Tag Archives: music

Feb15

Emo Kid Anthems

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Emo Kid Anthems

Lol. Hey guys. So this weekend has been less than ideal, so naturally in true emo kid fashion I’ve been a whiny little bitch. But you know what helped up my angst and make me even more annoying to myself and others? The tried and true emo kid anthems that the world has come to either love or make fun of over the years. I listened to a lot of these tracks over the weekend and found myself rolling my eyes at what a stereotypical emo I was being. AFI? Hawthorne Heights? The Used? Le sigh, it was all there in one big melodramatic bitch fit. So here they are, the “old faithfuls” of Lil Red’s emo world:

Taking Back Sunday – “Liar (It Takes One To Know One)”: Oh yes. This is a good one. I hopped on the Taking Back Sunday train a few years ago, and have NO RAGRETS! (If you’ve seen “We’re The Millers” you’ll appreciate that reference!) But anyways, this song is a fuckin classic. An emo kid staple if you will. This track was popular for me this weekend because it literally calls out the one thing that was causing some of my distress: liars. Who doesn’t love wailing the chorus to this song while pretending you’re screaming it to everyone who’s ever uttered a falsity to you that ended up hurting you in the long run? I love it.

AFI – “Silver and Cold”: The emotional impact that this song has had on me throughout the years is unmatched by probably 99% percent of my music collection. This song came out when I was fourteen and I vividly remember being moved to tears when I first heard it. The true beauty of this song? That it still makes me cry and tugs at my heart strings as if I’m hearing it for the first time. I’ll be a faithful AFI fan until the day I die, and this song is a beautiful testament to who they are as a band. Davey Havok boasts some of the most gorgeous vocals ever and the pure poetry of the lyrics is mesmerizing. I have every AFI album in my collection and this is the first song I always end up playing every time I feel like hearing them. #dedication

Hawthorne Heights – “Ohio Is For Lovers”: Alright, honestly I was going to pick another song from the album “The Silence In Black And White” because I felt that this list was getting too stereotypical. But then I remembered that we’re talking about emo kid anthems here and this song was and still is an anthem for so many people – including myself. I had the pleasure of meeting the guys from Hawthorne Heights when I saw them playing in Akron and they’re so fantastic. So chill and down to earth. J.T. actually gave me his guitar pick which I still treasure to this day. This track has the ability to take me either to a very dark or completely amazing place whenever I hear it. It all depends on my mood – BUT no matter what that mood is, I still absolutely love hearing this song. #ohiorepresent #akrowdy

The Used – “Bulimic”: So emo. So perfect. Everything about this song speaks to me. From the lyrics, the vocals, the instruments, to the title itself this song sums up some very real feelings for me. “I’m about to do all of the things I’ve dreamed of and I don’t even miss you at all.” I absolutely LOVE that. There’s something so empowering about that lyric to me. It’s not in the slightest way profound or well worded but that’s okay. Sometimes the simplest lyrics that everyone is thinking are the best. I love when I have that feeling, that “I’m going to succeed and you can go fuck yourself” feeling. This song makes me sad but it also makes me feel like I can do anything without anyone and that’s why it’s a fantastic emo kid anthem.

Brokencyde – “Schizophrenia”: I only have four words to say for my explanation of this song, and it goes as follows….JUDGE ME FOR IT.

The Front Bottoms – “The Beers”: I know, I know – this is a song that typically wouldn’t fall into the “emo” category BUT this track bums me out, so it’s emo enough for me. “Cause the cops are coming in, a type of sobering up, as the girl who never learned that I could not give a fuck.” That lyric makes me feel some type of way, that’s for sure. Everything about this song just works SO WELL. It’s so melancholy, the guys voice is hypnotizing, and the lyrics are quirky and weirdly profound. “I look in your windows and I am trying not to stare and hold onto hope I’m sure was never even there.” YES. So much yes. That basically sums up my life…minus the staring into windows part. #emokid

Hollywood Undead – “Undead”: Lol I LOVE THIS SONG. I feel like such a badass when I play it. An angsty, mopey, badass….it’s absolutely fantastic. I remember playing this song in the car with my sister and we would just sit around and soak up each others emoness. I admit that the song completely sucks, but that’s okay, because fast forward three years later from cranking this song in the car and I still like it – AND STILL CRANK IT IN THE CAR!!!! SUE ME FOR IT.

