Sick/Sea - Robot

Everyone's doing something Halloween-themed today, but I'm going against the norm.  I celebrated Halloween on the weekend, so it's just another Wednesday to me.

Sick/Sea is the kind of band you'd want to hang out with after the set and chat about music over chai tea.  This Texas triad knows their way around indie-pop (more indie than pop though), combining some sweet vocals with some jazz rock guitar work.  Lead Audrey Scott falls into the same category as my other indie darlings like Bebe Black and Laura Stevenson.  "Robot" is their hot commodity right now, rife with artistry and crafty lyrics to boot.  It swings and follows through, so what more can we ask for?  It's also approved by my roommates; I was listening to "Robot" the other day and one girl asked that I send the song to her.  Case closed.

The Epilogues - Hunting Season

I've found that lately, my bread and butter of music has been slowly reverting back to alternative rock.  Not completely, don't you worry, but I find myself enjoying a lot of the new stuff that's been coming out of the genre lately.  It's a pretty awesome thing to watch a genre evolve, and thirteen years after getting into the music scene, I have to say that I hope it continues to evolve.  But enough sentimental guff, let's get to the music.  The Epilogues is an alternative-slash-indie band out of Denver that remind me of Radiohead and New Found Glory jamming together stateside.  "Hunting Season" is their big hit right now, and with good reason.

If an alt band can employ the use of synth in its music, then I'm all for it.  It doesn't overwhelm "Hunting Season;" it's just a happy add-on.  My favourite part is the vocals of lead Chris Heckman, though he's got the lush guitars behind him in a close second.  Wait...this is another lush rock post?  Well there you go.  Some things are simply meant to be, and it's those things that's make any day a little more enjoyable.  So go ahead, enjoy it.

Sarah McLachlan's Top 10

Top 10s are back!  This is how I make up for being absent for a day over a violent illness and a general blah feeling.  Better yet, the two weeks after this will also have brand-spanking new Top 10 lists.  So don't worry, you can relax now.  Today we visit the work of one of Canada's treasured songstresses, Miss Sarah McLachlan, one of the few artists that I've been following for more than a decade.  And why not?  This chick is good at what she does.  So here's ten tracks of hers that speak to me.  Enjoy it this rainy afternoon.

The Birthday Massacre - Down

You should have seen this one coming, people.  If you listened to all of the songs from my Musical Days of the Week post, you probably would have wondered how "Down" could be included and not have its own feature.  Well...drum roll, please...because here it is!  Technically speaking, it may be Shoegaze Saturday today, but I'm willing to make an exception for Canadian synthrock.  Wouldn't you?

"Down" comes from The Birthday Massacre's new release, Hide and Seek, an album I wouldn't mind asking for come Christmastime.  It combines two things I love in one complete genre.  Synth, of course, and hard rock guitars.  I'm in heaven, and lead Chibi's vocals are dreamy-cloud-nine material here.  Well, she goes hard for the chorus of "Down," and I can't argue with that and my go hard or go home attitude.  She puts it best in the lyric we'll never see the light til we step into the dark.  There are few instances where music moves me the way "Down" has.  Things don't get more perfect that this.

Mr. MFN eXquire - Igloo

It's a good day to listen to rap today.  Well, that's how I feel every day, if you really must know.  This week I was lucky enough to get my hands on Mr. MFN (Muthafuckin', if you've read my blog before) eXquire's The Man In The High Castle, a mixtape of epic proportions.  What I like about it is that it actually isn't as aggressive as his older work ("Huzzah" for example), and this is the kind of growth I love to see in artists.  "Igloo" was the first song I chose to listen to, and it's still the one that stood out the most to me.

"Igloo" is subdued, but don't worry, you'll still love it.  The background beats are interlaced with the yawn of the string section, something I'll give Mr. MFN eXquire some props for.  Dear rap artists of the world, don't be afraid to take risks!  "Igloo" is also the place to find some slick rhymes, and a place to remember that the rap genre hasn't been ruined by the likes of Lil Wayne or 2 Chainz.  Artists (yes, because that's what he is) like Mr. MFN eXquire are the ones that need to be out there for the masses to hear.  It's as simple as that.

