The new mixtape from Lupe Fiasco has arrived!

Download-HERE|HERE

Oh yea…and another one is coming…

peace! and remember to smile, love.

Brand New had the longest 3 song-limit that I’ve gotten to shoot so far. Most bands roll into 3 fast songs, then for the 4th they pause to talk to the crowd and maybe go into a slow one. The intro song had some really dim lighting that took a good couple of minutes to get bright enough to even start taking pictures with. For the rest of the 3-song set, the lighting was filled with hostile flashing backlight, and soft blue light that would often wash out the band members. I had to bump the ISO way up to its max at 3200 and had to just deal with the noise. Taken with 50mm 1.8

See the rest of the Brand New gallery.

Brand new red belly dance hip, embossed with sequins and silver coins.
Exotic Look. Suitable for all dance performances.

Selling at SGD180.00
Postage fee is SGD 2.80 or self collection at Sengkang MRT station.

Brand New
Glassjaw
Crime in Stereo
House of Blues Boston
November 18th, 2009

Shorty before the release of their fourth record Daisy in September, Brand New announced what was by far the most ambitious touring plans of their career. Not only would they play the biggest clubs in cities across the country, they would play multiple nights in a number of these cities, and then finish the trek with a hometown stop at the massive Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. At first, I doubted the band’s ability to pull this off, and was expecting a whole lot of half-empty venues.

My expectation were pretty far off. Despite Daisey’s mixed reviews, the House of Blues in Boston was sold out for the second straight night when Brand New stepped on stage  November 18th.  Having seen the band a number of times, I can honestly say that no two  performances are ever the same, and this may have been the strangest, and at times most satisfying I’ve witnessed from band.

The night began with a largely ignored 25 minute set from Crime in Stereo. The band ran into the same problems I feel plague them on CD, mainly the fact that it is  difficult to hear lead singer Kristian Hallbert’s vocals over the music.

Next up was long-dormant Long Island legends Glassjaw. Considering the band hadn’t toured in nearly three years, I

Glassjaw's Palumbo

wasn’t sure what to expect. I had seen them once before, and I must say they weren’t nearly as impressive on this occasion. While they played their blend of aggressive yet melodic hardcore with near surgical precision, they didn’t seem all that interested to be on stage.

The quartet, who aligned themselves in a circle with bassist Manny Carrero facing away from the crowd, played a mix of songs from their two full length records, as well as a few new tracks including “Jesus Glue.” The setlist had the crowd at times in a furry, and at other times in a state of confusion. Seeing that it was mainly the former, the crowd didn’t seem to mind the band’s relative indifference.

After an excruciatingly long 45 minute wait, Brand New finally took the stage and openned with the instrumental “Walcome To Bangkok.” While the band had used an extended version of the track as an epic closing number on previous tours, this true-to-the-album version served as more of a warm-up than a showstopper.

The Long Island quintet would then get things rolling with “Sink” and “Degausser” before charging into the explosive combination of “You Won’t Know,” “Tommy Gun,” “Sic Transit Gloria,”  “The Quite Things that No One Every Knows,” and finally “Mix Tape.” This string of crowd favorites featured Brand New at their very finest.

After enigmatic front man Jesse Lacey completed an eerie solo version of “Limousine,” the band would  showcase new material from Daisey. Much like the record itself, the results were mixed. While Brand New nailed the new, more technically challenging songs, the crowd’s enthusiasm dropped through the floor, as those at the front  suddenly fell silent and still.

Brand New's Vin Accardi

The crowd finally snapped out of their funk later in the set when Band New ripped though two of their fastest and most energetic songs, “The Shower Scene” and “The Archers Bows Have Broken.” This were followed by “At the Bottom,” the Daisy lead single which received the best response of any of the new songs.

Instead of leaving the stage before the encore, Lacey instead began to strum the tune to “Wild Thing,” which he explained by saying “Sometimes this yellow guitar just wants to play ‘Wild Thing,’ what can I say.” What would a Brand New show be without at least one head-scratching moment?

After over an hour and half on stage, the band would finally bring the show to a close by giving the fans exactly what they wanted: the combination of “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad” and “Seventy Times 7.” While Lacey and Co. once refused to play these songs live, they seem to have embraced the Your  Favorite Weapon classics as the perfect way to end a show.

