Maybe you, you should have tried harder...

"Hold On Tight" by Hey Monday

OVERALL: Hey Monday reminds me a lot of Paramore. And many of their songs have the same beginnings as other band's older songs so it sometimes gives the impression that Hey Monday are just following the crowd.  But if you can forget the sense of deja vu and if you like the sugar-coated teenage world then Hey Monday is worth a listen. They are not bad, they just have a habit of being unoriginal. There are a few tracks I would recommend purchasing but I would refrain from suggesting you purchase the whole album. 

track 1: Set Off

First thoughts....Great drum intro. Set Off reminded me of a song I had heard before, although I can't quite place the song. The instrumentation was standard, nothing really distinguished it. Catchy, repetitive lyrics. Anthem!

Sounds like....Say It Aint So

track 2: How You Love Me

First thoughts...Strong lead female vocals, uninteresting drums.  'whoa-oh whoa-oh' will be stuck in my head all night long... 

track 3: Homecoming

First thoughts....I like this song. It tells a story that is easily relatable to by many girls, or so I think. Strong rocking guitar. 

Sounds Like....Pocketful of Sunshine

track 4: Obvious

First thoughts....Catchy. I love the vocals near the end where most of the instruments cut out. 

track 5: Candles

First thoughts....Beautiful piano-driven intro. Once again, the repetitive tune is featured prominently in this track. Lots of showy fluff and effects in this song, but a decent song none-the-less. 

track 6: Run, Don't Walk

First thoughts....Awesome electro-intro. Synthesizing toward the end is an interesting touch. I am loving this song. The lyrics, the guitar, everything seems to fit. Energetic and forceful vocals with excellent drum emphasis. 

Look at the lyrics...I LOVE THE LYRICS!

"For the record, when I'm with you

Things are looking better
For once everything is brighter
Than the darkness before you"

track 7: Josey

First thoughts....I would listen to this song hanging out with my friends and having a dance party. 

track 8: Hurricane Streets

First thoughts....Nice harmony from the get-go. Traditional instrumentation with some interesting guitar lines after the first chorus. A nice listen, nothing jumped out at me though.

track 9: Arizona

First thoughts....Strong female vocals. Lyrics are easy to relate to. Nothing terribly original. 

track 10: Should've Tried Harder

First thoughts....Awesome intro! The momentum was kind of lost after the beginning but the lyrics were good and the vocals were strong as always. This is an anthem track for so many girls I know and is easily a fun track to listen to. Especially for those "I Hate Boys" nights. :D

track 11: 6 Months

First thoughts....A lyrical ballad, 6 months is a break from the bubble-gum pop rock of the rest of the album and lets the vocals steal the show. The tune is easily stuck in your head and it talks about the drama of dating and breaking-up. 

Like it, hate it, agree, disagree? Let me and other readers know in the comments section!

Hollywood hills and suburban thrills...

I am currently sitting in SJC airport [San Jose, CA] waiting for my flight to start boarding. Have you ever sat in an airport and people watched? They really are the best places to people-watch.

 

 For instance, there is the lady sitting across from me with a dowdy black dress with interesting gray spots. She has a starbucks in her hand and is texting away. No one has ever told her it's annoying when people text with the keypad sounds on. And I wonder, what does she do with her life? How does she feel about her life? Is she texting and holding starbucks in an effort to keep up with the times or does she truly feel a need for those things. Does she just have allergies or are her germs going to float across the aisle and get me sick? Does she like that dress or did she get the idea from a magazine. Or both? Why is she heading to LA and what will she do when she gets there? She is reading from an official looking binder which makes me think she is going for work. Whom does she work for? Will she ever read this blog? Who knows....

 

On my right sit an older couple, dressed up like people used to dress up when they flew. Shined shoes, pressed slacks and a dapper vest for the husband. Complementing maroon jacket on her, accessorized with proper gold jewelry. The dainty black boots she wears have complementing gold buttons and her legs are crossed all proper. They sit on these uncomfortable plastic seats as if they are breakable dolls, fragilely holding their newspaper and magazine, as the woman sips on her coffee with creamer. Why are they going to LA? Do they live there? Have kids there? Are they trying to impress surrounding people or do they truly like to look like that? Who knows....

