The (most recent) best thing ever

Okay, so have you noticed that any time I bother to post, its because something is either the best thing ever or the worst thing ever.

Well, this is the best thing ever: The All American Rejects covering 'Womanizer' by Britney Spears.

WOOOOOOOOO!

Take that stupid albums that won't come out until Tuesday!

Okay, let's start this business with a quick disclaimer: I am an emo kid, of the pop-punk variety (as opposed to the acoustic, crying variety). I have a collection of hoodies and canvas shoes to easily prove that point. I buy cds just because they're the newest release from Fueled by Ramen, and if I had only slightly less shame, I'd likely write Brendan Urie/Ryan Ross fanfiction (thankfully, I have enough self respect to just not go there). So, while you're welcome (nay, encouraged) to tell me how completely wrong this list is, I don't really care. I firmly believe that the only tool in this world bigger than Brandon Flowers is Chris Martin, I wouldn't listen to Underoath even if Jesus himself gave me the recommendation, and Rise Against makes me want to repress the rights of a small nation and then eat a large, innocent animal.

So, without further ado, my top ten albums of 2008:

10. Want by 3OH! 3.

Not even I understand why this album is so damn charming. No, really, its ridiculous, stupid, not all that musical, and occasionally downright offensive. Its also been in a rather steady rotation in my ipod since I got it. Okay, well, I get it a little. I mean, come on: "Tell your boyfriend, if he says he's got beef, that I'm a vegetarian and I'm not f***ing scared of him." Brilliant.

9. You're Awful, I Love You by Ludo.

Underneath its shallow surface of goofy songs about being eaten by lake monsters and being in love with your neighbor lies a really sweet, genuine album. I can't help but give a sad sigh everytime I hear "Topeka," and that's what really makes a good album. Heck, funny and charming with a loving interior... I'm totally ready to date this cd.

8. Razia's Shadow: A Musical by Forgive Durden

Is it really a musical, considering that there isn't any show to go along with the music? Probably not. Does that matter? Definitely not. With a fantastic (if slightly cliched plot) and even better performances by Brendan Urie, Greta Salpeter, and Shawn Harris (all of whom appear elsewhere on this list) and Max Bemis (who doesn't), this cd pretty much made my November. Besides, I really needed a safe way to indulge in my passion for musicals.

7. Underdog Alma Mater by Forever the Sickest Kids

This album makes me want to dance. And while that happens surprisingly often, considering my lack of coordination, FTSK doesn't make me embarrassed to want to dance. In fact, I revel in it. Also, they were amazing in concert. And yes, I danced there, too.

6. Goodbye Blues by The Hush Sound

I saw The Hush Sound three times in concert this year. That's five times total, which makes them second on the list of acts I've seen most (right under Tally Hall with seven times). And you know what, I would go see them tomorrow if they came to town. Their music is quirky and catchy and different from everything else, and Greta Salpeter (see, I told you she would be back) has some of the best vocals ever. EVER. Hayley Williams can bite me.

5. Pretty. Odd. by Panic at the Disco

I wrote quite the lengthy review of this album when it came out last February. I won't bore you with the details again. The point is that it was wild and spectacularly different from their last album, and yet oddly cohesive. It was, in fact, both pretty and odd.

4. A Band in Hope by The Matches

According to the sticker that came on the cd, The Matches are a band as weird as I am. That's probably why I like them so much. While differing quite significantly from their other cds (which is a little unfortunate, considering that Decomposer is my favorite cd ever) they definitely keep the same crazy vibe that just doesn't exist anywhere else. In fact, I don't really even have anything to compare it to. Its just good.

3. Raise the Dead by Phantom Planet

I have a copy of The Guest and I know all of the words to the O.C. theme, but I never really considered myself a Phanton Planet fan. This album completely changed that. Its musical and retro and basically everything that Panic at the Disco tried for but didn't manage on Pretty. Odd. This album made me remember why people try and write music reminiscent of the 1960s. Besides, its about cults. Cults, people! Too bad the band broke up. :(

2. Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend

I'm not ashamed to admit it. The only reason I bought this cd was because the band's guitarist has the same favorite comic book character as I do. It turns out their music is not like anything I've ever heard, in a good way. That's not true, its like a thousand things I've heard and never imagined putting together. It kind of boggles the mind, really. And I mean that in a really, really, reallyreallyreally good way.

