Fall Out Boy is back!

Last night while most of the US was busy watching the Super Bowl, I spent my night on tumblr and watching the Puppy Bowl (try not to get too jealous of my exciting night). While on tumblr, I came across a post the was a bit hard t o believe at first glance: Fall Out Boy released a new song, "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)."

I listened to it, it was great. But I couldn't imagine the fact that Fall Out Boy releasing a new song (and possibly album) could break without much fuss. So I just assumed maybe the post was wrong and it was just an unreleased song that they had recorded years ago that has just found its way onto the internet. That seemed more plausible than the fact that FOB was back and there wasn't any major news about it. I know not everyone cares as much about them, but there still are fans out there, right? If they were back together then this would be bigger news than a tumblr post with less than 1,000 notes, right? I'm not the only one still listening to music from ten years ago, right? Other people should care more about this!

But today, I saw that the news has broke that they are in fact releasing a new album (released May 6th). I'm absolutely ecstatic. I've been listening to FOB for 10 (or is it now 11?) years. I've bought every one of their albums. There are albums I love (Take This to Your Grave) and albums that I feel didn't really quite measure up (Infinity on High) and I've even listened to Patrick Stump as he did his own solo act (Soul Punk really was pretty great). And to find out they're back is just great! I've already preordered "Save Rock and Roll" and I'm pretty certain I'll be going to see them when they're in Dallas June 8th. Seeing that this was trending worldwide (it still is and has been for most of the morning) makes me realize that I'm not the only one to still listen to them and get excited about them releasing a new album. I guess there are still a lot of fans out there that, just like me, have been silently hoping this day would come.

I'm really quite excited to hear the news that they're back together and making music and I'm excited to see what they create after their three year hiatus. I'm a fan that will be dedicated no longer how long of a break a band needs to take. Fingers crossed I'm not disappointed with what I hear!

Lucero - Goodbye Again

I know its been quite a while since my last "Music Monday" type post, so here's another song that is sure to be a nothing less than a way to make it through your Monday. Like most of the people that work Monday - Friday, I'm not a fan of Mondays. Since this is a short week and I'm really looking forward to the weeknd, I needed something to help me through today. So I've fallen back on one of my favorite bands, Lucero. With a mix of Lucero, Ryan Adams, Wilco, and American Aquarium, I think I might make it through this short week.

Ben Folds Five

Ben Folds Five has been one of the bands that I've loved for a very long time and I've always wished I could see live but I knew that I never could due to the fact that they broke apart ten years ago. In January/February when I heard that they were recording a new album, I thought that I might finally get the chance. In June, when they announced they were going to be touring and they were, in fact, going to be in Dallas, I knew that I was going. I didn't care how much the tickets were, where the show was going to be, I knew that I was going to go.

And I'm really glad I did.

There was a part of me that was a bit worried that I was expecting too much out of this show. I mean, they haven't played together in ten years, what if that chemistry that you hear on their old records just isn't there? What if I saw them live and it just wasn't everything I had been thinking it would be and it should be and I just left disappointed and disillusioned? There was a small part of my brain that was telling me that this group I've wished I had had a chance to see for over ten years would not be able to measure up to everything I was expecting. It's a good thing I very rarely listen to that part of my brain. Because they still have it.

Not only does Ben Folds have an insane amount of talent (and maybe a touch of ADD) so he can hear a comment in the crowd and then create an improv song that's ten times better than most of the generic crap on the radio, but Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee are able to keep pace with him (because they, too, are insanely talented musicians). Even though you're in a venue with a thousand other people, you get the feeling that they are just having fun and they enjoy being back together. Or they can't stand each other so Ben really just made up a song when Robert had to run off stage to go to the bathroom out of spite... No, I'm going with they enjoy it and each other. Ben takes the time to talk to the crowd in a way that isn't forced and most definitely isn't a rehearsed speech he does at every concert. And hearing songs like "Brick" and "Draw a Crowd" and "Army" and "Alice Childress" and "Battle of Who Could Care Less" and "Kate" and "Jackson Cannery" and "Erase Me" was just amazing. The little kid inside me last night was absolutely thrilled. And so was the adult me.

I've seen Ben Folds on his solo tour, I've seen Ben Folds with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, but none of that compares to seeing Ben Folds Five back together again

Music Mondays: Never Shout Never "Coffee and Cigarettes"

Happy Monday! Here's something a little mellow and calm to start your week off right. Have a great week!

