REVIEW :: 'AM' by Arctic Monkeys

This album has been high on my list for anticipated releases in September, and I've been so busy that it was released right under my nose!

In the recent weeks, I've fallen in love with Arctic Monkeys. I'm a sucker for a smooth voice.

This whole album's vibe exudes sex appeal. Is it Alex Turner's sultry voice, or the strategic use of awesome electric guitar riffs or thick bass notes? Perhaps it's the sexy lyrics combined with all of the above. Either way, 'AM' has a fantastic feel to it. There's little to dislike about this album.

Though the album seems to have the same sort of tone, it slows down by the time one reaches No. 1 Party Anthem, ironically, being the first slow track on the album to appear.

'AM' has a multigenerational tone to it, a mix of yesterday and today. Turner's voice harks back to 70s and 80s rock, yet stays planted in the present for a modern sound. With pre-release singles such as R U Mine?, Do I Wanna Know?, and Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?, you're hooked before the album's even released.

(source)

What's interesting about the Arctic Monkeys is that every album has it's own sound, vibe, and feel. The common denominators are the band members themselves, but that's about it. They're constantly experimenting with their sound, yet staying intrinsically themselves. Often times bands can't pull this off without losing a significant amount of fans, but the Arctic Monkeys are an exception.

One song I hope is released as a bonus track is Stop The World I Wanna Get Off With You, since it's nowhere to be found on the regular track list. Hmph.

Here are some recommended tracks off of 'AM'

• One For The Road
• Arabella
• R U Mine?
• Snap Out Of It
• Knee Socks
• I Wanna Be Yours

AM is now available on iTunes for purchase and Spotify for streaming.

Till next time xx,

Sierra

P.S. What's your favourite track off the new album?

REVIEW: First Impression of "Ghosts" by Mayday Parade

Huzzah! We've been given a taste of the new music from pop-punk group Mayday Parade, even though the album is more than a month out. Their single Ghosts was released today, August 27th, 2013.

You can listen to it here before reading on if you'd like (sorry, there are no YouTube lyric videos so Spotify will have to do).

Right off the bat, it begins with lead singer Derek Sanders' distinctive voice accompanied by almost angelic the background harmonies. A different direction we're used to seeing from Mayday Parade, but kind of cool anyway. Then as soon as the drums start, we hear the great Mayday Parade we know and love.

I really hate to say this, but I will: it's a nice track, but I can't help but feel that something is missing. Maybe due to an absence of co-lead singer Jake Bundrick's voice that blends and adds more dimensions to Mayday's songs. He's reduced to simply a harmonic device, a background sound. Both equally talented singers, they should both be equally present on the track, which is probably why Ghosts rings empty to me.

Don't get me wrong, I love both Derek and Jake, and Derek has sung solo on many tracks before that I enjoy (such as Anywhere But Here, one of my favorite songs and many songs off of the album by the same title), but this time it doesn't seem like their best work.

What I do admire about it is the direction they took with the song. It's not their typical stuff, and it really mixes it up. It's pretty, even if the lyrics are kind of simplistic and repetitive for Mayday Parade, who have an odd knack of making lyrics, simplistic or otherwise, sound heartfelt and emotional. This track, however, doesn't quite do that for me, but I won't give up on them yet.

Verdict: Ghosts isn't a bad song, but I hope that their new album is better than this single.

What do you think of the new song?

Till next time xx,

Sierra

Weekly Tuneage :: Arctic Monkeys

Now it's 3 in the morning, and I'm trying to change your mind...
Recently I've been really into Arctic Monkeys, which kind of came out of nowhere. This song has been on repeat, and the video is really, um, interesting (slight viewer discretion advised). Lead singer Alex Turner stars in his own video, wandering the streets of the city high as a kite. The song is fairly straightforward, but it's extremely catchy. I especially love the chorus.  This song and Do I Wanna Know? really get me pumped for their new album, AM. I'm really glad I discovered this band when I did! (I blame the Internet).  Is this song stuck in your head yet? Say it in the comments! Till next time xx, Sierra

Weekly Tuneage :: The Neighbourhood

Cali-based band The Neighbourhood's song Female Robbery has been on replay this week! It's rather sad, but it's smooth and slow, too. The lead singer's vocals are super easy to listen to, and the overall vibe is rather chill. 
I decided not to post the original music video because I thought it was too sad and possibly disturbing for others, because it hints at child abuse. (If you'd like to check it out at your own discretion, here it is).

Most of you will know this band from their song Sweater Weather [above] that's been all over the radio lately (though the album came out in 2012), but the song Female Robbery [featured video] is just as awesome.

Tell me what you think about The Neighbourhood in the comments below.
Till next time xx,
Sierra

Videos of the Week :: Mumford & Sons, 30 Seconds to Mars

Hopeless Wanderer // Mumford & Sons


The last thing I was expecting from Mumford & Sons was this video, and I love it. This has to be one of the funniest music videos I've ever seen. It's almost like a Saturday Night Live sketch than an official music video. Mumford & Sons is such a talented group, and I love how they can poke fun at themselves by having these hilarious comedic men pretend to be them. Starring Jason Sudeikis (Marcus Mumford), Will Forte (Ted Dwane), Jason Bateman (Winston Marshall), and Ed Helms (Ben Lovett). It fits well for the overall whimsical, upbeat vibe of the song itself. The ending was especially amazing.


