My favorite CMI Band!

I have really opened myself up to a lot of new bands through the Campus Music Invasion this spring. It is pretty difficult for me to develop a love for a band so quickly, but I definitely am in love with the Pinstrip 45's. Here is the short review I wrote about their newest album:

If I were to describe the Pinstripe 45's and Marshall Hanbury's music in just two word, I would call it hauntingly beautiful. For such a young, upcoming band, I found that the music was filled with so much experience. Each song paints such a strong narrative through the intense and passionate lyrics. I feel that his sound and lyrics are very similar to well known and established artists like Ben Harper, Guster, and most closely, Ingram Hill. Something I really have grown to appreciate about the Pinstrip 45's music is their simplistic use of guitar in the background of their music. The mellow use of instruments helps make the lyrics pop out as stronger and more prominent in the listener's mind. In addition, the use of the viola is very moving and emotional. Through listening to the Pinstripe 45's, it almost feels as if you are listening to a slower classic song, like something of the Beatles or a band from the 60's or 70's, juxtaposed with a newer sound. Especially notable songs by the Pinstripe 45's (in my opinion) are "When I Saw That Photograph," and "Follow me down once again."

In addition, though I have not spent as much time listening to their C.D. "Know Me," I really also enjoy twentyfour64. It is a MUCH different sound than the Pinstripe 45's, but is more fitting to the type of music that I usually listening to. They have an amazing tone and great lyrics-their music is so multi-faceted; it cannot even be pigeon-holed into one category. One of my favorite songs is "Free and Captured." 

I love Gavin DeGraw

Gavin DeGraw has been my favorite musical artist since about freshman year of high school, around the time that the Chariot album was released. Since then, I have been to four of his concerts and have gotten to meet him in person twice. Through all of these amazing experiences, none can compare to last Monday night. For my birthday, my mom arranged for me and a guest to go to an exclusive meet and greet with Gavin Degraw. I had done this before, thinking it would be just a quick visit to a table where he was sitting signing items. I was definitely wrong. My friend Sara and I were escorted with 20 other people from the concert venue to a bar a block away. Here, we were each able to talk to, take pictures, and mingle with Gavin Degraw! It was one of the coolest experiences of me life- meeting my favorite singer and getting to talk to him in an intimate setting. If this wasn't enough, afterwards, we went back to the concert venue, the Blue Note, here in Columbia, Missouri, and sat in the very front row. The concert was set-up in a very different way than normal concerts. The whole main floor was covered with round tables to create a more casual, intimate environment. 

I have been to a lot of concerts in my life, some better than others. I'm pretty sure that this concert takes the cake. Gavin DeGraw is probably the only artist that I have seen live that sounds better in-person than he does on his C.D. His voice and mannerisms are so passionate and strong. I had a friend that knew about two of his songs before going to this concert, and now she is absolutely in love with him. If your not a huge Gavin fan now, I suggest listening to "Stay" and "Glass" from his new C.D. Free. Or flashback, to the Chariot or self-titled Gavin DeGraw C.D. I promise that you won't be disappointed. :)

Favorite Movie Songs/Scores

Figuring out my favorite "mood setting songs" from movies was really difficult for me. 

But, when it came down to it, the first thing that came to my mind and one of my favorite scores from a movie of all time is the score created by James Horner in "Apollo 13" during the launch scene. It's such a dramatic and moving moment that I get chills every time that I watch the movie. You can call me a big dork, but it is such a beautiful song.

For my favorite ending scene/ending credits song, "God Only Knows," by The Beach Boys in the movie "Love Actually," makes me smile and cry at the same time. The airport scene at the end of the movie where everyone is greeting their loved ones is such a realistic and heartwarming moment, and the song fits with the scene very well. 

Favorite opening scene/opening credits: "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith at the beginning of "Dazed and Confused." It is SO perfect for the whole intro of the high school scene and the craziness of the parking lot. 

Favorite steamy love scene song..."Take My Breath Away," in Top Gun. Tom Cruise back in the day...enough said. The volleyball scene is definitely the best though.

Where The Wild Things Are

Currently, I am very upset. 

I just watched the trailer for "Where The Wild Things Are." And after becoming out of my mind excited, the release date showed up. October 16th. Why do trailers come out so early?

