Songs I've Been Listening To #15

I've lived a lot of life since the last time I posted in January. I became the king of procrastination (and wishful thinking). One of my favorite things in the whole world, is discovering new music. When you hear something you like for the first time, it's like falling in love. Sometimes it's fast, and sometimes it takes time, but at the end of the day you've got a smile on your face. If a song gets overplayed on the radio, you just want to see other music (no it's not you Kings of Leon, it's me. I just need some time to think).

Here are some songs that I have started a love affair with. Enjoy.

1.) Falling Into You - Mae // Album: (a)fternoon (2010)
- I remember hearing Mae for the first time in the Summer of 2004. I had really only begun to get into alternative music a couple years before, and the next Summer I went to my first Vans Warped Tour. At the time I was listening to their album "Destination: Anywhere," which had some good hits like "Summertime" and "Giving It Away." This song is an instrumental acoustic one, and it makes you feel good listening to it. This is what falling in love sounds like.

2.) Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event // Album: Calendar Days (2009)
- I think we've all been there a time or two. I love the story telling.

3.) Mother Maria (feat. Beth Hart) - Slash // Album: Slash and Friends (2010)
- The vocals are haunting. I'm not really familiar with Beth Hart, but she fits the song. I can totally see this song being on Guns N' Roses "Chinese Democracy" had Slash stayed after 1994's "The Spaghetti Incident." Just imagine Axl Rose singing this one, I know I can.

4.) Breakeven (Falling to Pieces) - The Script // Album: The Script (2008)
- These guys can write a song, that's for sure. I love songs that anyone can relate to, and this one is not any different. "When the heart breaks, it don't break even." Very true. The Script also co-wrote the majority of American Idol winner Kris Allen's debut album. His his hit single "Live Like We're Dying" was actually written and recorded by The Script before anyone even knew who Kris Allen was.

5.) Let's Groove - Earth, Wind and Fire // Album: Raise! (1981)
- You're an asshole if you don't like this song haha :)

Songs I've Been Listening To #14

Some songs...

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1.) Familiar Realm - CKY (Camp Kill Yourself) // Album: An Answer Can Be Found (2005)

I remember riding in my car listening to 88.9 The Alter-Nation sometime in 2005, hearing this song, and loving it ever since. I haven't been a huge fan of CKY over the years, but I always liked this one.

2.) Crazy For This Girl - Evan & Jaron // Album: Evan & Jaron (2000)

Twin brothers Evan and Jaron had this one hit back in 2000, and it's still a solid song all these years later. I wonder what ever happened to those guys. It's sad, because the style reminds me a lot of the 90's.

3.) Brand New Day - Fireflight // Album: Unbreakable (2008)

I heard this song just recently, on a local Christian music radio station. Occasionally some good tunes find themselves on there. It kind of sucks that some phenomenal Christian rock songs have 1-dimensional lyrics to accompany them, because the structure, melody, and instrumentals are awesome. You can only hear "holy" so many times.

4.) You Can Always Come Home (feat. Serena Ryder) - Jason Castro // Album: The Love Uncomprimised EP (2010)

After being mildly successful on American Idol, Jason went on to create some great music. Just to jog your memory, this is the guy with the metrosexual dreadlocks from last year.

5.) Alison (Live) - Elvis Costello // Album: Woodstock '99 (1999)

What a special moment. I can't imagine being there to hear this, let alone be Elvis Costello performing this. Having 500,000 people sing along to one of your songs must be overwhelming. A bright moment, in an otherwise horrible Woodstock. Limp Bizkit? Really? That has "Peace" written all over it.

Enjoy.

Songs I've Been Listening To #13

Some songs...

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1.) The Hardest Thing - Tyler Ward // Album: The Show (2009)

He became known through Youtube for his acoustic covers of well known songs, including The Fray, Goo Goo Dolls, and Taylor Swift. This is a great pop song.

2.) All This Time - OneRepublic // Album: Waking Up (2009)

A nice slow song, but with a great melody. Ryan Tedder is a great songwriter.

3.) Help I'm Alive - Metric // Album: Fantasies (2009)

This is a really cool alt rock song. It has parts that build up, "Beating Like A Hammer," which ends with the chorus. The song sounds like it belongs on a zombie movie soundtrack.

4.) Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down - Alicia Keys // Album: The Element of Freedom (2009)

This is a calming piano version of Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind," which AK was featured on. I like this version better.

5.) Death - White Lies // Album: To Lose My Life (2009)

This song is pretty epic. It starts off with just the singer and the bass, and in 5 minutes erupts into pure musical inspiration. It makes you want to get off your ass and doing something special.

Songs I've Been Listening To #12

Some music I have been listening to lately...