Those at the front were throughly exhausted and made their exit completely content with what they had just witnessed. However, it was difficult to ignore the lukewarm reception to nearly every Daisy track. While the band seems to relish the fact their new record has polarized their fan base, you have to wonder how much they enjoy a packed venue that suddenly goes still whenever they play a song like “Bought a Bride.”

Reaction or no reaction, I’m sure the band isn’t going to stray away from their new songs anytime soon. As Brand New has proven throughout their career, they aren’t going to let the silence of spectators or changing trends affect what they do as a band, either in the studio or in a live setting.

Edit this setlist | More Brand New setlists

*Listening to Brand New – The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Of Me*

Roy Keane isn’t one of my favourite managers it has to be said. He didn’t exactly endear himself with his playing career and now his management career isn’t exactly helping. Take the last fortnight, firstly we saw and very much heard him berate the F.A.I. Rumour has it he’s in talks now with McCain’s to put the chip on his shoulder into production- it’s longer lasting and bigger than most of the chips available although the downside is that they can be rather bitter.

Then came phone-call-press-conference gate. It might have been a very important phone call, Roy. You should be getting one of equal importance shortly involving your job. What do you mean you’re not doing that bad a job? Buying half the Sunderland reserve side was always going to work…

And now, he’s claimed to have been offered the top scorer in League One for a mere £250,000. Right. Sure. Rickie Lambert would have to be the man in question given that he is top scorer in the division although the £1m spent by Southampton in August on him would beg imply something isn’t right here. Although that would explain why Southampton suffered such a money crisis last season if they’re making £750,000 losses on players.

Ah, so it wasn’t supposed to be Lambert, it was Lee Barnard of Southend. The man who only seems to score penalties or in injury-time (and is second in the top scorers list). Roy, just so you know, to win a penalty you have to actually get to the oppositions penalty box. Saying all that, what’s the betting that Ipswich get out of this mess.

If you go outside and just take a few quiet moments in observing people, you will notice that almost everyone are carrying their own gadgets:  You will see that businessmen are busy talking to someone on their cellphones; teenagers have their ears plugged with earphones listening to their i-pods;  children are busy playing with their PSP;  moms listening to their self-help audio in their MP3s;  and employees researching on the internet using their laptops;

Now you ask yourself this:  “What would this people want for christmas?”  I’m pretty sure that almost all of your family members have one of the gadgets that were mentioned above.  Well, enough thinking and let me help you.

I had one of my friend, Shirley Choa, showed me her fantastic product.  It is called Hamburger Mini Speakers.  When she showed me this tiny speaker, I couldn’t believe how loud and clear the sound was!  You can also carry it anywhere with you without worrying about carrying bulky speakers and looking for a power outlet to make it work.  It is so convenient for me I bought the red one at first sight. 

For you tech-wise guys out there, the following specifications are for you:

Dimension: (L) 55.5 MM x (H) 77 MM
Net Weight: 112g
Speaker: 36MM
Input: L/R380mV
Power Output: 7W X 2
S/N: 80dB
AMP Freq Range: 280Hz %u2013 16KHz
Charge Voltage: 5V 0.5V
Charge Time: 1.DC 5V 200MA%u2014300MA about 2.5 hours
3 USB about 4 hours
Suitable Temperature: 0°C-40°C

Now what’s even greater here is that she also have Double-Speakers.  They are two mini speakers which can be put together– which would look like an egg.  The bottom part of the speakers are magnetized, which means you can place them anywhere that’s metallic.  Double the sound means double the fun!

With this kind of gift to my loved ones, I’m pretty sure they would remember the day I gave it to them.  The children would be very happy with the fantastic sound on their PSP and teens can now party without carrying large stereos!

