Category Archives: Music

Feb6

Millstone – Akron, Ohio’s Latest & Greatest

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Millstone – Akron, Ohio’s Latest & Greatest

Whatsup guys! Hope you’re all having a fabulous day! I’ve had an absolute blast listening to one of Akron, Ohio’s newest bands on the scene, Millstone. They’re releasing their debut album in March, and I was lucky enough to get a first listen to their debut “The Dreams We Don’t Remember”. There’s just so much that was working really well on this ambitious alternative album (yay alliteration!) and I’d love to discuss everything and more with you guys!! I’d especially like to discuss some of the songs that are available as a sneak peak on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MillstoneMusic. Please make sure you press that “Like” button and show them some love!!! (PS: The songs currently available can be seen when you click on BandPage on their Facebook page!)

Millstone: This is the opening song to “The Dreams We Don’t Remember” and I absolute adore it. I’m very fond of albums that begin with an introductory song. (Like “Miseria Cantare: The Beginning” from AFI’s “Sing The Sorrow”! Hello!) Anyways, I love that this track gave me a feel for the rest of the album in under three minutes. That’s genius. From one simple song I got a feel for the vocal style used through out the album which just screams “early 2000’s alternative” to me, and I’m so into it. To those of you who have read my blog before, you’ll know how much I love Bear Hands, and this song reminded me so much of their “Moment Of Silence” in the best way ever. Solid, solid opener.

Cheer Down: Yes. Hell yes. this song is what I would consider a “filler song” on the album since it’s so short and sweet. But that’s what I like about it. I love when bands take their filler songs seriously, as opposed to just a dumb track of them talking or making fart noises with their armpits. One of the lyrics that really stuck out to me in this song was “I don’t want to feel exposed, I like the me that no one knows”. That’s fantastic. I’m sure everyone has felt that way at some point or another. I know I have. There’s so many little quirks and struggles that I deal with that I wouldn’t want anyone but me knowing about. But I like it that way, and this lyric captured that love of introversion to the T. This song was jam packed with content for an under three minute track, and to me that just shows how serious Millstone was about making this album a hard hitter. It definitely packs a one-two punch track after track. POW POW!

Suits and Sighs: “Dreams are for the dreamers, reality is much meaner”. #TRUE. This song definitely touches on some depressing subjects, perfectly invoked through the lyric “we’re living just to die”. But the good news is, I LOVE DEPRESSING SUBJECTS!!! If there’s one thing I love (more than depressing subjects 😉 ) it’s when the band members sing the lyrics in a round, so it made my heart very warm when I heard this the first time I listened to this track. “Suits and Sighs” is another short but sweet song, clocking in at barely over three minutes. I honestly would have loved to hear more from this song, because I really liked the vocals and the vibe that was created. Unfortunately, I feel like it got cut short just a smidgen. Thirty more seconds and it would have been perfect!

Making New Friends In Hell: First things first: LOL at the title. Second of all, this track is just about half way there to me. I would have really loved to hear just a bit more screaming in this song, because I feel like the name of this track in itself calls for a bit of the ol’ emo screamo. That opinion doesn’t take away from a great effort though! And what does my stupid opinion matter anyway?! 😉

Second Impact: The final song available for a sneak peak from Millstone happens to be the final song on the album. One of my favorite things about the lineup of songs featured on “The Dreams We Don’t Remember” is how it begins and ends with a short song. I love that both the opening and closing track were kind of slower paced, because it really gives you time to reflect on what you’re about to hear and what you just heard as the album comes to a close. While listening to “Second Impact” I thought about just what an impact this album had on me. I was blown away by the talent and ambition of the band for one. But I was also so impressed by the time it took for this album to become what it is today. One of the members of Millstone, Adam Jones told me that they’ve been working on “The Dreams We Don’t Remember” for three years – and I can tell. All of the songs feel so nurtured to me. And by that I mean, they’ve been worked on and reworked on until the band felt that they were perfect, which I respect so very much.

Of course the other songs on “The Dreams We Don’t Remember” won’t be available for your listening pleasure until the beginning of March, but I can tell you a bit about what I really liked about this album. The main thing that stuck out to me while I listened and relistened to these tracks was the lyrical content. I got a very AFI vibe from some of the lyrics, like “I gave you my life and it lingers” in one of their mid album songs “Sparrow”. Another lyric that really stuck out to me, and that might be kind of lame to some of you guys was “I’m glad I know that you never cared” from one of my favorite songs on the album “It Hurts”. I know what some of you might be thinking “I’ve heard this lyric before, blah blah blah”. Well guess what, so have I – but that doesn’t take away the impact that a simple statement like that makes. Have you ever been cheated on? Broken up with? Stood up? I can answer yes to all three of these questions, and I’m sure many of you can too. I’m sure many of you who answered yes to these questions have thought something similar to “I’m glad I know that you never cared” – a simple statement that shows so much power. It’s quite fantastic. Another strong point on this album was “Two Birds And No Stone”. It’s actually one of my other favorites on the album, I’ve been listening to it quite frequently since I got my hands on “The Dreams We Don’t Remember”. It’s SO very Taking Back Sunday to me, and that’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. Such a strong chorus with some really great collective vocals from the gentlemen of Millstone. Top notch. If there was two things I could have changed about this album it would be:

  • The screaming content: Like I mentioned for “Making New Friends In Hell” there were a few songs on the album that could have benefited from a tinge more screaming, in my humble Lil Red opinion. Perhaps that’s because I love the combination of gorgeous vocals and some heavy screaming thrown it. Millstone doesn’t lack in the gorgeous vocals department though!
  • The song lineup: There was one point about halfway through the album when the songs started to blend together a bit. It was in the lineup of “It Hurts”, “Sparrow”, and “My Bride”. These tracks could have definitely used a filler song in between them to break up the similarities between the songs.

So there you have it, my review for Millstone’s debut album “The Dreams We Don’t Remember”. Now I need a favor from you guys, my faithful readers: Give this band some love!!! Here’s all of the links to their social media sites:

If you happen to be on any of these social media sites, PLEASE make sure you like and follow them!

ALSO! My boys just released their lyric video for their single “The Dreams We Don’t Remember” on YouTube today! Make sure you check it out!

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What did you guys think about the songs that are currently available for your listening pleasure? Do you have any constructive criticism for Millstone? Myself and the band would love to hear from you, so leave us a comment and let’s chat! Much love! -Sarah

PS: A follow up post will be made on their album release date so you can purchase “The Dreams We Don’t Remember” on iTunes!! ❤

Feb4

In A Broken World

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In A Broken World

Whatuppppp guys! Today I have the pleasure of writing for one of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio’s immensely talented upcoming bands In A Broken World. (Cfalls happens to be my hometown! #REPRESENT!!) If you’re into thought provoking lyrics, gorgeous screaming as well as vocals, AND a heavy dose of metal – these guys are the band for you. In A Broken World was formed back in March of 2014 by a great group of dudes, one of which happens to be my dear friend (and vocalist!) CJ. Just saying right now – I know this kids speaking voice like the back of my hand, and the things he can do vocally and screaming wise are so impressive! As you guys well know…mama likes her screamo. I was lucky enough to have a copy of their debut EP “For Those Like You” burned right in front of me by CJ in my beloved Starbucks…it was very legit. 😉 More importantly, I was absolutely blown away by their music while I was playing it on the way to school. Best believe that some head banging occurred in the Little Red Love Machine! “For Those Like You” is only four songs long, but that was long enough to get a great feel for who these guys are as a band and what to expect for albums to come.

