Dancing to the Beat of Your Own Drum

As many Julien-K fans were, I was blind-sided by Elias’ decision to leave the band. His reasoning was fair an understandable, and I am so happy for him and his family, and wish him nothing but the best. But it left many of us wondering “Who will take his place?”. Elias is one-in-a-million. He fit so well with Julien-K, I couldn’t imagine anyone else stepping in.

A few days later, the band announced Frank Zummo as their new drummer. Having never heard the name, I did a little research (i.e. asked my girls who the hell he was) and discovered he was a drummer in a group called Street Drum Corps. My friends had seen them play, and insisted they were awesome.

Saturday night, I had the pleasure to experience Street Drum Corps live in Hollywood at Bar Sinister.

Ho.Ly.Shit. What I saw on Saturday was unexpected awesomeness, and I was blown away. The only way I can think to describe SDC is it is a complicated recipe of so many factors that sound weird and bizarre but marry perfectly and uniquely.

Start off with Stomp. Add Blue Man Group (minus blue people though!). Throw in street performers, electronic, rock and pop music, costumes, and some power tools. Pour in awesome video presentations (not powerpoint crap!). Sprinkle with recycled trash. Shove on stage for 2 hours, and you have the perfect SDC experience.

Comprised of Adam and Bobby Alt as well as Frank Zummo, these guys take everything they do, and turn up the creativity factor to 11. These guys are NOT some average “edgy” Stomp-esque knock-off. What SDC does onstage is so unique, and so energizing. They push the envelope to what music is, and tie it all together with drums that are just so… primal. Watching them live is like watching the creative thinking process in action.

You all should DEFINITELY check Street Drum Corps out. Which you can do here: Street Drum Corps

And as for you, Mr. Frank Zummo… my boys made a wise decision, welcome to Julien-K.

Okay, I’ll shut up, stop reading, and go check out Street Drum Corps!

What I’m Listening To: “Knock Me Out” Street Drum Corps

What I’m Reading: “Mile 81″ by Stephen King

Yes, you are here with me. Always.

Now that I’ve had time to recover from Saturday night, and fight off the plague that hit me on Monday morning, I’m ready to sit down and put my thoughts into words on the new Julien-K album “We’re Here With You”!

On release day (January 23rd, 2012), we watched it climb up the Electronic Albums chart on iTunes, and it peaked at #2!!! And listening to this album over and over again, I can’t quite figure out why it didn’t hit #1. It’s a truly amazing album. (Click the song title to preview songs on amazon.com, and to buy them a la carte. Links to purchase the album can be found at the bottom.)

1- We’re Here With You ~ I LOVE the guitars on this track, it’s got a raw, honest tone that I wasn’t expecting. The beat gets you from second one, and I can’t stop moving when this song is on. It’s not a dance-y track, but definitely one you can groove to. The lyrics are amazing; vague without too much mystery. Makes me feel like this song was written about me, and I’m sure others can find that connection to this track. 5/5

2- Surrounded By Cowards ~ This was the track I was the most excited for. Hearing the snippets while they were recording it, I had pegged this as an early fave. The guys did NOT disappoint. While I’m not SUPER excited about the high notes Ryan’s hitting in this track, it doesn’t ruin the song, or take away from it at all. The beat (and hook!) is absolutely addictive and catchy. Definitely a “stuck-in-your-head-all-day” song. 5/5

3- Cruel Daze Of Summer ~ Another highly anticipated track that was worth all the hype. The melody on this song is just so… DEEP and resonating, I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. Great beat that flows well throughout, hooks you early and keeps you going, however the song runs a WEE bit longer than it probably should. This song is electronic music at it’s finest! 5/5

4- Breakfast in Berlin- Free Download! ~ This is the first single off of “We’re Here With You”. I have to say, NOT my favorite track. The beat is gritty and dirty (in a good way), but the vocals just don’t… click with me. And all the “ah ah”‘s. Too many “ah ah”‘s. Good song, just not great, and not in my top 10. 3/5 (Authors Note: The free download is from the band themselves, so say thank you!)

5- Palm Springs Reset ~ Another favorite off the album. My personal favorites are always the ones that are raw emotion with a great beat. This track is really what these guys do best, if you ask me. The drum track on this is really strong and the lyrics are so pretty. Ryan’s vocals are so soothing and it’s the perfect “chill out” song, almost… cleansing. Very Depeche Mode-esque! 5/5

6- Colorcast ~ Pure electro heaven! I love the beat and the overall feel of this song. The vocals are a bit… higher than I like, but it DOES suit the song well. This is a perfect club/dance song. In fact, I’m dancing a little right now as I write this as I listen along. 4/5

7- Close Continuance ~ Definitely the darker tune on the record, and NOT a favorite of mine. The beat is good, I just dislike the vocals, too “talky” for my liking in the beginning. Once we get into the hook, I’m down to listen, but still a little too high for me. I’ll most likely skip over this one when I’m listening to the whole album. 2/5