Music Monday: Arctic Monkeys "Brainstorm"

I have loved the Arctic Monkeys since their debut album. A friend of mine recently heard one of their songs and thought it was Cage the Elephant, a fact that I must adamantly disagree with.

Music Monday - Alex Day "Good Morning Sunshine"

I love Alex Day and one of his three newest songs, "Good Morning Sunshine", is sure to get you in the right mood on a Monday morning. This tune is sure to brighten your morning and out a bounce in your step.

Music Monday: Blind Pilot "3 Rounds and a Sound"

I've recently rediscovered Blind Pilot. They're a wonderful, relaxing, indie band based out of Oregon. Who couldn't use a little bit of a reprieve on a Monday morning? Just sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Music Monday: Classical Music and Benjamin Zander

Several months ago, my English Professor showed me this video from the TED Conferences. Benjamin Zander talks about classical music. He talks about how people say they don't like classical music, but most people don't know what classical music is.

I've always loved classical music. I love being able to turn it on in the background and having it transport me to a new place and time. Classical music has a magic that no other has. I've loved the simple complexity that comes with a beautifully written piece of music. There is a magic in having a great song pouring through your speakers and into not just your ears, but into you. And it really saddens me that most people do not even give classical music a chance.

I know most of you aren't going to want to spend twenty minutes watching this video, but I would highly recommend it. Zander not only talks about classical music, but he also talks about the fact that no one is tone deaf, an interesting topic in itself. How many times have you ever said that you can't sing because you're tone deaf? What most people don't realize is that people have more than five senses, a sense of tone is one of these little known senses. Zander does tie this talk into business and whatnot, something that I don't really care too much about.

We all have a tendency to listen to a certain kind of music and never really step outside of what we like. We also never really think about why we listen to what we listen to. Maybe it's time we not only expand what we listen to, but it might be time for us to start thinking about why we like it.

Music Monday: Ben Kweller at the Granada

Friday, Austin and I went to see one of our favorite artists perform at one of our favorite venues. If you haven’t figured it out by the title of this post, we saw Ben Kweller at the Granada.

The Granada has been one of my favorite venues since I moved to Dallas. Since it used to be an actual theatre, it has not only character but also has amazing sound. It’s a mid-size venue, so you also don’t have to worry about ever having a bad seat. Although, you don’t have any seats… But that’s a bit beside the point. The point here is that I love the Granada. I’ve seen Mates of State, Ben Kweller, Jones Street Station, Black Kids, Girl Talk, Pete Yorn, and many others all at the Granada and each show has been amazing.

Saturday, the opening act was The Orbans. Even though we came in about halfway through the set, I was still impressed. As the opening act, they weren’t quite as good as the show we were there to see, it was easy to see that they had serious talent. My biggest pet peeve throughout the entire set was that their intros were waaay too long. I’m not a fan of huge of those long, spiraling intros into a song. When it is coming from a band that is the opening act, I don’t  like it at all. I also never understood why you would play a six minute intro for a three and a half minute song (and not even for the case that you’re trying to introduce your band). But really, they were a talented band and didn’t need to have such in order to prove they knew how to play!

Next up was Sleeper Agent. I honestly thought they were a lot like every other indie rock band out there. It seemed a lot of people had come to the show purely for Sleeper Agent, and this surprised me a bit. Sleeper Agent was good, but I just wasn’t as impressed as I thought I would be. Especially having several people tell me while they were setting up just how great and how amazing and how deep they were. Maybe I was just expecting something… more?  They were good, but I’m pretty sure I have about six other artists in my Google Play library that they sound a lot like. If I were to be given their music or if I had extra money in my Google Play account that I didn’t realize I had, I would by an album or two. I wouldn’t go out of my way to go to a concert just for them. If you’re a fan of the indie scene and you can’t get enough of the indie/hipster music scene, I would highly recommend them.

Ben Kweller… Oh what can I say about Ben? This isn’t the first time I’ve seen him so I thought I knew what to expect. I thought that it would be quite similar to his set that I saw last year with songs from his newest album Go Fly a Kite thrown in. I would have been completely happy if that was the case since that really was a great show. From the moment he came on stage, I knew this would be different from last time. His last album had a lot more slower, moody songs (and wanting to feature these songs more) so the show featured more of his slower songs. This show was a rock show. He drew the crowd in and the atmosphere was just as important as the actual music.

