Blue Sky Noise - Circa Survive

Circa Survive: I promise I don’t want to like them, but I just can’t help it, Blue Sky Noise is just so darn catchy!

I fought it every step of the way, Anthony Green’s wailing near-falsetto is screechy and irritating on previous Circa tracks, but for some reason, since listening to Blue Sky Noise, I’ve kind of fallen in love with it. Imaginary Enemy is one of the best songs I’ve heard in a while and I find myself singing Every Way under my breath on an hourly basis.

If you haven’t heard Circa Survive here’s a taster:

Glee

Oh Glee, why are you so awesome? Is it because you have lines like, “I'm reasonably confident that you will be adding revenge to the long list of things that you are no good at; Right next to being married, running a high school Glee Club, and finding a hairstyle that doesn't make you look like a lesbian.” And “I’m rolling on a fistful of horse tranquilizers. I can’t feel my lips.”

Perhaps it’s the awesome mash-ups like Bon Jovi’s Its my Life remixed with Usher’s Confessions.

Perhaps it’s the fact that Jane Lynch is a comic genius and cannot deliver a line badly, ever.

Perhaps it's the writer's huge balls, writing story-lines that involve making fun of deaf people, wheelchair users, homosexuals and Jewish people, but always redeeming themselves.

Perhaps it’s because Corey Monteith who plays Finn on the show is super cute and adorable, even though he really can’t sing all that great.

Or perhaps it’s because all of these things combined makes Glee one of the best shows on television right now.

Glee returns to Fox in the US on April 13^th.

Posted By: Cat

Paramore's Use Somebody Cover

Oh we all know how I feel about Paramore and Hayley Williams. I can't help it.

This is old, but wonderful....

Posted By: Cat

Battle Studies

Finally, after three years of messing about with famous women and popping up everywhere from Fantasy Factory to the Oscars, John Mayer has remembered that he’s actually a musician and he’s made an album!

When Battle Studies arrived on my doorstep last week, I was excited. I’m a big Mayer fan and I’d been following the process of recording and putting the record together through his website, twitter and some leaked live shows. I already knew a few songs on the album but the majority of the ten tracks were fresh to my ears.

And...I hated it. No, hate is too strong; I was disappointed. It was a departure from the blues/pop/rock that I’d grown used to the last few years. Instead, it sounds like a California, laid back rock record. Considering I’m currently in rainy, flood ravaged England anything that sounds like it should be accompanied by warm sunny breezes was a bit of a stretch. Plus it’s a concept album on heartbreak. Concept. Album.

Then I gave it some time. I felt it out, listened to it over and over and now...I love it. Now I can feel that warm sunny breeze and I like the laid back feel. I like that I don’t have to pretend to appreciate long guitar solos and can enjoy the lyrical quality. I still hate the cover art though. So. Bad.

My favourite tracks are Half of my Heart with our favourite Taylor Swift (although really, she should’ve had a lot more to do on the track than the measly three words she was given), Assassin is the coolest song I’ve heard in ages and Heartbreak Warfare makes me excited to see him live next year.

Welcome back Mayer. Let’s not make it such a long wait next time okay?

Posted By: Cat

Paramore: Brand New Eyes

I love Paramore. I’ve made it no secret that I love Hayley Williams and want to be her. She’s super talented and is the lead singer of a cool rock band and she’s not even 21 yet. I also covet her hair. I long to be alternative with red hair but when I suggested it to my hairdresser, she politely reminded me that I’m the palest woman in a thirty mile radius and I should avoid washing myself out anymore.

Brand New Eyes is Paramore’s new album; number three. I love it already and have been playing it over and over. It’s not a big departure from Riot or All We Know is Falling, it has some ‘turn up and scream along’ songs, but it also has some pretty, slower tempo tunes. There are eleven new tracks, with Decode, their song from the Twilight soundtrack, making twelve.

I love, love, love Looking Up, it reminds me of travelling. Listening to the lyrics, there are a few nods to the band almost breaking up a while back, but never fear for they are here to stay! .... I hope.

Posted By: Cat

Taylor Swift

We’ve been doing this blog for a year now, and although we agree on many of the things we post on here, Nicci and I have never written an entry together. And what is the honoured topic for this occasion? Well its right up there in bold. Taylor Swift.

Not only does she produce insanely catchy pop/country crossover songs, but she writes them, and performs them live. This is not a common occurrence in the world of teen pop idols. Her video for You Belong With Me is dorky and cute and the kind of video I would have made if I ever had an ounce of music talent or was a pop star. Playing two characters fighting over the same boy? Having a Cinderella style prom ending? Wearing huge geeky glasses? All amazing.

