urgency to bleed

Alright, so, about that 2010 list of mine. I've only got about half the reviews written at this point and at the moment all of my creative energy is being harnessed by other things so I'm not sure when I will have the rest ready. I know I could just copy and paste my first reviews, since I've already posted about most of them before, but even though it is illogical to write the same things in different words all over again, I can't help it. So you'll have to wait for that awhile longer. But here is something to hold you over until then. I've also mentioned a lot of these albums before but some of them are here for the first time so it's not entirely a waste of a post. Also, I can't really call this entire list honorable mentions because, well, some of the albums I don't like much as a whole but they happen to have a couple really amazing songs. So it's just a list of... everything I felt I needed to mention that isn't in the top twenty for whatever reason.

( I'm begging with my fingers and it's starting to burn. )

Here are a few random songs/artists I am loving at the moment. No *NSYNC this time, I promise. ;)

( Click for music. )

And also, because I'm feeling generous and because no one is really getting anything out of me keeping them to myself, here are links to some random things I have uploaded in my MediaFire folder - a few albums, some songs. They are all good, I promise, so download whatever you'd like! Remember to change xx to tt for the links to work.

( Links. )

I've been kind of non-existent here lately, I know, at least compared to the rate that I used to post, but here's a little something to make up for that. I've been wanting to make a new mix lately but had absolutely no ideas for it. Between that and trying to think of something - anything! - to post about, this one was born. The seed was planted last night when my Zune decided to play me "Get Big" and "Warrior" back-to-back and I thought it sounded quite nice, so then I kept thinking about other songs that would work with those two. There is really no hugely obvious theme this time... I guess just that all of the songs are kind of dark and moody and sad, different aspects of depressing, I suppose. And basically I just think they all sound good together and they're mostly songs that I've been obsessed with lately. I think there are only two that I've posted previously, so that's a plus. And I just have to say, I'm the kind of person who feels like it's wasteful to not use the entire 80 minutes of a blank CD, so it was extremely hard for me not to try and fill up the last twenty or so that remain with this. But there are really no other songs I felt the need to add and I was afraid that any half-hearted inclusions would disrupt the entire thing, so I left it be. Also, there is really no reason for the two parts, just me being pretentious, I guess. (And yes, I realize that Orenda Fink is technically on the CD three times which I generally try not to do but whatever...)

( I'm landing now, forgetting how. Your gravity ruins everything. )

Download entire mix (87 MB)

Favorite Songs Currently:

• Lovedrug - American Swimming Lessons

I hated this the first time I listened to it, probably because the vocals really took awhile to grow on me, but I kind of love it now. It's very catchy but also very intense. This is from their last album, but they have a new one coming out that is apparently extremely polarizing but I kind of like it... a lot... though all the negativity makes me feel like I shouldn't. But it has some kickass songs. Now I'm going to go cry in a corner because they are touring with Lydia and I am probably not going.

• The Narrative - Castling

I have to thank msmoocow for introducing me to this band a few posts ago. They are extremely lovely. The male vocalist reminds me of Ben Gibbard the teensiest bit and overall, their songs are very reminiscent of Straylight Run, though maybe more on the mellow side. They have four songs on their myspace and I adore them all. And if you do, you should buy their EP which has two other songs, because I know I will be as soon as possible.

• Now It's Overhead - Reverse

Okay, okay, I posted this song already back when I was first getting into them, but I have a newfound obsession with it. It's so beautiful, especially on the chorus when the female voice kicks in ever so subtly. And the end synth-y instrumental break. And I just adore Andy LeMaster's voice no matter what he's singing, really. You should also go back a few posts and find "Night Vision" and "Dark Light Daybreak" because I'm still obsessed with those two as well.

• Ra Ra Riot - Ghost Under Rocks

I posted about this band right as I was getting into them; flash forward a week or two and I'm in complete love. Love the vocals, love the strings, love everything. This song is gorgeous. The chorus is quite epic in a non-flashy way. It's just beautiful; that's all I can say.

Who Killed Amanda Palmer:

Guess what? This album finally comes out next Tuesday and you can pre-order it right now from the official website. The uber-special uber-expensive package is probably about sold out by now, I'd say (and I, of course, have already got mine safely ordered). I'm not sure if they'll still be offering them un-autographed, but you can at least get the CD by itself (with an instant download of it + two bonus tracks) or with a t-shirt and what looks to be an amazing upcoming digital EP with unincluded songs and different takes of some that did make it. If you haven't heard this, just trust me, it's worth it to purchase, okay? Amanda is an amazingly talented person who deserves your money and it's an added bonus that the album is truly fantastic - her best work to date, I'd venture.

Acid Tongue:

Well, this is a surprising development, but the whole album has been put up for streaming on Jenny's myspace. I'm not sure how long it'll actually be there for, so if you're adverse to illegally downloading it or anything, I'd listen to it on there as soon as possible. As for my opinion, I'm not quite sure yet, but it is growing on me the more I listen to it. It's just a lot more... sparse and slow, I guess, then I was expecting it to be. And Jenny's doing some different things with her voice that will take some getting used to. But my favorites as of this moment are: "Black Sand", "Bad Man's World", "See Fernando", and "Jack Killed Mom".