All in all, BK put on yet another fabulous show. Also, if you've yet to go to a show at the Granada, do yourself a favor and go. It is always money well spent. (Unless you were dumb enough to go see the Ting Tings, I don't think even the Granada could help them sound decent)

Music Monday: Ed Sheeran's + (Plus)

Several of my friends from across the pound have been telling me about the greatness that is Ed Sheeran. Recently, I made the very wise decision to download his entire discography. Ed Sheeran’s latest album + is a brilliant work of art.

Ed Sheeran is well known for his take-all lyrics. In his previous albums, he has made it quite clear that he feels that he can make it as a musician without succumbing to the major labels. He went so far as to say he doesn’t need someone else to write his lyrics for him because his lyrics are great in one of his previous songs. Sheeran knows that he has built up his fan base on his own with the help of social networking and Youtube. If he built up all of his fans as much as he has without the help of a major record label, he knows that he will not have to make major secessions to a record label and compromise who he is.

In his latest album +(Plus), Ed Sheeran continues to show off his superior song writing capabilities and his amazing story telling abilities. In “Small Bump” he gives you the heartbreaking story of an expectant father looking forward to the times to be had with his future child that is soon crushed when he finds out that the woman has miscarried. “A-Team” is a tragic tale about a young girl that has to prostitute for drugs and that is her only escape. “Drunk” is Ed’s heartbroken story that each of us have been through, a bad breakup. In his breakup, he is left behind and turns to alcohol for comfort. The story of “UNI” is about how he broke up with a girl he he truly loved and a girl that loved him because he chose to continue on with his life as a musician and she went to university.

Ed Sheeran’s latest album is touching and full of wonderfully written songs. He is one of the few people in history that has the ability of transforming his pain and anguish in life into something beautiful. Not only is Ed Sheeran a wonderful musician, but he has an amazing voice that is paired beautifully. 

Some say that this is just the latest pretty-boy-Brit that is gaining popularity with no real talent. All it takes is one listen of half of the songs on this album and you will see that this misconception couldn't be more wrong. 

Music Monday: Lucero's Women & Work

Lucero's latest album, Women & Work, is the Memphis group's ninth studio album. And what an album it is...

Women & Work is a great follow up to 1372 Overton Park. W&W keeps with the soulful rock vibe that 1372 created. W&W also has a great throwback to some of their earlier albums. Think earlier as in The Attic Tapes and their self-titled Lucero album. Some of the opening riffs just throw me back to their older, and simpler, albums. It also reminds me of the point in life I was at when I first listened to these albums. When you hear the opening riffs that remind you of songs from ten years ago, you can't help but remember where you were the first time you listened to the album. The first time that album was new.


Who but Lucero would be able to have an album described as "like Arcade Fire baptized in Joe Cocker and Leon Russell's Mad Dogs, then warmed with Don Nix's Alabama State Troopers." It only seems fitting that such a complicated band with such a distinct sound can only be described as such. When you learn that W&W is a love letter to the band's hometown of Memphis, you can see the love that these boys have for their hometown. Anyone that has ever spent any time in Memphis can see just how perfectly this cliche fits. Memphis itself is a blend of country, rock, and soul. Who better could have captured everything Memphis is and put it all into an album? From songs like "On my way Downtown" to the title track "Women and Work" to "Go Easy" you can almost see Memphis. The full gospel choir as backup vocals in "Go Easy" only emphasizes the fact that this is all in honor of Memphis.


W&W does return more to their country roots and is not nearly as rock 'n' roll as 1372, but it still rocks. The poetic lyrics that everyone loves from Ben are still there. The substance created by 1372 is still there. This is still the Lucero that we all love. Yet, something here seems to be a bit... Expected. And I don't ever expect Lucero to put out an album that leaves me wanting more, but I did after the closing track. There is something a bit generic that seems to have crept into the sound of W&W. It doesn't make the album bad per se, but I felt like this was a bit of a plateau and the beginning of the end of their more interesting and unique albums. Because that is one of the things I love about Lucero, no two albums are really alike.

I will still listen to this album and I still love it. I think it's an album that many people will love and will be loved for years. If you don't have it, definitely go out and buy it (or download it).