So I wanted to apologize for neglecting the many other genres that music has. I know that pop/ soft rock is my main interest in terms of music, but I wanted to diverge off that path for a moment to take a look at the wonderful genre of hip hop and R & B. I'm hoping that you enjoy the songs that I'm going to be mentioning.
First off, I really like the integration of the lead singer from Weezer, Rivers Cuomo, and B.O.B. I feel like it is a really good combination. I can't believe that I didn't think of it first. It somehow really sounds good. I really enjoy the chorus on this song (of course). The verses are good, too, though.
Another good song from B.O.B. is "Airplanes." After I first heard this song, I fell in love. The melodies are really good. The lyrics are also really good. I find myself rapping along to the verses at times which some might find weird for me. It really isn't. I like rap a lot. I'm just very particular about the kind of rap that I listen to. You can listen to this song if you go here.
I never used to like Eminem. I hated his music and I hated him as a person. I've never seen the movie that he was in either. I can't even think of the name, if that tells you something. I really feel like his music has improved a lot, though. One of the songs that I can't stop listening to is by him. Enjoy.
I love Alicia Keyes. Both her new stuff and her old stuff is good. She's an amazing artist and she needs to keep up the good work. Keep writing music and singing songs, Alicia. You're good at it. On that note, one of the song, "Empire State of Mind" that she did with Jay-Z is a little different than her usual stuff. It's a really good song, though. I like the lyrics and the music video is really good, too.
I can't talk about Alicia Keyes without showing this video. I'm not going to say too much. It's amazing. Watch it.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Concert
So I went to the concert at Good Beans Cafe on Friday night. It was really fun. There were lots of people in all sorts of different costumes. There were four different artists that I got to hear including Arlow Xan, The Loose Ties, and Chris Russell was the headliner.
I really enjoyed this concert. It was a lot of fun. I even saw a couple people that I knew who weren't playing in any of the bands. I of course know the people in the bands because I've seen them more than a few times.
Everyone played really well. It was kind of weird to see the people in costumes while playing on stage. It was cool, though. There was also the added bonus of poetry, also. It was good to hear.
I also was able to wear a costume. I wore my pirate outfit which included a sword, a vest, a frillyh blouse, and an eye patch. It only cost me less than ten dollars for both the sword and the eye patch. I was pretty happy with my purchases, let me tell you.
I'm excited because I've decided that I'm going to go to a concert on the 30th at Churchill's. Arlow Xan is going to be performing which is awesome. I'm a big fan of them. If you've never heard their music, I would really recommend you check them out. They are a local band that performs around the Flint area. I'm sure you could catch if you really wanted to. You can go to their website for more information.
I also enjoyed hearing Chris Russell. He's a really good guitarist and I also really like his singing voice. It works for him. I also was able to request "Daughters" by John Mayer for him to play. It's a good song and the version he plays is good, also. The only thing was that he could have used less reverb on that particular song. It would have sounded better. He's a really good musician, though, and you can check his music out here.
Support your local artists!
I really enjoyed this concert. It was a lot of fun. I even saw a couple people that I knew who weren't playing in any of the bands. I of course know the people in the bands because I've seen them more than a few times.
Everyone played really well. It was kind of weird to see the people in costumes while playing on stage. It was cool, though. There was also the added bonus of poetry, also. It was good to hear.
I also was able to wear a costume. I wore my pirate outfit which included a sword, a vest, a frillyh blouse, and an eye patch. It only cost me less than ten dollars for both the sword and the eye patch. I was pretty happy with my purchases, let me tell you.
I'm excited because I've decided that I'm going to go to a concert on the 30th at Churchill's. Arlow Xan is going to be performing which is awesome. I'm a big fan of them. If you've never heard their music, I would really recommend you check them out. They are a local band that performs around the Flint area. I'm sure you could catch if you really wanted to. You can go to their website for more information.
I also enjoyed hearing Chris Russell. He's a really good guitarist and I also really like his singing voice. It works for him. I also was able to request "Daughters" by John Mayer for him to play. It's a good song and the version he plays is good, also. The only thing was that he could have used less reverb on that particular song. It would have sounded better. He's a really good musician, though, and you can check his music out here.
Support your local artists!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Skills
So lately, people have been requesting my tutoring skills (either that or my guitar skills). I have been tutoring guitar to one of the guys that I know at church. He's a beginner. It's sometimes frustrating watching someone just start out when I personally have gotten much further than he has. It's hard, but I don't mind it that much.
I'm also tutoring someone else that I know from Spanish club. It'll be interesting tutoring someone that I know a little bit better. I'm not usually in that position, so I don't know how it will go.
So today, I sadly forgot about Creative Collaboration night at Good Beans Cafe. I had been planning on attending, but somehow I managed to forgot. It was a long day, though. I was at school for a tutoring appointment (Spanish ) at 9 a.m. and I didn't manage to leave until 7:30 p.m.
