Miss Me?

I wish I could say that I have not written in so long because I was saving orphans in Somalia or backpacking through the Himalayas or even on tour as a back up dancer for Lady Gaga.  But alas, I have none of these great excuses to grab on to, or any excuses for that matter.  Life has been somewhat crazy lately but I doubt I can swing a dead cat without hitting someone else who would say that exact same thing.  So therefore, no excuses.  But I’m here!

And since I have been M.I.A with the music updates and news over the last few months, I have complied what I find to be the 30 most important music updates/stories/quips/highlights that I regrettably was not there to inform you of. 

So, here we are: Nicole’s 30 music highlights of the last [insert number here because I don’t feel like counting] days:

1.  Christina Aguilera came out with another album that I was all too excited about and she has once again has let me down.

2 I gave in to buying a Black Keys album:  The Black Keys, El Camino.  Worth the purchase!

3.  Made the best mix ever:  79 songs more variety than ever before!  As listed below:

1)   “Helena” My Chemical Romance

2)   “Angel Dust” AaRon

3)   “Road to Nowhere” Talking Heads

4)   “Five Is A Four Letter Word” Lostprophets

5)   “Dragula” Rob Zombie

6)   “Lean Back” Fat Joe

7)   “Ritual” Black Veil Brides

8)   “I Like How It Feels (feat. Pitbull & The WAV.s)” Enrique Iglesias

9)   “Bottom of the River” Delta Rae

10)                   “Weak And Powerless” A Perfect Circle

11)                   “Burn It Down” AWOLNATION

12)                   “The Kill” 30 Seconds to Mars

13)                   “Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)” Rob Zombie          

14)                   “Scream!” The Misfits

15)                   “Kiss My Lips (feat. Fabolous)” Dev

16)                   “Crank It Up (feat. Akon)” David Guetta & Akon

17)                   “Minority” Green Day

18)                   “See You In My Nightmare”            Kanye West Feat. Lil Wayne

19)                   “The Man Comes Around” Johnny Cash

20)                   “Marco Polo” Loreena McKennitt

21)                   “Breaking Down” Florence + The Machine

22)                   “Living Dead Girl” Rob Zombie

23)                   “Adiemus” Adiemus

24)                   “Baby, Please Don't Leave” Buddy Guy

25)                   “Set Fire to the Rain” ADELE

26)                   “Pledge Of Allegiance” Louis XIV               

27)                   “Turning Tables” ADELE

28)                   “Fortunate Son” Creedence Clearwater Revival

29)                   “I Call It Love” Anastacia

30)                   “Sail” AWOLNATION

31)                   “Where Is My Mind?” Pixies          

32)                   “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” Dope

33)                   “Save the World / Punk (Arty Rock-n-Rolla Mix)”           Swedish House Mafia & Ferry Corsten

34)                   “If I Could Turn Back Time”           Cher

35)                   “Shake It Out” Florence + The Machine

36)                   “Dig Up Her Bones” The Misfits

37)                   “The Wolf” Fever Ray

38)                   “Hey” Pixies

39)                   “History Song” The Good, The Bad And The Queen

40)                   “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” The White Stripes

41)                   “The Edge of Glory” Lady GaGa

42)                   “Prologue” Loreena McKennitt

43)                   “This City (feat. Lupe Fiasco)” Patrick Stump

44)                   “Here We Go” Hard Rock Sofa & Swanky Tunes & Swedish House Mafia

45)                   “Don't Wake Me Up”           Chris Brown

46)                   “Jesus of Suburbia” Green Day

47)                   “New Day” Kanye West & JAY Z

48)                   “No Light, No Light” Florence + The Machine

49)                   “Demons” Imagine Dragons          

50)                   “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” Crash Test Dummies

51)                   “Skyfall” ADELE

52)                   “Roll Up” Wiz Khalifa

53)                   “Some Nights            “ Fun.

