Artist Vs. Poet VS. Nicki Minaj

Hey!  Here are some guys I haven't seen or heard from in awhile!  Earlier today pop rock band, Artist Vs. Poet, released a cover video for Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" with the help of many fans.  AVP requested fans to submit videos of them singing/dancing/acting crazy to create a montage video.  I think it's cute when artists and bands get their fans involved in something like this.

As for the cover itself...I'm not a big fan of Nicki Minaj or this overplayed song on the radio (but what on radio isn't?), and this cover essentially did nothing for me.  I usually like AVP's covers ("Bad Romance" is my fave!), but I wasn't feeling this one.

For anyone interested be on the lookout for their single, "Doin' Alright," coming out in October and an EP later on!

#UNBROKEN

So it's been a week since the release of her fourth album, "Unbroken," and I still haven't got a physical copy of it.  BUT...my sister called dibs to buy it anyway, so I let her do that.  I listened to the album on Spotify, and I have to say that I wasn't as thrilled as I thought I was gonna be.  No doubt that her voice is still marvelous, but the sound of her music now is so RADIO sounding.  Not that I have anything against radio songs...it's just different, but it's safe to say that "Fix a Heart" is still my favorite song on the album along with "Lightweight" too I might add.  She's definitely gearing towards a poppy sound, and at one point I thought I was listening to an intro for a Breathe Carolina song - now that was weird.  Needless to say I am delighted to have her back making music after a long struggle, and I have no doubts she will continue to inspire.

For a more detailed and thorough review go to Album Confessions!

What's up in the Neighborhoods?

Blink-182's anticipated album, "Neighborhoods," released yesterday, Tuesday September 27th!  I don't know when I'll be purchasing this album, but I'm excited to hear what they've whipped up after a long time.  One of their songs, "Up All Night" (below), leaked during the summer and served as a pretty good teaser for fans...

I can't say that I'm crazy for the song, but I also can't say that I completely hate it either.  We'll see what happens whenever I get the album!

They're currently on the Honda Civic Tour with My Chemical Romance, but I believe they've already passed through Texas.  My baaaaad.

This is good music, Cross My Heart

Recently, Bands The Need Love Too promoted a Canadian-based band called Marianas Trench.  I had heard of them before but never took the time to listen to them, so I finally did.  On their Facebook page before you press the "like" button, they have one song that's available to listen to: "Cross My Heart."  It's the typical pop rock sound, but I'm not complaining - like I said, I'm a sucker for pop rock!  But I was told explicitly to listen to "Masterpiece Theatre III" ...


The song sounds different from "Cross My Heart."  It has an eerie vibe but in a good way.  I like the combination of using classical instruments, rock instruments, and an electronic beat; it makes the song intriguing.  The song changes tempo and sound a few times from slow to upbeat and slow again, and it kind of reminds me of the way "Bohemian Rhapsody" is structured, which is pretty cool!  All the different sections are amazing, and each of them are really good to listen to.  Sometimes when bands have slow tempo songs, I tend to get bored, but that is not the case with this song.  I embrace the mellow sections.  I think the vocal work is my favorite part of the entire song.  The singing and harmonies are awesome, and at some points, the singer's voice reminds me of the singer from Honor Society.  If it isn't obvious, this song is a masterpiece.

Marianas Trench will be performing in Austin Saturday November 6th at the newly opened Emo's East with Simple Plan, Forever the Sickest Kids, and The Cab.  It sounds like an awesome line-up, but unfortunately I won't be attending because I have to watch my expenditures.  There are so many good shows coming up this semester that I'm actually watching what I'm spending. It's kind of sad.  If I could, I would love to go see them live, meaning I'd be seeing three shows three nights in a row.

[[EDIT]]
So my friend just told me that "Masterpiece Theatre III" is a compilation of all their songs together.  It seems so seamless.  I have to say - that's pretty amazing.  That just makes the song even more of a masterpiece.

Punk Goes Pop for the fourth time around

Read on Alternative Press that PUNK GOES POP VOL. 4 is going to be released on November 22nd!  Normally with any "Punk Goes ... " album, I get excited for it, but I looked at the song list...

Allstar Weekend - Yeah 3x (Chris Brown)

A Skylit Drive - Love the Way You Lie (Eminem feat. Rihanna)

Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - We R Who We R (Ke$ha)

For All Those Sleeping - You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift)

Go Radio - Rolling in the Deep (Adele)

I See Stars - Til the World Ends (Britney Spears)

Pierce the Veil - Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars)

Silverstein - Runaway (Kanye West)

Sleeping with Sirens - Fuck You (Cee Lo Green)

The Downtown Fiction - Super Bass (Nicki Manaj)

The Ready Set - Roll Up (Wiz Khalifa)

Tonight Alive - Little Lion Man (Mumford and Sons)

Woe, Is Me - Last Friday Night (Katy Perry)

...and I am EXTRA excited.  There are quite a few good bands on this list that I'm interested in hearing, especially with the song choices.  Personal pick-out - I See Stars's rendition of Britney Spears' "Til the World Ends."  I can't help but make the connection to I See Stars's latest album name "The End of the World Party."

Panic! at the Mercenary

Panic! at the Disco released a new song that will be featuring in the upcoming soundtrack Batman: Arkham City.  The song?  "Mercenary" (below)


I like this song.  It sounds like a mix between a Panic! sound and a Batman sound (especially with the dialogue in the music interlude).  The intro guitar melody was nice in an eerie kind of way, and I really like the "Hey Mister!" because it hooks you into the chorus.  I like that the song is energetic yet it has some semi-mellow sections with the strings; I'm not bored at all listening to this song.


Panic! comes to Austin in about a month, and I am excited to see them!  For anyone interested...they'll be playing at La Zona Rosa October 19th, and recently it was announced that Patrick Stump will be joining the tour!  It's going to be a great show!

The Secret Handshake was Amazing

Earlier I read on Alternative Press News that The Secret Handshake has come to an end, and the leading man, Luis Dubuc, is investing himself in a new project called Mystery Skulls and is also a part of a metal band, Of Legends.  The first song released by Myster Skulls is "Amazing" (below).

I'd just like to point out that I enjoy seeing the cartoons playing in the background, but aside from that I've noticed Dubuc's recent interest in oldies music.  The Secret Handshake's last album, "Night and Day," sounded like a blast from the 80s, and I enjoyed it.  I'm also feeling this new sound he's working with.  I remember I saw The Secret Handshake for the first time in San Antonio last fall playing music from his new album, and it was a good show!  Now I can't wait to see what else Mystery Skull has in store for the future!