The EP game starts out strong, opening with the three minute banger “Charade”, which offers one of my favorite things that a metal song can do, which is provide a break in the screaming and go into some stunning vocalizing. It was very Of Mice & Men-esque. One of the great things about In A Broken World’s Facebook page (which I will provide!) is that they provide all of their lyrics for those of you who can’t understand the screaming, so I really enjoyed reading through everything that these guys had to say. “Charade” boasts some lyrical winners such as: “I want to run from all the lies, and get lost inside my mind.” Very nice. What I was particularly struck by while listening to all of their songs, was how completely solid the band is as a whole. Everything from the insane guitaring, drumming, and vocals were SO in synch with each other. The amount of practice and hard work that went into all of these tracks is beyond evident. There was not one point when I was listening to “For Those Like You” that I detected the slightest hint of sloppiness, whether it be in the music itself or the production of it. That’s definitely saying a lot, because I’ve heard many a local bands EP albums that sound like they were straight up recorded on someones phone. The level of professionalism in the production of “For Those Like You” is very impressive for a fairly new local band.

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The following song “For Those Like You” is one that I’m particularly excited for. When I spoke to CJ a few days ago, this was the one track that held the deepest meaning to him and it’s so evident through the emotional content of the song. A major shout out is in order for the guitarists of In A Broken World, Daniel and Cody because they absolutely annihilate this track. And PLEASE don’t even get me going on the drumming by Brad, because this kid holds it down and provides such a solid base for all of the songs. Do yourselves a favor and read the lyrics as you’re listening to this track, because like I said – the emotional content is ALL there. These words invoke the feeling of disappointment (which is something that I hate the most) so perfectly:

You said you were OK
You said you were happy
You’re lying to yourself
You made a big mistake

^I love that one!

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I’m not sure if you guys are aware of this, but there’s a celebrity appearance made on “The Unfaithful” by none other than the legend himself….Ron Burgundy. #stayclassy The track opens with a message from the mustached myth which I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at in amusement. Once you’re done having a chuckle, let’s just talk about the vocals on this track – because I find them the strongest on this song. The ranges that are hit on top of the fast pace of the track earns a tip of the cap from Lil Red. “The Unfaithful” offers a lot of really classic metal sounds, particularly in the guitars that I appreciated. I actually got a strong System Of A Down vibe from this track thanks to the high pitched screaming that I love so very much, so that was a nice touch.

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“For Those Like You” closes with the second longest song “The River of Lies”, which is my personal favorite. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Dance Club Massacre and this song definitely reminded me of them. My whole thing with metal music is that there has to be constant change ups in the sound in general for me to appreciate it. I can’t stand when bands stick to one particular sound of screaming or instrumentals, and I also can’t stand when the transition into different sounds isn’t sharp. When it gets to that point, all it sounds like is noise to me. In A Broken World defies all of these pet peeves in a maturity well beyond their not even a year of playing together. Their transitions are SO smooth, like BUTTA! “The River of Lies” ends this short and sweet EP on such a high note and closes the album with the appropriate lyrics of:

Let’s finish out strong together
I’ll help you put the pieces back
This is not the end for you.

^If that’s not motivation to get up and do something…or at least head bang a little – then I don’t know what is.

In A Broken World’s Facebook page provides you with some great photos from previous shows, band updates, and videos and can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/inabrokenworldofficial I urge all of you to give them a like and send them your support from wherever you are in the world!

ALSO, the link to their bandcamp page is: http://inabrokenworld.bandcamp.com/album/for-those-like-you In A Broken World’s EP “For Those Like You” is available for download and if you wish to purchase it, you can name your price for how much you’re willing to spend. In the words of CJ “you could buy the album for sixty-nine cents.” – What a deal!

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In A Broken World’s next show will be happening on February 15th, so make sure you go on their Facebook page and wish them luck! What did you think of “For Those Like You”? What is some constructive criticism you have for the band? We’d love to hear from you, so leave us a comment and let’s chat! Holla atcha girl. -Sarah

Jan29

Lil Red Recommends: Procrastination Edition!

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Lil Red Recommends: Procrastination Edition!

Heyyyyyy guys! So I was in the middle of doing math homework, and I was getting SO (Lil) Red with frustration, so I said “fuck it” and decided to blog instead. Math homework can wait….until the day before it’s due 😉 Ha, anyways I’ve had a few fun occurrences happen this week that I would love to inform you lovelies about, so let’s get to it with my Lil Red Recommends: Procrastination Edition!

Read “The Husband’s Secret”: Lol, told you guys I was gonna recommend this one as soon as I finished reading it! It was SO good! I recently read “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty and was obsessed, so I was very excited to start reading one of her best sellers “The Husband’s Secret”. This book did not disappoint, as I expected from the phenomenal Australian author. All of Moriarty’s books weave together three women’s lives, usually through the school that the ladies children attend, which was a common theme between both books. In “The Husband’s Secret” we meet super mom Celeste, introverted Tess, and elderly and depressed Rachel. Rachel has every reason for her sorrow, because her teenage daughter, Janie was murdered years ago and the case was never solved. I can’t say much about the book, because giving one thing away would give away a lot – but I can tell you that there’s a murderer living among the quiet Australian suburb who never fully paid for the crimes committed all those years ago. Saying that “The Husband’s Secret” is a page turner is an absolute understatement. Much like “Big Little Lies”, I devoured this book in days and fell in love with all of the charming characters that “The Husband’s Secret” has to offer. Do yourselves a favor and READ THIS BOOK! I promise that you’ll like it – you have the Lil Red guarantee!

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Try Out Jamberry Nails: If you haven’t read my most recent post about these fabulously cute nail wraps, PLEASE DO SO! I had the pleasure of writing about this fun company for a dear friend, and was lucky enough to sample some of the products! I gave myself an adorable Jamberry pedi and hooked my sister up with a manicure yesterday – it’s safe to say that we’re both pretty obsessed! Jamberry has hundreds of wrap patterns to chose from as well as nail lacquers if you’re not a nail wrap fan. Please read my blog post Jamberry Nails for additional info and get yourself a sweet treat on http://jamswithjenna.jamberrynails.net! There’s a bunch of Valentine’s Day themed wraps to pick from to get yourself in the spirit for the most annoying holiday ever! 😉

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Go See American Sniper: Alright, so I understand that there’s a lot of controversy surrounding this film regarding how much of the actual story of Chris Kyle was true and whatnot. And here’s the thing – I don’t care. I didn’t look too much into all of the news stories and web articles about the subject – if I did that, I don’t think that I would have enjoyed the film as much as I did. American Sniper was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, so by default I loved this movie. Anything that Eastwood touches is gold in my opinion, and it brought me great joy to watch a movie that had his unique touch all over it. The entire time I was in the movie theater I couldn’t help but think that the film was such “classic Eastwood”. The controversies regarding the film doesn’t take away from the marvelous direction, cinematography, sound mixing, and acting that American Sniper has to offer. Bradley Cooper gave one hell of a performance – I was so impressed! Usually I don’t care too much for him as an actor, but I truly appreciated this character and the work that went into becoming him. Of course there were a lot of parts in American Sniper that were hard to watch, but if you can look past that, you’re in for a great night at the movies.