8- Nights Of Future Past ~ This track makes up for “Close Continuance”! It’s a darker, deeper song, and I love the way it was put together. Ryan’s vocals are super smooth, and the melody gets me. I LOVE the hook on this song! This song reminds me of Orgy… amplified by 10, with more awesome on top… if any of that makes sense. 5/5

9- Flashpoint Riot ~ I didn’t THINK I would like this song, but I was surprised when I heard it all the way through. I do like this song. Heavy guitars, saturated with electro beats, the perfect fusion of rock and electronica. This is the song that proves the guys know what they are doing, and they know how to pave the way. The vocals are a little too… processed for me, but it suits the song well. Another great club/dance song, and I can see this being played live at a club like Voyeur in San Diego (hint! hint! LED Wall! Hint!). 4/5

10- I’ll Try Not To Destroy You ~ Another song I was really anticipating. While I don’t typically like Ryan’s high notes, this song is the exception. Love love love the beat, the flow, and the melody in this song. This song is pure seduction, beginning to end. Easily my favorite track on the entire album, and I pegged it as a favorite as soon as I heard the whole CD. The vocals in this track are absolutely FLAWLESS, and all the elements they used to compose it, fit like a puzzle. Everything marries so well here, if a song can be absolute perfection, this is the one. 5/5

I had such high hopes for this album, being such a long time fan. And with 100% honesty, this album does not disappoint at all. The evolution of this band is so organic and smooth. An overall lighter tone than Death to Analog, it really suits the band, and it suits me just fine. I LOVE the guitars used throughout the whole album, and the way they’re soaked with the electro elements, sounds like it SHOULDN’T work, but it does. All in all, job well done. Now get to work on #3!

Click the image below to buy the album, which I HIGHLY suggest you do!

Killing Fields

When the Julien-K track list for Death to Analog came out, us core fans noticed two well discussed songs were missing. Killing Fields and Everyone Knows. When the boys released DTA in Europe, they decided to add Killing Fields, leaving us US fans in the dust, sadly.

However, because we are in the age of the internet, a lot of us core fans got our grubby little fingers on the track, myself included. While I won’t give the song away here (I don’t wanna get sued and/or yelled at), I will share with you the lyrics, as well as link you to a site where an affiliate of the band is giving away a FREE (unfinished) remix! Enjoy!

Killing Fields
I hit the ground running
With nowhere to go
The system is blind and flawed
Don’t tell me to let go
There’s a mob at the corner
Can’t they just let the man go?
Like a wild fire it spreads
Wherever the wind blows

Is anyone out there? (Tap on the window)
The person with answers (has called in a no show)
I know of a problem, (I’m taking my chances)
I’m dancing with ego, (caught in the branches)
Is anyone out there (with the same dream?)
The same broken record (or so it seems)
I’m stuck at the crossroads (with no end in sight)
And I don’t think that I’ll ever be the same

Born into nothing
I just can’t take anymore
It’s something I can’t explain
I just want more
For blood or for money
So far from home
Did God grow tired of us?
I just have to know

In the killing fields where no dreams go
In the killing fields where dreams grow cold

In the killing fields

Claim your FREE download of the Brandon Belsky Killing Fields remix here from Insidethetourbus.com

I’ll shut up now, I have a song to listen to on repeat!

Here We Go Again

I know that American Idol is quite a few episodes into the season, but now is a good a time as any to tell you how bad of a love affair I have with this show. Every year, I watch. Religiously. This is one of the several shows that are like crack to me. I know I’m one of millions, but this show has me effin’ hooked!

Last year, I was heartbroken, when all 3 of my top favorites were in the top 3. Have to admit, I was pissed when my Glambert lost (even though his new album blows…).

This year, I figured since I’ve got my faithful blog here, I’d discuss my early fav’s with you, Internet. Aren’t you excited?! Calm yourself, it’s gonna happen!

I have to say, even though the contestants aren’t WOWing me this year, I do tend to favor a few people. So here are my top 6 picks:

BOYS
1. Andrew Garcia- He is my FAVORITE guy right now. His version of “Straight Up” during Hollywood week? OMG, LOVE IT!! I hope he goes so far!

2. Todrick Hall – I fell in love with him during his audition. For some reason, this boy just does it for me.

3. Lee Dewyze – I dunno what this guy does for me, but he does it. Love him!

GIRLS
1. Crystal Bowersox – This girl is just so cool. She’s got a great voice, and is just… so calm and chill. Love her!

