Album Review: Black Lines by Mayday Parade

 
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Mayday Parade and I have a very interesting relationship. While I am a huge fan of their beautiful lyrics and somewhat acoustic melodies, I still am reminded of my middle school punk rock band phase that continued through high school. I may have deleted My Chemical Romance, however, Mayday is here to stay.
Mayday Parade recently came out with a new release, Black Lines which was released Oct. 9, 2015. I recently obtained the album last week, and after spending some time with it, I can say it's a typical Mayday Parade release.
The album starts out with single "One of Them Will Destroy the Other" (featuring Dan Lambton.) The song sounds like many of Mayday Parade's other songs, such as "Kids in Love" with electric guitar melodies and strong lryical content. The single is the lead single of Black Lines, and like many other of Mayday Parade's songs, focuses on failed relationships.
The album has a mixture of acoustic songs, and fast paced rock tracks. Songs like "Hollow" are lyrically brilliant, while other songs such as "Just Out of Reach" are empowering.
Overall, the album is amazing. The band, in my opinion, is talented. They are amazing song writers, and I wish they were more mainstream because of that. However, in this release, you can tell they have come a long way since their "Miserable at Best" days. If you like alternative rock, then you should definitely check out Black Lines by Mayday Parade.
Songs to Listen to: Hollow, One of them Will Destroy the Other, Letting Go, Look Up and See Infinity, Look Down and See Nothing

Music Monday-Summertime Playlist

Ah, yes it's summertime. Or close to it. In the summer, there's nothing better than listening to a super awesome song while you're driving, or just chilling on the beach. Every year, there's a song that we're obsessed with. Last year, it was blurred lines. This year, who knows? All I know is that every summer needs to have a soundtrack. Here's some of my favorite summertime hits.

1. Ride by Lana Del Rey
2. Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
3. Kids In Love by Mayday Parade
4. West Coast by Lana Del Rey 
5. Drunk on You by Luke Bryan 
6. Made in the USA by Demi Lovato
7. Summer Nights by Rascal Flatts
8. The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls
9. Some Nights by fun. 
10. Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey
11. Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard 
12. Thunder by Boys Like Girls
13. We Can't Stop by Miley Cryus 
14. Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey 
15. Problem (Featuring Iggy Azelia) by Ariana Grande

What are your 'soundtracks' to your summer? Comment below!

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Music Monday; Mayday Parade

It's been a while since I've done a Music Monday about an artist or a band. I've been having trouble finding artists to make my Music Monday, because although I want to share some artists, I want to make sure I get the full discography of them, before I share them with you all. Finally, I've gotten the majority of an artist, and I'm really excited to introduce you to this band if you already haven't heard of them. So, ladies and gentlemen I would like to introduce you Mayday Parade. (Check out their website here)

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I've been into this band since about middle school, however for a while I lost touch with liking them as I grew into more classic rock. However, with their latest album Monsters in the Closet, I began to get slowly back into them.
Mayday Parade has been together since 2006 and has formed in Tallahassee Florida. It's members include Brooks Betts, Alex Garcia, Jake Bundrick, Derek Sanders, and Jeremy Lenzo. To date, the band has three EPs, and four studio albums. Their sound is alternative rock, indie, and acoustic. Their albums include A Lesson in Romantics, Anywhere But Here, Mayday Parade, and Monsters in the Closet. Their sound is more guitar based, but the reason why I like the band is because of the awesome lyrics in addition to their sound. I like that the band has lyrics that truly touch people, and you can actually hear the emotion that is behind their songs.
I'm so glad that I've gotton into Mayday Parade again, and I look foreword to hearing more from them in the future. This band has a lot going for it, and I can't wait to hear what's next for them.
My favorites;

• Kids in Love (Anywhere But Here) 
• Anywhere But Here (Anywhere But Here) 
• The Silence (Anywhere But Here)
• Still Breathing (Anywhere But Here)
• Center of Attention (Anywhere But Here)
• Miserable at Best (A Lesson in Romantics)
• The Anchor That Keeps My Feet On the Ground, I'll Be The Wings That Lift You to the Clouds (A Lesson in Romantics)
• Take This To Heart (A Lesson in Romantics)
• Stay (Mayday Parade)
• Terrible Things (Mayday Parade)
• Ghosts (Monsters in the Closet)
• Girls (Monsters in the Closet)
• Last Night for a Table Of Two (Monsters in the Closet)
• Hold Onto Me (Monsters in the Closet) 
• Angels (Monsters in the Closet)
• When I Get Home You're So Dead (When I Get Home You're So Dead-Single)

"I'm Still Breathing".

Lately I've been thinking about a lot of things that went on in my past. Yes, I heard don't dwell on the past, focus on the future, and all of that. However, I can't help but wonder if our past affects who we are now? Kind of like that ghost that we bury deep in that closet. Is it always going to be there? How does it affect us? If it didn't happen, would we be the same people?

