Flashback Friday: Silverchair

This was always one of the bands that I enjoyed the most even though they were a little off. So much emotions from such little guys.

1st Flashback Friday

The first weekly post I will debut is Flashback Friday. I will feature a song from back in middle school or high school. Basically be prepared for some 90s shiz (my favorite music decade). Today I will share two songs from 1996 (something on the R&B and alternative side) in order to get us started right. Enjoy!

Mint Condition - What Kind of Man Would I be?



Eels - Novocaine for the Soul

The Lyrical Styleeings of 311

So it's pretty clear that I have a obsession with the band 311. Even the title and subtitle of this blog are direct quotes or inspired by 311 lyrics. I thought in my tradition of quoting lyrics I would have an edition dedicated to 311 songs. Aside from the great music, I have always appreciated 311's lyrics. They really are inspiring and make you think. Let's start with the song that inspired the blog title (aside from the subtitle lyric):

• Beautiful Disaster (from Transistor)
  

Today seems like a good day to burn a bridge or two
The one with old wood creaking that would burn away right on cue
I try to be not like that but some people really suck
Some people need to get the axing, chalk it up to bad luck

• I'll Be Here Awhile (from From Chaos)
  

Far is solace in the maddening pace
Sad state written on my face
Not a tight rope walk but dance
Uncertain game of chance
But I'll see it through in time...

And if a person place or thing can deliver
I will quiver with delight
Tempted by the hand that could
Blind my vision and sight
But at twenty years of age
In frolic and in rage
I will see it through in time...

But the dawn has come into the endless night
And everything's gonna be alright
But at thirty years of age
Through frolic and in rage
All regressed and healed in time

• Flowing (from Soundsystem)
  

Tick, tick, tick the clock bludgeons your mind
Endlessly replaying times that were unkind
Go away sun, I'm not prepared for you today
It seems you are, it seems you are, huh!

• Creatures (For A While) (from Evolver)
  

My name is volatile
I've been this way a long while
I'd surely like to rest
But energy get's the best of me
It's been a wild ride
I wouldn't change a minute
I can't slow down inside
Guess that's why I live it
To the extent that it's absurd

• Beyond The Gray Sky (from Evolver)
  

It is a gift I know
A moment of bliss that we hold
A firecracker flash of light then on
To the next plane soul remain
Come along if you dare
It's gonna be that you're scared
Lovely life I thank you
For the reason to see the pain through

• Visit (from Music)

He wouldn't say he cared at all if you asked him
You're heading for a fall brother, it goes right past him
In another world, he's in another place
You know the need for speed's just another form of greed

But when you're Jones and your brain's frozen
You're not thinkin' 'bout the choices you're makin'
You're just rollin' on and on, it's anybody's guess
'Cuz no one's at the wheel, at the front of that mess, yes

• Omaha Stylee (from Grassroots)
  

Omaha stylee didn't think there was one
Where you know the radio's weak and the shows are more fun
But you know we fucked up the dance since 1988
Many did not think when they hear that we come from this state

Okay I think I've done them justice. We've covered most of the best albums (in my opinion). Notably I have left off the self-titled 311 album, but honestly if you haven't explored those songs, you probably have never even heard of 311 and might be a lost cause.

State of the Union: Lyrics Style

Those of you who frequent the blog know that I love music, and even more so, I love reflecting on the poignant lyrics. I was inspired by a great trip to the gym, where the ipod's random mix came up with some great songs that seem to reflect my mood as of late. I got a great workout out of it and you get a great new blog post:

• Never Win by Fischerspooner

If I was not me
I would hate me too
Just like you do
I don't need to need you
Tell me what to do
Tell me what to say

It's all made worse by a simple scheme
You're slipping away from me
Can't decide sometimes if it's worth the point
The point is the struggle, insecurity

Hopefully, you make no mistake
If you learned from what you've got to take
Good or bad, it's all going to add up in the end, but
You can never win

• Gold Guns Girls by Metric
  

I remember when we were gambling to win
Everybody else said better luck next time
I don't wanna bend like the bad girls bend
I just wanna be your friend, is it ever gonna be enough?

• Passenger by Deftones

Roll the windows down
This cool night air is curious
Let the whole world look in
Who cares who sees what tonight?
Roll these misty windows down
To catch my breath again
And then go, and go, and go just drive me
Home and back again
Here I lay just like always
Don't let me go
Take me to the edge

• Clark Gable by The Postal Service
  

I want so badly to believe that
"There is truth, that love is real"
And I want Life in every word
To the extent that it's absurd

I know you're wise beyond your years
But do you ever get the feel
That your perfect verse is just a lie you tell yourself
To help you get by?

• Rockstar by N.E.R.D.

Something on your chest
Better get it off
There'll be no one left when we set it off
We ain't gonna take it no more
Since

It's almost over now
Almost over now

You don't succeed cause you hesitate
You think we're fly
But we levitate
Just be yourself
Don't ask us why
Cause if don't we'll make you fly

• Send the Pain Below by Chevelle

I liked having hurt
So send the pain below where I need it
You used to beg me to take care of things
And smile at the thought of me failing

But long before, having hurt
I'd send the pain below
I'd send the pain below

Much like suffocating...

• When Did Your Heart Go Missing by Rooney

I meant every word I said
I never was lyin' when we talked in bed
I'm retracin' every step in my head
What did I miss back then? I was so misled, oh

Hope you enjoyed these inspiring nuggets. As I was compiling these I noticed 1) it seems like most songs really do center around love themes (let's mix it up "artists") 2) some of the lyrics of the songs that I listen to are a little disturbing when you actually pay more attention (not these), and 3) It takes a really long time to create these lyric posts, but it's worth every second.

