Updatification for your Face(TBS, UO, AFS)

Ok so, it looks like that the list of people who are going looks like this:

Amanda Camarena, Felicia Camarena, Ricky Cummings, Shannon Devine, Kamilla Moore, and Mariah Moore.

The people who are possiblities(haven't received permission yet, haven't ordered their tickets yet, etc.) are as follows: Matt Nichols, Rebekah Barker, Shayla Hamilton, and MAYBE David Wirsig(but he can get his own ride, considering he drives).

The rides are my Tahoe, and either Amanda's car or Mariah's Suburban.

To buy tickets, click on the link and scroll all the way down to March 15th in SLO, and click on the little shopping cart whatever-it-is on the left.

TBS, UO, & AFS *UPDATE*

Ok, so I'm assuming almost everyone here is going.

Shannon: I'm pretty sure you're living off my extra ticket. And no, you don't have to pay me.

Amanda: Um, my mom decided if she DOESN'T HAVE TO DRIVE, she won't. So...I guess that's her way of saying if there's room, can I please come with you guys? But if not, it's cool.

Quick poll: please name everyone in your family(including yourself) who is going so we can arrange rides and so forth.

If you want tickets, click on the link.

Underoath, Taking Back Sunday, and Armor for Sleep are coming!!!!!!

THAT'S RIGHT!!!!!!! Underoath, TBS, and AFS are coming to SLO in March and I'm pretty sure I'm going!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tickets are going on sale on 12/8(this Friday), and it's at SLO University Rec Center. WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spoken

Spoken, an alternative outfit that sounds like Anberlin, signed to Tooth & Nail. Spoken continues to bring alternative and modern worship to the mix, and I suggest checking them out. Especially you fans of Anberlin, Dead Poetic, and other artists in that genre.

Recommended listens: "Falling Further," "Bitter Taste," and "Wind in My Sails."

Video Spotlight: Five Iron Frenzy / "A Flowery Song"

Before everyone gets on to me, WATCH THE VIDEO. Not the best as far as quality, and not the most unique. However, to quote directly from the title of FIF's very first release - "it's funny, but not very creative." But, hey, we're talking the greatest band of all-time now. Pay due props.

Video Spotlight: The Aquabats / "Super Rad!"

Hilarious. Simply gutbusting. Appreciate, I say! Ska is on its last limb! Hark! The end is near! Or here, if you still think Less Than Jake is "true ska."

Video Spotlight: Weird Al / "White and Nerdy"

"Whiter than sour cream." Seems to fit my description, eh?

Video Spotlight: Bear Vs Shark / "Catamaran"

Mindnumbing song. Mindnumbing band. Mindnumbing vid. BVS may be dead. But that don't mean nothing when it comes to the pit.

Dustin Kensrue

Thrice's lead singer and guitarist, Dustin Kensrue, hasn't actually left the band, but decided to do his own solo project/experiment. He has a new album coming out in January, titled Please Come Home. He isn't making the same sound as Thrice; rather, he's made his own acoustic/folk sound of his own.
Recommendation: "I Knew You Before," and "Nebraska." Please Come Home is in stores January 23rd. Enjoy.

Dustin's purevolume.
Dustin's MySpace.

August Burns Red

"Unassuming may just be the perfect word to describe Pennsylvania-born August Burns Red. It’s no wonder with boy-next-door looks and ages ranging from 18-21 that audiences tend to be perplexed by ABR’s musical style, which makes their metal onslaught all the more captivating. Formed in March of 2003, ABR almost instantly began turning heads with their undeniable talent and knack for writing catchy licks with a tight rhythm section to match."

Well that's what's been written about them anyway.
Recommended: "Your Little Suburbia is in Ruins," "Barbarian," and "Consumer." Check out their new album Thrill Seeker also. Well, if you want.

Twelve Gauge Valentine

Twelve Gauge Valentine is yet another hardcore outfit signed to the totally awesome record label Solid State. Once again, I don't know a lot about this band, so just stick with the music, and their album Shock Value, in stores now.
Recommended: "Bone Crusher," "Dive-Bomb," and "Casket Junkies." Enjoy...

He is Legend

He is Legend is I guess what happens when you dip hardcore into "southern rock." I don't know much about them, but that's what makes this so easy. Check out their new album, Suck Out the Poison, or maybe just a few of their tracks.
Recommended: "Suck Out the Poison," "Attack of the Dungeon Witch," and "Mushroom River." Enjoy...

"Weird Al" interviews Eminem

This video is hilarious. Even though it's fake. Whatever...*giggles*

Showbread owns forever.

Click on the link above (if you're smart enough to see it), and scroll to the bottom of the page under the post entitled "The Voice of a Sinner." Everybody's favorite post-psychcore/raw rock outfit Showbread frontman Josh "Dies" Porter has a lot to say. Read it, be blown away, comment here...simple, enough?

