Dear Allyson,
Hello! It's Allyson...from the future. Eleven years into the future to be exact. Boy, are you in for a wild ride these next few years. I'm going to be honest with you: I don't know how I'm here right now...
The writings of an opinionated New Yorker in her mid-20's. Music, makeup, life in general.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
A Letter To Me At Sixteen
Dear Allyson,
Hello! It's Allyson...from the future. Eleven years into the future to be exact. Boy, are you in for a wild ride these next few years. I'm going to be honest with you: I don't know how I'm here right now...
Monday, March 24, 2014
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Monologue Rehearsal - March 21, 2014
I was extremely lucky enough to get tickets to see a monologue rehearsal for The Tonight Show. I have watched every night since Jimmy Fallon took over, as you've seen in my February Favorites post, and I was so psyched to even step into the building! And, as to be expected, the rehearsal didn't disappoint.
Friday, March 21, 2014
From The Archives: Track-By-Track Review: Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel
This was originally on my LiveJournal in 2005.
01. A Pain That I'm Used To: The introduction sounds like the introductions of "I Feel You" and "The Dead of Night" remixed together. This song has angst written all over it. It is interesting, though, how one of the last lines of the song is "with a prayer in the air I will leave it there, on a note full of hope, not despair." Kinda contradictory, huh? Great way to open up the record.
02. John The Revelator: I keep imagining that this song would fit into a "Jesus Christ Superstar"-esque movie. The music would totally fit in with that type of film. Without a doubt one of the catchiest songs on the album, especially with the call-and-response chorus ("Well, who's that shouting? John the Revelator!").
03. Suffer Well: One of the selected tracks on this album that, in my opinion, you can be able to dance to. This song also has one of the best guitar riffs Martin plays on the record. The chorus could be taken as sort of an inspiration to people listening to the song that are going through some tough times in life ("Just hang on, suffer well...An angel led me when I was blind, I said take me back I've changed my mind, now I believe..."). Thumbs up to David for writing a very good song.
04. The Sinner In Me: The synthesizers in this song make it reminiscent of Nine Inch Nail's song "Closer." This is the most industrial song they've recorded since "People Are People," but this is by far better than it. Just when you think it's over, Martin's kick ass guitar solo brings you right back into the song for one more chorus.
05. Precious: This is definitely the "sweetest" song on the album, and by "sweetest" I mean in sound and melody. Very upbeat compared to the rest of the album so far. The song is definitely moving (emotionally and physically). If you know the story behind the song, it can even be touching and heartbreaking at the same time. This is one of David's best vocals on the album.
06. Macro: There are some similarities between this and "Comatose," what with the various sounds made by the synthesizers in the background. The guitar solo at the end would remind you of "Breathe" if you listen closely. Martin's vocals are pretty good and they are enhanced with David singing the chorus in the background.
07. I Want It All: The beginning of this song may remind you of Paper Monsters, which is no surprise because this was written by David. This is one of the best ballads (if you can call them that when referring to this band) they've ever done. Traces of "Waiting For The Night" show up here in various places.
08. Nothing's Impossible: Another song that has a couple of uplifting lyrics in the mist of the pain, suffering and darkness ("Even the stars look brighter tonight...I still believe in love at first sight, nothing's impossible.") This also reminds me of Paper Monsters, but not as much as the previous track.
09. Introspectre: Not one of their best instrumentals. They have had better ones ("Headstar", "Uselink"), but this doesn't mean it's all bad. It does sort of tie in with the next track. It's not good, but it's not bad. It's just there, and there's nothing you can do about it, except skip to the next song.
10. Damaged People: The best vocal performance by Martin on the record. The high note he reaches at the end of each chorus can get you right down to your very soul. Ends way too soon. It could have gone on for at least another minute or so.
11. Lilian: Another dance track makes the cut. This song, in my opinion, has the album's mantra ("Pain and misery always hit the spot"). Reminiscent of songs from Violator and Music For The Masses. Another great guitar solo from Martin throughout the song after the first chorus. David's vocals are very good in this song, just like the rest of the songs on the album that he sings.
12. The Darkest Star: What a beautiful song to close the record out with. And, dare I say, it reminds me a little bit of "Goodnight Lovers", I guess because of the slow lullaby quality to it. Martin's harmony vocals are very haunting in this song. So are David's lead vocals, especially towards the end of the song. A very beautiful song indeed. As it fades, you just want more, but there is no more, for this is the end of the album; the journey you take with Depeche Mode for 52 minutes out of your life.