Sometimes I think that Taylor wrote the story of my teenage and early twenty years a few years too late. It’s amazing how relatable her songs are. Case and point: I sent a text to one of my best friends saying, “Youtube “Fifteen” by Taylor Swift.” She responded almost immediately saying, “Oh dear, that is us.” And there are like fourteen other songs of hers that tell the story of my life. I really think that most anyone can pinpoint a song on any of her two albums, or even a track of hers floating around that hasn’t found a home on an album and relate to it on an extremely personal level.

Not only does Taylor have major talent, but she genuinely seems like a classy and humble lady. She’s only nineteen, and where she could be out underage drinking and getting into cars sans underwear, she instead holds herself with respect. Her Twitter posts are witty, sweet and she never has a bad word to say about others. In other news, I covet her eyeliner. I, Nicci, love her because she represents for the tall girls. I should also add that besides her representing for the tall girls, she always seems legitimately excited to be wherever she is performing, always makes time for her fans, and seems genuinely interested in what her fans has to say and makes them feel like they’re one of her best friends.

Its rather topical for us to blog about Taylor. Since Sunday night she’s been the talk of internet Kanye West and his ever growing ego tried to steal her limelight with a jumped up idea of how he rules the world and ergo, award ceremonies. He’s almost twice Taylor’s age and yet she has a thousand times more class, composure and humility. Guess he's just mad because she's outsold him and his 808 repetitiveness.

Mostly we like her because we would like to be her best friend.

Posted By: Nicci and Cat

last.fm

I'm not exactly sure what possessed me to sing up for last.fm, but I'm kind of glad I did. I'm not exactly sure if there is another purpose behind it, besides to track what artists and songs you listen to, but I think it's kind of cool.

Like, I had no idea I listened to so much Girls Aloud...especially when none of my friends know who they are. I also had no idea that I'd Lie by Taylor Swift was the song I've listened to the most. However, that there was a tie between Michael Jackson's Bad and Knock You Down by Keri Hilson as the song I've listened to the most in 7 days. It also scrobbles (I have no idea what that means) to my iPod, so whatever I've listened to on there shows up on my last.fm

You can even rate your musical compatibility with people!

I even took a screenshot of my most played artists!

So, if you're interested in tracking your listening habits, I'd check out last.fm --www.last.fm

Posted by: Nicci

Lady GaGa

Her music I can take or leave, but Lady GaGa herself is pretty darn fabulous. The name alone is wonderful, Lady GaGa. It promotes images of royalty but also of ridiculousness. I love it!

Even though Just Dance and Pokerface are constantly on the radio, I am not yet tired of Gaga, because she does things like this:

Yes, that is a zipper over her eye and yes, that is fabulous. I love that she is all about the image and performance. She embodies what it means to be a performer. She’s on all the time. She thinks about every aspect of her persona and that will make her an icon, just like Madonna with her conical bras before her. On her recent trip to the UK, GaGa was often photographed leaving clubs wearing things like this:

I live in the UK, and let me tell you, February is pretty chilly here, certainly not bra and skirt weather. It seems as though wearing a shirt and trousers is offensive to GaGa, only one or the other must be worn, never both.

I found this on her official bio at her website: ‘GaGa adds with a wink in her eye, “And, now, I’m just trying to change the world one sequin at a time.”’ Oh Gaga, change the world you will. Soon we’ll all be zipping one eye shut before we bust out our bows made of hair.

Posted By: Cat

Midlake

Until a few weeks ago, I was oblivious to Midlake. A friend gave me their first CD and urged me to listen to it. It was awesome.

The band is from Texas, and if I were pigeonholing them, I’d say are a cross between Flaming Lips and Rilo Kiley.

Check them out at their official website: http://midlake.net

Posted By: Cat

Dead and Gone

This is a TUNE! My use of capitals there should go some way in expressing just how awesome this song is.

Listen here: Dead and Gone

T.I rapped on Justin’s My Love back in 2006 and now Justin returns the favour by singing the hook on Dead and Gone, from T.I’s Paper Trail album. There’s almost too much hotness on the track, almost.

More T.I here: http://www.myspace.com/trapmuzik

Posted By: Cat

Boys with Guitars: Pt II

Following on from Nicci’s past post ‘Boys with Guitars’, I bring you more hotness amplified by stringed acoustic and electric instruments.

