Tonight in LA: Reasons Be

Who: Reasons Be

Where:  Molly Malones

When: 8pm

Price: $10

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/532818926761071/?fref=ts

Here is a sneak peak of what to expect:

Song of the Day: Catapilah – Young Buffalo

Young Buffalo, a three-piece-band from Mississippi, is slowly entering the airwaves with their fairly recent release, Catapilah. The band consists of Alex Hardberger, Ben Yarbrough, and Jim Barrett, all friends who crafted the project in ’09.

With influences of the only two kind of boys out there, the Beach and the Beastie, Young Buffalo classify their sound as Afro-Beat and Soul. I’m not sure if that would be exactly how I would describe what I’ve heard thus far but to be honest, it doesn’t really matter what genre you pin them in – their music is ridiculously addictive.

With that being said, I’m interested to hear more from them and hopefully Young Buffalo will get a positive response toward their unique vocal and percussion-based sound.

– Jamey

Artist: Young Buffalo

Song: Catapilah

Friday is Forever!

My buddies in We the Kings put their new music video out today. It’s a great summer tune called “Friday is Forever”.

Check it out:

– Amanda

Song of the Day: Birds in Flight- Biggest Mistake

Recently, I made friends with a fellow blogger, Glenn Hampson who runs a site called When We Were Beautiful. After talking back and forth for a few months, he informed me that his band, Birds In Flight had just released their new EP. I have to say I was impressed. When I was right out of high school, I decided to front a band called In Waiting in hopes of being the next Gwen Stefani. Needless to say, it brought back some good memories when I gave the EP a listen and found that the lead singer was a female. Jess Gibbons has one of those voices that can hit a range of notes.

The band’s first single, “Biggest Mistake” is a track that reminds me of my first break up. Young love and heartache. It is one of those catchy, pop -rock songs that almost any one can relate to. The lyrics tell the story of a young love going sour and wishing you’d never fallen for that person in the first place. The EP is a solid 3 tracks, I look forward to hearing the full length. Unfortunately for me, the band is located in England so I probably won’t be seeing them anytime soon. Until then, I’ll wait for live show footage to show up on youtube. Take a listen:

Artist: Birds In Flight

Album: Birds in Flight

Song: Biggest Mistake

Song of the Day: Tegan and Sara – The Con

A couple years ago when I was attending college at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA I had a roommate named Dena. She was obsessed with this band called Tegan and Sara. At the time, I couldn’t stand it because she would listen to them every morning when we were getting ready for school, every night when we were cooking dinner, and pretty much every time we drove somewhere. At the time I thought I had listened to enough of their music to last me a lifetime, but here I am 2 years later listening to them. Partly because I miss living with Dena, partly because the band is actually really good. The Con is the song I play most, its super catchy and has some great lyrics. I love the indie feel to it. I am also a fan of how the 2 sisters have distinctly different voices that sound so great when they harmonize. Check it out:

Artist: Tegan and Sara

Album: The Con

Song: The Con

– Amanda

CD Review: *Motion City Soundtrack*

*Motion City Soundtrack*– My Dinosaur Life

Record Label: Columbia

Release Date: January 19, 2010

2010 looks to be a good year for Motion City Soundtrack.

I first heard Motion City Soundtrack on the 2005 Nintendo Fusion Tour.  Needless to say, I had to backtrack in order to appreciate the band’s tenacity.  “My Favorite Accident,” “Make Out Kids,” and “The Future Freaks Me Out” immediately hit my iPod; I don’t think they’ve left.  Most fans would be worried about their favorite band making the transition from popular indie label Epitaph to a major label like Columbia.  Most fans would.

Produced by Mark Hoppus, My Dinosaur Life has been in the making for over a year.  Twelve months ago, drummer Tony Thaxton broke his right arm—delaying the recording process.  According to motioncitysoundtrack.com, the setback gave the group a chance to reevaluate some of their songs, as well as write new ones.  The result is a twelve track tour de force with almost forty minutes of synth, guitar, and range.