The Two - I Wanna Be With You Again

I think we all know by now that music is subjective, objective, ultra-jective...whatever.  Mostly the first one, really.  We all like something different.  Me?  I'm a paradox.  I go from melodic death metal to sweet folk all within the span of ten minutes.  While the loud side of the spectrum is fun, warm mornings for this call for the other end of said spectrum.  Say, why not listen to some sweet Parisian folk music to drown out the sound of buses whizzing by in packs?  Enter The Two, appropriately a duo who reeled me in a while ago with their subdued acoustic number "I Wanna Be With You Again."

"'I Wanna..." is another one of those songs that act as a conversation between lovers.  Fine by me, nine times out of ten these songs are done very well.  The lyrics are expected, I wanna see you again, I wanna see you more but I allow it.  The Two stick to the theme and keep everything where it should be.  Listen closely here.  You don't want to miss the little details that make this song the masterpiece it is.   Now excuse me, I'm compelled to take up guitar again.

Hollywood Undead - Dead Bite

Thankfully the masked boys of rap are back again, and were nice enough to release a free-to-download single for everyone.  I'm not sure if it's still free, so if not, you're out of luck. 

Hollywood Undead knows a thing or two about growth in music.  Swan Songs was more hip-hop, American Tragedy was more alternative, and judging by "Dead Bite," the upcoming third studio albums seems to have found the right balance between the two genres.  "Dead Bite" pulses with an industrial feel, a spooky chorus, and aggressive verses to boot.  How else would you approach a song that begins with the creepy good night, sleep tight, don't let the dead bite?  You either go all in or you don't, it's as simple as that.

The Smashing Pumpkins - Lily (My One and Only)

I'm having a good day.  A damn good day.  I should be featuring a song that's full of sweltering guitar riffs and everything else up-tempo, but I must relax.  Meditate, even.  I usually do abide by a lineup I've set up, and if I don't get to The Smashing Pumpkins, I'm not sure that I ever will.  So here it is.  You remember my post from last week about my epic trip to Value Village, right?  Good.  I finally got Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in the old-school double CD package and am nothing less than thrilled about it.  Though I've always been drawn to their grittiest songs, it's the somber and ever-so lovely "Lily (My One and Only)" that speaks to me the loudest.

I'll give Billy Corgan some props.  If you can go from "Lily" to "The Everlasting Gaze" and back again, then you've truly mastered the art of music.  Yes, that's a piano you hear, along with a few other instruments not typical in an alternative rock band.  And the vocals?  Oh, the vocals.  They make "Lily" a soft and beautiful love song.  After all, she is my one and only.

The Musical Days of the Week

You know how the saying goes, seven days without music makes one weak.  Well, maybe that's not how it exactly goes, but I'll allow improvisation.  Last week I subjected my Facebook friends to my music choices for several days, giving a genre a day based on the first letter of said genres.  Lost?  You'll see.  Think of this as a revival of my Top 10 lists (even if there's only seven).  I've got two actually Top 10s for the next two Mondays, and then maybe I'll try this 7 genre list again.  Enjoy!

Metalcore Monday
"The Sugar Sickness" - Dead and Divine



Thrash Metal Tuesday
"Beyond the Permafrost" - Skeletonwitch



Witch House Wednesday
"You (Planningtorock Remix)" - Creep



Trip-Hop Thursday
"Gorecki" - Lamb



Folk Metal Friday
"Slavsia, Rus" - Arkona



Shoegaze Saturday
"Leave" - Whirl



Synth Rock Sunday
"Down" - The Birthday Massacre

Ancient Bards - All That Is True

It's another lovely Sunday here, and today it is symphonic power metal Sunday if you really must know.  Obviously, there's one band that gets their feature today.  Ancient Bards and I may have had a rocky first encounter, but they're high on my list of favourite bands now.  Though I'll always be an Anette-o-phile, Sara Squadrani might as well be another same-sex-crush of mine.  But enough about that.  Let's keep things epic today.  And does ten minutes garner an epic?  I say that if your song is that long, it better be epic, and I'm sure as hell that "All That Is True" is.

"All That Is True" showcases Sara singing a conversation between lovers.  Yes, people, we've got a love story on our hands, but don't worry.  Metal love songs have never let me down.  Lyrics and content aside, you also have the rest of the band tackling some always-epic guitars, the string section (resurrected and better than ever) and a backing chorus for a few key lines.  Epic, children.  Epic.  "All That Is True" will may even the most forever alone readers fall for the story.

