Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown

One of my best friends came to visit for a couple of days and i forgot how fun it was to have someone around that summed up my university career.  Since he left to go back home for school out East a few years ago, i've never really had that someone i could turn to who knew exactly what i needed to hear.  We were only roommates for a year, but we acted like we knew each other for decades.  It's good to know that recent roommates can still act like brothers, even if they live in two different time zones; thats university for you. 

#9

Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown

I've been waiting for this album for some time.  Like many other KOL fans, i fell in love with the band listening to their recent album Only By The Night which exploded on the commercial scene.  Since the release of their latest Come Around Sundown, i've been extremely excited not only to listen to it, but to write about it and share what i thought would be the next album of the year.  Well after a few listens, i don't think it's worth a grammy, though i do believe that i fell on a gem.  "Pickup Truck" (don't mind the pink, just press play) is without a doubt my favourite song of the year thus far.  Jared's six note bass line packs the perfect amount of punch in a emotional song, the piano (which hasn't been used in the past) accents Matthew's guitar beautifully,  the drums are not only being played by Nathan, he gives a voice to his instrument, and the emotion Caleb evokes in this song is so strong, his lyrics grab hold of you as a listener.  I have a great connection with this song that many people may not understand, though i do believe everyone has a certain song they feel strongly for, this one is mine. 

"Pyro" is another song that i took interest in as well.  Not only does it have a drum beat that i cannot figure out even till this day, but i feel like it will blow my mind if i ever watched it live.  I had the pleasure of watching the Followill brothers back in 2008, and have no doubt i will watch them again. 

We did not use this album as our anthem for his visit here, though i chose to connect the two since they both speak of brotherhood.  I understand that i don't have a say on where he should go to school, or where he should live after, though i do know i have a choice to stay friends with him regardless of his location.  So i know we're not roommates any more, but we'll always be biggest bois! (slang for brother lol) 

Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown

3.5/5

recommended songs

Pickup Truck

Pyro

Radioactive

Back Down South
The Immortals

Joshua Radin - Simple Times

I admit...I miss it...lets be honest, who doesn't miss it.  I miss always having someone there for you when ever you need it...knowing that your not alone no matter what.  It's always hard not to think back at what you could of done, or what you shouldn't have...but if you really had the chance would you do anything different?...I would like to think not...but knowing me...i think waaaay to much into certain situations...so i tend to just not think about it at all.  Is it hard?...hell yea its hard...but its also working.  Fighting with someone else is always shitty....but fighting against yourself is the hardest....

#8

Joshua Radin - Simple Times

This album is great...start to finish, but the emotional ride that it brings you is exhausting...one song your down...next song your picking yourself up...next song your bobbing your head and singing the lyrics...next song your back down....i feel like i'm in a soap opera staring me and my ipod.  I couldn't choose which song i wanted you to hear first...so instead ill let you decide.  "No Envy, No Fear" is an emotional song with soft spoken lyrics, a warm cello bass line, gorgeous ukulele background, and a guitar riff that will leave you speechless.  On the other hand, "Brand New Day" is certainly a more uplifting song, even though it is not as technical as the other, a three chord progression in the chorus will still have you smiling near the 1:30 mark.  I would also like to stress Joshua's song writing ability.  Quoting from another review "Joshua doesn't write to impress, he writes to convey emotion".  Emotion is definitely an understatement with regards to Simple Times.  I believe in order to become a true song writer, or a true 'anything' for that matter, you have to leave all your emotions, give all your heart, and show commitment to become who you want to be.  Joshua proves he has what it takes with his work on Simple Times. 

There are two ways to look at this situation.  Easy way out: you allow yourself to feel alone, you find ways to distract yourself from what your really thinking of, and you listen to Joshua Radin.  

Better way out: you think of that feeling you had when you found someone new, and you look forward to that day, you look out for yourself first...and you listen on Joshua Radin. 

It's never easy to push people away who have made such an impact in your life....but people come and go...it's the people who stay that should be most important to you. 

