorite things on the album is the beginning of "I Know What I Know". The other songs that I like are "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes", and "Homeless".

"I Know What I Know"

 

"Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes"



 

"Homeless"



Blake Shelton

I really love Blake Shelton's new album, and I think one of the main reasons I do is because I like him as a person so much. I follow him on Twitter and watch the voice and honestly I think he would be a fun person to be around. He super funny and seems like the kind of guy everyone wants to hang out with. I think that really helps me like someone's album. For example, Lady Gaga seems like a really freaky lady and I think she's pretty weird and I would not like to hang out with her on the weekends, and I hate her music, so there you go. Blake Shelton came out with his album "Based On A True Story" a couple days ago and it has become really popular. I think it's because there's not just one song on it that's kind of good but all the songs on it are pretty good so it makes the whole album easy to listen to. My favorite songs from the album are "Boys Round Here", "Sure Be Cool If You Did", "Country On The Radio", "Mine Would Be You", and "Ten Times Crazier". So you see, that's a lot of favorite songs and I even decided to delete some. So definitely check this album out and watch the voice because I LOVE BLAKE.

"Boys Round Here"

 

"Sure Be Cool If You Did"



 

"Country On The Radio"





 

"Mine Would Be You"





 

"Ten Times Crazier"



Lifehouse

Lifehouse is another really good band I listen to that is just a calm sound that I listen to all the time just relaxing and chilling out. Recently they released a song called "Between the Raindrops" that I am in love with because it's not like all their other songs and it switches it up a little bit. It's a little bit more fast paced and features Natasha Betingfield. Anyways, a lot of their songs are super popular as just sweet, relaxing songs, which is mostly what I'm into so it's perfect. Plus, when I looked at their Spotify page there was SO MANY albums that I hadn't even heard of yet. That's the best feeling even though I kind of feel like a loser for finding it so much later, but hey at least I found it and discovered something awesome. Anyways, my favorite songs by Lifehouse are of course "Between the Raindrops", "You and Me" (DUH), and "From Where You Are".

"Between the Raindrops"

 

"You and Me"



"From Where You Are"

 

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Run DMC

I LOVE RUN DMC. To be honest, I'm actually pretty much in love with all 80's rap and disco music. I this stuff because it's always so upbeat and it makes me just want to sing along and get up and dance and just overall puts me in a better mood. Not much old music can do that, so I think it's pretty cool. Another rap group I love from the 80's is the Sugarhill Gang. They're lyrics are so funny and I can rap along and I love it. I like that the Sugarhill Gang and Run DMC sound a lot alike. Plus I really like Run DMC's part in "Walk This Way" because it's a cool mix of the two different styles but they come together better than you think they would. Plus, the video is pretty funny I think. One thing that I think is super weird about Run DMC is that they're branding was off the charts. For example they're brand of Adidas when that hadn't happened yet; I honestly had no idea they were that popular at the time, so it was cool to learn about that. My favorite Run DMC songs are "Walk This Way", "It's Tricky", "Sucker MC's", and "It's Like That".

"Walk This Way"

 

"It's Tricky"



 

"Sucker MC's"

 

"It's Like That"

Jared Evan

An album called Boom Bap & Blues was recommended for me on Spotify, and I really like the album so far. It's basically a mix of most things I like. It's got some Justin Timberlake type stuff, and some slow Hoodie Allen type stuff, mixed with some alternative I don't even know what. The closest thing to this album I can think of is Justin Timberlake but it's more hip-hop than that and has more alternative so it's really hard to describe. Some of the songs get pretty slow, but then there's some random sounds in there to mix it up and keep you interested. I really like the song "Blue" on this album. Jared Evan also has another album called 4th chapter and I really like the chorus of "Charlie Brown" and I think the artist needs to add more variety like that chorus. "One Good Thing" is also a little different and pretty catchy. Overall, Jared Evan needs some more variety and he'll become more popular, I think.

"Blue"

"Charlie Brown"

"One Good Thing"