Tenacious D

Tenacious D is what happens when two hilarious comedians unite to make "the greatest acoustic rock band in the history of the universe." Jack Black and Kyle Gass are the two artists in this aspiring band...making Tenacious D not only "rock gods"(so they say), but also one of the funniest comedic artists in music today. They have a new album coming out, along with the movie, but titled The Pick of Destiny. Anyway, I highly recommend checking them out.
Recommended listens: "The Pick of Destiny," and "Chop Suey!(System of a Down cover)." Enjoy.

Wolfmother

Even though the members of the band Wolfmother are barely over the legal voting age, this Australian trio sure do know they're '70s and '80s metal. Though they couldn't be called 'metal' today(due to the circummstances that '80s metal and '00s metal are oh so different), Wolfmother performs some of the greatest alternative music today. With some serious Black Sabbath riffage, I think anyone who is a fan of '70s and '80s heavy metal should listen to Wolfmother. Their homage to their genre is heartfelt and suprisingly authentic.
Recommended listens: "Woman," "Joker and the Thief," and "Love Train." Enjoy.

Dead Poetic(Pt. 2)

Ok, remember when I made that Dead Poetic post way back when? Well, they're back, and they've evolved into something different, so I thought it necessary to "repost" them. So if you want their info, go back all the way to my original post on them.
Recommended listens: "Narcotic," "Self-destruct and Die," and anything else by them that's new...as well as old. Enjoy...

(+44)

Okay, I'm not a huge fan of (+44) but I'm doing this 'cause Melina asked...so here we go. When Tom left Blink-182 to join Angels & Airwaves, Mark and Travis didn't just give up and say "our career is over." They got two other band members to play with and now they're back dominating the scene again...unfortunately, nothing changed about their music, so they're kinda like a resurrection of Blink. It's really ironic though...Tom leaves the band so he can go do better things and be more famous, and makes Angels & Airwaves, but Mark and Travis are still beating him in terms of popularity and mainstream playback. Well whatever.

Recommended listens: "When Your Heart Stops Beating," "Cliff Diving," and "No it isn't." They're song titles are pretty funny too...but no one cares. Enjoy.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd, which is one of the greatest and most respected artists of all time, wrote what is arguably, the best album of all time, titled Dark Side of the Moon. Released in the early '70's, Dark Side is still being purchased frequently(in the past few days, it's sold more copies than Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium, which came out earlier this year). And Dark Side is not the only album of their's which merits five stars. The Wall, one of music's best rock operas(if not THE best), tells the story of a rock star named Pink(go figure), who finds himself trapped by an emotional wall(get it?), and as more drama adds to his life, the bigger the wall gets. Pink Floyd has their share of #1 hits too. "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2," being the biggest, and also "Comfortably Numb," and "Wish You Were Here," are also up there. So I guess that's all I have to say...
Recommended listens: "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2," "Comfortably Numb," "Money," and "Wish You Were Here." Enjoy...

Demon Hunter

Ok, I don't know much about the band, so this is gonna be real short. They are quickly becoming another popular band signed to Solid State. Alt-metal that strikingly resembles Breaking Benjamin's music is what Demon Hunter plays. So that's basically it...
Recommended listens: "Undying," "Ribcage," and "Deteriorate." Enjoy...

Congrats to Rick.

Not one-hundred-percent sure about this, but when I first met you, Richard Edward McGillicutty Samuelson Davis Cummings the Fifteenth, it seemed to me that you had nothing to do with Christian-related (read: post-contemporary) music. Hasn't all that changed? Underoath, Norma Jean, Showbread, and most importantly mewithoutYou -- they've all grown on you. It's all sudden for me, as it seems like I've had my first semi-conversion. No, I haven't quite exposed to you what, for say, indie precisely is; nonetheless, I feel proud. Amanda should too: She's introduced you to other hardcore bands that have much more positive messages than -- oh, I dunno... -- Green Day (bear with me, okay?). Props, girl.

You have a long ways to go, my comrade. But in the end -- when you just cannot get enough of Neutral Milk Hotel, Danielson, Five Iron Frenzy, Joy Electric, sf59, and the like, and begin referring MCR and Thursday as "wannabe/never-will-be" -- this mission will be accomplished.

Plus, we could have our own inside jokes, just like Strong Bad and The Cheat (e.g. jumbo/LARGE).

The Black Parade

Ok, with only about a week left until it's release, I thought I'd post My Chemical Romance's new release, The Black Parade, just 'cause I'm looking forward to it very much. You don't have to listen to it...considering I think most of you already have listened to their new single, "Welcome to the Black Parade." This album is also a concept record, telling of the story of 'The Patient', the character the album is portraying. He dies tragically young due to some disease, possibly cancer. If you're expecting the same ol' pop-punk music you've heard from MCR in the past, how very wrong you are. The band realized they had to get rid of most the "plain punk songs" because some different songs, such as "Momma," and "Cancer," were too deep, that those plain punk songs just didn't fit anymore. Also, the band in an interview states "...the last album was about anger, and violence, and dealing with things in an angst way, where as this album is more about getting through that, and to stop being upset...", Gerard Way states. Anyway, this album is one of the most anticipated alternative albums of 2006, so everybody's excited about this one.
Songs I am personally looking forward to buying: "Dead!" "Cancer," "House of Wolves," "Momma," Sleep," "Teenagers," and of course every other song.