The Creative Collaboration night is at Good Beans Cafe in Flint and it's every third Wednesday of the month. It's for people to share poetry or music or whatever. I've only played my guitar for people once and it didn't go very well. I kind of wrote a song and played it and the song didn't have the best lyrics to it. Let's just put it this way: there's profanity in the song and I don't think the audience was expecting it. There's some other stuff in the song, but I won't get into that.
I do love writing lyrics. I haven't written any in a while since the band has kind of fallen apart. I blame this on the fact that both my bandmate and I have horrendous schedules that keep us going 24/7 it seems (speaking for myself here). Oh well.
I really should get a more regular practice schedule with my guitar. If I could commit to practicing a half hour a day, it would really improve my playing ability. I feel like I would be able to learn songs a lot quicker, also. It's not like I usually play in front of an audience or anything, but it's still fun to play it.
Well, I'll leave you to it. I've got some practicing to do.
I'm also tutoring someone else that I know from Spanish club. It'll be interesting tutoring someone that I know a little bit better. I'm not usually in that position, so I don't know how it will go.
So today, I sadly forgot about Creative Collaboration night at Good Beans Cafe. I had been planning on attending, but somehow I managed to forgot. It was a long day, though. I was at school for a tutoring appointment (Spanish ) at 9 a.m. and I didn't manage to leave until 7:30 p.m.
The Creative Collaboration night is at Good Beans Cafe in Flint and it's every third Wednesday of the month. It's for people to share poetry or music or whatever. I've only played my guitar for people once and it didn't go very well. I kind of wrote a song and played it and the song didn't have the best lyrics to it. Let's just put it this way: there's profanity in the song and I don't think the audience was expecting it. There's some other stuff in the song, but I won't get into that.
I do love writing lyrics. I haven't written any in a while since the band has kind of fallen apart. I blame this on the fact that both my bandmate and I have horrendous schedules that keep us going 24/7 it seems (speaking for myself here). Oh well.
I really should get a more regular practice schedule with my guitar. If I could commit to practicing a half hour a day, it would really improve my playing ability. I feel like I would be able to learn songs a lot quicker, also. It's not like I usually play in front of an audience or anything, but it's still fun to play it.
Well, I'll leave you to it. I've got some practicing to do.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Review of the album, “Flamingo”
Brandon Flowers, the lead singer of the Killers, announced his solo career in spring 2010, but it wasn’t until September that listeners were able to get their hands on his new solo album, “Flamingo.” I always expect the best from the Killers in their music and I was given an awesome album from the Killers.
Flowers was introduced to music at a young age by his older brother, Shane, who showed him bands like Oasis and the Cure. These are some of what influenced Flowers’ music. This is probably why I sometimes think that I am listening to music from a different decade.
The sweet melodies of the opening track on Brandon Flowers’ “Flamingo” are a musical solace. The guitar and keyboards make me swoon like a girl at her cotillion. “Give us your dreamers, your harlettes and your sin, Las Vegas” is a lyric that somehow covers up the dirty parts of Las Vegas. It doesn’t ever use the word “whore.” Flowers is from Las Vegas so that makes sense.
Brandon Flowers’ voice is very melodic and soothing in this album. It’s not so soothing that it would put you to sleep, but it has a sweetness to it that is akin to John Lennon in the song, “Imagine.”
The track “Only the Young” is a very catchy tune. It even has a little hint of electronica with the synthesizer coming in to give it that authentic “The Killers” feel. It sounds more like a song by the Killers than a Brandon Flowers song which is disappointing. I wish it was more unique. Another song that is like one of the Killers’ songs is “Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts.”
The addition of Jenny Lewis in the chorus of “Hard Enough” is different than what I’m used to hearing in the Killers’ songs. Her voice sounds really good in it. It almost makes the song sound a little bit more country which isn’t a bad thing. It’s a song about life’s hardships and how people deal with them individually. “Been telling myself that I can’t roll with the changes” is a good line that works well with the casual tone of the song.
“Playing with Fire” makes use of Flowers’ falsetto. The first part of the song is instrumental and groovy. “You know you’re going to hurt somebody tonight” is a lyric that makes me think of the phrase “playing with fire” and how it is referring to doing something dangerous.
The opening notes on the song, “Crossfire” are very comforting. They bring me to a place that is safe and reassuring. Even the song lyrics reassure the listener with the lines, “I promise tonight not to do no harm.” The song is really about finding a place between redemption and punishment. It’s about living a life that’s not for you, but for God.
The rest of the album is just okay. I like listening to it, but it feels like it’s just another album from the Killers. I don’t feel like there is anything unique about it. I was hoping it would be more of a solo project than a replica of the Killers’ music. I am disappointed by the lack of creativity from Flowers.
