You say that I’ve changed
Well maybe I did
But even if I changed
What’s wrong with it
A seasonal assessment
Nothing signals the bringing of good weather and memories like spring.
That being said, can you remember an Easter with bad weather? I can’t remember a single one. That’s saying something.
Yesterday didn’t let me down either. What a beautiful Easter day with my beautiful fiancé. We accidentally discovered that New Bern isn’t a total shithole, and spent the later afternoon exploring.
But I have to say, and this seems a common theme in my (few and far between) tumblr posts, but I miss Ellicott City. There’s nothing after a dreary cold winter like waking up in your own bed with the sun shining in and knowing a beautiful day is ahead of you and, even better, you have no idea what it holds in store for you. I think back to spring/summer 2009 and wish I could relive it. There’s a definitive trade off. As much as I hate to admit, post-college there was a time where I was, I don’t like to say jobless, but without obligation. Where I could discover without obligation what it was I would choose to do with my day, and I actually really came to learn from it. I discovered what I could not have learned from the first 2 decades of my life where I was dependent and by-law obliged to attend a daily schooling. But I came to hate that freedom, sitting around, no income, no PURPOSE. Making no positive difference and feeling lowly for it. So as much as I miss it, I know a trade off is at hand. There is something to be said for having a full time working job. Your time off feels earned. So as much as I wish I could sit around relax and hit the pool all day, I think I can make do with everything the way it is. Happy spring
“but if you want blunt, honest advice; sometimes you need to say fuck it and just get it in your head that youre better than the situation and work on being the best version of yourself you can”
Albums of the Ages
always wanted to do this. All of these are milestones for me as far as musical inspiration. A lot of the order was derived from how much a collection of songs captivated me at some point, and how much it continues to do so.
Top 15 Favorite Albums
15: Panic at the Disco - Pretty Odd
So eclectic. Reminds me of what the Beatles mightve done had they arrived 40 years later. Very different and still catchy and very clever. Nine in the afternoon, that green gentleman, and when the day met the night are serious staples, but don’t count any of the others out, they are all worthy a listen. And all independent of each other. A standup album altogether.
14: Coheed & Cambria - The Second Stage Turbine Blade
Almost hurts me to only have it at 14, SSTB is really considered by many to be coheeds finest work and it really is their essence. What an amazing breakthrough album, to think they conceived this in a basement somewhere is astounding considering how big a landmark it is now. Very punky but mature in a way. So different, really one ofnthe first concept albums that worked. Natural tones with some poppy crunch too, but every song is different, and the mood is new. Time consumer, everything evil, and neverender will kick your ass, but again, the album as a whole is art and should be heard as such, in order. If you’ve never heard it, you need to.
13: Relient K - mmHmm
This one may not be for you “more mature” music lovers. What you see is what you get. Pop punk at its finest. Some of the catchiest lyrics I’ve ever heard and songs that are impossible to get out of your head. A very high school album and I mean that in an entirely positive way. Very mature for the style at the same time though. And every song is different, which can’t be said for many albums of the genre. Take a listen to I so hate consequences, who I am hates who I’ve been, and when I go down. Great songs but again, these are the best ALBUMS so listen to the whole thing!
12: Taylor Swift - Speak Now
Taylor has always been more on the country side, and that’s good. I like that, I really do. But she was always in a way, a pop singer in country shoes, and a third album in the same right could not have made such an impact as speak now. Her and her producer brought out a little more production and pop to create a really catchy nice album where every song is it’s own. I personally prefer this album because she steps outside the box a little and makes 13 songs about boys actually listenable. It really is a well done, well produced album that I listen to all the time. In fact I can’t even list only 3 songs for this one, so check out mine, the story of us, enchanted, innocent, and especially long live. Awesome album.
11: A.F.I. - Sing the Sorrow
I have always always been a big afi fan. Something about the eccentric lyrics of davey havok and the perfect (and that means a lot coming from picky me) guitar of jade puget. Seriously though, these guys are old pros, and this album was a perfect mix of their old punk and new alternative. Right smack dab in the middle. Did I mention jades guitar work? No one manages to be the only guitar player in a band and still have such a rich full orchestra of guitar parts in unison with each other. Overall almost every song on this one has “legendary” potential in my eyes, especially bleed black, death of seasons, the great disappointment, and at home in now where, as well as both leaving songs. But really, fucking amazing work from these guys. Don’t think they’ll ever one up this one, though they’ve come close.
10: Say Anything -…is a real boy
Pretty much everyone knows this band, and definitely this album. So different from everything else, max bemis has a crazy psycho style but basically says what were all thinking. Kind of the voice in the back of your head writes a rock opera while on a myriad of drugs. So catchy though. And the lyrics make you think, especially admit it! Which pokes fun at the “upper class” of low class college students. This one will hit home for anyone, from drugs to sex to violence, this one is as down to earth as they come musically. Check out belt, every man has a Molly, and red cat/yellow cat.
9: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
If you’ve ever heard of my chem, you know this album, and probably more specifically it’s title track “welcome to the black parade.” this one is a deusy, a rock opera indeed, that starts off with a satyrical death of a cancer patient who never really made it in life, and the awkward things to follow in an afterlife dream state. Mcr has always loaded their songs with catchy in your face lyrics and even better, in your face guitar, but what always got me was, if you listen closely, how much classic rock guitar-like their style is. I like to describe it as Queen + Punk. And really that’s what you get, a show in audio form. epic production puts the icing on the cake. Listen to Dead!, mama, disenchanted, and famous last words for a good time.