Overall Feelings: I've been listening to this album all the way through, no skipping tracks, in my CD player since I bought it yesterday (yes, all the way through, people. I can bring myself to listen to "Introspectre"). I'm not letting a mediocre instrumental throw me off when I say that this a great record. Everything is falling into place for the band again and they're better than ever.
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 stars.
© Allyson Yates, 2005
01. A Pain That I'm Used To: The introduction sounds like the introductions of "I Feel You" and "The Dead of Night" remixed together. This song has angst written all over it. It is interesting, though, how one of the last lines of the song is "with a prayer in the air I will leave it there, on a note full of hope, not despair." Kinda contradictory, huh? Great way to open up the record.
02. John The Revelator: I keep imagining that this song would fit into a "Jesus Christ Superstar"-esque movie. The music would totally fit in with that type of film. Without a doubt one of the catchiest songs on the album, especially with the call-and-response chorus ("Well, who's that shouting? John the Revelator!").
03. Suffer Well: One of the selected tracks on this album that, in my opinion, you can be able to dance to. This song also has one of the best guitar riffs Martin plays on the record. The chorus could be taken as sort of an inspiration to people listening to the song that are going through some tough times in life ("Just hang on, suffer well...An angel led me when I was blind, I said take me back I've changed my mind, now I believe..."). Thumbs up to David for writing a very good song.
04. The Sinner In Me: The synthesizers in this song make it reminiscent of Nine Inch Nail's song "Closer." This is the most industrial song they've recorded since "People Are People," but this is by far better than it. Just when you think it's over, Martin's kick ass guitar solo brings you right back into the song for one more chorus.
05. Precious: This is definitely the "sweetest" song on the album, and by "sweetest" I mean in sound and melody. Very upbeat compared to the rest of the album so far. The song is definitely moving (emotionally and physically). If you know the story behind the song, it can even be touching and heartbreaking at the same time. This is one of David's best vocals on the album.
06. Macro: There are some similarities between this and "Comatose," what with the various sounds made by the synthesizers in the background. The guitar solo at the end would remind you of "Breathe" if you listen closely. Martin's vocals are pretty good and they are enhanced with David singing the chorus in the background.
07. I Want It All: The beginning of this song may remind you of Paper Monsters, which is no surprise because this was written by David. This is one of the best ballads (if you can call them that when referring to this band) they've ever done. Traces of "Waiting For The Night" show up here in various places.
08. Nothing's Impossible: Another song that has a couple of uplifting lyrics in the mist of the pain, suffering and darkness ("Even the stars look brighter tonight...I still believe in love at first sight, nothing's impossible.") This also reminds me of Paper Monsters, but not as much as the previous track.
09. Introspectre: Not one of their best instrumentals. They have had better ones ("Headstar", "Uselink"), but this doesn't mean it's all bad. It does sort of tie in with the next track. It's not good, but it's not bad. It's just there, and there's nothing you can do about it, except skip to the next song.
10. Damaged People: The best vocal performance by Martin on the record. The high note he reaches at the end of each chorus can get you right down to your very soul. Ends way too soon. It could have gone on for at least another minute or so.
11. Lilian: Another dance track makes the cut. This song, in my opinion, has the album's mantra ("Pain and misery always hit the spot"). Reminiscent of songs from Violator and Music For The Masses. Another great guitar solo from Martin throughout the song after the first chorus. David's vocals are very good in this song, just like the rest of the songs on the album that he sings.
12. The Darkest Star: What a beautiful song to close the record out with. And, dare I say, it reminds me a little bit of "Goodnight Lovers", I guess because of the slow lullaby quality to it. Martin's harmony vocals are very haunting in this song. So are David's lead vocals, especially towards the end of the song. A very beautiful song indeed. As it fades, you just want more, but there is no more, for this is the end of the album; the journey you take with Depeche Mode for 52 minutes out of your life.
Overall Feelings: I've been listening to this album all the way through, no skipping tracks, in my CD player since I bought it yesterday (yes, all the way through, people. I can bring myself to listen to "Introspectre"). I'm not letting a mediocre instrumental throw me off when I say that this a great record. Everything is falling into place for the band again and they're better than ever.
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 stars.