Monday, October 18, 2010
New with the Old
For this post, I wanted to compare some of my favorite artists to their past selves. I hope this works. I'm not going to make a decision as to whether they've improved or gotten worse, I'm just going to give evidence to maybe some changes in their music. I could also show how far they've come in their music.
Lifehouse is one of my favorite artists. I don't know what it is, but I really enjoy listening to them. I remember their hit, "Hanging By a Moment." I still love that song. It's a hit for a reason.
Now, compare that to one of their more recent hits. The song "All In" is really good song. It's one of those songs that I have to sing along to. Who am I kidding? I sing to practically every song that I hear that I like. This one I obviously like a lot.
Another band that I love is Maroon 5. They are amazing and their music makes waves in the music industry. I have loved their music for a few years now. The song, "She Willed be Loved" has always resonated with me. It's not a song about sex. It's a song about love. That' what is so great about it. It's also about a guy wanting to love a girl. It's very romantic which is awesome.
I feel like this next song is a little bit different than the other Maroon 5 song. The music video, in particular, is very sexual. I think so, at least. I feel like it takes away from the song's musicality. Sometimes the music video can get in the way of the music, if you know what I mean. That's what happens here. It's a little bit too showy for my taste. It's still a good song, though.
Kelly Clarkson started out as an American Idol. She is one of the best singers to come out of that television show. I don't really watch the show and I don't really like the idea of it in general, but I have to admit that she is a good artist and I like her music. One of her first singles, "Because of You" is a heart-wrenching tune about hurt. It's about feeling broken after being heart-broken. The girl in the song can't trust anyone now because of how she was hurt by this guy. It's a really good song.
One of Kelly Clarkson's more recent hits, "Already Gone" is another slow song. It also pulls on your heart strings like the aforementioned song. This is also about a relationship that has gone wrong. It's about looking back and remembering what it was like while she was in the relationship. This song is very similar to the previous song that was shown. I think that Kelly Clarkson has really stuck with the same style which works for her.
Lifehouse is one of my favorite artists. I don't know what it is, but I really enjoy listening to them. I remember their hit, "Hanging By a Moment." I still love that song. It's a hit for a reason.
Now, compare that to one of their more recent hits. The song "All In" is really good song. It's one of those songs that I have to sing along to. Who am I kidding? I sing to practically every song that I hear that I like. This one I obviously like a lot.
Another band that I love is Maroon 5. They are amazing and their music makes waves in the music industry. I have loved their music for a few years now. The song, "She Willed be Loved" has always resonated with me. It's not a song about sex. It's a song about love. That' what is so great about it. It's also about a guy wanting to love a girl. It's very romantic which is awesome.
I feel like this next song is a little bit different than the other Maroon 5 song. The music video, in particular, is very sexual. I think so, at least. I feel like it takes away from the song's musicality. Sometimes the music video can get in the way of the music, if you know what I mean. That's what happens here. It's a little bit too showy for my taste. It's still a good song, though.
Kelly Clarkson started out as an American Idol. She is one of the best singers to come out of that television show. I don't really watch the show and I don't really like the idea of it in general, but I have to admit that she is a good artist and I like her music. One of her first singles, "Because of You" is a heart-wrenching tune about hurt. It's about feeling broken after being heart-broken. The girl in the song can't trust anyone now because of how she was hurt by this guy. It's a really good song.
One of Kelly Clarkson's more recent hits, "Already Gone" is another slow song. It also pulls on your heart strings like the aforementioned song. This is also about a relationship that has gone wrong. It's about looking back and remembering what it was like while she was in the relationship. This song is very similar to the previous song that was shown. I think that Kelly Clarkson has really stuck with the same style which works for her.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
My Life
No one reads my other blog (or at least they don't comment on it) so I thought I'd try and write about my life in this blog. It's allowed, even encouraged to write more than two blog posts. So, here goes.
I am really tired right now. I am experiencing yet another ten-hour day. I think this is the third in a row. I am actually looking forward to my eight-hour work days at the gas station. At least, I'll get to go home earlier than 7:00 in the evening.
I blame this on the fact that I've added yet another job to the list. I am now tutoring Spanish in the Student Development Center. It's weird that people think I'm smart and think I can teach them something. I am also a Spanish major so I probably know more than I realize. It's nice, though. I get to review some of the stuff that I learned a really long time ago. It actually helps.
We had a bake sale for the Spanish Club today. It was quite successful. We made about the same amount of money as our last bake sale which is sufficient. We're trying to raise money to go to Mexican Town in Chicago during Spring Break. I don't think we'll be able to raise all the money, but we'll at least be able to raise a good chunk of it.