Listen To Jagwar Ma: Ohhhh yes. Hell yes. I LOVE these guys! Jagwar Ma has one of the most unique sounds in an indie band that I’ve heard in a very long time. The thing about these guys, is that they’re so much more than just indie. They’re alternative, electronica, surfer rock, with the slightest hint of boy band swag that I just adore. Their 2013 album “Howlin” delivers non stop hits – seriously there’s not one song on there that I dislike. One thing that I’m particularly fond of on “Howlin” is that even their short songs like “Man I Need” and “Let Her Go” pack just as much of a punch as their over five minutes “Come Save Me” and “Four”. I’m sure you all know by now how much I appreciate that, because I feel like I mention it a lot. I always say that you can tell that a band is dedicated to their music when their filler songs are just as good as their main feature songs. Do yourselves a favor and give Jagwar Ma I try, I’m pretty confident that some of you fabulous people will enjoy them!

Alright guys, that’s enough procrastination for the day – mama needs to get back to her homework. -___- I hope all of you have a great rest of your day! What movies have you seen lately? What band are you obsessed with at the moment? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Love, love love – Sarah

PS: CHECK OUT JAMBERRY NAILS! http://jamswithjenna.jamberrynails.net

 

Jan24

Funky Time Jams For Days

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Funky Time Jams For Days

Hey hey guys and happy Saturday! The funky time jams have been real this week, and I’ve had a few songs that I’ve been playing on repeat to the point that I was annoying myself. So here’s a few fun new tracks for you to feast your ears on – let me know what you think!

Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina – “Stereo Love”: I am absolutely OBSESSED with this track. It’s a bit of a throwback since it came out in 2009, but my love for this song got rekindled about a week ago when I was getting my nails done. My beloved nail technician, Vinny had his techno Pandora playlist on and this song came on and mama got hyped. The lyrics are gorgeous for one “I hate to see you cry, your smile is a beautiful lie”. Love it. And for two, that accordion is bangin!! After Vinny and I shared our mutual love for this song with each other, he invited my sister and I to move in with him. It was a beautiful time.

The Neighbourhood – “Afraid”: “You’re too mean, I don’t like you – fuck you anyway.” So. Much. Yes. Whenever I have an emo kid moment (which happened quite a few times this past week), The Neighbourhood is usually my go to band to play. Their entire album “I Love You.” always manages to make me cry no matter what, particularly this song. I remember hearing this for the first time when I was working at PacSun, and it had an instant emotional effect on me and remains one of my favorite whiny Sarah anthems to this day. The music video is pretty cool too, so make sure you check it out.

Wale ft. Sam Drew – “LoveHate Thing”: I know, I know, I’ve already mentioned this song before – SUE ME FOR IT, because I absolutely love it. This track is so sexy and smooth and I can’t get enough of it. “Give me love baby, NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH just a touch babyyy”. You better believe that I scream that part at the top of my lungs when I’m cruising around in the Little Red Love Machine. “LoveHate Thing” has actually been my most played song this week, so of course it had to go back on the funky time jams list for this post.

The War On Drugs – “Baby Missiles”: Alright, I admit it, I wasn’t too keen on The War On Drugs once I first started listening to them, thanks to a suggestion from my brother. I don’t know what changed in my mind, but after the third or fourth time of listening to their albums “Slave Ambient” and “Lost In The Dream” I was in love. I get such an old school rock n’ roll feel from these guys. This song in particular gives me a really amazing Bruce Springsteen vibe, that I’m sure many of you will agree with if you listen to it. If you’re a Bob Dylan fan, I’d highly recommend giving The War On Drugs a try, because some of their vocals are damn near identical to Dylan’s. Top notch.

Kiesza – “Hideaway”: The first time I heard this song was when I was flipping through channels and landed on some award show or another. I saw this lanky, gorgeous redhead singing her ass off and I was mesmerized. Her vocals are SO strong, and you guys know I don’t say that about female vocalists very often. This is such a great electronica track, it makes me feel like taking LSD and staring at a lava lamp for hours on end. So mission accomplished, Kiesza – keep doing your thang. -From one redhead to another. ❤

Rae Sremmurd – “No Type”: Yes. Oh hell yes. This song is my JAM. We played this at Next constantly when I worked there, and I was obsessed. I love these guys’ voices so much. They have so much swag, it’s ridiculous and this track is bumpin. “Bad bitches is the only thing that I like”. They took the words right out of my mouth. We truly are on the same page with that beautiful sentiment.

Viva Brother – “Fly By Nights”: I love these Brit boys so so very much. I had a blast listening to their album “Famous First Words” while I was getting ready in the morning a few days ago. What I like so much about Viva Brother is that they’re so sure of who they are as a band. They’re this perfect blend of poppy boy band charm with just the right amount of a punk edge to give them a very unique sound. They often get compared to The Wombats in terms of sound, but I hear two distinctively different bands whenever I listen to either of them. There’s this fantastic lyric in “Fly By Nights”, “I’m thinking of you and so I’m drinking for two” which I fricken love. I can’t tell you guys how many times I cracked open a bottle of wine over a stupid ex boyfriend or whatever and that lyric sums it up perfectly. Did I also forget to mention that the Viva Brother boys are cute as hell? Hubba hubba!

Jack White – “Lazaretto”: This track is without a doubt in my top five favorite songs to drive to. I happened to drive a lot to Jack White this past week, shocker, I know. I’m sure I’ve mentioned multiple times before my undying love for Mr. White, but let me mention it again: I love him, and I will have his pale children some day. COUNT ON IT. Jack White loves redheads too so that definitely will earn me some extra brownie points! This song is just fantastic. It’s a true testament to who Jack White is as an artist. That amazing guitar and those raw vocals – the fact that you can hear through his music just how much fun he has making it. It’s amazing. The lyrics “When I say nothing, I say everything” spoke to me enough that I got it tattooed. #superfan #marrymeJackWhite (PS: make sure you check out the music video for “Lazaretto” – it’s way cool!)

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Santigold – “You’ll Find A Way”: Yasssssss! I’ve been a big Santigold fan for ages now! I actually was just listening to her today as I was applying my makeup. Santigold is fantastic putting on makeup music because she’s so damn sassy, so it got me extremely hyped up to get all dolled up! This girl can spit, and I love her sound so much. It’s this fantastic combination of rap, gorgeous vocals, and just a hint of electronica. It’s quite brilliant, actually. The best part about her sound is how distinctive it is. I’d know a Santigold track instantly just by her somewhat throaty voice (which I find incredibly sexy!). And can we talk about that album cover? GORGEOUS!

