Summer 2012: Packed with Great Shows and Adventure!

The Summer of 2012 will be like no other, I believe.  There are so many more reasons than one that prove that the previous statement is true.  There are plenty of different shows that are going on this summer that many are just dying to go to, and I am going to watch history be made in some beautiful venues.


I shall start this out with the beginning of June! On June First, I will be attending a sold out concert all the way out in New Jersey.  This will be my first time seeing the famous English alternative rock gods known as Radiohead.  I will finally get to see the great Thom Yorke in action, and watch the band do what they do best: and that's perform some excellent music.  Seeing Radiohead is definitely something that was on my bucket list, and I'm finally fulfilling that wish along with thousands of people at the Prudential Center in Newmark.  It will most certainly be a night to remember. 

The day after Radiohead, June 2nd, I am venturing out to Philadelphia for every comic book fan's heaven on earth: Comic Con.  Comic Con is a magical and special place for fans of all shapes and sizes, and come from different fandoms such as Supernatural, Doctor Who, Manga, and for my reason of attending, Boondock Saints.  On this day, I will be meeting my two favorite people.  Those two people being Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery: the MacManus brothers from my favorite film Boondock Saints.

The next band, I'm actually going to be seeing two days in a row.  On June 12th and 13th, I will be going to the famous Jones Beach Theater to see Dave Matthews Band (like I said before) twice.  I've seen Dave once before at Citi Field, and it was one of the most relaxing and fun experiences that I have ever had.  Dave Matthews shows are always ones that have a very calming atmosphere to them, and all who attend are very mellow, and are there for the music.  And the fact that I'm going with about ten of my friends both days most definitely livens things up for both days.  A two day Dave Trip: this'll be one for the books.

I will also be mellowing out to the tunes of the fedora wearing acoustic guitar fiend, Jason Mraz.  Mr. Mraz will be performing at Madison Square Garden, and I'm more than ready for this. I'm stoked! Jason Mraz has been one of my favorite artists since I was in eighth grade.  Six years, I have been waiting to see him live, and my chance is arriving in September. Thus, Jason will be my closer for the Summer of 2012.

I'm saying goodbye until September to the buildings of Hofstra, and hello to the venues that I will be going to to see these incredible events.  Summer Vacation, I welcome you with open arms and the widest of smiles!

And the video presented above is in fact Thom Yorke dancing. This is exactly what I looked like when I found out I was going to all of these things, as well. I did in fact go crazy. And let me say this: I would rather have moves like Thom Yorke than Jagger ANY DAY.

Music & TV: Assistants in the Cure of the Common Stomach Bug.

The fact that it is so close to summer vacation and the end of school for three whole months made it even more upsetting that I had to suffer from a stomach bug for about three days.  It did spark some inspiration for my next multimedia project though! Being that this is turning into a music article of sorts, I shall bring all of you the musical cures to the common Stomach Bug!

I'm actually going to start off with something that's not even music related. It's definitely one of the big things that most definitely kept me sane during the whole stomach bug fiasco.  That "big thing" is an awesome mini series called "Band Of Brothers".  This show is a mini series that revolves around the E Company during World War II, and it's definitely one of my favorite shows. It came out in 2001, and out of it came some bright shining stars that are well known today: Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, James MacEvoy, Damian Lewis and plenty more.  The show really captures the essence of what World War II was to the people in it, and the characters that each man portrays is an actual person who lived it, and can confirm that this was real, and this is what they witnessed.  "Band Of Brothers" was a show that helped keep the time on passing by, because when you're sick in bed, you don't feel like time is moving so quickly.  But "Band of Brothers" was a huge help, and if you haven't watched it, you should.

Now for the musical cures! Music is definitely something that makes me feel better: whether it's something emotional that occurred, or something physical.


I'll start off with the musical talents of John Mayer.  He's one of my favorite artists of all time, and any of his acoustic things can definitely put me to sleep if I wanted to sleep. That's why he's great to listen to when you're sick.  His acoustic music is so calming, and his voice is so relaxing to listen to.  I honestly just put his whole album Contiuum on one day, and just listened to the whole thing through at least three times.

Next one is the obvious (being that it's one of my favorite bands): Radiohead.  The thing with Radiohead is that you have to simply pick the right songs for it. There are some mellow songs in their musical library that will definitely make you feel as right as rain! There's songs like No Surprises, 15 Steps, Lotus Flower, Talk Show Host, and so much more.  They are definitely something that'll keep you sane and happy through all the stomach troubles.

Colbie Caillat is one of my favorite musicians, because she's really like a female version of Jack Johnson.  Her voice is quiet and soothing. Most of her songs are lovely and acoustic.  Her first album 'Coco' was played on repeat, along with some hits off her newest album.  She's relaxing and she just kept me comfortable as I laid in bed, trying long and hard to get through this awful stomach bug.  She helped me maintain my sanity as I took awful medications to better myself.

To listen to other artists that helped me cope with the sickness, listen to the playlist that I installed in this post for you guys to hear! 

Hofstra Chorale and Chamber Concert Review.

As a member of the Hofstra University Chorale, I know how much work and dedication goes into each performance that is done at the end of every semester in the beautiful Garden City Cathedral.  Last Friday, the 27th of April, we had our Spring Semester concert, and I must say that it was my favorite one yet.

The seats were packed, and the sound that resonated through the cathedral was just as beautiful as the first time I heard us sing inside it.  The sound that comes out of us, the way it sounds to the audience is such a wonderful thing.  The fact that together, we can sound so beautiful and be able to communicate to the crowd with our music is something very special, and it's a great gift to have.

"Our goal is to express ourselves musically as a group," says Dr. David Fryling, conductor of the Hofstra University Chorale. "To express, is actually a one person term.  Our goal really is to..communicate. We want to communicate with people through the music that we have to share."

Preparation for this magical night began day one of the Spring Semester.  Tons of students auditioned: some made it, and others We were given our six pieces, and we began learning them right away.  We worked each song to the bone two days a week, an hour and a half a day for two months.  Each song we learned throughout the semester had a different meaning to it, and a very special quality about it.

"Afternoon on A Hill" is a piece by the young Colin Britt, that have the lyrics of a poem written by Edna St. Vincent Millay.  It's a beautiful piece with such a calm and loving sound to it.  The poem is about the beauty that is around us, and how we should never take that for granted, and that we should just enjoy the days that we do have.  The music behind the poem most certainly does help convey this message.  It's all so wonderful, and relaxing. It was definitely one of favorites of our songs for the evening.

Other songs we did were:

1. "Daemon Irrepit Callidus" by Casals.
2. "The Pasture".
3. "Nigra Sum".
4. "Sounding Sea".
5. (My Favorite) "Sweetheart of The Sun".
6. "Pseudo Yoik".