After all, it's the story that makes the song.

FKi feat. Angela McCluskey - In The Air

There are a few albums that I could take every song and blog about.  The first, and maybe only two that comes to mind are Chevelle's Hats Off To The Bull and FKi's Transformers N The Hood.  Two drastically different genres, and two reasons why I love music so much.  Let's look at more rap today; "In The Air" is another solid effort from the boys of FKi, sampling Miss McCluskey's collaboration with Morgan Page of the same name.  Sampling can take some artists down a dangerous path (Flo Rida, I'm looking at you), but FKi does it right.  If you can keep elements of the original while taking it in your own unique direction, you're set, and definitely don't think about leaning on said sample to get you through the song.  FKi takes charge with "In The Air," a somewhat-subdued rap ditty that packs my favourite item: a punch.  Angela's vocals, still in the chorus, act as a perfectly airy compliment to the husky rhymes.

Perfection in rap can be hard.  FKi makes it look easy.

8mm - Around the Sun

I'm all for the variations in the pop genre that exist.  Death pop, dream pop, noise pop, baroque pop, power pop, hop on pop...  Okay, the last one was to make sure you were still paying attention.  Today we delve into noir pop courtesy of Hollywood's triad that is 8mm.  What makes a song noir pop?  I haven't the slightest; Wikipedia is no help right now.  But you've got guitars, smokey vocals from lead Juliette Beavan, and a slightly-slowed tempo. 

"Around the Sun" should have been featured much earlier in the month, but don't give me guff about changing the line-up too much.  What happened to living with no regrets?  But back to the music: 8mm gives us something nice here.  You may not think the electric guitar can be calming, but this time it is.  The lyrics remind us to just keep moving 'round the sun til we move on, and you realize that they are right.  Let's just keep going, may it be through the queue or through the day.  End of story.  Or rather, end of rambling.

Melissa Auf Der Maur - 1000 Years

About two weeks ago I had a pretty impressive haul of CDs from Value Village.  One, Melissa Auf Der Maur's Out of  Our Minds.  Then there was Nirvana's Unplugged in New York, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins and the soundtrack to Get Rich or Die Tryin', but we'll get to those later.  Now to Ms. Auf Der Maur.  If I could have it my way, I would feature her stellar "Followed The Waves," but part of writing this blog is challenging myself.  Out of Our Minds is an okay album, but it's my job to point out the hidden gems.  Believe it or not, people won't go looking for buried treasure unless you tell them to.

"1000 Years" is the final track of the album, and there's something different about it.  Could it be the guitar work, the artistic lyrics, or Melissa's vocals?  By god, it's all three.  The atmosphere I get from "1000 Years" is a gypsy party in the desert underneath the Milky Way, with some elements of psych and seventies hippie rock.  Do I still have you?  Good.  There's a certain emotion in the line we've been singing the same song for over 1000 years that pulls it all together.  I give Melissa my props; it takes a special something to tell an intricate story with music.  And in my book, storytelling wins every time.

Before Adam, before Eve
The lizards sang this melody
Now it's twisted and it's torn
By felines and all you bores

Alt-J - Breezeblocks

Lately it seems that I've been listening to a lot of quirky indie and alternative music.  Not a lot is as quirky as The Burning of Rome, but this isn't a competition.  Leeds collective Alt-J falls into the quirky category today; their blend of alternative and indie mixed with something special has been playing on my ipod for the last few weeks, ever since "Breezeblocks" was free on itunes.  It's rare for their free songs to be good enough for a feature from me, so congratulations, Alt-J.  You've joined the ranks of Lana Del Rey, Fun., Django Django and Bahamas.  The vocals of "Breezeblocks" are quick and low, interlaced with minimal instruments and a sample of sound here and there.  You can hear the artistry if you listen closely enough.  So go ahead.  Listen.

Please don't go, I need you whole.  I love you so.

Starfucker - Death As A Fetish

Rcrdlbl might be changing for the worst now, but that doesn't mean I have to stop enjoying their classics.  Portland, Oregon tetrad Starfucker falls into the "classic" category here; their electro indie has been pumping through my veins since early 2011.  "Death as a Fetish" has been close to being featured numerous times before, and bad luck has taken it on and off of the roster.  But no need to worry any longer, fellow hipsters.  They're here now.  Everything is okay.

