Procrastination 101

It should be class, really. I'd get an A+.


Now, I have nothing against Tokio Hotel. I shamelessly admit that I have two of their songs on my iTunes, and I think it's pretty sweet that they're only a year (or two? not sure) older than I and have a world-wide fanbase.

But this is just too funny...



Is it horrible that I actually laughed aloud when I saw this? Sue me.

BRAND NEW EYES

I'm no music blogger (<-- click it, I dare you), but how could I pass up a chance to talk about one of my favorite bands on the day their third album drops. For those living under a rock in the, well, "rock"-esque world, Paramore's album Brand New Eyes came out today. I'm going to try to make this album review short and sweet and highlight two songs mainstream America probably won't hear.

Despite many comments of being "disappointed," I don't feel that in the least. Unlike those who are less than satisfied with this record, I approached it with really no expectations. The band was near-breaking point, they just ended a stint with No Doubt, there were too many outside factors to really predict or expect anything regarding what their sound would be like. After listening to BNE once, I already love it. Many bands can never go back to their original sound from their first record (Fall Out Boy with Take This To Your Grave, anyone?), but Paramore goes back to the raw emotion, feeling, power, and edge fans first saw and fell in love with in All We Know is Falling while production levels are much higher as in Riot!. Try listening through the whole album without jumping around or dancing at least once. Pretty tough and damn near impossible, let me tell you. On to the songs!

"Turn It Off" Contrary to the title, don't. Talking purely music, it's catchy but sounds like nothing too special: been there, heard that. Key word is "heard." What you need to do is listen, not just hear. The lyrics are what got to me. Close your eyes, lean back, and listen to Ms. Hayley Williams' words flow through the speakers. A verbal picture is painted, and it's one hell of a painting.

"All I Wanted" Now, this song picks up where "Turn It Off" falls a tad short. They complete each other, really. "All I Wanted" cannot compare to "Turn It Off" at all lyrically, but the instrumentals are powerful and the vocals. Oh, the vocals. The redhead-recently-gone-blonde spitfire shows us where that traditional vocal training went. There have been arguments that the she sounds strained. I'd love to hear them belt like Hayley does.

And here begins (and probably ends unless I find a stroke of inspiration) my music review writing.
For more on Brand New Eyes, please check out this review. I agree with most, if not all, of what is said in it. She covers every song on the record, even if just for one sentence.
And for more on music recommendations in general (and if you ignored my not-so-subtle link in the beginning), check out my wonderful friend Boy Wonder. His musical insight is fantastic, and you won't be disappointed. Money-back guarantee.

We All Need a Laugh

Especially in the midst of college move-ins, homework, and quizzes/tests

And this definitely makes me laughAnd for the record, I have read all 4 Twilight books. I am allowed to have my fun.


On a completely unrelated note, I made the club soccer team for my school, and I'm ridiculously stoked! :D

The People Who Matter Most

If there is one thing I've learned, it's that you can never take too many pictures or, more importantly, be in too many pictures. I, for one, hate getting my picture taken sans the rare times I'm in the mood to be a cam-whore. I'm usually the one behind the lens, and for not having a fancy, shmancy camera that has suddenly spiked in popularity all of the sudden, I think I take pretty decent pictures with my little digital. But I digress. Because of my fondness of taking pictures rather than being in them, I found that I wasn't in as many as I thought. Picking out pictures to print and take to college with me for decoration turned out to be both an easy and a difficult task: easy because I picked the few I was in and difficult because some my favorites were those I was not in and, incidentally, took myself.

Lesson learned. I've tried to include myself in as many opportunities for being in pictures as I can because, really, pictures become the memories that we can always revisit even when we forget. And, as narcissistic as it sounds, I'd like to be in other people's memories as well.

Title Credit: Action Item

The wall of my friends, family, and loved ones. Some from years ago. Some excluding myself. All with people I'll never forget. (For any facebookers who know me IRL, this is a more updated picture of my wall/collage than posted on Facebook)

Recipe for College

So, I have just begun my career as a college student. Exciting, no? Welcome Week was really fun: meeting new people, exploring the campus, seeing Anjelah Johnson/Bon Qui Qui perform (a personal favorite; ahh, private school), going on retreat, and *shudder* actually classes and learning. Here's my take so far...