The Chamber Ensemble, which consists of about 40 of the 80 singers up on the stage also sang some songs. I'm not apart of that group, but everything that they sang was absolutely wonderful.  The whole night was great, one of my favorite performances that we've done so far.

Slideshow!

Engineering an Empire: About the Show and the Guys.

Engineering an Empire are not only a band full of promise and talent, but I can also call them very close friends of mine.  The five boys had their second show at The Vibe Lounge in Rockville Centre, this past Tuesday and I had the opportunity to see them perform.  They performed some songs off of their new EP which consists of five tracks.  The new tracks show a very creative side to the guys, and I couldn't be more proud of the direction that they are going.  They are recording what THEY want to record, and this new EP is definitely showing their listeners and friends how much they have grown as musicians. All five of them showed their passion and dedication to their music as they rocked out on the Vibe Lounge stage.

The band consists of some very talented lads.  There's Sean Suchara who is their singer and Mike DiGuilio the lead guitarist who started this band when they were in tenth grade.  We all joke about how they are pretty much like a modern-day Taking Back Sunday in the way that there have constantly been new members and people that just left their group.  The newer members of the group are Jacob Nycz, who is actually their youngest member being just a senior in High School, along with their drummer Nick Roberts who is a senior in High School.  Their rhythmic guitarist however, is their newest member and their oldest member (in terms of age), being a sophomore in college: Rich Castillo.  And on one of the tracks, they have one of my best friends (who was actually one of the original members) featured on one of their newer songs, which was exciting. I didn't even know he was going to be on stage until I saw him jump up from the crowd and sing with them.All five of them have music interests that are all very similar and some that are very different.  But they are able to come together and make something really lively and heavy enough to their liking.

The five were so happy to be playing at the Vibe Lounge, once again. For it was the place where they played their first real show.  And the fact that the turnout for it was at least four times bigger than the last time they played.  But they had fun up there, most definitely.  We were all so proud of them, and very happy that they're all getting their music out there. We all enjoyed listening to them play, and we were all abole to tell that they had fun with it too.  That's why they do this.  They do it because they love it, and they love that we do, too.

Their show was a blast, and not only did I get to hear them, I heard some bands that I've never heard of before and they were all very good. I got to meet some great people in those bands, I got pushed into some mosh pits, and I even did a little bit of crowd surfing, myself.  I like to indulge in some of the activities that go on in shows like that, such as those following things.  And I'm happy that I was able to do a lot of that.

I did get the opportunity to interview Engineering an Empire, but sadly my interview won't play on here.  I've been asking myself the question as to why, since the moment I saw "Error". So you shall expect another interview in the near future with them.  But these boys are so talented, so generous and so funny, too.  You can see that from just talking to them like I did, but you'll know all of that just by speaking to them for about five minutes.  They're all great guys, and talented guys, so give them a listen if you're into the heavy genre with some rock and "pop".

Pathetic Dog Is Pathetic.

Shieva's been a member of the McManus clan since I was in about second grade. And this is pretty much what she does all day. I came to this realization after coming home from school and just hanging out in front of my house, as I was watching a movie.  My sister told me earlier this month that this (as shown in the video) is where my dog sits all day, waiting for my dad to come home.  Shieva's obsession with my dad was creepy, but if this were true, the creepy level definitely would be taken up a few more notches.

Now,  I was watching a long, long movie on FX. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button when shown on TV is about four hours long, so as I said before..I was sitting there for quite some time.  And my dog just stayed up there, waiting and staring out that very same window.  The window she's looking out of stares out at the street in front of our house, as well as our drive way.  She didn't leave once, from 4pm to 8pm.  You can even see the lightness change throughout the video.  The day grew darker, as well as later, and she continued to sit up there.  My father ended up getting home about a half hour after my movie was over, which made her jump over my head and onto the floor where she sprinted towards the door.  So, as one can see: Pathetic Dog is Pathetic.

Clarity in Chaos!

Considering the fact that I'm a sophomore in college, I was given a lovely gift that lasted this whole week: Spring Break. It wasn't all that eventful, really. I spent it either relaxing in my house with my dog and watching some marathons, or I went out with some friends for the night.  Nothing too crazy, though!

But on Friday the 13th, I did get to witness something rather exciting.  Three friends of mine had their first gig at The Vibe Lounge in Rockville Centre, and I of course went to support their musical dreams.  They were a huge hit, and I was so very proud of them. I'm still very proud of them.  They were given this opportunity to play their first show at the Vibe Lounge, and they've been ready for it since the day they were asked.  The trio were happier than ever when their oldest member, Tim gave his fellow band members the awesome news!

Clarity in Chaos consists of three awesome guys who are very good at what they do.  There's Roland "Rambo" Williams, one of the best drummers I know, if not the best. And the other two lovely and talented members are cousins who switch  on and off on both instruments with different songs: Tim and Dom DiGangi.  The three come together with their different takes on music, and have made something that they all love, and something that they are all extremely proud of.  With their music interests being pretty much all over the place, one would think it would be hard to make something all three of them like, but they make it work! The favorite bands range from the individualistic and alternative Radiohead, to the grungy sounds of Nirvana, to the loud and heavy tones of the J-Metal band Dir En Grey.  That's one of the things that makes them so special, though.  Their sound is rather unique, and they pull at different elements of music, making them create their own sound which I think is great.  The three of them together sound great, and they've really matured as a band from the first time I heard them about six months ago.

Also, this local Long Island band has what not a lot of musical artists have nowadays according to Roland Williams.  "We have the support of our families. It's not something that a lot of people who do this can actually say," He says. The support that they get from their family and friends is something that makes it all the more fun for them to do this.  The three of them actually had all of their family members there, which was great for them. It gave them more confidence, and eased the nerves that Guitarist/Bassist Tim DiGangi told me that he did in face have.

We couldn't be more happy with their performance the other night.  They really looked like they were having fun up on that stage, and they were so happy. It's great to see them finally fulfilling their dreams, and performing for the masses.

During this break, my friends and I who went to this gig like to say that we saw something rather historical for them.  Why? Because all of us are in 100% agreement that they're going to be big one of these days.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Show With a Dark Twisted Humor.

A group of my friends were awesome enough to get money together, and buy me a great present.  What they got me was the first six seasons of one of my favorite shows, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  And since I was sick pretty much all weekend, I sat in my bed for most of it and I have already watched the first four seasons.  It was the first time I ever sat and watched every episode in order, and I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life.

This hit on FX is one of the funniest shows on Television, right now.  It has a very different kind of sense of humor than the other television series out there.  It's more dark, more offensive, and just..dirty.  The things that the makers get away with on this show. It's unbelievable! This show definitely expresses that the world we live in is a very sad one..and it goes about that in a very funny and rather messed up way! And you know what? I love that they do that! I think that the way they go about things on this show is very brave.  Everyone in the cast throws something absolutely ridiculous and offensive into the mix, and it's always hysterical.

