Music Wednesday: Andrew McMahon

So before I get started on this post, I'm just going to put this out there:

Click here for information on how you can text relief to those affected by the earthquake in Haiti

Of course, you can always go to here (cell phone thing seemed kinda fishy, so that's where I went).

Now, on to business.

Today is the third day of a week-long set of artists that produced some of my favorite albums -- they just didn't make it into my top 50 for various reasons.

Today also marks the first of the days where only one artist is featured... sort of.

I don't really know the story of Something Corporate/Jack's Mannequin. As in, I don't exactly know why one was created out of the other. I don't know if there was a big fight, things just weren't working out or what. All I know is whatever Andrew McMahon, the lead singer of both, is involved with is probably going to be great.

My story of how I got into both bands is actually pretty ironic. I make mix cds for my friends and always got some as well and on one said cd, one of my friends put the song "The Mixed Tape" by Jack's Mannequin. I liked it, but for some reason never searched further. Then, I bought the soundtrack to "Snakes On A Plane" (don't hate, that was an awesome soundtrack) and on there was a "remix" to "Bruised," also by Jack's Mannequin. I swear the release was pretty close to each other, but "Punk Goes Acoustic Vol. 2" came out and had an acoustic version of "Bruised." This is when I began to take notice.

Of course, I had always known about McMahon. "My Konstantine" was a staple among my friends, as I'm sure it was for most everybody my age at the time. They even had fun with it after my friend's graduation (I was filming):



I went out and bought "Everything In Transit," the first cd by JM and really liked it, though to this day The Mixed Tape is still my favorite song. During my downloading days, I snatched up everything by McMahon, and this included stuff by Something Corporate and one cd stuck out to me, "Leaving Through The Window." I was very late to the game on that one, but it is still one of my favorites (though as much as it pained me, I just had 50 other favorites).

"The Glass Passenger," JM's second cd, came out in late 2008. This was after his battle with leukemia and the entire album had such a great feel to it. Now that he has dealt with that subject, I heard there is a new cd slated to come out this year and you better believe I will be picking it up day one.

Something Corporate

Leaving Through The Window:







North:



Jack's Mannequin

Everything In Transit:






The Glass Passenger:

Music Sunday: Acoustic

So I kind of had a tough time figuring out where to go with my choice this Sunday. I got a (what I think is a) brilliant idea for a Music Sunday -- that will last the entire 2010. More on that later.

But after Alabama's win last night, I have been in a somber mood. Just kidding, but not really. So I will bring you some of my favorite music -- acoustic songs.

I love acoustic songs. There is something about stripping a song down to the bare essentials that is really pleasing. My favorite kinds are when they take really fast songs and slow them down. But songs that show up on albums as just acoustics by themselves are nice too.

I realize that there are MILLIONS of acoustic songs out there. That's why I am only going with five. Enjoy.

Bayside - "Blame It On Bad Luck"



Saosin - "Seven Years"



Incubus - "I Miss You"



Something Corporate - "I Want To Save You"



30 Seconds to Mars - "The Kill"



Now, I will leave you with something much more fun. This picture:

It was after jme gave me an early present for being in her wedding. The vinyl of Taking Back Sunday's latest album. Needless to say, I was pumped (even if this was the third picture we took)

Under My Covers, Vol. 3 (updated)

So I really wanted to blog, but I couldn't figure out about what. I feel like a bunch of little things are happening (Russell Crowe playing Robin Hood -- they are making a Robin Hood?) but not enough for a post. So that's where that damn covers thing comes in handy, and at least it's not 4 hours ;)

But here are a few things:

*Does anyone do what I do with cd's and as soon as you buy them/download them you listen to them a few times and then go onto something else, but something will trigger it and you end up coming back to said cd? I do it all the time. I will be like "this cd is ok" and move on, then hear a song in a movie or someone will talk about it, I will go back to it and like it. The two cd's that I am currently going through this process with is Anberlin's "Cities" and taking it WAY back to Something Corporate's "Songs for Silent Movies." Not sure if the second one was an actual cd, but I downloaded it somehow...

*This week is looking good. I have a pizza date tomorrow where I will be getting my big kahuna from Brick Oven. Then on Wednesday I may have a partner in the studio. I like doing the show and everything, but it can get boring (and lonely) in there sometimes. To end the week? Beach trip.

*So I've begun to realize that my blog is very music related. I hope that's still cool with people. I think I am going to add a new weekly blog thing that will replace Flashback Friday. FF was cool, but it was starting to get hard looking back at stuff that is no longer going on. It may still make a few guest appearances though. But like I said, I am working a new weekly thing and soon you will all be guests in my house (courtesy of a great idea by Mr. Condescending)

*Lastly, my created fighter in the UFC game got knocked out today. After going 9-0. Ah, what are you gonna do?

On to the cover. This one, you will most likely know. But I heard it on the radio and I figured I would do something about it. Mainly because when it was going strong on the radio I wasn't deep into this and the whole point of the cover thing is to get people's opinions on it. I know one blogger's (she posted it one of hers a while ago) but I am curious what everybody else thinks. Especially when the cover is a rock band from today covering a slow 80's song. Song in question: Careless Whisper.

Original version by WHAM (or George Michael, whichever credit you prefer)

Cover version by Seether

*BONUS* -- More of a dance version cover with All Time Low, 3OH!3 & Juliet Sims
(thank you to jeanette for throwing this one in there)

Sidenote: what happened to Seether? Back in the day I would put them in the same category of Slipknot and System of a Down. Then they did the song with Amy Lee from Evanescence, this song, a cover of a Frank Sinatra song for iTunes and are touring with Nickelback. Things do change...


Oh, and I wasn't doing the random lyrics with music posts, but eff it. I'm bringing it back.

Random lyric of the day:

this is to a girl
who got into my head
with all the pretty things she did
hey
ya know
you keep me up in bed
this is to a girl
who got into my head
with all these fucked up things i did
hey
maybe
baby you could keep me up in bed
my konstanine