Voxtrot - Voxtrot

Yes, I guess it's alternative music, but there is a happier spark in Voxtrot's self-titled album that immediately attracts me. It's obvious that the artists paid a huge amount of detail to each aspect of every lush track on the album, which makes every song a pleasure to listen to. No two songs are boringly similar, and though they use many of the same techniques in their songs they are always used differently. Usually when I listen to a song, to make sure that I really like it I look for a little hook or something about it that I truly love. There is something special about every song on this album that makes me want to buy every one of them. The album has a catchiness to it that would make it easy to dance to, and the whole album is just so upbeat that even the dramatic songs with sad undertones are energizing. Voxtrot's music has a touch of nostalgia to it (sort of an 80's flair) but it's not overpowering to the music. One of the things I like the most about this album is that though it's alternative, maybe with a little bit of rockishness underneath, it's not annoyingly so. You can tell that Voxtrot enjoyed themselves making this album, which undoubtedly shows through in their lyrics and melody. They didn't try too hard, which worked out for the better. Every song is simple but not overly basic, and all tied together makes a beautiful and extremely enjoyable album. Buy. 4.5/5 stars.

Folie A Deux- Fall Out Boy

[Lois I know our reviews will be very different and it will take be ages to do all the meanings so I'll try a few and see how it goes.]
This album is what I would call simply amazing with a chip in the glass. Not perfect, but so close the artists must be kicking themselves as they read the reviews; glancing over all the "three and a half's" and searching for someone who really got what they were trying to say.
I would hope that I could be that person.
Disloyal Order Of The Water Buffaloes
This song is the first on the album, and a very good choice for that position. It's a great start to an even better album. I don't think this song is trying to say one thing, but several things. In a way saying they regret their past, and in another that there's nothing to worry about; they like what they have done, and they realize the fans do to.
I Don't Care
Originally titled "I Don't Care (As Long As It's About Me)" this song is the debut single. The song you want to hate so badly because of they tricky way it seems to always get stuck in your head. Because everyone likes it; because everyone knows it. Part of the reason this album seems so great is because it seems like it was written for you. Not you in particualr, but the true blue fans of these boys. But back to the song: The four singles released all had somthing in common. They all related back to the viral campign that was held aptly named "Citizens For Our Betterment" or CFOB. They all also relate to the titles meaning "a madness shared by two." The way this one does: a rocker's realtionship with himself. Not anyone in particular, just a general famous person. And really, If you look into it any more you'll be killing yourself trying to find the meaning when one isn't really present.
She's My Winona
From the first heavy beats of bass you can tell this song is going to be powerful in more ways then one; lyricly and musicly. Other "professional" critics have suggested skipping this song in their reviews, but I say absloutly not. At first this song seems to be about a younger Pete and his childhood, but now that I have listened to his song, I'm starting to think not; it could be about any family, or any person. The lyrics make you think, they're a bit complex; but isn't that a sign of genuis?
America's Suithearts
Jokingly suggested to be about Bush and Cheny's "realtionship" by one of the masterminds himself (Pete, not Bush), this song still makes me laugh a little. Both the title and the lyric "I'm in love with my own sins" contribute to that. The lyrics to this song are a tad more obvious; (but I could be very wrong) they seem to describe the majority of young Hollywood; a mold the boys should fall in but don't seem to. Musically, this song is to much so commercial; made to sell. It was another CFOB single, including the quotes "I'm in love with my own sins." and "Why why why won't the world revolove around me?"


(phew. I'll type more later.)

Aha Shake Heartbreak- Kings Of Leon

I was fully expecting to dislike this album, and my expectations were fortunatly not fufilled. The music is very much so my taste, but I'm not the biggest fan of lead singer Caleb Followill's voice though. The rock sound is familiar, but at the same time new; I hope neither the music or that statement is too cliche. I have to give these brothers (and cousin) props, they sound magnificent live; I had the pleasure of hearing this whole album live. (what can I say, that's all that youtube had to offer.) I would like to see this band try maybe some faster songs; progress a little. Some fans say Because Of The Times is better, but most fans will agree that this album sticks out to them more then some of the bands other work.

As for the lyrics, I can give this band a double thumbs up. When somthing means somthing more, it's hard not to like it. The way this album is written is very different, almsot more poetic. Some of the things said are hard to understand; very cryptic. But making you think is a sign of somthing good. 3.5 out 5, worth buying. Give it a listen.

Girl At Sea By Maureen Johnson (aka: The Best Author EVER)

You only need to know one thing: Pirates. There. Now you must read it.

No, no- I'm just joking, but there are pirates in the book -along with sunken treasure, tattoos, ramen, mental scarring, and jokes that aren't funny.
Girl at Sea is the story of a teenage girl named Clio, who knows with every ounce of her heart that she will have the greatest summer of her life this year. She has it made; a job at her favorite art store with her favorite boy, no school, just her and her mom being girls all summer. But Clio's seemingly infinite high is abruptly cut short when her mother informs Clio that she and her boyfriend are going away and that Clio could not come along. Suddenly, Clio understands that instead of having the greatest summer of her life, she was going to have to spend it with her wacked-out father on a boat off the coast of Italy. (I personally think that sounds awesome, but not if i had to put up with Clio's father’s girlfriend/’research partner’ and his best bud, Martin. That there's a deal breaker...)

