(50) Sundays of Music: #10

#10: Blink-182 - Take off Your Pants and Jacket

First off, this has got to be one of the greatest titles for an album the long history of album titles. One of the things I loved about the Mark, Tom and Travis show (not to be confused with the live cd) is their way to just have fun with life.

As much of an impact Enema of the State had during my middle school years, this release came just as I was entering high school. I remember hearing "The Rock Show" while I was in Texas during the summer of 2001. To this day, some people still refer to it as The Warped Tour Song (trivia: I didn't attend my first Warped until four years later).

That summer was actually a tough one for me. In a summary, I was basically given the decision to keep on living my life with my friends in Alabama or move back to California and be with my family. Long story short, I chose my friends. My dad picked me up from Cali in his 18-wheeler and we drove all the way back to the southeast. Along with Eminem, blink-182 was a band I listened to as I sat in the back and waited for the long drive to return to small-town home.

While living in said small-town, this was a cd that got played a lot in my room, a place I spent a lot of time in. I wasn't a loner, but my room was definitely a getaway from a lot of stress (before I could drive). Songs like "Give Me One Good Reason" and "Everytime I Look For You" were songs I had on rotation.

And just like "Adam's Song" from Enema, "Stay Together for the Kids" was another track that hit me in a time when I just wanted to rock out. I remember my best friend at the time and I made a music video to it. It's kind of lame, but was really fun and I still think of him to this day when I hear it.

The good thing about this cd? It's one I can still put on and enjoy from start to finish.

(50) Sundays of Music: #13

#13: Blink-182 - Enema of the State

I've learned a lot of things in the time I started really listening to music. One of those things is that if you throw out the word "punk" you won't be able to get 10 people to agree on which bands fall in to that category. Well in my honest opinion, Blink-182 is THE punk band of my generation and this cd in particular is the reason why.

In the TRL-era that contained boy bands and Britney Spears, Blink-182 made waves with a video for "All The Small Things" poking fun at the popular bands of the time. Ironically, the song that got them on the radio was the one that first started to get me to listen beyond the radio.

I realize "What's My Age Again?" came out first and I remember that video clearly, with the naked cartwheeling. I also realize this was by no means their first album, but like I've stated, I was strictly a radio guy at this point.

So while I came for the two lead singles, I stayed for this raw sound I had not experienced before. It had catchy, sing along elements - but also contained cuss words. And for my age at the time (I wanna say 12, 13?) that was big. Also keep in mind, this album came out JUST before the Napster craze (or right along side it - either way it came out before MySpace).

This was the first record of it's kind that got me into music other than "pop" and that is why it's so high on the countdown. The thing is, it's one of those timeless releases that high school kids today can still put on and relate to. One of my favorite memories is visiting California and walking around with this cd in my discman (throwback) and absorbing every word.

What still resonates to me is throughout a cd containing topics such as the state looking down on sodomy and girls with no underwear on, there was a game changer called "Adam's Song." That track, from my perspective is about a teen's struggle with suicide, is still one of my favorites to this day. And it is a testament to their talent that they can go from such an impactful song right into "All the Small Things."

So if you have Rock Band, play the drums on these tracks because Travis Barker is a living legend. If not, enjoy them below.

These words pour out when I open my mouth

I feel like all my posts in recent weeks have either been Wordless Wednesdays or links to songs and all that stuff and I KNOW you guys are going "But Mr O, what's been going on with your life?" Even though I just made that up (I don't know what you guys think) here is an actual "post" that the description of my blog talks about.

The other day, I had all these events and thoughts that I was going to put into this but I have forgotten them. So this post is going to be freestyled. Not even I know how it's going to end.