Welcome Week/1st Week of Classes (shaken, not stirred for better results)

• 1 part anxiety (nervous or excited will do)
• ? parts boxes (filled with necessities and dorm stuffs; everyone has a different number he or she needs to move-in)
  
• 4-6 parts classes (get creative with this one; variety leads to different results)
• 2 parts awkward social situations (my personal favorite is the "meeting Facebook friends for real" but you may prefer the always lovely "ice-breaker game")
• 3 parts activities (so many options, so little time; choices include, but are not limited to, retreats, dances, concerts, parties, and beach trips -provided you are near one)

Throw everything into a cocktail shaker, and shake well. Or if you want a very well mixed concoction, throw it all in a blender. Once satisfied, pour slowly into a glass of your choice. I myself like the martini glass; looks classy and reminiscent of Sex and the City, though I never watched it. Garnish with good-byes and photos/posters to decorate, and if you really want a kick, sprinkle in some tears of the parental variety. I, for one, did not, but hey, sometimes they can't be help.

Sip slowly (or down it in one gulp) and enjoy!

Say It Ain't So (as sung by Weezer)

I think a little bit of me died today. Panic(!) at the Disco (I'm attached to the "!" but there is rumor of it coming back?? *fingers crossed*) is officially split in half. Brendon and Spencer are sticking it out while Ryan and Jon are off on a different (musical) career path. I almost feel ridiculous for feeling this way, but I don't think I can help it. What with all the official messages from the band members themselves, there is a dull ache within me, and I'm not trying to be melodramatic. Explanation as to why? Might as well...

I whole-heartedly admit that in the earlier years of my middle school career, I was trying to "fit-in"; I did not want to be embarrased because I wanted to be different. I wouldn't say I was in the "popular crowd" because I don't think those existed at our school, but I will say that I was in that main group of girls that everyone in our grade knew. I didn't care to be in it or not, but I was and didn't want to be judged. I tried to dress similar, I listened to the same music, and I went out on the weekends with them and watched movies that, to be honest, I had little interest in.
And then I found something for myself.
Watching MTV and TRL (when it was still alive and well), I saw music videos for My Chemical Romance's "Helena," Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Going Down," and Panic! at the Disco's "I Write Sins Not Tragedies." Three bands, three songs. Different from the norm of mainstream, yet still making it big at some point. It wasn't sudden, it wasn't like a flick of a switch, but at some point after seeing them and listening to them, I found myself not caring what others thought and doing things I wanted to do. Indirectly, they taught me to be myself, that it's okay to be different. Cliche as it may be, I probably wouldn't be the same person today without them.

And to hear about Panic's split breaks my heart.

Best of luck to Ryan and Jon, who will undoubtedly be successful if they play their cards right, and best of luck to Brendon and Spencer, who carry on Panic's legacy, if you will. Maybe they'll ressurect the "!" who knows? I'll be following both parties and will hopefully not be disappointed.

Being Sentimental is Underrated

Have you ever kept little, near-meaningless knick-knacks, notes, or letters? Ever told yourself that you will have no use for it and throw it out? Ever thought someone who did that was being stupid? The answers should hopefully be the following: yes, no, of course not. If they weren't you're truly missing out on something.

I was cleaning parts of my room today --shocker, I know-- and found a couple cards (birthday, holiday, get well, etc.) and notes from months and years back. And being the weird, never-can-let-anything-go kind of person I am, I read them. I guess I'm a sucker because I had a smile etched on my face for the entire time I spent reading. I'm not on the greatest terms with one of my best friends at the moment. A complete betrayal of trust in my eyes. Forgiven, but not forgotten and definitely back to square one of that trust level. It was something so trivial which makes the whole trust thing escalate. But he's on the other side of the world for the time being. Anyway, he wrote me a Christmas card despite his being Jewish (but he spends Christmas with my family regardless XP). It reminded me why we're such amazing friends. It reminded me of how lucky I am. It reminded me that no matter how many fights we get in, how many times I get frustrated or angry with him, how many times we will both make mistakes, we will always have that bond and friendship. Yes, I am being an incredibly big block of cheeeeeese right now, but I could care less. Because I have made some of the greatest relationships I could ever ask for.

Moral of this post: Don't throw the little things away. They serve as reminders for what you may forget. And on a side note, don't always be the man behind the camera, literally. You'll look back on the pictures and wish you were in them. It's something I've experienced and regret, but I can't break out of the habit completely, not yet. Pictures and informal notes: the tangible memories that your mind can't always retain for you.