Update! New Radio Section of Blog!!

Really quick, before I write this four page paper, I just wanted to say that I will soon be writing up the first three weeks of the songs I played on my radio show here at Knox called 'Cooler than Real Life'. This will, for right now, only include the songs off my I-pod (expect week 3), although I will soon include the songs played off the computer that resides in the station. That Itunes account has a lot of songs I've never heard, so I often just pick a awesomely named song and play it. Anyways, keep an eye for it!

Shake and Break It

The cover's a little freaky, no doubt. But the music is solid, the riffs are tight and Caleb Followill's wailing voice hits you hard, like a frying pan to the face.

Everyone, even people who don't really listen to music other than the occasional top forty, knows who the Kings Of Leon (KOL) are. Everyone's heard those famed two songs- "Sex On Fire" and "Use Somebody." In fact, I don't think people have heard many more songs than those two. Both songs are pure KOL style: dirty, corrupt southern rock with a splash of indie.

So when I saw a KOL album in the line-up, my first thoughts were, "Oh, I wonder if those songs are on this album?" Of course they weren't and for good reason. This album didn't need those singles to have the effect it set on me. In fact, if it had those songs on there I doubt it would have become my favorite album so far...

Okay, maybe that's not true. I love "Sex On Fire". It's twisty and screwed in all the right ways and even though it's overplayed, I never get tired of hearing it. In fact, it seems like every time I hear it I notice something new. But anyway, onward!

Aha Shake Heartbreak really is shaky. But, the good kind of shaky, not the shaky kind of shaky. The disc starts out with "Slow Night, So Long", which has a killer bass groove going on by the time lead singer Caleb Followill gets around to spitting out those funky lyrics.

Songs like "Taper Jean Girl", "Four Kicks", "Razz", and "Day Old Blues" really made this album for me. The only song I didn't like on this album was "Milk", a song that lives up to it's name- sorta sweet but plain and creamy, no hint of omph. It wasn't a bad song, it just didn't fit in with the rest of the album.



I'd bet you ten bucks that if any of you listened to this album you could identify my favorite song off of this album in a heartbeat. "The Bucket" was the killer for me. Ever have that tight feeling in your chest and that swirling in your stomach when you come across a truly amazing song? "The Bucket" is fun, grippy and truly just happy music.

I think Raivynn would have liked either "Taper Jean Girl" or "Rememo", but alas she slaves away at college.

KOL is one interesting band. Not only do they have a severe case of genre-idtis but they are feeling some serious fan heat right now. KOL has released four albums and ever since their last one "Only By The Night" things have been, well, a little tense. Some fans are turning on the band, saying they've sold out to make 'arena music' and that what made them the Kings Of Leon is gone.

I can't really put in my two cents on this particular discussion, just because I haven't heard enough KOL music. But I can say that as I listened to "Aha Shake Heartbreak" in my sunny room one afternoon, I felt wrong. It seemed like this was the kind of album I should listen to on my Mississippi porch or in some random guy's garage. This album is grungy southern rock and it makes you feel that in your bones, but there is that hint of indie to keep you from falling off the edge. KOL is a 'surprised you' kind of band who are constantly changing they're sound and mixing things, much like legends like Ray Charles and The Beatles, but that southern sound is always there.

The best thing that came out of this album for me? I can now say I am not a one-hit fan, something I hate to be. Ignore the Parental Advisory, I recommend this album for all.

-Whitni

PS- Oh, and, just so you know, KOL has a new album coming out October 19th called "Come Around Sundown." I checked out the single from that album called "Radioactive" and like it. The video was interesting and I'm not sure how I felt about it, but the song was great. Check it out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPBbMbKSZrQ&ob=av2e

PPS- Last thing, I promise. The Kings Of Leon are made of brothers and one cousin and the brothers were all homeschooled during their childhood, much like myself. Love it.

Awkwardness Part Two: Virtual Awkwardness

Since I am not studying for my Chem quiz, I will waste time blogging about absolutely nothing. Being awkward in real life is scarring enough, but it can be even worse, and even easier, online or through texting.

We can get loured into a false sense of security, but the truth is, if it has the ability to be awkward in real life, then its awkward in virtual life too. Sometimes its even worse via virtual. Especially if you have to see that person in real life again. I'm not even gonna touch on sexting, the highest form of awkwardness there is, because it's like drugs. Just don't do it.

I will, however, give you an example. There's this girl/guy that likes you. And...maybe you don't share the feeling. But you just can't muster up the courage to tell them. So, over Facebook chat, you happen to drop the 'I don't like you, stop giving me the eye' bomb. Over Facebook.

I will repeat, over Facebook.





