RIP Jimmy Sullivan "The Rev"


"I reach towards the sky I've said my goodbyes my heart's always with you now...I won't question why so many have died my prayers have made it through..." -Gunslinger



I was saddened to hear that The Rev (drummer for Avenged Sevenfold) died this morning in his home. I've been an A7X fan for a long time now way before they were popular/famous (i'm talking sounding the seventh trumpet days). My thoughts are with his family and the band right now. I can't imagine what they're going through with his death being so sudden and at such a young age (28, only 2 years older than me).

I hope the band will continue making music together even though they've lost a brother.




"There's nothing here to take for granted with each breath that we take the hands of time strip youth from our bodies and we fade, memories remain as time goes on." -Unbound


Unholy Confessions one of my all time favorite songs (best intro ever!)

Afterlife

Bat Country

Sieze the Day (something we all need to remember to do!)

RIP Jimmy! You'll be missed!

Album of the Week: Death Won't Send A Letter


Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons: Death Won't Send a Letter





My first experience with Cory Chisel was live in the front row at one of his shows opening for Brenden Benson in Nashville. We actually went to the show to see Brenden Benson just to go see some live music while my friend was visiting but I instantly fell in love with Cory and bought his album the next day. I've been listening to him on repeat ever since! His sexy soulful voice (reminscent of a raspy Caleb Followill in some ways) keeps me sane on my long nights that I have to drive for work. I love his lyrics too... I'll post my favorites next to the song links!


Excerpt from the album bio:
"The songs on Death Won't Send A Letter were recorded primarily at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN with Chisels backing vocalist/keyboard player Adriel Harris and Little Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather) on initial tracking. Cory, Adriel and Little Jack were then joined by Jacks longtime collaborator Patrick Keeler (The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes) on drums. With Patrick and Jacks driving rhythm section the albums sound took on a grittier hue. And in Brendan Benson Cory found a writing and arranging partner that birthed the lead album track Born Again. Carl Broemel from My Morning Jacket also contributes on guitar."




Listen to:

Angel of Mine (live)

Tennessee "i'm dying to love somebody like you love him" and "kiss me deeper i'm leavin soon..." and "i would stand in disgrace. i would spit in my saviours face. my coat tattered and torn. just to know that my love will be reborn" ok so pretty much this whole song!


Love is Gone "cut me with your song but don't let me bleed too long" this is my favorite cory chisel song!

So Wrong for Me

Born Again (official video)



http://www.corychisel.com/

Top Albums of 2009


Top 10 of 2009

2009! What a year! This was the most difficult end of year list I’ve ever compiled!!! So much good music! I chose my top ten favorites and then there are like 15 honorable mentions! Just because they are honorable mentions doesn’t mean I don’t love them dearly! All of these albums have been on heavy rotation on my ipod, in my car, on my stereo this year! I’ve also been lucky enough to see a lot of them live (thank you Lolla!)

Also… Check out all the females on my list! My feminist side is bursting with joy for that!

Hope you enjoy! I was very bored today so I took the time to add links to my favorite songs!


*clicking the links will take you away from this page*

1- Dan Auerbach- Keep It Hid

Unquestionably without a doubt the #1 album of the year! So glad I had the pleasure of seeing Dan Auerbach and the Fast Five live not once but twice this year! They were one of the highlights of Lollapalooza and my 2nd show in Nashville this year! If you don’t already know it… Dan Auerbach is ½ of The Black Keys (my 2nd favorite band ever). The fast five include members of Texan band Hacienda along with Patrick Hallahan (drummer for My Morning Jacket, my 3rd favorite band ever).

Check out:
“Heartbroken In Disrepair”


“I Want Some More”

And my video from the Nashville show “When the Night Comes”



2- White Lies- To Lose My Life…

So close to being number 1 on the list. It probably ties with Dan Auerbach to be honest! I also saw this band twice this year. Once at Lolla and once opening for Kings of Leon in Nashville. I dare you not to like them!