Dance Club Massacre – “Murders Come With Smiles”: I have to be in just the right emo mood to wanna listen to Dance Club Massacre, because they’re pretty hardcore. Usually this mood has anger thrown into it, which is the only time I actually want to listen to straight up metal. This track makes me want to scream into a pillow and throw stuff….that’s how you know a song is powerful, right? Metal isn’t one of my favorite genres in the world, but there really is no denying this bands talent. The things that the vocalist can do with his voice are fucking astounding. I WISH that I could do that. Being a metal screamer would be the coolest talent ever to have up the back of your sleeve. Say you’re at a party for example, and someone asks what you like to do for fun. Then you can say something along the lines of “this” and proceed to scream “Murders Come With Smiles” for five and a half minutes.

Cage – “Suicidal Failure”: I fuckin adore Cage. This is actually a rap song for those of you who aren’t familiar with him, but Cage dabbles in horror core a lot, particularly in this track. The lyrics in this song are so raw and disgusting and I love every minute of it. “Cut my wrist and walked past some crips bleedin red
in hopes that I get shot in the fuckin head.” #damn I like playing this song when I’m driving because I’m still emo BUT I feel kind of gangster…it’s a fantastic combination. You should try it sometime.

AFI – “Miss Murder”: If I wanted to, I could make a whole blog post about AFI emo anthems, but I figured putting them twice on this list is good enough. I feel like this song is so loved by emos and non-emos alike, which is great because this song is amazing and deserves to be loved. I had this ex-boyfriend who used to make fun of me for liking AFI because he said they were whiny. But years after we broke up, I posted this video on my Facebook and HE LIKED IT. So even the people who say they hate AFI secretly love them, and I have the proof from that fateful like! This song is terrific. Point blank. Period. Everyone from the super tight pants wearing emos to a sixty year old woman (AKA my mom – she likes AFI!) can get down to this song…and for that…I salute you, AFI.

So there you have it, my top ten Emo Kid Anthems! What songs would you include in an emo kid playlist? What’s your all time favorite emo track? I’m always up for music suggestions and I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

 

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!)

lazaretto

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

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

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

Nov10

Latest & Greatest Music Obsessions

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Latest & Greatest Music Obsessions

There’s been quite a few songs and artists who I’ve been obsessed with as of late, so I figured why not share the joy and tell you guys all about it!

Sir Sly – Gold: Ohhhh yes indeed. I LOVE this song. We started playing it the last week or so that I was at PacSun and it was always one of my favorite funky time jams. I really just love screaming the refrain of “pocket full of YELLOW, YELLOW, YELLOW” even though I’m not quite sure what he’s talking about. Either way, this song is rad.

Magic Man – Texas: I’m fairly certain that I’ve mentioned this song before, and if so – I don’t care. This song is so beautiful and fantastic that it’s worth repeating. Once again, this is another PacSun funky time jam (judge me for it) and it’s without a doubt in my mind on my list of top five favorite songs that we would play there. This song is just gorgeous. When I’m hung up on a guy or feeling shitty in general, this is my go to tune to play. I remember when I would be at the store early in the morning, and this song would come on and I would feel so good. I felt calm. This song makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.