I think every single guy has an instinct on a night out to gravitate towards what he sees as the best possible single female in the group. If there’s more than one single guy, there’ll be a fight over her – it’s just the way it works. I know this all sounds a little too close to the analogy in the film ‘The 40 year old Virgin’ – I think it’s a lion taking down a gazelle there, but whatever, the metaphor works. We’re not as evolved as we’d like to think. I’d lost my way in my time in Bristol, given that nearly everyone I associated with was better looking than me. My best mate is a good example of this. He was 6’6” and blonde, a massive hit with the ladies, even though he was in a long-term relationship. He would monopolise any female attention, then go home early because he missed his girlfriend. Some people are just twats. But for this night, I was in my element. Andy had a girlfriend, I figured Dave would have already made a move if he was interested, and I was certain I had the edge over this Tom guy  (I should stop ragging on him though, once we’d started drinking it turned out he was a really nice guy). When we got back to my room, I could see that Jen would be the target. That makes me sound awful, but I’d say I’m better than most guys. I’m terrible at describing girls however, so this will sound vague, sexist and horrible, but here goes. Blonde curly hair, about average height, maybe slightly more, great boobs, good body, pretty face and beautiful (grey?) eyes. I realise I just undermined the ‘beautiful’ part by not knowing what colour they were, but they really were beautiful. I also made another realisation when we arrived back at my room: that night, Andy and I had eaten fish stew. I had prepared the garlic, and most likely stunk of it. But worse still, the unwashed, fishy pot was sitting on the floor of my room. So we sat and drank in my CROUS room with smelly fish stew pot on the floor. I was drinking disgusting rum and coke made from the rum Andy and I had bought as part of our abortive ‘let’s make cocktails’ experiment. The stuff tasted of petrol, and, knowing the French, I wouldn’t wholly discount it actually being some kind of fuel; the coke wasn’t much better, it being Lidl’s finest. Dave and everyone else had brought their own drinks, mainly vodka I think. You’re always safe with vodka. I remember Jen having some kind of drama because her plastic bottle of vodka in had leaked into her bag and onto her camera and phone. Tant pis, as the French say. The fact that she got with me after seeing my room is testament either to how drunk she was, or how much she liked me. I prefer the latter, but I know which is more likely. From the dirty washing on the horrible floor to the institutional furniture, it would quickly have become apparent that I did not live in a palace. Most French girls have discounted me completely once they learnt that I only own (rent) nine metres squared of room. The French dating world is a cutthroat one. At around 11pm, we left my room to make our way to the funicular (a slow, but convenient train pulled by a cable which eliminates the need to walk up or down the hill I live on and thus promotes laziness). I left Andy behind with Dave and Tom, while I walked on ahead and chatted to Katie and Jen (but mainly to Jen). We talked about jobs – we had both applied for Foreign Office internships, but been rejected. We talked about Birmingham, and York, and Bristol. After a brief stop at the bottom of the hill for an al-fresco piss (I have now pissed almost everywhere in Lyon), we made our way to the banks of the Rhone. The club we were going to was in fact a barge, moored on the side of the river, called La Marquise. It’s a pretty cool place I suppose: the music’s good, and it attracts a good student crowd. It’s always fun to take newcomers there as well, as the novelty of a club on a boat rarely disappoints. Nevertheless, I do sometimes miss the dive bars I used to go to in Bristol. There’s something far too clean about French bars. Where’s the drunken passed-out girls, the stench of vomit, the cheap beer? Oh well, when in Rome…

I think a decent blogger is one that is up to the minute on the breaking news.  Look at Perez Hilton, for example.  He’s breaking those stories, probably sitting at his computer all day (having started early in te morning) just so he can be the first to report on a celebrity scoop.

I, unfortunately, am not that sort of blogger.  I’m not sure if it’s quite necessary for the kind of blog I have.  Regardless, I’m sure most of you have seen this out there already, but I find it very compelling so I thought I’d share the link. 

AOL becomes Aol.

The Brand New blog is a blog that compares old logos and idenities with the new redesigned ones.  The link above gives a great analysis of the new logo of AOL-  The company is breaking away from Time Warner (whom its been linked to for many, many years) and on December 10th will be on its own again… with its new logo.  I personally wasn’t crazy for their old logo but really dislike their new one. 

The Aol.  is paired with a myriad of pictures and is revealed through those images (which I find pretty generic and not at all engaging).  A large problem with the idenity in that it is a san-serif font (that anyone with a computer would have), and you’d then be able to slap Aol. onto any number of pictures (as was pointed out in Brand New’s review).  I can just see a site like Something Awful having fun with it. 

