In the form of hating everything, especially your wife

I hope we both die : )

So here it is. The time has finally come. It’s that magical time of year when boxes are placed under a tree that’s been perched precariously inside your living room. It’s the time when socks that have been pinned above your fireplace are filled with goodies and trinkets and such. It’s the time when miracles happen with the help of a jolly man in an overcoat. It’s the perfect time to hit up some ski resorts, if you live near any. It’s the time to drink deep from the cup of life, and sing hardily with good merriment…. or something of the sort. It’s the time when good cheer is spread far and near, as it should every year. Did I just triple rhyme? I think so. So with the spirit of Christmas in mind, I must ask… How was YOUR Christmas this year? Did you mail that wish list to the big man? If so, did fed-ex deliver all your packages from the pole on schedule? Does your gut ache from that good old Christmas meal? Did you make some memories this year? Did you make some resolutions for the next? If not, then you’d better get on it homes. You don’t have very much time left. You can do it. Hey, here’s a tune from Rosie Thomas to set the mood and get that Christmas spirit flowing

Rosie Thomas – Christmas Time Is Here.mp3″>

Merry Christmas

From the Bottom of my Heart

Zack Out

Whats not to love about Passion Pit? I certainly love it, being a fairly big fan of synth-pop.  Though thy probably aren’t knew to most of you (having released their first album over a year ago), I felt the need to post because I cannot get enough of Sleepyhead. The chimes and clapping make it very different and…dreamy, for  lack of a better word. What, you don’t dream about synthesizers?

(Tulip is a little rat my friend has, just so you know : D )

Myspace

Sleepyhead-Passion Pit

Sleepyhead (The Knocks Remix)

<3Marmalade

I am a voice unheard.

I will let you down.

I will ruin the moment.

My existence is built around creating empty space.

As my reward, this is what I receive.

Emptiness.

Some are filled with energy.

filled with harmony.

filled with personality.

filled with… purpose.

I will never be graced with purpose.

I just… exist.

Wait.

DO I just exist?

certainly there is purpose for a poor boy like me.

There has to be

But how can there be purpose for one who cannot be heard

How can there be purpose for one who hides?

Here’s a question:

What exactly is there to hide behind?

I must have to hide behind my friends.

My friends who sing.

My friends who shout loud enough to be heard.

No.

I do not hide behind them.

I stand beside them.

I am equal to them.

For a force cannot be without a counter force.

Without a balance.

Maybe that’s my purpose.

Maybe I might have one of the most important purposes of all.

For i cannot live without my freinds

so I’ll always be there for them when they cannot sound anymore.

This thought gives me new hope

hope enough to open my eyes

hope enough to open my mind

This new hope…

it makes me want to…

Sing.

My name is Zachariah Layne Thorp.

I am a rest.

A rest that sings.

Nice to meet you.

Have a wonderful break, everyone

Echoes of Time-The Smiles and Frowns

<3Marmalade

Hey Kids,

So The Other Day I was on my handy-dandy prehistoric FM radio, tuned on NPR, when I happened to catch the beginning of  an interview with a young sounding British lad. This lad was none other than Mr. Jack Peñate, a new face in British pop. With chill, danceable songs (not to mention disco beats and vocal harmonies to spare), Jack dug a hole in my mind. Although his personality seemed to have a chipper, professional, almost classic point of view (especially after he listed Dr. John as one of his influences for his songwriting), His songs sound off the spunk and energy fit for audiences both young and old. With his newest album “Everything is New” being number two that he’s produced (not to mention his teaming up with Bloc Party producer Paul Epworth), one can only imagine the potential of Jack Peñate. Here’s a few songs off of “Everything is New” to sample

Jack Penate – Tonight’s Today.mp3″>

Jack Penate – So Near.mp3″>

Zack Out.

So as some of you may or may not know, The Rocket Summer just finished producing their new album, “Of Men and Angels”. Recently, Brice decided to tease us and release the “You Gotta Believe” EP, which contains a few songs off of their newest CD. So, In anticipation of the new CD, which I’m getting stoked on, here’s the track “Hills and Valleys” off of the “You Gotta Believe” EP from The Rocket Summer.

The Rocket Summer – Hills and Valleys.mp3

Zack Out

I know I said I didn’t like cover songs, but this is different. I’m always happy to hear a cover song (that isn’t poorly done and keeps the original feeling) of my all time favorite band, The Cure.

They are something I’ve grown up with and have always loved. I’ve heard their songs played at funerals, parties and on the radio at random. It’s like they have a song for every situation and when I hear them, it’s somehow comforting.

The Cure (originally Malice/The Easy Cure) formed in 1976 by Robert Smith, Lawrence Tolhurst and Michael Dempsey (Smith being the only consistent member) and are still around today, each new song being as original and as gorgeous as the first.

The Cure are often identified with the gothic rock subgenre of alternative rock, and are viewed as one of the form’s definitive bands. However, the band has routinely rejected classification, particularly as a gothic rock band.  “It’s so pitiful when ‘goth’ is still tagged onto the name The Cure, We’re not categorisable. I suppose we were post-punk when we came out, but in total it’s impossible. I just play Cure music, whatever that is.” Smith has also expressed his distaste for gothic rock, describing it as “incredibly dull and monotonous. A dirge really.” (I must agree.)

My favorite album? Well it’s hard to say. It’s a toss up between Faith and Pornography. I guess I’m into their darker stuff (Pornography’s opening line being “It doesn’t matter if we all die”) It’s all good to me, I suppose.

The Cure -A Strange Day

Death Cab For Cutie-Lovesong

Bat For Lashes-A Forest

The Watson Twins-Just Like Heaven

One day I will post original songs

<3Marmalade

Hey Kids,

“Swim Until You Can’t See Land” has easilly made Frightened Rabbit one of my favorite bands yet. From the walking bass line and the swing feel, to the genius songwriting expected from Scott Hutchison. With lines like “So call me a baptist, call this a drowning of my past. She is sitting on the shoreline, throwing stones at my back,” the theme is simple. Swim until you can’t see land. Move away from everything you’ve ever known until you have no grasp on it whatsoever. It was all going to collapse anyway. Personally, however, I believe what makes this song memorable is not the song itself, but all the fine details. For example. listen in at about 0:35. Hear that little Chime? Genius. No one would think of adding that. and the moment it’s being put in is perfect. Right at the buildup. I also like the horn section that shows up just at the end of the song, somewhere around, 3:47. The strings thrown in various places add lots of depth as well.  Also, listen around 3:02. What better way to emphasize being stuck at sea than having a piano line that sounds like a bunch of freaking seagulls! UGH, GIVE IT TO ME! Anyway, the moral of the story is frightened Rabbit makes excellent music….. and they’re Scottish!

Frightened Rabbit-Swim Until You Can’t See Land

Zack Out

Though I am not very fond of cover songs, there are a few good ones floating around out there. There are also a lot of bad ones (like that awful 311 cover of Lovesong). Today I will share a few of my favorites (all links open in a new window)

Lotte Kestner-Leif Erikson(Interpol cover)

Bat For Lashes-A Forest (The Cure cover)

The Rocket Summer-Maps(Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover)

Even though, in my opinion, a cover song will never be as good as the original, these come close and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

<3 Marmalade