It's Always Sunny also has some really great characters. You have Dennis, who is so vain that it hurts and is all about himself all the time.  Then you have Charlie, who the viewers watch go from being the most normal at the beginning to one of the strangest and funniest characters on the show.  And there's Mac (now known as "Fat Mac" because of his sudden gain of 50 pounds which he put on because "fat is funny"), who is all about strength, and has some of the greatest one liners I have ever heard ever.  And Dee.  Sweet Dee: The only girl in the group, and someone who really holds her own on the show.  She may be the only girl, but she keeps up with the other guys in terms of dark humor and messed up motives to get things on the show.  And no one can forget Danny Devito who plays Frank. Frank is one of the funniest characters I have ever seen in anything.  The five of them together make this awesome force of comedy that can't really be stopped and can get away with much more than you think! Even the minor characters like Cricket, the infamous McPoyles, The Waitress! They all add such a funny quality to the show that no other one really has.

I love how much they get away with on this show, and I love the simplicity of it! Have you heard the names of these episodes? What happens first is that there's a minute of film, and then based off of what you see..that's the name of an episode.  Some are really bad (as in offensive) or just really ridiculous! Allow me to name off a few: The Gang Finds a Dumpster Baby, The Gang Goes Jihad, Charlie Goes America On Everybody's Ass, The Gang Finds a Dead Guy, and my favorite: Frank Sets Sweet Dee on Fire.

If you haven't picked up on watching this show yet, you definitely should! If you like dark comedy and bitter and hysterical characters, this show is definitely right up your alley. Sit back, and watch the madness unfold with the gang in Paddy's Pub, and enjoy yourselves as you watch their lives on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

This is one of the funniest episodes of It's Always Sunny: The Gang Solves The Gas Crisis.  This is THE episode that got me into this show!

Today's Birthday Boys and Girls in the World of Celebrity!

Today, I was inducted into what my friends like to call "The 20's Club". I turned twenty today, and as usual, I don't feel all that different. I feel like I'm still nineteen. Nothing really changes when you hit twenty. Just the first number in your age: it goes from a one to a two.  I guess that thought creeps me out a bit! But today is NOT just my birthday.  There are obviously plenty of other birthdays out there, and I'm going to share some people who are known today that I share a birthday with. Some, I can say I'm honored to share a birthday with.  Others, not so much.

1. Lady Gaga.  This music icon turns 26 today, meaning she's another year older, stranger, and everything inbetween.  Gaga's Little Mosters have been blowing up twitter today, wishing her a happy birthday and wishing her nothing but the best.  Whether you like this woman or not, you cannot deny the fact that she is one talented...monster. She has a wonderful voice, plenty of hits, and she is one of the few people that actually sings during her performances.  No lipsyncing for this diva.  I have plenty of respect for Lady Gaga, and I do wish her nothing but the best for her.  I hope she keeps cranking out hits, and continues to stay as strange and talented as she is.  She along with everyone else knows that that is what makes her so special in the media world today.
2. Vince Vaughn.  Vince Vaughn turns 42, today.  I'm honored to share a birthday with someone as funny and witty as he is.  Everything this man has done has turned into comedy gold.  Movies such as Old School, Dodgeball, and my favorite of all of them: Wedding Crashers.  Vaughn also has some serious roles under his belt as well.  He shows off his acting chops in movies like Into the Wild, The Cell, and The Lost World: Jurassic Park.  I love this Wedding Crasher's speaking voice, too. It's one of a kind, and I'm always able to pick him out without even seeing the screen he resides on.
3. Dianne Weist.  This lovely actress turns 64, today! She's known for movies such as The Lost Boys, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, Edward Scissorhands, and one of my favorites: I Am Sam.  This woman is so talented, and she is actually a two time academy award winner!

Other names I can add to this list are Reba McEntire, Julia Stiles, Ken Howard, Kate (from John and Kate Plus Eight, unfortunately), and plenty more!  Happy Birthday to all of these individuals, and I hope they enjoy today as much as I'm going to!

The Duke: A Post About My Love For John Wayne.

John Wayne. 

I was asked a question the other day, and it was: Mary, who's your favorite actor? And I didn't really have a hard time answering that question. In fact, I answered it right away with a short and sweet response: The Duke.  And it broke my heart when I had to explain to them who The Duke actually is: the great John Wayne.

John Wayne was an actor whose movies my siblings and I grew up watching because of our dad.  I think I can say that I'm the only one who grew to appreciate it out of the four of us, though.  I just think that the way he portrays his characters in all of his films was just so great.  John Wayne is just so..cool.  And there could be a movie starring him on in a different room that I'm in, but because his voice is so unique, I'm able to tell that it's him.  There wasn't anyone that sounded quite like John Wayne.  He was not like other actors during his time.  He played everything from a soldier at war, to a cool cowboy in the west, to one of my favorite roles and movies ever: him as an American Boxer who finds love in his ancestor's home of Ireland.

That film I last mentioned (him being the American Boxer) is one of my favorite movies: The Quiet Man.  I watch this movie with my dad every year on my birthday, as well as St. Patrick's Day.  This is one of those movies that I never get tired of watching.  I always love taking in the beautiful scenery that Ireland has to offer, and I love the story of it.  I can't wait to get home from classes tomorrow, and watch this classic on my Lazyboy back home (you guessed it! My birthday's tomorrow).

John Wayne is a classic actor, with some classic movies under his belt.  I love everything he did from True Grit, to (obviously) The Quiet Man, to the Searchers, to Island in the Sky, to his last film: The Shootist, and plenty more.  I could watch his movies all day, and I think I just might during the much needed Spring Break that's coming up within the next two weeks.  If you haven't watched any movies with The Duke in them, you should get on that as soon as you can!

Johnny Cash: Greatest Cover Artist of All Time.

Johnny Cash is a man who definitely rocked the world of music, back in the days when Rock n' Roll were still young.  But there are plenty of people out there who neglect the fact that he was just as great before he passed, as he was back in the fifties and sixties.  Johnny Cash was in the game of music for a very long time: all the way up until he died back in 2003.  He came out with some great stuff on his last three albums.  Not only did he write some great music on his own, but he did some beautiful covers as well.  Some of the covers he does make me forget that they're actually just covers.  He makes them very much his own, and he makes me like the songs he covers even more than I already did.

There's actually one song in particular that he did so well, that the band that wrote the song doesn't even play it anymore.  Johnny Cash simply did it better! And when people scream at Nine Inch Nails to do their song Hurt, they respectfully decline.  They too agree that Johnny Cash did it better, and I think that's absolutely incredible that he did that.  Even though he's gone, Nine Inch Nails still refuses to play that song. 

