Dashboard Confessional

First and foremost congratulations to Team Vicious&Delicious for qualifying for this year’s little 500! Way to go boys! :)

I hope the gloomy weather isn't putting TOO much of a damper on everyone's day. I spent a decent amount of time in the car today, which served as inspiration for today's blog. I decided to rave about my loooong time love, Dashboard. :) Cause it’s just one of those days, perfect for listening to one of their albums from start to finish.

Old: Dashboard Confessional--Anything, but today, specifically the entire "Places You Have Come to Fear the Most" Album

Hm...Where to even begin?! This band is a spectacular example of my love for amazing lyrics paired with amazing music. Although, some might shrug off this band without giving it a real chance for various reasons, if that is the case for you, I encourage you to give them another chance. I have chosen to focus on this specific album because it is an earlier piece of the band's work. It is comprised of such stripped down, intimate, personal songs, and without the lead singer, Chris Carrabba, this band would not be anywhere near as amazing as they are. He is irreplaceable. If you REALLY listen to the lyrics (all about love/relationships/heartache) I think you'll find that you have felt most all of the emotions Carrabba addresses at some point or another in your life. What I love most is the raw emotion present in his singing. It is not necessarily that I think most artists don't write heartfelt/sincere lyrics. But it seems that they write these lyrics at an emotional time in their lives, yet when the time comes to record the song --they disregard the need to revisit the moment/emotions/etc they were experiencing at the time the song was written. Carrabba conveys such raw emotion in his voice that you can't help but share in his emotions. I wouldn’t be surprised if during the recording process they only did one take of each song, leaving him to pour out his heart and soul, and then took what he performed and put it on the album untouched. Carrabba has the ability to take emotion and express it in the most beautiful, poetic lyrics backed by remarkable instrumentation.

Take for example the song, “The Brilliant Dance”. It’s a song where Carrabba discusses the pain of a failed relationship. He talks about getting rid of all your ex’s clothes…love letters…etc. but it doesn’t help get rid of your feelings.
“And the plaster dented from your fist
in the hall where you had your first kiss
reminds you that the memories will fade.”
This line is so incredibly powerful…as you remember that the things that once made you so happy no longer do so. He discusses the back and forth between the bittersweet feeling and the anger that you experience after a breakup.
“This is incredible.
Starving, insatiable,
yes, this is love for the first time.
Well you'd like to think that you were invincible.
Yeah, well weren't we all once before we felt loss for the first time?
Well this is the last time.”
Another powerful passage of lyrics. We all have felt invincible at one time or another, and then a breakup makes you realize how fragile love (and yourself) really is. And after you get hurt, you promise yourself that you'll never let it happen again...never let yourself love again.

Another favorite song of mine from this album is "Again I Go Unnoticed".
This song addresses the relationship where one person is ready to call it quits before the other. Carrabba artistically expresses that feeling when you know that your relationship is over but you haven't officially called it quits, and there is that awkwardness between you that you just wish would go away. He sings about the feelings of optimism that hope that everything will just be better the next day, and how you try and read the other person but everything just becomes so confusing and clouded with emotion. The lyrics convey such intense feelings so perfectly...so beautifully. Its almost odd that beauty could come out of something so far from beautiful.
"Please tell me you're just feeling tired
cause if it's more than that I fear that I might break
out of touch, out of time."
This sentiment expresses the feelings of the person not quite ready to let go of the relationship just yet...but scared that this is the end.
"Close lipped
another goodnight kiss
is robbed of all it's passion"
When you share that kiss...and you can just feel that things aren't the same anymore. Words are not necessary.
"I'll wait until tomorrow
maybe you'll feel better then
maybe we'll be better then
so what's another day
when I can't bear these nights of thoughts
of going on without you
this mood of yours is temporary
it seems worth the wait
to see your smile again
out of the corner of my eye
won't be the only way you're looking at me then"
Carrabba's lyrics are just so...precise. Such an eloquent way of expressing the way I'm sure so many people have felt before. A hopelessly romantic optimism.

