Been listening to the new music lately almost to the exclusion of the old stuff, except for a few favorites. So, some thoughts:

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: Lonely Road

First play, I was wondering where the hell the band I liked went? The lyrics have no teeth left. All those grim and gritty songs about difficult things? Gone. This album smooths out the rough edges and evokes more of a pop punk sensibility on some songs, and a traditional hard rock sound on others. It has a few songs that are standing out after several listens. I like the sound of "Represent" but not the lyrics. The one I like best so far is "Pull Me Back."

Overall, it's not a bad album, but I'm pretty disappointed in it because I was expecting a sophomore effort as good as their first CD. I guess it was too much for them to live up to.

The All-American Rejects: When the World Comes Down

In sharp counterpoint is AAR's new album. They also had a lot to live up to, since Move Along totally kicked butt and had so many incredible songs ("Move Along", "Dirty Little Secret", "Dance Inside", "It Ends Tonight", "Night Drive"). On first listen, I wasn't sure they'd made it, but after a few more times through the CD, it's going to be sticking in the player for a while, and I've five-starred most of the songs in iTunes. Haven't found a song I dislike on it, and "I Wanna" is a serious ear-worm. But the standout on the album is also their first single, the great bitter-breakup song "Gives You Hell." If you like the pop-punk sound, this album is totally worth spending money on.

Hey. Gatsby. I need to get out of my own head on Tuesday. Want to do that thing then? Whatever we decide that thing is.

Back again and all settled in.

Does anyone know of a good way to earn a bit of cash without screwing up my grades completely? I mean, it's not like I have time for an actual job but I'm running low on funds from last summer's work and from Christmas, and I've got things I need to do this spring.

The good news is... my car is functional (if dented), so Luca, I'll be down on Monday.

The bad news is... I tested it by going out to do some last minute Christmas shopping and spun out on 787. Mom did the complete freakout about how I could've been killed and how the weather was only getting worse, not better, so here I sit watching DVDs instead of heading up to the concert.

Bored as all hell now.

So I've got my train ticket home for tomorrow (assuming the trains don't stop running because of the snow), and I've got a ticket waiting on will-call up at Northern Lights for Saturday to see All Time Low. Anyone else interested in a trip upstate for the weekend to see a show and help shovel a foot of snow?

So, we've got rain, but home's got ice. Right now, as much as I've been missing snow, I think I'm glad not to be home.

Stuck indoors anyway fighting with History. Anyone want to rescue me from memorizing names and dates before I start putting the whole thing to music out of desperation?

( your so-called music scene )

( So, take him home for just $9.95, he'll sing the songs you like )