© Allyson Yates, 2005
Monday, March 10, 2014
February Favorites!
Ohhh yeah! Finally, after life getting in the way with no time to update, it's time for February favorites!
- Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show Man...I didn't see this coming at all. I honestly thought I would be writing about the actual game itself, but you know how that went if you were rooting for the Broncos. I'm not even gonna go there right about now, back to what I'm actually writing about here! I was highly impressed with Bruno Mars. Until I saw this, I'd only heard a couple of songs; never saw a live performance of his. He has a great vibe about him on stage and I would possibly maybe pay to see him live (which is a huge thing for me to say since the only concerts I've went to were from Depeche Mode). I also like how the medley incorporated the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This was the only highlight that came out of Super Bowl Sunday for me!
- Buzzfeed Nothing like a little online entertainment to pep up a slow day! My Facebook feed has mostly been Buzzfeed quizzes and lists lately, and let me tell ya, those quizzes are quite addictive! Hell, I've come up with an alter ego of sorts from some of my answers (this is what I do when I have too much time on my hands. And yes, it will be a blog entry at some point in the near future).
- "Happy" by Pharrell Williams I heard this song for the first time this past month and it's been in my head every damn day, in the best possible way! And the video is great, too. I thought it was so clever of Pharrell to make a 24 hour music video for the song. I haven't watched the whole thing yet, that would be almost impossible. But I would give it a try because the song is that awesome.
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon I'm a relatively new fan of Jimmy Fallon - very vague memories of him on SNL; liked his stuff on Late Night but didn't watch it regularly - but now, I can't imagine NOT watching him every night before I go to bed! His first show came on when my mom was very sick and I was extremely stressed out about it, so watching him gave me a much needed laugh or two, and I've been watching every night since. I can really see him hosting for a long, long time (maybe as long as Johnny Carson did? Hmmmmm...) I'm also going to see a monologue rehearsal on the 21st, so I will DEFINITELY be writing about that, and, hopefully, will have pictures to accompany that!
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
From The Archives: If I Landed In L.A.
Maybe it’s because I've lived here my whole life, but I've always felt partial to New York City: Madison Avenue, the Empire State Building, Alphabet City, yellow taxis and the Brooklyn Bridge. So many places and things that make New York City what it is. George Carlin said it best: “L.A. is a little woman saying ‘fuck me.’ New York is a big man saying ‘fuck you.’” Don’t get me wrong, I like a good fuck, but to get through life, you have to give people the finger once in a while. So, I feel that New York City is the place for me.
Oddly enough, my favorite author is Francesca Lia Block. She writes such beautiful fairy tales that take place in L.A., and I enjoy reading them. But honestly, I don’t feel that if I were to land in L.A. somehow that I would have such a beautiful experience like the characters in her books.
I can see it now.
My plane landing in LAX.
I’d step off the plane and all types of alarms would go off in the minds of the rich bitch socialites. I mean, come on, let’s be real here, I’m 5’4″,curvy 286 lbs. That is NOT how a girl from L.A. is supposed to look (if you believe billboards and such)! They would rush to the Gate and give me SlimQuick, Dexatrim and other countless diet drugs; blonde hair dye, red lipstick, and anything else to make me look just like them. It would be something out of The Stepford Wives; manipulation at it’s finest.
This is why I wouldn't think of living there. I’m not interested in being stripped of my individuality. I like who I am. It took years to accept it, but I honestly feel like I mean it this time. Give me the bright lights of the Big Apple any day. New York City helps me express myself, not hide behind anything.
Oddly enough, my favorite author is Francesca Lia Block. She writes such beautiful fairy tales that take place in L.A., and I enjoy reading them. But honestly, I don’t feel that if I were to land in L.A. somehow that I would have such a beautiful experience like the characters in her books.
I can see it now.
My plane landing in LAX.
I’d step off the plane and all types of alarms would go off in the minds of the rich bitch socialites. I mean, come on, let’s be real here, I’m 5’4″,curvy 286 lbs. That is NOT how a girl from L.A. is supposed to look (if you believe billboards and such)! They would rush to the Gate and give me SlimQuick, Dexatrim and other countless diet drugs; blonde hair dye, red lipstick, and anything else to make me look just like them. It would be something out of The Stepford Wives; manipulation at it’s finest.