Check out:

“EST” (which I believe stands for electric shock therapy)


“Taxidermy”


Maybe I love them so much because dancing in the rain to this song during Lolla was one of those indescribable moments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB-tYixtGqg


3- Ida Maria- Fortress Round My Heart

Norwegian rock goddess Ida Maria is like a talented less white trash version of Courtney Love. Her album is exceptional from start to finish with tales of love, insecurity, and neurosis. I also had the pleasure of seeing her at Lolla this year. On stage is where the Courtney Love-esque behavior comes into play only less white trash and more for performance purposes. You’ve probably heard “You Keep Me Warm” on that annoying lotion ad on TV.

Check Out:

“Oh My God”

“I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked”

“Stella”




4- Monsters of Folk
What do you get when you combine a few of music’s most talented…you get pure bliss in the form of Monsters of Folk! Then again maybe I’m biased because Jim James owns a little piece of my heart.

Check out:
“The Right Place”

“Say Please”


5- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros- Up From Below

I only recently discovered Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Proof that love at first sight (or in this case listen) exists! The music is so magically wonderful you don’t even stop to think about all the hippies dancing around a big bus in the music videos!

The first song I heard by them “Home” (was played after the cake was cut/served at the wedding of Nathan Followill and Jessie Baylin… I can always find a way to throw Kings of Leon in there!) It’s probably the most romantic love song I’ve ever heard.

Check Out:
“Home”

“40 Day Dream”


6- Florence + the Machine-Lungs

Florence Welch…what can I even say… just listen and let your mind be blown to pieces! Surprisingly she’s only 23 years old but looks and has the talent of someone older!

Check Out:

“You’ve got the Love”

“Kiss with a Fist”

7- Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It’s Blitz

Get your leather leather leather ooon and start dancing! Karen O. is probably one of the more consistent female figures in rock music these days and she never fails to deliver the goods rather it’s through her music or her unique fashion (she‘s the Lady GaGa of rock)! This album got me through some long walks on the treadmill this year!

Check Out:
“Zero”

“Heads will Roll”


“Runaway”




8- Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing

I’m a sucker for a good band from the south! These guys were the first band I got to see at Lolla this year! They were a perfect way to start a great weekend of music!

“Pride”

“I’ve Got Friends”

“I Can Feel A Hot One” (one of my favorite songs of all time)



9- Justin Townes Earle- Midnight at the Movies

JTE is my newest love! I only discovered him when he opened for Dan Auerbach earlier this month but it was an instant love! He is the son of musician Steve Earle and named after Steve’s best friend Townes Van Zandt (who is/was amazing himself). He really lives up to his namesake and his famous father’s talent while at the same time is able to stand apart from them and make a name for himself. His music is a fusion of bluegrass/rock/country that he blends together perfectly.

“Mama’s Eyes” (cause as JTE put it…every southern boy is required to write a song about his mama)


“What I Mean to You”

“Halfway to Jackson”



10- Heartless Bastards- The Mountain

I really just wanted another band with a chick in it in my top 10! Not really but it makes me happy to see all the females represented in my list! I’m not sure why I like Heartless Bastards so much… maybe it’s the name, the unique vocals, or the great songs. Maybe it’s all of the above!

“The Mountain” (not an official video but it works so you can hear the audio)


“Out at Sea”


Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)

Blakroc- Blakroc : The Black Keys (yeah Dan Auerbach makes the list twice this year) with some of todays best hip hop artists. This is quality a rock hip hop album and not that late 90’s/ early 00’s nu-metal crap.

Try: “Ain’t Nothin Like You” Ft. Mos Def and Jim Jones



Gossip- Music for Men : Seeing this in the honorable mention section makes me sad because it’s such a great album! There were just too many good albums this year to choose from. Beth Ditto is seriously my hero. She’s so talented!

