That Reena Girl

• Um, who is this again?

03-27-09

What are your favorite bands?

So I got asked this question today. I have been asked it many times. But I have realized I have not mentioned it here! What is wrong with me! Of all places right?

I divided it up into several lists. Some are subject to change, some are not. Anyway, here they are.

F A V O R I T E S !

Top 5 Life Changers in Chronological Order:

1. Madonna’s Immaculate Collection
2. Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
3. Blink 182- Dude Ranch
4. Saves the Day- Can’t Slow Down
5. Thursday- Full Collapse

Top 10 of All Time

1. Jimmy Eat World- Clarity
2. Brand New- The Devil and God are Ragining Inside Me
3. Postal Service- Give Up
4. Rilo Kiley- The Execution of All Things
5. Juliana Theory- Emotion is Dead
6. Smashing Pumpkins- Siamese Dream
7. Saves the Day- Through Being Cool
8. The Get Up Kids- Something to Write Home About
9. Cursive- the Ugly Organ
10. Armor for Sleep- What to do When You are Dead

Top 5 Bands Right Now…like, Right This Second!

1. Metric
2. Stars
3. Ra Ra Riot
4. Company of Thieves
5. Lydia

Top 5 Work Albums at the Moment

1. Bloc Party- Intimacy
2. Innerpartysystem- s/t
3. Alexisonfire- Crisis
4. Arcade Fire- Funeral
5. Say Anything- In Defense of the Genre

03-23-09

VH1 bring back Behind the Music…Wooo!

Thanks to Internet Popular, my day just got better.

http://internetpopular.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/vh1-brings-back-behind-the-music-who-is-first/

First up? Lil’ Wayne.

I’m hoping they do one on Amy Winehouse. It really doesn’t get much better than that!

So who’s story would you like to see?

03-23-09

Did you see my stomach stop moving? Did you feel the last breath on your neck?

So today, I saw that the wonderful Brandon “Muckaluck” added “Shirtsleeves” by The Receiving End of Sirens to his profile (I think it was him anyway). I decided I should listen to that song too since its been years. I am so glad I did.

This led me to listen to “Vertigo Unconsciousness” and “Bell Book and Candle” as well and I began to think about freshman year of college and the evolution of TREOS which considered with my pursuit of my Music Business degree.

The songs mentioned above are from “The Ben Era”. Many people got into TREOS after that, when Casey had joined the band, they had signed to Triple Crown Records and released Between the Heart and the Synapse. But for the die hards, for the hardcore fans, you remember the days when Ben Portrycus fronted the band.

This was before Casey, before Alex Bars’ long flowing hair, and way before Brian Southall (ex Boys Night Out) joined the band.

Ben left his band The Drive (he was replaced by Martin Johnson actually, who is now the frontman for Boys Like Girls) for TREOS in late 2002 or early 2003. However, due to Ben not wanting to commit to a long term record contract and wanting to continue school at Emerson College, he left the band in November of 2003. The band’s disappointment can be heard on the song “Dead Man Tell No Tales” which is allegedly about Ben’s departure.

I was thinking about it today, what a different band they would have been had he stayed. They were Boston’s Refused. They were ahead of their time. Because of that, I believe their last album The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi will be appreciated more later on. I found Ben’s last show Youtube and songs like “En Synergy Sin Energy” and “The Disease Self Medicates” were so different from what anyone was doing at the time.

Unfortunately for those coming late to the party, those songs were never recorded officially or released. You can look up Ben’s last show if you want to hear them, but like most like shows on Youtube, the audio quality isn’t the best. Ben is an amazing song writer, its kind of a shame they never even demoed those songs.

I have their first two demos at home, if you’d like to hear them. The include “Vertigo” and “Bell Book and Candle” mentioned above, along with “Shirtsleeves” and two versions of “The Race”.E-mail me at thatreenagirl@gmail.com and I’d be happy to send them to you.

When they broke up a while back, I felt like a chapter in my life had closed. I wasn’t best friends with them or anything, but it really hit home that college was over. Officially. They are one of the few bands who I was not just friends with, but a true fan of. I respect then as people and musicians.

I will add some of my favorite TREOS photos from back in the day when I get on my home computer.

03-18-09

Please vote for my dog!

If you are my friend outside of the internet, you know that my dog Olive is the love of my life.

So there is this new site http://www.cuteashell.com and they have a face off called “Thunderdome” where I could win prizes. It would be really nice seeing as how Olive has cost me quite a bit! Its about time she starts earning her keep!

Please vote for her. Just click the + next to her name.

Link! http://tinyurl.com/djopgp (Obviously, I Tweeted about it).

I’d really appreciate it!