So I'm not really expecting you to like this much, or even listen to it, but I just wanted to share with you how excited about it I am. Haha, thank you for reading this...if you actually did.

Thrice's new album...

"As a lot of you may know, for the past month or so, we've been writing and recording our next album. We didn't want to say anything official until we'd finalized a lot of the details, but now that we're getting rolling on it, we want you guys to be the first to know what the plans are for this album.

We have started writing and recording a 4 disc concept record, with each disc being themed sonically and thematically to correspond with the four natural elements - earth, air, water and fire. The final record will have somewhere between 20 and 25 songs, divided between the 4 discs.

We are approaching the whole project in a new way for us, both writing and recording. Writing with these elements in mind, we are letting them shape the direction of the songs sonically and thematically. And for the first time, we're recording the record ourselves as we write it, freeing us up to change things as we go.

We are very excited about the project and are looking forward to sharing more details as the record takes shape. We're also in the process of setting up a site dedicated to keeping you up to date on our progress, so keep a look out for that in the near future."

-Thrice

"Weird Al" Yankovic

"Weird Al" is probably the coolest music artist(if you can call him that) that I think I've ever heard. The pic above is the front album art of his latest release, titled Straight Outta Lynwood. "Weird Al" does parodies of famous songs and such, ranging from "White and Nerdy(Parody of "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire)," to "Candadian Idiot(Parody of "American Idiot" by Green Day)," and from "Amish Paradise(Parody of "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio)," to "You're Pitiful(Parody of "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt)." (I know these song titles are long, sorry.) So I hope you enjoy this...I really do.

Weird Al's purevolume
Weird Al's MySpace
Weird Al's Website

Redeemer

Norma Jean's new album titled Redeemer, is without a doubt, the hardest and loudest CD in my whole collection. And that's saying something. Though some may protest that their new sound isn't as good as their old, it still is so awesome, just listening to it might blow your brain up. Though it may get a little repetitive from start to back, but in a good way, 'cause I don't think I'll ever get sick of this metalcore. So yeah...
Recommended tracks: "A Grand Scene for Color Films," "Blueprints for Future Homes," "A Small Spark vs. a Great Forest," and "The End of All Things Will Be Televised." Enjoy.

"Cancer," by My Chemical Romance

Ok, so we needed a new post, and here it is. This song is arguably a collective favorite for me. I love it, and I want to show you why. This was recorded at MTV2's $2 Bill concert w/ MCR, and you don't have to watch all the videos, just scroll down to "Cancer." Thanks.

Interesting question...

Ok, do any of you get kinda ticked with the "bands who are masquerading around playing pop-"punk" in an emotionally tinged styrofoam shell and soaking up all the attention"? (That was a a quote from no other than Matt Nichols.) I mean seriously, the real and original artists, such as Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Death Cab for Cutie, and so forth get tossed to the side by fake wannabe artists like Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. I mean really! Why should the ones who write interesting music(not to mention they're actually good songwriters) get bumped by someone who says "I got in with a 'haven't you people ever heard of closing a g*d**n door?'..." like, 26 times in one song?!?! Just something to think about...

Leeland

Ok, I don't have a lot of time, so this is Leeland. They're very cool. I don't have much to say about them so yeah...please please listen and yeah.

Mae

Ok, I don't have much time, and I don't know much about Mae, but here it goes: Mae I guess is an alterna-rock who plays softer music compared to other artists I've posted recently. BUT they are really good, they're Christian, they're signed to Tooth & Nail, and they're just awesome. So yeah.
Recommended listens: "This Time is the Last Time," "Someone Else's Arms," and "A Day in the Life(Beatles Cover)." Enjoy.

Mae's purevolume account.
Mae's MySpace account.

The Question | Emery

When I heard all the stuff I have heard about Emery's second full-length album, The Question, I was dissapointed that it wasn't as good as their first full-length, The Weak's End. I, however, didn't take the time to actually listen to the album, because if I did, I would've found out that those statements were, for the most part, false. Though this album isn't as good as The Weak's End, it is still a very good album, something people should come to expect from an artist like Emery. Some say post-punk, others say pre-hardcore -- whatever. I say this is an emo album with mature lyrics and heartfelt/emo singing. Plus, the guitars on this album, as well as on The Weak's End, are very original and just downright awesome. So, even if you like TWE more, check out The Question. It's definitely worth it.
Recommended listens: "So Cold I Could See My Breath," "Studying Politics," "Returning the Smile You Had From the Beginning," and "Listening to Freddie Mercury." And also check out The Weak's End. Both these albums are awesome.