But anyway…

In the end, Clio gets her long sought after kiss (but who with…?) and returns a treasure to its rightful place.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll eat soup-but only if you read this book! (that means five stars)

PS: TEAM ZOMBIE.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

I have seen this book at the library hundreds of times, but never checked it out because I thought it looked a little boring. I finally saw it on sale for like three dollars at some bookstore and I bought it, and I am so glad I did. It was hilarious. The book wasn't so much focused on Colin's romantic life as his friendship with Hassan and their road trip. On their way to nowhere, they take a detour to visit the grave of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and end up meeting a tour guide named Lindsey Lee, and they hang out with her and her friends/family in Gutshot for a while. Colin and Hassan do lots of crazy things with Lindsey Lee and her family, and Hassan is the character that truly saves the book, because I have never laughed so hard as a book as I did when they were hunting hogs. Colin's footnotes are a little distracting/annoying sometimes, but overall they add a good amount to the book and provide some humor. The characters are pretty dynamic, and the dialogue is fantastic. The plot is well thought out and never boring, and as Colin seeks out a "Eureka" moment (as he is a teenaged prodigy) he discovers some things about himself as well. John Green said that his book is being turned into a movie, and he has been asked to adapt the book into a screenplay, so I look forward to that. Four and a half stars out of five.

One of the Boys… - Katy Perry

Gospel singer turned pop princess, Katy Perry, shows her true stripes with her debut album One of the Boys…which hit store shelves June 2008. The first single off of the album, I Kissed A Girl, soared to the top of the charts and landed her a spot on the 2008 Warped Tour (for the entire coast-to-coast run). Each song from the album shows Perry at different stages in her life and past experiences she has had. Whether she’s belting out breakup songs (Ur So Gay and Hot and Cold) or explaining how she has felt over the years (Fingerprints), Perry commands your attention with her ‘take no prisoners’ lyrics. Lost would most definitely be the ‘piano ballad’ of the album…except for the fact that it has no piano but instead a sad and soulful fifty’s sound. I personally love this album and the small details that you can find in the songs if you listen close enough, such as little bells in Mannequin (my favorite song off of the album). I appreciate how Perry uses a little fifty’s flair in each of her song and that she has the audacity to sing what she sings. Most definitely a seven out of five.

Even If It Kills Me - Motion City Soundtrack

Pop-inspired guitar riffs and the occasional high note thrown in with lead vocalist Justin Pierre's typical punk-pop voice give this would-be average band the qualities that help them blend in with their fellow softcore emo bands. But there's something that sets this band apart from the others, despite the fact that only two of the original band members still remain. The group is consistant with their sound, sometimes to the point of repetition, but there are a few catchy choruses and original lyrics. Jesse Johnson's keyboarding and synthesizing are the true gems when they are interjected into the masses of guitar solos and vocals, and it seems that Motion City Soundtrack's ballads are it's saving grace. The peppy alternative songs are well and good, but the different compositions of the songs with a sad edge undoubtedly top their happier songs. Pierre's voice gets a gentler edge that definately suits him and doesn't sound as forced as some of their quicker beats. Motion City Soundtrack's sound can be a little too choppy for my taste and I would love to hear Pierre develop his voice into something clearer and steadier, but there's no doubt that this band has gained wide-spread approval among the alternative listening community. There's room for improvement but Motion City Soundtrack has come a long way from their earlier albums and their attempts at grunge and rock and have found their true specialty leaning towards pop, and their new and improved sound suits every member well. Four out of five stars, depending on your taste, but this album surpassed my expectations and is worth checking out.

Want - 3OH!3

This hip-hop electronica album is very interesting. If only interesting wasn't such a cop out word. Don't Trust Me sounds the most refined and it shows, it has become the most popular out of all the songs on 3OH!3's first professionally recorded album Want. Some of the songs are full of cursing and wanna be white rap, but it's in the strangest way addicting. Both members voices are very enticing, you can't stop listening. Even though the songs have rough edges, the voices singing are so rich in contrast to the aggressive lyrics and electronica. The disadvantage of electronica: the loss of the traditional. Normally, sticking to instruments would be good, but the duo makes up for this with Still Around, a refreshing piano almost ballad. One of my favorite songs off this album is Startsrukk. Even with a grammatically incorrect title, I can still enjoy this song. Even though it's talking about an apparently very attractive person very degradingly, I can still enjoy this song. And that says something. One song I have a hard time listening to after the introduction is I'm Not Your Boyfriend Baby. It really has nothing about the song that is listenable. And with that, I give this album three and a half stars. A good listen.