What Johnny Cash does with his covers is something that not a lot of people can do with their covers.  He puts a whole new kind of emotion in it.  It's raw, and he really makes the songs his own.  Mr. Cash definitely knows how to pull at my heart strings with his covers of songs like The Beatles's In My Life, Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water (which he sings with his daughter), and his version of Danny Boy makes me cry like a baby.  You can definitely count on Johnny Cash's later stuff to make you cry, if you need some tears to fall.  Your tears would be caused by a mixture of his music being so beautiful, and being so sad.

Johnny Cash is a man I consider to be underrated by many.  He was (and still is) one of the greatest artists of all time, and shared such a great talent with all of us.  Thank you, Johnny Cash.

This is Johnny Cash's cover of The Beatles hit song, In My Life.  Let the tears fall, guys. It's okay.

Hayoka: Our Newest and Permanent House Guest.

 

 Meet Hayoka, ladies and gents! The newest and cutest of house guests!

 

The Walking Dead Podcast!

This is my first (well, actually 1000038032809523th) attempt at a podcast, after a cold that made me sound like Milhouse from The Simpsons! Enjoy my nerdy rant about TWD!

Musical Cures for a Rainy Day.

For the last couple of days, the weather here in New York has been abnormally nice.  It's actually starting to freak me out a bit, by the way. But today is another story.  It has gone back to the crummy weather that we all have considered normal for this time of year here in the Empire State.  But I have some music suggestions that can turn your rainy day into a sunny one!

1. Dave Matthews Band: This band is just one of those that I can listen to constantly, and it'll make me feel better.  DMB knows how to really mellow me out and make my day just a little bit brighter! They've always been like that. I've liked them since I think Middle School, and I'm now a sophomore in college.  Dave's been one of those bands that I just never stopped liking.  But their tunes are really good to listen to when it rains (at least for me, anyway!).  It helps in making the rain make me feel less sad, putting me into a better mood.  Their music ranges from being really quiet and soothing, to something upbeat and kind of loud.  But all of the tracks in their own way are very soothing.  And I am actually going to be seeing Dave Matthews Band at Jones Beach on the 12th of June, making June an even more exciting month than I thought it was going to be, considering I'm starting it off with Radiohead.  Dave's got a great sound, and rainy or not, I think everyone should give him and his band a listen.  They're so good, and they've been around for quite some time!
2. Jack Johnson: Kind of the obvious one, here! Jack Johnson has one of the most soothing and quiet sounds out there.  He's known for his mellow sound and his extremely mellow persona.  All of his songs have the same calming effect on his listeners.  Everything from Banana Pancakes (which mentions the idea of it raining), Hope, Better Together: they all have a very calming sound to them.  His music as my friends put it is "consistantly mellow", and we all love him for it.  I have the Hawaiian music artist's whole discography on my ipod, and I can listen to just about anything he's created, and I'll be walking through a rainstorm and feel like the sun is shining.
3. Don McLean: I'm going to kick it old school and recommend a man who was from two or three decades ago.  He's the singer of one of the most famous rock songs of all time: "Ms. American Pie".  And there is just one song in particular that I can listen to over and over again, on gloomy days like this.  If you haven't heard the song "Vincent" by Don McLean, you should most definitely get on that. I'll even provide you with the song later on in this post.  The song is about the famous artist Vincent Van Gogh, and it's just five minutes of straight up beauty.  The calmness that overpowers me during this song is insane.  I can honestly say that this song does wonders: it's magical. The moment the first "starry, starry night" comes out, it's an instant feeling.  But there are plenty of other songs that he sings that have an effect similar to that, but none are like that of "Vincent".
4. Eric Whitacre: I'm taking another turn with this man, as well.  Eric Whitacre is a conductor of both chorales and orchestras, and he is a musical genius.  At a young age, this man has been making music for instruments and voices alike.  And as a man who is still young and packed to the brim with so much promise, has already made quite a few masterpieces.  Some of them include "Sleep", "Cloudburst", "Boy & Girl" and "Lux Arumque".  Classical stuff like this isn't for everybody, but you can really count on it to make your day just a little bit brighter.  Here at Hofstra University, the University Chorale has done some of his works and I am honored to sing anything that this man has created.  But I would watch the rain fall as I would listen to his music at home to practice, and the resolve at the end of the songs would actually make me see the sun come out of the clouds. It's pretty awesome.

Now there are plenty of other artists that one can count on to cure a rainy day, but these are the four that really did come to mind.  I plan on listening to them pretty much all day..hoping that this weather will change back to the abnormally beautiful weather that has been bestowed upon us over the last couple of days.

Here's the song I promised. I know that the painting is looking pretty sad, but the song is so beautiful!

June First: The Day My Life Will Change.

As of recently, I learned that I will be starting off the month of June with a very terrific bang! A good friend of mine scored two tickets to one of the hottest shows that I'm pretty sure I will ever be going to within my life time.  I will be seeing the great English natives Radiohead perform at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.  My countdown has already started (SEVENTY FOUR DAYS), and I will continue this countdown until the day finally comes that I see one of the greatest bands to ever exist.

Radiohead formed in the year 1985, seven years before I was born.  The year I was born, 1992 is when they came out with their hit single 'Creep', an anthem for all those who believe they are alone in this world (which actually didn't really become a hit until their first album Pablo Honey debuted months later).  Their second album The Bends which came out three years after that made them famous in the UK, but it's their 1997 album OK Computer that made them known worldwide.  OK Computer is definitely one of the best albums to come out in the 90's because of how much it changed the world of rock, and alternative as well.  The famous English band has come out with five more albums since their 1997 album, their last being The King of Lambs which came out last year in 2011.

Radiohead has been such an influential band in the world of rock for a bit over twenty years now.  Their style and their music is so different from 99% of the music out there, right now.  This band consists of five musical geniuses, including the great Thom Yorke.  This man has such a beautiful mind, and there is a whole lot going on up there as you can see from some of the music that they've come out with over this long period of time.  I admire this band for their individualism, and the fact that they don't change for anybody.  They've stayed true to themselves, and have come out with such great music that they themselves have created for their fans.  My life is defintiely going to change the day I see them, considering they are one of the bands that have changed the way I look and listen to music.

This song Talk Show Host is my favorite song by the English natives. It's a video of them performing it live back in 2003 in Glastonbury.  If I hear this song live, I can assure you: there will be tears. I will wait impatiently for the first of June to come rolling around. I can't wait for the day that I see these musical geniuses perform live before my very own two eyes.

The Walking Dead: A Show With A Season Finale To Die For.

