Cleveland Music Scene

Well Cleveland, we are done with the first day of finals! Just two more to go. Laaaaaame. Feeling stressed? Like your head is just going to explode into a bajillion pieces? …Yea, me too. So take a teensy-weensy break from studying to let the blood flow back to your head, and listen to some music. What do I recommend? Modest Mouse. They have the two types of perfect songs for finals week: chill out songs and “AGHHHHHH” *pulls out hair & runs away screaming* songs. Lead singer, Isaac Brock seems to be cursed with the infinite feeling of thoughtful sadness; melancholia. A perfect example of this would be “Dramamine” and “Whenever You Breathe Out, I Breathe In“. The lyrics are pretty sad, but the music itself is very relaxed.

Modest Mouse has been around since 1993, and was formed in one of the music capitols of the world; Seattle. Ex-guitarist, Johnny Marr was in The Smiths before he recently joined Modest Mouse in 2006…but was later replaced by Tom Peloso in 2009. I think their best albums are This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About, Lonesome Crowded West, and Building Nothing Out of Something. Even though they’ve been around for 17 years, they haven’t lost their incredibly unique sound. Modest Mouse recently let out a new EP, No One’s First and You’re Next. So far my favorite song from the EP is “I’ve Got It All (Most)“. My favorite lines are “How can someone inconsistent mess up so consistently?” and “Hey there, Mr. Sweet and awful…are you going somewhere, or are you just walking through my walls?” Isaac Brock has a really interesting and emotional voice.

If you’re in a bit of a weird mood, you might want to try listening to “Never Ending Math Equation“. It has a really interesting beat and the words can make you think about some odd stuff. Plus it has to do with math! Sort of… (not really, shhhh) I’ve been quite obsessed with Modest Mouse lately. Check them out, you might find yourself obsessed aswell!

-Brenna

(P.S.) 11th grade core, here I come! Woot!

So, yesterday I stumbled upon a song called “The Red Telephone” by Love. To say the least…it’s super trippy. Nothing about the song really makes any sense. At one point the singer says “I feel real phony when my name is Phil…or was that Bill?”  The song ends with everyone chanting “They’re locking us up today…they’re throwing away the key. I wonder who it will be tomorrow; you or me?” If you’ve seen Taking Woodstock, you might remember this song from the acid trip scene (…But remember, drugs are BAD BAD BAD). Check out these other oddball songs! (Or just songs that fit in…kind of.)

1. “The Red Telephone” – Love
2. “Can’t Hear My Eyes” – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
3. “You Can’t Take It With You” – As Tall as Lions
4. “Ambivalence Avenue” – Bibio
5. “Caring Is Creepy” – The Shins
6. “Who Was In My Room Last Night?” – Butthole Surfers
7. “For What It’s Worth” – The Candy Skins
8. “Add One to the Other One” – Darker My Love
9. “Riot Radio” – The Dead 60’s
10. “Crooked Teeth” – Death Cab for Cutie
11. “Lover” – Devendra Banhart
12. “The Season” – The Dodos
13. “Crocodile Rock” – Elton John
14. “Let’s Write a Book” – Field Music <——-AWESOME video…click link to see it!
15. “The Ruminant Band” – Fruit Bats
16. “Phones Don’t Feud” – Holiday Shores
17. “Overnight Religion” – Kurt Vile
18. “It’s Working” – MGMT
19. “Other People’s Lives” – Modest Mouse
20. “Give Blood” – Rain Machine <—-His beard is EPIC.
21. “All the Go Inbetweens” – Silversun Pickups
22. “Drown” – Smashing Pumpkins
23. “Bull In the Heather” – Sonic Youth
24. “Basic Space” – The XX
25. “Yalira” – The Very Best <—-This song is NOT in English…you’ve been warned

-Brenna

(P.S.) We survived CST week! Yayyy!!!

Awwwww mannnnnn……..

At least there’s always music to save us from the boredom while we wait for the Friday that never seems to come! My recent obsession: Ida Maria. This lady is awesome. She’s like 1/3 ska, 1/3 punk, and 1/3 something else that I can’t figure out. Ida Maria has a deep, raspy, chain smoker-esque voice and an “I don’t care” attitude. Sometimes when she shouts, her voice cracks…which adds to the (excuse my French) “bad-ass-ted-ness” of the music.