What happened to AOL?  I used the program in elementary school and loved it (and will always have a soft spot for my old AOL days)!  I used AOL Instant Messenger up until the time that I left for college.  It sort of dropped off the radar for me.  I moved on.  AOL didn’t really get any better and eventually became a free, probably in attempts to keep up with competitors.  The innovation and magic was gone at this point.  It looks as though that’s trying to be regained, but with this current reveal of their new identity, I’m not impressed.

It’s that time of year again where writers and editors alike scramble to piece together coherent lists of the albums that shone the brightest over the past 12 months.  Personally I find these lists extremely difficult since I always, always, always leave one or two essential albums out that for some reason didn’t cross my mind when I searched through all the dark crevices to find the music that meant the most to me.

Alternative Press took things a step further by providing a list of the Top Ten Singles of the Decade.  The results are void of many of the scene bands that grace the covers of their pages these days and reflect an era of music most prominent when I was in high school, so much so I felt the need to comment on each song and it’s relevance to me personally and how I see it fitting into to influential music.

10. Thursday – “Understanding In A Car Crash” – I am very excited to see Thursday on the list, especially this track.  Thursday changed the way music was played, incorporating elements of various styles into their post-punk poetry.  Their songs were decidedly darker than their contemporaries mostly thanks to unfortunate circumstances in vocalist Geoff Rickly’s personal life.  What they created was something so beautiful its impact is something that will forever resonate with me.  Musically, they are some of the most talented people I have ever heard, weaving intricacies around lyrics that shatter my heart, creating an eager dependency.  Their influence is something not recognized in the modern derivative of this style of music, and perhaps this is simultaneously also the biggest punk disappointment of the decade.
9. Jimmy Eat World – “The Middle” – I fell in love with Jimmy Eat World when I first discovered the album Clarity, a record that solidified so much those feelings of being lost and those confusions about love.  It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching and easily one of my favourite albums of all time.  The selected track is from their record Bleed American and arguably that song that made them a household name.  And this is a song that will also forever speak to me because it is very much about not believing in yourself, it’s about losing yourself while attempting to find yourself, but ultimately it’s really about standing up for yourself.  It’s about not giving up.  It’s about acceptance of self.  For a sad song, it’s so full of hope and sometimes hope in music is all we ever need.
8. My Chemical Romance – “Helena” – When I think of My Chemical Romance two memories come to mind.  The first of the time they played the Kool Haus with the Used, a show I attended with my good friend Shyla back when we were young and full of rockstar dreams.  While I was never religiously into My Chem, I always really liked them.  The second memory is when I attended Bamboozle in ‘07 and watching their theatrical version of their hit single “Welcome to the Black Parade” with the company of a few great girls.  This song is so terrific, with piano that reminds me of Meat Loaf songs that thus remind me of when I was young.  With an intro so epic, I have no choice but to post the video here:

7. Dashboard Confessional – “Screaming Infidelities” – Dashboard is often associated with being one of the first mainstream emo bands, but they remind me of this girl I used to know named Elizabeth.  In fact, Elizabeth introduced me to a lot of the music that later greatly influenced me as a music lover and as someone trying to make sense in a crazy world.  “Screaming Infidelities” is one of Dashboard’s most well known songs, but I much prefer “Hands Down” as their best single and “The Sharp Hint Of New Tears” as one of their best songs.  They allowed it to be okay for grown men to cry about their girlfriends, and whether you love them or hate them for this their influence and presence cannot be denied.  Not only has it helped shape an entire movement of music, but it’s also helped get a lot of losers laid.
6. The Postal Service – “Such Great Heights” – I totally agree with this song choice because this is one of the most amazing songs I know and it is always stuck in my head.  This song really put Ben Gibbard on the map as an important multi-dimensional songwriter, as his other project Death Cab for Cutie was already successful. I love the way the lyrics wind around the meanings in this song, which is constructed almost like a Weakerthans song.  This band allowed indie electronic rock to be welcomly incorporated into the punk scene.  As much as I love them, I feel the modern bands who try to encapsulate this raw, innovative energy are actually partially responsible for the decline in the Warped Tour style of punk rock, as more and more electric music seeps into the scene.  However, I do not put this blame on the Postal Service at all.
5. Taking Back Sunday – “Cute Without The ‘E’ (Cut From The Team)” – Taking Back Sunday came onto the scene as a breath of fresh air, with a new way of displaying their ideas.  Catchy, swinging lyrics and melodies laced with spite and conviction, they were in a league of their own that roped me in right away and continues to harness my love.  They too faced their share of Long Island drama, silly affairs that lead to some of the best songs and shows I know.  Behind sugary sweet vocals were battle scars that slowly crept more and more into the music, solidifying my connection to this music and warping them slowly into deeper and darker musical avenues.  This band never got the true respect they deserved, so thank you AP for including them in the list.
4. Fall Out Boy – “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” - Back before Pete Wentz entirely ruined Fall Out Boy’s authenticity (even though he writes the majority of the lyrics), they were making waves for their unique style of song writing.  Off their debut album From Under the Cork Tree, this song encapsulates the rise of poppy emo bands in the mainstream.  Since there are way too many politics in punk rock, this band also divided people into emo lovers and punk lovers, and those who sided with this album were also often discredited.  However, their impact tells it’s own story.  They were one of the firsts to name songs with obnoxiously long titles, my favourites being “A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little more Touch Me,” “”I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written about Me”  and personal favourite “I’ve Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song).”  They embraced their image and continue to hone it without sacrificing their ideas and visions.  I respect them for this, especially considering they do put on a stellar live show.
3. Jimmy Eat World – “Sweetness” - Also from Bleed American, I feel this spot definitely should have gone to Brand New. Brand New created a dramatic, cult following that was still apparent in their two sold-out Toronto shows this past weekend.  If TBS is on the list, BN should be too.  Brand New continually changed the way I personally looked at music in terms of development, and I mean this in both positive and negative ways.  Their earlier material wasn’t that amazing, but they still could have put “Mix Tape” or “Soco Amaretto Lime” in here.  It is hard to deny their influence, especially on Deja Entendu and the Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Did someone have a memory lapse?  Brand New seems like a no-brainer to me for an AP list.
2. My Chemical Romance – “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” -  Another great song by My Chem, but perhaps the people at AP couldn’t think of other bands (Tight deadlines? Too much on the Go?).  Really they have only named eight bands as the most influential over the past decade, where I feel a spot could and should have gone to acts like Propaghandi, Rise Against, AFI, Greenday or even Blink 182.  What about the Get Up Kids?  Or Bright Eyes? Or Alkaline Trio?  Or Thrice? Or Rancid??? So many influential and important artists were not included in an otherwise fabulous list and thus I’m going to have to disregard this allotment.  I really do not think My Chem deserves two places.
1. At The Drive-In – “One Armed Scissor” – I love At the Drive-In, but I was never in love with them, especially this song.  While I appreciate their infusion of ambiance and understand their cultural significance and impact on modern artists, I don’t know if they warrant the number one position.  Musically, they are above many of their contemporaries, with an understanding of song construction that likens them back to psychedelic ’70s music and with that same post-punk neuroticism mastered by Thursday.  I cannot deny their significance, but I would agree more with this award had I experienced that connection with them like I did other acts on this list or even the acts I mentioned that weren’t featured on this list.  I like to think I have really good tastes, but they never captured my heart in the same fashion as other bands in this era.

Reading over my reflections on each song, it’s crazy to realize the impact music has on an individual and how certain songs or certain bands are symbiotic with precise moments in our lives.  They remind us of times we came out triumphant and of times we couldn’t stop feeling lost.  They give us hope when nothing else will and they make us feel like we belong when we feel lonely.  They create community, they divide community, they have the power to make us want more out of life, to make us become better people, and also the power to destroy.  Music allows us to see things and experience things we may not otherwise have and it allows us to reflect on life in an intelligent, intimate way.  It can alter our moods from happy to sad, from sad to happy depending on the connotations it stirs up within each individual.  It truly is one of the most powerful and beautiful of all creations.

I was able to catch up with Mr. Emilio Rojas and chop it up with him about his latest release “The Natural” presented by Dj Greenlantern– as always, it was an interesting convo to hear the insight on how the project came to be….werrrrdemup.

Interview with Emilio Rojas :: LISTEN HERE

When I got this disc in the mail, I had never heard As Cities Burn.  I was expecting something heavier, given their name and the stereotype (not to mention the cover art), but was pleasantly surprised when I listened to the album.  It was exactly what I was needing at the time and I continue to enjoy it.  I would recommend this album to fans of Minus The Bear, Manchester Orchestra or Brand New (their later stuff like “…Devil and God…” or “Daisy”).