This week's episode of the zombie-tastic series The Walking Dead was most definitely one for the books.  And it's crazy, because I thought that last week's episode was absolutely insane!  I really had no idea how they were going to top last week's episode in terms of shock value, action and drama. But somehow, they totally did! Kirkman & the other makers of the show have done a swell job this season at keeping its viewers on the edge of their seats!  I couldn't be happier with where the show is going.  My mind still can't wrap itself around what has happened on the show over the last two weeks.  Two main characters: dead within two weeks.  I haven't seen this much death of main characters occur on a TV show since ABC's hit series Lost! And next week is the finale, so this season is definitely going to end with a bang based off the preview I saw for it (and based off the last two episodes).

Everyone is saying that their one problem with the show was that there wasn't enough zombie action and too much drama and dialogue.  But within the last three episodes according to Norman Reedus in an interview with Huffington Post, he expresses the people's opinion about the show and informs its fans that it definitely does change.  "It's all fireworks," he says from this point on.   He goes on to say that the people are definitely going to get what they want, and that it's going to be very dark (much more so than the comic books).  And based off of what we've seen, the actor who plays the crossbow wielding redneck has been telling us nothing but the truth! We're all getting exactly what we wish for: more blood, more zombies, more comic similarities.  The last two episodes that have been aired definitely were proof of that.  And the teaser for the season finale is definitely another form of evidence of the show beginning to go down a very gruesome path.  And the fact that this is all happening in the last episodes of Season Two, definitely shows that Season Three is going to be a very interesting experience for the fans of the show and the comics.

The episode from last night ends with a horrific sight. Rick and Carl are standing over a dead & turned member of their group on a eerie moonlit hill, and don't notice the hundreds of walkers slowly approaching the farm that they are all currently occupying. We all knew that this day would come, when the farm that they saw as safe would be overrun by the undead.  We'll all just have to tune in and watch the madness unfold.  All I know now is that I'm basically going to turn into a walker due to my lack of TWD after the finale is over.

Best Friend.

The best friend and I when we were in about 11th Grade.

Francesca Greta Villa-Real Mendoza Cruz Dizon is a twenty year old girl who came here straight from the Philippines when she was about thirteen years old.  She's been my best friend since we were at that age as well.  I'm so proud to have a best friend who has had a life of such interesting twists and turns, and developed such an awesome personality through all the good and bad things she's been through.  I admire her for her openness to plenty of things, and I admire her for so much more.  She's one of my heroes because she has the guts to do what I don't feel like I can.  Francesca helps me so much more than she will every know, and has taught me so much throughout all this time that I have known her.  She's one of the few people that I know that can always make me laugh.  She's someone I know that I can always count on, and someone that will always be there for me.  Everyone has that one person that they

Every month, Francesca and I hit up the Applebee's two towns over on Sunrise Highway for some half off apps to talk about everything and have a couple of laughs. Everything that comes out during our adventure time at Applebee's is just either something absolutely hilarious, or something beneficial and good for both of us to know.  It's our favorite place to be.  The atmosphere is just great, and we have the best of times in there.  It's a tradition that we've kept alive for about three years.  And this was from our most recent visit to the food establishment, where we talked about everything from why Lori isn't dead on The Walking Dead yet, to the fact that she is so proud of her Asian culture that she wanted a picture of herself with the Asian salad in the menu.

I'm never bored with this girl. I haven't been for the last eight years.  Out of all those eight years that I've known her, we have never been in a single fight.  We get each other on a whole other level that people haven't even been to.  I know her like the back of my hand, and it's the same the other way around.  The two of us kind of complete each other, too.  What one doesn't have in terms of personality, the other one does, and together we make one "super-mega-awesome-Asian-Irish package deal", according to the five foot tall girl I call my best friend.  She's truly one of a kind and I'm so happy that I know her.

Engineering an Empire! A Long Island Band, As Well As Some Close Friends of Mine.

These are four boys that are members of a band Engineering an Empire! They all live within three or four blocks from me, and I have known these talented fellows since high school.

My Monday After Classes Were Done: Journalism Photo Assignment.

Got myself some food at Bits.

Visited my old high school. Why? I'm honestly not that sure.

Hung out with the demon known as my dog Shiva.

Played a very long and very intense game of Triopoly. Three levels of Monopoly. Hence, there's triple the intensity!

Had a wonderful time seeing Bjork! What a way to end the longest day of my life!

Björk's Biophilia: A Beautiful Performance by the Icelandic Music Artist.

The Stage of this awesome show (taken with an Iphone, due to the untimely death of my camera).

I had the privilege of seeing the Icelandic Queen (as my sister and I like to call her) do work here in New York in the city's Roseland Ballroom on March 5th.  She went on about an hour late, but she was most certainly worth the wait.  The performance was so magical, and so special and unique.  The other night proved to me once again that Bjork is definitely one of the greatest musical artists of all time.  This show completely blew me away, and I know for a fact that there will never be anything else like it. It was quite the magical experience, and I am so happy that I went.

Biophilia is the Icelandic artist's eighth album that came out last year in October.  It's definitely individualistic and powerful, and very special just like she is.  Something different about this album that she came out with is that half of it was actually made on an Ipad, believe it or not.  She even has a series of apps out, which gives people the ability to see not only how her songs were made, but you too can make your own music.  The project itself teaches people about music, and nature and how the two coincide.  The concept of it is so beautiful, and the music is absolutely stunning.

The concert was very unique, in the way that it was set up.  As you can see from my picture, the stage was small, and it was circular.  It made the show rather intimate, which is something very special.  And the way the venue was set up, made it so that there was not a single bad seat in the house. Everyone was able to see her artist and the choir that sang with her along with the instrumentalists that played along with her.

The show also consisted of a lot of visuals from the apps themselves. They were presented on eight projector screens above the stage in a circle.  The visuals were so beautiful, and they were nothing like anything I have ever seen, and it blended so well with the music.

The night that I saw the performance was the last night she was in New York, and it was my first concert of the year. I'm so glad that this year started off with such a terrific bang! Get out there, buy the album (and obviously listen to it), and the app for a good time and a very memorable experience.

This is one of the songs off Biophilia, and definitely one of my favorites that she performed the whole night: Crystalline.

The Walking Dead: A Tribute To The Symbol of "Humanity" and The Importance of Daryl Dixon.

Dale Horvath: What was left of the group's humanity.