Grizzly Bear – Will Calls (Diplo Remix): I absolutely love Grizzly Bear, and usually I’m not fond of a lot of remixes – BUT Diplo kills this beat like no other. This remix makes me want to cover my body in glow in the dark paint and take Ecstasy at a rave…too much? Don’t care. When the beat drops in this track and Diplo’s fingers start moving a mile a minute on whatever the hell he’s playing on, best believe I start dancing very poorly. 😉

Steriogram – Walkie Talkie Man: Way back when I was around ten years old there was a band called Steriogram….they kind of sucked. BUT this song is the best throwback in the world. It was featured on this one soccer game that my brother would play on the N64 and it became one of our favorites. This song gets me hyped in the way that it takes me back to silly memories of watching my brother play video games in the basement and I would watch even though I had no clue what was going on. WELL YOU’RE WALKIN AND TALKINNNNN!

Maroon 5 – Animals: I rarely listen to the radio, but I quite like this song. Adam Levine is a sex god. Having said that, I think this song is a great compromise between the poppy bullshit that’s often played on the radio with something dark and alternative. Animals took me back to Maroon 5’s strictly alternative days a la Songs About Jane and I really appreciated the effort. Don’t get me wrong, I rock out to Maroon 5 like any girl does, but this song really showcases their musical talent that I know they have. Way cool.

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out: The other day I decided I needed some Franz Ferdinand in my life again and was blasting Take Me Out in my car – just like any person would do when they decide that they need some Franz Ferdinand in their life. I remember when this song first came out and I always would think how weird the music video was when it would play on MTV or vh1. This song kicked so much ass when it was released and flash forward five years later and it’s still fantastic. That’s how you know a song is good!

Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right: This very well might be one of my favorite Daft Punk jams. This song takes my minds eye to a club where the lighting is all blues and purples and everyone is slightly drunk and vibing off of each other….Judge me for it. This is an intoxicating track, when Panda Bear comes swooping in with those vocals magic is created. Instant head nodder for sure.

Best Coast – Boyfriend: I’ve been listening to Best Coast a lot as of late and I really just adore them. I’m kind of late in the game to them too. I’ve had them on my iPod for quite some time now but just never really cared to listen to them extensively until now. This song has kind of been the soundtrack to my love life (or lack there of) lately. I’m pretty sure every girl has written variations of these lyrics in their diary when they’re about to go to sleep and thinking of that special someone.

Tom Vek – A Chore: Shit, this song takes me back to my early days at PacSun. I love the pure angst that Tom Vek is showcasing in this song. When he goes into “you’re not really listening to me” I identified with it so much. If I listen to this song when I’m in just the right mood, I get transported into this weird place in my mind where I can see memories of myself saying variations of that phrase to different people in my life. It’s like my own personal music video to this song in my head. Music is amazing.

Viva Brother – Darling Buds of May: I absolutely LOVE this song. Viva Brother has a lot of really fun feel good anthems, but this one is my all time favorite. When I’m screaming along with them to “it is what it is” I get this really cool feeling of girl power bad ass-ness and it’s AWESOME! I feel like I should be wearing leather pants and a crop top and lip synching the lyrics into the mirror while dancing provocatively when I hear this song. What of it?

So there you have it, my top ten funky time jams of the moment. Who are you guys listening to right now? I’m always up for music suggestions to please leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

Oct27

My Positivity Playlist

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My Positivity Playlist

So whenever I’m feeling a little down in the dumps, I always tend to gravitate towards my depressing music – which I’m sure is true for a lot of you guys as well. Today I made it a point to only play songs on my iPod that hype me up and make me happy while I was getting ready for the day. Like my cover image says: Every minute spent frowning is sixty seconds of smiling wasted. Besides, it takes more muscles to frown than to smile if I’m not mistaken! So here’s a few songs that I played today that really helped send a surge of positivity through my veins!

Adam Lambert: If I had You. I looooove this song. It makes me want to get up and dance and be as sassy as possible. (I can’t promise you that I looked good while dancing though – but I had fun and that’s all that matters!)

Bleached: Dead in Your Head. This song is full of girl power fun. I was introduced to Bleached at PacSun and am so glad for that. You can also hear this song played on MTV on commercials and in an episode of Awkward.

