Focus on the Light

I apologize for the major lack of posting lately. I haven't been motivated to do much, and when i am I'm focusing my energy on these really cool mid-terms i have the pleasure of doing every 6 months or so. As trivial as it sounds, when I'm done with this school business i'll feel like a really obese ugly looking gremlin has been removed from my shoulders. I guess that's what academia represents to me.....

There are a lot of things i would like to be able to do but can't because of the financial restrictions imposed by incredibly high tuition fees. Coupled with the fact that I'm living in the most expensive city in the country and the fact that I'm still dependent on family for financial support and I'm bound pretty tightly to my current situation. I really shouldn't be complaining though, a lot of people would do nearly anything to be in the situation I'm in. But I'm growing overly pessimistic and I'm frustrated... not a good combination

Enough with that, On to the main reason for this post. True Colors new(ish) LP "Focus on the Light"
I really can't stress how good this record is it has everything you want in a youth crew release. Tons of passion and energy, positive, concise and to the point lyrics, and a bunch of catchy sing a longs. Actually the entire record is catchy. Every Second. Most of the songs are clock in around the 90 second mark or less which works great for this band. They leave nothing to be desired after each song... only the anticipation of the next 90 second rampage.
I think what really grabs me about this record is the vocal delivery. I haven't had this much fun listening to a vocalist in a really long time. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that these guys remind me of the modern day equivalent of Youth of Today. There are a couple parts where it almost sounds like Cappo's overly disgruntled growl is being re-produced. Not nearly as fierce or chaotic but fun nonetheless.

As of this point this record is hands down my # 1 release of 2007. I've been listening to it constantly for the past 6 weeks or so and the more i listen the better it gets. In the title song there's a part where the vocalist really accentuates the words focus on the light... something like "focusss on the liiiggghhhttt" anyway if you have the record listen to that song, you'll know what I'm talking about. I have a hard time containing myself when i hear it.

There are plenty of well written songs on this record but i'll post what might be my favorite here:

The Way To Myself
standing on the edge, nowhere to go
trapped, there's no way out.. NO
my head is going to explode
but you reached out, gave me hold

I’ve got my music, I’ve got my friends
but you took me to places I never went
you keep me out of trouble
gave me back my life
for that I’m grateful
you keep me alive

you can say black, I can say white
you can go left, I can go right
you can think day, I can think night
no matter what, I stand by your side

never let you down
never let you down

I’ve got my music, I’ve got my friends
but you took me to places I never went
you keep me out of trouble
gave me back my life
for that I’m grateful
you keep me alive

you showed me the way to myself

Stanger Than Fiction....

I've really been slacking on updating this thing lately. I've been listening to True Colors so much I haven't had time to bother with anything else i guess. Next up is a major True Colors appreciation post.

A couple months ago my brother and i recorded a couple songs using a new mic he got, it hooks up to the computer so all you need is a really mediocre mixing program. One song was one i wrote and we also covered Insted's "Voice Your Opinion" which was a lot of fun. The recording quality really sucks so i haven't bothered to expose them to the interwebz relentless critique quite yet. I think we'll try and re do them when i go visit for Christmas break.

Anyway here are the lyrics for the song i wrote, it's a rager and i really like the way the lyrics go with it.

"Solace"
They're not taking this away
You give up and give in every single day
But there is one thing you've hidden away
Behind locked doors where your heart has to stay

How are we supposed to live
when all we ever do is give
we give our time
we give out lives
To live out a life that's based on lies

So is it any wonder
That so many want to numb the pain
And is it any wonder
That so many lives are lived in vain

I see you in the streets at night
I see you searching for that light
I see you open up locked doors
And i see you stolen
They took what was yours