My roommates and I watched the trailer a few times through, contemplating what we remembered about the childhood book. Sadly, all we were able to come up with was that it was about a little boy that escapes into a world of monsters and has lots of different adventures. If this is even right...we're not exactly sure. I guess we'll have to wait for the movie to come out to actually know. Or I guess we could find the book somewhere haha. If we're feeling adventurous..

What happened to being little and sitting around and reading fantasy books? And isn't it sad that we remember so few of these books that filled us with so much joy when we were little? If someone were to ask me right now what my three favorite books were when I was younger, I don't think I would be able to give them a straight answer. 

On a different note, I definitely love the choice of "Wake Up," by Arcade Fire for the song played during the trailer. I looked up the lyrics, and they are definitely fitting to the theme of the movie- an escape from reality for a child that is afraid of growing up.

The Power of a Quote

So I have recently discovered that I am a complete sucker for good quotes. When I left for college, my mom gave me a book of inspirational/life changing quotes. Occassionally, when I'm feeling down or just have a free couple seconds I flip through it, and I always seem to find a good quote that fits my current mood. My friends make fun of me for updating the "about me" box on facebook too often because I am constantly finding new and great quotes that I want to share with everyone. Why I am I rambling on about quotes? Well, I have decided since I have such an obsession with other people's words of wisdom, I should start coming up with some of my own. My new goal in life is to have one of my quotes published in a book :) I had an hour or two this past Sunday, so I sat down and wrote one of my own. It's a little bit long, but I decided I should post the whole thing. Enjoy!

Love is eternal.

There is no such thing as falling out of love. At least that's what I believe. I find that once you love someone, you love him or her eternally. At one point in your life, you may love that person with all of your heart, and at another, you may love them without even being aware, with the smallest sliver of your soul. But to say you have fallen out of love with a person, I find, is impossible. I believe there is nothing that is able to stop or stand in the way of love. Love is ignored, sabotaged, pushed to the side in hopes of finding another love, but it is impossible to dissipate, to erase. Love is a choice. Once it is present, it will always be present, but whether or not it is acted upon, appreciated, and nurtured, is determined by the beholder. If one decides that their love is no longer strong enough, a relationship ends. But the love does not end. No matter how weak it may be, the love will always remain. Forever.

Love is eternal.

Life Changing Music...

I have always found music to be my escape, love, and outlet. It is such a strong and moving form of expression. Whether through listening to the lyrics of my favorite songs or playing the songs on the piano myself, I have always held music as an integral part of my life..

Therefore, it is very difficult for me to pinpoint a specific song or album that really changed or refocused my perspective on life. I could name hundreds of song lines that have moved me to smile or cry and could think of many songs that have helped me through a tough time or day. 

I think the most important thing about music is that through your own pain, you are able to find comfort in the realization that there are others that have felt and are feeling the same emotions you are currently struggling with. And it's not just the negative feelings either. On numerous occassions I have found myself caught up in the lyrics of songs about the joys of living and appreciating what we have, not what we do not have. 

If I were to name one artist that solidifies this concept for me I would have to say The Fray. The one line that really stands out for me through all of their songs (all of which I have memorized) comes from the song "All At Once" from the How to Save a Life album. The line, "Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same," really puts the world into persepective for me. Everyone goes through times in their life that they feel like they won't make it through...situations that they feel are unjustified and wrong. But in the end, these heartbreaking and beyond difficult situations may turn out to be for the best.

I think it's amazing what song lyrics can do for us. When I'm having a tough time, I always know where to turn...I crank up my iPod, and the world suddenly seems like a much better, comforting place...

Lollapalooza 2009

I'm a little bit ashamed to say that I have lived in Chicago my entire life and have never made it to Lollapalooza. But, after looking at the headliners for this upcoming August, I feel like I haven't been missing that much. The headliners for this year are Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, and Kanye West. If I were to give each of these three groups a ranking from 1-10, I would give Kanye an "8," Radiohead a "6" and Rage Against the Machine a "4." I'm definitely not saying that all three of these bands aren't extremely talented and popular with many people, but personally, I'm not the hugest fan of rock, which is what I feel like I would be seeing a lot of.  I think I would be more excited about seeing a concert in such a fun environment like Grant Park than actually seeing the artists playing there. I feel like Lollapalooza is hyped up to be this HUGE deal with a bunch of big name bands and artists there...but it never quite lives up to everyone's expectations.

On another note...The concerts that I AM getting pumped up about seeing in Chicago this summer are more along the lines of The Fray and Jacks Mannequin at Tinley Park and Dave Matthews Band. I think I may just be a more low key person...