Okay one last song from this album (although the entire thing is brilliant)..."The Best Deceptions"
Apparently these guys have been in some pretty terrible relationships. :-\ Hah This song expresses the feelings of finding out you've been cheated on, as you battle between your love for the person but anger/sadness at their actions. It's definitely a tough situation that I have, thankfully, never had to experience. The song starts out with the narrator singing about a trip his girlfriend went on, and how he heard all about it, and about the guys she spent her time with. But that she isn't the one he heard it from.
"I heard about your trip.
I heard about your souvenirs.
I heard about the cool breeze, in the cool nights,
And the cool guys that you spent them with.
Well I guess I should have heard of them from you.
I guess I should have heard of them from you."
The song then picks up to a more...agitated, but not angry tone...as the narrator explains that she should just stop lying, it would make it less painful.
"Don't you see, don't you see, that the charade is over?
And all the "Best Deceptions" and "Clever Cover Story" awards go to you."
The next part is a really great line.
"So kiss me hard 'cause this will be the last time that I let you.
You will be back someday and this awkward kiss that tells of other people's lips
will be of service to keeping you away."
It expresses the feeling that the feeling of their last kill will remind him that he can't love her anymore or take her back when she comes back to him feeling sorry for what she has done. But there is such passion in the lyrics. Carrabba has a way of making you feel like it is happening to him right at that moment.
The song then continues on to describe that she does in fact feel sorry, but that he hears if from someone else again, not her.

I would definitely recommend listening to the entire album all of the way through. And really LISTENING to it. To the lyrics. To the passion. And experiencing it for what it is, and how relatable it is for most of us. And even if you can't relate. I think you may just fall in love like I have. :)


I swear I'm in an incredibly amazing relationship right now. Hahaha Although you may think otherwise after this entry. :) It just goes to show you that these songs can have a different effect and serve a different purpose for each person listening. I've listened to this song over and over again after a break up...and now i listen to it with just as much emotion, but instead admiring what an amazing relationship I am in now. So...interpret it as you see fit. I think you'll enjoy it regardless. :)

Sweet dreams kiddos!

Peace, Love, & RockNRoll
--A

Band of Horses & Hey Monday

I can't believe it's already the last weekend of spring break! Where did the week go!? That's semi-depressing... :-\ The newly cold weather doesn't help either. Yuck. So if you're like me--and ya need a little pick-me-up (new music does that for me) Check out these artists!! Turn it on and TURN IT UPPPP!

Old: Band of Horses--"No One's Gonna Love You"
Previously known simply as 'Horses', this Seattle indie rock band is AWESOME!!! Lead singer Ben Bridwell has a really unique voice which many critics have compared to that of My Morning Jacket's Jim James or...maybe more notably, early Neil Young. The band has a slight Southern rock influence at times, but maintains their overall indie rock sound. "No One's Gonna Love You" has really amazing lyrics as well. "We're reeling through an endless fall We are the ever-living ghost of what once was". It's definitely a song full of passion...and to me it's about his bittersweet feelings about a past relationship that just didn't work out. *sigh* B-E-A-UTIFUL. :) Check it out...give it a try. I think you'll like it.

Other songs to check out: Funeral and Islands on the Coast (for something a little more upbeat)

New: Hey Monday--"Homecoming"
This alt rock band is out of Florida--I'm sure the weather is warm THERE. haha Anyway...this band only started touring in September of 2008,so they are definitely fairly new on the scene. Lead singer, Cassadee Pope, reminds me a lot of Haley Williams from Paramore (another great band to check out if you haven't already). The group as a whole has that rock sound, laced with a bit of their own emo-style. "Homecoming" is the first single off their album, so you may have even heard it before.

Other songs to check out: Josey and Run Don't Walk

That's all for now! Enjoy what's left of the break!!! :)

Peace, Love, & RockNRoll
--A

Fiction Plane & Imogen Heap

Spring Break is FINALLY HERE!! Today was such a beautiful day. Perfect weather. Makes it not such a bummer to be in Bloomington for the week-instead of on a beach somewhere. :) So whether you're somewhere tropical, hangin' at home like me, or back to the daily grind--here are some tunes to make your day a little brighter. :)