1. The Glass Passenger by Jack's Mannequin

I love this album. I just plain love it. Its happy and sad and ridiculously beautiful. Not to mention that it is amazing live. I wasn't so sure they could pull off the whole sad piano rock thing without making the whole experience kind of a drag, but I was completely wrong. It was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. Anyway, just get the album if you don't already have it, listening ot me babble can't possibly make you appreciate how fantastically wonderful this album is.

That's all for now. Time for me to crash.

*emo tear*

So, Phantom Planet is going on 'indefinite hiatus.'

I am officially depressed.

I know it 'cause you wrote it down a hundred times...

So, some bad news. Chris Faller has left The Hush Sound. This is particularly sad because, while Chris wasn't the most talented member of the band (sorry kid, but Greta kind of rocks), he was most assuredly the most adorable member. Not to mention that its always sad when someone leaves a band you actually like. Well, not always, I'm kind of glad to be rid of that Brent kid from Panic at the Disco... and I'd choose Micheal Guy Chislett over Tom Conrad just about any day... okay, and I wasn't really all that sad when Justin San Souci left The Matches... but that's not the point. The point is that its a shame. I liked Chris Faller. And I'm seeing The Hush Sound in concert next week. I would have gone to see them either way, but now I'm sad.

But Cobra Starship is almost done with their new album, so that makes life a little better.

And I managed to buy two of the last six tickets available to see Jack's Mannequin around here in a few weeks... definitely a bright spot in my life.

If nothing else, I can listen to The Matches and Zebrahead's cover of "Violent Love" originally by Oingo Boingo. That's basically the best thing ever. At least for this week.

Today was a day just like any other...

Okay, so, in case you haven't been paying attention, the new Jack's Mannequin album: The Glass Passenger came out on Tuesday. If you haven't gotten a copy already, you need to stop reading and go buy it. Now. Seriously. Still there? I figured you would be, but it was worth a try.

Anyway, if you didn't get the impression right then, I really, really like the new album. Musically, its beautiful; lyrically, its unbelievable. Let me start by saying, hopeful and happy Jack's Mannequin, is pretty freakin' depressing. Its very sad (seriously, like cancer patient sad), but the inherent message is one of life and hope. That doesn't change the fact that lullabies about depressed people and pretty darn sad. All in all, the result is an amazing album that I truly don't have the words to explain. And that's saying something. I mean, if you're reading this, you've probably read my ridiculously long review of the new Panic at the Disco album, you know that I tend to get a little wordy to explain that things are good. In fact, ask me about Say Anything (the band, not the movie... or the movie, I guess, I have thoughts on that, too) sometime, if you're prepared to spend an hour listening to me talk about the quality of Max Bemis's metaphors. But Jack's Mannequin gives me warm, fuzzy, bubbly feeling in my chest, and I totally can't figure out how to properly qualify that. Its just fantastic.

And all at once I realized, my life had become a boring pop song, and everybody was singing along...

A few little headlines.

So, the Yankee in a Chip Shop video FINALLY managed to get released. Its pretty adorable. Shawn Harris might be kind of a homely dude, but he does have quite the fabulous sense of style. Anyway, watch it here!

Also, Happy (slightly belated) Birthday to Andrew McMahon! And a big YAY for the fact that after the tour with Paramore Jack's Mannequin is going on another fall tour. And they'll be around here. W00t.

And Fall Out Boy released their newest single on friends or enemies.

Finally, the new Gym Class Heroes album comes out next week, and I have absolutely no intention of buying it. Its a bit sad, I just haven't really liked anything I've heard off of it. Maybe I'll buy it later, but for now, not so much.

*emo tear*

About to kill the locals...

So, the Matches' "Yankee in a Chip Shop" video is officially the biggest disappointment of... well, of lately. Not because it was particularly bad or anything, just because it is particularly not there. That is to say, due to some interference from the London Metropolitan Police, there will be no video. For now. I'm sure they'll figure their stuff out, but for now, nothing. *emo tear*

On the other side of the coin (or some equally insipid metaphor) Fall Out Boy is releasing a new album on November 4th. And on an even more happy note, Cobra Starship has released a cover (more or less) of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" it is, of course, called "I Kissed a Boy" and is apparently based on a true story (So says Pete Wentz, so say I). Anyway, you should go to www.citizensforourbetterment.com and download the whole mixtape. All in all, its not great, but the Cobra Starship song, and the mysterious band known as The Paul Revere Jumpsuit Apparatus are totally worth it.

Anyway, got to go, World of Warcraft Issues (not mine, for the record).