This was my weekend:

Friday - drove from Michigan to Connecticut with my sister. 13 hours. Lots of music and silly car games and trying not to fall asleep.

Saturday - Got my car emissions tested as required by Connecticut (where it is registered). Passed! Hung out with my daddy and sister. Hung out with my mom, step-dad, and brother. Fought with my brother, who is a selfish douchebag. I would rant about him but it's not really productive. Watched RockNRolla, Guy Ritchie's ridiculous film starring Gerard Butler but actually starring Tom Hardy in my heart. Unf. Also the guy who played Archie was amazing. But seriously, ridiculous film.

Sunday - DROVE BACK TO MICHIGAN. Yes. That was indeed 1500 miles (and $140 in gas and tolls) in three days. Holy moly. Drive went smoothly except for when I stopped for lunch I noticed one tire was very flat, so I checked it and found that it had only 10 pounds of pressure when it should have 30. o.O Um, scary! So I filled it and called my daddy, and he said that sometimes that happens - I had driven over a curb really hard accidentally yesterday, so sometimes that can just knock the tire loose and cause temporary pressure loss. I checked it again a few miles later, and then again later, and it was fine, so I guess that's all it was, phew! That was scary though. There were also a lot of assholes on the road, and my middle finger and horn got quite the workout. Oy. They should require a test to drive these things! ....oh wait. :P

So there goes another weekend down the drain. This summer has been SO hectic and all over the place. I seriously haven't felt like I've been in Ann Arbor for more than a week at a time, and my research is really suffering. I honestly feel terrible and wish it wasn't this way, but everything I've done has been unavoidable for one reason or another. And I'm not even done yet - I'm going to California in three weeks, Chicago the week after, then Chicago again in October. I'm also going to three concerts in the next two weeks. Why am I so childish and irresponsible? I feel like I totally don't have the dedication or focus I need to be a successful PhD student. It's not that I don't want to do my work - I really do. But I also haven't learned to say no to fun things that I can do now that I have the financial means, and a boss who is really way too lenient with me.

/self-loathing. Aaaanyway.

I have a music rec! The fabulous novembersmith gave me a rec in my last post that has really sunk its teeth into me, and I wanted to pass it on. It's this band called Spinnerette, which is the solo project of Brody Dalle, who used to be in punk band The Distillers. Her sound is grungey and fast and raunchy and SO AWESOME. It was great driving music. Check it out!



OH AND TODAY WAS BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER'S BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BB!!!! I love him more than words can express omg. *__*


The wee ones love him toooo!! Get down with yo bad self Bastiano! <3333

Also also, today the Germany U-20 women's football team WON THEIR WORLD CUP!! Super fantastico! :D On home soil, no less! They sealed it with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria. Wooo! The German youth programs are so, so awesome. :D (Now it's time for that to translate into THE World Cup victory... right? Right?)

And now I'm going to collapse into bed in order to face a new week. Gah.

How are you, LJ? ♥

Today is an AMAZING DAY for music. \o/

First up, we have the official release of Empires' BANG. Buy the deluxe version (FOUR WHOLE DOLLARS), because it has one extra song (Animal, which is beautiful), along with the two new tracks that weren't released before (Hello Lover, which I heard live and is fanfuckingtastic, and Voodooized, which gets me right where I live), AND a whole set of gorgeous photos by Tom and a lovely video shot by Ryan that follows them around some shows and gets some commentary on the making of this album. In short, I love them, and you should too. ♥

Secondly, CHRISTIAN KANE's EP came out yesterday!!! Totally unexpected and extremely happy making. I have been waiting for a new Kane album for LITERALLY THREE YEARS, and it's everything I could have hoped for! Rockin and catchy and just full of so much life. Kane is the only country band I've ever liked enough to really listen to, but Christian really has something special. I want to roll around in his voice forever. One of the songs is about an awesome girl who picks HIM up in a bar by buying him a whiskey! It's sexy and so much fun! Also still around is THE HOUSE RULES, which is still just as awesome as it was a few years ago.

I am truly delighted by both of these occurrances. Even if you haven't given Empires a try, I highly recommend checking out BANG (you can pay only $2 for the full not-deluxe album!) because it's head and shoulders their best work to date, and just a really really solid and interesting rock album. I am so proud of them. ♥

\o/ MUSIC! \o/

Um, HELLO NEW BOYFRIENDS.

Someone made a post on theused about this band that's opening for The Used on their tour, so I checked them out and HI I'M IN LOVE. They're called Drive A and they're young punk rockers from LA and their music is aaaawesome. I already bought their debut on iTunes (it's $6.99! Go! Buy!) and I'm only halfway through but I can tell I'm going to have this album on repeat a LOT! It's the best kind of fast, crunchy guitar rock with reasonably melodic vocal lines. And the guys are super cute, which never ever hurts! I'm REALLY excited to see them open for The Used in Detroit now. :DDDDD You should all check them out too! Yay baby rockers!!