Old: Fiction Plane--"It's A Lie"
I stumbled upon these guys in a bar down here in Bloomington. WHAT AN AWESOME FIND! My boyfriend and I went out and they were playing. It was not listed on the bar's website, and was apparently an unexpected stop in town for the band because the drummer is from here. Well--they became an obsession instantly! After hearing them, we found out that the lead singer is Sting's son. There are SO many songs I could recommend considering that I love everything I have ever heard by them. Lead singer, Joe Sumner, has a really sexy voice. I think its partially the accent that gets me, because it always does. :) This band, hailing from the UK, has that classic rock sound with a slight edge. I really love that the band is just as amazing live (especially since that was my first exposure to them) as they are on their recordings. They put on a GREAT show. Their song "It's a Lie" was my FAVORITE from the night we saw them. As I've said before, I'm really into artists that have great lyrics, and this is one of those bands. Check em out--let me know what you think!

Other songs to check out: Death Machine, Cold Water Symmetry, and Drink

New: Imogen Heap--"Hide and Seek"
Okay so maybe another one that's not SO new to me, but... :) She is a singer-songwriter from London(once a part of Frou Frou, where some of you may recognize her from)with an incredibly unique sound. I would categorize it as very "chill" music. Her uniqueness something I think most people will either like or dislike. I find her music to have a rather digital sound at times, but paired with her breathy voice, it makes a really beautiful combination. She also incorporates a lot of different components into her music (piano, vocal overlays, etc.) which is another thing I love in an artist. She has quite a diverse musical background, much of which is self taught.

Other songs to check out: Just For Now

Peace, Love, & RockNRoll
--A

Adele & Anya Marina

It seems time for some estrogen around here. There are so many ladies doing amazing things in the music industry lately. So...here are two females you should definitely check out! :)

Old: Adele--"Chasing Pavement"
Adele is a major love of mine. I found her...probably about 2 years ago via her MySpace. She describes her sound as "heartbroken soul". I am in LOVE with the sound of her voice. It is GORGEOUS. (Not to mention her adorable English accent!) Her biggest single, "Chasing Pavement" is an amazing song, and became widely popular in the US. If you've heard any song by her, it is most likely this one. She usually incorporates a lot of piano and strings into her music, which is something unique, and her lyrics are very personal. She writes a lot about her past relationships which is something a lot of people can relate to. The music video for this song is also amazing, so check that out as well. There are an endless amount of good things I could say about Adele, but instead--just go check her out yourself! You won't be sorry! :)

Other songs to check out: Hometown Glory and Cold Shoulder

New: Anya Marina--"Move You"
This singer/songwriter out of California is also a radio DJ, and has had her music featured on a number of TV shows (Grey's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, etc.). She has a semi-simplistic sound--the whole "just a girl and her guitar" type. Her song "Move You", starts out with her typical sound, and then moves into the chorus section where the beat picks up and the simplicity of her sound is joined by a fun beat and more backing. This is where you catch a glimpse of the DJ in her. "Miss Halfway" is another great song. It is definitely a contrast to "Move You", but there are definite similarities. It starts out with the same simplistic sound before picking up a few seconds in. Anya's almost haunting vocal sound is beautiful, especially paired with the seemingly upbeat sound of her songs and her guitar playing. And just for fun, check out her cover of T.I.'s "Whatever You Like". :)

Other songs to check out: Miss Halfway

Let me know what you think! Turn it on, TURN IT UP!
Peace, Love, & RockNRoll
--A

Pepper & The Parlor Mob

4 days til spring break! Can ya smell it? I mean...not that I'm going anywhere, but a break is much needed. I think we can all agree. :) It's the first spring break that I won't be flying home to NY to see the fam, so it's kind of a bummer. But--Bloomington in the spring is totally Mexico-esque. Right? Haha. So, here are a few tunes to tide you over. Enjoy the rest of the week loves!

Old: Pepper--"Tongues"
This reggae-rock band out of Hawaii may cause you to perk up your ears for a closer listen. "Is that Bradley Nowell of Sublime?" you may ask yourself. It suuuure isn't. But lead singer Kaleo Wassman's voice has the ability to sound almost hauntingly similar at times. So if you are a Sublime fan like myself, but can look past trying to compare these two bands, I think you'll find yourself enjoying Pepper for their own unique sound. Their uniqueness lies not only their overall sound, but in their ability to sound so different from song to song. This is not a band where you'll find yourself thinking "Man...every song sounds the same!" They go from sounding eerily similar to Sublime, with songs like "Too Much", to a song like "Tradewinds", which is a slightly more mellow tune. The one thing that remains constant is Pepper's reggae sound. So give this band a shot, and if you find yourself reminiscing about a past beach vacation, or the one you've got coming up in just a few short days--I understand. They just seem to have that effect.

