Aural Sects

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2010-1-3)

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:41:49 -0600

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2010-1-3):

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-12-27)

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:34:00 -0600

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-12-27):

Honest to fucking goddess, I believe that Muse’s album The Resistance is the best album of 2009, at the very least. It’s utterly brilliant in every way. Panic! at the Disco, fun. and The Brobecks are all part of that same family of mod/glam-type rock that I loved as a baby and am loving even better now that the attitudes in the songs have been updated. My Chemical Romance also falls into this category, on the edges, but is here this week as a tail end to last week’s depression.

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-12-20)

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:05:00 -0600

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-12-20):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

This week was super busy, but when I did get to listen to music I chose ones that made me feel good and happy. And these bands do just that.

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-12-13)

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:26:00 -0600

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-12-13):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

Well it’s been kind of a shitty month, coming home, mom’s cancer, etc. So that’s where the MCR comes in. It really helps. 30 Seconds to Mars’ new album is delightful. fun. is well…fun and I’m enjoying discovering them. Tegan and Sara just make me feel better, plus they’re really good. Gary Wright is a nostalgia thing.

Pete Wentz's tl;dr (plus my own)

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:42:22 -0600

ahomeboyslife: tl;dr

“It’s like I have a loaded gun in my mouth and my finger’s on the trigger, and I like the taste of the gunmetal.” robert downey jr.

for what feels like forever fall out boy has been my therapy. i dont know what it was before that. but it was a part of everything i felt. i know i might not have smiled or talked at meet and greets from time to time. sometimes we had flown in at 5 am or i was sick or had something going on. sometimes i felt shy. sometimes just a bit off. most times i assume people dislike me when i meet them so i dont really talk a whole lot. but every single night on that stage is where i left everything that was twisted up inside my stomach. every single wish. everything. all of the big blackness poured out in sweat, words, screams. and i have to admit i let the fame bug crawl inside me and turn me into mr. hyde for a minute. but i was off of that a long time before anyone thinks i was- in fact all of “ioh” is about being off of it. unfortunately it is something like pandoras box and once you open it- it cant be shut again. and i wish it could more than anybody. if you are a fan of mine please dont vote for me in those stupid polls or anything that doesnt have to do with something i feel passionate about. even that being said. even pretty much going out every night thinking the whole front row of the audience hated me. it felt like going from hulk hogan to sid justice, or whatever his name was. but it still was therapy. and i felt a connection. i felt like a real human. im not the greatest one on one. actually i am probably one of the worst. i dont like to talk or at least i keep whatever i am thinking bottled up. i guess this is me saying thank you for giving that to me. i dont think i can say it enough.

without it now i feel like i am unravelling. and i the reason for the robert downey jr. quote is ive read in interviews that he turned to physical activities and martial arts as a form of therapy. and i guess thats where i get my therapy now that fob is gone. i get it from running and yoga. its bringing me to a better place in my head. no real reason to write this- except to say: you guys were real. you guys are real. pretty rare these days.

It truly freaks me out, sometimes, just how much I identify with this guy. A guy of all things. I’m so grateful for his lyrics, for what he’s done artistically and I don’t know how to express that in a way that doesn’t sound silly. The depression that overwhelms me nearly all the time, his words help push it back some. Not always, but often enough. And I am so thankful for that.

My Top 40 (played) Artists of 2009

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:19:00 -0600

1. Fall Out Boy (11794 plays)
2. Panic at the Disco (3965 plays)
3. My Chemical Romance (1444 plays)
4. The Academy Is… (783 plays)
5. Black Gold (450 plays)
6. Cobra Starship (441 plays)
7. Muse (302 plays)
8. CitizensFOB Mixtape (299 plays)
9. Spinnerette (294 plays)
10. People in Planes (261 plays)
11. Lily Allen (215 plays)
12. Depeche Mode (205 plays)
13. White Lies (202 plays)
14. Blaqk Audio (196 plays)
15. AFI (190 plays)
16. The Hush Sound (174 plays)
17. Down Down Down (166 plays)
18. Green Day (161 plays)
19. The Venus in Furs (160 plays)
20. Taking Back Sunday (159 plays)
21. The Brobecks (144 plays)
22. Charlotte Sometimes (132 plays)
23. Tegan and Sara (124 plays)
24. Queen (115 plays)
25. The Bravery (105 plays)
26. Butch Walker (79 plays)
27. The String Quartet (69 plays)
28. Santogold (68 plays)
28. 30 Seconds to Mars (68 plays)
30. Empires (67 plays)
31. Milla Jovovich (66 plays)
32. Shudder to Think (65 plays)
33. Senses Fail (62 plays)
33. Butch Walker, Travis McCoy, Brendon Urie, Patrick Stump, Cee-Lo and Janelle Monae (62 plays)
35. We The Kings (57 plays)
36. The Cars (54 plays)
36. Deftones (54 plays)
38. Ludo (53 plays)
39. Reggie and the Full Effect (48 plays)
40. Blackpool Lights (47 plays)

Data taken from my last.fm scrobbles, so the play counts aren’t entirely accurate but work as a decent guide. And since I haven’t scrobbled any of my Muse listens (from their new album) I know that they should definitely be higher up the list, by at least 100 plays.