Emery's purevolume account.
Emery's MySpace account.

Norma Jean

Norma Jean is possibly, and probably, the hardest, loudest band I listen to, and have ever listened to. They're hardcore, or perhaps metalcore, band out of Georgia, that goes to show how hard a band can rock. These guys are just another totally awesome Christian band that belongs to Solid State Records. Vocals that tend to be more 'yelling' then screaming, guitars that could make the amp explode, and drums that will make you go deaf if you turn up your iPod too loud, this describes what Norma Jean is like. Their original name was Luti-Cris, but that stirred too much confusion with the rapper Ludacris. But anyway.
Recommended listens: "The End of All things Will Be Televised," "Blueprints for Future Homes," "Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste," "Bayonetwork: Vultures in Vivid Color," and "I Used to Hate Cell Phones but Now I Hate Car Accidents." Enjoy.

Norma Jean's MySpace account.
Norma Jean's PureVolume account.

If I could have a different iPod...

...it would be the iPod U2, not only 'cause it's black and red, but because it comes with all of U2's songs and videos on it, it's autographed by the band, and! it comes with a iTunes coupon of some free music. Check it out yourself.

[A --> B] Life | mewithoutYou

mewithoutYou's first album, [A --> B] Life(which is pronounced A to B Life), is probably one of the best slabs of post-hardcore-indie around. Guitars that explode with noise, drums that are really loud, and screaming vocals is the name of the game, and mewithoutYou plays it magnificently. Aaron Weiss is very upclose and personal with the lyrics about his misery while not being saved, something that becomes very clear just with a few listens.
Recommended listens: "Bullet to Binary," and "Gentlemen," because they are the only ones available to listen to. Also, check out mewithoutYou's other albums, which include Catch for Us the Foxes, and they're album that comes out later this month, Brother, Sister. Enjoy.

Senses Fail

Senses Fail is kind of an underground band that I discovered when they did the cover of Suicidal Tendencies' song "Institutionalized," which is totally awesome. Senses Fail is a punk-pop, or probably just punk, band from New Jersey. They're coming out with an album this October titled Still Searching. I don't have much to say, so I guess that's it.
Recommendations: "Calling All Cars," "Buried a Lie," and "American Death." Enjoy.

Future Album Releases Ricky wants...

So, I was looking at releases of CDs that are coming out this fall and winter, and realized that there were a-freakin'-lot of my fave artists coming out with new albums. So here's a look at some of the CDs I want...

Brother, Sister is mewithoutYou's newest album, and expected to be so awesome! I can't wait for this album to be released on September 26th, which doesn't seem to want to come soon enough. mewithoutYou is probably the most unique and original band I know, so you could check out their new 2 singles at their purevolume account.
Recommended: "Nice and Blue(Pt. 2), and "A Glass Can Spill Only What it Contains." Enjoy.

This isn't the real album art of My Chemical Romance's new album The Black Parade, which is expected out this October. Also expected to be their best yet, this one will fortunately not be violent(or, at least not half as violent) as the last two albums by the band. MCR decided to follow in the footsteps of Green Day this time. (Not necessarily the genre, but they got Rob Cavallo, GD's producer of all their albums.) But also, they decided to make their next one a punk-rock opera, about a young man who tragically dies early do to some disease(they haven't given any details about which disease, however one of the track names is titled "Cancer"). Anyway.
Recommended: "Welcome to the Black Parade," and since that's the only track they've released, that all you have to listen to here.The Killers are also coming out with a new album this October 3rd, titled Sam's Town, which is a reference to none other than Las Vegas. The Killers are better than ever, still releasing that same old '80's indie-pop rock. They just released their new single, titled "When We Were Young." That's all I'm asking you to listen to. So yeah. The Killers' purevolume account.

Soundtracks

Ok so this is a really sad attempt at a new post. Anyway the question is: Do you think, if you like the music in a movie , that its worth buying the soundtrack?
Personally i think you can just pop the dvd in and listen to the music on there but there are some soundtracks that i'd like to have . Ummm thats all i can come up with as far as a new post!
See ya'll later!
Shannon

Live Video for "Writing On the Walls," by UnderOath.

"Writing on the Walls," by UnderOath. Enjoy.

If Only You Were Lonely

This is Hawthorne Heights' newest release, I'm pretty sure it came out in like, February, but whatever. Hawthorne Heights is one of the very very few bands who can mix post-hardcore and pop-punk without making it sound terrible. Catchy drum beats, awesome guitar lines that show the band's overall talent, and a passionate singer make for one heck of a band. No questions asked. Now I know what all the hype about them is about. Anyway.
Recommended listens: "This is Who We Are," "Saying Sorry," and "Pens and Needles." Other albums by Hawthorne Heights include The Silence in Black and White. Enjoy.