8: Third Eye Blind - Out of the Vein
Third eye has kept me sane throughout the crazier times of my life. I mean it. Blue is a close second, really, and their self titled has a host of awesome stuff, but out of the vein is so good it’s not fair. Every song makes you glad youre not at the end of the cd yet. Just like max bemis, Stephen jenkins keeps it real. Most of the subject matter includes the quality of sex life, awkward moments with ex girlfriends, and regrets you never get to get off your chest. True life stuff, and it touches home. I can’t even say enough about the lyrics in this one. Almost like rap rock but not as grungy. So good for long car rides. You should hear forgetting myself, wake for young souls, and my hit and run. Well worth being this high up on the list.
7: Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High
So fall out boys first album was not bad. Then from under the cork tree made them huge. But really, infinity on high just made them that much more solid, when they were already awesome. Pete went can write some lyrics. And pat stumpfs vocal work is very reminiscent of Michael jacksons kind of? It’s good. Really good. This one opens up with a “hey, were back mofos” in thriller, only to not let up. Ever. So catchy and well produced, I consider this the most pro of their works. Check out the take over, the breaks over, as well as hum hallelujah, and the afterlife of the party.
6: The Dangerous Summer - Reach for the Sun
So what if I know these guys? They write some kick ass songs. They earned being #6 trust me. Rfts is full of AJs down to earth lyrics in a personl diary style, written with a beautiful almost rap flow, but so melodically. Cody and bryans guitars just leave you feeling refreshed, no bullshit, no extra. Just pure straight up guitar that’s catchy as fuck. And tylers drums pretty much glue the whole thing together. You can’t help but sing along and tap your foot to this one. Every song is awesome. Especially a space to grow, northern lights, and never feel alone. This one will not disappoint.
5: The Used - In Love and Death
So, going back to high school now, this album Is a serious staple in my lineup. In love and death shaped my view on how emo isn’t so emo, it’s just there. This one is a hard hitting piece that has it’s share of love songs and even to a morbid extent sometimes. But also calls out the pissed off emotions of feeling life can be cruel sometimes. I didn’t think Burt and Quinn could top their self titled debut, but this is one of the best sophomores I’ve ever heard. I played it so much in my cd player that the cd stopped working. You won’t let it go if you’re a fan of music from around 2003-2005 (real music). Recommended are: let it bleed, cut up angels, and light with a sharpened edge.
4: Monty Are I - Wall of People
Monty as they were previosuly known, is a relatively small band from rhode island who are seriously talented. I stumbled upon them in 2005 on pure volume (what’s that?) and was impressed. I bought their 8 song ep and a year later, wall of people was released with 5 new tracks that were the making point of the album. If you just want something to headbang to that you can actually understand the lyrics to and appreciate some fine rock guitar, Monty will provide. Their second full length entitled break through the silence brings the goods too, if you like wall of people enough. Every song is different, theres even a song about legend of Zelda. Badass. Listen to between the sheets, Dublin waltz, and in this legacy, and for a good love song, just in time, awesome candid band. And nice dudes to boot.
3: Coheed & Cambria - Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV: Ffom Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
Top 3 now. And with good reason. The creativity on this album is unmatched, truly. Based of the insanity of a writer trying to finish a story tha t could very well decide his real life’s fate as well. Good Apollo is coheed in steroids. Grown up. A massive 15 song bruiser with more guitar work and crazy lyrics and songs than a pink Floyd album. So catchy and mesmerizing. I never ever get sick of this one. You are probably familiar with welcome home but I promise, not even close to the best song on the album. I can’t even conceive how claudio put this one together with no trouble. It’s so perfect. Listen to crossing the frame, the suffering, mother may I, and fuel for the feeding end.
2: My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Ok so I’m biased. This is a concept album. It is awesome. It revolves around a hit man who must kill 1000 evil men to be reunited with his lover. But screw the concept. The songs are pure punk, saturated with heavy guitar and catchy badass lyrics. I won’t ruin the surprise, but the last song “I never told you what I do for a living” is so enriched with eccentric lyrics it kills you. If you just want something fast paced that doesn’t stop and is a pure drug coma in audible form this is it. I just love this album, period. Guitar solos galore. You’ve probably heard some of the songs, but check out you know what they do to guys like us in prison, thank you for the venom, it’s not a fashion statement it’s a death wish, and cemetery drive.
1: Coheed & Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Number 1. And deservedly so, everything about this baby is perfect. The guitar tones, the song order, and the songs themselves of course. Please listen to this if nothin else. It opens so dramatically with a 9 minute powerhouse that never ever fails to keep you interested, and follows with a collection of catchy and dramatic progressive songs that bring a story to life. Every guitar part is well suited. Every vocal melody etched with success. I couldn’t think of a single thing to change about this album except that I wish it had even more songs. There is nothing mundane about any of the tracks, they are all extraordinary. This album takes me back and a single song kept me busy for a week when I first bought it in June 2004. I still can’t wrap my head around how such a masterpiece came to be except to acknowledge that claudio, Travis, mic and Josh had their shit on lock. Listen to the whole damn album. But if you’re gonna be stingy, check out the self titled track in keeping secrets, cuts marked in the march if men, the crowing, faint of hearts, and the light and the glass.
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