Tomorrow Never Dies

I am finally going to talk about the much anticipated album entitled 5 Seconds of Summer.

I bought 5 Seconds of Summer's debut album at Target so it came with four exclusive tracks and had a special cover.

The colors available for the Target version are blue, yellow, red, and white

The track listing is as follows:

1. She Looks So Perfect
2. Don't Stop
3. Good Girls
4. Kiss Me Kiss Me
5. 18
6. Everything I Didn't Say
7. Beside You
8. End Up Here
9. Long Way Home
10. Heartbreak Girl
11. Mrs All American
12. Amnesia
13. Tomorrow Never Dies *
14. Independence Day *
15. Close As Strangers *
16. Out of My Limit *
17. Social Casualty **
18. Never Be **
19. Voodoo Doll **
20. Greenlight ***

* Target Exclusive

** Deluxe Edition (available both in stores and online)

*** iTunes Deluxe Edition Bonus Track

It appears that the lads have been busy in the studio with twenty tracks!  If you purchase the album in the UK, "English Love Affair" replaces "Mrs All American," and if you purchase the album in Australia, "Lost Boy" replaces "Mrs All American."

If you purchase the deluxe album in Australia, the extra songs are "English Love Affair," "Social Casualty," "Never Be," and "Voodoo Doll."

If you live in Japan and purchase this album, the Japanese edition bonus tracks are "Heartache On the Big Screen," "The Only Reason," "What I Like About You," "Rejects," "Try Hard," "Social Casualty," "Never Be," and "Voodoo Doll."

I think, overall, the album is very strong.  I have found myself listening to and liking every track.  The only other artist I actually like every single track on the album is One Direction.

5SOS is classified on iTunes as pop, but with piercings, tattoos, edgy style and punk tendencies with a heavy guitar and strong beats on the drums, I kind of classify them as pop punk.  But just when I think one song is pop punk, I listen to a song like "Amnesia" and lean more towards pop.  Most people would say, "Pick a genre."  I don't think they need to.  This album shows that this group can sound pop, alternative, and a little rock, all while never losing the identity they have built for themselves these past few years as a band.

I'm really impressed with this record.  I love how the boys were involved in the writing of every song because each song is personal and you know it was written for the fans and not just for a spot on the charts.

Do You Want to Build a Boy Band?

I have my internet back!!  WOOHOO!!!

So, my friend Amelia from Twitter showed me a video a friend of hers showed her.  Let me just say that I fell in love... with a Disney prince (Prince Eric to be exact).

The boy band IM5 and singer Todrick Hall (you may know him from American Idol) created these "Disney Dudez" videos.  Each member of IM5 portrays a Disney prince, while Todrick Hall plays Mickey.

In the first video, Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Mulan, and Jasmine break-up with their princes.  Mickey the Janitor walks in and tells them, "Hey, why not form a boy band?"  Each song they sing is to a hit like "ABC" by Jackson 5 and "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction.

[Source:  YouTube]

In video two, Prince Charming leaves the Disney Dudez.  I would take that as the actual boy left the actual band IM5.  Because he leaves, they hold auditions for a new member (this video's my favorite).

[Source:  YouTube]

In the third video, fame has gone to the heads of the princes and their girls are not happy.  The Disney Dudez need to get their acts together.

[Source:  YouTube]

Anyway, I think these videos are so clever and the boys sound amazing together.  

You can purchase the songs "Disney Dudez 2" and "Disney Dudez 3" on iTunes, as well as IM5's new song "Heartless."  Todrick is currently on a nationwide tour and you can purchase his songs on iTunes, too.  Check out Todrick on Twitter here and IM5 on Twitter here.

End Up Here

My blog, recently, has been nothing short of a 5 Seconds of Summer tribute.  My apologies.  And while I'll probably post about their new album tomorrow, I couldn't help but post about them today. I just received the new issue of Rolling Stone and am a little upset by the review of their debut record.