Age of Reptiles

Yeah, I really really really really want this Showbread album. I don't know much about the album, or the band, except that both are freakin' awesome! I can't really describe Showbread's genre, besides like, post-psychadelic hardcore. So yeah. I think that Showbread is one of Tooth & Nail's finest to offer. Age of Reptiles is Showbread's new release, so yeah.
Recommended listens: "Pacycephalosaurus," and "Oh! Emetophobia!" Also, check out Showbread's other album, No Sir, Nihilism is not Practical. Enjoy.

Angels & Airwaves

When Blink-182 gave up being a band and went on in search of other projects, Travis Barker continued to own his brand name "Famous Stars and Straps," which is still pretty popular today. Mark Hoppus continued his career with his brand name "Atticus," as well as making his own podcast for iTunes titled "Hi, my Name is Mark." But Tom Delonge(seen above, far left), not only continued his brand name "Loser Kids," but also he decided to make another band of his own, titled Angels & Airwaves. However, if you're expecting that Blink-182 pop-punkish sound, then you're wrong. Angels & Airwaves have more of an epic, ambient, mature, alternative rock sound. Think an alternative version of U2. I know, to some of you it's still not entirely your sound, but it really is pretty good music.
Recommended listens: "The Adventure," "Valkyrie Missle," and "Do it for Me Now." Also, check out their album We Don't Need to Whisper. Enjoy.
Angels & Airwaves' purevolume account.
Angels & Airwaves' MySpace account.

Silverstein

Silverstein is a hardcore punk/emo band that has been rising to the top in the past few months. Though I don't really like their look, and I don't know much about them. But they can rock hard. Like I said, I don't know much about 'em, so here we go.
Recommended listens: "Smile in Your Sleep," and "Discovering the Waterfront." Enjoy.

The BLED

The BLED is one of my favorite hardcore bands around. These guys know how to rock, scream, mosh, everything. I first heard them when they did the cover of "House of Suffering"(which is a pretty good song in itself). But then I went into more of their music and I realized, this is so much better than that cover. I'm not gonna continue to babble, so just check 'em out.
Recommended listens: "Last American Cowboy," "My Assassin," "She Calls Home," and "Daylight Bombings."

The BLED's purevolume account
The BLED's MySpace account

Enjoy.

Job for a Cowboy

Hey, this is Matt, Shannon's brother. I thought you guys might appreciate this SIIICKK death metal band. I like them, in a weird freaky kinda way. Listen to Entombment of a Machine if you want your brains blown!!!! My sister hates them tho, but whatever.

Death Cab for Cutie

K, first of all, I counted all the posts since Shannon's "130th post," and this one is number 150. So yeah, it just goes to show, we all love our computers way too much. But on with Death Cab for Cutie, this Washington based indie/pop pand. Though they may sound dull and boring to some of you(I would know, I was bored the first time I heard their song), don't let that get to you, you'll find that they are very catchy and soft, a type of band you will rarely see with mainstream success. So just give them a listen and tell me what you think.

Recommended listens: Unfortunately, there is only one song on their purevolume, titled "Soul Meets Body," so just listen to that. Enjoy.

Cute is What We Aim For

I was looking through the charts at purevolume, and I've heard of this band before, and they've been really popular, so I thought I would check 'em out. Turns out that they're a pretty catchy punk-pop/powerpop band. Though they may just be kinda mediocre, they are pretty dang catchy and you will also find yourself singing to it all day long(kinda like The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, huh?). Anyway, just check 'em out.

Recommended listens: "There's a Class For This," "The Curve of Curves," "Trying to Please," and "Lyrical Lies." Enjoy.

Tell me that isn't talent...

Please look at this video for a drum solo by Blink-182's drummer, Tom Barker. There will be no Blink songs in it, just a drum solo, so please, check it out. It's so awesome. Thank you, and enjoy.

Warped Tour '07 fantasies.

Ok guys, there is one post on the Warped Tour Website that asks who you want to see next year on the tour. I would just like to know, if you chose the bands, who would you select. Here's a list of all mine(you don't have to read it if you don't want to):

My Chemical Romance
Taking Back Sunday
UnderOath
Haste the Day
Thursday
Less Than Jake
Thrice
mewithoutYou
Emery
Yellowcard
The Used
Story of the Year
Project 86
Hawthorne Heights
Blink 182(reunion)
Good Charlotte
Goldfinger
Fall Out Boy
Dead Poetic
Breaking Benjamin
Avenged Sevenfold
AFI
The All American Rejects
Rise Against
New Found Glory
Franz Ferdinand
She Wants Revenge
Hellogoodbye
Snow Patrol
The Racounters
Cartel
Audioslave
Evanescence
Angels and Airwaves
Cute is What We Aim For
The Academy is...
Arctic Monkeys
Lostprophets
Motion City Soundtrack
From Autumn to Ashes
From First to Last

And yeah, there are others too, but in general, this is who I wanna see next year. You can leave a comment with all the bands you wanna see, or go here to place your comment. Enjoy.