Now, when you see that person in real life, what do you think it's going to be like? AWKWARD! More awkward because you didn't even have the guts to say it to his/her face.

So, from now on, lets be careful what we do or don't do via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or whatever you heart desires. Let's all make a promise to ourselves and our future ex's!

"I will not break up with you over any social network, by text, or by a 27 second voicemail. I promise."

Now don't you feel better?
(Awkward turtle)
Raivynn

N.I.C.E. (New, Intense, Cool, Exciting)

Just like Raivynn posted about new music, I thought I should do so too. I mean, who doesn't like new music???

I happened to be on Youtube the other day, listening to Kanye West while writing about Kanye West (it helps set the mood), when one of those Vevo ads came up on the bottom telling me to check out Asher Roth's new single "G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It's a New Day)."

Now, in case you don't already know, Asher Roth is the rapper who made the mini-hit "I Love College." So, for some reason, I watched that one first, and that gave me a good idea of what this new song was probably about (I mean, it is called "G.R.I.N.D."). But, seeing as I am a curious being I checked it out and it is quite a different song than I imagined. I looked up Asher Roth and he's this college aged rapper who makes, well, typical rap music. But this isn't typical rap music.



So, again, the song is called "G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It's a New Day)" by Asher Roth. Don't be fooled by the name, Roth's actually got something good this time.

Better Late Than Never

Kanye West's second album, "Late Registration", sent some ripples into the ocean of music. This album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and ultimately sold three million copies in the U.S alone. In case you've lost count, it's forty on our little countdown.

"Late Registration" is the second of Kanye's education themed albums, the first being "The College Dropout" and the last being "Graduation." The album is truly Kanye, with double-meaning lyrics, tight beats and an array of artists featured. It's no joke when I say there's an array- everyone from T.I, Brandy and Cam'ron to Jamie Foxx, Lupe Fiasco and Adam Levine of the acclaimed band "Maroon 5" is on this album.

My favorite song on this album had to be "Drive Slow", a song that features Paul Wall and GLC. The song is slower and the lyrics focus on the idea that our generation shouldn't be so quick to grow up. Of course, Kanye doesn't just up and say this. But listening to him say, "Ya need to pump your brakes and drive slow homie", you get the point.

Two other favorites were "Roses", a touching anthem to Kanye's grandmother, who went through surgery before he was famous and almost didn't make it, and "Hey Ma" a song, aptly named for Kanye's mother, Donda West, who sadly passed away in November 2007.

Of course, they are the singles "Gold Digger" and "Touch the Sky", which many know and love. Seeing as Raivynn isn't here I can't be sure of what her favorites were, but I am about 85% sure she really likes "Heard Em' Say", the second song on the album that features Adam Levine. I also think she'd like "Celebration", another Kanye specialty on this album.

There was one notable thing I didn't like about this album- the fact that there were twenty-one songs in this album! I understand having to make your music and get it out there, but twenty-one!

Rai already gone on about what makes Kanye so good, but I'm going to go ahead and tell you guys why I love Kanye's music.

Kanye West has something the world is lacking these days- originality. Now, that's not to say he doesn't have influences, he does. But Kanye is his own man. He makes and produces his own music and he raps about everything- not just sex, drugs and money. Listening to his music, you'd probably think most of it's about him and his ego, but if you take the time to really listen to the words, Kanye's actually got a little bit of soul. He talks about everything from family to society to race in America today. What don't I like about Kanye? Well, he's a jackass. He really is. He says and does stupid stuff he knows he shouldn't, much like another gifted musician we know (cough cough, John Mayer, cough cough). But, as much of a jackass as he is, the man makes good music.

I know I'm not the only one to think this too, because Kanye has won forty-seven awards, fourteen of them being Grammys. So, the brotha can't be too bad. Try it yourself, look up one of these songs or others from our older post on Kanye West on Youtube, or whatever you use for music. Keep listening kiddies.

-Whitni

Like A What What??

So, when is the last time you went to the club? No? Okay, maybe not the club. Maybe a frat party, or a house party. Wherever you've been, there has probably been music playing, loudly. And, if you're like me, you probably picked on a song or two that you liked. Well, last weekend, I myself was in this scenario. At yet another Knox backlight party, with plenty of half-drunk people, I heard a really interesting, cool song that made absolutely no sense. And so I had to check it out!



And... after much tireless work, I found my club song. It's called 'Like A G6' by Far East Movement, a group of Korean guys from LA that have been around since the early 2000s. The song is very awesome, the group shows a lot of promise in their genre, which is a sweet combo of pop, hip hop, and rap. Their music has been on shows we love, like Entourage and CSI: Miami. These guys have nowhere to go but up.