Cloud Nothings – “Understand At All”: Cloud Nothings is a cool, cool band. It’s quite amazing the transformation that their music has undertaken within a few short years. “Understand At All” is the opening track to their debut self titled album which definitely had a beachy, surfer boy/garage band feel. Just imagine a group of handsome guys playing in a garage filled with surfboards and you’ll get early Cloud Nothings. This is such a simple little song, but sometimes simple is better. The refrain repeats “I don’t understand at all, and I don’t understand at all” which is a sentiment I’m sure many of us has felt in their lifetime. Whether it be from a breakup or a math problem, Cloud Nothings took one universal statement and turned it into a bangin track. Their sound is a lot more mature now, which you can hear in “I’m Not Part Of Me” which is off of one of their latest albums “Here And Nowhere Else”. You’ll be amazed by their metamorphosis if you take the time to compare and contrast these tracks.

So there you have it, my top ten latest and greatest funky time jams! What’s your favorite song or album to drive to? Do you have any lyrics from a favorite song tattooed on you? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Have a fabulous Saturday! -Sarah

Jan20

The iTunes Shuffle: Rap Edition!

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The iTunes Shuffle: Rap Edition!

Whatsup everyone! I hope you’re having a fabulous Tuesday! It’s very snowy in Akron, Ohio today – what’s the weather like where you’re at?? So earlier this week I noticed that when I talk about music, I rarely mention anything from the rap genre. Contrary to popular belief (people usually classify me as a strictly indie/punk/alt girl), I like quite a bit of rap, so I decided to do an iTunes Shuffle segment specifically for the rap genre. Here’s a few of my go to rap songs when I want to unleash my inner gangster, who’s peacefully slumbering as we speak. Don’t make fun of me too hard for a few of these!

Trinidad James – “All Gold Everything”: LOL pleeease judge me for this one! Don’t believe me, just watch….me dance and sing poorly to this song. During a show I did a few years ago, this song was the straight up theme song for me and a few of my cast mates, so whenever I hear this track it takes me back to the theater! If you don’t rap along to “shout out to the freshmen, on Instagram straight flexin. Popped a molly I’m sweatin (WOO!)” then we can’t be friends. 🙂 #JAMES

Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z – “The Devil is A Lie”: This is actually one of my favorite rap songs, and it has been for the past year or so. I pride myself on knowing all the lyrics to this song, and seeing me rap along to it is TRULY a sight for sore eyes. 😉 I usually don’t care for Rick Ross on an individual level but I very much like his collaborations with other rappers (which is the exact same way I feel about Nicki Minaj). Jay-Z absolutely ANNIHILATES his verse. Hova always kills it in my opinion, but my god do I love his feature in this song. The beat is sick and the lyrics kill. 10/10

Cage – “Captain Bumout”: I absolutely LOVE Cage. I’ve been going on a four year relationship with him in my mind, and we’ve never been happier. What I like so much about this song (asides from the fact that it was the first Cage song I heard), is that it sounds so alternative to me, specifically in the chorus and I really dig that. I like Cage’s newer stuff, but his older albums particularly “Movies for the Blind” is the one that really hits a home run for me. I like how much this album dabbles into horrorcore with the prime example of “Suicidal Failure” which is another one of my favorite Cage songs. Not too many people I know are familiar with Cage, and if you’re not – I urge you to familiarize yourself with him immediately.

Tyler, The Creator – “Goblin”: Yes. Hell yes. I love the same titled album “Goblin” and this song fucking goes IN. I’ll never forget this one time I was driving home from a rehearsal fairly late one night. It was pitch black and it was raining like hell and I had this song straight bumping in my car. It was this really amazing moment because the weather and that pure middle of the night darkness made the perfect background for playing such a dark song. There’s just SO much working in this almost seven minute banger, particularly the lyrics. “I’m fucked in the head, I lost my mind with my virginity.” God, that’s good. I love how this song is a vent session, and even though I might not have similar feelings or situations that Tyler is rapping about, I feel like I can relate anyway. That’s when you know a song is powerful.

Yelawolf – “Daddy’s Lambo”: I. Love. Yelawolf. First things first: hubba hubba, lord have mercy, and marry me now. Second of all: Homeboy spits FIRE. Yelawolf gets compared to Eminem so often, and I can see why – but I’m gonna throw this out there: I don’t care too much for Eminem. One can only handle so much of him being angry and bitter towards his mother and ex-wife. And don’t even get me started on how often he mentions his daughter. -___- Anyways, I like how much fun Yelawolf has with his music, it’s evident in all of his tracks and I appreciate that. Shout out to Drama Beats for laying it down in this song as well. He’s representing Ohio like no other!

Kid Cudi – “Ashin’ Kusher”: Another guy who’s doing Ohio proud! #represent This song is one of my absolute FAVORITE songs to drive to. It’s so catchy and the lyrics are fun as hell. “Who are you, JUDY?!” Ugh, love it. I like Kid Cudi a lot, and I feel like he’s one of those rappers that people who don’t care too much for rap music like anyways. This song is upbeat but it somehow feels so mellow. It’s the perfect song to do some slow head nodding to. I also absolutely love his song “Maniac” that features Cage. So good.

Kanye West – “Blood On The Leaves”: This is one of my all time favorite Kanye West songs. I’ll never forget the first time I heard this and was just blown away. The lyrics are fantastic and it gives such a dark vibe which is always what I’m drawn to. I know the lyrics to this song like the back of my hand, and I somehow always manage to get a bit teary eyed when he says “it’s like I don’t even know ya” which is the perfect sentiment of the disappointment I’ve felt towards many people in my life. “Yeezus” was a hit and miss album for me, but this song made up for all of the misses in a way. Bravo.

Chris Brown ft. T-Pain – “Kiss Kiss”: I told you not to make fun of me too hard for some of the songs on here! Ha, I don’t even care, I love this song. I was fourteen when this song came out, and it takes me back to driving with my sister when she first got her license and this song would play on the radio ALL THE TIME. We would sing poorly to the Chris Brown verses and rap our asses off once T-Pain stepped in. “Shorty let me holla at you, YOU SO HOT HOT HOT HOT!!!” Lol, I can’t even….but I really can.

Nicki Minaj ft. Eminem – “Roman’s Revenge”: Yeah yeah, I know I said I don’t care too much for Eminem or Ms. Minaj but I love this song. SUE ME FOR IT!!! Honestly, “Pink Friday” wasn’t one of the worst albums I’ve heard in my life, and I really do like some of her darker stuff, not that poppy bullshit that’s played on the radio constantly. The lyrics from both her and Em are raw as hell, disgusting, dark, twisted and I shouldn’t love it but I do. I was in high school when “Pink Friday” came out, and me and one of my dear friends at the time would always play this song on the bus and rap along to it. Whenever I’m driving with my sister we tend to do the same thing as well. I dig it. What of it?