The Devil Wears Prada

the Devil Wears Prada is some awesome Christian Hardcore. Haha, I wanted to post something and I didn't know what to post and TDWP just so happened to be one of the featured artists! So I guess that's a sign. =) But anyway, tomorrow (8/22/06) they will be releasing their first debut album, Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord. As far as I know they are a fairly new band. I don't have much to say because I don't know much about them except that they rock, and they rock HARD! Recommended listens: Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over, Swords, Dragons, and Diet Coke, and Modeify the Pronunciation. Ok, Shannon I know you're probably thinking "Oh great, more hardcore!" but if you'd like check em out and I'll let you bash on them as much as you'd like. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

The Illusion of Safety | War All the Time

Alright, another double post. I hope I'm not bugging any of you by making you read all these double posts. Just tell me if I am. But anyway.

Thrice's sophomore album, The Illusion of Safety, though being claimed by few as "Thrice at their best, is rather Thrice's second, or third best. I've already told you in the past that Vheissu is Thrice's best work, and The Artist in the Ambulance is their second, which makes this one third. This one is vital, however, to Thrice's career. It's because of this that Thrice was signed to Island Def Jam Records to go on to make TAinA, and it's because of this one that Thrice sounds the way they do now. This is when they realized that they're an emocore/screamo band with a whole lot of talent. I recommend this album, not because of how good it is, but because it shows how Thrice got to where they are now. Just listen to "Deadbolt," and that's it.

Thursday is also an emocore/screamo band. This album is actually they're best album, with A City By the Light Divided following closely behind. War, death, love, tragedy, all issues mentioned and repeated on this album. You can tell just from the title and album art that this band from New Jersey have serious problems with death and killing, but then again, many bands do. Not only that, but also a song dedicated to September 11th, 2001 is on this album, so check it out. It's called, you got it, "War All the Time." And that's all I have to say about that.

I only want you to listen to 2 tracks, it's that easy. "War All the Time," and "Deadbolt." Other albums by Thrice include Identity Crisis, The Artist in the Ambulance, and Vheissu. Other albums by Thursday include A City By the Light Divided. So yeah.

Thursday's purevolume
Thursday's MySpace

Thrice's purevolume
Thrice's MySpace

Enjoy.

Blink-182: Greatest Hits | Green Day: International Superhits!

Green Day and Blink 182 are two of my fave bands, and they also sound similar. So I thought I would bug you guys by making you read this double post on both of 'em. So yeah, here we go.

Green Day was my first favorite band, and I guess that would be because of their overall catchiness, their melodies, and I guess I learned of them because of their fame back in '04 for American Idiot. But this album was before then. Before the controversy of American Idiot. Before they broke out to the top of the mainstream with the smash hit "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." Before they began selling out stadium venues to over 65,000 people per concert. No, these were the better times of their career, in my opinion. Back when punk-pop didn't have to be political and it was just fun. So yeah, if you wanna hear them in their prime, listen to songs like "Longview," and "Minority," and "Good Riddance." So yeah.

Blink-182 have had an up and down career, having both mainstream success and underground success that couldn't quite make it up to the mainstream. For instance, a few of their mainstream songs would be "Dammit," "All the Small Things," and "I Miss You," while some of their underground songs would be "M+Ms," "Feeling This," and "Not Now," but even if they aren't successful, you should check 'em out. Blink-182 to a long time to break out into the mainstream, so it's understandable if you've never even heard of these songs, but that's just adressing us Blink fans. So yeah, I recommend listening to "Dammit," "All the Small Things," "Adam's Song," and "I Miss You."

Basically, considering Melina and I are pretty much the only Blink-182 fans on this blog, and as far as I know, I'm the only fan of Green Day, I'll let you guys off easy saying you don't have to listen if you don't want to, 'cause it seems that whenever I post something like this, you never like it either, so yeah. Enjoy.

Blink 182's purevolume account

Green Day's purevolume account

Waking the Fallen | Burning Bridges

I thought for a change, I would put one album by one artist against a different album by a different artist, but both have a lot in common. Both are screamo metal music with wailing guitars and drums. Both are dominating their own department of music. Haste the Day in the Christian metal department, Avenged Sevenfold dominating the secular metal department. But even though one is Christian and the other one isn't, they both can compete against each other, because they share the same genre. So enough beating around the bush and back to the albums.

Haste the Day is one of my favorite Christian metal bands, though, I don't like them as much as Amanda, so she could recommend this to you better than I can. Burning Bridges is one of the best metalcore albums ever, I just hope I can actually buy it soon. But what I love about it most is, the fact that the lead screamer, Jimmy Ryan, has one of the best screams I've ever heard. He literally sounds like he can bite your head off. Not kidding. One of the best examples of this, is on the song "Substance," with him opening up the song with a scream so startling that it literally made my mom jump when I made her listen to it. Also not kidding. I definitely recommend this album to you guys who love metal, hardcore, or screamo, but those who don't, just stay away.