I think I just made a mistake. I made a Coldplay B-side playlist to listen to right now and one of the tracks is piano heavy. So I guess I will start with the deep stuff first. Right now, there are two things dominating my mind. One is a family issue that may or may not happen so therefore won't get talked about right now and the other is next month. It's so crazy to me to think that August will be one year since my girlfriend of three years officially, after three or four semi-breakups, ended our relationship. We were actually still complicated for a while and I guess we didn't officially stop whatever the hell it is we were doing until late January early February. But still, a year since the final break up and my craziness that came afterward. I hate that I was “that guy.” Calling her every day and pleading for a chance to make things right. I hate it not only because of how stalkerish it felt but now I just feel embarrassed for myself. I tried to do everything and for what? It got me nowhere and in man terms just made me look (and feel) like a little bitch. Everytime that I pleaded for her to come and she did everything on her own time. Even now. Since last August, after a weak week attempt at trying school, she has been home ever since, missing what could have been her last year in undergraduate school. Next month, she comes back. Did I mention we started dating a few days before high school graduation and were steady the first three years of college? So I feel like this past year that she left me. Not only on a relationship level, but just being there – in my life. And now she is coming back. I don't know how to react because I have recently finally started to have a life without her. A life where I don't see a sappy movie and think of her. I just know my own emotions and I don't know how they are going to handle her living in the same town again. A few months ago she got into a new relationship so that may explain why there has been no contact. As far as I know, they are still together. For my sanity's sake, I hope they stay together so no temptations will creep in. I've warned all my friends that I may need them in the next month or two now more than ever.

Speaking of friends, I am getting to the point where I am starting to consider some of my blogger followers and people I follow “friends” as well. We may never actually see each other, but I have connected with some of you more than some people that call themselves my friend. With that said, I'm warning all you guys as well – I may need to come to you guys in the next month or two, haha. Even if it's just you clicking on a blog title.

And let's try to lighten this up a little. I am really appreciating all the nice comments whenever I do a music post like Under My Covers. Especially the ones who say they are hearing it for the first time, it just makes me smile because that is my mission. But I feel music is like Christmas – it's great to give and receive. I will never walk around like I know all music because that's impossible. So as much as I love to put music out there, I love to receive it even more. In the past week I have listened to cd's that I got by winning jeanette's blog contest and have found a few new gems, youtubed this nice acoustic version of "Let Go" after a couple of comments from the Garden State version of Under My Covers and stayed on Melissa's post for an hour clicking play repeatedly listening to jazz. And that's another thing. I am mostly an alternative rock kind of guy, but I really do listen to everything. “Make Her Say” by Kid Cudi, Kanye West and Common is one of my favorite tracks right now. And just planned – in October I will be going to my second drum and bass show. That combined with the Incubus show in August and a *possible* Blink-182 show in September and these next few months are looking nice.

Speaking of shows, I finally got confirmation and on Tuesday I will be sweating my ass off in Atlanta while attending Warped Tour. Last year, there were two bands I HAD to see – Pierce the Veil and Gym Class Heroes. I saw GCH twice, a regular set and then an acoustic set in the afternoon, and PTV stole the show. This year, I don't have that one single band I want to see but I will definitely be looking out for a few. And since I will probably be stoked coming from the show, I will talk more about the bands in a later post.

Movie wise the past two few days have been interesting. On Friday, I was hanging out with J Beezy when a friend of hers asked her to go see The Ugly Truth. She pretty much told me I was coming along to make the thing better and Hedman ended up coming with us. What was really crazy was that the point of going was to go with the friend of hers, but we didn't even sit with them. Hedman and I were complaining at the beginning (let me stop right there – I don't want to make it seem like I hate romantic comedies. They are actually a guilty pleasure. But this movie just did not look good to me) and we laughed pretty hard at the idea of walking out in the first 30 seconds. But we stayed – and laughed. Jeannette doesn't feel the same way, haha, but it was much better than I expected. I am still waiting for Katherine Heigl to come out and bash the movie now.

But then last night we FINALLY saw Ice Age 3 in 3D and it was pretty much awesome. Those little squirrels – they get me everytime. And I think after this and Up, I am starting to dig these 3D movies. But the best 3D movie of all hasn't even come out yet. But it will be here March 5, 2010. I think I have watched the trailer like five times already. If you haven't yet, it's in my very important date to the upper left of this post.