Do or Die // 30 Seconds to Mars


Now we're gonna switch gears from hilarious to emotional.

The official music video is here! As we've heard, a lyric video for the same song made from lyric tattoos will also be coming up soon (a really cool idea if you ask me).

30 Seconds to Mars is my favorite band, and their music videos rarely disappoint. This video is amazing because, much like Closer to the Edge, is a tour video that showcases the fans (or the Echelon) and how much the band, and music in general, means to them.

It connects with fans on an emotional level with the band, in the video or just watching it, and shows us that they do care about us. Not all groups thank their fans that way. It establishes an even greater bond between fans and 30 Seconds to Mars, and between fans themselves.

In the video's description box there was this:

A NOTE FROM JARED LETO:

I'm sitting in the dark writing this having just finished this little film and although I don't feel quite done yet it's time to let it go.

This is a story about an incredible adventure that we all shared together this summer. A summer that we will never forget. It's also a reminder (for myself as well) to LIVE LIFE NO MATTER WHAT. But ultimately it's a love letter to you all. The believers.

That sums it up perfectly, if you ask me.

Tell me what you think of the music videos in the comments below!

Till next time xx,

Sierra

Spotlight :: Bastille

You guys. You guys. This band is so fantastic, I can't believe what I was missing.

For those who don't know, Bastille is a four-man band from London, England that expanded from a solo project founded by Dan Smith. They formed in 2010.

And three years later, they release their debut album Bad Blood on September 3rd of this year, so maybe I'm not so late to the party after all!

The British band's style is best described as neo-synth pop with a heavy 80s influence. The artists they remind me of are Florence + The Machine, Neon Trees, Foster the People, & Walk the Moon. 

I will admit, their stuff before Haunt EP didn't impress me. My expectations were too high after I listened to "Pompeii" and "Haunt - Demo". It was too electronic for my liking. However, their EP definitely shows promise and potential and makes me extra excited for their new album. All four songs are excellent in their own ways.

Part of me wanted to save this post till the album comes out, but the review of Bad Blood will come, so I might as well gush about my first impression of them beforehand!

Must-Listen List:

Pompeii

Bad Blood

Haunt - Demo 

I'm always looking for new music to review and to share with all of you, so leave your music suggestions in the comments or send me a video via my contact page!

Hope everyone's having a lovely day, and Happy August! (Wow that came really quickly).

Till next time xx,

Sierra

Weekly Tuneage :: Bastille

Thanks to a friend of mine on Facebook, who posted a status that she couldn't stop listening to the band Bastille, I decided to look them up...at 1 in the morning (I clearly make excellent life choices).  Anywho, I wish someone would have told me about this band earlier because I'm in love. 
Bastille is a four-man band from London, England that expanded from a solo project founded by Dan Smith. The song Pompeii (above) has over 38 million plays on Spotify and 32 million plays on YouTube. This song is amazing, I can't stop listening to it. Apparently I'm really late to the party on this one since the video was released January 30th of this year....Oops. This is a definitely catchy song that's bound to get stuck in your head, but in the best possible way. Take a listen and tell me what you think about Bastille. Till next time xx, Sierra P.S. Expect a Spotlight post about this band and a review of the EP Haunt very soon! I'll go into greater detail about the band there.

Mayday Parade announces new album!

According to Property of Zack, alternative-punk band Mayday Parade announced their new album Monsters in the Closet to release on October 8th, 2013. Panic! at the Disco's new album also drops on the same day, so fans of both bands (like me), are either gonna be really happy or really sad that day.

But most likely very happy.

Here's the album art for the new album!

Hope everyone's having a great Monday!

Till next time xx,

Sierra

REVIEW: “LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS” - 30 Seconds to Mars

Rock-trio 30 Seconds to Mars with stunning frontman Jared Leto, have released a 4th studio album titled LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS after long last. With the release of their single “Up In The Air” with its accompanying music video (directed by the infamous Bartholomew Cubbins), the album premiered on May 21st, 2013.

With the new album comes a new sound.The shift comes slowly, which some would argue is too much. This album has a more electronic platform while still maintaining it’s the rock roots Mars began with their first record. Though not as blatant of a concept album as This Is War was, there are definitely Leto’s artistic, and somewhat typically cryptic, fingerprints all over this record as well. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. 

The lyrics don’t disappoint, either. Mars is short on love songs, but rather has lyrics that go beyond and deeper in meaning which can sometimes be a puzzle to figure out. One with particular merit would be “City of Angels.” Leto’s powerful vocals shine like the “land of a billion lights” in this track, which seems possibly allude to Los Angeles and depicts a vignette of Jared Leto’s life growing up with his brother and bandmate Shannon Leto and their mother, traveling all over the country. 

It’s paid off well for a mother, a brother, and me.