Jason Mraz: Because he got missed off last time and because I’ve seen him live and he is not only super talented and original, but pretty fly. 

Guy Berryman from Coldplay: Attention is often drawn away from Guy by the large marker pen etchings on Chris Martin’s hand, but he is hot, hot, hot.

Alex Turner: Lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys. Not really all that hot, but when he has a guitar in his hands (even the silly way he plays it, all fast and high up), it makes me a lot more attracted to him.

Pete Wentz: Far too much hair straitening, guyliner, and stupid kid name calling, but again, I have a huge crush because he plays guitar. I also like his bromance with John Mayer. 

Michael Cera: If you need to know why Michael is awesome, then you haven’t read this blog from the early days. My crush amplified when he played and sang ‘Anybody Else But You’ at the close of Juno.  

And lastly, because you can never have enough John Mayer:

Posted By: Cat

Girls Aloud

1. Their songs are stupidly catchy. Not one of their singles has been rubbish, and that’s five years worth of singles. Their new song ‘promises’ is another example of the unashamedly pop kitsch that they do best. Whoever is writing their songs should be getting paid, a lot.

2.  They are insanely hot. Each time I see Cheryl Cole on X-Factor, my girl-crush on her grows.

3. They wear sparkly dresses and sometimes sing live, like this:

 

4. I want to be in Girls Aloud.

Posted By: Cat

Paramore

I can't stop listening to Paramore.

Riot is their current album and has the tunes you probably know, Misery Business, CrushCrushCrush and the like. All We Know is Falling is their debut effort, recorded in the aftermath of the departure of one of the founding members. This is the album I can't see to push the stop button on. Its full of catchy, rocky, heartfelt tunes. Its good for cranking the volume in the car and singing along like no-one can see you.

I like Hayley Williams. She has cool red hair (which for 12 seconds I thought I might emulate, then remembered I'm 23 and shouldn't be doing that anymore). She's also only 20, so of course I am insanely jealous that she's immensely talented and the lead singer of a huge band while I am not.

Posted By: Cat

The Man Who Can't Be Moved

I love this song, even though its been out forever and over played by radio. Pretty lyrics, pretty tune, pretty singer.

The Script

Posted By: Cat

Viva La Vida

I’m not a huge Coldplay fan, but I like them enough to own their albums. Mostly, I find their pretentiousness and Chris Martin’s holier-than-thou attitude a little off putting. What I am loving though, is Viva La Vida, a song from their new album of the same name.

The song is about the Crusades apparently, which is a rather interesting topic to write a song about. Trust Coldplay to shun the ‘usual’ songwriting topics of love, loss and hope to write about one of the bloodiest and pointless battles in World history. Although I suppose you could argue that the Crusades were all about love, loss and hope... clever.

The reason I love this song is simple – it makes me want to dance like Chris Martin, in that jerky, ‘i-have-a-stick-up-my-arse-and-i’m-trying-to-dislodge-it?’ way. The strings that start with that jaunty da,dun,dun,da,da,da,dun; the engaging story of a man who had everything and lost it; lyrics like 'Just a puppet on a lonely string. Oh, who would ever want to be king?’ just make my heart happy and I can’t explain it. I love every second of the 4:06 play time. According to itunes, it’s been played twenty-four times when the rest of tracks on the album have been played twice.

Posted By: Cat

Death Cab For Cutie - Live

Last week I saw Death Cab for Cute at the Carling Academy Brixton. Not only were they awesome live, but it was the best atmosphere of a gig that I’ve been to. Everyone was chilled, even sitting down until the support band played. There was no territorial ‘fuck off’ vibe that I get at a lot of gigs. I normally hate it when people spend the entire performance trying to get closer to the stage, but everyone was laid back and letting it go. I had room to breathe, which never happens and I didn’t even notice that my feet hurt from standing up for so long.

The best moment for me was Ben Gibbard’s solo performance of ‘I Will Follow You into the Dark’. This song will break your heart. When first major label album Plans was released, this was the stand out song for me, so to hear it live was just amazing. Lyrics like ‘if there’s no one beside you when you soul embarks, I will follow you into the dark,’ envoke images of love so strong that you can’t comprehend it.

Watch the video below and check out more of Death Cab’s stuff at http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/. They’re not the crazy thrash metal band they name suggests.

‘..The time for sleep is now

It's nothing to cry about

Cause we'll hold each other soon in

The blackest of rooms...’

Posted by: Cat