The majority of Ida Maria’s songs are pretty simple, and really easy to sing along to. Her most popular song is “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked“, off of her latest album, Fortress ’round My Heart. My favorite song from Fortress ’round My Heart is “Stella“. It’s a lot slower than most of the songs on the album. Ida Maria’s songs have been used a few times on TV. Her song “Keep Me Warm” was used in a lotion commercial (woot?) and “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” was featured in Greys Anatomy and My Life As Liz.

Fortress ’round My Heart is the perfect album for when you’re mad, bored, sad…or just need to move around! If you like Ida Maria, you might like Vampire Weekend, The Hives, The Aquabats, The Bird and the Bee, Blur, Black Kids, Noah and the Whale, The Ting Tings, Regina Spektor, and We Are Scientists <——click the band names to hear music from them! Enjoy, and check out the video for Ida Maria’s song “Oh My God” featuring Iggy Pop!

-Brenna

(P.S.) What was up with the short lunch today? Haha

Apparently, the next big step for bands is the DVD. In only a matter of months, Bring Me The Horizon, Escape the Fate, All Time Low, and 3Oh!3 have released, or are preparing to release, DVD diaries.

Bring Me The Horizon’s first DVD to be released by the band is titled Suicide Season Cut Up, basically a deluxe package that comes with the band’s original full track album released in 2008, along with a second album carrying the remixes of the band’s work by eclectic artists such as The Secret Handshake and Travis McCoy. Finally, the third disc included in the package is the DVD, a compilation of live performances as well as four music videos Bring Me The Horizon has released.

To be honest, the DVD wasn’t too incredible of an investment, because the live performances seem to lack audience participation and true exhilaration. The music videos can also be viewed online at any time for free. If you’re a true fan of BMTH, investing in the DVD will in no way lead you to regret, but it is not a commodity if one wants to merely know the band.

Escape the Fate, as of April 27^th, has re-released their 2008 album titled This War is Ours. The band has often alluded to the fact that the production of this album was rushed, and that they could (and will) do much better on future records. This promise is kept with the two additional tracks on the album that are fresh to the line-up. And yes, a DVD comes along for the ride in the new Deluxe Edition. It includes the music video for “This War is Ours (The Guillotine Part Two)”, as well as Behind the Scenes Footage and more.

All Time Low has not yet released their DVD (which is set to hit stores May 25^th), titled All Time Low: Straight to DVD, but the previews for it seem to ensure that it is not in any way meant for innocent eyes. Nudity, perverted jokes, and all around fun are going to be incorporated in this tour diary, and will most likely leave fans laughing hysterically, while parents shake their heads in the background. But hey, that’s usually means you’ve made the right choice!

3Oh!3 has not yet released their DVD either, but it is set to drop in early May, and is titled Streets of Gold. What I gather from the previews is that it will be a partly fictional tale of the band trying to find inspiration to write their next album. It’s seem funny, entertaining, and a good investment for fans.

Obviously, this DVD movement is not the first of its kind. Bands dating back to when our parents were kids have DVDs all over record stores today, and bands such as AFI, Green Day, and Avenged Sevenfold have released incredible DVD live performances in the past five years. But a sudden spike in DVDs in nearly the same three months? Maybe it’s just a new way for bands to have fun and record companies to promote the music. And I’m not complaining; a good DVD is always perfect accompaniment to a good album!

-Natalie Knipe

Guess what, you guys?!?!?!!! It’s SPRING BREAK!!!! No staring at the clock in math class or running 80 bajillion laps in PE for a whole week! So, what better a way to spend all this free time than to listen to some music? But not just any music, of course. We need spring-worthy music! (Despite the un-springish weather this week) So ladies and germs, here is THE SPRING BREAK PLAYLIST!!!!!

1. “Fake Palindromes” – Andrew Bird
2. “Like It Or Not (Version 2)” – Architecture In Helsinki
3. “Devil’s Haircut” – Beck
4. “Polite Dance Song” – The Bird and the Bee
5. “No Rain” – Blind Melon
6. “Furr” – Blitzen Trapper
7. “Song 2” – Blur
8. “One Love/People Get Ready” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
9. “Cannonball” – The Breeders
10. “First Day of My Life” – Bright Eyes
11. “Pictures of You” – The Cure
12. “Mr. Jones” – Counting Crows
13. “Blue Day” – Darker My Love
14. “Me, Myself, and I” – De La Soul
15. “Little Bribes” – Death Cab for Cutie
16. “Wait It Out” – Dog Day
17. “Take a Picture” – Filter
18. “Slow Motion” – Forest Fire
19. “The Ruminant Band” – Fruit Bats
20. “(Not Just) Knee Deep” – George Clinton & Parliament Funk
21. “Poprocks and Coke” – Green Day
22. “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” – Ida Maria
23. “Summertime Rolls” – Jane’s Addiction
24. “Tree Hugger” – Kimya Dawson
25. “Another Sun” – Malakai
26. “Electric Feel” – MGMT
27. “Other People’s Lives” – Modest Mouse
28. “Hey” – Pixies
29. “All the Go Inbetweens” – Silversun Pickups
30. “Feel It All Around” – Washed Out
31. “Island in the Sun” – Weezer