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1.) Close Your Eyes and Wander - Ernie Halter // Album: Released as a single - 2009

Ernie is a fantastic songwriter, as you can probably figure out from any of his other material. This single was featured on General Hospital in 2009.

2.) Open Arms (Vocal Only Version) - Boyz II Men // Album: Love (2009)

An album made up of covers, including songs like "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, and an A Cappella version of "Time After Time." This song is originally by Journey.

3.) Requiem - Foo Fighters // Album: The Colour and The Shape (1997)

This B-Side was never originally on the album, but included on the deluxe version a couple years back. A great cover, originally by Killing Joke.

4.) Keli Richards - Gin Blossoms // Album: New Miserable Experience (1992)

A B-Side from Gin Blossoms first major label debut, added to the album on the deluxe version in 2002. The song is about a porn star named "Keli Richards," but that may just be a fictional name.

5.) So Lonely - The Police // Album: Outlandos d'Amour (1978)

Off the debut album by The Police, I first heard this last month on the radio. Proof that there is still plenty of music out there to be discovered.

Check those out.

DP, MW2, and Marathon Running

Three things that I would like to share with the world...

1.) Diet Dr. Pepper is a great.

2.) My Winter break has consisted of sleep, watching movies, SLEEP, Modern Warfare 2, sleeeep, and surprisingly very little guitar. I did write a couple songs though.

3.) I'm trying to figure out a good way to go about training for the Cleveland Rite-Aid Half Marathon.

Regardless of running over fifty 5k races, a few 10k's, and one Half Marathon in 2004...I'm still going to be cautious. So far, I've gathered some information about training, nutrition, and gear:

The Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10k and 5k races occur on May 16, 2010.
CLEVELAND MARATHON

The training plan I'm going to follow:
TRAINING PLAN

Some nutritional information:
NUTRITION PLAN

Possible shoe of choice:
BROOKS T6 RACER - Racing flats, $75

...I used Asics Gel Kayano VIII and IX's ($130-140) for training during high school, and I currently own a pair of Nike Reax ($75) running shoes.

Songs I've Been Listening To #11

I did ten editions of this on Facebook in notes, but I decided to stop for whatever reasons. I think this is a good place to continue. These are songs I think are great, based on songwriting, musicianship, and just the flat out ability to make me want to move. Each song is linked to the iTunes store, where you can find the song.

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1.) Sooner or Later - Michelle Branch // Album: Everything Comes and Goes (2010)

Off her yet to be released album, this song is incredibly catchy, and I'm excited to hear the rest of the album when it comes out. Michelle builds on her southern success with The Wreckers, who is a country music duo that had the hit single "Leave The Pieces" in 2006. Michelle came out in 2001 into pop music, but it's safe to say she has crossed over into a southern-rock/country music genre.

2.) Acquiesce - Oasis // Album: The Masterplan (1998)

The Masterplan is compilation album of Oasis' non-album tracks throughout the 90's. They originally recorded this song as a B-Side of the "Some Might Say" single off of (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, and I really think the song should have been on that album. From the opening guitar riff, they had me. Liam Gallagher sings the verse parts, and Noel Gallagher (primary songwriter) sings the chorus parts. The song is either about friendship, or about the brothers relationship.

3.) Someday - Rob Thomas // Album: Cradlesong (2009)

I haven't really other listened to this album, other than the two singles, so I won't talk about that. This song gives me hope that Rob Thomas isn't that bad after all. I didn't really like any of his solo stuff that much until this song. It has a great feel and fun chorus.

4.) Breakin' Me - Jonny Lang // Album: Wander This World (1998)

Lang's second album is a great 90's blues-alternative album. This song displays his unique voice and great guitar skills. He's a true musician, with singing/guitar chops and songwriting talent. It's hard to believe that he was only 17 when this came out, and 16 for his first album a year earlier.

5.) The Space Between - Dave Matthews Band // Album: Everyday (2001)

I've never been a big Dave Matthews fan, but this song and his first couple albums are pretty solid. Nobody ever claimed to know what the hell Dave is singing about, but it sounds alright to me.

6.) Who Says - John Mayer // Album: Battle Studies (2009)

This is a great song, and obviously Mayer is giving all the critics and media a big middle finger with the lyrics "Who says I can't get stoned, and call up a girl I used to know." I think John is the most talented male artist of my generation. The new album comes out November 17th.

7.) Half The World Away (Live) - Noel Gallagher // Album: The Dreams We Have As Children (2009)

Recorded in 2007, this album is a great example how Noel is a great songwriter and the driving force behind Oasis. Having left the group recently this year, I hope to hear more from him.

8.) Buster Voodoo - Rodrigo y Gabriella // Album: 11:11 (2009)

These two rock. It's literally impossible to not move around if you like guitar. Acoustic guitar, funk, wah pedals and sweet effects out the ass. This is good stuff.

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Check these outtt.

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