54)                   “Love Is Blindness” Jack White

55)                   “Payphone (feat. Wiz Khalifa)” Maroon 5

56)                   “Holiday” Green Day           

57)                   “Sex On Fire”            Kings of Leon

58)                   “Love Lost In A Hail Of Gun Fire” Bleeding Through

59)                   “Gold On the Ceiling” The Black Keys

60)                   “Tambourine” Eve

61)                   “Rolling In the Deep” ADELE

62)                   “Shinobi Vs. Dragon Ninja” Lostprophets

63)                   “Rise” AaRON

64)                   “Turn Up the Music” Chris Brown

65)                   “Holding Out for a Hero” Bonnie Tyler

66)                   “Luck Be a Lady” Frank Sinatra

67)                   “Mercy (feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz)” Kanye West

68)                   “Written In the Stars (feat. Eric Turner)” Tinie Tempah & Eric Turner

69)                   “I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)” Meat Loaf

70)                   “Bavarian #1 (Say You Will)” Miike Snow

71)                   “Big Truck” Coal Chamber

72)                   “Give It to Me Right”            Melanie Fiona            The Bridge

73)                   “Use Somebody” Kings of Leon

74)                   “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall (Coldplay vs. Swedish House Mafia)” Coldplay & Swedish House Mafia

75)                   “The Unnamed Feeling” Metallica

76)                   “Total Eclipse of the Heart”            Bonnie Tyler

77)                   “Replay” Iyaz           

78)                   “Lately” Divine

79)                   “Return to Innocence” Enigma

4.     Attended the Twins of Evil Tour featuring Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie.  An amazing show.  Had never seen Rob Zombie in concert!  I don’t care how old these guys get—thy still can rock out!

5.     Still paying off the $200+ credit charge from the concert after party which included me and a guy named Andrew heading over to a gentleman’s club and me finding it necessary to “make it rain” with all of his $1’s and $5’s as well as buying a private dance from a nice woman in a blue thong.  I still stand by that Rob Zombie made me do it.

6.     Along the lines of finally surrendering to the undeniable talent of The Black Keys, I also gave in to a Florence + The Machine album, Ceremonials. 

7.     Ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll New York 10K in which bands play along the course in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.  Never realized the significance of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” until that day.

8.     Swedish House Mafia came out with their second compilation album last month.  I now am truly a fan.  Listen to “Here We Go”—best song on the album.

9.     Did not give a hoot about the new song “Skyfall” by Adele for the new James Bond film until I actually saw Skyfall.  I also have consistently not been a fan of Daniel Craig until I saw Girl With the Dragon Tattoo where I got just a whiff of his I’m-too-old-for-you-but-you-cannot-deny-how-sexy-I-am quality.  Then after seeing Skyfall I became an obsessed fan.  I downloaded Adele’s “Skyfall” and tried to picture being the next Bond girl alongside Daniel Craig.  However, I realized that I would probably just get bored with his constant need to keep up with his pull-ups and crunches and running to drugstores to get him Centrum Silver. 

10.   I saw Madonna in concert at Yankee Stadium. I have never been a huge fan of Madonna.  I mean, sure, I did dress up with 5 of my friends in high school for Halloween to represent the many faces of Madonna, and yes, maybe I could not get enough of the “Frozen” video for some weird reason, but that was the extent of it.  However, I have to say she is pretty impressive in concert.  Her ass looks better than mine ever will in buttless chaps, she gave kudos to her thought-to-be rival, Lady Gaga by singing “Born This Way,” she cursed numerous times (remember she is a MOTHER!), and she had Avicii as her opening act.  Well played, Madonna, well played.

11.  “Clique” by Kanye West.  Word!

12. I went to a Renaissance Fair and I was able to pinpoint one of the songs the belly dancers were using during their performance.  “Marco Polo” by Loreena McKennitt.  Yup, you heard me.

13. Pitbull’s new album, Global Warming has come out.  “Tchu Tchu Tcha” featuring Enrique Iglesias is the only song I am listening to off of the album (mostly because I already had the singles).  Overall, not as good as his other stuff.

14. I have bought my whole family tickets to see The Lost Christmas Eve Tour of the Trans Siberian Orchestra to start off the Christmas season with bang! (Or rather a guitar solo and well chosen string section).

15. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Led Zeppelin’s “The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs Of All Time.”  “Whole Lotta Love” being #1, “Kashmir” being #4, and my favorite, “When the Levee Breaks,” making it at #8.

16. “The Wolf” by Fever Ray from the movie, Red Riding Hood is pretty amazing.  The movie, not so much.

17. I saw Train and Matt Kearney in August in Central Park.  Matt Kearney opened up the show and was truly was amazing.  I was slightly distracted by the tweens mouthing the lyrics to each other while clutching each other in a loving embrace, however, Kearney was an example of the ideal singer/songwriter performance.  The album, Young Love = adorable.  Oh yah, and Train was good too.

