Panic! at the Disco--Vices and Virtues Review

Artist: Panic! At The Disco
CD title: Vices & Virtues
Release Date: March 18, 2011
Genre: Pop, rock, alternative pop rock, dance
How I Got It: Bought
Sounds like: Their first CD...and their second CD. (People keep comparing them to FOB but I don't get WHY.)
Favorite song: Always, The Ballad of Mona Lisa, Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met)
Makes you wanna: Daaance and sing along.
Best to listen to: In the car.

Jamie hates these guys. I don't know why she does, ask her. All I know is that I pretty much love Panic! at the Disco.

Their first CD (A Fever You Can't Sweat Out) was full of alternative-electro-poppy-dance tunes that everyone loved. Which is why everyone was shocked when they decided to change their sound in their next CD (Pretty. Odd.) to some kind of Beatles-rip off band. I'm among the few that actually liked Pretty. Odd. I think. It wasn't as good as the first CD, but I didn't think it was bad either. There were actually a few songs that I really liked.

Well, after two of the band members left and the ! after the word "Panic" returned, they put out this CD. Honestly, I think those two band members leaving was the best thing that could've happened to this band, because this CD's much better than Pretty. Odd.

In many ways, it's like the two CDs had a baby. A much more mature baby. It's this CD's maturity that makes this the band's best release yet, I think. The edgy, dark tones are much more present in this than they were in the last CD, and I think it's that that I'm most grateful for.

Favorite song: Always, The Ballad of Mona Lisa, Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met)

At first listen, Always sounds like a happy love song. It is, in fast, a really effing depressing love song. And I love it. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

The Ballad of Mona Lisa is the first song I heard from this CD, and after I heard it and it was stuck in my head all day I broke my own rule and bought it. It was a need, not a want, a need. I love this song; it's energetic and perfect to sing along to.

Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met) is completely different than any of the other songs on the CD. It's suave and smooth but also full of Panic!'s infamous electronic sound. Basically, that song is my jam.

Makes you wanna: Daaance and sing along.

Self-explanatory.

Best to listen to: In the car.

Maybe it's just because my mom, brother, and sister (she texted me one day proclaiming her love for them, and acted like I'd never heard of them after I'd had their CDs for twenty years. It was weird) all love this band too, but it's a perfect car CD. It makes you feel like you're on the top of the world and it's great. This CD is great. Pick it up if their second CD disappointed you.

--Jessica

Alesana--Where Myth Fades To Legend Review

Artist: Alesana
CD title: Where Myth Fades To Legend
Genre: Scream/hardcore
How I Got It: Gifted, I think.
Sounds like: Silverstein
Favorite song: Seduction, As You Wish
Makes you wanna: I don't even know...
Best to listen to: Um...I don't know.

I'm going to start this review with a disclaimer: I am not really into screamo. I don't hate it, and I love Chiodos. My favorite screamo band, fo sho. So I kept comparing Alesana to Chiodos in my mind, and...well, Alesana didn't live up.

Even when you stop comparing the two, Alesana--or this CD at least--is not for me.

Their instrumentals are good, actually. I have no problem with heavy instrumentals when it's not just for-the-sake-of-making-noise heavy instrumentals, and I didn't have that problem with Alesana. So, you know, points to them. I also didn't have a problem with their singers voice. It's stands apart from other singers, in my opinion, though sometimes it can get a little nasally.

I didn't love the screaming, really. Maybe that's part of the reason this album didn't work for me. I'd be digging the song and he'd start screaming and then it all just felt a little too chaotic for me.

That's the word I'd use to describe this entire CD: chaotic. If you like chaotic music, check it out. I don't.

Favorite song: Seduction, As You Wish

I originally heard of Alesana through one of the Van's Warped Tour Compilation, and it was Seduction. I really liked that song, and actually still do. It's fun.

As You Wish is their only slow song on this CD, and despite the chick's voice (which, obviously, I don't like) it's a pretty good song. A little creepy, but still.

Makes you wanna: I don't even know...

This CD doesn't really get any emotions from me, sadly. Maybe I occasionally want to jump around and jam a little, but not even really.

Best to listen to: Um...I don't know.

I honestly don't really see myself listening to this much at all, if I'm being completely honest.

Final verdict: Not for me. Maybe screamo fans will enjoy it more, but it just wasn't my favorite. At all.

--Jessica

How To (Legally) Feed Your Music Addiction Without Breaking The Bank

So the first year I got into new music I must've spent 400 bucks on CDs. Some of them I hated, actually (more on that in a bit).

After that, I knew there was a better way to get music. And there IS. Now it's time for me to share my knowledge.

