Bipolar Rock

Taking a turn away from metal for a moment I want to share with you a rock band I love. Blue October is a rock band (not a metal band at all) out of Texas, their music is about of course the typical love, breakup, etc... but it is also based on the lead singers extensive battle with bipolar disorder and drug addiction. The song Hate Me was written for his  mother as an apology for everything he put her through baically telling her "it's okay to hate me" but really she cares about him more than anything. This is one of their biggest hits so give it a listen. Everyone can relate to their songs because they are about depression, love, and life, basically everything you can think of is in their music. Some of my favorite songs by Blue October are Hate Me, Life's Like A Jumprope, Balance Beam, and Dirt Room. I recommend all of Blue Octobers music to you if you like 30 Seconds to Mars, 3 Days Grace, and Cavo.

Into The Ocean

-Emily

A classic in my eyes...

The Used have been and will always be a rock classic to me. What's not to like? The guy takes extreme heartache and loss and puts it into these epic songs. Mosh, cry, sing, yell, scream, break things. So many emotions build up in their songs its incredible. There's a song for every feeling though many of the songs are on the darker side.

The Used

Some of my favorite songs:
Liar Liar
Hospital
Kissing You Goodbye
Men Are All The Same
I Caught Fire
Blood On My Hands

Video: Empty With You

Really I could never choose one song as a favorite but, Empty With You (also available as an acoustic version..great by the way) is an extremely powerful song to me. Bert McCracken (lead singer) lost his girlfriend to a drug overdose when she was pregnant with their child (the baby also died). Bert put this loss into his music so while the music video is a "tour" video the song is actually about his girlfriend. His way of saying, if you feel empty, if you want to take your life I could do it too if that meant I could be with you. It's a terribly sad song but it will always be a favorite of mine and to many others out there. If you are a fan or if you become a fan of the Used you will realize how they are a classic to me. They just fall into that category all on their own and it's fucking awesome

-Emily

Flashback to Flyleaf

flashback anyone???

Lacey of Flyleaf

(fact: she does not like shoes)

So Flyleaf has been on a bit of a break aka Lacey is having a baby. But this does not mean we stop listening to them! FLASHBACK! Remember when Flyleaf first started? They were so raw and loud but now they've really polished off their sound and it's great, they've really come into their own on this one. Even though they are a Christian band that does not mean only those with religious beliefs relate to the songs. Everyone can get something out of their music which is a great quality for a band like this to have. I really do like this song and this video. Off the album Memento Mori this is Sorrow. Lacey has a unique voice that no one can really match. She growls and screams and yet her voice is so innocent and empowering at the same time. It's an amazing gift she has and the video is very well made, I love it and I hope you do to. Here it is, Sorrow...

enjoy :)

-Emily

Pierce the Veil :)

Pierce the Veil: I'm really liking this band. Haven't ever heard much of them before today. Check them out, this is an older song of theirs from 2009 but they do have more and newer music out there. The video I'm showing you is called Chemical Kids and Mechanical Brides. Great song, weird video, here's their Facebook, go show them some support!

http://www.facebook.com/PierceTheVeil

So I'll be posting a few more posts like this, just some new favorites so check out each one!

-Emily

ipod scare and 5FDP

Last night I went about my normal nightly routine. Brush teeth, wash face, fill up water bottle, set my phone alarm, set my ipod alarm and then boom go to bed. Well after I completed my nightly tasks I then fell asleep only to be woken up by some internal alarm clock at 2:30 am. When checking my ipod to see the time I accidentally pressed the music button which displayed no music. When I say no music I mean my ipod was empty. I started freaking out while trying not to wake my roommate. I ran to the computer plugged in my ipod and after giving it a minute the ipod refreshed the library and the music returned. I was so scared because 90% of my music is either from someone else's laptop or it came from my old laptop which no longer has itunes. A whole lot of worry over nothing thank god.

Well besides my hectic night what else is new? The past couple days I've been really into Five Finger Death Punch. On my ipod I only have their first album but I know quite a few of their other songs. If you haven't ever listened to 5FDP you should check them out asap. They are similar to heavy metal so if you like bands like Slipknot, Bullet for My Valentine, and Korn you will like Five Finger Death Punch without a doubt. They mix incredible speed drumming with deep vocals and beautiful yet raw guitar. Some favorite of mine are: The Bleeding, Salvation, and a cover of Bad Company. Lots of noise, lots of crunch, lots of mayhem...Check em' out guys and gals!!!

A school with little rock...