This is why I wouldn't think of living there. I’m not interested in being stripped of my individuality. I like who I am. It took years to accept it, but I honestly feel like I mean it this time. Give me the bright lights of the Big Apple any day. New York City helps me express myself, not hide behind anything.
Monday, February 17, 2014
S@#*& My Mom Says!
There are times when my mom and I could be talking or watching TV and she'll say something extremely funny. And most of those times I do have access to Twitter to post them to my friends because it's just hysterical. Well after getting my Twitter archive the other day I couldn't believe how many things that fell out of my mother's mouth that I recorded onto social media. So I decided to put some of her best gems into a tidy little post. Enjoy!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Mail Call!: Boxycharm & Birchbox Subscription Boxes - February 2014
Another month of Boxycharm and a newly renewed Birchbox subscription jump start! I love when I get mail! Also, take note of how clear my pictures are now, thanks to my new Olympus digital camera. No more iPod Touch photos! Well, except for the monthly faves because it's easier to make collages with PicFrame, but I digress. Let's see what I got: up close and personal. Pictures after the break!
Friday, February 7, 2014
January Favorites!
It's favorites time once again! Whoooooooot! So sorry that this wasn't up earlier in the week, but I got busy and my router broke (booooooo!) So let's see what's on the docket for this edition:
- NFL Playoffs Holy LORD! What a month of football it was! For those of you that don't know, I am a HUGE sports fan, with baseball and football being my top faves, so when it comes to playoff time, I'm all for it. Even if my team - the New York Football Giants - aren't in! I just love the game. And this year's playoffs did NOT disappoint! Unexpected blowouts and players at the top of their game and the Patriots getting eliminated. Couldn't ask for anything more! :P (And any Pats fans, don't hate me, please!)
- Juice Cubes Definitely my new favorite game to play on my NOOK! For me, the game isn't as addicting as, oh, Candy Crush (which makes me crazy!!), but it is a great time killer and the actual juice cubes are just so dang cute.
- Ulta I can't help but buy myself makeup, yo. It's a borderline unhealthy obsession, if you will. And Ulta just fed into it this past month because they kept giving me coupons! Like 20% off my whole order and $5 off of $10 or more...not to mention that their sales are pretty damn good as well. And they're online as well as having stores, since the only Ulta is NYC is impossible to get to. Enablers, I tell you!
- "Honey & I" by HAIM This was a little gem that I had found in my iTunes library after a free playlist download. I had heard of the band before but had never heard their work, and this track is just so smooth. It's something that you would play in your car on a sunny day while Sunday driving. Can't wait to give their entire album a listen.
Monday, January 27, 2014
From The Archives: "Bat For Lashes - Worth A Listen"
This was written for the arts section of the April 20, 2009 edition of the Brooklyn College Kingsman newspaper.
The highly-anticipated sophomore record from Bat For Lashes, Two Suns, is an acquired taste. At first listen, it may seem a bit quirky - not exactly what you would hear on today’s Top 40 radio, but after a few listens, it definitely grows on you. Natasha Khan’s gorgeous vocals and lyrical imagery keep you hooked on every track and wanting more. This album could be the soundtrack to a Francesca Lia Block novel. It sounds kind of like a passage from Weeztie Bat while listening, and it just fits, words and music; the same imagery is conjured up. Two Suns is a beautiful record from start to finish if you give it a chance.
The album’s opener, “Glass,” builds up from a cappella vocals and ambient sounds to a pulsating, tribal drumbeat; sings of “a thousand crystal towers,” “a hundred emerald cities,” and her “knight in crystal armor.” The drums will stick in your head for days. Khan’s falsetto throughout the chorus adds to the dreaminess of the track, definitely one of the highlights of this record.
“Daniel,” the album’s first single, and “Pearl’s Dream” use synthesizers and drum machines to create a 1980’s New Wave throwback. This is the closest thing to mainstream pop as it gets on this record. “Peace Of Mind” has a group of gospel singers assisting Khan in the lyrical mantra. “Two Planets” also has catchy percussion and handclaps that will get you moving. “Moon and Moon” is a minimalistic track, unlike the rest of the album, with just piano and vocals and the occasional snapping, but doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Another highlight on this record is “Siren Song.” This piano-driven ballad showcases Khan’s beautiful voice singing about being in love and happy with someone until they take her away (“Promise I’ll never get sad/’Till the siren comes calling, calling”). This song also introduces Khan’s album alter ego, Pearl, which is present throughout the whole album (“My name is Pearl and I’ll love you/The best way I know how/My blonde curls slice through your heart”). From this track on forward, you can start to see these songs weaving together to create this concept. “Pearl’s Dream” mentions “a sign that says ‘Good Love Town’” and the subsequent track is named “Good Love” (“Passed it last night in a dream/Good Love/And my heart caught fire”).