There you have it; the Spring Break Playlist! If you click the names of the songs you can listen to them. Enjoy, and have an awesome break! 🙂

-Brenna

(P.S.) Fantastic Mr. Fox just came out…and the soundtrack is FANTASTIC!

Tim Burton’s new version of Alice In Wonderland has gained much popularity among the music world, one reason due to its supporting album titled Almost Alice. The soundtrack includes original songs written especially for the theme of the movie, by bands such as All Time Low, Robert Smith, Owl City, 3Oh!3, and Motion City Soundtrack.

The album has a variety of different styles of music, but the majority of songs have a strong pop influence in them. Recently, there was an event supporting the album and the movie, held in Hollywood. Never Shout Never, Metro Station, and 3Oh!3 played short, fun sets, and each band showcased their new song on the album. Afterwards, the cast of the movie was introduced by Tim Burton for five seconds of fame… And then disappeared.

Although the event was not the greatest concert ever held, it was still entertaining, and gave people a taste of what was coming up on the new album.

One song on the album that sticks out like a sore thumb is the ending track, called Alice’s Theme, which is the main musical score for the movie, written by Danny Elfman. Yet, I was blown away with how spectacular the song was, and it took me quite a long time to finally play a different song. Elfman has combined the eerie sounds he created Nightmare Before Christmas, and added in dramatic children’s choirs and heavy woodwind instruments. Overall, I can promise that this album will have something for everyone.

Discography:

1.             “Alice”               Avril Lavigne             3:35

2.             “The Poison”               The All-American Rejects             3:53

3.             “The Technicolor Phase”               Owl City             4:27

4.             “Her Name Is Alice”               Shinedown             3:38

5.             “Painting Flowers”               All Time Low             3:25

6.             “Where’s My Angel”               Metro Station             3:39

7.             “Strange”               Tokio Hotel and Kerli             3:51

8.             “Follow Me Down”               3OH!3 featuring Neon Hitch             3:23

9.             “Very Good Advice”               Robert Smith             2:58

10.             “In Transit”               Mark Hoppus with Pete Wentz             4:02

11.             “Welcome to Mystery”               Plain White T’s             4:28

12.             “Tea Party”               Kerli             3:29

13.             “The Lobster Quadrille”               Franz Ferdinand             2:08

14.             “Always Running Out of Time” Motion City Soundtrack             3:00

15.             “Fell Down a Hole”               Wolfmother             5:04

16.             “White Rabbit”               Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

By Natalie Knipe

First of all, I’d like to apologize for the late post (my computer HATES me!) Second…Austrailia is on a roll! First Architecture In Helsinki and now The Temper Trap! On Wednesday (3-10-10) I went to The Fonda to see The Temper Trap. Darker My Love opened for them and they were pretty good; although they occasionally sounded like The Beatles. Darker My Love had a really cool psychedelic sound that you don’t often find anymore. I definitely recommend listening to their song, “Blue Day”.

After much anticipation, The Temper Trap FINALLY came on set! They have a really peaceful yet passionate quality to their music. The Temper Trap sounds very to similar to The Color Turning…but the Temper Trap’s Dougie Mandagi’s vocals are much better. When he sings, everything stops. Dougi nailed every single note and actually sounded much better live than on the album. They’re quite an eclectic group of people…and together they make a grand sound. The bass player, Jonathon Aherne is INSANE! He really knows how to entertain the crowd. Most of The Temper Trap’s songs are pretty mellow; but when they played “Drum Song” they got a lot more intense. There are no vocals in the song. Instead Dougie teams up with the drummer, Toby Dundas and the rest all grab drums while Lorenzo Sillitto continues to play the guitar. It’s a really crazy beat…hence the name “Drum Song”.

