(Wow, it’s a post by me! Still alive, here all week, etc.)
Since I reviewed I Killed the Prom Queen’s album, my mind has been somewhat opened to other metal-inclined tunes that come our Jawkward way. Which makes it sound like I’ve never listened to metal or it’s ilk before, but that’s not true. I used to own a copy of MTV Headbangers Ball, Vol. 2, remember? So anyway I’ve been slowly catching up with the tunes and lo and behold, hello heavy metal!
“This Means War” is the third single off Avenged Sevenfold’s album Hail to the King, which was released almost a year ago! It actually peaked at #3 on our music charts. So I’ll be going back and looking for that to listen to.
I’m not much of a music blogger as it turns out, but surely we can recognise when something is delicious pain au chocolat tunes to our ears, right? This is pretty much like Metallica with their heavy catchy guitar riffs and hooky chorus that takes you through the entire six minutes. There’s an amazing solo about two-thirds of the way through, so at least stick it out for that even if this genre of music isn’t really your thing.
If you’d forgotten - or, like me, not even realised that A7X had another album out - here is “This Means War” to refresh your memory. And, if you’re new to metal or returning like a long-lost acquaintance such as metal and I were in high school, welcome back. This is a banging track to reconcile your tastes.
According to a press release from Biffy Clyro’s record label, the Scottish band have released ‘Sounds Like Balloons’ from their sixth studio album Opposites as a single. Previous singles from the album, first released in 2013, include ‘Black Chandelier’ and ‘Biblical’.
Produced by Garth Richardson, who also worked on Biffy Clyro’s previous two albums - Puzzle and Only Revolutions, Opposites reached #25 on the RIANZ album charts. A two-CD Tour Edition is set to be released on July 4. With songs that successfully, according to NME, blend the ‘experimental and anthemic’ why aren’t you already a fan? As new fans, there’s nothing wrong with being new, we’ve a lot to learn.
The band’s set to make their way to Auckland to perform at Auckland’s Powerstation on September 2.
Grab tickets from ticketmaster asap and check out their live performance of ‘Sounds Like Balloons’ below:
EDIT: So according to long-time fans of the band ‘Sounds Like Balloons’ was never released as a single. The press release was either telling porkies, or maybe it’s been released as a single here in NZ. We’ll keep our eyes and ears peeled, we’ll get to the bottom of this.
EDIT EDIT: Definitely an NZ-only single. We think, no yeah definitely. Probably? No yeah there was only NZ info in the release. Yep, I’m sure- am I? Definitely maybe NZ-only.
Charlie XCX’s new song Boom Clap features in The Fault In Our Stars soundtrack. The official video clip was released a few hours ago, showing various clips from the film which is released in New Zealand on June 5th.
The Fault In Our Stars is sure to be a hit with the tween/teen audience, and a similar reaction to the music is highly expected.
Boom Clap by Charli XCX features on the soundtrack that will also present tracks from Ed Sheeran, Birdy, Grouplove and Lykke Li.
On this night, a night as average as any other, a young girl and another young but slightly older girl went to a concert. (By slightly older I mean, the age gap of 11 years.)
But not just any concert. It was the concert of the one and only Ed Sheeran.
*jaws drop*
*wide stares*
Ahhhh! *sizzling sound* Girl look at that body! He - He’s Ed Sheeran.
Thanks to iHeartRadio and 2degrees, Ed Sheeran performed a one-off show at the ASB Theatre, in Auckland and my sister managed to win tickets after days (and possibly weeks) of refreshing inboxes and listening to the radio whenever it was possible! She and I had entered every competition there was to win tickets, and what we found out at the show was that we were one of the few lucky hundred to see Ed Sheeran among the approximately 25 000 submissions sent in from all over New Zealand.
Solo Artist, Jeremy Redmore was the Supporting Act.
He performed a few of his tracks such as Travellin’ Song, Drag Me On Home, and Bad Philosophy.
Now, when the lights dimmed and a spotlight focused on the middle of the stage, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and I don’t know when exactly it happened but tears filled my eyes when he walked out on stage and he got straight into You Need Me But I Don’t Need You.
The crowd was almost deafening but none of them were loud enough to drown out the Ranga god, his angelic voice, guitar and loop pedal.
Even when he played one of his quieter tracks, The A Team. (Although some fans didn’t understand that they should be quiet, he still played on.)
And speaking of those “fans“, an argument broke out among a few of the girls. Ed politely asked everyone to remain quiet for one of his new tracks, because it was a quiet song and so a majority of us did as he asked, respecting his wishes since he was performing for us.
But someone didn’t get the memo, because every time he stopped singing and just played the guitar, she’d scream out, “I LOVE YOU EDDY!!” and I swear I was hunting for her through the crowd with my eyes, getting ready to “stroke and shush them”. (NOT A EUPHEMISM)
But then, someone else started to shout abuse at them and it was a mess. Like really? HE ASKED US TO TRY TO REMAIN QUIET. If y’all wanna bicker, gtfo. Honestly, there’s always a select few who ruin things for everyone else and it’s making me angry just thinking about it.
MOVING ON.