This is like, MY YEAR for new music, and I am so impatient for more of it to HAPPEN already.

ALREADY OUT:
-Green Day (amazing!)
-Mandy Moore (I LOVE THIS ALBUM SO MUCH)

COMING VERY SOON (BUT NOT SOON ENOUGH):
-Lostprophets
-Michelle Branch
-Cobra Starship (Aug 11th)
-Morningwood
-Paramore (Sept 29)
-THE USED!!!! (Sept 1st)

IN THE STUDIO:
-Panic(!) at the Disco
-MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE!!!!!

Lostprophets/The Used/MCR basically comprise my current three MOST FAVORITE bands. To have new music by all of them will be, like, one massive orgasm holy shit. O___O I looove the new Used single (and it's excellent live! \o/) and I also love the two singles Morningwood has put out so far. One band I'm curious about is We The Kings - are they ever gonna do a follow up?? Needs moar! It's rather doubtful that it will be as awesome, but I want to hear it anyway!

Tomorrow is going to be funtiems! I'm going to Cedar Point, a big amusement park in Ohio, with eleven other Chem Bio kids. Yay for new people and road trips and sunshine and rollercoasters! *twirls* I'm getting picked up at 8 AM, which blows a little and I need to go to bed, but otherwise WHEE.

Have a good Saturday my dears! ♥

Reading Gerard and Frank talk about their band is giving me CHILLS. I LOVE THIS BAND OMG.

♥_______♥

The entire article is just wonderfullll. They sound so happy and excited and relaxed and I am just so HAPPY for them. They were WRECKS at the end of the TBP tour circuit - remember how we were all hollering at them to take a break? Well now they have and they're brand new! I laughed at the people who bit their nails wondering if this was ~The End of MCR, because these guys are NEVER not going to be in love with each other and making music together. That's just how it is. ♥

I love how bandmates are automatically uncles to each others' kids. I love that Frank is angling for the title of Godfather! <33333 I love Frank being described as GIGGLING. I love that Frank's first thought re: doing Desolation Row was GERARD MUST BE SO HAPPY OMG. I love KERRANG! and how they talk about our dork boys blogging about cereal and reality tv. I love Gerard's earnest eloquence and Frank's earnest babbling. I LOVE THESE BOYS SO MUCH AND I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THEM BACK IN MY LIFE!!!!

...omg will they blog from the studio?! AMAZING.

Bweeeee. *squeetwirls*

I am so excited for this year in musics! New The Used, Lostprophets, Green Day, and HOPEFULLY MCR. *crosses fingers* Those are MY kinds o' bands. I enjoy Panic, FOB, and TAI just fine, but the ones that get my blood pumping are the punkish rockers, so last year was a little bit of a let down on the new music front. But this is my year! \o/

Hmmmm. I was going to make some kind of post last night, but then LJ was down for maintenance! I think I was going to talk about snow, and how we're getting lots of it. When I woke up this morning we had like 4 more inches, but it was soft and fluffy this time instead of covered with a sheet of ice. V. pretty!

I bought my plane tickets to Salt Lake City for the American Chemical Society conference. Now all four of my plane journeys are officially booked! \o/ (FOUR. Hoooooly crap. With the number of connections I've got, I'm going to at least match the number of planes I was on during my year in Europe. CRAZY.)

I'm sleepy. I'm going to go read more of A Clash of Kings and go to bed. (Which, speaking of, skyfalling linked to a download of the Game of Thrones script and OMGGGGG. !!!! This needs to happen RIGHT THIS SECOND. Some of the scenes were lifted straight from the book (Dany's wedding is going to be amazing!) and it is so very HBO and and and *flaps hands* NEEDS!)

Night! ♥

Another poem! Honestly, I wish I could actually write poetry this good :P I think it's rather hilarious though when Avenged Sevenfold is followed by Mandy Moore! Also, FOB is terrible for this meme, lol.

Touch

I'll stand for nothing less
Sitting alone in the dark of a stadium
When our time is up
Come on come on

You told me on your birthday
Cut open this madness too blind to see
Well I put so much thought in the getting ready
My words confuse you

Gonna make a mistake, gonna do it on purpose
Reaching out for something

So I run and hide, tear myself apart
House is haunted
She comes to me in dreams, trainwreck beauty queen
I'm your life, I'm the one who takes you there

Pay close attention
I can't shake this feeling from my head
I'm sleeping my way out of this one
I'll take anything now

Crawling in my skin
Louder louder, the voices in my head

Top 10 Albums, with minimal commentary and in no particular order

1. My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. This is THE album for me. Seriously.

2. Foo Fighters - There Is Nothing Left To Lose

3. Stone Temple Pilots - Shangri La Di Da

4. The Hush Sound - Goodbye Blues

5. The Beatles - Revolver

6. The Used - Lies for the Liars

7. David Bowie - Hunky Dory

8. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory

9. Michelle Branch - Hotel Paper

10. Green Day - Dookie. My favorite album when I was 6, and still a classic <3

This list is pretty evenly split between albums that make me think of endless hours spent commuting to and from school in the car with my dad, from age 5 to 18, and bandom bands. *hands* The exception is Michelle Branch, which is just an album that has always touched me for no explicable reason. And yes, my dad rocked the Linkin Park. I love my daddy.

