I think there are few bands that can get away with screwing up on stage without getting booed or a soiled diaper thrown at them.  More than that, there are few bands where fans actually appreciate an on-stage blunder or two (or three).  Tegan and Sara is one of them. <3

"...Coldplay's new single, 'Violet Hill', will be available as a free download exclusively from Coldplay.com for one week starting tomorrow, Tuesday April 29th, at 12.15pm UK time."

On a somewhat relevant note, I'm not really sure what to think of this new album artwork and am definitely interested in what Coldplay has to offer this fourth time around.  It seems like just yesterday I was standing on Empire Polo Field watching Chris Martin introduce new tracks off of X&Y as being "orgasmic", and having the band perform them live to an undoubtedly exhausted but completely amped Coachella crowd
 

Viva La Vida

Edit: I just listened to it.  I know I've only listened to it once, but I'm not too impressed.  Maybe it'll take me a little while to acquire a taste for it, or maybe I was selfish and expecting something as epic and beautiful as square one or white shadows, but so far the only parts of the song that aren't obnoxious are the first first minute (before the heavy guitar distortion kicks in) and the last minute (when it's just Chris Martin and the piano). Ugh, huevos. 

So, two albums that have been rocking my world lately: Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours and Panic at the Disco - Pretty. Odd.  However, I will not be writing about the Cut Copy album that much, because I'm sure all the reviews have to say the same thing about it -- that it is one handsomely crafted IndieElectronicDance album.  Lights & Music, Unforgettable Season,  and So Haunted are three of the best tracks on the album, if you're in the mood for a taste test.  But, if you have 7 dollars to drop, that's how much it costs on ITunes so I'd recommend just getting the entire thing.

As for Pretty. Odd., though.  Where do I even begin?  It's different.  And by different I mean a completely different Panic at the Disco than the one that was on A Fever You Can't Sweat Out.  Don't get me wrong, I loved that "old" Panic (or Panic!, I should say).  Well, not the Panic that evolved during and post-radio airplay, but the Panic I saw singing their hearts out opening for Acceptance at the Glass House, and the Panic I saw commanding an entire crowd at the House of Blues in Anaheim just by the sheer power of well-executed live music. 

I wrote a post a while back when I saw them play the Wiltern (hosted by KROQ) about how disappointed I was with most of the show -- it was one giant clusterfuck of theatrics, stage antics, and random props that made little sense to me -- a giant distraction away from what made Panic, Panic -- catchy dance tunes, simple but melodic guitar riffs, and hard-hitting vocals that made you want to put your fist in the air and sing along.  I remember walking out of the Wiltern feeling betrayed by a band that I used to hold so much respect for, because it seemed they had -for lack of a better phrase- "sold out".  I also felt like I was betraying the band.  Who was I to judge their new live performance?  Maybe that was who they really wanted to be.

Well, it turns out that Panic themselves must've been on the same page, or at least the same book, as me, because the renewed Panic, post removing the exclamation point from its name, seems to be less focused on theatrics and eyeliner, and more about music that you'd put on your IPod on a bike ride through town or a drive along the coast line in the summer.  Pretty. Odd. is a giant leap away from the emo/pop/vaudeville/inspired rock from the first album and is, instead, heavy on the acoustics, piano, and horns, particularly trumpet.  In some tracks, I also feel like I'm listening to a a mix of a younger Oasis and the Beatles, which probably sounds confusing because this was the same band that used to sing about strip joints, addiction relapses, and adultery.  I'm sure there are some "old" fans that fell in love with 'Panic!' and Brendon Urie in guyliner, that probably put this CD on and thought to themselves, "What the hell? Who is this.  I thought I got a P!ATD CD."  Sure, it's still Panic at the Disco, but its a more mature and refined one.  I won't be retiring A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, but Pretty. Odd. will certainly be taking rotation precedence. 

I can't stop listening to "That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)" which apparently is the next single, so definitely check that one out if you have some time. 

Anyway, if you're in the mood for some genuinely great melodic, catchy, pop-rock, this album is the one for you.

Smart People definitely has some potential, but this looks so promising.

Added bonus: Original Score by Broken Social Scene.

That is all.

Taken from Pitchfork:

"For the third time in their decade-and-a-half of band-dom, Weezer will issue a self-titled LP containing ten tracks and referred to colloquially by the primary color of its design scheme. Yes, Weezer -- or "The Red Album"-- is due June 24 (pushed back a week from our last report) in the US on DGC/Interscope."  (Rest of article found here.)

We all know the Green Album was all right, but will Red be the new Blue?

Only time will tell, but "Everybody Get Dangerous" already sounds like its going to be made of win.