I think I'm going to go home, get a pint of icecream, and watch The Notebook. If you knew me well enough, you would probably realize that this isn't a good sign. It's just that my personal life (dating) hasn't been going too well lately. I hate being attracted to anyone. Then, there's the possibility of them not returning the attraction. Oh well. It happens.
I like working for the M Times, but it's hard because I don't have a lot of free time to do reporting. I blame this on the fact that I'm always hanging out with people during my breaks between classes. Refer to previous paragraph.
I think I"m going to fall asleep at nine o'clock tonight, that's how tired I am. That would actually be really cool. I would actually be awake for my other job (I told you I had a list). I guess it will help when next week comes around and I'll get paid.
But anyways. I just wanted to give you an idea of what's going on with me. And of course, I leave you with this song. It's fitting, don't worry.
I am really tired right now. I am experiencing yet another ten-hour day. I think this is the third in a row. I am actually looking forward to my eight-hour work days at the gas station. At least, I'll get to go home earlier than 7:00 in the evening.
I blame this on the fact that I've added yet another job to the list. I am now tutoring Spanish in the Student Development Center. It's weird that people think I'm smart and think I can teach them something. I am also a Spanish major so I probably know more than I realize. It's nice, though. I get to review some of the stuff that I learned a really long time ago. It actually helps.
We had a bake sale for the Spanish Club today. It was quite successful. We made about the same amount of money as our last bake sale which is sufficient. We're trying to raise money to go to Mexican Town in Chicago during Spring Break. I don't think we'll be able to raise all the money, but we'll at least be able to raise a good chunk of it.
I think I'm going to go home, get a pint of icecream, and watch The Notebook. If you knew me well enough, you would probably realize that this isn't a good sign. It's just that my personal life (dating) hasn't been going too well lately. I hate being attracted to anyone. Then, there's the possibility of them not returning the attraction. Oh well. It happens.
I like working for the M Times, but it's hard because I don't have a lot of free time to do reporting. I blame this on the fact that I'm always hanging out with people during my breaks between classes. Refer to previous paragraph.
I think I"m going to fall asleep at nine o'clock tonight, that's how tired I am. That would actually be really cool. I would actually be awake for my other job (I told you I had a list). I guess it will help when next week comes around and I'll get paid.
But anyways. I just wanted to give you an idea of what's going on with me. And of course, I leave you with this song. It's fitting, don't worry.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
My Favorite Band
Hi. My name is Elise Lorenz and I'm coming out as The Killers number one fan. I realize that confessing this could cause some problems in my group of friends, but I don't care. I don't want to live a lie anymore. I'm a fan of the Killers and I'm proud of it.
Now that that's over with, I wanted to tell you about my favorite band. They are the only band that I can say has not disappointed me. Every time I listen to another album of theirs, I am happy to say that it either meets or exceeds my expectations. Anyone who can do that can be called my favorite band.
The Killers is an alternative rock band that was formed in 2001. They released their first album, "Hot Fuss" in 2004 which I enjoy immensely. I think that it's one of their best albums.
Other albums include Sam's Town and Day & Age. I wasn't as impressed with Day & Age as I was with their previous two albums. It just didn't have as much goodness. That's what I think at least.
One of the things that I was really excited about was that Brandon Flowers, the lead singer of the Killers, came out with a solo album. It came out in September and I've listened to it and I must say that I'm quite impressed. I'm sure that Brandon Flowers wouldn't have to do much to impress me. He could probably just talk on the album and I would still be in love with his voice.
I'm excited because I'm planning on going to see Brandon Flowers in concert. He is performing in Royal Oak on my birthday. I was very happy to see this when I looked at his upcoming concerts.
If you haven't heard the Killers' music, you should check them out. Here's one of my favorite songs by them. I leave you with "Mr. Brightside."
Now that that's over with, I wanted to tell you about my favorite band. They are the only band that I can say has not disappointed me. Every time I listen to another album of theirs, I am happy to say that it either meets or exceeds my expectations. Anyone who can do that can be called my favorite band.
The Killers is an alternative rock band that was formed in 2001. They released their first album, "Hot Fuss" in 2004 which I enjoy immensely. I think that it's one of their best albums.
Other albums include Sam's Town and Day & Age. I wasn't as impressed with Day & Age as I was with their previous two albums. It just didn't have as much goodness. That's what I think at least.
One of the things that I was really excited about was that Brandon Flowers, the lead singer of the Killers, came out with a solo album. It came out in September and I've listened to it and I must say that I'm quite impressed. I'm sure that Brandon Flowers wouldn't have to do much to impress me. He could probably just talk on the album and I would still be in love with his voice.
I'm excited because I'm planning on going to see Brandon Flowers in concert. He is performing in Royal Oak on my birthday. I was very happy to see this when I looked at his upcoming concerts.
If you haven't heard the Killers' music, you should check them out. Here's one of my favorite songs by them. I leave you with "Mr. Brightside."
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