18. Due to Hurricane Sandy, I was actually stuck in my hometown for longer than expected as New York City was literally shut down.  Trick-or-Treating was the Sunday before the storm really hit so I offered to my parents to hand out candy but I would not do it without the proper attire.  Sadly, I had not packed for dressing up for Halloween.  So, I wore a Mad Hatter hat, a purple bow tie, black eyeliner and my Marilyn Manson tour t-shirt.  I got many compliments on my costume from parents walking their children around for tick-or-treating.  “Ooo scary—where did you find that costume?” one person asked.  “Um, a concert two weeks ago?” I responded.  Awkward.

19. “Fuck Hvor Er Det Fedt (At Vaere Hip Hop’er)” by Kato featuring Clemens (Hedegaard Remix) is a great club song that I discovered on the radio.

20. Rihanna is still being a whorebag.

21. Backstreet Boys have a new Christmas single out, “It’s Christmas Time Again.”  Sorry boys, you guys got nothing on ‘NSync’s Christmas album. 

22. “Living Dead Girl” by Rob Zombie is my favorite.

23. The Hobbit is coming out Friday, December 14^th.  This has nothing to do with music but Denny’s restaurant has a special Hobbit Menu and there are advertisements on the sides of buses and there is a collectors edition magazine showing a Gandalf the Grey cloak for almost $1,000 and I want it and I have no idea where I would wear it but I want it anyway and I took a half day off from work so I can either go in late from seeing the midnight show on Thursday or leave work early Friday to see the movie as soon as possible on Friday and I am looking forward to watching all three films that weekend after seeing the Hobbit I just CAN’T WAIT.  And that is my hobbit rant.

24. Was watching Zack and Miri Make a Porno and looked up the songs featured in the movie as one has consistently caught my attention.  “Hey” by Pixies.  Listening to samples of their songs, it felt sacrilege to be a supposed music connoisseur and not own a Pixies album so I bought one!  They are able to musically reach an emotion that most bands can only dream of.

25. Jack White’s cover of U2’s “Love is Blindness” is featured in The Great Gatsby trailer, as well as “No Church in the Wild” by Kanye West & Jay Z.  Such different songs but worked so well together!

26. “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” is my new favorite Christmas song.  Classic!

27. Obama 2012!!! Four More Years.  No doubt, Jay Z helped him along. 

28. Another Black Veil Brides album is coming out in January.  Single, “In The End” leaves me to assume the album will be nothing short of rock and roll happiness.

29. Major Lazer is covering Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up.”  Said to be released December 4^th. 

30. My mom is setting the alarm for tomorrow (Wednesday morning) so we do not miss Pitbull’s performance on the Today Show. 

Updates!

Sorry for the radio silence.  Actually, in all sincerity, last week I spent half the week sleeping in a bunk at an overnight summer camp, killing spiders, turning off broken smoke detectors, and walking through cabins at 12 and 4 AM to do rounds.  Don’t ask. 

Anyway, here are a few songs everyone should be listening:

“Amen” by Paper Tongues

I just realized I downloaded “Higher” by Paper Tongues many moons ago and didn’t put it together that these two songs were done by the same band. This is a very I-Love-My-Life this song.  It can truly lift your spirits. I recommend it highly.

“Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men

I feel kind of embarrassed about this but this song is very creative and catchy and I cannot get enough of it.  If Mumford and Sons had children, they would sound like Of Monsters and Men.  This is a song that I can listen to over and over again and not get tired of it.  I think it is because it can mirror your mood—it can have a happy vibe, a sad vibe, or an angry vibe.  It mutates!

“Hands In The Air” by Timbaland featuring Ne-Yo

Taking a totally different track, the song that plays in most of the Step Up Revolution previews out right now is AMAZING.  This song is a great song for working out or running (or breaking out into dance on an escalator in protest-art-fashion).

“Road to Nowhere” by Talking Heads

I heard this song in a bar recently and I was super excited about it.  I grew up listening to Talking Heads (well, rather I grew up with my mom listening to Talking Heads and therefore me being forced to listen to them as well).  They were just never my thing.  I never took kindly to them, I guess you could say.  However, this song really is great and it makes me respect them a little bit more.

Other songs worth listening to:

“She Doesn’t Mind” by Sean Paul

“Feel Good Drag” by Anberlin

“In My Trunk” by Dev

And if anyone hasn’t heard about it—Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie are performing in New York City on Wednesday, October 17^th.  Concert will also feature Jonathan Davis from Korn.  Should be an epic show!