2. Haeley Vaughn – Haeley has SUCH an infectious smile! So bubbly, so cute! I hope she goes far!

3. Lily Scott – I love her image and her voice, she’s definitely got a vote from me!

I like a lot of the other contestants, but those 6 just do it for me. What are your favs? If you tell me, I’ll shut up!

iTunes makes the world go round

Unrelated to today’s meme, it’s been 2 months since I started towards my New Years Resolutions, yaaay! I must say, things have been going pretty good! I’m still behind on my book reading, but still pluggin’ along. I’ve lost 15 lbs so far (yipee!), and everything else is slowly coming together.

Now that you’ve all been updated… on with the meme! I stole this from one of my friends on facebook.

Music Survey
(I’m doing this just for my iTunes, I have about a million more songs not on my hard drive.)

How many songs total: 461

How many hours or days of music: 1 day 6 hours, and 51 minutes

Sort By Song Title
First Song: Addicted-Kelly Clarkson
Last Song: 3- Britney Spears (Wow, trust me, my taste is much better than those 2 songs, stupid alphabet)

Sort By Time
Shortest Song: Tobacco Road (Amer. Idol) – Syesha Mercado (I forget what season this is…)
Longest Song: Free Bird – Lynard Skynard (FUCK YEAH!)

Sort By Album
First Album: Affirmation – Savage Garden
Last Album: I have a bunch of ones with no album info…

Top Five Most Played Songs: (These are off, I don’t always use iTunes)
1. CrushCrushCrush by Paramore
2. Beat It- Fall Out Boy
3. Gasoline- Seether
4. Morning After – Chester Bennington vs Julien-K
5. Leavin- Jesse McCartney (Oh, that’s embarrassing…)

First Song That Comes Up On Shuffle: Machine Head by Bush

Search The Following & State How Many Songs Come Up:
(For me, this is searching Titles, Albums, Artists – everything)

Death – 26
Life – 4
Love – 23
Hate – 4
You – 67
Sex – 3

I’ll shut up now.

Thumbs Down

I’m a raver. No, I don’t put pigtails in my hair, resemble rainbow bright, and wear pants that I could smuggle a kangaroo in with the legroom left over… anymore. (It was a phase, one which, thankfully, there is little to no photographic proof. Phew.) What I mean is, when I love something, I REALLY love it, and I’ll tell everyone I can about it.

But, Internet, life isn’t always puppies, rainbows, and pigtails. I don’t love everything. So, to switch up Tunes for Tuesday this week, these are my Top 5 Most Disappointing Albums I’ve bought/listened to.

5- Dark Horse by Nickelback – Yes, people, I like Nickelback. Usually, their songs are in a constant rotation for me. However, only a select few of the songs off this latest album hooked me. One of a few that I passed on.

4- Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park – Admitedly, this album isn’t all THAT bad. But it’s a lot… wussier then I like my LP. I’m not a die hard fan, so this may be why M2M was a bit of a disappointment.

3- It Won’t Be Soon Before Long by Maroon 5- This album is probably the reason a lot of people have forgotten about Maroon 5. Their first album, Songs About Jane, rocked my world and was in my CD player constantly. The second album… after sampling songs, I didn’t even bother buying. It’s a shame, because Adam Lavigne has such a unique voice.

2- One of the Boys by Katy Perry – Just like everyone else not living under a rock, I fell in love with Miss Perry with “I Kissed a Girl”. “Hot n Cold” was another song that hooked me. The rest of her album? Forgettable. Regrettable. A big let down. **sigh**

1- For Your Entertainment by Adam Lambert – I was a total Glambert fan when he was on American Idol. In fact, I was about to revolt when he lost. He’ s fabulous, he’s hot, he’s talented. His album also bites. The first single, I loved. The rest, I can dig some of the songs, but they are barely tolerable. Sorry, Adam!

Tell me what music you regret buying, and I might just shut up.

P.S. I now have a page for my workout playlists. Check it out up at the top under “Music Mix Up”!

R.I.P Grammy Margaret

In honor of my grandfathers mother, I’d like to post the lyrics of what was her and my Papa’s favorite George Jones song. They LOVED George Jones, and his 8-tracks (music listening devices our ancestors used) were always playing when they were together.

This song still, to this day, brings tears to my eyes, and always will. It is truly one of the saddest, most heartbreaking, yet beautiful songs I have ever heard.

Papa, Grammy Margaret, I will never stop loving you.

“He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones

He said I’ll love you ’til I die
She told him you’ll forget in time
As the years went slowly by
She still preyed upon his mind

He kept her picture on his wall
Went half crazy now and then
He still loved her through it all
Hoping she’d come back again

Kept some letters by his bed
Dated 1962
He had underlined in red
Every single I love you

I went to see him just today
Oh but I didn’t see no tears
All dressed up to go away
First time I’d seen him smile in years

(Chorus)
He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they’ll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

(Spoken)
You know she came to see him one last time
Oh and we all wondered if she would
And it kept running through my mind
This time he’s over her for good

(Repeat Chorus)

This song is featured on several George Jones albums, but this is one of my grandparents favorites: The Essential George Jones

Going Gaga

I’m one of the hundreds of thousands of people LOVING me some Lady Gaga these days. I decided to post some of her song lyrics today for Tunes for Tuesday.

