I never thought I would be that guy. The one who writes a fan letter to a celebrity or band. But here I sit on the train back from Macchu Picchu hammering this out on my phone. Lincoln Park hasn’t released a new album in about 7 years, a lot has happened in my life since then, when they last left me I was an angry young man of 23 just coming off of an intense breakup. Their album Meteroa was out and it mirrored my intense emotions dealing with the end to a 7 year relationship that had dominated my life for the majority of high school and college. I remember driving around by myself in my 91 Mazda Navajo playing the songs as loud as the speakers would handle screaming the lyrics and pounding the steering wheel in frustration about my life. I would learn that the anger would subside eventually and I would get on with my life. Even back then I thought about writing them to thank them for what they had done for me… But I didn’t
So now here I am 29 years old on a train in Peru sipping wine with my new wife listening to ‘A Thousand Suns’ while she reads the princess bride. How far I have come. The track ‘Robot Boy’ comes along just as the snowcapped peaks of the Andes appear in the distance. 7 years ago I never thought I could meet someone like Laurel, someone who would change my life in so many ways. I wish I could have heard this song when I was at my lowest point, but hearing it now just reminds me of the journey that has brought me here.

You say the weight of the world
Has kept you from letting go
And you think compassion’s a flaw
But you’ll never let it show
And your sure you’ve hurt in a way
That no one will ever know
But someday the weight of the world
Will give you strength to go

Hold on the weight of the world
Will give you the strength to go

I guess they have matured in the past 7 years along with me, being globe trotting rock stars will do the to you I guess.
The next song waiting for the end speaks to me a out letting go of all if the anger in my past and sharing everything with my partner I life.
Laurel, I love you.

And to the guys in Linkin Park, Thanks.

Who knew Jack Johnson was this popular? Certainly not this guy. I was kind of expecting a kind of “half full Wolftrap” like crowd. But this was a SOLD OUT crowd, it was just an astonishing amount of people.

I guess that’s because Jack is some kind of non offensive surf-rock/environmental guru type that does music for kids movies featuring cartoon monkeys. There’s no way that anyone could ever be intimidated by this guy. So women like him and guys aren’t threatened by that.  This could be number one on Stuff white people like.  If there were a ‘Stuff hot chicks and douchebags like’ it would be number one with a bullet.  This must be the music they play at Hollester or Abercrombie, because they all seemed to be there.  I’ve also learned he’s big in the “we’re in our thirties and have kids but are still trying to be cool” crowd.

It’s not like I didn’t have a good time. It’s just that this wasn’t the kind of concert crowd I’m used to. I guess it’s because I’ve only been to Hippie Jam festivals or Rock Festivals in High School.

I was talking to a friend about the existence of this album and the first thing he said was ‘I’ve always wanted to like Damian Marley but he’s not hard enough for me.’ which I thought was strange because I’ve always wanted to like Nas but I thought he wasn’t ‘Musical’ enough. I like his lyrics, but sometimes his beats are kind of basic and his choruses are lacking. But he’s from the streets, YO. So this is the album for both of us.

It starts out with a bang. ‘As we enter’ is the classic hip-hop “who we are” song, with an interesting beat and lyrics. Lots of back and forth between the two. Marley really ups his lyric game on this track. Starts the album with a bang, really gets you going. I love this song.

[Damian Marley]
Masuri Sana
Switch up the language and move to Ghana

[Nas]
Salute and honor, real revolution rhymers

[Damian Marley]
Rhythm piranhas

[Nas]
Like true Obamas, unfold the drama

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but this is my favorite song on the album. The album as a whole follows a track where it starts out loud and fast and then each song gets more mellow. There are a few really good songs ‘Strong Will Continue’ , ‘Land of Promise’ , and ‘Friends’. But with the statement it makes when it first starts I wish that it could have maintained that energy level through the whole thing. But I guess that is the melding of these two styles. It’s still a great album, put it on and chill out for 45 minutes.

4 out of 5 Schus

Cage The Elephant.

I just became aware of this band a few months ago. I had heard the single “Back Against the Wall” on DC101 a few times and I’d always missed who it was by. Finally I was able to pull out the old Shazam app and figure out who it was. I got the album… It is awesome.

It’s full of driving bass lines and strong drums. Mixed with whining guitars and a distinctive vocal style. It’s a throwback sound to , and I can’t believe I’m saying this… The 90s. It remind me of STP mixed with The Strokes. The singles are a mix of almost nonsensical artsy lyrics with shoutable choruses over energetic guitar driven rock music.

In this age of Itunes singles if an CD has more than 3 listenable songs then it’s considered good. This one has at least 4, which takes it into classic territory.

I love it!

Best song – Three way tie!

4.8 out of 5 Schus

As a hyperactive child and often unfocused adult I am still working on my ability to express myself with words, but feelings are something that I’m intimately familiar with. There are just a handful of songs that when I listen to them I get that excited feeling that I just want to make things happen. What stuff? Just about anything! If I’m about to drop into a hard snowboard run it will get my feet moving in just the right way so I don’t end up in pieces on the bottom of the hill. If I’m thinking of an Art project it will get the creative juices flowing. Or if I have nothing in particular to do then it will just get me bouncing around like an idiot. They’re dangerous really, they should be controlled substances. I’m am not a good dancer either but there are some magical moments when a good beat and a couple of catchy lyrics will move my feet.

The list and audio after the break

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The band Them Crooked Vultures may have rocked my eardrums this year, but I don’t think I’m ready to drop $80 on a 3 poster set. That said, these posters rock. Who can’t love vultures dressed in fur lined Victorian trench coats???  These sir, are fancy birds. The monocle clad JPJ top hat vulture is my favorite. Maybe if I didn’t have to pay $20 to get them shipped from Australia…or someone could just buy them for me…

Here’s to hoping!

via OMG Posters