Stealing Stuff for Miike Snow

I needed face wash.  But I wanted the fancy, overpriced kind that they sell at Sephora.  So I went to Sephora with the full intention of only looking at the face washes.  However, when I walked through the door, I quickly was distracted by the nail polish display.  I would say within the past few months Sephora has really branched out in terms of their nail polish options.  They have all these different brands and colors.  It is truly ama . . . oh right, so anyway, music blog.

So anyway, I was meandering around the nail polish display and noticed briefly the song playing in Sephora.  It was catchy—I liked it.  Then I noticed they had Dior nail polish and I started looking at that, no longer giving attention to the music in the background.  Then I noticed it again.  The same song was playing and it caught my attention yet again.  I had to find out what this was.

I had my big bag with me draped over my shoulder and I started looking for my phone to Shazam the song that was playing.  I fumbled over the sunscreen and dishwashing detergent I had just bought in Duane Reade, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter in paperback, a sweaty water bottle, wallet, but no phone. It was way down at the bottom of the bag and as I was trying to get it deep in the depths of my bag, the woman working at this Sephora came over and asked me, “Can I help you find anything?” 

Now, this woman had seen me at the nail polish a few minutes ago.  I had been looking for quit sometime (and not looking at face washes like I should have been).  But it was not until I had both my hands in my bag that she asked me if she could help me.  I have a sneaking suspicion that she thought I was stealing or preparing to steal something.

I was offended, whether I should have been or not was another story.  But I was.  So, I responded, “YAH—MY PHONE!”

“Oh, sorry,” she said and walked away, never to ask me if I needed help again.  Finally feeling the phone in my grasp, I took it out frantically; realizing the song could end at any minute.  So I stood there, looking at the nail polish with my phone out as it tried to find the song in its electronic brain.

The song was “Bavarian #1 (Say You Will)” by Miike Snow from their 2012 album, Happy To You.  This song is quirky, bizarre, comforting and adorable.  I downloaded it as I left the store and have listened to nothing else since. 

I recommend everyone listen to it as soon as possible.  It will make your day!  And this just goes to show that music comes before all else; even nail polish and face wash.

What is Important RIGHT NOW!

Today I am here to tell you two things you need to be aware of in the music world.  These two things are 1) “Shake it Out” by Florence and the Machine and 2) Continued Silence from Imagine Dragons.

1)  “Shake It Out” is an awesome song but I never gave it a chance.  When the whole Florence and the Machine craze was going on, I was only interested in her single.  Anything after “Dog Days Are Over,” I cared nothing about.  I had heard the song “Shake it Out” in places like Barnes and Noble or Starbucks, but that’s it; I have only ever listened to it in passing.  I have never sat down (or stood up for that matter) and just really listened to it.  I did that a few days ago on the subway.  I downloaded the song and totally succumbed to the talked about powers-that-be of Florence and the Machine.

First of all, she uses the word, “ghouls” within the first few lines of the song.  We do not use that enough.  That is a fabulous word that brings to mind something along the lines of the demons in Fantasia.  Recently when I was complaining to my mother about Amtrak and their not-so-adequate employees, I used the phrase “inbred swine” which is not my own invention, but rather I stole it from the film 300.  But it is brilliant—the perfect combination of sophistication, arrogance, pompousness and righteousness.  “Ghouls” has the same affect.

The fact the she expresses her past as a “horse” she is always “dragging around” and that she is now going to “bury that horse in the ground.”  It is excellent how she uses her metaphors.  She also uses a phrase that she is has a “graceless heart” and she is going to “cut it out and then restart.”  Wow, have I been there.  It is a serious song but the chorus keeps it catchy and not as heavy as the lyrics and song topic could make it.  “It is hard to dance with a devil on your back, so shake him off.”  It is true just shake it out.  The music itself is wonderful and so are the lyrics and that voice is pretty otherworldly. 

2) Imagine Dragons is a group that only started releasing music a few years ago.  Their song, “It’s Time” has been released and is playing on the radio currently as a fairly popular hit.  In addition, there has recently been a preview for a film, The Words, staring Jeremy Irons and Bradley Cooper.  In the preview, the song playing is another song off of the same EP, Continued Silence.  The song is “Demons” and it is beautiful.  The chorus goes:

When you feel my heat

Look into my eyes

It’s where my demons hide

It’s where my demons hide

Don’t get too close

It’s dark inside

It’s where my demons hide

It’s where my demons hide

There is real emotion, both pain and happiness, that you can hear in their music. It is Mumford and Sons meets Kings of Leon.  Check them out!