Into It. Over. It is currently touring with Saves the Day and Hostage Calm. Their new album Intersections reminds me a lot of Bayside/Anthony Raneri and other early-2000s emo pop punk. I like it a lot. It feels really clean and tight. I didn't have to sift through noise to pick through the album's good parts; I like it all. It is easy to listen to but that doesn't make it cheap. It feels like a well-crafted album.

My song of the day is "A Curse Worth Believing," but I like the whole album. Stream it through SPIN here.

So... Nirvana. There isn't really much to be said that hasn't been and there has probably been too much said already. But the 20th anniversary of In Utero was recently released and you should give it a listen. It includes b sides, demos, alternate mixes and full live concert recording. Take a stroll down memory lane and enjoy the sweet soothing sounds of some good rock music as it melts your face off.

-Earl

The Avett Brothers played Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday and totally rocked it (of course they did). They played "Another is Waiting" from their album The Magpie and the Dandelion, due out Oct. 15.
They're playing Fallon again tonight with Chris Cornell from Sound Garden and Audioslave, so tune in.

Drake is just another Canadian rags to riches story. Started on the lowly set of the popular teen soap opera Degrassi, not getting tuna fish sandwiches from his mom, now he's here, "now the whole team heh".

Ten years ago, I bought Saves the Day's In Reverie and told myself that I wasn't going to over-listen to it because I didn't want to get tired of it. I did over-listen, but it remains one of my favorite albums. Saves the Day was my first real concert (after N SYNC and Avril Lavigne, of course). I sat up in the balcony next to my dad at the Warfield and then I went to school the next day. I was thirteen. I am twenty-four now, and Saves the Day still makes me feel they way they did eleven years ago. When I first heard a Saves the Day song, I knew that I could never, ever feel alone. The little holes that might show up in my heart from time to time could always be filled just by pressing play on a stereo or an mp3 player. So many of their songs have acted as anthems for me in different stages of my life. I have seen Saves the Day many, many times, and one time Chris Conley even came up to me after the show and told me I was amazing. Crazy, you guys.

Chris Conley is one of my biggest inspirations as a writer. His ability to express anguish and to juxtapose that  anguish with saccharine sweetness is unparalleled. Saves the Day lost a lot of fans when Chris Conley found his voice with In Reverie, but I wasn't one of those. I love the first three albums more than any other albums in this universe, but my love for them then doesn't overshadow my love for later albums. In fact, I believe that In Reverie is one of the best albums of all time, and some of my favorite Saves the Day songs come from the trilogy.

Last Tuesday, Saves the Day released their eighth studio album. The self-titled album (which fans have nicknamed Grapefruit came out last Tuesday), and it is a breath of fresh air. The last three Saves the Day albums (Sound the Alarm, Under the Boards, and Daybreak) comprised a trilogy of extreme emotional anguish that culminated in the narrator accepting defeat and attempting to rebuild. You can tell that the band was ready to move on and write new material.

On the heels of this trilogy, Saves the Day is significantly lighter. It contains catchy hooks and love songs, and it only lasts 33 minutes. Chris Conley is married with a child, so the love songs are comforting after the often devastating lyrics on the last few albums. Sometimes it's just nice to enjoy a love song, you know? Several songs on the album recall the night Conley met his wife, and it works as a kind of theme on this album. Conley said he wanted this album to act as a "sonic love letter," and I think that sums it up nicely. It is short, fast, and tight.

I first listened to Daybreak while running at the gym, so I thought it appropriate to continue that tradition with the new album. I got it on Friday after a particularly rough day. I had heard a few released songs already but not start to finish. When I heard the following lyrics from the song "Lucky Number," I knew that this album would be an important one for me.

                                         In the night when you're alone
                                         In the dark and the unknown 
                                         You can always come back here
                                         I'm home.


This is probably cheesy, but I felt like Chris Conley was making a promise to me, and that's when I knew he had met his goal of creating a "sonic love letter." 

Here's a random song that I love. Hope YOU will too, internetz!