The album explodes to life about twenty-five seconds into the first track, “Worker Bee.”  With a reluctant, self-asserting introduction, MCS invites the listener to accompany the eusocial insect on a journey through contradictory lyrics.  “A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)” contributes humility via overlying bridge harmony and a hook that takes fans back to Commit This To Memory.  Loyal fans have already heard “Her Words Destroyed My Planet”—the music video is showcased on the bands website (motioncitysoundtrack.com)—which picks up exactly where Even If It Kills Me left off.  The first single, “Disappear,” takes a mild leap, even while remaining true to the band’s synth-pop signature sound.  Something resembling Bayside escapes, revealing a sort of confusing sense of rejection—a familiar MCS topic—narrated over an alternative chord progression.  The song works, but seems almost foreign.  The most surprising gem is “Delirium.”  The Presidents of the United States of America first came to mind (very few bands could sing about a stain on the floor or caterpillars raining from the ceiling), but the chorus rings true of any other MCS song: pure pop-rock.

Other standouts include “History Lesson” and the happier “Stand Too Close” that incorporates the band’s signature bubblegum pop while exposing an acoustic talent that this band no-longer appears afraid of.  “Pulp Fiction” will hit like a freight train; originally a heavy drum pattern created by bassist/backing vocalist Matt Taylor, this song won’t likely be on any of the setlists this spring—it takes too many keyboards to perform.  Lead singer/songwriter Justin Pierre admits that the electronic-driven track has no ties to Quentin Tarantino, but it will probably be just as confusing.

Louder, faster, angrier tracks, like “@!#?@!” and “Hysteria” are also reminiscent of CTTM.  It’s a tough one to call; will fans embrace the constant dynamic, or will they reject this new effort?  Put simply: if you enjoyed Even If It Kills Me, then you’ll love My Dinosaur Life.  Is it Hoppus’ influence, or a mature pop-rock group?  Who cares?  As one of the few bands that stray very far from their trademark sound, Motion City Soundtrack fans will wear this album out in a matter of days.

http://www.MotionCitySoundtrack.com

– Titus

Time to break out the Christmas playlist!

Every year around the beginning of November I start thinking about my Christmas playlist. I have to force myself to wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the tree and decorations, but more importantly I have to hold off on the Christmas music. My general rule about listening to holiday music is day after Thanksgiving to January 1st. Here my list of favorite holiday songs. I will forewarn you though it is very diverse and cheesy. Here goes:

Bruce Springsteen- Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

The Kinks- Father Christmas

Blues Traveler- Christmas

Randy Travis- Jingle Bell Rock

*N Sync- Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

No Doubt- Oi! to the World

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- Christmas All Over Again

Hootie and the Blowfish- The Christmas Song

Joe Diffy- Leroy the Redneck Reindeer

Beach Boys- Little Saint Nick

Paul McCartney- Wonderful Christmas

John Lennon and Yoko Ono- Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Jon Bon Jovi- Please Come Home for Christmas

Adam Sandler- The Chanukah Songs 1, 2 , and 3

Brenda Lee- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Save Ferris- Christmas Wrapping

Mariah Carey- All I Want for Christmas Is You

Bryan Adams- Run Rudolph Run

Jimmy Eat World- Last Christmas

Chipmunks- The Chipmunk Song

Burl Ives- Holly Jolly Christmas

Bright Eyes- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Phantom Planet- Winter Wonderland

Britney Spears- All I Want for Christmas

Madonna- Santa Baby

We the Kings- There is a Light

-Amanda

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween everyone! In spirit of this spooky day, here are my favorite Halloween songs:

– “Bad Moon Rising” Creedence Clearwater Revival

– “Thriller” Michael Jackson

– “Ghostbusters” Ray Parker

– “Scooby-Doo Theme Song”  The Hit Crew

– “Monster Mash” Bobby “Boris” Pickett

– “Purple People Eater” Sheb Wooley

– “This is Halloween” Danny Elfman

– “Halloween” AFI

– “Dig Up Her Bones” The Misfits

-“People are Strange” The Doors

-“Pet Sematary” The Ramones

-“Somebody’s Watching Me” Rockwell

-“Witchy Women” The Eagles

-“Living Dead Girl” Rob Zombie

ENOJY!!!

– Amanda