Y’all know my sister, right? Well, Mata never wants to sit next to strangers, so she made her 15 year old sister sit between her and a stranger. And then the girl I was sitting next to had little to no rhythm which made me LOL so hard, but not in a haha ew loser way, more like a haha nawwwwww way, if that makes sense? (No offense intended, stranger!)
And so every time Ed asked us clap or click our fingers, she’d come in at the wrong time and when he’d ask us to sing, she’d try so hard but she’d go off key and scold herself and she was so cute, even though it was incredibly awkward. (Y’know what isn’t awkward? Calling a stranger cute. Okay maybe a little awkward. Shut up, don’t judge me…)
Singing like an angel, like always…
There was also this part during the concert where he performed a song he’d made using all these sentences and replies he’d saved in his phone to the hate he’d received over the course of three years, and he did it so well and he’s such an inspiration.
The light in the background is like the sun shining down on him, is it not?
One part of the song where he says something along the lines of, “you don’t want to see me with my shirt off,” I swear a bunch of fans protested and others laughed and so he stopped and muttered, “Guys…” and that scene was so cute.
Even from where I was seated, which was quite far and very high up, I could see the blush on his face. (Unless I imagined it, which wouldn’t be surprising. I should’ve worn my glasses, darn!) Too cute, though.
That smile though!
Nearing the end of an amazing night, he began performing his new single SING, and he got everyone into it, even if it was a little different from his Folk-y Rock sound, which isn’t a bad thing! He told us to keep singing, even after he’s left the stage, even into our cars to get home and even when we wake up the next morning! Ridiculous, right?
“If you love me come on get involved. Feel it rushing through you from your head to toe!”
Everywhere I turned, fans were singing, dancing, clapping and it made me so happy. He has this way of getting everyone to have fun and his moves on the stage were so weird but oddly mesmerising and I couldn’t look away, except for the times I had to wipe the tears from my eyes.
Yes, I cried and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Okay, maybe I’m a little ashamed. Whatever, you need me but I don’t need you so talk to the hand.
Overall, his performances were amazing and kept the crowd entertained, and his new tracks are sure to please all fellow Sheerios out there. He executed them perfectly and even though he left way too soon, he did not disappoint. And I’m still singing, Ed!
Now, for derp Sheeran.
FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS!
This is the best thing ever. True derp. THIS.
All photos and videos are credited to my wanna-be photographer, Mata. Hahaha ilysm.
Hello everyone, it’s me, Chloe! I know, where have I been all this time? But I am back, albeit with a slightly delayed edition of Music Monday. So without further ado, let us get into it.
I was NOT going to review this album, but to be honest I have a soft spot for Kylie. Pop music is what I grew up on, after all. Britney Spears, N’Sync, Backstreet Boys, FIVE, 911… list goes on. Do you guys remember The Moffatts? I do. I had their poster on my wall and everything.
BUT we are talking about Kylie here. Power pop dance queen Kylie. Do you remember back in the day when she was “Kylie Minogue”? Now she has one name and y’all know which Kylie we’re talking about. Move over Madonna.
Kiss Me Once is Kylie’s twelfth studio album, preceded by 2010’s Aprodite which I also own and yes, danced a lot to, shutupdon’tlookatme.
This is one of those albums with a whole bunch of songs. REALLY CHLOE? Wow. But yes, really. And while you’re listening to it, it’ll seem kinda derivative and pop, like yeah super smooth and catchy tunes Kylez, but y’know, how are you different to any other pop star who uses synths and has Pharrell channelling his Daft Punk influence behind the producers desk?
And then five hours later you’re lying in bed trying to sleep but there’s this tune in your head, like completely foreign, kind of like hearing this solemn yet moving song and not being able to place it and it plays in your head for about twenty seconds before it hits you - it’s the Game of Thrones theme song and you don’t even watch the damn show.
Except it’s the Kylie edition. And you’ll have remembered a lot more lyrics than you thought, too.
The album is about love and also sex, but more the romantic notion of love and the eventual sexytiemz, rather than S-E-X-X sex. It’s just really funky and smooth, upbeat and happy and just really… carefree, which may be a reflection of her new contract with Roc Nation Management.
Also of note re: Roc Nation - it’s Jay-Z’s label, which goes to explain the sort of hip-hop dubstep funk style thing going on with tracks such as “Sexercize.” This unfortunately did not jive with me on the music front but that’s okay.
Other producers on the album are Sia Furler, who executive-produced the album, and Ariel Reichstadt (who produced Haim’s album) for “If Only,” as well as MNEK on “Feels So Good” - and this wide variety of musical smorgasbordism shows across the album’s 11 tracks.
My favourites are “Les Sex” which I did NOT expect to like as much as I do, but it’s so ridic catchy. Close on its heels is “I Was Gonna Cancel” (our Pharrell track) which is one of those songs that you can mindlessly bop to, but take a closer listen to the lyrics:
Just hop out of the bed, go ahead face the day,
Who cares what you know?
Don’t let that in the way - no way!
Shut out all the doubt, just get up and go.
What’s on the other side?