“The Big Sleep,” the final track, has vocal arrangements that could make this get away with closing an opera. This is a very poignant ending to the record. The first line in “Glass” is “I will rise now” and the final line of “The Big Sleep” is “Goodbye my dears and into the big sleep I go.” The journey has ended, the album is done and you feel as if you just woke up from a dream that you didn’t want to get up from. One can’t help but think that this was Khan’s intention while writing and recording the album: to take us on a journey with her words and the music. Mission accomplished.
© Allyson Yates, 2009
The highly-anticipated sophomore record from Bat For Lashes, Two Suns, is an acquired taste. At first listen, it may seem a bit quirky - not exactly what you would hear on today’s Top 40 radio, but after a few listens, it definitely grows on you. Natasha Khan’s gorgeous vocals and lyrical imagery keep you hooked on every track and wanting more. This album could be the soundtrack to a Francesca Lia Block novel. It sounds kind of like a passage from Weeztie Bat while listening, and it just fits, words and music; the same imagery is conjured up. Two Suns is a beautiful record from start to finish if you give it a chance.
The album’s opener, “Glass,” builds up from a cappella vocals and ambient sounds to a pulsating, tribal drumbeat; sings of “a thousand crystal towers,” “a hundred emerald cities,” and her “knight in crystal armor.” The drums will stick in your head for days. Khan’s falsetto throughout the chorus adds to the dreaminess of the track, definitely one of the highlights of this record.
“Daniel,” the album’s first single, and “Pearl’s Dream” use synthesizers and drum machines to create a 1980’s New Wave throwback. This is the closest thing to mainstream pop as it gets on this record. “Peace Of Mind” has a group of gospel singers assisting Khan in the lyrical mantra. “Two Planets” also has catchy percussion and handclaps that will get you moving. “Moon and Moon” is a minimalistic track, unlike the rest of the album, with just piano and vocals and the occasional snapping, but doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Another highlight on this record is “Siren Song.” This piano-driven ballad showcases Khan’s beautiful voice singing about being in love and happy with someone until they take her away (“Promise I’ll never get sad/’Till the siren comes calling, calling”). This song also introduces Khan’s album alter ego, Pearl, which is present throughout the whole album (“My name is Pearl and I’ll love you/The best way I know how/My blonde curls slice through your heart”). From this track on forward, you can start to see these songs weaving together to create this concept. “Pearl’s Dream” mentions “a sign that says ‘Good Love Town’” and the subsequent track is named “Good Love” (“Passed it last night in a dream/Good Love/And my heart caught fire”).
“The Big Sleep,” the final track, has vocal arrangements that could make this get away with closing an opera. This is a very poignant ending to the record. The first line in “Glass” is “I will rise now” and the final line of “The Big Sleep” is “Goodbye my dears and into the big sleep I go.” The journey has ended, the album is done and you feel as if you just woke up from a dream that you didn’t want to get up from. One can’t help but think that this was Khan’s intention while writing and recording the album: to take us on a journey with her words and the music. Mission accomplished.
© Allyson Yates, 2009
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
My Top 5 Albums of 2013
Is it too late to make a list of my top albums of 2013? Well I don't care because I'm gonna do it anyway! I listened to a LOT of music last year. Usually I go for just singles, but I listened to a lot of albums. A lot of good albums. Most of which were 2013 albums, not older albums that I hadn't had the chance to listen to. So that's why this list will consist of albums that were released in 2013; that I first listened to in 2013. So even though Arcade Fire's Reflektor was released last year, it won't be on this list because I just listened to it a couple of weeks ago (Oops!). Alright, here we go:
Monday, January 20, 2014
The TMI Tag!