Love, success, and happiness~

See I'm Not Shallow. I'm Über Deep Yo

So far this year has been fairly interesting. One of the biggest outlets that I have had has been music. I have always been really interested in music and for the most part have pretty diverse taste (particularly for a Black man ;) ). Many of my friends are the same way (word up Amanda & how should I put this?... others).

Lately I have had a bit more of a specific taste. A lot of the songs are not new. I think that it is mostly inspired by groups like Metric and Stars. A bit more melodic, sometimes slower, some might say at times a bit emo, but not necessarily. A common theme would be some powerful, thought provoking lyrics and a dynamic sound. In the interest of expanding your musical horizons I wanted to list a few of the songs that I have been listening to in 2010, and some of the lyrics that I have resonated (as I sometimes do):

• London Halflife by Metric

Oh watch out, you're only better off with half your life
Otherwise wasted
House of cards, you fall hard

• Midnight Coward by Stars
  

Sweetness, sweetness never suits me, when I get up to take you home
Maybe it's love, love at first slightly drunk
Now I'm walking with the sun in my mouth

• The Reeling by Passion Pit

We dug these holes we crawled into, now they're my home
Now here I cannot feel the wind, can't feel the rain oh no
And I believe in gentle harmony
Well how I loathe all this obscenity
Is this the way my life has got to be?
Have I a single opportunity?

• You Didn't Fucking Mean It by Electric Valentine

If you loved me
Half as much as you said you did
Why'd you leave me?
Break my heart then come back again
If you loved me,
Turn around and just let me go
From the first time
Hurt more than you could ever know

• Wanderlust by Björk

Lust for comfort
Suffocates the soul
Relentless restlessness
Liberates me (sets me free)

I feel at home
Whenever the unknown surrounds me
I receive its embrace
Aboard my floating house

• Everybody's Changing by Keane

So little time
Try to understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's changing and I don't feel the same

Here are some other songs I have enjoyed lately, but are less poignant/your emo hearts and this blog are about to explode from lyric overload:

Elevator Love Letter by Stars
Soft Shock by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
White Gold by Metric
Gold Guns Girls by Metric
Cheryl Tweedy by Lily Allen
Take it Off by Ke$ha
Ima Be by Black Eyed Peas
California Soul by Marlena Shaw

Okay we're done. That was a lot of work. I going to have a piece of cake as a reward. Ciao!

The Breakup: Part 1

So as most of you know, I recently ended my first relationship. I will speak more about that later, but I thought for the time being I would keep it a bit lighter.

Before I experienced one, I thought one of the most interesting aspect of a breakup was the music that one chose to listen to in order to get over it. I always imagined I would listen to a lot of Fiona Apple. Not so much. Okay there is one particular Fiona line that I think about, but that's between us.

I thought with this post I would share some of the songs I have been listening to and their more poignant lyrics, but first the music I have stopped listening to:

I try to avoid...

• Most Katy Perry songs, particularly Waking Up in Vegas ;), but not I Kissed a Girl strangely enough
• Anything from the All American Rejects' new album
• Most Pink songs, but Please Don't Leave Me makes me want to ralph.
  
• 1,2,3,4 by The Plain White T's. Thank God I only liked that song for a week and stopped listening to it awhile ago. Memories though :(
  
• Boom, Boom, Pow by the Black Eyed Peas.
• FloRida Right Round, never really liked this one or thought that the popular version featured Katy Perry. It's Kesha, but there is a Katy Perry mashup
  
• Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop & Can't Let Go by Landon Pigg
  
• Coldplay's Shiver, this one is a tragic loss, but I will get back to it when I feel ready to give "that" again
  
• A lot of MGMT but I have begun to work through this
• Most No Doubt songs, but I suffer through my favorites in order to shake it off.

I revel in (plus their lyrics to cuts yourself to ;) )...

• This Circle by Paramore

"This circle never ends

And it's time you
Just face it, don't pretend
That it's over."

• Emergency by Paramore (I'm sensing a theme & perhaps a Fiona replacement)

"Cause I've seen love die way too many times
When it deserved to be alive
I've seen you cry way too many times
When you deserve to be alive, alive."

• End it on This by No Doubt (technically I should have lost this in the divorce)

"Washed up to the shore
Given one last chance
To try some more
But I'm tired, I'm freezing
Let's stop and call it history."

• The Scientist by Coldplay

"Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh take me back to the start."

• Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups

"Mmm, I'll try
To hold on tight tonight
Pink Slip
Inviting me inside
Wanna burn skin
And brand what once was mine
But the red views
Keep ripping the divide
If I go everywhere you want me to go
How do I know you'll still follow."

• Battersea by Hooverphonic

"Battersea how it is
It's over, forget
Memories full of chocolate
I've got to get over it, forget."

• Hard to Explain by The Strokes
  

"I say the right thing
But act the wrong way
I like it right here
But I cannot stay."

• The Hollow by A Perfect Circle

"Cause it's time to bring the fire down
Throttle all this indiscretion
Long enough to edify
and permanently fill this hollow.

No I do not sit around at night crying and thinking of easy ways to end it all (I could never be that dramatic). Those who know me know that I have listened to most of these songs anyway. Okay, there are plenty of other more upbeat songs I've been listening to, but these are the most topical (I give them a 10!). Plus if you wallow in the pain of others, and get out your emotions in the music, what you have to deal with seems like nothing in comparison... and these are much more funny. Wow this may have been too personal.