The song that made many people discover The Temper Trap is “Sweet Disposition“. It was played twice in the movie (500) Days of Summer. This song echoes off the walls when you play it and the lyrics are really honest and vulnerable. “Sweet Disposition” definitely makes you think (and it’s good for going to the beach…at night!). I would have to say my favorite Temper Trap song is “Down River“. I like how they all sing together and I think the lyrics are very thoughtful. The Temper Trap attracts all sorts of fans. You could be one of them!

Check out their website for tour info and more here.

-Brenna

(P.S.) CLICK HERE for 25 FREE LEGAL music downloads!

We must all thank Australia for this wonderful gift: Architecture In Helsinki. They’re a spastic indie-pop band composed of five people (formerly six). Architecture In Helsinki uses a wide variety of instruments such as: trumpets, tubas, trombones, saxophones, clarinets, recorders, analog synthesizers, samplers, handclaps, and…the GLOCKENSPIEL!!! They’ve toured with many bands such as Death Cab for Cutie and Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah. Architecture In Helsinki can easily be described in one word: BIZZARE. But the good kind! Their song “It’s Almost a Trap” has been featured on an episode of the new MTV show, My Life As Liz.

My favorite song by Architecture In Helsinki is “Spring 2008“, from the album Fingers Crossed. You can download the song “Like It Or Not (Version Two)” for free on Urban Outfitters LSTN (once again!). It’s a really cool video, you can watch it by clicking the name of the song. You don’t often stumble upon a group as unique as Architecture In Helsinki. They can be very dreamy and soft or high-strung and convulsive. If one band could be compared to Architecture In Helsinki it would be Los Campesinos!

Some of Architecture In Helsinki’s best albums are Places Like This, In Case We Die, and Fingers Crossed. Hopefully they’ll be touring America soon…and producing some new albums! You can visit their MySpace by clicking here. Enjoy!

-Brenna

(P.S.) On Wednesday I’m going to see The Temper Trap with your Cleveland Life Blogger, Halyna…so expect a review on Thursday!

It’s alway fun to hear when a band tries to take one of your favorite songs and make it their own. Here are a few songs that I think have covers that deserve to be recognized.

1. Toxic: A Static Lullaby

Want to enjoy an old Britney Spears song in a new light? A Static Lullaby has taken the pop hit and added in their touch of guitars, drums, bass, and, of course, screams.

2.   I Wanna Love You: The Maine

A pop-punk band has covered an Akon hit. And The Maine has done it well. Melodic lyrics have taken the place of the rap-filled verses, and if not for the similar choruses, it would be hard to tell the two songs were alike!

3.  When I Grow Up: Mayday Parade

A song that I normally did not care for by the Pussycat Dolls was turned into something that I constantly wanted to dance to by Mayday Parade. They replaced all the electronc beats with drums and guitars for a cleaner, catchier sound.

4.  Flagpole Sitta: Chiodos

In middle school, Flagpole Sitta was one of my favorite songs. I didn’t think it could get any better until Chiodos covered it. Craig Owen’s vocals are at just the right pitch that the cover can’t go wrong. Although the two songs sound very much alike, Chiodos did a good job in subtly adding in their own touch.

5.  Smooth: Escape the Fate

It’s extremely, extremely difficult to take on the challenge of covering a Carlos Santana. Yet, I believe Escape the Fate did the song justice and worked hard to create a catchy cover of a Santana classic.

6.  Ziggy Stardust: AFI

This cover is hard to find, because it has not been professionally recorded. But I have provided a link for it here. AFI were able to take a David Bowie classic, and cover it in creative way that must have made him proud.

7.  Halloween: AFI

The Misfits are a hard band to cover, because of they are a legend among the punk scene. Although the two songs sound quite different vocally, AFI’s cover of the Misfit song is just as good as the original.

8.  Umbrella: All Time Low

Everyone knows Rihanna’s song about those lovely plastic canopies that save you from the rain. One again, another pop-punk band has taken a pop song and turned into something ridiculously catchy.

9.  Personal Jesus: Marilyn Manson

Considering the amount of scorn Marilyn Manson is under right now, it may be nice to at least recognize one of his feats. It must be intimidating beyond belief to try and tackle a Johnny Cash song, but I believe that Manson really tried and succeeded. The two songs are so different that it’s refreshing. Some covers sound exactly like the original songs, yet Manson disposes of guitars and goes for full on electronic beats.

10.  Stripped: Shiny Toy Guns

Depeche Mode is a legendary band, and also intimidating to cover. Yet again, Shiny Toy Guns did it, and did it well. Using female and male vocals, they tackled the song with mellow beats and synthesizers.