03-17-09

St. Patrick’s Day Battle

Everyone claims to be “a little bit” Irish today. I actually am (1/4 Irish to be exact). But when I think of St Patty’s, I think of one band: The Dropkick Murphys. Even if you don’t like Irish inspired punk rock, if you are from Boston, you love the Dropkick Murphys. You at least like the song ” I’m Shipping Up To Boston”. I mean seriously, it was even used in the movie “The Departed”.

But this year, like last year, I am in San Diego. If there is one day where I miss my home, its today. I mean, they are cranking the beats outside right now in preparation for tonight’s celebration. Before that, it was reggae.  I don’t really know why San Diego does a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, but they do. And I happen to work in the area downtown that is blocked off for the event.

I was posting via Twitter all morning about the Dropkicks, when I was met with this “You’re in SoCal now. New tradition = Flogging Molly”. While Flogging Molly is on par with The Dropkick Murphys normally, The Murphys are far superior today. I mean, 8 SOLD OUT SHOWS this week? I don’t think Flogging Molly could do that. I know I am biased, since they are the epitome of Boston pride, but really I feel like if I had to pick even outside of St Patrick’s Day, my choice would stay the same. I’m sure there are plenty of Sullys, Shawns, and Fitzys who would agree.

And for the record, my decision is a well informed one. I have seen both bands live.

I was told by my bi-coastal best friend/roommate she prefers Flogging Molly because 1) She has fond memory of seeing them on Halloween with Andrew WK and 2) they are better to dance to. Well B, lets put on “Tessie” when we get out of work and compare!

So tell me, when you’re drinking your Guiness today, which would you prefer: The Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly?

03-16-09

If the fire’s out baby, how you gonna keep me warm?

I will start this off with saying I really need to update this more.

Lately, I’ve been on a Metric/Stars kick. I have heard of both bands a long time ago, but for who knows what reason, never listened to them or got into them. Well, that has all changed.

I really dig Metric’s new record Fantasies. Its fun, easy to listen to, upbeat. I love female vox with synth anyway (I still miss The Anniversary), but Emily Haines has that indie rock voice. You could take her out of Metric and put her in Rilo Kiley for example and she’d still fit. I like that the effects are left off her voice for the most part so she doesn’t sound like a robot or an electronica reject. You know what I mean? Leave that to DJ Sammy.

I’d have to say my top 3 songs on the ablum are: 1) Collect Calls, 2) Twilight Galaxy, and 3) Gold Guns Girls.

As for Stars, why haven’t I been listening to them all along? So good. I read on Mark Hoppus’ Twitter that he has recently discovered them as well so at least I’m not the only one. I have been listening Set Yourself On Fire (which I realized I had heard before so I wasn’t totally living under a rock), Heart, and In Our Bedroom After the War. The dual male and female vocals is perfectly balanced and the band has range. Some songs are sad, some are fun. I like a band that doesn’t stick to the same tone and tempo. Its the equivilent of someone who claims they are happy all the time, its obviously not true. And where music is for most part an emotional outlet, it tone, tempo, and subject matter should vary. If not on one album, across mulitple.I feel like “synthy” bands get stuck because when you think of electronic pop, you think dance music, you think upbeat. I’m glad they went the more indie pop route.

I was fortunate enough to have the friend who gave me these albums make me an “Essential Stars Playlist” with tracks off the albums I mentioned above. I think I like In Our Bedroom the best so far, “Personal” is an amazing track. But then again, so is “One More Night” off of Set Yourself On Fire.

I have a ton to write about so stay tuned. Coming Soon: St. Patrick’s Day, Cursive’s new record, Best Break Up Songs, and The Evolution of the Female Lead Singer…

03-05-09

Current Musical Stylings

So, upon reading my last post, I realize I tend to write about past things more than current things. I’m sure those of you who might actaully read this might want some NEW music to listen to (or at least some new recommendations for bands you might not have heard of).

So here are my Top 5 Albums I Have Been Listening To At Work:

1) Innerpartsystem- s/t. Favorite song: “Last Night in Brooklyn”

2) Statistics- Often Lie. Favorite song “Final Broadcast”

3) Ra Ra Riot- The Rhumb Line. Favorite songs: “Can You Tell” and “Ghost Under Rocks”

4) Matt & Kim- s/t. Favorite Song: “Lightspeed”

5) Bloc Party- Intimacy. Favorite songs: “Signs”, “Ion Square” and “Better Than Heaven”

Now go listen!

03-05-09

Here I stand, waiting to be moved

I, like most people, have a lengthy “Favorite Songs” list. However, most of those songs are not on my work computer, where I usually blog from (shh, don’t tell. It has more to do with the fact that I have a Macbook Pro at work and I’m more motivated when I’m here).