And then there’s the guy to my right. 18,19 maybe? African American, dark clothing, semi-fitted jeans. Matching neon green and magenta accents on his nike shoes, shirt and hat.  A nike bag that looks too big for whatever he is bringing with him as it flops limply on the floor. On the side is a basketball logo with the inscription KWA Rice. Is that a team and his last name? or an official team. I dont know, the only basketball i follow is SMC gaels. :) He stares straight ahead, intently focused on his Burger King breakfast sandwich. Hungrily he wolfs it down. After getting up to throw away the evidence of his quickly devoured meal, he stares at his boarding pass. I wonder where he is going and whether he knows I’m watching him or not. Oh, phone comes out. Even cool-looking teenage guys must tell their mother they passed through TSA’s security checkpoints. 

Now I’m on the plane and he is sitting across the aisle, the row behind me. He sits in his aisle seat with the whole row to himself and slumps low in his chair, noise-canceling headphones in over his ears, drowning out the incessant drone of the aircraft, eyes shut. Asleep perhaps? Who knows....

 

Gotta love the randomness....

I Come From a Land Down Under...

[Patty Mills] Photo courtesy of  Tod Fiemer and SMC Athletics

Last night I watched the most amazing basketball game EVER.

Ok, it was also like only the third basketball game I've seen in my life but it was still the most amazing one EVER. no doubt. :)

SMC had the ball with 4.7 seconds left in the game and we were 60 - 62 against Santa Clara. Patty Mills came out of nowhere to score a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left on the clock. 

A-MAZING. Can I just say I have never heard that much cheering and screaming and general craziness in my life. It was exhilarating. Just to see SMC gain a victory like that, in the last few seconds, when everyone was hoping and praying he would make it. And he did. And it was fabulous.

Gaels 63-62 WIN over Santa Clara!

Patty Patty Patty! Go Patty Mills!

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!

Go SMC Mens Basketball Team!

<3

THIS is why I am a GAEL. 

I Tried to Find a Cure for the Pain...

I will now introduce you to the coolest organization ever. Ok, maybe not EVER but it sure is up there.

To Write Love on Her Arms

http://www.twloha.com/

They were inspired by a young woman named Renee. And now over 5 years later they are an organization dedicated to helping those who struggle with depression, self-injury and who feel alone. You can read more about them on their website as well as view merchandise they sell. You can also view a smaller selection of their merchandise at a Hot Topic store near you. Some of the proceeds from the sale of merchandise go to support suicide and other help hot-lines. 

And wearing a t-shirt isn't the only way you can make a difference. It's spreading the hope. Showing the love. You can make a difference. When was the last time you told someone you loved them? 

*****I challenge you to tell at least 5 people "I LOVE YOU" today and really, truly mean it.*****

 So many people in this world feel so alone. So take a chance, do something different today. Tell  at least 5 people how much they truly mean to  you. 

<3

p.s.

Ember White, I love you, you are the coolest roommate a girl could have and such a wonderful friend. Am I really lucky enough to know you? Thanks for sticking with me. Through everything.

Nina Mirabadi, I love you, you are my wonderful little freshman. I'm sad I don't get to see you as much now that I'm at college but I love you nonetheless. You will always be my little freshman. Always.

Michelley, Emily, Caitlin and Kathy, I love you all and though we are separated by distance, we are together as friends.

My college girlies, all million of you, I love you all and have had a blast getting to know you these past few months. I look forward to many more memories and late nights.

My guys, you know I love you and thanks for growing old and growing up with me [i know we're still working on the growing up idea :P ] I wouldn't trade my boys for the world. 

Get This Party Started....

Hey! So first and foremost I want to thank you for taking the time to check out this blog. Over the coming days, weeks and months I hope to blog about many different topics including, but not necessarily limited to; music, movies, makeup and the daily adventures of college life :) . After all, it doesn't get much better than roommates, late night conversations and coffee. So join me on this adventure, be in it for the ride!

<3