Anberlin @ the House of Blues

So I just saw my first show in over 6 months a few days ago; it was Anberlin: reigning Smarty Award winner of the Guilty Pleasure Award.
I've got be honest they really didn't blow me away like Copeland or Explosions in the Sky did; but one could chalk that up to some serious technical difficulties. Their lead guitarist didn't play until the third song because his amp was jacked up, and their sound man couldn't hold a conversation with Jay Taylor. And Stephen Christian, the lead singer failed to warm up his vocals and sounded like absolute crap on the first handful of songs.
But once they got all the glitches fixed they started to put on a show. Naive Orleans, Paperthin Hymn, and dance, dance Christa Paffgen were enthralling and actually had me singing along.
Considering the circumstances I'd say it was a good show and would recommend that if Anberlin stops within and hour of your home town you should definitely check them out.

Open Up Your Ears v.4: Instrumental Rock

Explosions in the Sky- The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place
So it took me weeks to get up the nerve to write about an instrumental band, especially this one, because I thought they were so far from the mainstream; them not being on the radio and not using lyrics and all. But when Relevant Magazine does a piece on them, when Jason Lee(My Name is Earl, Almost Famous, Clerks) has their album cover as a poster over his office desk, and when they are THE soundtrack for Friday Night Lights that tells me they might have finally reached the mainstream.
-There sound is just so captivating despite not being hook laden, top 40 junk.
There newest recording The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is a collection of well toned guitars and crashing drums all coming together in huge but fragile crescendos.
Forget all the "post-rock" nay-sayers, because this is not "post-rock"- and oh by the way what the hell is "post-rock" any way; some contrivance Rolling Stone uses when they can't explain a bands sound, when a band doesn't sound like Three Doors Down or NickelBack.
Forget all of that, this album is great, it is serene and it is loud, it is melodic with out a melody, it is for that rainy day while you sit on the couch, that sunny Sunday drive, etc. etc. God I love this album.

Open Up Your Ears v.3: Indie Rock/Pop

Imagine being an emotional wreck because the love of your life is so sick they must move away for medical treatment and then imagine not being able to do anything about it.
Now realize you have a phenomenal voice highlighted by a falsetto to die for and an ability to make your emotions come to life by way of music; you would be singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist Aaron Marsch of Copeland.
On Coepland's debut album Beneath Medicine Tree Marsch lets his listeners peer into his aching soul on each and every song.
The album is directly related to his girlfriend's illness and the role it plays on their relationship.
Beneath Medicine Tree was by far the most emotionally raw album of 2003; album standouts include Testing the Strong Ones, California and When Finally Set Free. You should also check out the acoustic version of Testing the Strong Ones;a truly moving album.
If you listen to any album I ever review this is the one to get, you will not be disappointed.

Say Your Prayers and Take Your Vitamins

Wanna complain about why I don't blog alot; see below:


Ain't my girl ripped!!!
Check out those guns!



Smarty would like to give a shout out to BSN for their NO-Xplode & CellMass.
I would also like to thank Cytosport for making Muscle Milk taste like a milkshake.