"Death as a Fetish" has that Mario-Kart-mushroom-valley feel to it.  You are meant to be racing on clouds or floating on a bubble while this plays.  Don't let the title trick you, or scare you off.  "Death as a Fetish" is as accessible as a wide array of rappers these days.  The vocals are understated, but still present and still as punch-packing as I'd like them to be.  Come one, would I ever steer you wrong?

The Burning of Rome - Norman Bates + Butthole Surfers Mix

Death pop?  I can dig it.  The genre belongs to San Diego quintet The Burning of Rome, and today they let us take a look at a song inspired by Mr. Hitchcock's Psycho.  With a title like "Norman Bates" what else could it be about?  The original is a quirky track with fun lines like won't you please stay in my motel and don't be afraid, mother means well.  I've liked using the word cacophony a lot lately, and I think it's fitting here.  You have creepy vocals mixed with a score you've never heard the likes of before.  Also, I'm very partial to the remix by alternative veterans Butthole Surfers.  "Norman Bates" turns into something a little more horror movie and, if it's possible, it's a bit quirkier.  And if you know me, I love things with quirks.

I realize now I could have saved this one for Halloween, but why save something for another fifteen days if it's worth sharing now?

Envy on the Coast - Starving Your Friends + LYRICS

It's one of those days, you know?  The sky is overcast, rain looms on the horizon, and the geography library is as dead as a doorknob in the afternoon.  I'm the one at the far end of the room, eating a barrage of citrus fruit and listening to today's featured song.  Let me introduce Envy on the Coast.  They're an alternative band from New York, so based on geography, they must be good.  And they are.  I came across them in the twelfth grade, when I bought CDs based on the band name and waiting patiently for boxes to come in from Amazon.  Lucy Gray is a good album.  Really good.  It has a mix of bread-and-butter alternative along with a few slow songs that, in my opinion, make the album.  "Starving Your Friends" has been playing on my ipod for the last four years, and with good reason.

"Starving Your Friends" relies on the piano for all instrumentals, and emotional-laden vocals courtesy of lead Ryan Hunter.  I'm including the lyrics today because I think they're all worth sharing.  Facebook statuses waiting to happen, as much as I hate to admit that.  But just like Underoath, they get an award for writing one of my favourite lyrics.  I'm just like me, so who the hell are you?  So do me a favor today.  Slow it down, get into the mood for delicate piano mixed with some powerful words, and enjoy it.  Enjoy every damn moment.

Thanks a lot.
I've been disadvantaged from the start.
He constricted the veins heading straight to my head,
Rerouted the blood to my heart instead.
Rerouted the blood to my heart instead.

I am braindead,
Think in strictly in blues and reds.
Oh I'm in enough trouble man...
Oh man, I'm in trouble again.
Cause everyone's ears are watching me,
But I never, ever felt that this would be
Anything more than a makeshift personal IV.

I fall three times as hard.
If it's for nothing at all
You all seem twice as tall as I will ever be.
And I feel terribly small.
When my head works too hard.
When you think with your chest,
There's not a thing that you don't see.

I'm hardly capable of half the damage that I would like to do.
I could swear that I don't care,
But you know I'm too full of shit to think this through.
So Look at me,
I pray to God
But curse too much to be considered true.
I'm just like me.
So who the hell are you?

I'm but a boy,
Just like the rest of these thieves.
And I borrow phrases, from dusty, faded, record sleeves.
The story is the same.
I've just personalized the name.
But if it's all you need,
Then I'd be more than happy to confess my shame.

I know you think you know,
But these eyelids are windows that shut you out
from all the things that I don't want you to know.
And I refuse to tell you one single secret I own.
'Cause you'll find I'm petrified of your eyes.

I'm hardly capable of half the damage that I would like to do.
I could swear that I don't care,
But you know I'm too full of shit to think this through.
I've read the book,
I prayed to God,
But cursed too much to be considered true.
I'm just like me.
So who the hell are you?