Anyway, used this script here:
http://kebab-usergroup.com/~pej/lastfm/bestof2009/index.php

Amanda Palmer's video for Tegan & Sara's Song "Hell"

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:00:49 -0600

Amanda Palmer's video for Tegan & Sara's Song "Hell":

thewilliambeckett: Check out this new 30 Seconds to Mars video...

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:20:17 -0600

thewilliambeckett:

Check out this new 30 Seconds to Mars video for Kings + Queens. This is by far the best video I’ve seen in years.

Whoever said music videos are dead hasn’t seen this.

This intrigues me.

Alpha Dog!!!!!!!!! I loved the bit we got on the CFOB Mixtape,...

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:40:07 -0500

Alpha Dog!!!!!!!!! I loved the bit we got on the CFOB Mixtape, and I love this new version. I cannot wait!

bananasmusicclub:
Long live the car crash hearts! Here’s a brand new song from our friends in Fall Out Boy. Find out more here and a big welcome to all of our new followers on @bananasmc!

“Hell” by Tegan and Sara off of their upcoming album...

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:41:00 -0500

“Hell” by Tegan and Sara off of their upcoming album Sainthood

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-10-4)

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:02:00 -0500

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-10-4):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

Panic was mostly the Denver concert and the new song. The CFOB Mixtape was the one Panic demo song. The Brobecks continues to wow me. Rise Against has been getting some decent airplay on Music Choice so I just had to listen to the whole album again. Good stuff. Intense. Cobra…I’m just not entirely ready to let go.

AFI - Medicate: official video I quite like it, though the...

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:43:00 -0500

AFI - Medicate: official video

I quite like it, though the quality of the file is kind of crap.

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-9-27)

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:18:00 -0500

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-9-27):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

No big surprises here. I’ve got FOB, who are my happy place. The Brobecks that continue to make me happy. Tegan & Sara is all about rediscovering an old favorite. Green Day just rules. And Black Gold is so comforting.

Dear Lily - An Open Letter (in song) to Lily Allen It’s...

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:05:07 -0500

Dear Lily - An Open Letter (in song) to Lily Allen

It’s absolutely brilliant and funny and awesome. Read the background on it here.

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-9-20)

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:19:00 -0500

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-9-20):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

80's Nostalgia and 1 New Song

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:15:11 -0500

Thanks to the generosity of an Amazon gift cert I was able to traipse down memory lane today.

One hit wonder Mathew Wilder’s Break My Stride. Every time I have a weird dream this silly song pops into my head. Still love it.

I’ve always really liked these two songs by Patty Smyth (with Scandal): The Warrior and Goodbye To You. I have always, always loved these songs. Always.

Quarterflash - Harden My Heart. I love this woman’s voice.

Arctic Monkeys - Crying Lightning. I really like this song, it kind of reminds me of The Doors actually.

Muse - The Resistance Buy it, buy it now! Or preview it for...

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:02:35 -0500

Muse - The Resistance

Buy it, buy it now!

Or preview it for free on Muse’s Official Site.

But then go buy it.

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-9-13)

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:04:00 -0500

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-9-13):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

Listening to FOB again just made me so fucking happy. I always forget just how good their music makes me feel. Conversely, this was a rough week and so I needed some MCR.

How to lose a fan before you even start

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:45:26 -0500

ahomeboyslife: viral marketing

its interesting in the new age of music getting peoples attention and getting the industry to notice you is so much harder. i have been involved in a few “games” myself. they are fun and honestly i believe the person who solves “it” feels more ownership over the art and sometimes as though they have taken part in the art. i know that people think im involved in “welcome to the new hate”. im not, honestly but i played along. sometimes i like to see people games play out. i think they have done a very successful campaign for a band that is unsigned. im gonna play out their final step for you. it will take you to a website that is designed to look like pete wentz.com- at the address: alliesandenemies.com it is not however and i did not write any of the words. i considered not leaking the final “password/prescription” but i think they have done a really good job with their viral content. in a world here people put out crappy content left and right. like i said i have nothing to do with them or their campaign but the question is do you like the music as much as the marketing?

So here’s the thing. Playing games with bands/artists who I am already invested in - awesome. Being played by some total stranger, who uses my love for other artists to trick me into playing their games - SHITTY. I don’t care what you sound like at this point. Because the context I’ve met you in is: “We think these fans are such stupid sheep that all we have to do is simulate their loved artist and lead them around” That’s a total lack of respect for the fans. And to not even talk to the person whose fanbase you’re manipulating? No. Not cool. As far as I’m concerned this little band can fuck off. I did listen to their music, before I realized it had all been a game at my expense, and it was not horrid. It just wasn’t special. It wasn’t unique or even all that great. It was generic. The viral campaign itself ended short of doing anything spectacular and since it was based on stealing FOB fans’ attention…well, fuck ‘em.

Decaydance All Stars (Panic! at the Disco, Ian Crawford and Pete...

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:36:30 -0500

Decaydance All Stars (Panic! at the Disco, Ian Crawford and Pete Wentz) covering Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing. Delightful cover, but the assholes who booed at the end should all be round up and shot. - Disclaimer: I did not take this video.