Runners up: Marc Teamaker, Lust for Wanda (my dad's bassist and my piano teacher - this is a gorgeous album), Evanescence, Fallen; Christina Aguilera self-titled; Feeder, Comfort in Sound; K's Choice, 10.

Tagged by candidlily !

List 10 songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now, shaping your summer. Post these instructions in your LJ along with your 10 songs. Then tag 10 other people to see what they're listening to.

( My ten. )

I taaaag... mcee , kashmir1 , wasoncedelight , bluejbird , torakowalski , pau494 , theaerosolkid , ethrosdemon , scizojess , and unamaga !

&music;

1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List (and upload, if you feel like it) 5 songs that start with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions.

autobearography gave me B!

1. Believe! - Empires. She's gonna fall from me / And the wind's gonna catch her
One of my favorites off Howl. I couldn't exactly say why, just yet, but I love it.

2. Break the Sky - The Hush Sound. I'll break the sky / for you and I are going nowhere / kiss goodbye / a dozen times before we get there
Just a beautiful song, one of the best examples of Greta's smoky new sound. Mmm.

3. Burn, Burn - Lostprophets. Burn burn the station / (burn it down) / Burn burn the truth / (enjoy the flames) / In celebration / (burn it down) / For us, for them, for you
This is easily one of their best songs, just an awesome straight up rock song, driving and energetic. It always gets my blood pumping. I've gotten completely addicted to these guys, so you should download this song and then ask me for the rest of the album when you love it :D

4. Blue and Yellow - The Used. It's a feeling that you cannot miss / And it burns a hole through everyone that feels it
The Used is a very odd band, I find, with songs that verge on the absurd (Liar, Liar), lots of frenzied awesome rock, and then these... ballads. But I love it all, and this is one of their prettiest songs. Easily my favorite off of the first album.

5. Beauty Bar - Justin King. It feels like walking in a sleepless dream / Oh my feet touched just above the ground
If you download any of these, please make it this one. Justin King is a fantastic guitarist/singer/songwriter, and I fell for him when darksylvia started talking about him. I got to see him play live back in PA and WOW. He and his band are just fucking phenomenal. You should also listen to this and then ask me for the rest. I haven't been keeping up with him, so as far as I know he has one EP and one demo, but they're both fantastic. This is off the demo, actually. And I love it.

Can exams be over now?

I just reached 30,000 plays on my last.fm. O.O

Whee! *throws confetti*

(And that's just since August 2006, which is when I get this laptop. It blows my mind when I realize how much of my life I spend listening to music. That's approximately 70 days straight of music! Over two months out of 18! Geez.)

My thirty thousandth song was Innocent and Sweet by The Cab. I meant to make it my favorite MCR song, but my attention wandered and I didn't catch it in time, whoops. Instead Heaven Help Us was my 30,001st song! :)

In the music vein, I've downloaded so so much new music over the past weeks or so, and it's kind of overwhelming! In order to really get into something and make an opinion on it, I have to listen to it REPEATEDLY, because I never *just* sit and listen to music, I'm always always doing something else, so it takes a lot of repeats for anything to really sink in. I'm afraid I won't be able to give everything it's due consideration.

For curiosity's sake, the new music I've downloaded/received includes:

Incubus - A Crow Left of the Murder (LOVE this, so far)
The Frames - The Cost
Say Anything - In Defense of the Genre and Is A Boy/Was A Boy (Courtesy of my brother, who totally has a crush on Max Bemis. Enjoyable, though probably not going to become a favorite.)
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light (Again, enjoyable, but not very different from their other stuff. I do like their sound though.)
The Once soundtrack
Tom McRae - Tom McRae (Ugh, I love him SOMUCH. I'm so glad I got to see him live.)
Thursday - Full Collapse
The Cab - Glitz and Glamour

See? I'm so overwhelmed! *flails a little* I just keep coming back to MCR. *shameface* The only band that has managed to insinuate itself significantly in my listening patterns is The Used, and even then I only listen to them on shuffle in a playlist with all of MCR's stuff. MAYBE I'M OBSESSED? WHO KNOWS.

(I enjoy this mood icon. *stares*)