the classics

I've found myself listening to albums that I've grew up with a lot lately so i figured i would write up a blog on the albums i consider to be "classics" in my own collection.  there aren't many better feelings than falling back in love with an album from years ago.

Saves the Day ~ Stay What You Are

Songs ~ At Your Funeral, Nightingale 

At Your Funeral is, hands down, one of my favorite songs of all time. till this day, the ring out/vocal combination that kicks in at 0:40 gives me chills. The entire album is a top 5 album for me.  They've recently released Daybreak, which is a great and worth the 10 bucks or whatever iTunes is selling it for now, and that release reminded me to revisit Stay What You Are...haven't stopped listening to it since then. 

The MovieLife ~ 40 Hour Train Back to Penn

Songs ~ Ship to Shore, Kelly Song

There's not a lot I can say about this album except that if you've never listened to it, your life is significantly worse because of it. I Am Avalanche just released a phenomenal new album, which brought me back to the movielife, not sure how I got out of the habit of listening to them. This entire album just brings back the good days in high school of just driving around and listening to music. 

The Juliana Theory ~ Music From Another Room

Songs ~ Breathing By Wires; Piano Song

Yes, I'm aware that Emotion is Dead is the de-facto standard for anyone talking about Juliana Theory but Music From Another Room is my favorite release from the group.  Don't get me wrong, I love Emotion is Dead but every one of the songs on Music From Another Room are in my top ten from JT and there are 5 full songs on the EP...so do the math, 50% of my favorite JT songs come from this one EP. 

Brand New ~ My Favorite Weapon

Songs ~ Jude Law and a Semester Abroad; Mixtape; Shower Scene

A lot of people either don't know or just forget that Brand New's first album was a pop-punk album.  They're one of the few bands that have changed sounds on almost every album and still continue to amaze me. This album is definitely a favorite, a toss up for 2 or 3, depending on my mood, from the band (The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me is my numero uno).  Whomever pissed off Lacey, I feel sorry for you. 

There are plenty of other albums I could have thrown up here, but if I didn't draw the line somewhere, I'd be here all day. Other classics to note (in case you're bored and are just looking up tunes while reading this)...

Cross My Heart ~ Cross My Heart 

The Appleseed Cast ~ End of the Ring Wars

Dashboard Confessional ~ Swiss Army Romance (judge me all you want but this is an awesome album)

Midtown ~ Save the World, Lose the Girl

No Use for A Name ~ More Betterness

If you haven't heard any of these albums, do yourself a favor and go to Spotify or GroveShark or wherever you listen to tunes and listen to them, you won't regret it. 

In other news, thanks everyone for the kind words on the By Sea / By Land album, it's much appreciated.  Obviously all of the listens/downloads have tapered off by now but if you did like it, share it with friends.  Hef told me I needed to post more about it on facebook/twitter but I'd feel like I'd be annoying buuutttt if my friends post about it, it's quite alright haha. 

Notable New Releases

 Saves the Day ~ Daybreak

I Am the Avalanche ~ Avalanche United

The Gaslight Anthem ~ iTunes Sessions (worth the price just for the Baba O'Reilly cover alone)

Trash Talk ~ Awake EP

I hope everyone is doing well, much love. 

X

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By Sea / By Land: The Hathaway Sessions

Annnnnddddd it's done! Finally. It took longer than I had originally planned but Kyle was pretty awesome at coming up with ideas, layers, instruments, etc... that I just couldn't turn any of it down. I owe a lot of this recording to him. He breathed life into some of the older songs and almost all of the really cool vocal arrangements were his idea.  He's a good dude, glad to have him in my life. Otherwise, it's an odd, slightly eclectic collection of songs, spanning a few different genres.  Guess that's what i get for listening to such an odd collection of music.

So feel free to go download it, give it a few listens, recommend it to your friends, etc... I hope you like it, cause I'm really proud of it, but if you don't, that's ok too, just act like you do so your friends will think it's the cool thing to be listening too.

And thanks to everyone for the kind words and encouragement to get it done, especially you hef, it's greatly appreciated.

I created a facebook page, so go "like" it. https://www.facebook.com/byseabyland

Download/listen to it at the bandcamp site: http://byseabyland.bandcamp.com

Next up, I've already gotten about 3.5 new songs written, that are a slightly different style than what's on this album. I'm also toying with the idea of writing an EP about two of my favorite books, Maniac Magee and The Giver.  That'll be an entirely new type of challenge, to write songs that don't necessarily reflect something in my life but I think it'll be a fun, little project.

Anyways, I hope whomever of you listen/download it, enjoy it. Much love.

X

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