Cobra Starship: Nice Guys Finish Last. PLEEEASE judge me for getting down to some Cobra Starship, I dare you 😉 They definitely are a guilty pleasure of mine. But that’s the beauty of a positivity playlist – if the song makes you happy then who cares if it sucks?!

Taylor Swift: Shake it Off. I know, I know – shocking. I actually hate Taylor Swift, BUT my mom loves her so I’m forced to hear this song on the radio a lot in the car. “Don’t turn it off Sarah!” This tune grew on me like a fungus and I’m surprised to say I’m not even mad about it!

Mika: Love Today. If you read my past article Lil Red Recommends – part 3, you’ll already know how much I love Mika. This song is probably one of my favorites of his. I love trying to match his falsetto and doing many a hair whips to the beat, a la Willow Smith 😉

Pharrell: Gust Of Wind. This song is FANTASTIC. I loved whenever we would play it at Pac so very much. The lyrics are pretty out there “when I open the window, I wanna hug you, cause you remind me of the air”. So it’s fun to mumble along with what you think are the correct lyrics while Pharrell sings away.

Jonas Brothers: Burnin’ Up. Once again, a MAJOR guilty pleasure! I love those damn Jo-Bros so much it hurts. This song is one of myself and sisters’ funky time jams. Every time we take a longer drive together to where ever we need to be, rest assured that this song plays at least once. High heels (high heels), Red dress (RED DRESS!!!!!)

The Kills: Sour Cherry. Ha cha cha, this song is sassy sexy fun. Alison Mosshart’s sultry voice instantly makes me feel like a bad ass whenever I hear it. Dancing to this little ditty involves a lot of head banging and hip shaking! 😉

Christina Aguilera: Fighter. Oh yes. This song is actually one of my favorites of all time. It has a positive impact on me whether I’m playing it when I’m happy or sad. You know that a song is great when it has the ability to do that. The music video is gorgeous, and XTina’s vocals are never better on this track.

Dexy’s Midnight Runners: Come On Eileen. Nothing says “cheer up” more than a classic 80’s one hit wonder. Fun fact, this song was named the top one hit wonder of the 80’s by vh1! Whenever I hear this song, I wanna put on a pair of overalls and a straw hat and line dance the day away. I dare you to not sing the falsetto hollering of “come on Eileen!” whenever it happens in the song. It’s a must.

So there you have it, ten of the many songs that hype me up. These tunes are sure fire ways to put a smile on my face. What are your favorite positive anthems? What should I add to my playlist? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

Oct21

My Drives to Cleveland

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My Drives to Cleveland

Two to three days during the week, I have to make my way up to Cleveland for my classes at Tri-C. The drive usually isn’t that bad…except for rush hour morning traffic. What usually is a half hour drive from Cuyahoga Falls to Tri-C doubles into an hour in the blink of an eye. These past few days have been particularly rough, because not only is everyone and their brother driving to work at eight o’clock in the morning, but it’s been extremely rainy, AND there’s construction happening to top it all off. So after reading all of these things working against me on good ol’ Route 8, you’re going to think I’m crazy when I let you guys know that I actually really enjoy my drives to school and back. The number one reason why my trek to C-Town is tolerable is because I can finish entire albums of music in my travel time. It’s awesome. On a usual drive for me to work or running errands around Akron I can only get through about four or so songs on any given album. The fact that on my way to school I can hype myself up with an hours worth of music instantly makes for a good day. When I have my favorite bands playing in my car (AKA: The Little Red Love Machine), all of the stressful obstacles on my route to class disappear. Being stuck in traffic that’s moving one MPH turns into a one woman dance party/karaoke club in an instant. Stupid highway drivers who need to get off the road immediately are forgotten once I turn on a good jam. You guys must think that this is a silly post and that everyone knows that music can change the mood of an annoying drive. But I never really experienced this first hand until my drives to school, because I never really needed to go an hour or so out of my way before. Everything and everyone that I drive to is a half hour away or less. During these drives I’ve been enjoying albums such as:

  • The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing (This is the ultimate girl power, woman on the go driving music! Love it.)