11.  Feel Good Inc.: We The Kings

We The Kings has taken another hit, and substituted their guitars for electronics, as well as changing some of the vocals to provide everyone with their own well-done, catchy version of a Gorillaz classic.

-Natalie Knipe

I know what you guys are thinking: “Wuzzup with all the lists???” So, I deeply apologize for repeatedly giving you guys lists…but here’s another one! We’ve all heard that random funny song on the radio, and been like “Say whattttt?” But often times these songs don’t get as much play. Whether it’s Beck who puts lyrics that make no sense together; creating a whimsical sound…or Afroman who simply tells us why drugs are bad. So, as a little after-the-three-day-weekend cheer up (and the fact that I have no time to write a full essay)…let’s listen to some funny songs!

1. “Because I Got High“, by Afroman – “A, E, I, O, U…and sometimes…W?”
2. “Pool Party“, by The Aquabats – “Holy guacamole! We’ve got chips! So c’mon take a dip, ’cause my pool rips!”
3. “I Love College“, by Asher Roth – “I can’t tell you what I learned from school…but…”
4. “Loser“, by Beck – “Get crazy with the Cheese Whiz!” (And pretty much every other line in the song)
5. “What’s My Age Again?“, by Blink-182 – “My friends say I should act my age…what’s my age again?”
6. “Fire Water Burn“, by Bloodhound Gang – “If man is 5, and the devil is 6, then that must make me seven.” (A play on the Pixies’ song “Monkey Gone to Heaven”)
7. “Pepper“, by Butthole Surfers – (No specific lyrics…the song itself is just funny)
8. “She Don’t Use Jelly“, by The Flaming Lips – “When he’s at home, he blows his nose. But he don’t use tissues or his sleeve. He don’t use napkins, or any of these…he uses magazines…”
9. “Handlebars“, by Flobots “Me and my friend saw a platypus.”
10. “We’re All Dudes“, by Kell Mitchell “I’m a dude, he’s a dude, she’s a dude…we’re all dudes!” (This song only available on the Good Burger soundtrack)
11. “Flagpole Sitta“, by Harvey Danger – “Hear the voices in my head, I swear to god it sounds like they’re snoring!”
12. “No One’s Leaving“, by Jane’s Addiction – “Now they parade around New York with a baby boy…he’s GORGEOUS!! (He says “gorgeous” funny)
13. “A Message From Cookie“, by Jay Reatard – “With the smells…the smells of THINGS!”
14. “I Kill People“, by John Lajoie – “Maybe I should kick you in the face with my fist!”
15. “My United States of Whatever“, by Liam Lynch “So this chick comes up to me, and she’s like ‘Aww’ and I’m like ‘YEAH WHATEVER!’ ‘Cause this is MY United States of Whatever!”
16. “YES!“, by LMFAO – “Check my MySpace and I got a lot of friend requests…YES!”
17. “Eat All the Old People“, by No Time – “A sandwich is a sandwich…but your grandpa is a meal.”
18. “Man (Opposable Thumbs)“, by The Presidents of the United States of America – “You lose your hair, you wear a tiny wig.”
19. “Frizzle Fry“, by Primus – “I don’t believe in Captain Crunch…for I am the Frizzle Fry.”
20. “I Saw Your Mommy“, by Suicidal Tendencies – “Chewed up toes on her chopped up feet. I took a picture, ’cause I thought it looked neat! I saw your mommy, and you’re mommy’s dead…”
21. “Tribute“, by Tenacious D – “All of a sudden, there shined a shiny demon…”
22. “Boss of Me“, by They Might Be Giants – “So I just stare at the stain on the wall where the TV been, but ever since we’ve moved in it’s been empty. Why I’m in this room? There is no point explaining!”
23. “Buddy Holly“, by Weezer – “Wee-ooh…I look just like Buddy Holly!”
24. “The Hardest Button to Button“, by The White Stripes “I got a backyard with nothin’ in it…except a dog, a stick, and a box with something in it.”
25. “Smells Like Nirvana“, by Weird Al – “No we don’t sound like Madonna. Here we are now, WE’RE NIRVANA!”
26. “Boyz-N-The Hood“, by Dynamite Hack – (It’s funny because it’s a soft mellow guitar version of a hardcore rap song.)

Well, that’s all I’ve got for you today, people! Sorry for the rough-ness of this post…I’ll add a better one later when I’m not half asleep! Enjoy, and PLEASEEEE fill out the poll below! Thanks!

-Brenna

(P.S.) Click the names of the songs to see the music video!