-Earl

I feel like Kings of Leon are one of the most polarizing bands in rock n roll right now. I know people that love them and people that absolutely loath them (at least hate their new stuff). I for one fall on the love end of the spectrum and am really excited for their new album, Mechanical Bull. I would write a bunch about how haters shouldn't hate, but I don't feel like justifying my love right now. Instead I'm going to post a link for everyone to click on and stream their new album (out Sept. 24) from iTunes. Enjoy

Click HERE to stream the album or listen to "Supersoaker" below.

Ten exact years ago, Thursday released War All the Time. While Full Collapse is arguably the quintessential Thursday album, War All the Time holds a special place in my heart. I bought it at Target back when CD-buying at Target was pretty much all I did. I saw the music video on the screen in the music section, and, having already been a fan of a few songs, decided to buy it.

This album has carried me through every good and bad time in my life up to this point. Each song contains a memory and the ability to lift me up when I'm feeling low or rejoice with me when I am feeling good.

In my opinion, War All the Time is one of the most important socially conscious albums of the 2000s. It touches on a lot of important issues, including gay rights, homophobia, and war. I have always admired Thursday for writing songs about real things. Thanks a lot, Thursday.

 C + T = 4ever
2 Good 2 B 4Gotten

So a few weeks ago I saw the 2 piece punk band No Age at Kilby Court in Salt Lake City UT. It was probably the most intimate show I've ever been to outside of shows in houses and church basements from my youth and days in Rexburg. I got to meet both band members and chat a bit with the drummer/vocalist Dean. He was a cool guy.

Their set was about half new songs from their album An Object that was just released in August and then a few songs from each of their previous three albums. It was loud, ragged and yet melodic and pretty at times. Being there with a close friend and just a few dozen others made it a cool experience.

After the show I bought their new album on vinyl, which the band personally designed and packaged and got it signed by Dean, with the statement, "Ryan, Thanks! Welcome to life!"

So, if you're ever in SLC check out a show at Kilby Court or wherever you are go see No Age. Ya dig!!??

-Earl

Does anyone else remember the awesome video on Arcade Fire's website (neon bible era) of them covering The Clash's classic- The Guns of Brixton? I was listening to Reflektor today and thinking about how their new album seems to be leaning to the currently popular electronic side of music. I also heard it was a double album and I made a connection that might be totally off but it made sense in my mind.

The Clash released an amazingly ambitious triple album in 1980 named Sandinista! which dabbled in a dizzying array of diverse musical styles of the era. So I guess what I'm saying is I have a feeling Reflektor could be to Arcade Fire what Sandinista! was to The Clash. Both bands seem to be at the apex of their careers and instead of playing it safe with the same formula have branched out to reflekt (haha couldn't help myself there) the musical styles of their time.

While Sandinista! definitely has endearing traits, it's not my favorite album from The Clash. I guess it almost branched out too much for me and I must have a short attention span as some of the 20+ minute tracks were just exhausting. I guess I would say I'm a little skeptical of Arcade Fire's new work too. Please don't judge me.

Now on to another tangent which could be totally off base. The first time I watched the music video for Reflektor I couldn't help but think of  mirrors facing one another found in LDS temples. Must have been the lyrics, "It's just a reflection of a reflection of a reflection of a reflection. Will I see you on the other side?" I know I'm totally reaching here but I couldn't help but thinking of it knowing the Butler brothers have LDS ties and haven't shied away from religious themes in previous albums. Anywho, have a great night.

I've seen the movie Control and loved it, but I can't call myself a Joy Division fan. There are some songs of theirs I think are brilliant, but I'm not familiar with every song ever written. I also had no idea until recently that Joy Division turned into New Order after Ian Curtis died.

Arcade Fire are set to release a new album in October and after all the teasing and secret messages we finally have a new song. It doesn't disappoint and that's why it's my song of the day.

Pixies Pixies Pixies. How I've missed you. Even though Kim Deal has officially left the band they still rock on this song. I haven't listened to the rest of their new EP yet but if it's all this good I will change that in the near future. Have a good day everyone.

Hey guys, I haven't posted for a while. Xtina has kept this thing going this month.

Two people from two of my favorite bands got married and had a baby and have their own band now. Sherri Dupree-Bemis of Eisley and Max Bemis of Say Anything play music together as Perma, and they released a song today called "Two of a Crime." It will be featured on the LP of the same name, which comes out in October.

