Next Review

SO. I WAS going to do a review of Four Year Strong's new CD soon. So I went and ordered it on Amazon, and the ASSWHOLES SENT ME A CRACKED CD!!!! Needless to say, I'm sending it back and getting a new one. ASSWHOLES!

Anyway, here's a hint of what my next post is going to be about:

Hoobastank is amazing. Should find out if they're releasing anything new anytime soon...
~Jamie

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

Just felt like sharing

Because it's amazing.

~Jamie

Jamestown Story's new CD!!!!

Soooo appearing on Itunes tonight, at midnight, is Jamestown Story's new CD "A Walk Through Time"! These guys are AMAZING, both Jess and I LOVE them, so we're REALLY looking forward to it!!!! You can stream a bunch of it on Purevolume now (link below) so definitely go check them out! (And maybe buy the CD...;) )

Purevolume link:
http://www.purevolume.com/new/jamestownstory

Youtube:

See? Awesome! :D

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

Avril Lavigne-Goodbye Lullaby Review

Artist: Avril Lavigne
CD title: Goodbye Lullaby

Release Date: March 2, 2011
Genre: Rock, Pop, Soft Rock
How I Got It: Library
Sounds like: The Veronicas, P!nk
Favorite song: Wish You Were Here

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This CD was, by far, no Let Go, which is my favorite by Lavigne. It's definitely not her usual. The music sounds much more like Under My Skin then Best Damn Thing was. The sound was much more old Avril, excluding "Smile" and "What the Hell". I try not to criticize artists too much for changing their sound, I mean, musics all about changing and morphing into something new, right? I just wish she were going in a different direction... It's almost like she's becoming a pop princess sell-out, but if that's what she wants to be, I won't judge.

We start out with an intro song, "Black Star". Sweet piano and even sweeter lyrics morph this song into a great start to a pop-rock CD. "What the Hell" and "Alice" are the only tracks on the CD not about a relationship. So if you're looking for a good end of relationship CD, this one's good one. "Not Enough", "Everybody Hurts", "Wish You Were Here", "Remember When" and "Goodbye" are all about break-ups and leaving and love dying. "What the Hell" is about just saying screw it all and having fun. "Push" is about a relationship that is dying, but deserves to live. It just needs time. "And you know when push comes to shove/It's gonna take the both of us/Baby this is love." "I Love You" is the sweetest song on there. "You're so beautiful/But that's not why I love you/ I'm not sure you know/ That the reason I love you is you". This is the song I'd recommend you go download. The CD is finished with "Alice", Lavigne's contribution to the latest Alice in Wonderland movie's soundtrack.

I'm not quite sure if this CD is supposed to be a break-up CD, or a let's fix our relationship CD.... It's definitely a relationship CD, regardless of the relationship's position. If you're in love, going through a hard time in your relationship, or just looking for some good modern love songs, definitely check out this CD. Fans of Lavigne will be pleased to hear it's much more like Let Go then Best Damn Thing.

I'm going to leave you with two music videos this time. Enjoy :)

"I Love You" should've been a single...

~Jamie