Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes

School has officially started...its my last year...where i'm going after?...well lets just hope i make it through first!...So while stumbling upon this next album (and without the help of a thesaurus) stumbling into my last year of university, i realized that there are two types of people in this world: people who care..and people who just don't give a shit.  I guess there are a couple of exceptions, but majority would be at either poles.  It's difficult to determine who's who at first, but when your at the forefront of your university career, you tend to realize who's gonna stick by you, and who's just a bump on the road.  This brings me to #5...and my next album:

Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes

Land of Talk became the main focal point because of two factors:
1: the main guitarist and main singer is female
2: the melody at which she is singing, and the rhythm of the music are completely different...but when put together...its freaking genius.
So lets just point out that the main guitarist/Singer is female...yes there is Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Paramore; counting a few, with lead female singers, but Elizabeth Powell never puts down the strings while delivering her unique voice accompanied by bass and percussions.  Not taking anything away from the bass guitarist and drummer, but if you listened to Powell's voice separately, it's a completely different picture.  She has the ability to sing A capella and still bring out the message she intended with or without her band. 
The song "it's ok" best describes the difference between the music and voice.  The haunting, yet gritty tone of her voice meshes perfectly with her off tuned guitar and back up band.  It's hard not to listen to this song once or twice more just to get the full effect of its perfect imperfection.

So maybe we are supposed to be challenged by people we don't particularly like.  It's possible that others who care make up for the ones who don't care at all and vice versa.  Two is better then one, and once you put them together, it's up to you to see fit.

Land of talk - Some are lakes: 3.5/5
recommended songs:
It's Ok
Some are Lakes
Yuppy Flu
Trouble

Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain

It's funny how things begin to change.  Sometimes for the worst, sometimes for the best; either way things change.  For example, i got the job that i was denying i would get...Im doing pretty well in school (trust me its a first), and i have a general idea of what i want to do in my life...which includes ALOT of travelling.  Where im going with this....i don't really know, i just know i haven't felt this sort of freedom for quite some time.  I also realized that optimism is the best medicine to anything...that and sleep!!!  Which brings me to my next album, and blog #4....

Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In the Grain

So if I haven't shown you yet, i have this playlist entitled "Shit i'd sleep to", which includes all types of artist and songs that i would generally pass out too.  I used to sleep with heavy metal playing in the background...but damn...those dreams were messed up! So instead, these artist include, coldplay, fleet foxes, matthew good, broken social scene, massive attack, Jon hopkins ...yea u get the picture...im already getting sleepy while talking about them.  Ray LaMontagne has now been inducted into the "shit i'd sleep to" playlist!!!

I know I know...music that makes you fall asleep is a waste of time, cause...c'mon, music is ment to be listened too.  But the way i look at it, is if it's soothing enough to let you fall asleep, then its something worth listening too.  Gossip In The Grain incorporates optimism, up-tempo and slow-tempo melodies, and a wicked gospel voice that makes me wish i could grow a beard and drink enough whiskey that my voice would eventually sound like that.  Put that all together, you get Ray Lamontagne.  The first song i listened to was "You are the best thing"...and honestly, I dare you NOT to smile when you listen to this song (specially the back up singers....SO BOMB)...

I can't say this song helped me through a lot, cause i mean, it's only been a week...but i can say that it helped me lift a heavy weight off my shoulder which i hope it does the same, or more for you!

I know my blogs are a little long, so im gonna try to keep them short...this album is good...not the best...but screw it...it helps me sleep at the end of the day!  I give this album 3.5/5, mainly because it is kind of boring, but that voice...god damn that voice...if jesus sung..that would be it..I swear!!!


ooh and also...check out the cd release dates on the right hand side.  let me know of others...those are just a few that i felt were important!!!!...


Recommended tracks:
You are the best thing
Let It Be Me
Sarah 
I Still Care For You

Coldplay - Parachutes

it's been a long week...and i mean..a LONG week.  I just finished up my first week of frosh bossing, and i dont remember being so tired since my last time i participated in my frosh week.  The 3 am partying, the 8 am wake ups...i can't keep up with these eighteen year olds ne more!.. But with that said, i totally missed last weeks blog, mainly because i didnt listen to another album, and yes i did go crazy.  The only thing that was playing during frosh week was the constint euro beats, the "uns uns uns", and a devotion to lady gaga.  
Not only have i been trying to be awesome all the time (and yes that was part of our contract), ive been living at my best friend(s) place for the last week.  I love these guys for lending me their hospitality but i do admit that i missed my bed, to the fullist.  After a long night of fist pumping, i go back home, put on my wicked ass bose headphones (sry for the advertisement) and put on the only thing that reminds me of home......Coldplay!

