Music Nostalgia

(NOTE: I wrote this last week but my Internet has been a bit of a poop all week so here it is anyway, I'm gonna write something else in a bit as well :D)

Thursday 25th July 2013

So this afternoon I was going through my collection of albums to find some CDs to give to my best friend and I was looking at them, thinking about how each of them have somehow had some sort of influence on me and my attitude about life and all that cheesy stuff.  So I decide to compile this little list of things together.

The first album I ever bought for myself was A Beautiful Lie by 30 Seconds to Mars. I was thirteen years old and I had just watched the video for 'A Beautiful Lie' on television and that was probably the first time I was so inspired by music and I would say too, the moment I became so interested in music. I went to the music shop pretty much the next day and bought the album and listened to it in complete awe. Everything about the album was perfect to me, it had emotion and had such empowering lyrics, especially after entering my teenage years and feeling as if I had found some sort of solace and a place in society.

Don't Panic by All Time Low is the album I feel has a song for every occasion. I felt as if last year I was in this really weird rut for the most part. When the album came out, I listened to it on repeat for about a month (well not literally, you get me right?). But it just felt so appropriate for everything that was happening around me. It is probably my favourite album that I own.

Pretty much anything by blink-182 somehow captures everything about my time growing up. I think everyone can agree with me on that though. If you look beneath the pretty ridiculous lyrics, the meanings of some of the songs are amazing. 'Dammit' from Dude Ranch is one of those songs which have encapsulated the majority of my teenage angst. While it is about a break up, it kind of has the same messages about friendships as well. I grew up having some pretty interesting friendships and associated myself with some "interesting" (for a lack of a better word) people who I had some pretty interesting times with. But blink-182 just always seem to help me with everything. 

I got into Avenged Sevenfold towards the end of last year and I'm so bloody glad I got into them when I did. In November last year, my dog passed away-I was honestly convinced that Bonnie was my guardian angel who always cheered me up. So when I bought Nightmare, the album which is a tribute to The Rev, it helped me so much with dealing with the grief of not having Bonnie around and getting used to life without her. I do miss her terribly almost nine months down the track, but I don't think I would've gotten my act together as quickly if I didn't have that album.

The Flood by Of Mice & Men is the album I listen to when I'm getting pumped or prepared for something. It doesn't even matter what it is, I listen to it when I go for a run and it makes me feel like I'm on a mission. They're lyrics are really empowering and inspirational and there's something about the emotion in Austin Carlile's vocals that just make me what to get stuff done...or start a riot I'm not entirely sure.

When I'm sad, I listen to In Love and Death by The Used. That album means a lot to me, I used to listen to it whenever I was so inherently sad and it's really nice having a nice cry along to it. Bert's voice is just amazing and kind of raw as well and in some songs, particularly in All That I've Got. It's nice having that one album you can just let go to and this album has been the go-to album.

You're probably surprised that I haven't mentioned My Chemical Romance or Green Day in this post. It's because their albums Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and  American Idiot  are my anrgy albums. Being the genuinely angry person that I am, these albums make me feel like I'm not the victim in any of the drama that I encounter and that the problems I somehow embroiled myself in aren't necessarily always caused by me and my dumb actions. I feel really important when I listen to these albums and they make me feel like I could punch someone in the face if I truly wanted to.

So yes that's my music nostalgia for the day...or ever I'm not sure. It's really fascinating how music can have such a profound impact on everything in your life, isn't it?

FASHION *turn to the left* FASHION *turn to the right*

I feel like this is a nice little thing to ramble about while I'm on my laptop and doing nothing else.
I've recently had a really good streak with all my outfits and what I've been wearing when I go out (with the bar exception of when I went to St. Leonard's because I was in slacks all week). So yeah here we go:

Outfit One: 

Okay this was actually for a costume-my friend had an 80s birthday party and I dressed up as my ultimate favourite 80s singer Cyndi Lauper. She always had these bright outfits that just appeal to me so much, not to mention they were very kooky as well! This dress is is from Dangerfield and while it worked really well for the Cyndi Lauper inspired costume, its got this very retro 50s look to it. If anything, the 50s, 80s and 90s are my favourite eras in terms of fashion (I'll explain later), so this dress can ultimately work for anything. Not to mention that it's so easy for me to dress it up or dress it down. And those shoes *cries* they are my favourite red high heels (from Wittners) but the only thing is they are a little bit unwearable now since I tripped down some stairs and completely tore off the suede!