Try: “Heavy Cross”


Biffy Clyro- Only Revolutions: Again sad this isn’t in the top 10! They’re just a great band! They need to be bigger in the U.S.!

Try: “Captain”

The Airborne Toxic Event- The Airborne Toxic Event: Another band I got the pleasure of seeing at Lolla. Really amazing! I’ve turned a lot of people on to these guys so if you listen I can promise you’ll like!

Try: “Wishing Well”


Bon Iver- Blood Bank EP: Okay so it’s not technically an album but it’s still beautiful! Put it on when it’s cold and snowing outside, light some candles, and cuddle under a blanket and you’ll have heaven.

Try: “Blood Bank”


Arctic Monkeys- Humbug : They never fail to bring quality music!

Try: “Cornerstone”

Kasabian- West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum: They win for best album name! Great album, I think they are kind of unique from all the other bands that get tossed in the same genre as they do.

Try: "Happiness"

Or if you want more mainstream try “Fire”

The Avett Brothers- I and Love and You: Again I can’t get enough of hairy southern boys…

Try: “I and Love and You”

The Features - Some Kind of Salvation : First band signed to Kings of Leon’s new record label. They have amazing taste. Enough said!

Try: “Lions”


Thrice- Beggars : One of my favorite bands ever! So sad it didn’t make the top ten cut but it’s missing something that all their previous albums has. Still amazing though!

Try: “In Exile”

Bat for Lashes- Two Suns: Another amazing Lolla artist!

Try: “Pearls Song”

Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion: Sometimes it’s hit and miss with me and this band but I really like this album!

Try: “My Girls”


Cory Chisel (and the wandering sons)- Death Won’t Send A Letter: I actually just discovered this album last weekend! I went to see some live music with a friend in Nashville and behold there was Cory Chisel! It’s been on repeat ever since! Had this album been in my life longer it would probably have made top 5 but it doesn’t seem fair to give him top spot after less than a week of hearing it!

Try: “Born Again” and

“Tennessee”


Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More: The British version of hairy southern folk rock!

Try: “White Blank Page”

Temper Trap- Conditions: You probably remember this song from the movie 500 Days of Summer and most recently the annoying Rhapsody commercial.

Try: “Sweet Disposition”


The Dead Weather- Horehound: What’s a yearly album list without Jack White!?

Try: “Hang you from the Heavens”

Them Crooked Vultures- Them Crooked Vultures: Just by band members alone this is a mandatory item. Josh Homme and Dave Grohl just automatically get put on the list!

Try: “Mind Eraser (No Chaser)”

Worst album of the year goes to Atreyu! Yeah I said it… my once beloved band put out the worst album I’ve ever heard!

*wipes sweat from forehead* Whew! That was hard! I can’t wait for all the amazing music in store for 2010! (Kings of Leon, Jessie Baylin, lostprophets…I could go on but I won’t!)

Album of the Week: KOL: OBTN


Album of the week: Kings of Leon- Only By The Night

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I know the album is over a year old and some of my KOL friends might disown me for this but as the new year kicks off I want to take some time to remember the album that spawned some great memories this year (all the friends I made b/c of the band, Lolla, the Nashville show...).

Last year around the beginning of December Chicago had one it's worst snow storms ever! I just happened to be driving in it! My internship was about 45 minutes from the city and when I left it was rush hour and a blizzard was starting. Since all the cars were stopped it gave the snow time to pile up. That night it took me 7 hours to get home... we're talking body tensed sliding all over the road 7 hours trapped in my car alone trying to get home in one piece. It was the most miserable and scary night of my life.

I stopped about halfway to get something to eat, pee, and made a quick trip into Best Buy. If I was gonna have another 3 hours to get home I was gonna have some good music to listen to. My purchase that night was Only By the Night by Kings of Leon. Yes I know... OBTN came out in September! I was in grad school, had just moved to a new apartment, and was out of student loan money...it was all I could do to afford to eat at that time but it was close to time for another student loan so I splurged! I had been getting by on listening to the album on youtube... I know... BAD FAN!