For people who know me well enough, they know that the band Coldplay has been part of my life for as long as i can remember.  When i decided to write these blogs, i used it as an excuse to write a review on Coldplay, and in particular this album.  And with everything that has been going on in my life, the friends, the family, the school, the age of 21, and the constint decision making....this album has been playing in the background, and even if i dont truely listen to it, its comforting to know that something so close to me will always be there as long as i press play. 
soooo...i finally get to do a coldplay album....lets make this epic!!!
 
Coldplay - Parachutes

What more can I say about this album.  The song writing techniques, the true sounds of melody, and the feeling of a cohesive band all jammed packed into a 42 minute LP.  It's hard to find an album where you don't mind...no no, you don't want to change any track and listen to every single song.  Each track has its own characteristic, but none other then the song "Don't Panic" best describes the album.  "Don't Panic" gave me shivers the first time i heard it, and that feeling has never changed.  I can't remember how many times ive relied on this song to give me that extra push, or to give me the encouragement to continue on.  Even if things didn't work out as planned, i stayed true to myself, and i stayed true to the title.  Everything will eventually work out for the better, you just gotta give it time.

Another song i truly recommend would be "Everything's not lost".  This song incorporates all aspect of great music, a slow build up, a dramatic chorus, and a climatic ending; as if this song was meant to be told as a story.  

I can continue on about how much this album means to me, but it wont mean a thing if it doesn't persuade you to actually listen to it.  This is an album that will always be close to my heart, and i hope it changes your mind on a couple of things too.

I give this album a 5/5, i would go over the 5 limit, but i don't want to over exaggerate and give you high expectations.

To wrap this up....and im sorry, i know this blog is pretty long, id just like to say, frosh week was wickedly awesome, it was awesome to be awesome for 21 hours of the day, it was awesome to meet so many awesome people, and it was awesome to always smell like awesome!!!!....i had a great week, and since school is about to start, i have to start making even bigger decisions in my life.  I hope the friends i've made, and the friends im going to make in my last year of university will be as amazing as these albums i have been listening too.....ok...so thanks for reading blog #3, now carry on with your life!!

Songs i recommend off Parachutes:

don't panic

everything's not lost

yellow (obv)

sparks

shiver

Ra Ra Riot - The Orchad

blog number 2....i know im supposed to write one for every tuesday, and im already failing, but forgive me...i've been sick the last couple of days.  Fortunately i do feel better, although i told myself to get better by thursday - yes i had a chat with my body and i gave it a timeline  (i even searched through google - "quick tips to get back to healthy")...i guess sickness and a cure cant be rushed.  I have had a good dosage of boiling water and tylenol, but nothing eases my stomach more then some anti-biotics...=)....
Ne ways, during my time of recovery, it was extremely hard to go outdoors, or even into my basement where the air is too cold for my throat.  So instead, i stayed in and listened to music; with a side of applying for jobs and reviewing school books i need to buy, but those aren't important...
On my last blog, i talked about a band that i recently discovered.  After nagging my friends and family to read my blog, i also asked them if they heard of such a band.  Surprisingly, only a handful of them have, so i thought i landed on a gem.  Since that time i've had two opportunities to watch this band live...(I KNOW...IN A WEEK)....but with the combination of my sickness...and helping a number of people move from A to B (do people stay in one place ne more?)...i was unable to watch them in any occasion.  So instead, i decided to listen to their most recent album "The Orchard".... which is the topic of blog #2.

This album is completely different from their debut album; which is both a positive and a negative.  Negative - i REALLY like their debut album, positive - you can tell that they are always trying to do something different.  If you know me well enough, you know that im a huge Coldplay fan, and one of the main reasons for my obsessiveness (is that a word?)....is that they continue to do and create new things, each album has a different feel, but the true meaning of their music is still there.  In this case, the catchy - poppy texture in Ra Ra Riots last album has shifted to a more mature, full listen.  Now i can't say that i dislike their choice of direction (note - they did help me through 6 days of sickness), but i did miss the fun, up-tempo sound found in The Rhumb Line.  Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of great songs off this album, one sure listen would be...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZSivEDSHFI; but sometimes, change is not always the answer.  But then it got me thinking, even if you don't want things to change, things are going to change regardless.
For one:

• I'm feeling much better then before (well anything feels better then breathing in toronto air, lugging a coach across the hallway with an extremely soar throat...sickness is just a nicer word for phlegm, mucus and sweat....SOO ATTRACTIVE), 
• i got an interview for a job i really want 
• and i also received my first reference letter from an old friend...it was awesome

So change can be good, but lets not speak to soon...schools about to start!...bring it on!!....
ooooh and my verdict for Ra Ra Riot "The Orchard" - 3/5
....."the Rhumb line" - 4/5.......man i should make this a profession.


recommend ear candy off "the orchard"
 - Do you remember
 - you and i know
 - Shadowcasting
 - Kansai