Big Sean ft. Kanye West and Roscoe Dash – “Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay”: If you say you don’t like this song, you’re a liar. Plain and simple. I think Big Sean is absolutely hysterical, everything he does just cracks me up. So many of his lyrics are just so goofy! This song is smooth, fun, and the beat is bangin. It’s a great collaboration, and all of the artists just work so well together in this track. Love it. #IDFWU

So there you have it, my iTunes Shuffle: Rap Edition! This doesn’t even begin to cover all of the artists and songs that I like in such a broad genre, but it’s a start! Who’s your favorite rapper? What’s one of your favorite rap albums? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Happy Tuesday! -Sarah

Jan18

Lil Red Recommends: January Edition!

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Lil Red Recommends: January Edition!

Whatsup guys! Happy Sunday to each and every one of you! I’ve read quite a few good books this month, discovered a cool new band, and had a somewhat religious experience while shopping, so I wanted to share all of these and more with you in the newest Lil Red Recommends! Let’s get to it:

Read Tuesdays With Morrie: Seriously. Like Nike…just do it. My dear friend Kate got this for me a few Christmas-es ago and I decided to pick it up when I was out of a book to read after I finished Big Little Lies (which will be discussed later!) I read this book quite some time ago, and I am SO happy that I finally reread it. This book touched my heart and soul in ways that I can’t even describe the second time around. I guess that has to do with the fact that my beloved grandma was still alive and well the first time I read this book. This is a true story that chronicles the final visits a professor suffering with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) has with a former student. Mitch, who hasn’t spoke with his favorite college professor Morrie Schwartz in sixteen years becomes aware of his professor’s disease by seeing him doing a television interview while flipping stations. He hops a plane to Boston to see Morrie looking fragile and pallid in a wheelchair. After their first visit together which fell on a Tuesday, Morrie asked if Mitch would come to see him again next week, to which Mitch obliged. All of their meetings in their college days fell on a Tuesday and these visits stayed true to that tradition because they’re “Tuesday people” according to Morrie. During the visits between professor and student topics like religion, emotions, forgiveness, and death are discussed. We learn about Morrie and Mitch’s past and current struggles, that are peppered with humor and the questions that everyone probably asks themselves. This tribute to an amazing man had the ability to make me love both Morrie and Mitch as if they were my own family, and I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’re looking for a quick read that makes you think and opens your heart, grab yourself a copy of Tuesdays With Morrie pronto. If this book doesn’t move you in some way, then you literally have no soul.

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Read Big Little Lies: Ohh yes, this book is FABULOUS. Big Little Lies tells the tale of the drama of three women: battered and beautiful Celeste, fashionable and confrontational Madeline, and of course shy and young Jane. These ladies meet through the kindergarten that their children attend and through fast friendship their lives become intertwined. All of the struggles these women face lead up to a tragic night at a school trivia night function for the parents. The chapters literally begin with counting down the amount of time left until the trivia night. This book covers everything from domestic violence, fabulous fashion, sexual assault, bullying, and relationships and it is an absolute thrill of a read. I can’t tell you too much about the book because it’s going to ruin a lot of the shocks and surprises that happen in basically each chapter. I’m a big fan of the author Herman Koch and Big Little Lies is written very similarly to his work, so I instantly fell in love with it. I know this description of the book was vague, but seriously PLEASE read it and tell me what you think! I’m already obsessed with the author Liane Moriarty and just started one of her best sellers The Husband’s Secret last night. I’m very confident that it will be on my next Lil Red Recommends segment!

big little lies

Listen to Sam Roberts Band: I know, I know – typical PacSun music. SUE ME FOR IT because I love these guys! So catchy, so fresh, so upbeat. I just put their debut album Lo-Fantasy on my iTunes two days ago and I’m kind of obsessed. It comes with two disks, the actual CD and then remix versions of some of the songs. Upbeat is honestly one of the best words I can use to describe these guys, because that’s what they are – they’re fun and the beats of their songs are absolutely infectious. I dare you to not listen to Sam Roberts Band without bobbing your head or tapping your feet. Or in my case – dancing very poorly. I heard their songs “Metal Skin”and “Shapeshifters” when I used to work at PacSun, and they remain two of my favorite songs off of Lo-Fantasy. Do yourselves a favor and give them a try, you’ll be glad you did.

Shop The Pre-Spring Sales: So I was at the mall earlier this week with my sister and all of the stores were still flaunting their post holiday/pre-spring sales. We went to the two stores that we wanted to find the best deals at, which were Victoria’s Secret and Express. Kristen managed to get a sixty dollar bra from VS for only twenty dollars! You seriously can’t beat that. There were a few bras that I had my eye on in their sale bins, but I have more than enough bras to wear a different one every day of the week so I controlled myself from purchasing one, as hard as it was!!! #selfcontrol The real steal of the day came from my find at Express. This entire winter season I had my eye on a gorgeous snake skin print embellished V-neck sweater but the seventy-nine dollar price tag was just too steep for me to justify buying it. While rummaging through the sale bins in Express, a miracle happened. I FOUND THE SWEATER!!! My hands got sweaty (which always happens when I get excited – it’s my cross to bear.) and I rushed to the fitting room. I stripped off my winter layers of a jacket, hoodie, and sweater as quickly as I could and slipped into the sweater I had been lusting over for so long. It. Was. Perfect. It was exactly how I hoped it would fit and look on me, and I couldn’t wait to wear it out that evening. The best part about it? I got it for NINETEEN DOLLARS! Saying that I felt like I was on Ecstasy is an understatement!!! There she is:

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Do a Winter Activity: Whether it be sledding, skiing, snow shoeing, or making some winter food like soups or peppermint treats with a friend – DO IT! I figure skated for close to ten years when I was younger, and a few nights ago my sister and I went ice skating. We had an absolute blast – well maybe me more than her because I actually knew what I was doing! That night was my first time back on the ice in close to four years and I was amazed at how much I could still do. As soon as I hit the ice I could feel my muscle memory kicking it – it was just like riding a bike. I was still able to jump, spin, and do a lot of fun footwork tricks. At one point during the night my sister said “Sarah, people are watching you” and I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit how good it made me feel. It took me back to when I would compete and all eyes would be on me when I performed my routines. Being the center of attention for just a few hours at the rink lifted my spirits and my ass, because it was a great work out! If you’re ever in the Akron, Ohio area and wanna go skating – you know how to find me!

skating

So there you have it! My Lil Red Recommends for the month of January! What’s your favorite winter activity? Have you read Big Little Lies or Tuesdays With Morrie? What did you think of it? What was a great winter sale steal that you got? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Have a fabulous day! -Sarah

Jan9

The iTunes Shuffle!

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The iTunes Shuffle!

On my beloved iTunes I have a grand total of 7,655 songs on there, and I love them all equally. The genres vary from emo screamo, to indie, to rap, to classic rock n’ roll, and everything in between. So today I thought it would be fun to put the ol’ iTunes on shuffle, and see just what comes up for a few songs. The shuffle journey began with Chiddy Bang, so let’s discuss!

Chiddy Bang “Nothing on We”: Ohhh yes, I love me some Chiddy Bang. The thing that I really love about these gents, is that they’re not incredibly vulgar like some of the rappers on the scene today. Chiddy Bang loves them a good children’s choir as displayed on this song, and guess what? SO DO I! If there’s a children’s choir featured in a song, there’s a 99% guarantee that I’m going to love it. All of the beats used in Chiddy’s music are always so dope too, they just make you wanna shake your groove thang and GO AND GET YOUR MONEY HUSTLERRRR!