Lana Del Rey - Ride

Miss Lizzy Grant is definitely one of my favourite recording artists right now.  She grew on me, what can I say?  It's something about the soulful pop that gets me every time.  Born To Die is being re-released now, including her new EP Paradise.  Obviously, the lead single of the EP is "Ride," and I can't blame the producers and record label honchos for picking it.  It begins a bit like a church hymnal, leaning on the piano for instrumentals.  Lana begins to croons I've been out on that open road, you can be my full time, daddy, white and gold, but don't worry.  The pick-up always comes.  "Ride" rises to an orchestral-sounding soul ditty by the time the chorus comes.  Now, fair warning, "Ride" is a slower song, but if you're already listening to Lana's older stuff, then you shouldn't have a problem with this.  Hell, if you have problems with slower songs, you might as well exit the page now.

"Ride" is indicative Lana Del Rey.  Lush Americana soul pop, for the forties babes in all of us.  With a genre name like that, where can we go wrong?

Fleet Foxes - The Shrine / An Argument

We've made it!  It took a little less than a year and a half, but we finally made it to the awesome 400-post mark.  Perhaps not as awesome as 500 posts will be, but we'll have to see, won't we?  Every hundred posts, I make a point of sharing an epic.  Joining the ranks of "Small Boxes" and "We Are Young" (as well as a good Top 10 list) is an eight minute masterpiece from Fleet Foxes.  They've been riding a kick with me lately, so sue me.

I got "The Shrine / An Argument" when my sister gave me a $15 itunes card for my birthday this summer.  Of course, I used to to support my favourite folk band.  There's just something about the way they go about things that is utterly beautiful.  Lead Robin Pecknold's voice is one that I wouldn't mind putting on repeat for the year.  My favourite line of his?  I'm not one to ever pray for mercy, or to wish on pennies in the fountain or the shrine.  He makes this a folk epic.  Then there's the sweeping acoustic guitars, the vocal harmonies, the cacophony of instruments at the end.  Brilliance.  There is no other way to do folk, people.  As long as the acoustic guitar never stops sounding this good, then I'll keep on listening.

Janina Gavankar - Waiting For Godot

It's time to get philosophical on the eve of post 400.  Did anyone else have to read Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot in high school?  Unfortunately, during round one of English, I had to, and coincidentally, my brother is reading it right now for the same teacher.  While I can't admit that my family has a penchant for the absurdist play, I can't rule out that others will find inspiration from it.  Enter Janina Gavankar, who some of you might know from True Blood (I don't watch that show; no cable).  She doesn't only act, she sings too, and her electro-dupstep isn't bad at all, even if it does remind me that I had to retake a course in high school.

"Waiting For Godot" makes the comparison, friends may come and friends may go, but still I say, if I wait for love am I waiting for Godot?  Huh.  If you're slow (no problem, it is 7:30 here as I write this), then you see she ponders if it's worth it to wait for something that will never come.  At least we know disappointment won't come.  You won't be able to call this dubstep, don't you worry.  It's more or less haunting electro, with a slower tempo and an atmosphere worth noting.  Miss Gavankar is well on her way to being a triple threat.

So what do you think?  I'll admit to being an impatient person, but some things are well worth waiting for.  Godot has to come around eventually, right?

Skeletonwitch - Within My Blood

Last year, around this time if I'm not mistaken, I first got into Athens, Ohio thrashers Skeletonwitch, after missing their descending upon the homely city of Kitchener.  Sad face.  Y I no get into things sooner?  But it's okay.  It always is.  Flash forward to now.  My Christmas-excited roommates have prompted me to think about what I want this year, and it now includes each and every Skeletonwitch album.  I've just gotten more into their unique thrash-black-shredding-guitars genre.  Blame Youtube.

Today's "Within My Blood" comes from their first studio album, At One With The Shadows.  Sure, it's from all the way back in 2004, but who cares?  Certainly not my twelve-year-old-self, who back in 2004 was just getting into Alexisonfire.  I've saved the best music for when I'm ready to appreciate it, and "Within My Blood" is worth appreciating.  The guitars aren't too heavy, and just thrash enough, and overall, the song is surprisingly catchy.  Well, catchy if you like this kind of stuff to catch onto you.  Why shouldn't it?  There are worse things you could catch than thrash fever.

Can I escape what is within my blood?