I got inspired by a video from two of my favorite YouTubers, Esteé (Essiebutton) and Sammi (Beautycrush), to do this TMI tag; the YouTube questions will be altered accordingly...aaaand here we go!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Mail Call!: Boxycharm Subscription Box - January 2014
So I restarted my Boxycharm subscription and got a great box today! Usually in these kind of subscription boxes, I would get products that I wouldn't get any use out of - due to shades that would not look good with my skin tone, among other reasons - and I would have to give them away to friends that would be able to get use out of them. But this time, I have to say, I got a pretty damn good variety of products! I have been getting into some neutrals/nudes lately, for face and nails, and this box nailed it! I would also like to apologize for the crappy picture quality of this, and any other blog post with pictures. I only have an iPod Touch at the moment, but that will soon be replaced, so for now, please bare with me until I get my new camera! Okay, now onto focusing on each product (the descriptions are from the card that came with the box):
Friday, January 10, 2014
From The Archives: "Depeche Mode Keeps The Universe Talking"
This was written for the arts section of the April 27, 2009 edition of the Brooklyn College Kingsman newspaper.
After a four year hiatus, Depeche Mode make their return to the music scene this year with their 12th studio album, Sounds Of The Universe. The Mode Men are one of the few bands left out of the 80’s post-punk/New Romantic movement that still makes (relevant) music in the new millennium. In a Mute/EMI Records press release it was declared that this record was “a Violator for the 21st century.” A little too much hype, perhaps, but a great record nonetheless. It could be put on the list of their best work to date.
The first track on a Depeche Mode album makes a strong statement - that they have returned to embark on the next era of their almost 30 year career (i.e.: the siren intro on "A Pain That I'm Used To" from 2005's Playing The Angel) and “In Chains” is no exception to that tradition; starting off with a bombardment of analog synthesizers that could easily be a turn-off. But lead singer Dave Gahan’s rich baritone vocal will bring you right back.
The album’s first single, “Wrong,” is an anthem for the outsiders. With its lyrical chant of life gone wrong (“I was born with the wrong sign/In the wrong house/With the wrong ascendancy…There’s something wrong with me chemically/Something wrong with me inherently…”), primary songwriter/guitarist Martin Gore has succeeded yet again with writing lyrics that would make one reach for the black goth clothes from the closet; put on the heavy black eyeliner and sing right along, and have no remorse while doing so. Not since “Barrel Of A Gun” from 1997’s Ultra have they released a dark single to announce they’re back.
This album marks the second time that Gahan has contributed songs to a Depeche Mode record (the first time being Playing The Angel in 2005). The three songs that he contributed this time around -“Hole To Feed,” “Come Back,” and “Miles Away/The Truth Is” - show that his writing is getting stronger as time goes on. There is a significant evolution from his debut solo album, 2003’s Paper Monsters.
“In Sympathy,” “Fragile Tension” and “Little Soul” are the most classic Depeche Mode-sounding tracks on the album, with their heavy use of analog synths and familiar melodies to any fan’s ears; best fit for the dance floor or for sitting around in those black clothes and matching eyeliner. You can easily fit these tracks within past records, such as Violator and Music For The Masses.
“Corrupt” closes the record with raunchy lyrics and crunching guitars, proving once again that Gahan’s voice and Gore’s words are a match made in musical heaven. After the song ends, there are about three minutes of dead-air, until a music-box version of the melody of “Wrong” is reprised to officially close the album; leaving the album on a high, open-ended note.
Depeche Mode fans always speculate over if they will ever release another record, since they only have a new album roughly every four years. With this kind of close to Sounds Of The Universe, it’ll keep the fans talking and wanting more for after their massive world tour is completed.
© Allyson Yates, 2009
After a four year hiatus, Depeche Mode make their return to the music scene this year with their 12th studio album, Sounds Of The Universe. The Mode Men are one of the few bands left out of the 80’s post-punk/New Romantic movement that still makes (relevant) music in the new millennium. In a Mute/EMI Records press release it was declared that this record was “a Violator for the 21st century.” A little too much hype, perhaps, but a great record nonetheless. It could be put on the list of their best work to date.
The first track on a Depeche Mode album makes a strong statement - that they have returned to embark on the next era of their almost 30 year career (i.e.: the siren intro on "A Pain That I'm Used To" from 2005's Playing The Angel) and “In Chains” is no exception to that tradition; starting off with a bombardment of analog synthesizers that could easily be a turn-off. But lead singer Dave Gahan’s rich baritone vocal will bring you right back.