So my roommates have informed me that they are not fans of my music. To them it is loud and angry. They listen to Ben Folds Five and Foster the People. Now those aren't bad bands but they aren't on my ipod therefor I will probably never willingly listen to more then one or two songs by them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion with music. I get that and it's fine but college kids all listen to the same shit. I'm talking about indie, 90's, soft no name rock, ska, rap, and some random shit I can't even begin to describe. I have seen probably 5 people who obviously listen to rock and metal. They have band tees, they don't dress like everyone else, they don't care about looking hot or pretty. But overall Purchase is a school with little rock, it's sad but it's true. So true :( But I'm okay with rocking it out to my ipod while strolling through campus. I feel proud. You should too! It's been a long day and I apologize for the huge gap in posts. I'll be sure to keep up this time :)
have a goodnight or a good morning wherever you are
Peace,
-Emily

Fit for Rivals...a voice you'll remember

Fit for Rivals is a 5 piece rock band out of Jacksonville, FL. Your first listen will probably lead you to the assumption it's an all guy band. Take another listen, listen closely to the vocals and yes the lightbulb hovering over your head clicks on. The singer for Fit for Rivals is Renee Phoenix. Her voice is deep, raspy, and a cross between Joan Jett and the singer from Bring me the Horizon. No joke. But that's what I love about her. She is not a barbie doll. She has tattoos. She does not have enormous boobs (many of the comments on their yuotube videos seem to focus on her chest size. what that has to do with music I don't really know)  And she doesn't wear skanky clothes. Renee is a skinny jeans and tee shirt kind of girl and to top it off some old school beaten up chucks. The whole band (Jesse Carroll, John Hartman, Thomas Amoson, Ronnie, and Renee) is this group of laid back people who are in it for the music. They are a dysfunctional family like most bands and they're not afraid of people knowing that. I have yet to find a band that is similar to them but to give you an idea of what they sound like take Black Veil Brides and Escape the Fate. Also another band to check out is Renees other band from a few years ago is The Explicits. Kind of a side project/early on sort of deal. With any of their music I'm sure Renees voice is one you will always remember.

Check out their myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/fitforrivals
My top picks today are coming from Fit for Rivals:
Damage
Crash
Girl in a Coma

Check them out! You won't regret it :)

Heres the video for Fit for Rivals- Crash

See ya guys! Enjoy....
-Emily

Little request....

So I need some followers and as you can see I don't have well any but I'm consistant and I know that a few people are definitely checking this out so I write and research anyway. I know...I really do. I'm trying to kind fo get my name out there so any help and any ideas are welcome. FOLLOW ME! Tell your friends, spread my link like a cold, get me out there! Also once you follow, let me know how I can do better, things you want me to write about, you tell me and I will do my best to make it happen, I promise.
Thank you for reading! Rock on my friends, rock on...

-EG...heck we can be on a first name basis

-Emily :)

Photo courtesy of me :)

Shannon Leto NYC Roseland Ballroom

I'm behind the rockstar dude you see there :)

Drummer troubles and London metal....

To start off:

A little piece of music news...

Drummer Mike Pedicone has been removed from the My Chemical Romance lineup after being caught red handed stealing from the band. The band is handling this like adults and is ending their relationship with Pedicone, not filing charges etc... Basically they want as little hype as possible. So it's too bad people can turn like that but it's over for him, he ruined himself but the boys won't let it bring them down!

Moving on.....

A band I'm really into actually just found while on my daily internet search is Rise to Remain. They aren't a "new" band really but they're new to me and they just released a new album called City of Vultures. The band is a 5 piece group out of London they fall under the category of metalcore for some people just to give you a general idea though I don't always like labeling bands. They mix growls with what I like to call real singing even though anything with a tune is singing you get what I mean. I was looking through the Kerrang magazine website because they rarely sell the hard copy in the US at least nowhere near me. Rise to Remain is their featured band right now and you should definitely check them out. If you like Demon Hunter, Chiodos, Slipknot, and Bring me the Horizon. The band definitely makes a good connection between rock and metal and that's a quality I really look for in bands. So i will say my favorite songs are Power Through Fear and Serpent. The lyric video for Power Through Fear is right here. Please check out their youtube channel as well as their facebook and myspace. Give them a listen, show some support and music respect.
http://www.youtube.com/user/RiseToRemain#p/u
http://www.facebook.com/risetoremain?sk=app_118350831594281
http://www.myspace.com/risetoremain

have a good day a good night wherever you are in the world...

-EG

Playing favorites...

good charlotte...