So many album drops to look forward to this summer <3

So, I just wanted to take this time before I head out to get a $5 dollar foot-long from Subway (I hope this promotion never ends) to write about how excited I am for the debut Uh Huh Her album, Common Reaction, to drop on August 19th.  I know it's a while away, but they posted (presumably) the first single "Not A Love Song" on their MySpace a little while back and I can't stop listening to it.  It reminds me of a perfect mix of The Sounds, Blonde Redhead, and a dancier Beastie Boys' Sabatoge.  It has one of the catchiest electro-pop choruses I've heard in a while, and the first time I listened to the entire song I felt like I had been beaten upside-the head with a keyboard, bass, and snare drum -- for clarification, that's a damn good thing in my books.  This past summer I was already blown away by how great both their EP and live performance were (post here), and now I absolutely cannot wait until this full-length drops, and for me to see them play a full set at the Roxy at the end of May.

On another note, I just booked my tickets to Seattle which means Sasquatch is officially a go.  It's going to be an amazing Memorial Day Weekend, to say the least.

PS, my new favorite way to pass the time is attempting to follow the scene sequence in the new death cab video.

So it seems that I've been M.I.A. for quite some time.  As always, I'm procrastinating from doing some work, which means that I of course will be writing a post.  What to write about, though?  So much has happened since I last posted, or since my last string of "substantial" posts.  I thought that Varsity Basketball and Track, especially Gillan, had taught me enough about pushing myself to (and above) my limit, both physically and mentally.  However, the 8 weeks I went through this semester taught me so much more -- namely, more about true patience and persistence, virtues I'm not embarrassed to say I used to lack.  I learned how valuable time is, and how time spent complaining about petty and/or irrevocable situations is time wasted.  In retrospect, I spent way too much time the last year and a half complaining about not having the time to hang out with friends, manage grades, and do all the things that make me happy.  But, I've learned that the less time you spend ruminating over the "what if's", the more time you have to get your act together and really make something out of your day.  Normally, I would probably be complaining about how I'm not going to make Dean's List or something along those lines, but the bonds and memories I've recently made far surpass that A I could have maybe gotten if I hadn't gone through this process.  Most importantly, we all know that I'm a crier; surprisingly though, I've only cried three times this semester -- one time had absolutely nothing to do with the process, and one instance I actually cried tears of joy.  I always thought it was such a figurative expression until I found myself standing in front of a group of over 60 people crying out of utter relief and happiness.  I think that alone is enough to illustrate how memorable this semester has been.  And with that, I end with something that will probably mean nothing to you, but a lot to some of the 21 most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  How strong are you?  Too strong.  We are, M-U.

So I just got back to the apartment, and I should really be studying for my midterm tomorrow, but something pretty spectacular happened today that I thought I should log.  I was walking up to Lafayette/Astor with Danny after we grabbed some McDonald's and he was talking about how one of the things that made him the saddest was seeing elderly people eating alone, or being alone in general.  I told him how I agreed, and we just talked about how we would never want to see any of our parents living that sort of life.  Then, out of nowhere, for the first time, I started talking about my grandma.  It was the first time, ever, that I talked about her in the past tense openly and reminiscently without feeling a shooting pain go through my chest or having my tear ducts fill up.  I wouldn't say that the reflection/ loneliness is over, but I would say that shock/denial, pain/guilt, and anger/bargaining, are on their way to being completely surpassed.

With that said,

Love and miss you, grandma
There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think of you

The Line Up

R.E.M. / The Cure / The Flaming Lips U.F.O. Show / Death Cab For Cutie / Modest Mouse / M.I.A. / Flight Of The Conchords / Rodrigo Y Gabriela / Michael Franti & Spearhead / The Breeders / Built To Spill / The Hives / Tegan & Sara / Ghostland Observatory / Ozomatli / The New Pornographers / Blue Scholars / The National / The Kooks / Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks / Cold War Kids / Beirut / Rogue Wave / Okkervil River / Fleet Foxes / Kinski / Mates of State / Sera Cahoone / Crudo (featuring Mike Patton & Dan The Automator) / Battles / Destroyer / Dyme Def / The Blakes / Pela / Jamie Lidell / The Cops / Dengue Fever / Siberian / Say Hi / White Rabbits / David Bazan / The Little Ones / "Awesome" / Dead Confederate / The Heavenly States / 65daysofstatic / Grand Archives / Vince Mira with the Roy Kay Trio / Joshua Morrison / Throw Me The Statue / J. Tillman / The Shaky Hands / Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down / Matt Costa / The Cave Singers

Pretty sure I'll be attempting to make the trip up there for this one.

Ok, for the sake of my Info Tech grade, please click on the link below whenever you can.

Venuedex!

I promise I'll start updating the site with actual venue reviews as soon as I can, but until then, just do me a favor and try to get my site to show up on google search.

Love always,
Steph