But one of them that IS on this iTunes is “For Once In Your Life” by The Jealous Sound. It was put on a mix for me back in I believe 2004 and has been a favorite ever since. It is often found on mixes I have made in the last 5 years…make that almost every mix I’ve made in the last 5 years.

It is such a perfect song. I mean, the whole album Kill Them With Kindness is amazing, but this is really a standout track. It literally moves me. It can bring my mood up, it can motivate me. And no matter what my emotional state is, it always seems to apply. Now, I’m pretty sure this song is about doing and coming off drugs. When I say I relate, I don’t mean completely literally, seeing as how I am straightedge. But there are some really key lines and feelings everyone can relate to. Waiting for someone great to happen, waiting to feel something, feeling jaded, feeling like nothing is real.

This song just hits me. Its very well written, full sounding, and well structured. If you haven’t heard it, or The Jealous Sound, I recommend you check them out.

Now, at the risk of being very Livejournal, here are the lyrics.

“For Once In Your Life”

The decks just build and break
Everybody takes
Here I stand waiting to be moved

Just a problem solved
Slowly it dissolves
The crowd that I’m passing through

It feels so good to feel
There’s nothing here that’s real

For once in your life
Are you part of this machine
Are you living in this dream
Are you at where I’m at

Everyone is fixed
And callings to the sky
From 2am to 6
A candy-coated high

In the dawn it was clear
You were lost in the night
In the calm that was here
As you’re washed in the light

And glad it feels so good to feel
There is nothing here that’s real

For once in your life
Do you honestly believe
You could ever leave
Any time that you want

Did you find something deeper
Something profound
It’s hard to make sense
Kids sprawled on the ground

Is your new god in front of you
This electrical storm
Is your new god in front of you
Are you dead or reborn

Did you find something deeper
Something profound
The sun’s coming up
As we’re coming down

In the dawn it was clear
You were lost in the night
In the calm that was here
As you’re washed in the light

Feels so good to feel
There’s nothing here that’s real
For once in your life

03-04-09

If I wrote a book…

The other day I twittered about wanting to be the cute girl version of Chuck Klosterman. I’m thinking about that again. I want to write books and travel the country writing about dead musicians and pop culture. But what would my book be called?

If it were a music industry book, I think I’d call it “No, Not Tiny Dancer”. If it were a pop culture book, I think I’d call it “Instant Points for Trivia Night at the Bar”.

Hmmm….maybe this is something I should try doing?

03-02-09

Portugal The Man

Last night, I went to see Portugal the Man last minute at the Casbah. For those of you not in San Diego, The Casbah is pretty legendary. It is a great place to see live music. Great bands play there, shows aren’t expensive and usually run into the early morning hour. Not to mention, the outside jungle themed patio is nice.

Anyway, the show was awesome, but I have some issues with Portugal the Man.

I got the album a while back and listened to it a few times. Its good, but I wasn’t blown away. I’ve been a fan since the Anatomy of a Ghost days too. And I have seen them live before with The Receiving End of Sirens and Circa Survive. I liked them a lot when I saw them. A whole lot. And last night I thought they were awesome and I was really into it. But when I put their last record Censored Colors on, I wasn’t all that excited.

Live they are loud, they are full sounding and well orchestrated and the vocal harmonies carry and are haunting at times. Recorded, its not the same vibe. It seems less dark, less intense. Maybe they add more distortion live. But what I’m thinking is that they sound too clean recorded. I want to hear the grit in a rock band like that. I know some of their songs are very sing-song, which poppy piano lines like “Lay Me Back Down”, but it is different live. There is also more groove. I’m not big into bass and groove, but I think there needs to be a certain degree of it in music like this in order for it to have a full sound.

Listening to it again, I think part of it might also be the vocals. Live, the back up vocals are much louder. Its more like 3 or 4 lead singers, instead of one with 2 or 3 back up singers. What can I say, I like gang vocals. Gang vocal harmonies are rare, but can be extremely powerful when done right and Portugal the Man can do it. I think part of it is, maybe recorded, they don’t use back up singers, but overdubbed vocal harmonies from singer John Baldwin Gourley. I’d believe it, he has the range. Live they not only have the rest of the band singing, but a female back up singer (name I cannot seem to find). I think it adds just a little extra to everything.

I know some people feel this way about Thrice as well. Hearing songs like “Firebreather” and “Silhouette” live are so much better than just on CD. But I feel like they do a better job of capturing a big sound on a CD. And yes, I know, two TOTALLY different bands, but for this comparison its works since they are both very good live bands with big sounds and lots of instrumentation (particularly on Thrice’s latest EPs).

Thoughts on this?