“Errand Rum” from Hell Or High Water

Stop the press! I’ve found the perfect pair of trousers that make my ass look smokin’ hot! ‘Nuff reason to get super excited.

The new Prelude leather Jodhpur slacks gives your ass the perfect shape. With its rich textures and beautiful shading these Jodhpur leather slacks come in a variety of colors, each guaranteeing to make your booty look absolutely delicious!

Prelude have launched three tones to add to the range, in order to celebrate the brand’s new store at Fusion. These lighter tones are exclusive to the new store and include two versions – with or without a belt.

I teamed these gorgeous slacks with the top of (P-K)’s sequin dress and the brand spanking new Kalnins Dragoness heels. I absolutely love Kalnins’ shoes, with its innumerable color changing options. The multi – function HUD allows you to choose not only various skins tones, but you can play with color options for metal studs and realistic nail colors. The Dragoness sandals are nothing less than what you would expect from Maris Kanto. From the stitch detail, to the exquisite skin shading, these sandals are pure pixel sex!

Taxi to Prelude’s new store

Taxi to Kalnins

Style Card:

Zimmy

Skin:*League* Skin Suntan -Misty

Shape: Self made

Hair: Fri.day – Deena – Cranky

Eyes: Poetic Colours – pc eyes by LL – twilight cat

Top: (P-K) – Part of Sequin Tank dress

Trousers: Prelude – Leather Jodhpur Slacks Blush (exclusive to Fusion store)

Jacket: !_Ce Cubic effect – Short leather jacket – Black

Shoes: Kalnins Footwear – Dragoness

Pink bangles: {CreamShop} – Glam bangle – Light pink

Black Bangle: LaGyo – Spyral bangle

Gloves: [glow] Studio – Dark Rider Gloves

Pose in picture 1: BehaviorBody (part of MiniRoom)

Poses in picture 2 (left to right): {SMS} No, {SMS} Oh My, {SMS} I’m coming [part of group gift & I'm loving these]

I’m a flower that just won’t bloom
I’m a tree without a branch or leaf or stump.

I’m a daughter with hemorrhage
I’m a mother who can’t pay the doctors’ bills.

I’m a dog without a best friend
I’m a girl who was abandoned on the hill.

And I’ve been sentenced to this seat.

And I’ve been sentenced not to see.

And I’ve been sentenced to the streets.

And I’ve been sentenced not to breathe.

Brand new without box but all in original sealed plastic.

Selling at SGD4.00, postage fee is SGD1.00

Brand new

Gentle shampoo with oat milk

frequent use to clean hair without water

Selling at SGD13.00, collection at Seranggon MRT station at 6.20pm on weekdays only

So here’s Part 2 of this series filled with more amazing songs and my thoughts on them.

16. Jesus Christ by Brand New

When it comes to Brand New, you can’t really expect the same thing to come from them. Take The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. The album took a darker turn in their song writing and their sound, exemplified by the song “Jesus Christ.” Filled with religious images – Jesus Christ, the thoughts of the afterlife, the cross – and a slow tempo, the song is an ode to self-doubt. Rumor has it that the song was written after one of Jesse Lacey’s, the lead singer, badly ended relationships. Whatever the inspiration for this song, the end result was a song of literal fear of the feature, but subtly it discusses the fears that anyone has when something ends and what the future outcome will be. Lacey’s vocals range from lower, gritty more introspective to louder, almost angst-filled scream. The false end of the song after a second of silence lets the listener determine their own end to the story as it is just instrumental and is ambiguous.

To listen and watch the video for ‘Jesus Christ’ click here.

15. Swim by Jack’s Mannequin

Music usually has a way to find me, especially during those hard times. I deal with a lot of self-doubt and fear of the future. Released in 2008, Jack’s Mannequin’s The Glass Passenger was filled with songs that dealt with lead singer Andrew McMahon’s fight with leukemia. The song “Swim” details the spirit of his fight. The illness has destroyed the life he had lead since he was a teenager but he knew that to get over and win, he had to fight back. It was his love for his music, those around him and his fans that kept him going. This song came to me during a rough time I was having and has a habit of coming up on my iTunes or iPod when I’m feeling particularly lost in the shuffle and afraid of reaching my goal. It’s those moving words paired with the sheer musical beauty that McMahon creates with his piano work that never fails to move me and acts like the reassuring hug that I need when times are low.