Tom Vek “You Need To Work Your Heart Out”: Tom Vek’s entire album “Leisure Seizure” is really just fantastic. It’s a true testament to who he is as an indie artist. I love the mechanical feel of this song and Vek’s monotone that he manages to make sound amazing throughout the track. When I hear this song, all I can imagine is a bio mechanical heart that’s alive with all of the different gears and cogs trying to figure out its next move. I’ve mentioned Tom Vek before, and honestly I don’t think I mention him enough, because his talent is undeniable. I can’t recommend “Leisure Seizure” enough, so make sure you give it a try and let me know what you think!

Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash “Girl From The North Country”: Oh wow. Just as soon as this song came on a tidal wave of emotion flowed throw my entire body and tears INSTANTLY welled up in my eyes. When I was a little girl and my dad would take me to my figure skating lessons, he would always play Johnny Cash in the car. Whenever I hear anything by the Man in Black, I always ALWAYS think of my father. Even if Cash’s music didn’t remind me of anything, it would still probably have that overwhelming emotional effect on me. His voice and his story touches my soul and takes my heart in its hands. This duet ballad between Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan is actually one of my favorites. It evokes feelings of longing in sorrow in me that I didn’t even know I had. So powerful and so damn beautiful.

Justin Timberlake (feat. Drake) “Cabaret”: YESSSSS I love me some JT!!! ❤ I’ve had the biggest crush on him and his talent for as long as I can remember. And might I just say, that I am truly devastated that him and his wife are expecting….that means he was cheating on me 😦 ! (But seriously, congrats Justin and Jessica!) ANYWHO, in my eyes JT can do no wrong, I love his style and his swagger like no other. Drake isn’t one of my favorites in the music scene, but I really like his verse and this collaboration. “The 20/20 Experience” is just an all around great album. No complaints!

Foster The People “Goats In Trees”: I absolutely ADORE Foster The peoples sophomore album “Supermodel”. It’s a much more mature sound on this album that we didn’t quite hear on “Torches”. I love how folksy this little ditty is, it makes me want to sit in a Kumbaya circle around a camp fire and just clap my hands and sway along with the music. And I hate camp fires, so that’s the effect that this song has on me! I love the lead singers falsetto so much, it sounds so natural. He really does make all of his vocalizing seem so easy, which is very pleasing to me. I feel like no matter what genre of music you listen to heavily, you can still appreciate the beauty and simplicity of this song. Absolutely gorgeous.

Fleet Foxes “Battery Kinzie”: I’m a very big fan of the Fleet Foxes. I used the word folksy to describe the last song and I’m going to use it again for “Battery Kinzie” because it’s the perfect way to describe it. There’s nothing I love more than a group of dudes singing along beautifully with an acoustic guitar. Lord have mercy on me. I get a very Mumford and Sons vibe from this song and I get a very Fleet Foxes vibe whenever I hear Mumford and Sons so it’s so clear the inspiration these two bands draw from each other. I always appreciate the scenery that comes to my mind whenever I hear a Fleet Foxes song. For example, when I hear “Battery Kinzie” I picture myself in a field full of wildflowers with a brown barn lurking in the distance. How can you not have a smile on your face when you’re thinking of that?

Cults “Never Saw the Point”: God this girl has such a sweet voice, it’s quite stunning actually, and I don’t say that about a lot of female vocalists. I definitely can get down to some Cults, but not too much because a lot of their songs start to sound the same after a while. Having said that, I love this song. I think it’s a great indie track but there’s something more to this song…I get an almost classical feel from it…and a somewhat jazzy vibe as well, I just can’t put my finger on it. It’s a very ambiguous sounding track and I think that’s what I like so much about it. Miss girl on vocals has an extremely haunting voice which I think just adds to the perfection of this song. This track is spot on. Bravo.

Nelly Furtado (Feat. Timbaland) “Promiscuous”: Hahaha, judge me for it? Nah, I think this song is fabulous. I’ll never forget hearing this song for the first time, I was like “Woah, Nelly!” Ugh…that was such a lame joke…sorry. BUT ANYWAYS, this track is sexy, which was not what the world was expecting from little miss “I’m Like A Bird”. I love basically anything that Timbaland touches, and I can definitely feel his influence on the sound of this song. The sassiness that Furtado achieves in this song is on point, and I feel like every girl kind of wants to be that…not promiscuous! But having all of the perfect sharp and attitude-y comebacks that Furtado sings back to her Promiscuous Boy. When I try to unleash my inner diva I usually just end up flustered and sweaty. This is a confident sounding track, and I dig that.

So there you have it, a quick peak into some of the many artists and songs that I have on my iTunes. Making this post was a lot of fun so I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did making it! Who’s your guilty pleasure artist in your music collection? What was the first album you got to start your collection? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Happy Saturday! -Sarah

Jan8

Recommendations From Yours Truly ;)

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Recommendations From Yours Truly ;)

Helllooooooo everyone and happy almost weekend!!! I’ve had a really fabulous week doing a bunch of fun stuff that I’d love to share with you guys. Maybe these ideas will give you something fun to do this weekend! Let’s discuss!

Cook Your Favorite Meal: Honestly…this one is just for my own personal enjoyment…but everyone likes food so WHY NOT let it be a group effort? During the week I had a really lovely evening with myself preparing my personal favorite meal. For about six years now my mom has made this absolutely delicious pasta salad. It uses red pepper, red onions, sauteed zucchini, mozzarella cheese, garlic, and balsamic vinegar. (You can also add herbs of your choosing and spinach if you’d like!) I could eat this salad for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…well maybe not breakfast…but it’s THAT good…so breakfast? Sure, why not?! I used to really love cooking and I’m not really sure why I ever stopped. (Maybe because my mom’s food is so good! 😉 ) I thought it would be fun to try my hand at making my favorite dish for a change, and I’m so glad I did! I really enjoyed just hanging out with myself, playing some music, and preparing a meal that I know my entire family enjoys. And guess what?! It turned out great! You know how food that you make on your own somehow always tastes better than when other people cook it? That’s exactly the experience I had when I tried out my rendition of my beloved pasta salad. My dad told me that I’ll never starve now that I know how to make my favorite dish…and he’s absolutely right! Here’s a pic of how my pasta salad turned out, and if you’d like the recipe, please let me know!

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YUM!!!!! ^^^^^^

Make Some Candy: I had a glorious best friend afternoon today with my darling Lea, who you guys know all about! It’s very cold in Akron, Ohio (#REPRESENT) right now. Early this afternoon I heard on the news that it felt like -17 degrees outside. Lea and I were supposed to go sledding this afternoon, but when I heard about this drastic cold I thought “oh hell no!” So we opted for a nice, cozy day indoors cooking up some yummy treats. Once we were armed with Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, we began browsing through Pinterest, our activity destination. After ten minutes of scrolling through pages, we decided on making chocolate truffles. We raided the pantry for the we ingredients needed, then ventured back out in the cold to hit up the grocery story for what we didn’t have. The recipe was very easy to make, literally all you had to do was melt your chocolate and other ingredients together, put the chocolate in the freezer to let it stiffen, and then once the mixture is hard enough you roll them into balls and put whatever topping you would like on them. While our chocolate was melting and stiffening, we played Pentatonixs (or however you spell them), looked up the world’s largest body parts on Google Images, and hung out with Lea’s twin brother Bill. When the chocolates were stiff enough to shape them we had a silly time getting our hands dirty, because the chocolate was still gooey! We used peppermint candy that we crushed with a mallet, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips for the toppings on our truffles. They turned out so yummy! You can’t do much to mess up chocolate! 😉 Here’s a picture of us with our finished product! We’re just a bunch of regular ol’ chocolateers!

