(50) Sundays of Music: #3

#3: Lostprophets - Start Something

This is the one that I was thinking there would be a possibility of a surprise with. Not so much because of the band, but because they are so high among such worth contenders of the top spots.

But the reasons for me putting this album at #3 are simple: it is well made from start to finish, they are memories associated with it and it rocks.

I was first introduced to Lostprophets like most everyone else at the time, with the release of the song "Last Train Home." That tracks continue to this day to be one of the biggest sing alongs among people my age, no matter which musical genre you prefer. I will always remember the day I was visiting my family in California and my brother and I took a drive to Sacramento and on the way back we belted out this song. I also took the song "Last Summer" and set it to a slideshow of pictures from the summer between high school and college.

However, one of the main reasons I will always go back to this cd is it was one of the first ones to introduce me to how a band can make an album an entire experience. Now, this wasn't an experience in the sense of the album had a theme or anything. It's just that each song flowed into one another. Some with interludes and others it was just a case where the music didn't stop. I still compare current releases to this method of musicianship whenever artists try something similar (I'm not saying they were the first ones to do it - just that they were the first ones I heard).

But what is a good thought process without good music? Luckily, Lostprophets deliver in that aspect as well. With tracks that have been featured in racing video games (such as "To Hell We Ride"), a majority of the album is a pure shot of adrenaline. The quality doesn't suffer when they slow it down, however, as it is actually enhanced. I remember piecing together a music video in my head for "Hello Again" (ironically, it had them on rooftops, which would be the name of a single from their next album) and the closing melodic style of "Sway" is still one of my favorite tracks.

If you haven't heard this before, I urge you to give it a shot. If you have, well then I urge you to pull it out and give it another listen like I just did. And then sit there and rock out.

(50) Sundays of Music: #50

Like what I decided to call this lil countdown thingy? I do. If it was my own facebook status, I would click on that like button. For everybody who has seen their reader clutter with my posts this week, thank you and sorry. Whichever you prefer. But now, just look forward to it happening on Sundays. Regular posting during the week. Let's get to it.

#50 - Spider-Man 2 Soundtrack

I'm 90% sure every boy had a favorite superhero growing up. Mine was always Spider-Man. I just thought he was the coolest with being able to swing away and shoot the web at people. I remember being little running around the house holding my hands like he is in the above image. I also remember at 14 years old doing the same thing when the first movie came out. Critically, the movies aren't that great. But they produced something else that was great: the soundtracks.

I remember liking the first one and the third one had a good selection of bands, but the soundtrack for the second Spider-Man movie is the one that will always stick with me. This is for a couple reasons: One, I bought it for a friend of mine because of the bands listed and Two, it came at a time when I was starting to really discover music. And this is one of those great soundtracks where it hit the pulse of bands that were hitting their stride or were about to: Dashboard Confessional, Train, Hoobastank, Jet, Yellowcard, Maroon 5, Taking Back Sunday, Midtown, Lostprophets, Smile Empty Soul and The Ataris. Plus a few tracks from the incredible Danny Elfman and this was one soundtrack that received quite a few rotations in my cd player (Trivia: only one other soundtrack is on this countdown).

Some songs were album exclusives, such as Jet, DC and Yellowcard whose song you could tell was clearly made for the soundtrack. Some, like the track from TBS, was already featured on a cd, but it still helped me take notice of a band that would become my absolute favorite.

If you have never heard these songs by these bands, I invite you to give them a try. If not, just enjoy the classic Dashboard Confessional track.

Under My Covers, Vol. 2 (updated)

*The roommates are off seeing Harry Potter. I did not tag along because I have only seen the third one and have read 0 of the books so I know I would be lost. One day, I will pull a HP marathon. But with them gone, I feel like I wanted to blog but nothing has been really happening worth blogging about. Maybe something exciting this weekend. I will be in Troy. But after that, probably nothing.

*Also, show was great last night. I am working on tweaking the file (you will see why when I'm done). But I think you will like it.

Anyways, on to the post. On the first one of these, there was virtually no positive feedback. It's cool with me, I'm not in the band so I don't get my feelings hurt. I actually liked the honesty. But because of that, I'm not sure where I want to go with the next one. I am going to try and stay away from the Punk Goes... series for as long as I can cuz those are almost too easy.

Ok here is my thing about covers: I don't really like a hardcore band covering a hardcore song. It just ends up sounding the same. Although there a few here and there that are good. My favorite kinds are when a guy covers a girls song or vice versa, it's an acoustic cover of a fast song or if it crosses genres, like this one, where we go from R&B/pop to Alternative.

Today's cover: Cry Me A River

Original version by Justin Timberlake

Cover version by Lostprophets (please forgive the quality)

*Click here to see where Justin Timberlake stole an idea got his inspiration from. Thanks to the teacup girl for the find (and yes, I did get that name from the Caped Tirader's blog roll)

What do you think? Did they do it justice? Did they butcher it? Make it better? Obviously I like it, but I'm curious as to what you think...