1. SHOP. AROUND. For the love of God, don't just pick up a CD at Target when you see it. There's this thing called the internet, and it has this awesome feature in which you can find a better deal than Target offers. 
2. Free songs! I know iTunes offers free songs, and Amazon usually has a list. I've discovered some awesome bands that way.
3. Listen to as many of the band's songs as you can before buying their CD. I made the mistake of not doing this a few times (Coldplay and Hollywood Undead) and I've definitely learned my lesson now. Hearing two songs isn't enough.
4. Use your local library. The library is great, and odds are yours has more fantastic music than you'd realize they do.
5. Thrift stores! Goodwill's CDs are 3 bucks. Salvation Army's are 1. Just be sure that the CD is in decent condition.
6. Amazon download deals. Amazon usually has a lot of 5 dollar downloads on hot CDs. Also, you can sometimes find links to get you 2 bucks off. (I know, I hate downloading too. But sometimes the money you can save is worth it.)
7. Purevolume! I love this site more than words can convey. You can discover amazing signed and unsigned artists through it, and sometimes said artists put some of their songs up for free!
8. Make sure your friends don't have the CD. I've gotten calls from Jamie before asking if I have such-and-such's newest, and I'll ask her the same question. Good friends share their music, so make sure you and your good friend don't get doubles.

Then you can keep all your savings and buy a full priced CD! I know that's what I do. :p

Jamie, did I miss anything? Readers, did I? Let us know!

--Jessica

Review: Fences

Artist: Fences
CD title: Fences (Self-titled)
Genre: Alternative/Indie/Acoustic/SHOEGAZE/GRIME (No clue what those last two are, but it was on their FB page, sooo...)
How I Got It: My mom bought it after hearing one song and thinking Mansfield's voice was hot.
Sounds like: The Shins, Elliott Smith, a little bit of The Smiths, a more mature Apaty Eulogy, or a stripped down Jack's Mannequin, maybe?
Favorite song: Girls With Accents, Hands
Makes you wanna: Cry and/or sing-along.
Best to listen to: ALL THE TIME.

I feel like 2010 was The Year of Mumford and Sons in the alternative music world. Which, y'know, is great. I love Mumford. But I do feel like a lot of other great new artists got over-looked in the Mumford and Sons haze, and Fences is definitely one of them. Somebody explain to me why Fences isn't bigger than they (he?) are?

Fences is the music alias of one Christopher Mansfield, a guy who has obviously been through his fair share of crap. But none of his lyrics come off as over-dramatic or emo. Instead, each of his songs are raw and honest and easy to relate to.

Favorite song: Girls With Accents, Hands

I absolutely ADORE all of the songs on this CD. It had been way to long until I felt that with a CD before Fences came into my life, and it was so spectacular to have that feeling again.

But if I had to choose between all of these heartfelt, and catchy, songs, I'd have to pick Girls With Accents and Hands. Girls With Accents is by far the most up-beat song on the CD, but it doesn't sacrifice the wonderful lyricism to be up-beat. And I think everyone can relate to the God I F*** Up Everything feeling.

Hands really gets to me though, on an emotional level. I listened to it on repeat because at one point it just fit my life really ridiculously well (to me, it means someone that your close to leaving you unexpectedly), and I have no doubt that that will happen to me again, and Hands will be there for me again.

Makes you wanna: Cry and/or sing-along.

Depending on what mood you're in, Mansfield's stripped down songs will make you bawl, or wanna sing along. I'm not sure how to describe how the two fit together but...they do.

Best to listen to: ALL THE TIME.

I listen to it while reading, doing chores, in the car, and while falling asleep. When I say all the time, I mean ALL THE TIME. I think it's impossible for me to get sick of this CD. You must listen to it to decide for yourself, though. (No seriously, go listen to it.)


--Jessica

Coconut Records--West Coast

(I linked to the video cause I don't know how else to do it, but I have no idea if the video's any good cause I didn't watch it cause I hate music videos. But the song's really catchy in that classic indie-music way. I doubt Jamie would like it, but maybe? Huh. She'll probably text me her answer.)

--Jessica

So Jamie Told Me I Needed To Post An Intro.

I can't stick to a genre of music.

I started with top 40s crap.

Then it--somehow--turned into top 40s rock crap.

Then screamo.

Then punk.

Then alternative.

Then indie.

And now I still listen to each of these except the top 40s. I mean, I try to not even listen to the radio at all anymore. Except Sirius, but that doesn't count. ANYWAYS. I can't help it. I'm always trying to find a new sound that I love and a new meaning to a word that only a singer's voice can properly convey.

And two years ago, I started a book blog. It has helped me understand and discover new books in a way I never could've without it. So that's why i wanted to start this. That and it sounded fun.

I won't be able to really post here til Monday, though. I'm at the beach on vacation and I don't really feel like starting something new and good here. Or reviewing cds.

INTO OVER PEACE.

--Jessica