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Once again…YUM!!!! ^^^

Go See Unbroken: This week I had a lovely date night with my other partner in crime, Kate, who you guys also know all about! We went to see Unbroken, which tells the courageous tale of Louis Zamperini as directed by the stunning and gorgeous Angelina Jolie. In the film we see Zamperini, the Olympic track star survive a plane crash in World War II. Unfortunately he doesn’t land to safety in the crash and ends up stranded at sea with two other soldiers. (One of them happens to be Finn Wittrock, who plays Dandy on American Horror Story: Freak Show!) The sailing in the emergency rafts are anything but smooth, and our heroes end up in a Japanese prisoner of war camp and eventually concentration camps. Zamperini suffers under the hands of a sadistic camp leader, which are some particularly difficult scenes to watch. However, the story tells an amazing tale. The screenplay by Joel and Ethan Coen was fantastic and the cinematography and sound effects in the film were truly awe inspiring. Not to mention my dream woman, Miss Jolie directed the film to perfection. The movie is quite long so I’d recommend peeing a lot before hand. Most importantly, the film really covers some heavy and disturbing issues which might not be suitable for everyone. Fun fact for ya, a man from Stow, Ohio had a few lines in Unbroken, which is a hop, skip, and a jump from where I’m at. So way to represent, Ohio, brother man!! If you’re looking for a powerful and extremely well made movie to go to this weekend, I can’t recommend seeing Unbroken enough!

Listen To Cayucas: I know, I know so typically PacSun-y of me, BUT I CAN’T HELP IT! I love these guys! They’re seriously so beachy fun and I just can’t even. My absolute favorite thing to do is play these guys while I’m taking a bubble bath or shower, because they make me feel like I’m just chilling on the beach with my little toesies in the sand. I’ve never been to the beach before (Lake Erie doesn’t count!) but this group of surfer dudes helps me make believe that I’m there. All of their songs off of their album “Bigfoot” are crowd pleasers, but my particular favorite song is “High School Lover”….and YES we did play it at PacSun, ha! This track is very fun though. It definitely will make you think about that one guy or gal in high school that you wanted to be with so desperately or maybe was the one who got away. A charming sentiment set to a soft surfer rock vibe? It’s a win win. (Soft surfer rock?…I believe I just created my own music genre right there!) 😉

Have A Facial Night: Earlier this week, my sister asked me to give her one of my famous around the house facials, which I happily obliged to. After working at The Body Shop, I developed a love for skincare that will last me a lifetime. Here’s my tried and true step by step guide on how to give a fabulous facial to yourself or a friend:

  • Remove any facial makeup with one of those terrific cleansing wipes from your brand of choice.
  • Wet the skin with lukewarm water and if you have a clay, honey and oat, warming ginger, blue corn, or any mask in particular that you like to use, apply and let it sit for the amount of time instructed.
  • Now it’s time to use a cleanser. If you have a bristle brush, I highly recommend using one of these to give your pores an even deeper clean. If you don’t have a brush, make sure you use circular motions with your hands while using your cleanser.
  • I like to finish the facial treatment with a scrub. If you happen to use a soft buffer pad I would recommend using a rough, gritty scrub. And if you’re a fan of a more cream based scrub I would opt for an exfoliating loofah pad.
  • (Apply a toner if you’d like. But I never do.)
  • After your skin is nice and squeaky clean apply any acne topical treatment you use if needed and a moisturizer.

All of those steps listed above may seem like a lot for the skin to handle all at once, but you have the Lil Red Guarantee that all it can do is help if you use these tips every once in a blue moon! Facials scream “girls night” to me, so plan a fun night of pampering and break out the wine, chocolate, and chick flicks!

Treat Yoself: Annnnnd if you’re looking for a few fun treats to pamper yourself with, here’s a few products from The Body Shop that I’ve been obsessed with lately, which can be found in stores and online at http://www.thebodyshop.com!

smooth-and-renew-loofah-pads_lvitamin-c-microdermabrasion_lwarming-mineral-mask_lglazed-apple-bath-jelly_lhoneymania-bubble-bath-melt_ltreatyoself_main01

Items shown from top to bottom:

  • Smooth and Renew Loofah Pads
  • Vitamin C Midrodermabrasion
  • Warming Mineral Mask
  • Glazed Apple Bath Jelly
  • Honeymania Bubble Bath Melt

So there you have it, my Little Red Recommends segment for the week! What are your weekend plans? What did you think about Unbroken? What band should I check out next? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Have a great weekend! -Sarah

Dec17

The 1975 Concert!!!!

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The 1975 Concert!!!!

So last night I went to see The 1975 play in Cleveland with my dear friend Kyle, and it was absolutely amazing. It was everything I wanted it to be AND MORE. They were playing at the Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland which is a pretty average sized venue. Kyle and I opted for the general admission tickets and ended up in the first row on the balcony, which was actually really awesome because we could see everything perfectly. There were two opening acts before The 1975 went on around ten o’clock. I honestly forget both of their names already, but that’s okay because they weren’t very impressive. I definitely could have done without both of their performances, especially because they both played an ungodly long set. I’m usually not one to fan girl when I go see a concert, but right when The 1975 came on stage I couldn’t help but freak out. Matty looked drop dead gorgeous as usual. He seriously has the voice of an angel, and he looked like an angel in his white button down shirt with no shirt on underneath. #hubbahubba Before I elaborate on the show, here’s some pictures from last night. My iPod doesn’t take the best photos, but Kyle’s phone took some great ones, so I’ll post them on here when he emails them over to me!

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The 1975 played an hour and a half long set, but it still felt like it wasn’t enough!! I wanted to hear them play for forever. They played their self titled debut album in it’s entirety and then performed a few lesser known songs and one from their second album which is in the works as we speak. Kyle and I were saying during our drive home that the band sounds just like they do live as they do on their recordings, so that’s how you know a band has talent! Matty very well could have been drunk during the show considering he was drinking on stage most of the night, but he still managed to pull off a hell of a performance. All of the little teeny bopper girls that were standing in the front of the stage kept on throwing paper on stage which I’m assuming was their numbers or love notes, and this irritated Matty quite a bit. “Seriously, quit fucking throwing rubbish on stage.” Twice during the show he pleaded with the audience to put their phones away while the songs were being performed so that he could see everyone’s faces. It kind of felt like he was falling apart in a way. I’ve heard that he’s had a few crying break downs on stage during recent concerts, which kind of makes me worry about him. He’s so passionate and emotionally attached to his music, so I’m not sure if he’s going to be able to handle the fame that I’m sure his band will continue to gain over the years. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing them perform once they get a few more albums under their belt. It was so fun being able to predict what songs they were going to play next, but they have so much more to them then their debut album which we will see when they release their sophomore album hopefully sooner than later! I was kind of shocked by just how many teenage girls that were in attendance at the show last night. I didn’t really realize that The 1975 had that much of a younger following…but then again all of those fourteen year old girls who were worried about breaking curfew probably only know the song “Chocolate” and only went to the show because they think Matty is super cute. (Who can blame them on that one though?) All in all it was a really fantastic experience seeing The 1975 live for the first time. They’re playing in Columbus tonight and Kyle and I actually heavily debated on going to see them again – unfortunately, we’re both very sick right now so we figured that that wasn’t the best idea when we’re in recovery mode.