If you didn't watch last night's episode, please just stop reading, and WATCH THIS EPISODE! I don't want to ruin anything for you, for I am pretty sure absolutely no one saw the last ten minutes of the most previous episode coming, at all! So it is with great sadness, I must take this time out to have a moment of silence for the late elder man filled with wisdom and a heart of gold: Dale Horvath.  Dale was taken in a very gory way just the other night.  It broke my heart, and made my brain cry.  It's going to be very strange watching the show without such a wonderful character that Jeffrey DeMunn did such an awesome job portraying.  Dale was definitely one of my favorites characters on the show because he kept his kind heart in the crappy world that they live in.  Sunday Night was one of the saddest moments (for me, anyway) in television history.  My family was left in shock and sadness as we all watched the show together like we do every Sunday.  Dale was not only one of my favorites, but he was a family favorite as well.  However, his kind heart, unfortunately, was in a way, what got him killed in the first place.  

This episode showed a very compassionate and very brave side to Daryl.  The very last minute of the show, Daryl calmly moves Rick out of the way, taking and works up the courage to put poor Dale out of his misery.  Dixon gives Dale a 'sorry brother' and pulls the trigger on the elder man we all loved so much.  Dale being gone (to me at least), is symbolizing the death of humanity in the group, as we know it.  It was like killing Simon in the famous Lord of the Flies, I think.  Rest in peace, Dale Horvath. Whenever I see bucket hats, now..you will surely be the first thing that comes to mind.

Daryl Dixon: The loveable bad ass with the good intentions.

Seeing this side of Daryl adds on to why he's my favorite character on the show, and one of the best characters in anything that's on TV, right now! Daryl Dixon has grown so much on The Walking Dead, and everyone has grown some sort of soft spot for the bad ass cross-bow wielding redneck.  In fact, Daryl has become such a great character on the TV show, that he's getting written into the comic books. That's a pretty big deal.  Actor Norman Reedus (plays Daryl Dixon, and happens to be my favorite actor) was a huge contributor to the development of this character, along with the maker & writer of the series, Mr. Robert Kirkman and the other makers of the show.  Reedus' character is so complex, and he says so himself: "he's the kind of person that you just want to give a hug, but if you try, he'll try and stab you."  You get all of this from Dixon, with the help of how Norman Reedus portrays him.  When the show first started, you only see the mean side of Dixon: he's only out to help himself and his brother.  But as time goes on, you see that he needs the group just as much as they need him.  He is such a significant part of their group now, and such a big deal on the show

One can see throughout the show that Daryl has the strength to do what the majority of the group is afraid to.  He goes out on his own to hunt, he went out on his own to look for Sophia, he put a member of their group out of their misery.  Daryl is slowly rising up as one of the leaders of the group.  Dixon went from being this redneck in their group that no one wanted to even come towards, to this brave man that people can rely on.  They look to Daryl for protection, and they're starting to care for him, and warm up to him even more.  Also, you see that Daryl is starting to warm up to the group. You see that he cares, and it's easy to see that he just wants what's best for everyone. He may not come off the right way in showing it, but everyone knows that his intentions are for the greater good of those around him.  And I might be making a big deal out of this, but I think the fact that Daryl called the men of the group "my boys" was kind of a big deal.  He feels like one of them, now and he sees that he's being embraced in a way that's good.  Watching Dixon grow like he has is one of my favorite things about not only the show itself, but of anything I've watched on television. 

There are plenty more reasons as to why Daryl Dixon is such a wonderful part of this show, and I don't think it's possible to write them all in one post.  He's my favorite character on this show, and definitely someone I would want on my side in a zombie apocalypse. Hell, he should be just about everyone's number one pick! He'll keep you safe, he'll get you food, and he's very easy on the eyes (of course that third one is the least important of those three, but it's nice).

Although episode was definitely one of the saddest. With death comes life, in the way that as a result of Dale's fatal attack, Daryl stepped up to take on the task of dealing with it.  This moment in Walking Dead history resulted in Daryl showing that not only does he care, but that he has the potential to be a great leader.

Boondock Saints "Overrated"? I Don't Think So.

Have you ever overheard someone's conversation and heard something you definitely didn't want to hear? This was something that happened to me just the other day.  I was sitting in the Ground Floor of the library at the school which I attend, Hofstra University, and I heard these two kids talking about films.  Considering it's a place where silence is a rule that should be followed during one's stay there, this conversation was all everyone who didn't have headphones in their ears heard.  Boondock Saints came up, and my head perked up from my laptop, right away.  For you see, this cult classic is my favorite movie of all time.  But then one of the boys talking said three words in the same sentence as this movie title that I completely disagree with one hundred percent.  What he said was: "Boondock Saints is so overrated."  It took all the strength and willpower I had in me to get up, walk over to the opposite side of the room, and prove that kid wrong.  So, I'll just be putting my two cents in on here, proving why it's not overrated, and is one of the best films..ever.

First of all, the way that Boondock Saints was not thought to become a big deal like it eventually did.  When it was released almost thirteen years ago in 1999, it was only released in a few movie theaters for a rather short period of time.  And some of them were even paid to be released in them by Troy Duffy, the director himself.  Because it wasn't out for that long, not a lot of people got the opportunity to actually go out and watch it, and the reviews it was given..weren't that supportive.  Duffy wrote the script (this very script being the first one he has ever written), and directed it himself.  It didn't get much buzz when it was released in theaters, so it didn't really blow up until it started going on video sales.  It grossed about fifty million dollars that way, and  Boondock Saints developed a huge cult following.  This movie developed such an awesome fan base, and the cast and crew were really taken back, for this was something that definitely wasn't expected.  Duffy made a hell of a screenplay, and it was thrown around from company to company, and it luckily picked up.  He's definitely one of those people that have that rags-to-riches kind of stories, and I think that's really inspiring.

Second, the story that it has is great. It's nothing something that you see a lot. For those of you who haven't seen the movie, it's about two fraternal twin brothers, known as the Saints later on, Connor and Murphy MacManus who live in Boston, and in their own words, the two "destroy what is evil, so what's good may flourish".  They kill members of the Mafia and others that do evil acts upon others, due to a message that they got from the big man upstairs: God. The two brothers Connor (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) get help from their friend Rocco, who works for the Italian Mob of Boston to get the names and locations of those they need to do away with.  There are plenty of twists and turns all throughout, and it's also known to have some comedic aspects to it, too.  The characters are all very unique, and all have a very funny side to them, which is yet another reason why this movie is so great.