To start, the title of the short article was, "An Australian Boy Band in Punk Clothing."  They are not a boy band.  A "boy band" is a group of guys who just sing, look adorable, and occasionally write songs.  One Direction, while my love for them will never die, is a boy band.  5 Seconds of Summer is a band.  Band.  Every track, with the exception of "Amnesia" which was written FOR the band by Benji and Joel Madden, was written by at least one band member, most songs written by two members.  They also all play an instrument.  Luke Hemmings and Michael Clifford play guitar, Calum Hood plays bass, and Ashton Irwin plays the drums.  That, my friend, is what a band is.  Caryn Ganz (the writer of this review), are The Beatles a boy band, too?

In the review Ganz states, "...which starts with 'She Looks So Perfect' and proceeds through 11 more übertame pop-punk songs about love and heartbreak that wish they were as great (power ballad 'Beside You' comes closest)."  I, to be completely honest, think a lot of the songs are a lot better than "She Looks So Perfect," being as though it was already a title track on their previous US release with the same name.

As far as rating is concerned, she gave this record three stars.  No, that's not a terrible rating, but I think the boys deserve a little bit more.

I'm not personally attacking her.  She is a critic and is 100% entitled to her own opinion.  I just feel she did it without really knowing anything about the band.

Oh, and they are a completely different label than 1D.  Just so you know.

Social Casualty

Because I can't update at all from my computer, I thought I would update my "What's New" page in a post. This week, the following CDs will be available:

1.  5 Seconds of Summer - 5 Seconds of Summer

2.  Nobody's Smiling - Common

3.  Heaven & Earth - Yes

4.  Trouble in Paradise - La Roux

5.  The Very Baddest (2xCD) - ZZ Top

6.  Do You Wanna Start a War - Fozzy

7.  In Technicolor - Jesse McCartney

8.  Delicate Forever - Steve Roach

I will definitely be making a purchase this week.  5 Seconds of Summer, I have been waiting for this album for a year.  Congratulations.

And the last time I saw Jesse McCartney he was being killed in Chernobyl Diaries.  Yikes. 

Sorry

I am so sorry I haven't posted all week. I have no internet at the moment and Verizon has yet to fix it. Posting from my phone is difficult, but I'll have to start because I don't know how much longer I'll be without internet. 

Jordan xx

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Tommy Ramone has died at the age of 65.  He was the co-founder of the group and was the last surviving member.

Back in 1974, Tommy, the drummer, formed the band with singer Joey, guitarist Johnny, and bassist Dee Dee.  No, they are not related.  They all decided to take on the same last name for the band.

[Source:  Evening Standard]

Johnny Ramone, left, died in 2004 at the age of 55 from prostate cancer.  Joey Ramone, second from right, died in 2001 at the age of 49 from lymphoma.  Dee Dee Ramone, right, died in 2002 at the age of 50 from a heroin overdose.

Tommy died this past Friday from bile duct cancer.

But even though the original members have died, their presence lives on.  In 2002, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and are considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time.

Amnesia

I decided to do a countdown entitled "Favorites A to Z."  These are my favorite songs.

Amnesia - 5 Seconds of Summer

Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt

Chocolate - The 1975

Desperado - Eagles

Everything About You - One Direction

Faithfully - Journey

Guns For Hands - twenty one pilots

Happily - One Direction

In The Stars - Icona Pop

Jungleland - Bruce Springsteen

Kiss Me Kiss Me - 5 Seconds of Summer

Landslide - Fleetwood Mac

My Darlin' - Miley Cyrus

Nintendo - Todd Carey

Ol' 55 - Eagles

Paradise By The Dashboard Lights - Meatloaf

The Queen - Lady Gaga

Robot - Miley Cyrus

Stole My Heart - One Direction

Towers - Little Mix

Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club

Valentine - Nils Lofgren

We Belong to the Night - Ellen Foley

You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go - Bob Dylan

Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie

Working My Way Back to You

I have had a busy few days.  I just had orientation for school and will be coming back tomorrow with an awesome post!  Well, I think it's awesome.

Sorry for the wait

Jordan xx

Ain't That America

Happy 4th of July!!!

Happy 238th Birthday, America!