You will never know unless you, go, go, go, girl…
I really do feel like there is a Message here until it gets to a far too repetitive pre-chorus, but you’ll never know unless you go, go, go - damn it.
And a reeeeeally nice song - actually all the songs on the album are nice, apart from “Mr President” ugh let’s just forget that’s on there - is “Beautiful,” which is a true-to-it’s-name ballad duet with the one and only singer of love*, Enrique Iglesias. It is honestly SO BEAUTIFUL albeit a little bit sad and also has sent AutoTune to therapy for being abused so bad. Okay maybe it’s not that great.
Kiss Me Once is a disco hit, although someone has poisoned my mind so every time I think of Kylie I think of gay men dancing to dark and smoky rooms with disco lights and a giant disco ball and overall it’s a really good time, but this may be a disservice to actual gay clubs which I do not frequent enough to speak upon with authority.
Anyway, I really enjoyed it and sometimes it’s good to just get back to your roots, if your roots are a genre-bending fun ride of IDGAF.
THREE-POINT-SEVEN-FIVE out of FIVE silent LOLs
*Singer of love if you are my age. If you are older it may be Elvis Presley, if you are younger I don’t know and I’m a little afraid to find out.
On April 30th, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will be performing in Auckland, thanks to 2degrees and everyone reading this, SHEERAN FOREVER.
Already being promoted by the online radio station iHeartRadio, his one free show will be a chance for Ed to perform some tracks from his newest album x set to be released in New Zealand on June 20th.
It will be mine- because his first album was epic, and considering it’s the ginge musical god Ed Sheeran, his second album will be just as amazing.
We’ve also seen two tracks from his new album, SING and Don’t and if any of his other new tracks are like them, then I will- without a doubt- love them. Although to be fair, I love Ed Sheeran in general. He’s perfect and I’m so excited and happy for him, it’s almost embarrassing but it can’t be embarrassing because it’s Ed freaking Sheeran. Okay? He’s a ranga, he’s got red hair! Kissed by fire!
Ahem.
Click and register here to be into win free Ed Sheeran show tickets, I already signed up and now I’m hyperventilating just at the possibility of seeing him live again.
My Chemical Romance May Death Never Stop You
Reprise Records - Warner Music Group
Official Release Date: 25 March 2014
It’s been a year since the MCRmy were informed that My Chemical Romancewere disbanding on March 22, 2013. So it seems fitting that a year later they would release their greatest hits album and entitle it May Death Never Stop You.
“The title is fitting, because as sad as it was to say goodbye to the band, we look at this collection as a celebration of our best songs, and hope the memory of them continues to bring joy to you all as they have for us. We hope you take the journey with us into MCR’s past, and enjoy the small taste of what might have been.” - MCR
Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Mikey Way and Frank Iero
The 19-track collection starts with the previously unreleased song, ‘Fake Your Death’, one of the last songs worked on in the studio together before they called it quits. The remaining tracks continue in chronological order with songs from the 2002 debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, ‘Vampires Will Never Hurt You’ and ‘Honey, This Mirror Isn’t Big Enough for the Two of Us’.
We’re then treated to anthem hits from 2004’s Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, ‘I’m Not Okay (I Promise)’, ‘Helena’, and ‘The Ghost Of You’. ‘Welcome To The Black Parade’, ‘Famous Last Words’, and ‘Teenagers’ from 2006’s platinum The Black Parade; and ‘Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)’ and ‘Sing’ from 2010’s Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys, concluding with with three songs from the infamous Attic Demos.
As with every greatest hits compilation there are always a song or two you believe were wrongfully excluded. I, for one, thought the album should have included ‘It’s Not A Fashion Statement It’s A Death Wish’ and ‘Cemetery Drive’ from Three Cheers and ‘Disenchanted’ ‘Sharpest Lives’ and ‘This Is How I Disappear’. Are any of your favourite songs missing? Make your case for them in the comment section below, after you check out the track-list.
If, like me, My Chemical Romancesaw you through some of your most awkward adolescent years keep on, keepin’ on MCRmy. Take heart that you’ll always have their music to fall back on for nostalgic trips and memories of concerts- if you were ever lucky enough to make it to one (they were my first!) Know that while we’re a fandom that may not be afraid to walk this world alone, you are anything but.
May Death Never Stop You will be released as a standard album (which doesn’t include the video content), a deluxe edition that includes the long-form video content with two hours of footage and as a 180-gram vinyl two-LP set with a gatefold sleeve, plus the DVD.
1. Fake Your Death
2. Honey, This Mirror Isn’t Big Enough For The Two Of Us
3. Vampires Will Never Hurt You
4. Helena
5. You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison
6. I’m Not Okay (I Promise)
7. The Ghost Of You
8. Welcome To The Black Parade
9. Cancer
10. Mama
11. Teenagers
12. Famous Last Words
13. Na Na Na
14. Sing
15. Planetary (Go!)
16. The Kids From Yesterday
17. Skylines And Turnstiles (Demo)
18. Knives/Sorrow (Demo)
19. Cubicles (Demo)
On April 30th, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will be performing in Auckland, thanks to 2degrees and everyone reading this, SHEERAN FOREVER.