Avenged Sevenfold is also one of my favorite bands, period. They can rock hard, the screams and vocals(yes, there are vocals) are loud and emotional, and the drummer is simply unbeatable. The overall talent of the band is almost unmatchable in the music industry these days. If you want guitar players who really know how to play, I suggest you pick up Waking the Fallen, A7x's sophomore album. You're not gonna find just chords and notes, oh no, you'll find that the two players play the same solos in synchronization with each other and a chello playing in the backround. Simply amazing. Just check out "Unholy Confessions," to see what I mean. You'll find you may like it afterall.

If you like Haste the Day, then check out Avenged Sevenfold, and vice versa. You'll find you will like both. Another release by Haste the Day is When Everything Falls, and another release by Avenged Sevenfold is City of Evil.

Haste the Day's purevolume account

Avenged Sevenfold's purevolume account

Enjoy.

Dookie | Green Day

I was looking at the alternative page on iTunes the other day and it had a section that said "Must-have alternative albums." So I looked through it and I saw Nevermind, by Nirvana, one old Foo Fighters CD, but then sure enough, there was this album. A must-have album. And I can't agree more. I bought this album back in December and fell in love with it immediately. Catchy riffs, fast-paced drumbeats, and, you guys won't believe it, no really bad cussing! Ok, there's some mild language, but nothing like American Idiot. If you guys still don't believe it's all that great, look to the Grammys, yeah, Dookie won a grammy in '94 for best alternative album of the year. So yeah. I'm just gonna ask that you guys check out one of the songs I list below. Just one! Listen to the whole thing and I'll let you off the hook! Anyway.

Recommendations due to their biggest hits on this album: "Burnout," "Longview," "Welcome to Paradise," "Basket Case," "She," "When I Come Around," and "F.O.D." Also, if you like this album, you may wanna check out some of Green Day's other albums, including Insomniac, Nimrod, Warning, and American Idiot. And! If you like those albums, which may be a stretch, you could check out From Under the Cork Tree, by Fall Out Boy, Nevermind, by Nirvana, In Your Honor, by Foo Fighters, and Move Along, by The All-American Rejects. Sorry for makin' you guys read all this, but Enjoy.

Dusk and Summer

Lately, I've been into Dashboard Confessional. I'm trying to get some of their other albums, but so far I only have Dusk and Summer, their latest release. Chris Carabba, the frontman(or should I say, only man), sings and plays guitar. I can finally say, I found a voice that is real emo, without it being exhausting listening to. Sweet, soft, acoustic love songs(I know, it sounds terrible), but if you are, or are becoming, a hormonal/love-struck teenager then you need to look no further than this album. Of course, if you're a hormonal/love-struck heartbroken teenager who is gonna stay up all night in your room crying over your boyfriend/girlfriend who just dumped you, then this would also keep you occupied.

Recommendations: "Don't Wait," "Reason to Believe," "Stolen," "Dusk and Summer," and "Heaven Here." Other albums by Dashboard Confessional for you love-struck heartbroken teens include The Place You Have Come to Fear the Most, The Swiss Army Romance, and A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar. Enjoy.

Don't You Fake It

Here again is what a few critics have to say about Don't You Fake It, by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus:

-iTunes:

"The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus sound nearly like what would result if Hawthorne Heights and Hoobastank have a love child. Essentially alternative rock with screamo tendencies, their slick and accessable debut, Don't You Fake It, comes ready for radio airwaves while remaining just abrasive enough for the Warped Tour stage..."

-Rhapsody:

"...there is enough energy and angst on this debut to garner fans who believe in the band's brand of assembly line emo, which shifts between ballsy songs on domestic abuse(the single "Face Down"), to sulking piano-laced love ballads.

Recommendations: "Face Down," "In Fate's Hands," "Atrophy," and "Your Guardian Angel." If you like this album, I suggest you try some of these albums, including Chroma, by Cartel, Dombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!, by Hellogoodbye, and Age of Reptiles, by Showbread. Enjoy.

Phobia

Breaking Benjamin are an alternative hard rock/metal band who have been called "a poser metal band," by Matt Nichols. However, if that's what you think their new album, Phobia, is gonna be like, well then I guess you'll just have to check it out yourself, because this album is all metal. The lyrics are dark, and the music is aggressive, and the vocals are loud, all of which make for an enjoyable listen. I didn't want to just use one link so there are a few below.

Recommendatons: "Diary of Jane," "Breath," "Dance With the Devil," and "You." Also check out some of Breaking Benjamin's other albums, including We Are Not Alone, and Saturate. If you like those albums and Phobia, you may also like Master of Puppets, by Metallica, and All the Right Reasons, by Nickelback. Enjoy.

http://www.myspace.com/breakingbenjamin.

http://www.purevolume.com/breakingbenjamin.

