Because You're Not Creative

I talk about Mixtapes all the time on here. They've been recording a second full-length recently and I am really stoked about it. The non-stop barrage of awesome songs keeps coming. You can check out one of those new songs and download it for free too!

PRESS PLAY!

Also if you happen to be reading this on March 30th 2011, go here and get the Protagonist album! It fucking rules so much and the band deserves way more attention than they get! The album is free but only for today!

Titles Suck

Day 5: A song that reminds you of someone.

I could do this for almost any song on earth. But this one will always make me think of my brother blaring it from the basement and waking me up:

A Place Where We Can Stay

Remember that record label Paper and Plastick I wrote about? It was recently their three year anniversary since starting out. The first thing you should wonder is "Wow! How can label that has only been around for 3 years have put so many incredible records already? That's Amazing!" The second thing you should wonder is "Why should I care about this!"

Well, you should care because they are doing a bunch of awesome things to celebrate.

The first awesome thing is that they are putting up tons of test presses for auction. Test presses are the prototypes of vinyl records, as implied by the name. This makes them very rare. All of the proceeds go towards relief efforts in Japan. So firstly you can score some incredibly rare versions of awesome punk rock albums. Secondly, your purchasing of these albums helps people who are about a step away from turning into the Chrysalids.

The other awesome thing they are doing is giving away a bunch of free record downloads every day! There's about 5 being given away each day this week. Go to this link and you can get more awesome music than you know what to do with. Then do it again tomorrow.

They are a fucking awesome label and put out radical music by great bands on the gnarliest vinyl records you can imagine.

PAPER AND PLASTICK!

I'd Play With Fire To Break The Ice

Day 4: A song that makes you sad.

I've always thought that this was the saddest song I've ever heard. I can only listen to it when I'm super bummed out.

On a lighter note: It is impossible to have a bad day when "Wendy Clear" by blink-182 is your alarm.

My Aim Is True

I first started to get into music on my own around the seventh grade. I heard blink-182, Sum 41 and Jimmy Eat World on MuchMusic and was immediately taken by the faster/simpler/melodic "punk" music that was popular at that time. "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World blew my mind at the time and still does today. It was really the first time I heard a song and really thought "Wow, I really like the way that sounds." It was just after that a whole new world of sounds opened up to. Or at least one that didn't consist of listening to Bat Out Of Hell and Jive Bunny And The Master-Mixer in my mom's Acclaim.

But even though I was (and still am today) endlessly searching for bands that pique my interest in my spare time, the input of others was just as helpful. This ranged from trading new bands with my other three friends who listened to punk at my elementary school to my brother hearing me listening to Sum 41 and telling me to listen to "The Decline" by NoFX instead. (Actually that was a pretty watershed moment in my musical history. They were my favourite band for a long time and were a huge "gateway band" because I discovered so many other new ones through them).

Last sidebar (I promise!): The three bands my brother showed me were NoFX, LagWagon and No Use For A Name. This was in grade 7. I still listen to all of these bands pretty regularly today. I take pride in this. I find that a lot of people just kind of change with the wind and stop supporting a lot of bands. I kind of take solace in the fact that I've been into punk rock for pretty much as long as I've been into music.

Also at this time of discovering bands, my Dad showed me some stuff. He brought me two cds one day; Cream (which I wasn't that into) and My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello. He brought me that one because it came out in 1977 and was when Costello was "most punk" I guess (The first song is only a minute and 24 seconds long!).

I thought it was pretty good at the time and then forgot about it for a while.

Then I watched Sixteen Candles last night and a wave of 80's nostalgia hit me. I've been on a huge Costello kick since. The album really is phenomenal and required listening for anyone.

Even though it's one of his biggest songs, you just can't deny how great it is:

Long story short, my Dad got me Elvis Costello albums and takes me to art galleries. He's probably cooler than your dad.

Life's Good, My Life Is Great

It's technically Monday, so here 'goes:

Day 3: A Song That Makes You Happy

"You know when that special person in your life calls you on the phone and like nothing else matters? This song is called Forget The World."

I'm the sappiest of the sappy. Love songs and ska rule.

Long Nights, Hard Times, Everything That Makes You Feel Tired

30 Day Song Challenge

Day 2: Your Least Favourite Song:

I never want to hear this shit for the rest of my life.

I Glued Your Tape In The Stereo

A bunch of my friends are doing this "30 Day Song Challenge" on facebook. There's a theme for each day and it obviously goes on for 30 days. I figure this is a good way to post something every day and will maybe stimulate my brain to think of things to write.

Anyways, day 1! Your favourite song:

I've posted this a few times before, but it is my favourite song so it's gotta happen I guess. As soon as I hear the opening A chord it always puts me in a good mood. It's a song about liking music, but they write like a love song. It's da best.

Or Maybe Listen To Some Husker Du

I love this shit.

Are You Restless Like Me?

My mind is drawing a blank because it was melted by this movie yesterday:

So here's some songs I like:

Ever since the first time I heard this, I've thought that it is a great "fuck you" song towards an ex-girlfriend. It's been awhile since my last relationship, but I still love songs like this one.

Fake Problems - Heartless from If You Make It on Vimeo.

The Replacements are definitely one of the quintessential punk bands and this is probably their most well known song, but I'm still lovin' it lately.

I've getting into Against Me! pretty hard lately (as you can probably tell by that last post). Somewhat related to the last song, I think their last album sounds like The Replacements but with Tom singing, which is pretty much why I like it so much. This isn't off that album, but I think it's up there as their best and is definitely the best number of New Wave. I also think that this is a fucking great live video of them and shows how great they are live. Girl behind the drummer gets an F for not paying attention to the rock.