I have developed a bad habit. I play favorites with music. Maybe it all started with my obsession with 30 Seconds to Mars. They were (and still are) my rock idols and because of that I've played every one of their songs to death and back again. However I also play favorites with songs. High on my list at the moment:

The River- Good Charlotte
Hold On- Good Charlotte
We Are Broken- Paramore
Chasm- Flyleaf
Monster- Paramore
and...
Good Life- Three Days Grace

Now, I believe it's perfectly normal to have long time favorites but for the sake of the music maybe we should limit ourselves. Play the song a certain amount of times and then stop so we don't accidentally bore ourselves with it. So check those songs out. You may know them already or they may be new to you. So either way give them a listen.

I'll be back later :)
-EG

flyleaf...

Chiodos not Cheetos!

You know how sometimes a song will come across your ipod or the radio that you just suddenly can't get enough of? Well this happened one day when I was in the car with my friend John. We had his ipod plugged into the stereo and he was playing a mixture of songs I had never heard before. He at last put his ipod on shuffle and thats when I heard it. Smitten for the Mitten by a little band called Chiodos. I realized that years ago I had attended an annual rock concert, Edge Fest in Altamont, NY where Chiodos had originally been set to play. A last minute cancellation sent the flock of eyeliner covered teenagers to the parking lot to wait for their parents. Most of the crowd, including me at the time because I had never heard of the band, was happy to get rid of these newcomers. Me mostly because I was breaking one of the major rules of rock, I was going with the crowd. We never did see Chiodos play but I remember hearing the word "Cheetos" from practically everywhere in the audience and at the same time hearing, "No it's Chiodos!" But back to my story... Me and John were driving and listening to this new band, well new to me at least and I remember thinking I should have done this a long time ago. They've had two singers, both great screamers/growlers/singers. They each have something unique about them, I let you be the judge of that. They mix a gothic themed orchestra with a punk emo style rock. Their lyrics are raw and dark yet light and delicate. The songs telling stories of love and hate and everything that falls in between.
I highly recommend Chiodos to anyone who loves rock with screams and growls and songs about the cruel sides of love and the upsides of hate. My favorite tracks are Smitten for the Mitten, A Letter from Janelle, and Intensity in Ten Cities. And as for newer Chiodos...CAVES!!!!! check it out (heres the link)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmMf3D3Hv9w

Listen. Love it. Hate it. Your call.
Over and out kids...
-EG

September's Children

Rise Against, the band known for making a statement with every word out of their mouths has somewhat recently released the song, Make it Stop (September's Children). The song captivates the real life images we've all seen on the news of the children in high schools across the country who took their own lives after being bullied for being gay. The deaths of these kids affected the entire country and gave us a wake up call for something that is a major issue, bullying.
What better way to get a point across than through music. Rise Against has shown their support by releasing, Make It Stop with a music video to go along with it. If you haven't seen the video yet, definitely watch it asap. It shows how different students deal with being bullied for being gay/lesbian and how they turned to suicide but overcame it in the end. It's really a moving and kind of powerful (not trying to sound sappy).
The song itself I really like because it's a step away from "typical" Rise Against. If you listen carefully you can tell they've grown as a band and it makes me love them even more. They are the ones who can change people by screaming "this is what happens when people live with their eyes shut!" Rise Against once again shows us how to open ours eyes to see the bigger picture. Towards the end of the song the names of the teenagers who took their lives are announced with their ages. It gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it, that's when you know it's a good song.

Rise Against- Make it Stop (Septembers Children)..... 5 Stars (aka listen to it!)

Follow the link to the video :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP4clbHc4Xg&ob=av2e

Alright I'm out for the night! Enjoy the song let me know what you think!

-EG

Long break, getting started....again

So it's been a while since I've had a post on here and I won't drown you with excuses. I had finals at my old school, I worked my butt off all summer, I just moved into my apartment on campus at SUNY Purchase so I'm set now.
I've noticed there is an amazing range of musical tastes here at Purchase College. Indie isn't exactly my thing but 90 percent of this campus feels the opposite and that's fine. Everyone has their own opinion, I'm sticking to rock and even being brave enough to branch out a bit with some new rock while also taking a look back at some long forgotten tunes I've been missing. Now enough rambling, I promise we'll get back to the music now. This time it's gonna be everyday whether I tell you the tales of "D Hall's" all you can eat junk food or my new favorite songs full of screams and growls. So to give it a fresh start, my music post is going to come after this one. It deserves its own post.
See ya! :)
ps- thats my bed/room, just sayin. not fully decorated yet :)

-EG