To watch the official video and listen to “Swim” click here.

14. The Best of Me by The Starting Line

So, cutesy pop-punk songs aren’t really supposed to stand the test of time. That is not the case for The Starting Line’s biggest hit “The Best of Me” off their debut Say It Like You Mean It released in 2002. The song tells is a one-sided conversation of two young lovers and the idea that their love is something that will last. As cliché and cheesy as it is, the song captures that feeling of young love that is really hard to validate. Yet as The Starting Line went on tour last spring on their final tour (before their indefinite hiatus), crowds all still cheered and sang this song louder than the band did. It’s a song that girls still want to her and that guys know will make any girl melt. “We got older, but we’re still young, we never grew out of this feeling that we won’t give up.” True words.

To watch the official video of The Starting Line’s “The Best of Me.”

13. New Year’s Resolution by The Limousines

The calm dance beats with singer Eric Victorino’s doubled and low vocals make for a very interesting tune. The song sets the stage on New Year’s just after midnight. The protagonist and his companion are seemingly taking in the opportunity that a new year could only bring and letting go of the past problems. I take this song as reminding me to live and not to dwell on the mistakes or problems the past had, to not let regrets rule our lives. “Well at least we tried” is the manta at the end of the song that Victorino reassures listeners to adhere to, echoing the sentiment that the journey is more important the destination. By trying and therefore living, a person isn’t living with regrets and letting their lives go unlived.

To listen to “New Year’s Resolution” click here.

12. Helena by My Chemical Romance

Though it was “I’m not Okay” that was the summer anthem, it was “Helena” by My Chemical Romance that catapulted the band from the underground to the mainstream. Showing off the band’s flair for drama paired with skilled musicianship and lyrical prowess, the second single of their major label debut Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge put the band in a position that they could not escape. The song, written for Gerard and Mikey Way’s grandmother is the perfect dedication to the woman who encouraged the young musicians to combine different elements into their music, from the punk musical styled with the elaborate dramatics of Way’s lyrics and singing style. The music video to accompany the song as the same sense of flair as the band were dressed in matching suits and has hired dancers and extras in all stylish funeral clothes (yes, I know the solo at the bridge of the song). A farewell to a beloved grandmother and an introduction to the world at large, the band have not lost their sense of drama nor their talent for creating epic music.

To see the thematic video for “Helena” click here.

11. The Truth About Heaven by Armor for Sleep

Do you believe in ghosts? Armor for Sleep certainly did. At least, the believed enough to make a ghost haunting his lover as the story arc for their sophomore release What To Do When You Are Dead. The album tells the story of a young man who kills himself by crashing his car into a river yet comes back and visits the girl and the house he left behind. “The Truth About Heaven” is the second track of the album and the second part of the story. In the song, the protagonist can returned as a ghost to visit the girlfriend he left behind, expressing his remorse at leaving her and how much he misses her, though not regretting the choice of ending his life. By being ok with the choices that a person makes such as touring or moving away, it doesn’t to let go and stop loving the people you did. As the concept weaves its way all through the album, the recurring line becomes “don’t believe that the weather is perfect the day you die.”

To watch the story unfold, click here to watch “The Truth About Heaven.”

Stay Tuned! Part 3 coming tomorrow and Part 4 on Sunday!

Phoenix’s own Mr. Miranda collaborates with Jaz-O to bring “The Game Plan” to the surface– off of his upcoming album to be released in December –

Download “The Game Plan” HERE

Good Morning and a Happy Friday!!

Today we wanted to dedicate our blog as a thank you to the Hello You Creative team.

Their blog helloyoucreatives.tumblr.com “is about getting to know each other, finding new things and general rants/discussions about being creative” and features some of the most random yet fascinating/hilarious/disgusting pieces of ‘creative’ work from all over the place.

The last few months has seen jelly and our artists featured on there! We love them so much we’d like everyone to check them out too!!

Beautiful Illustrations from Migy
Skoda Yeti
Barney’s Face
Faces of Hate
Kanye West
Brand New, Brand Nu
Jelly Design Competition
The Cretinous Ostriches
Chelsie Interview