30 Seconds to Mars hasn’t lost their edge, however. With interesting instrument combinations in “Birth” and heavy rock chords in “Conquistador” and “Do Or Die”, echoing This Is War track “Vox Populi”, don’t let pop-esque chart-topper “Up In The Air” fool you, though a good track it is merely a foretaste of the augmented sound of LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS lends to the Echelon. 

It should go without saying that artists and bands usually grow in different directions in their music as their careers lengthen. Alas, there is still much dissent within the Echelon, the 30 Seconds to Mars fandom, if you will, about this new album. Many say that it isn’t hard rock enough or the “Mars they fell in love with”. I love it all the same, and respectfully disagree.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Tomo Milcevic, Jared Leto, and Shannon Leto

In my humble opinion, if I like the lead singer’s voice, that is usually one of the main factors that can lend me loyal to a band. Of course the instrument integration and how well they work with the voice also help. Bottom line is this: Jared Leto has a fantastic voice, and though I wasn’t that thrilled with “Up In The Air” at first, it did grow on me. Still, Cubbins’/Leto’s music video direction displays his creative eye and how he values his work as an art form. We shan’t say that LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS is not a part of that. 

Here’s the full track list:

1. Birth
2. Conquistador
3. Up In The Air
4. City of Angels
5. The Race
6. End Of All Days
7. Pyres of Varanasi
8. Bright Lights
9. Do Or Die
10. Convergence
11. Northern Lights
12. Depuis Le Début

LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS is now available on iTunes and is streaming on Spotify. 

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Share with me what you think of the new album! Love it or hate it? Leave a comment below.


Till next time xx,


Sierra

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REVIEW: Save Rock and Roll - Fall Out Boy

After a four-year hiatus that seemed to never end, Fall Out Boy is finally back with a new album titled "Save Rock and Roll".

The pop-punk band has returned with a fresher sound while still holding onto their roots. Some tunes are reminiscent of lead singer Patrick Stump's dance-pop solo album "Solo Punk", which he produced during the hiatus. The lyrics, often co-written by lead singer Patrick Stump and bass player Pete Wentz, are driven by Stump's wide range and unique sound that distinguishes Fall Out Boy from the rest of the pop-punk crowd. Stump's voice, if anything, has gotten more electric during the hiatus. His powerhouse vocals fit well with the variated, rhythmic-heavy melodies blended with the traditional "emo-pop" feel like their previous albums "Infinity On High" and "Folié a Deux."

Like everyone else that's been a long-time fan, I was caught in the overwhelming excitement of YES FINALLY NEW ALBUM. But I did have my doubts. After experiencing many disappointing comeback albums such as McFly's "Above the Noise" (which I was less than thrilled with), whatever All Time Low's new album consists of (I still haven't listened to it), and all the hope that disintegrated after Cobra Starship's "You Make Me Feel" (a generic concoction of repetitive party music and vapid lyrics to please the masses), I did not want one of my favorite bands to fall into that trap.

Fall Out Boy circa 2005. Mmm, guyliner.

Unlike their previous albums, "Save Rock and Roll" features many guests artists, such as Courtney Love, Foxes, Big Sean, and Elton John, whose signature voice blends surprisingly well in the title track "Save Rock and Roll". To be honest, my first thought when I saw Elton John's name on the list, it was a mixture of  "Hell yes, this is gonna be SO AWESOME" and "How on Earth are they going to pull this off?" In the end, I was pleasantly surprised. Don't be quick to dismiss it, you guys.

A few things can be said about Fall Out Boy: they are aware of their fans and the demand of this new album. Several weeks before the official album release, the band posted the album on SoundCloud for fans to listen to in its entirety. This, my friends, is an example of the changing music industry: the band can post their whole album for their fans to enjoy, and in return the fans will more than likely buy the album anyway. Loyalty can a big factor in album sales. Record companies, take note.

The band has also taken advantage of almost every social media outlet and have directly interacted with fans through twitter, google plus, and have used tumblr to base their website.

My personal favorite tracks off the album are "Death Valley", "Alone Together", "The Mighty Fall" and "The Phoenix." But really, there's hardly a sour note in the mix this time. 

left to right: Andy Hurley, Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman, Patrick Stump circa 2013

Here's the full track list:

1. The Phoenix
2. My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)
3. Alone Together 
4. Where Did The Party Go 
5. Just One Yesterday (ft. Foxes)
6. The Mighty Fall (ft. Big Sean)
7. Miss Missing You
8. Death Valley
9. Young Volcanoes
10. Rat A Tat (ft. Courtney Love)
11. Save Rock and Roll (ft. Elton John)

In regards to the overall sound: the moderate deviation from what many regard disdainfully as the "true Fall Out Boy" or "the old Fall Out Boy" has driven a portion of previous fans away. But in return, they have gained greater admonition from their die-hard loyal fans as well as garnered a newer generation of listeners, post-FOB-hiatus. Bands grow and continue to change their sound over time, it's a fact of life. Sometimes it works, other times it could spell disaster for the group's success. However, in the case of FOB, this album hits a high note. 

"Save Rock and Roll" is now available on iTunes and Amazon.

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Share with me what you think of the new album! Love it or hate it? Does Elton John belong on a pop-punk track? Leave a comment below.

Till next time xx,

Sierra

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