The song reminds me of a classic Say Anything love song with a poppier feel. I am really into it. I am a happy little lady.

Listen here.

Neko Case's The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You feels like:

A combination of loud and soft.
Like she knows life sucks but she wants to carry you through it.
Like "old" Neko Case but a little tougher. Her voice is bare, raw, and clear (so beautiful)
A mix of beautiful and ugly (but in a good way)

Apparently, she suffers from depression and experienced a lot of death while making this album. Instead of breaking her down, all of her trials toughened her up. Neko Case is someone I would want to have on my side during hard times, which I guess I kind of do. That's the good thing about music, huh?

The Worse Things Get... calls to mind Fiona Apple's last album. It is a beautiful listen, the lyrics are wonderful, but it sometimes get a little dark, but in a welcomed and humorous way.

For example, in "Night Still Comes" she sings "I revenged myself all over myself" and "Did they poison my food? It is cause I'm a girl? If I puked up some sonnets, would you call me a miracle?"

"Man" is one of my favorite songs of the year. It doesn't hold back. The music (lyrics and instruments) are very powerful. This is the perfect single; it got me pumped to hear the rest of the album. It demands attention from the get-go.

A lot of the songs discuss gender, and what it means to be a woman, a man, or just a human in a screwed-up place, I guess. In "I'm From Nowhere" she sings,  "I was surprised when you called me a lady/ 'cause I'm not so sure that's what I wanna be/ 'cause I remember the 80's/ and I remember it's puffy sleeves/ You say I'm lucky to be here/then maybe you can take this over/and I'll gladly wear the pants into the next century/Past the scanners with ease."

"Nearly Midnight, Honolulu" feels like a really great summation of the album. It discusses motherhood using dark and seemingly funny lyrics, with her voice against a blank backdrop. The story goes through a boy's life from when he was a kid and his mom told him to "get the f*ck away from me." It could have been a really good album ender; as such, "Calling Cards" creeps up pretty slowly and is kind enough to let you take in what you just heard.

"Afraid," which is a Nico cover, feels like a choir song, except she is the only one singing. "Beautiful" is kind of a cheapened term, but that's what it is. This song makes me feel like I'm in a huge chapel; I'm alone, but I'm not really alone.

I love this album, and I can't wait to buy it. I give it one billion stars.

I have a complicated relationship with John Mayer. I really liked Room for Squares when it came out because I was a twelve-year-old girl with an inclination toward anything that wasn't saccharine pop. After that album, I didn't really listen to him again. I heard rumors of douchebaggery and his music felt a little too Jack Johnson-y for me, and I am just not that into Jack Johnson (no offense, Jack Johnson. You seem like a really nice guy).

Anyway, my attitude toward John Mayer has changed in recent years. I watched him on SNL with Frank Ocean a few months ago, and he was great. My man knows how to play a guitar. I read an interview with him in Rolling Stone where the writer really gave him the benefit of the doubt. Rolling Stone knows how to make a fool out of pop stars they don't care for, so I figured I should give Mayer another chance if they did.

His new album, Paradise Valley, is really good. I don't have a lot to compare it to by way of his other songs since I haven't really listened to one of his albums in over a decade. However, I really like this one. Paradise Valley is a nickname for Montana, which is where he moved to get away from Hollywood and write this album. It feels really soulful, especially the first song "Wildfire." He was raised in Connecticut, but this song tricked me into thinking he was from New Orleans.

"Dear Marie" is a quiet singalong replete with chants, which is nice when you're just lounging around the house or taking a long drive. "Who You Love" features Katy Perry, and it's actually pretty good. I guess this is his way of marrying his two worlds, and I like it. Katy Perry's voice is nice on the song; she doesn't call unnecessary attention to it. It also features some horns and soft jazz crooning at the end but it feels more relaxing than cheesy.

Frank Ocean sings on the second "Wildfire" on the album, and I love it. I love Frank Ocean a lot, so I was happy to see his contribution. You need to close your eyes while you listen to this.

"You're no one 'til Someone lets you Down" might be one of my favorites on the album. It is pure old country.

All in all, this album is legit. I love it so much. I love it more than I thought I would.