  • Cold War Kids: Robbers & Cowards (Nothing hypes me up more than some CWK. Trying to match the lead singers gorgeous vocals is always an enjoyable driving game 😉 )

  • The Used: The Used (This self titled album satisfies all of my road rage needs.)

  • Twenty One Pilots: Vessel (If you read my blog post about these guys, you’ll already know my deep love for them. This album is the perfect throw back your thermos of coffee and wake up music.)

  • Bear Hands: Distraction (I was playing this today and it was fantastic. I love these guys so much! Shout out to PacSun for introducing me to them 😉 )

The albums listed above are just to name a few of what I’ve been jamming to lately! What’s on everyone’s driving play lists? What song gets you pumped for your day while you’re in the car? Do you have any suggestions for me to listen to? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

Oct11

Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

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Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

If there’s one album by Arcade Fire that I don’t think gets enough credit, it would have to be Neon Bible. This album is severely under rated. Funeral was such a beloved album by Arcade Fire so of course it would be difficult to follow up on that – but I think the band succeeded in making a successor that was completely fresh and unique. The most intriguing part of this album to me is that each song tells a different story through their use of reoccurring themes, such as imagery of the ocean (Black Mirror, Ocean of Noise), television, (Antichrist Television Blues, Windowsill,) and the feeling of a post-apocalyptic world after 9/11 (Intervention, Antichrist Television Blues, Black Wave/Bad Vibrations). The songs on Neon Bible were so uniquely composed with less common instruments like the pipe organ, hurdy gurdy, accordion, and mandolin which helped put a sound to the feeling of dread and dissonance that most of the lyrics held. I find that a lot of people forget that there’s a lot of fan favorites on Neon Bible like My Body Is A Cage, Keep The Car Running, and Intervention. My Body Is A Cage has always been one of my all time favorites, so make sure you take a listen.

Funeral was an album that made me feel hopeful and uplifted, as I’m sure it did to many other listeners. It was definitely a nice change of pace for their second album to take a darker turn. I think that’s why I really enjoy Neon Bible as much as I do, because I’m always drawn to the dark and slightly depressing. (ha!) There’s no denying Arcade Fire’s obvious talent either. Even people who don’t care for their music will admit that their sound is impressive. Win Butler’s vocals, as usual are amazing on Neon Bible. His wife, Regine Chassagne also improved leaps and bounds vocally on this album. Her sweet voice on Black Wave/Bad Vibrations is a nice change from the slightly squeaky vocals we’ve heard on Funeral’s “In The Backseat” as well as “I’m Sleeping In A Submarine” from their self titled EP. And of course, the rest of the band deserves a lot of recognition as well – their playing as a seven person band is honestly just as pleasing as hearing an orchestra play.

One final song on Neon Bible, that was also featured on their EP that holds a special place in my heart is No Cars Go.

When I was younger, I figure skated competitively. Even then I was an Arcade Fire fan and chose to skate one of my routines to the instrumental parts of No Cars Go. That was always one of my favorite programs to perform, because it was to one of my favorite bands. And oh look, here’s my cute little 12 year old self at a competition I was in!

skate

So there you have it! What album by Arcade Fire is your favorite? What’s your favorite all time song by them? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah

fire

Oct4

My Music ABC’s

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My Music ABC’s

So I thought it would be fun to give you guys my music ABC’s once a month or so. I always get complimented on my taste in music, so why not share it with the world? Here’s the ABC lowdown on the bands I’ve been really diggin’ lately.

A- Alt-J (These guys rule! Check out Tessellate, it’s a goodin’!)

B- Bear Hands (Bone Digger off of their latest album Distraction is fantastic.)

C- Cage (for all your angsty rap needs!)

D- Dan Croll (This kid can CROON!!!!)

E- Electric Guest (Call me a little grown up 😉 )

F- Funeral Party (New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound, the LA sound! I dare you to not get this hook stuck in your head!)