Other songs to check out: Too Much and Tradewinds

New: The Parlor Mob--"Can't Keep No Good Boy Down"
Okay so...this might be cheating a little because this is not that new of a band for me. But I truly don't have that much exposure to them, and I was scrolling through my iTunes debating what I should discuss next and realized I had completely forgotten about them for quite some time! The Parlor Mob's sound is commonly described as blues based experimental rock n' roll. They are making a real attempt at a return to that classic rock guitar sound, but with a slight contemporary twist of their own, and I LOVE IT!

Other songs to check out: Hard Times and Bullet

Hope you enjoy the tunes, and continue that countdown til a little rest and relaxation!

Peace, Love, & RockNRoll
--A

Modest Mouse & Okkervil River

It is a B-E-A-UTIFUL day out!! Hope everyone is out enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. :) Here are some great tunes to go along with this gorgeous day!

Old: Modest Mouse—“Dashboard”
Who doesn’t love Modest Mouse? If you find yourself saying “Um...who?” You’re definitely missing out. This indie rock band out of Seattle has some great music. It’s the kind of stuff I love listening to on a gorgeous day like today, when I’m driving down the highway with the windows down. They incorporate all kinds of instruments into their music, which is a nice change of pace from a lot of the mainstream stuff on the radio.

Other songs to check out: Float On (If you’ve heard ANY song by them. It’s probably this one!)

New: Okkervil River—“A King and A Queen”
This is another great indie folk band that incorporates a variety of instruments into their music. Personally, I liken them to the sounds of The Killers (a personal favorite of mine). The lead singer, Will Sheff, has a really unique voice—similar to that of Brandon Flowers (The Killers). If you’re anything like me, you’re really into the lyrics of the music you listen to, and this band is definitely not one that lacks in this department.

Other songs to check out: A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene

That's all for now! Turn it on, Turn it UP! :)
(Oh and don't forget to check out the music player at the bottom of my page...I've started posting the songs I recommend...for your listening pleasure of course!)

Peace, Love, & RockNRoll
--A

Vampire Weekend & Wild Light

So. I decided to give this blog thing a shot. Music is a total infatuation of mine, so why not share it with people? (I guess that's assuming someone is actually going to read this, lol). I am constantly searching for new music and always making recommendations to friends. So…I figured I’d use this as a place to discuss what I’m feeling at the moment in the world of music. It might be new to me. It might be old to you. It may be a classic for us both. Or it may be a breaking new artist I’ve opened you up to, and maybe you can recommend me some new things too! So…sit back, relax, and TURN IT UP!

Old: Vampire Weekend—“Mansard Roof”
I’ve been in a very Vampire Weekend mood lately. They’re a great band out of New York and have only been around since 2006. The first time I heard them, quite some time ago, I definitely liked them—but shortly thereafter forgot about them. Over Christmas break we were reunited and I listened to the album from start to finish. It has now become a FAV. Both Ezra Koenig’s (the lead singer) voice and the music itself are so unique, and I love hearing bands that are doing their own thing. If you love music that makes it almost impossible to sit still and are in an upbeat mood…Vampire Weekend is something for you. So whether you’ve heard it and loved it, or maybe you hated it, or even if it’s new for you—check it out.

Other songs to check out: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (CCKK) and A-Punk.

New: Wild Light—“Lawless River”
The best way to describe this band is a mixture of Death Cab and Counting Crows. “What an odd combination!” you may be thinking to yourself, but check it out and I think you’ll see what I mean. “Lawless River” is a song off their newly released debut album. It is the more Death Cab-esque songs of the two I recommend. “California on My Mind” has a definitely Counting Crows feel too it with its slight touch of harmonica. If you like that typical classic rock/pop sound with some guitar and piano thrown in, this is your band.

Other songs to check out: “California on My Mind”


That’s all for now kids.
Peace, Love, & RockNRoll
--A