The album’s first single, “Wrong,” is an anthem for the outsiders. With its lyrical chant of life gone wrong (“I was born with the wrong sign/In the wrong house/With the wrong ascendancy…There’s something wrong with me chemically/Something wrong with me inherently…”), primary songwriter/guitarist Martin Gore has succeeded yet again with writing lyrics that would make one reach for the black goth clothes from the closet; put on the heavy black eyeliner and sing right along, and have no remorse while doing so. Not since “Barrel Of A Gun” from 1997’s Ultra have they released a dark single to announce they’re back.
This album marks the second time that Gahan has contributed songs to a Depeche Mode record (the first time being Playing The Angel in 2005). The three songs that he contributed this time around -“Hole To Feed,” “Come Back,” and “Miles Away/The Truth Is” - show that his writing is getting stronger as time goes on. There is a significant evolution from his debut solo album, 2003’s Paper Monsters.
“In Sympathy,” “Fragile Tension” and “Little Soul” are the most classic Depeche Mode-sounding tracks on the album, with their heavy use of analog synths and familiar melodies to any fan’s ears; best fit for the dance floor or for sitting around in those black clothes and matching eyeliner. You can easily fit these tracks within past records, such as Violator and Music For The Masses.
“Corrupt” closes the record with raunchy lyrics and crunching guitars, proving once again that Gahan’s voice and Gore’s words are a match made in musical heaven. After the song ends, there are about three minutes of dead-air, until a music-box version of the melody of “Wrong” is reprised to officially close the album; leaving the album on a high, open-ended note.
Depeche Mode fans always speculate over if they will ever release another record, since they only have a new album roughly every four years. With this kind of close to Sounds Of The Universe, it’ll keep the fans talking and wanting more for after their massive world tour is completed.
© Allyson Yates, 2009
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
From The Archives: "Ex-Files: A Valentine's Day Show" Monologue
Sometimes there's something that I wrote in the past that I enjoyed so much that I would want to share it online. This is from two years ago, when I had the opportunity to write a monologue for an off-off-Broadway show. I took something from my own life and was able to make it into something positive. I was unfortunately unable to see it performed live.
Here I am, once again, spending yet another Valentine’s Day alone. Just me, a bottle of Jack, some Thai takeout and a Martin and Lewis movie. It’s a hell of a lot more fun than what I did last year. I had been going out with this guy Marc for a year and a half. It was one of those situations where we were really good friends and then...BAM! We fell in love. We were even talking marriage and honeymooning in Hawaii and adopting children and being together forever and ever. We had been planning our Valentine’s Day rendezvous: a home cooked meal at Marc’s place, complete with champagne, chicken parmigiana, tiramisu and a lot of alone time. Then while I was at work just days before, I got the phone call. Just like that, it was over. The atomic bomb had blown up right in my face. I cried so hard I started to shake. My friends tried to calm me down, but it was no use. I had crashed and was about to burn. For a few weeks, I was a zombie. I couldn’t help it, I mean, he was my everything, we did everything together and I couldn’t imagine life without him. During that time I had found out from his sister that he had cheated on me one night at a party they went to, where he made out and groped this other girl, who became his new girlfriend just in time for Valentine’s Day. All of my friends kept trying to get me to go out to meet new people and just get myself out of the routine that I conveniently put myself into: work, cry, sleep, repeat. One night, my friend Adrianna came over with a Starbucks frappuccino and this little black box for me. I opened it up, and there was a tube of red lipstick in there called "Bombshell." I gave her a look that said: you have to be fucking kidding me. "Just put it on." So I did. I went to the bathroom and dabbed a bit of it on my lips. Well, I don’t know if it was the lipstick or not, but in that moment, I felt confident and alive, two things I certainly didn’t feel for a while. I thought that she was pulling some voodoo shit on the lipstick before she packed it. Adrianna peaked in and said "Well, how do you feel?" "I feel like I’m on top of the whole goddamn world!" Then I got to thinking: the last time I felt like that was when I was with Marc. That’s when it hit me. I was depending on someone else to be happy. That is NOT a way to live. So right then and there I decided, fuck it! I’m going to live my life and not wait for the next man to come along to make me feel complete. That week I was back out with my friends, feeling much better about myself and ready for anything! And that brings me back to what I’m doing now. I’m not with anybody and I’m happy just staying at home with my quirky tastes in food and movies. No chocolate overdosing. No self-pity. No tears. It’s amazing what a shade of red on your lips can do!
© Allyson Yates, 2012
© Allyson Yates, 2012
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