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus has grabbed me and I can't let go. These guys are so catchy. Thank you Melina for letting me know about them. I would have never listened to them because they are so popular. RJA is a pop-punk-ish/alternative/post-screamo band that will have you singing "Do you feel like a man when you push her around?" all day long. I don't know much about them since I only started listening yesterday, but they are too cool to be in the top 10 most played song on PureVolume. Recommended listens: Face Down, In Fate's Hands, Guardian Angel and all others by them. Have fun!!!

The Weak's End

The Weak's End, which is one of the best albums I've heard this year, is Emery's first album release, and is much better than their second release, The Question, or at least, so I hear. Hardcore, punk, emo, post-hardcore, alternative screamo, it seems Emery's genres are endless. I especially love the song "Walls." In fact, if I had an award show for favorite music I've heard in the last year, "Walls," would be nominated for best song, and The Weak's End, for best album. It's just that good.

Recommendations: "Walls," "The Ponytail Parades," "Fractions," and "As Your Voice Fades." If you like this album, I suggest you listen to Define the Great Line, by Underoath, and Never Take Friendship Personal, by Anberlin. Enjoy.

Never Take Friendship Personal

Anberlin's sophomore release, Never Take Friendship Personal, is probably one of the best albums released in '05. Pop-punk, post-hardcore, post-punk-all describe this album. With ferocious energy, and guitar hooks that can as iTunes says "sweeps you off your feet," I highly recommend this album to anyone.

Recommendations: "Never Take Friendship Personal," "Paperthin Hymn," "Stationery Stationery," and all the others. The only other album by Anberlin is Blueprints for the Black Market. Enjoy.

Destroy the Runner

I'm taking advantage of the opportunity. So here's Destroy the Runner, one of Solid State's newest editions, and yet another awesome hardcore band. Currently they're touring with Haste the Day, August Burns Red, and Scary Kids Scaring Kids. I don't have much to say about them so check out their song "My Darkness" and let me know what you think.

As Cities Burn

Here we have As Cities Burn. A fine hardcore/rock/alternative band. Currently they only have 1 full length album, Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest and 2 EPs that I know absolutely nothing about. Recently their vocalist (TJ Bonnette) got married and they decided that ACB wouldn't be the same without him so they decided to break up. A few weeks later they realized they loved being a band together too much to give it all up. So thankfully, they're still together. To get the full story you can head on over to their official website.

Recommended listens: "Bloodsucker Pt. 2," "Terrible! How Terrible! For the Great City," "Wake, Dead Man, Wake" + many more.

Hey, everyone, it's Matt.

In the library on base, just doing nothing. Yeah, haven't been on in awhile - I know, I know. You may see more splurts of me in the future, but don't count on me making a full comeback or anything...

Ricky: Please get your OWN review format; you totally ripped the current one of me. I need to get that patented.

Amanda: Give Rick heck - keep posting the hardcore. Oh, and I wanna borrow your subseven EP, if possible. (Yes, I went overboard with that Emery review, *ahem*)

Since I finally purchased my iPod, I've d/l'd some kicking podcasts, namely The Bored-Again Christian (www.boredagainchristian.com). He mostly plays independent Christian musicians/bands ranging from soft acoustic pop to straight-up freak-folk. Ehh, may not be your guys' style, but just thought I'd inject some REAL MUSIC into this blog.

Sufjan Stevens is such a dream boat/hero. I've been listening to a ton of his music. Oh, and Danielson Familie - cannot forgot them. Both these are played on the podcast. Oh, and Half-Handed Cloud...him too. I'm such an Asthmatic Kitty fanatic.

Rambling. Something I seem to excel at.

Peace and <3.
Matt.

P.S. Ricky, when I can I come over and mess with your iTunes library?

The Pussycat Dolls

Remember way back when I made the anti-Panic! At the Disco post? Well, I made a new one like that. Everybody duck and cover for The Pussycat Dolls! Though this "music group" may be a big hit amongst teenage girls, they are so sensual to be advertising to anyone. If you don't believe me, go to www.azlyrics.com/p/pussycatdolls.html. There you will find lyrics proving the fact that this group should not be listened to. If you wanna listen to the songs anyway, just to torture yourself, click on the title.

Their poser hits: "Buttons," "Beep," "Stickwitu," and "Don't Cha." Please, for your own sake, don't listen to them at all costs.

Guns N' Roses

Guns N' Roses are one of the biggest heavy metal bands ever. With catchy drumbeats, rhyming lyrics, and guitar hooks that drive you nuts 'cause they're so good, Guns N' Roses are sitting on the throne of heavy metal next to Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Ozzy Osbourne. Anyway, with the release of their greatest hits in '04, within a year they had already gone double-platinum.
Recommendations: "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Paradise City," "Patience," and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door." Recommended albums by GN'R includes Appetite for Destruction, Greatest Hits, Use Your Illusion I & II, and The Spaghetti Incident? Enjoy.

130th blog

I counted how many blogs and there is 130 posts!!!! Yay! well thats it
c yall later
shannon