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!
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