We're Not Gonna Take It

Since I did the best album covers of the '60s, '70s, and "'80s" yesterday, I thought today I would do the worst album covers of the '80s and '90s.

10.  River of Dreams (1993) - Billy Joel


I don't know what's more disturbing:  the songs on the album or the cover.

9.  5150 (1986) - Van Halen


The amount of discomfort I am feeling right now from this cover...

8.  Bridges to Babylon (1997) - The Rolling Stones


If I covered "The Rolling Stones" and "Bridges to Babylon," would you ever guess this belongs to one of the greatest bands of all time?

7.  Body Wishes (1983) - Rod Stewart

So.  Many.  Rods.

6.  Get Lucky (1981) - Loverboy

I consider myself to be very unlucky after seeing this.

5.  Julie's Sixteenth Birthday (1985) - John Bult

"They forgot my f***ing birthday!"

4.  Y Kant Tori Read (1988) - Y Kant Tori Read

Y kant Tori spell

3.  I'm God's Child (1980) - The Cooper Family


Awkward Family Photos.

2.  Back to the S*** (1989) - Millie Jackson


Everyone who approved of this cover needs to be taken back to the shit.

1.  Stay Hungry (1984) - Twisted Sister

Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, and hide yo husband

Can't Get It Out of My Head

My top ten favorite album covers of the '60s, '70s, and '80s.  Well, only one is from the '80s.

10.  The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) - The Velvet Underground & Nico

I chose this as my number ten because I love the fact that they incorporated a professional artist into their cover.  The album was released in March 1967 and has since been considered one of the greatest albums of all time.

9.  London Calling (1979) - The Clash

I absolutely LOVE this cover, but I have places it so high on my list because Elvis Presley's Elvis Presley, which was released in 1956, is the same thing.  I know I shouldn't punish them being as though so many other artists have paid homage to the rock star, but I have based this list on originality.  It's still an awesome cover, though.

8.  Ramones (1976) - Ramones

I think this cover picture is so cool.  The four guys against a brick, graffiti-covered wall... all while being in black and white.  And they look so cool with their leather jackets and jeans and long hair that was oh so popular in the '70s.

7.  1984 (1984) - Van Halen

Scandalous.  A baby with angel wings smoking a cigarette with several more cigs on deck.  I also love "1984" written in roman numerals in the top left and right corners.  I just think the whole cover is very creative, like the songs on the record.

6.  Sticky Fingers (1971) - The Rolling Stones

I have this vinyl and I must say that it is a little different from the vinyl cover I am used to.  The cover contains a working "zipper" and "belt" and reveals briefs underneath.  And apparently the crotch photographed is not that of Mr. Jagger.  So whose crotch is this?  The world may never know.  I think it's more scandalous than 1984.

5.  The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) - Pink Floyd

I love the whole concept of this album cover.  I am unsure why they chose this, as I don't really see any direct connection between that and the music, but I'm sure they had a reason.  This is definitely one of the most iconic album covers of all time.  Everyone has seen it and knows it.

4.  Rumours (1977) - Fleetwood Mac

Rumours is such a bizarre album cover, but I love it.  I love Stevie's outfit along with their poses.  It has the same feeling of their Fleetwood Mac cover two years earlier.

3.  Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. (1973) - Bruce Springsteen

I think I like this cover so much because it's a postcard from one of the best known towns in the state of New Jersey.  It's also the album cover of one of the best known musicians from the state of New Jersey.  Looking at this cover makes me feel like such a Jersey Girl.  I love it.

2.  The Beatles [The White Album] (1968) - The Beatles

So simple, yet such an impact.  The Beatles didn't need some over the top cover to get their points across.  They're The Beatles.  We have to remember that they are the biggest band that has ever walked the planet.  Do they really need some out of the ordinary cover?

1.  Eldorado (1974) - Electric Light Orchestra


Another album cover that is a shout-out to popular culture.  The album follows a character who dreams and travels through those dreams to different worlds and fantasies.  That's what happened to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.  She wakes up to realize that she was in a descriptive dream.  It shows how great Jeff Lynne was at his job.