I put the CD in my player in the car and set out back towards the expressway (not so express that night) into the city. As the first notes of Closer played I knew it was my soundtrack for the night. The erieness of the song fit with my night perfectly. The entire album blared through my speakers with perfection as I crawled (haha crawled..see what I did there!) along the expressway home. Sure, it was different from the other three albums but out of all the crap being played on the radio at the time (keep in mind this was in Chicago so it was like Fall Out Boy overload) this was brilliant. Even Use Somebody which is probably the most hated new song by old fans is still better than any other song on the radio out there!

I'll admit that the sudden influx in fans made me start to hate OBTN. I'm always known amongst my friends for my superior music taste and liking the really cool bands nobody else has heard of so I felt like SOF and US took that away from me. It took remembering that horrible night and how beautiful the album sounded being played loudly in the car with snow falling down all around me like crazy to realize that it really is great album even if it's not their best album!

I'll always love OBTN for helping me make it home safe that night. I feel like I shared an intimate moment with it especially after the fourth time it played. I'll always love Caleb, Nathan, Jared, and Matthew (and Nacho) for the music they make rather it gets played on the radio or not. They'll always be my band rather they have 100 or 100000000000 fans because my love for them goes beyond OBTN! There's a deeper appreciation in my heart for them than the new fans have! I know how hard they worked! I know how much they deserve their success! Just don't dare try to get in front of me at their shows SOF fans!

Thanks Kings of Leon for always being there when I need you! I know whatever the next album sounds like it will be amazing too!

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At least now I live in Nashville and hopefully won't have to deal with all that snow! (no I don't live in Nashville because of the band I live here because there are no jobs in Chicago and I was lucky enough that Nashville is close to my parents and jobs are plentiful here!)

Song of the Week: JLM "For Today"


This weeks SOTW is Jessica Lea Mayfield's "For Today"

I think this song for several reasons...

1- I love JLM! She's so talented! Her entire album is great!

2- Her lyrics depict real feelings felt by girls about boys unlike many female singers of today.

3- The main reason I love this song is because it's like a big slap in the face to a guy! The lyrics start out very sweet and make you think you're listening to a song about falling in love with someone... "and i stared at the sky while you kissed me" and "you were running away away from everything and i stayed behind so you'd miss me" and then you hear the chorus "and while these words may sound so sweet i could care less about you."

It's kind of like your watching a movie of a couple holding hands skipping through a field of daisys when suddenly one of them falls into a manhole while the other grins and skips off.

It's great! I'd like to dedicate this song to a few different guys!

Click here to listen to For Today by Jessica Lea Mayfield

Spin Magazine's Band of the Year: Kings of Leon


Click the page #'s and then you can click the image to make it a little bigger! It's a little hard to read but it'll do until you can get your very own copy!

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Full view of the picture of caleb on the last two pages.

Spice up your Christmas playlist!


Songs to add to your Christmas playlist! Click the song title for a link to the song!

My all time favorite: Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas is You" it's a must have for any Chrismtas playlist!


Bing Crosby "Mele Kalikimaka" If this isn't on your Christmas playlist there is something wrong with you!

Bing Crosby "White Christmas" It's one of those classic must haves!


U2 "Christmas Baby Please Come Home" Nothing says Merry Christmas like Bono and The Edge

Elvis "Blue Christmas" who would leave the king alone on christmas?

Jose Feliciano "Feliz Navidad" Just another way to say Merry Christmas

Gene Autry "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" The most famous reindeer of all...

Brenda Lee "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" simply because it reminds me of that scene in Home Alone

Nsync "Merry Christmas Happy Holidays" don't judge me!

From Love Actually "Christmas is All Around Us"

and my new favorite

Jessie Baylin "Mrs. Christmas" you can also download another Christmas song by Jessie on iTunes that she released last year!