Dominic Lord - Wrong For Right

Yesterday I got my one-in-396-posts heavily personal blog post.  I'm allowed to have one, people, but don't worry that I'm getting soft on you all.  The prospect of breaking 400 posts has me excited and eager to blog, and today, it's back to melancholy rap.  This time it comes courtesy of former A$AP crew member Dominic Lord.  His EP Fashion Show is rife with modernized rap; there's nothing too gangster here, and that's how I like my rap on days like this.

On "Wrong For Right," Mr. Lord chooses toned-down rhymes over the aggressive variety, and I'm quite a big fan of it.  While melancholy rap may not be right for this particular track, the subdued qualities keep it out of in-your-face-territory.  The chorus is what got me into this, with the looping you need the wrong for the right, right?  Hell, how will you know you're right if you don't know what's wrong?  This is in no way wrong, people.  "Wrong For Right" is right every time, right?

Live - Stage

What am I thankful for this weekend (Canadian Thanksgiving, for the foreigners)?  To name a few: a great family, good friends, and generally being surrounded by some pretty amazing people.  And to name one more, music.  Where would I be without it?  Well, I'd for sure be leading quite the dull life, and would probably be one of those ignorant college students who religiously downloads the complete MuchMusic countdown.  Something about being the go-to music hipster just works for me.  Hell, no matter how low things seem to get, it's the music (with the help of some ridiculously awesome people) that brings me back up again.

Today I'll be brief, seeing as how it'll only be the tenth of October for another ten minutes.  "Stage" is a song by Live...you know, that band you think you've heard of before.  "I Alone," "Lightning Crashes," or "The Dolphin's Cry"?  No?  I tried.  But then again, two out of three of those songs aren't worth listening to.  It's the gutsy change of pace in "Stage" that brings them from the generic-alt-rock circuit to the band-you-want-to-see-live territory.  Listen and find out.

Most of all, I am thankful for you.  You know who you are.

Acid Bath - Venus Blue

NOLA metal Saturdays?  I can dig it.  Let's look at some underground stoner sludge from the Big Easy then, in the form of the long-defunct Acid Bath.  I'm a fan of the name, for starters, if you've ever come across the sci-fi short of the same title yourself.  But to the music now, because that's what we're all here for.  Acid Bath has a distinct sound...I'm thinking Live meets Tool infused with a hefty dose of doom.  I only throw Live into the mix because I intend to blog about them tomorrow and have been listening to them quite a bit, but enough of getting sidetracked.  Last year I got my hands on "Venus Blue" via Freegal, and it's been simmering on the backburner since, ready to make its triumphant debut.  Blame the stoner metal kick I started.

"Venus Blue" blends the beautiful and the gritty into something wondrous.  Melody duels with growls, and sludge competes against doom.  It's a battle of epic proportions, leaving "Venus Blue" surprisingly accessible.  I admit to not being a big grindcore or sludge fan, and don't get me started on doom, but I enjoy "Venus Blue."  You might too, but we won't know until we try.

Deluka - Stranger Than Fiction

The best music in the United States may come out of New York City, but now and again NYC has to borrow a collective or two from somewhere else...perhaps the UK?  That's the case with Brooklyn-via-Birmingham quartet Deluka, who describe their genre as future rock and roll.  Yeah, that seems accurate.  You listen to "Stranger Than Fiction" and try to come up with a better name for it.

I like a lot about "Stranger Than Fiction."  Lead Ellie Innocenti sounds like a pysch-laden Emily Haines; hell yes.  I also understand everything she sings, which doesn't hurt (especially after I gave up trying to type out the lyrics of "Grapevine Valentine" two nights ago).  The guitar work is majestic, the lyrics drip with brilliance, and perhaps, this is proof that perfect music is not fiction after all.  So why not give your afternoon the sixties-throwback-meets-NYC-underground injection it needs?

Underoath - You're Ever So Inviting + LYRICS

I may have prematurely posted about Nightwish without knowing about Anette's departure, but I'm on top of things now!  A few days ago, the world of metal got another heavy hit when Christain core mongers Underoath announced their split.  First, before we get to far in, I feel the same way about them as I do about Flyleaf.  Forget about the idealogies of the band, no matter when you believe in, and enjoy the music.  It was in the throes of my early high school career that I got my hands on Divide The Great Line, a disc that contains my favourite Underoath tunes.  Among them is the lyrically powerful "You're Ever So Inviting."