As I said before, this movie has some lovable characters in it.  All are great actors and make their characters very realistic, and likable.  The brothers, their friend Rocco, and even three stooges Detectives, Dolly, Duffy, and Greenly (who develop a more important and funny role in the second film, which in my opinion is just as good) are all such great characters, the brothers being my favorite obviously.  Although the cops are out to get them, they too, make themselves hard to hate, because they're so funny.  Il Duce is someone who is seen as this horrifying and evil guy, but in reality, he's their father, and he goes from being this scary guy to a father protecting his boys, and supporting them in their fight to rid the world of the bad.  One of my favorite characters in..anything, is FBI Agent Paul Smecker (played by Willem DeFoe).  He's so clever, so smart, and very good at what he does.  Something great about this movie, is that you see that Smecker kind of suffers, as the film goes on, because he's supposed to stop what the brothers are doing..to catch them, and arrest them.  But he begins to believe that what they are doing is right. They're destroying all that's bad in their community with one kill at a time, and he has a battle with himself about it.  I love the different plots throughout this movie, and how everyone comes together in the end.  What the cast and Duffy do with these characters is something really special, and not something you see all that often.

Now, Boondock Saints isn't a movie I see as overrated according to that kid in the Ground Floor of the Library.  I see it as a cult classic, that should be seen by everyone.  No matter how many times I watch this movie (and even the second one that stays so true to the first), I find something new and great about it.  I can't do that with a lot of films.  I think it's great that everyone can do it with this one.  This film has always been really special to me, and I can quote it like it's my job.  I know every line, and I know the prayer (considering I'm a MacManus..no seriously that's my last name.  The first A was taken out of our name when our ancestors came to the US from Ireland.  Awesome, right?).  I always say that no one can do the prayer but me, because I "share that bond with the MacManus clan", according to my friends that dig the movie like I do.  Also, I don't consider it overrated, simply because it's a movie that no one can ever really get tired of watching.  It's got everything from guns, to comedy, to drama, to Willem Defoe dressing in drag! I mean, where else are you going to see that man dress in Drag!? It's my favorite movies, and it's a classic.  And this screenplay and this whole film was created by a man who made his living as a bartender.  He has never even written anything like this..ever.  His first time writing a script, and it turns into one of the greatest cult classics, ever.  If you haven't seen this movie, then you must! If you have...then you must know what I'm talking about.  So, seriously? Overrated? I don't think so.  If you're still thinking that, why don't you make like a tree..(and if you've seen the film, you'll definitely know the rest).  I mean, you're entitled to your opinion. I'm just putting in my two cents, and showing you why saying that it's overrated would be wrong.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday: Why I Watched The Walking Dead Instead of The Oscars.

Unlike millions of people last night, I spent my Sunday night watching zombies roam the Earth on AMC's The Walking Dead instead of watching Hollywood's elite give each other golden statues at the Oscars.  I did watch the Red Carpet part on E! News to see the fashion, and who was wearing what.  But I clicked the 4 followed by the 3 on my channel changer the very moment the eight turned into a nine on the clock in my cell phone.  Why? Because The Walking Dead is one of the greatest shows that has ever hit television.  And after watching last week's episode, I knew for a fact that I couldn't miss this one, on the night that it happens.  And I am so glad that I didn't.  This episode was seriously one for the books, and definitely one of the best episodes that there ever was in the whole series. 

It threw me through so many loops, and I was honestly on the edge of my seat the entire time.  I had no idea what was going to happen, and the whole conflict between Rick and Shane is so complex, and so scary.  This new world that they live in has completely warped their lives, and the friendship that they had before.  The brawl that begins between the two is one to remember, and gets very intense very fast.  Walkers are thrown into the mix, and both of them get very close to not making it out alive. And this episode was quite zombie infested: just the way I like it! I love the action. I love the zombie killing! Rick most definitely has one of the greatest kills in Walking Dead history after putting the barrel of his gun into the mouth of a walker he previously killed, to put a bullet into the head of another.  The amount of zombies thrown into this episode definitely makes up for the lack of them throughout some episodes in the series.

Another crazy event from last night's episode, Andrea did something that I seriously didn't expect, as well.  She certainly got some respect points from me, and I'm pretty sure from everyone else, too.  Andrea ripped Lori apart, and most definitely did put her in her place.  It is a common fact that absolutely no one likes Lori Grimes, wife of the big bad sheriff himself.  The fact that Andrea stood up to her, and questioned her role in the group of survivors is something very significant.  Their conflict is very similar to the conflict of the male main characters of the show.  Lori is basically a female Rick (only people actually LIKE Rick), and Andrea is a female Shane (well, not a lot of people like either one as much as they used to).  The fight between Rick & Shane, I'm team Rick. The fight between Lori and Andrea, I'm team Andrea! This episode totally changed my views on these four characters.  Lori shows that she's taken a trip back to a time when women didn't have the right to do anything but clean and cook for the men coming home to them, which results in me losing any bit of respect that I had for her.  Andrea at least branched out from the other women's lifestyle, and is independent, strong, and great with a gun.  I just can't believe Lori had the will power to tell Andrea that she would rather her do laundry and clean, then protect the group from walkers.  It's unbelievable, really.  I didn't even get to everything that happened last night on the show..and a whole lot did happen!

As you can see, I regret absolutely nothing about missing the Oscars for this awesome episode of The Walking Dead.  I'm praying long and hard for this week to go by fast, so that Sunday comes and I can get my daily dose of Daryl Dixon & some good ol' fashion zombie killing.  If you haven't started watching this show, or started reading the comics..definitely get on that. You won't regret it.

Taking Back Sunday's Self Titled Album, Taking Me Back To The Early 2000's One Track At A Time.

Taking Back Sunday is a band that I can consider one of my favorites since I was about twelve years old.  The fact that their newest album is the first album to come out with their original line-up from their first album, made me extremely excited.  The reason why I say the line-up from their debut album is because even before their album came out, the five people in the band were not the original five.  There have been eleven different people in this band from the early 2000's to now.  The only consecutive members are Eddie Reyes (rhythmic guitar), Adam Lazzara (lead singer), and Mark O'Connell (drummer).  However, Shaun Cooper (bassist) and lead guitarist and co-vocalist John Nolan came back and were back in action. 

When I first listened to their self-titled album, I was disappointed. I guess it was because I went into the listening of this album, thinking that I would be very similar to their first album, Tell All Your Friends.  But it was very different.  I wasn't very happy with it, at first.  But as time went on, I would listen to it in small doses, and it eventually did grow on me.  I listened to each song, and they all did have something special about them. Something I loved. Let me just take the time out to go over each song, just so you can see where my head is at in terms of what I feel about this album.