Paparazzi has to be one of my FAVORITE songs by Lady Gaga. When I first heard it, I fell in love with it. Now it has over 1,000 plays on my iTunes. Oops. Here are the lyrics.

Paparazzi by Lady Gaga

We are the crowd
We’re cuh-coming out
Got my flash on it’s true
Need that picture of you
It’s so magical
We’d be so fantastical

Leather and jeans
Garage glamorous
Not sure what it means
But this photo of us
It don’t have a price
Ready for those flashing lights,

‘Cause you know that baby I…

I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me,
Papa-paparazzi,
Baby there’s no other superstar you know that I’ll be your
Papa-paparazzi
Promise I’ll be kind, but I won’t stop until that boy is mine,
Baby you’ll be famous, chase you down until you love me,
Papa-paparazzi

I’ll be your girl, backstage at your show,
Velvet ropes and guitars, yeah ’cause you’re my rock star,
In between the sets, eyeliner and cigarettes,

Shadow is burnt, yellow dance and we turn,
My lashes are dry, purple teardrops I cry,
It don’t have a price, loving you is cherry pie
‘Cause you know that baby I

I’m your biggest fan I’ll follow you until you love me,
Papa-paparazzi,
Baby there’s no other superstar you know that I’ll be your
Papa-paparazzi
Promise I’ll be kind, but I won’t stop until that boy is mine,
Baby you’ll be famous chase you down until you love me,
Papa-paparazzi

Real good, we dance in the studio,
Snap, snap to that shit on the radio
Don’t stop, for anyone,
We’re plastic but we still have fun!

I’m your biggest fan I’ll follow you until you love me,
Papa-paparazzi,
Baby there’s no other superstar you know that I’ll be your
Papa-paparazzi
Promise I’ll be kind, but I won’t stop until that boy is mine,
Baby you’ll be famous chase you down until you love me,
Papa-paparazzi

You can buy Lady Gaga’s CD here on Amazon.com

Cynergy 67

Keeping up with the Daily Blurb, Tuesday will now be known as… Tunes for Tuesday! (Original, right! RIGHT?!)

If you’re clueless so far… allow me to elaborate. Every Tuesday, I’ll post about a new band I’m digging, a new song that I annoy everyone around me within a 10 foot radius by singing or playing repeatedly, or maybe even a band I’ve been crushin’ on for awhile. Either way, they get free promo, you get edumicated, and I’m off the hook for blogging. Win-Win-Win, people, Win-Win-Win.

Today, I bring you….

These Wisconsinite boys have been on the scene for quite some time, and to be honest, hold a cozy little spot in my heart.

These guys deliver nothing but pure pulsating sounds that overload your senses and leave you feeling thoroughly rocked-the-fuck-out. Sensual, sexual, raw, electronic, invasive, inviting. There are way too many words to describe the tunes these guys are constantly pumping out. Not only that, but behind the masks, below the mystery, there are really just a bunch of really awesome and talented dudes.

And with their new album, Project: Assimilation out now, it’s the PERFECT time to check these guys out!

Get more info on Cynergy 67 Here on Myspace

Check out their twitter Here and be sure to follow them!

Be sure to check out their new album, and all sorts of other ear-gasmic goodies Here on FiXT

Anyone else a Cynergy 67 fan? Leave me a comment showin’ the love!

Alright, I’m gonna shut up now!

Oh noes, this again?

I know I blogged about my boys Julien-K just a few weeks ago, but I’m gonna do it again. Get used to it, because as I’ve mentioned before, these boys own my soul and I slave work for them, for free.

I’ll make this quick and painless, I promise.

So here goes! My boys are on tour! Weee! This is pretty much the only payment I get from these boys, and I consider myself PAID. IN. FULL. after every show I see because they are UHHHH-MAAAAY-ZIIIIIIINGAH!

Click that nice little picture up there and check out the tour dates and ticket info on Julien-K’s MySpace page. (As far as I’m aware, tickets are available through TicketWhore, I mean Ticketmaster as well as available at the venue box offices.)

Tickets are reasonable (when not using TicketWhore of course), and you’re in for a great effin show!

P.S. If anyone is going to the June 30th West Springfield, VA show, hit me up and we could meet up! It’s possible that I will be the only girl there wearing a neck brace. And yes, it will be stylin’.

P.S.S. Yes, I friggen hate TicketWhore with a passion. You end up raped in fees! Oy, I had a lot more typed here before I realized… this is a whole ‘nuther blog… so TO BE CONTINUED…

…..I know ya’ll want me to shut up now….