I could say that things that happened in my past do seep into my actions in the future. Rejection, for example, can affect your ability to want to reach out. Why try something that could perhaps we lose? Therefore, we become wallflowers who don't reach out into the world because we are simply too scared. Sometimes I wonder what brings that fear on, and how we can overcome it. Once we encounter people that punch internal holes in us. When that happens, it changes us. It makes us question every move, and put words in other people's mouth that probably weren't even in there.

When I was a psychology student, I learned about fears and in therapy, we can overcome it. Sometimes, we awfulize things when in reality we don't know what's going to happen. There's a 50-50 change of being rejected when you ask someone out, if you ask me. The chances go up higher if you know they like you, and the chances go lower if you're the member of the chess team asking the head cheerleader out. Sometimes, the solution is to flood them, and to make them experience their fear head on. In other times, we must face fear in a gradual sense. There's a famous saying that the only thing to fear about fear is fear itself. And what do we fear? Falling, and feeling hurt. 

However, there's something about slowly but surely facing the things that once hurt is. The hurt that we overcame just makes stronger people. Kelly Clarkson sings "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger", and she was right. 

Something that I think I have a habit of is running away and avoiding the whole thing altogether. I want things, but I don't want them if it comes as a too high gamble. I wonder if that's a part of me that will always be there, or will I ever overcome it. Even though I slowly am, I can see bits and pieces from my past morphing into my present. I question things, I wonder if he means the words that he said. I wonder if I'm texting him too much, because of someone else who came before did. I don't understand why those little things that meant nothing back then can affect who I am now. 

We're still here, despite sometimes we feel like we went through hell and back. We all have war wounds, and we all have made mistakes. We just have to remember we deserve the happiness that we get coming to us, because in a sense, we fought for it. 

*The song used in the title is "Still Breathing" by Mayday Parade

Music Monday-2013

2013 was a wonderful and crazy year for the music world. It was the year of the twerking, of the Miley, and of the Blurred lines. However, I must honestly say that my iTunes library swelled this year. Here's a few of my favorites from the year.

• Mayday Parade's Monsters in the Closet. Okay so I just got the album a few days. Sue me, I'm a bad fan. But it's really good, and I am really enjoying it. My favorites include "Ghosts", "The Last Night for a Table of Two", "Hold Onto Me", and "Angel."
• "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey. This is in case you all were living under a rock, was the love theme from the Great Gatsby. I love this song because it's simple, yet elegant. It has this haunted aspect to it, which for some odd reason I enjoy. It just adds onto the notion of simply wanting someone to love you unconditionally, even when you're no longer beautiful. 
• Cannonball by Lea Michele; Okay so we all know that Lea has been through a hell of a year. This song is perfect for her. It's honestly great, and I can't wait for Louder to be released this upcoming March.
• Lady GaGa's Artpop. Lady GaGa is simply amazing. I've been a huge fan of her since The Fame. Just Dance was my jam my freshman year in high school. Her latest album is awesome. It's so empowering, plus they have a beat that is simply amazing. Some of my favorites include "Applause", "Aura", and "Venus". If you are a Lady GaGa fan than you should definately be listening to this. Like stop reading this blog, and go listen to it. It's that good. 
• Loved Me Back To Life by Celine Dion. Okay, I am a huge fan of Celine. I have pretty much all of her CDs. This is her first album in 6 years. Loved Me Back to Life is full of heartfilled, pop music. I love Celine, and this album surely doesn't disappoint. Give "Loved Me Back To Life", "Somebody Loves Somebody," "Water and A Flame", and "Unfinished Songs" a listen. They won't disappoint. 
• Brave by Sarah Barielles. This song honestly reminds me of summer days jamming with Gabriel. 
• Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. Okay, I like this song and I am not ashamed to admit it. Have a problem? Oh well. I really enjoy working out to it. Plus, it gets stuck in my head a lot. That can be annoying. 
• Demi by Demi Lovato. Team Demi for life. Her new album, which came out in May is simply amazing. Each and every song was awesome. Demi is such a talented artist, and 2013 was an awesome year for her. My favorites include "Heart Attack", "Fire Starter", "Neon Lights," and "Made In The Usa."
• Crash My Party by Luke Bryan. I love Luke Bryan. I jam to it while I am work. This album didn't disappoint. "That's My Kind of Night", and "Crash My Party"were my jams.
• Royals by Lorde. Okay, so this is pretty much been killed by the radio. But come on, it's so good!
• Nashville. I simply love the show, and all of the singles. I've gained so much respect for artists, based on this show. I am such a huge fan, and each and every one of the singles that were released this year were amazing Catch up, because the new season begins 1/15/2013. I can't wait. 

So those were my jams this year. What's on your playlist this year? Comment, email, or tweet me!