1.  El Paso: The first song on their album, and definitely my favorite.  This is what first hits my ears when I press that little play button.  And the moment I heard the three drum hits in the beginning along with the guitar riffs, I was listening, and I liked what I was hearing.  And when the chorus hit, I was so excited.  I felt an old school TBS vibe from the anger seeping from the track.  I absolutely loved it, and the song got even better after that.  Everything from the harmonizing vocals, to the screams, to the heavy guitar..it was all screaming (not literally, of course) "we're back, and we're better than ever."  The drum part on this track is most definitely my favorite on the whole album. It was a great song to start out with.
2. Faith (When I Let You Down): Now I knew that this song would definitely be the "hit song" on the record.  It would be the one I would hear on the radio for some time, and I knew this the moment the vocals came in.  It just has that kind of ring to it.  And I really did like it.  Lead singer Adam Lazzara's voice goes so beautifully with the screams of John Nolan, one of the two guitarists and vocalists of this awesome band, during the chorus.  The lyrics are so great in this song, and when you hear John screaming Please while Adam sings it out, I get chills no matter how many times I hear it.  However, it didn't give me that feeling of Old School Taking Back Sunday coming out to play for all of their fans.
3. Best Places To Be A Mom: This is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album.  I feel like it really shows off the talent that the band has in writing lyrics for their music.  Also, it definitely gives me that vibe of Old Taking Back Sunday, because to me, there's nothing really quite like it.  And the fact that John Nolan and Adam Lazzara are back together and writing songs together makes me so happy.  They're making me remember what I loved about them in the first place.  And in terms of the musical aspect of this song, I really love the guitar part in this, and I absolutely love their harmonies.  The two voices go together so well, and it makes me so happy that they're back together.  
4.  Sad Savior: The beginning of this song reminds me of an old fifties tune.  It has a new flare to it, though.  And much like Best Places, the lyrics are great! I really dig the sound of this song, and I think that it's definitely something out of their comfort zone.  I like that the pace of the song changes, and I really dig the gradual change from something quite soft, to something powerful and in your face.   That's the band that I knew and loved when I was just a wee teenager, and I really enjoy the fact that really shined through in this song.
5. Who Are You Anyway?: I thought this song started out at a pretty great tempo, not something that I'm used to hearing from Taking Back Sunday. It was very upbeat, but moderately slow..but then it picks up, and turns into something sounds very familiar.  It goes back and forth like that throughout the whole song, but I don't mind it one bit.  I think they went down a very creative path with this song, and I think that it has a kind of pop-y aspect to it, but not enough to make their fans question the path that they're going down. This track is one of those that's kind of in the middle between something heavy like El Paso, and one of the lighter tracks like Since You're Gone. But I did like it. It wasn't my favorite, but I like it.
6. Money (Let It Go): I really dig this track, for so many reasons. I absolutely love the raw vocals throughout the whole thing.  And I obviously love the fact that I can most certainly feel the old Taking Back Sunday vibes just seeping out of this track.  And I was completely sucked in by the awesome bass line intro.  It's not something that they lead in with all that often (that thing being a bass line), and I think that it was an awesome start to a great song! I loved the power within every instrument: voice, guitar, bass, drums.  And much like the last song, I like the different flavor that they gave their fans with this song..a different side of them.  And I like that they showed us that without losing touch with their roots. 
7. This is Now: I love the constant back and forth vocal action between John Nolan and Adam Lazarra on this track.  Although, I do feel like this song is a bit repetitive, I really like the sound of it.  I think that Adam sounds great on it, and I really do love the part of the song when it's just him.  It's barely a whisper, and then it goes right back into sounding loud, and powerful, and basically saying 'LISTEN!' And I really think this is the only track that I feel Adam sounds exactly like he did about a decade ago. It's incredible how ageless his voice is, and I feel like this track definitely shows it.  Other than the vocals, I love the change of dynamic in this song. I love how quiet it can possibly get, and how loud and in your face it gets within the next minute.  It's really something special.
8. It Doesn't Feel A Thing Like Falling: The drumming in this song is definitely one of my favorites next to El Paso.  I think that the context of the song, and what the song is actually what gives me the vibes of them getting in touch with their old roots.  I love the part about two and a half minutes into the song, with the repeating of 'like falling', and I love the way John and Adam's voices mesh once again.  I mean, I don't really like that there is some synth. in this song, but I really do love the heavy guitar and how it kind of over powers it.  
9. Since You're Gone: This may be a bold statement to some, but this may be one of my favorite songs by them, ever.  I just love what the song is about, and I love Adam's voice so much in it.  I love the lyrics, and I think that it shows the romantic side of Adam that I absolutely love.  It's about how he's taking his love for granted, and now that she's gone he realizes what he's missing and how much he really wants it back, and how sorry he is.  Much like the way he says 'please' in Faith, he screams and pleads for the girl to 'come back'.  When he screams slash sings those two little words, it honestly pulls at my heart strings.  It was so beautiful, and I really feel for him, which is really what he wants for his fans to feel about their music.
10. You Got Me: This song starts out with a catchy guitar riff, and as I continued listening to the song, I realized that it had a very emotional message and meaning to it.  I loved what the song was about, and I loved the sounds.  However, as much as I do love the sound..I do feel like it's a bit repetitive.  It sounds exactly the same throughout the whole thing, and it stays at the same dynamic the whole time.  I would have wished that it didn't stay at a consecutive seven or eight. I really wish that they pumped it up a bit.  It is a good song, though! Not my favorite on the album, but I do dig the sound of it.
11. Call Me In The Morning: The conclusion. The last song.  And I must say (no pun intended); it made the album end on a good note.  This wasn't something I was expecting at all. I definitely wasn't seeing the album end with something THIS mellow.  I honestly do love this song, though.  I love how it gradually gets more powerful and more loud as it goes on.  I love that it ends on such a sweet note.  Call me in the morning, call me when you're home, I know what you've been through, don't let go. It ends with the phrase don't let go.  I am totally aware that they definitely didn't make a song as pretty and romantic as this about their fans.  But, what I got from that part of the song is that Taking Back Sunday (all five lovely members of it) don't want us to stop loving them.  We're all getting older, and they don't want us to let go. And I don't think I ever will.

Throughout this whole album, I feel like the vocals on Lazzara's part sounds like he's pleading, begging his fans to listen to their voice, to listen to what he actually has to say.  This album is their first album with the original line-up since their first album that came out a bit over ten years ago.  I think that this album is definitely something that says that they're growing as a band.  They're here to stay, and I'm really happy about that.  They have been my favorite band since I was in seventh grade, and I regret nothing about that.  They've greatly impacted my life, and I honestly can't wait for the day that I can hear these songs for myself live.


I actually saw Taking Back Sunday when they performed at my school for our Fall Festival.   They performed two of the songs off their newest album, and they were You Got Me and Faith. I will not lie, and I'll say that when I heard Faith for the first time LIVE, I cried a little.  Because watching them play it, and watching Adam and John sing it..it really did look like they were begging. Begging for their fans to not lose their faith in them.  I know I won't. 


This album made me feel young again (not to sound cheesy or anything like that), and I really took a turn down Memory Lane while listening to it. It was truly a great album, and on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd probably rate it an 8.5 or a 9.  Taking Back Sunday is here to stay, and this album totally proves it.