G- Grouplove (I adore these guys. Such a talented group.)

H- Haim (SO GOOD!!!! Their debut album Days Are Gone is a home run. Fantastic all around. Total girl power group to the max.)

I- Icona Pop (I’m obsessed with the song Sun Goes Down off of their EP, Iconic.)

J- Jack White (Naturally he’s in my Music ABC’s. I love Jack White to death, and I will have his pale children. COUNT ON IT!)

K- k-os (I’ve mentioned this fellow before, and I urge all of you to give him a try. He absolutely annihilates every genre he dabbles in. From rap, to soul, to R&B, and everything in between. Amazing.)

L- Los Campesinos! (It’s been so fun watching and hearing this band mature over the years. They’re quirky and cool. Really listen to their songs when you listen to them, because there’s a lot of sharp wit and wordplay in their lyrics.)

M- MAGIC! (Rude is my guilty pleasure song, WHAT OF IT?!)

N- Nicki Minaj (Judge me for getting down to some Nicki, it’s cool. Her songs are hit or miss, but when she does hit, she goes hard. Roman’s Revenge is one of my all time favorites, no doubt.)

O- OneRepublic (I really REALLY like these guys. It’s nice to have a band out on popular radio land whose lyrics actually mean something. And what talent. The lead singers voice is gorgeous.)

P- Pharrell (That Pharrell is SO hot right now. *Zoolander reference* But anyways, I love me some Pharrell and I’ve loved Pharrell for a very long time, from his N.E.R.D days and beyond. His recognition is much deserved.)

Q- Queen (I’ve been in a big Queen phase as of late. It’s really amazing to pick out modern bands who are so clearly influenced from Queen’s sound decades before their time. That’s how you know a band is talented. When their music touches musicians for generations.)

R- Ra Ra Riot (YES! I love these guys. Such a soothing sound with some really sweet lyrics to match. Too Too Too Fast is my all time fave.)

S- Santigold (Miss girl can spit! She has so much attitude and swag it’s literally palpable in her music. Her flow is spectacular and she has a great voice without autotune. Check out Your Voice if you don’t believe me!)

T- Tanlines (These guys are beachy fun. While working at PacSun we played basically their entire album Mixed Emotions and it was a joy. Their tribal beats and distinctive vocalization made them really easy to pick out in the Pac playlist. I really enjoy Lost Somewhere. When the gentleman duo begin harmonizing with each other, magic is made.)

U- The Used (I’ve been in quite a big emo-punk phase lately to prep for the AFI concert in Pittsburgh that I’ll be attending in less than two weeks!!! The Used have been around for quite some time now, and they really do just get better with age. Props to them for keeping the angst alive in all of their albums!)

V- The Vines (Since I was about ten years old, I’ve loved The Vines. I’ve had the biggest crush on Craig Nicholls for half of my life now, and I’m so okay with that. Their alt-garage sound has set stepping stones for so many bands of our day such as Jet, The Hives, Wolfmother, and Cage the Elephant, just to name a few.)

W- The White Stripes (I’m forever in a White Stripes phase, and that will NEVER change. Elephant was one of the first albums I ever bought, and it instilled a deep respect for all music in me. It also instilled a never dying crush for Jack White, and I’m not complaining one bit.)

X- The XX (Crystalised is a CLASSIC and I dare you to disagree!)

Y- Yelawolf (I LOOOOOOVE me some Yelawolf, oh yes I do. 1) He’s drop dead GORGEOUS. 2) His flow is INSANE. Dude can spit a mile a minute and I love every minute of it!)

Z- Zedd (One of my dear friends has been trying to get me into bass dropping DJ, Zedd lately. Though the house/heavy electronica music isn’t usually my scene, I can definitely appreciate Zedd’s style, and there’s no denying his talent.)

So there you have it, my Music ABC’s. This was SO fun to make, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did. What bands would you include in your music ABC’s? Do you like some of the bands I mentioned above? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! Happy Saturday! -Sarah