I'm always one for references to writing, and "You're Ever So Inviting" is full of them.  I'm including the lyrics below because there's so much good stuff to choose from, but it's not just the lyrics that propel this song forward.  You've also got intertwined growls and clean vocals, guitar artistry, and a certain something special that sets this apart from the ten thousand other metalcore songs floating around out there.  Rest in peace, Underoath.  You will be missed.

Also, "You're Ever So Inviting" contains one of my favourite lyrics of all time.  I know why you never take your eyes off of me, I use my lungs for everything but breathing.  Enjoy.

The time has come for you
to sit this out
To fit inside your mold
would be to sell myself short

This ground we tread upon
is now filling up to our necks
We turn the pages left to right
We see everything

Oh, my story's growing, it is
on my last request
Don't make me feel so contradicting
There's no room for cheating and being yourself
Failure leaves such a bitter taste in their mouth

And on the last hour
we write so many new chapters again
And on the outside
where there are no surprises

Oh, it's getting longer
to see it through their eyes
would bring me so much closer
You can do this night after night
Failure leaves such a bitter taste in my mouth

Taste and see, I swear I know what's good
Be still and know that they won't lie to you every single time you're facing lies
I know why you never take your eyes off me
I've used my lungs for everything but breathing

I find myself dried up in this conversation
So pull me out, pull me aside

Katy Perry vs. Within Temptation - Our Wide Awake Solemn Hour

Symphonic metal meets pop?  I can dig it.

A certain someone recently got me back into mashups.  If you're a dedicated follower of my blog, you remember The Gaga Mixes and the all things Adele.  So we're all on the same page now?  Good.  Though Mother Monster and Judas Priest will forever be hard to beat, a new challenger appears in the form of Katy Perry dueling with symphonic outfit Within Temptation.  You'd be surprised how well "Wide Awake" works with "Our Solemn Hour."  Sharon den Adel just might be overshadowing Miss Perry...sorry Katy!  And get this: one of my roommates overheard me listening to it a few days ago and called it epic.  There we go.  What does this prove?  We may not be able to expect the unexpected, but if Katy Perry can go symphonic, then what's stopping the rest of us from being awesomely spontaneous?

Diamond Rings - Runaway Love (Stars Remix)

After yesterday's unpleasantness, why don't we try something new?  Very new.  Toronto electro monger Diamond Rings (a.k.a John O.) has an album coming out later this month known as Free Dimensional, and I'll be damned if I don't get my hands on it.  I have a few of his tracks already, but none stood out to me as much as one.  "Runaway Love" is something special.  Don't get me wrong, I like the David Bowie stylings of the original, but when rcrdlbl gives me a remix, nine times out of ten it's golden.  This time it comes courtesy of one of the best Canadian musical groups to ever appear on the scene, the always-lovely Stars.

Stars takes "Runaway Love" and does a 180, a 60, and then a 30 until you don't know which way is right any longer.  The 80s-tinged original is slowed down here, and John O.'s vocals are intermingled with Stars vocalist Amy Millan.  The remix is an electro ballad taken to a place you weren't sure existed before.  It's simply brilliant, and you'll swoon over the lyrics (I wanna burn my name in your heart, I wanna lose control).  It's a Facebook status waiting to happen, so what are you waiting for?

Tarja Turunen - My Little Phoenix

You may be tired of my Nightwish posts, but this is not one of them.  This is all about Tarja today, so don't even think about giving me any guff.  During a casual peruse through Youtube last week, I came across some of her solo work, and frankly intrigued, I had to take a look.  On her own, Tarja is free to go wild with her rock opera bits.  After all, it's what she does best.  "My Little Phoenix" stood out to me based on a few things.  Atmosphere, lyrics, vocal prowess...you know this woman can sing, people.  Simply out, you've got a fine piece of symphonic metal that has a few indicitive things: quieter verses with rising power to the chorus.  My fave.  And don't worry if you're a fellow Anette-ophile, you'll still like this.



PS: UMMMMMMMMMMM okay so I guess my ability to stay in touch with music is terrible now because I literally just found out 10 minutes after posting this that Anette is leaving Nightwish!  What is this world coming to, and what is this cruel irony that compelled me to blog about Tarja today?  Witchcraft, I tell you!