What was your favorite concert you’ve ever been to? What was the first concert you’ve ever been to? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! Also, make sure you check back in with me tonight for my review of episode ten of American Horror Story: Freak Show! Happy hump day. -Sarah

Dec15

Lil Red Recommends – Not Christmas Music!

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Lil Red Recommends – Not Christmas Music!

I hate Christmas music. Go ahead, call me a scrooge! I just can’t help it though, it’s all very annoying to me. Everyone thinks my hatred of holiday music stems from working at the mall for four holiday seasons straight, where the Christmas music was non stop, but that’s not true. I can remember disliking it long before my four year stint at PacSun. So I put together a list of music recommendations for the holiday music haters, to hopefully drone out a whole lot of fa la la’s!

Nick Jonas: Jealous – Pleeeease judge me for this one! I think this song is so catchy it hurts….it especially hurts my pride for enjoying it. I rarely play the radio, I opt for plugging in my iPod instead, but if I’m running errands that are within a five mile distance of my house I begrudgingly play the top forty hits. This is the one song on the radio that I can actually tolerate listening to…and by tolerate I mean singing poorly to it at the top of my lungs. Nick Jonas is all grown up and cute as can be, so now that the purity ring is off – holla atcha girl. 😉

The Wombats: Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) – Ohhh yes, this song is indeed a PacSun throwback. We played this song within my first year of working there four long years ago, and I still love it. I actually was playing this about ten minutes ago when I was painting my face for the day. I think that if you can hear a song that was played at your work and not wanna roll your eyes at it, then that means you really do enjoy the song. I quite like The Wombats too, the album that this song is off of “The Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern Glitch” is simply delightful.

The 1975: Girls – I had to include The 1975 on this list considering I’m seeing them in concert in Cleveland tomorrow. I’M SO EXCITED!!!! First of all, Matt Healy is a babe with the voice of an angel. Having said that, I really adore this song. It reminds me of a more mature version of their fan favorite “Chocolate” especially when Healy uses the lyrics “I think you better go” which are used in “Chocolate” as well. I really enjoy the entirety of their self titled debut album, but this one is definitely one of my favorites. I can’t wait to tell you guys all about the concert tomorrow! Yippy hurray!

Usher ft. Juicy J: I Don’t Mind – I actually DO mind that I like this song…I mind it a lot actually. We play this raunchy jam at my current job, and it grew on me like a fungus. It’s a definite ear worm too considering I can never get it out of my head once I hear it. Juicy J’s verse absolutely cracks me up in this track, just like all of his songs do. He opens with “I’m just tryna cuddle up, tryna bust a nut” so be prepared for the feeling of “what did he just say?!” My mom loves her some Usher, but she refuses to listen to this song because of the suggestive content. Lucky for her, this song can definitely be classified as one of my funky time jams, so we balance each other out.

Phantogram: When I’m Small – This song is good for more than just being featured in the commercials for Gilette razors. I love this song. I’ve had Phantogram on my iPod for a while now, but have never really chosen to listen to them avidly until my beau played them in the car a few nights ago. I always wondered what the song they were using in the razor commercials were, so I was shocked to find out that it’s been on my iPod for months now and I haven’t even realized it. I love the lead singers vocals, they remind me of an extremely indie version of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, and considering the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s are one of my favorites, I can definitely get down to some Phantogram.

Mona: Teenager – I forgot how much I liked this song until I had it playing in the Little Red Love Machine yesterday. This track is a PacSun classic, and I am SO not mad about it. Mona is a SEVERELY underrated band, so hopefully this will shine a light on just how fantastic they are. Do yourselves a favor and listen to their self titled album and their newest one “Torches & Pitchforks”. You’ll be glad you did.

Ed Sheeran: Don’t – This song plays at Next on occasion and I hate myself for liking it. BUT WHATEVER. This is definitely another tolerable song that’s playing on the radio, along with “Animals” by Maroon 5, which I mentioned a few posts ago. Anyways, I can’t tell if I’m attracted to Ed Sheeran’s leprechaun looking self, but I have no problem listening to this sexy track until I figure it out. Don’t even get me started on his accent. Lord have mercy on me.

The Killers: Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine – I’ve been on a HUGE The Killers kick lately, and if you say that you dislike the album “Hot Fuss” – then you’re a liar…plain and simple. This is the opening track on the album and it really is the perfect opener. I know too many people that think that “Hot Fuss” is only good for the crowd pleasers like “Somebody Told Me”, “Mr. Brightside”, and “All These Things That I’ve Done” but that is far from the case. I enjoy literally every song on this album, therefore, I think that it’s brilliant. “Hot Fuss” is ten years old now, and it’s still insanely relevant to this day.

Modest Mouse: March Into The Sea – Modest Mouse is one of my all time favorites, and they always will be. I wrote a paper on them recently in one of my college classes on their effects on indie rock over the years, so I’ve been listening to them more than usual. Isaac Brock’s vocals on this song are just INSANE. The things that this man can do with his voice is truly a gift from above. And that’s something that you will rarely hear me say about anyone. The fact that he can go from this amazing stylized screaming to gorgeous crooning in this song at the drop of a hat makes my heart flutter. My heart is also VERY warm at the news that they confirmed the release of a new album in the future!!!!

American Authors: Luck – I’ve been listening to a lot of these guys lately, and I really really enjoy them. This song touches my soul in the sense that I can relate to it so purely that it has moved me to tears multiple times. So many lyrics in this song are so relevant to the way that I’ve been feeling lately such as “I’m sorry mother (father, brother, ect) – I know I let you down” and ESPECIALLY “How can I set us free? I’m what you taught me to be – shouldn’t that be enough?” So needless to say, if you’re ever in the Ohio area, and see a little red headed girl in a little red car with her red lipstick on and crying hysterically into a cup of coffee…you’ll know that I’m listening to this song.

So there you have it, my latest funky time jams. Hopefully some of these tracks will get you through the annoyance of hearing holiday music day in and day out if you’re anything like me and can’t stand it. Sorry that I’ve been MIA over the weekend, by the way. My beau is home from college for the holidays so I’ve been spending a lot of time with him! It’s been fantastic 🙂

What have you guys been listening to lately? Leave me a comment with your music suggestions and let’s chat! Have a lovely Monday! -Sarah