If you have read this far, you are awesome. But the other small thing that has been stressing me out is taking over and I feel like this is coming to a close because of it. I have class in the morning and we only have a week left. It's a photojournalism class, so it's not that hard but all the assignments finally got dates and they are all due in the next week. In the past few days I have gotten most of them done, but I tried to do one today that didn't come out so well. I am hoping the teacher has got some advice for me or else i'm screwed. But off to sleep to be prepared for that.

Oh, and sorry that no house party happened this weekend. But hopefully your night is free tomorrow. I'm making waffles :)

Random lyric of the day:

Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmm that you only meant well?
well of course you did
Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmmm that it's all for the best?
of course it is
Mmmm whatcha say?
Mmmm that it's just what we need
you decided this
whatcha say?

What's My Age Again?

It makes me wonder. Am I 22? or 12? Because I just got frustrated playing a video game. That's right. Resident Evil 5 got to me. Stupid "boss" fight. I would like to take this moment, if he were to read this, to apologize to my roommate.

Also, the title of this blog of course refers to Blink 182. I, for one, am pretty excited they are getting back together. However, should I be? My favorite albums by them are "Enema of the State" and "Take off Your Pants and Jacket". The ones they came out with after that, I wasn't a huge fan of. But those two albums changed my life. Ok, maybe that's overstating it. But they did help me grow up. It makes me wonder how songs like "Adam's Song" will be seen when i'm 40.

Made a promise to myself. I WILL have a tattoo by the end of the summer. I still don't know of what or where. I have a couple ideas, that I will run by jak herself. We will see what progress we can make.

With that, here are my plans/goals for the summer:
*tattoo
*go to the Corner
*road trip to Cali
*No Doubt/Paramore concert
*Taking Back Sunday/Envy on The Coast/Anberlin concerts

And the plans/goals for the weekend:
*start studying for psych of choice and decision making test
*start looking at paper for psych of aging
*clean room
*Fast and Furious
*Wrestlemania 25
*Finish RE5 (maybe)
*studio time Saturday night

On a final note, listening to a different pandora station that consists of Jack's Mannequin/Something Corporate/Lost Ocean. I recommend it.

Random lyrics of the day:

Petals getting picked
with the love-yous
and the love-you-nots

Five years going by
Everyone is staying on their side

But don't never be down
I said don't ever
Because you're gonna keep 'em hanging around

Like a referee with a whistle

So let's get the sports stuff out of the way. Jay Cutler was traded from the Broncos to the Bears today. I was sad to see him go, I will admit, but more sad because of the quarterback we got for him, Kyle Orton. (I really hope I look back on this a year from now with Kyle Orton being my new favorite player). We also get a first round pick plus some others in this year's draft. (Fingers are now crossed for somehow getting Mark Sanchez from USC). Now, I am REALLY interested in the draft. It was a tradition for a while to watch it at Kelly's, but somehow that has faltered.

On to more serious news, my sister and brother-in-law will in fact, not be coming this weekend. Everything was working out and then a personal conflict came in to keep them from coming. I wish them the best in the upcoming week and take it as a sign for me to start studying this weekend for my test on Thursday. Will I? Honestly, with Fast and Furious and Wrestlemania this weekend, plus the fact that we still have Resident Evil 5, probably not. But I will try.

*UPDATE: I made a 79 on that psych test I have been talking about. Instead of saying I made a C, I like to frame it as I was one point away from a B. Which I am happy about :)

Speaking of RE5, I really like this game. I like how we are pacing ourselves too. Definitely worth the almost 12 dollars it is costing to rent it this long.

I am listening to pandora for the first time in probably a month. The station I am currently listening to has Minus the Bear and Death Cab for Cutie. I recommend it.

I think I am about to start "searching" for people with the same favorites as me. So be warned: If you put down Taking Back Sunday as your favorite music, chances are you are getting a good looking at.

Here is some good news: My true BFF (Best Female Friend) should be here next weekend. It would be nice to spend more than 20 minutes at a time with her (which is usually my fault).

I am 70% sure I am going to UPC's "High Rollin on the Plains" tomorrow. Hopefully it will be fun...

Random lyric of the day:

Because I fell in love with the girl at the rock show.
She said "What?" and I told her that I didn't know.