Joshua Radin - Simple Times

4/5

recommended songs:

No Envy, No Fear

Brand New Day

Friend Like You

I'd Rather Be With You

Passion Pit - Manners

I have a million things going on in my head...just a brief summary..i worked my first raptors game..IT WAS AWESOME...i'm on reading week...which is also awesome...i have a lot of work to do before my friend comes to visit from New Brunswick, which is kind of awesome i guess, i'm also losing sleep..which is not so awesome....and me losing sleep brings me back to the fact that i have a lot of things going on in my head.  Its a constant circle and i'm having a hard time trying to find things that inspire me to continue....but then again, maybe i'm just looking to hard.  So what inspires you?...A certain song? An old teacher? Or maybe a friend?.....What inspires me?.....my dad.
So heres #7

Passion Pit - Manners 

I wasn't a fan of Passion Pit until I heard the song "Moth's Wing".  If i were to write a blog themed after my sisters "100 songs that saved my life", this song would without a doubt be one of my top 10.  The piano melody is gorgeous, the drummer only uses the ride and toms (he doesn't touch the snare once), the vocalist sings in a perfect falsetto, and the ambient sounds produced by the synths and electric pianos are genius.  This song inspires me to learn every instrument played during this track, and reproduce it as if my own.  It's hard not to single out this song from the rest of the album...not to say that Manners is not worth a full listen, "Moth's Wing" is just one of those songs....it's...inspirational.
The best description i can give for this band is a collaboration of different sounds.  Christmas chimes used in "Sleepyhead", or a children's choir sung during "Let your love grow tall".  Passion Pit definitely made a fan out of me with their work off Manners.  It's an album worth a listen, even though you aren't a fan of the lead singers extremely high voice not fit for a grown man...

I have to admit, I am a little frightened about what i'm supposed to do after I graduate.  I say that i have a plan, but what if the plan falls threw, what then?  Either way, my dad always told me to be proud of who I am and not to look to far into the future, focus on right now first.  Well I am extremely proud of who I am, and proud of who i will become....cause hopefully ill be more like him.

Passion Pit - Manners
4.5/5
Must listen:
Moth's Wing
Let Your Love Grow Tall
The Reeling
Sleepyhead

Ok Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky

Do you remember these guys?....k flash back...remember that video with the four guys on the treadmills singing and choreographed dancing to an extremely catchy song.  Yup..they have a new album, and its freakin catchy.  I did not like their old albums, in fact i found them kind of annoying, but with Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky, i cant stop singing, swaying, hand drumming, what ever you like to do when you listen to wicked awesome music.
Ok to be honest, i really should be working on an essay; but i realized that if you just take the time and stand up from you extremely grooved desk chair, and start 'two stepping', the essay all of a sudden doesn't seem so threatening.  You just need a break, whither you are in school, or if your working seven to eight jobs at a time, you just need time to do you....sooo...heres #6, and my latest ear candy.

Ok Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky

I recommend you to watch every music video these guys have made.  Each one is a single shot, meaning they don't stop, cut and match frames, its just a single three to four minute shot on what ever theme they chose.  Not only does Ok Go put out some of the most innovative music videos, they also produce some of the most catchiest tunes.  Maybe not "shit i'd sleep to material", but then again, this album has made me think of another playlist....entitled the "two step"...genius!...I also have a secret love affair with Ok Go's bassist Tim Nordwind, not because he's a balding mid age musician, but because his bass playing is astounding. Groovy bass licks, slaps, and slides, that you can't help but just dance too.  Soo...my treat to you for today, is to listen to "I want you so bad i can't breath".  This song wasn't the first song i heard off this record, in fact that song was called "this too shall pass", which is another catchy tune, but "I want you so bad i can't breath" allowed me to just close my eyes and feel the music.....and trust...i haven't felt that for a while!

I would like to point out that, while writing this blog on the subway to work...i felt great about what i've just written, in turn, forgetting to save it, and deleting everything half way through.  So, ill end off with a good note instead....
The Raptors season is about to start meaning i'm employed once again in a couple of weeks. As i mention this during dinner with my parents, my mom rants off about focusing more on school and not to concentrate to much on this job...let alone having two....then my dad turns to me and says.."but its a pretty cool job eh?!'...and i respond..."yeah it is!!".....hahahaha awesome

Ok Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
4/5
Recommended songs to "two step"
I want you so bad i can't breath
This too shall pass
All is not lost
White Knuckles