Outfit Two:

LR: Emily, Andrea, myself, Maddie, Niki and Katie

This dress, as you've probably seen in one of my earlier text posts, was my year eleven formal dress. Like I said, the fashion of the 1950s is the most amazing thing ever, so this dress is very Marilyn Monroe. I did a very Marylin-esque look for my formal, so two years later I decided to change it up a little bit. I attempted to go for a bit of a mix between Dita Von Teese and Marina Diamandis. In a way too, it was a bit of  a reflection on my new outlook of myself and my changing attitudes to people and my environment.

Outfit Three

What grunge softener do you use?

                                   

This for me was probably one of the most dramatic outfits I've ever worn. Along with the shoes and the tights (which were mock-thigh high socks) I never thought in my wildest dreams I would sport an outfit like I did last night. The dress itself I feel is very Courtney Love. Courtney Love is definitely a fashion icon for me and I've been trying to emulate her style from a very young age (trash talk Courtney all you want, I still love her okay). It was this perfect mix of punk and kinda sweet at the same time with the style of the dress and also the bow in my hair (which you obviously can't see).

I think the main reason why I'm now all experimental with what I wear is that I've finally found some medium and fashion icons who I can emulate for whatever reasons based on anything from personality or these people's body shapes or who and what they represent. Just expect my outfits to get crazier and more out there from here on in!

part deux to my little spiel the other night

So yes the other night I was very cranky about my friendships with some certain people. But after heaps of thinking and talking about my predicaments with other people, I've come to a conclusion which has cleared the air about it all-I need to stop pitying myself.

Why's that?

Because it's not my fault. It's these people's problems who decide to cut off all ties from me (and in all honesty, if you don't wanna be my friend you need to re-evaluate your life choices)

I try my hardest to be as genuine to everyone as I can possibly be-whether I'm in a ridiculously happy mood or I hit the lowest of lows. And I don't care who you are, if you're my best friend or if you're an acquaintance, they are usually the things that attract groups of people or a person to me and make them think "hey maybe I can be friends with this Ellie girl". I know some people can't tolerate it, or they can only tolerate my kookiness and angst in small doses. 

But in all honesty, I do not give a rat's arse about what you think of me or what you have to say about me for that matter. And don't be afraid to tell me something you don't like about me-I won't get offended, I will most likely retaliate with an insult or something to make you regret the moment you decided to even try and make my life difficult. 

I look at these situations in two lights; firstly there is the sadness when you realise that you've spent so much of your time putting in all this effort being friends with a complete douche canoe who evidently doesn't want to be your friend, sure it's sad. But I think after having some insights in the aftermath of these situations, that in all honesty I don't need to rely on these people for happiness. 

There are so many other things in life that I have that make me so happy-my family, my rabbit, my friends (who will always be there for me) and my music.

Don't let one twat waffle make your life hard, you just need to pick yourself up and tell yourself that all in all, you're the better person. They're not worth the tears and the drama, just wake up and smell the roses because there are so much more important things in life!

hmmm

I've been thinking lately about how much has changed since I finished high school in November last year. I have become so much more independent, responsible (for the most part) and mature, I got a job and all of a sudden I got a (bit of a) social life. I guess I can't complain. Right?
Wrong?
Something that still really irks me is how people who you consider to be your GOOD friends can treat you.
Growing up, I have always had some difficulty making friends. I still have this tendency to make friends with people if I can connect to them on an emotional level. It wasn't until I was about thirteen that I had finally found a solid group of friends who I could always rely on, and they still always have my back no matter what. But I always try to make new friends in different situations, like befriending friends of friends, trying to socialise at concerts and parties and whatnot. I have made some really good friends in these circumstances.
I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I think I'm a relatively good friend. If you want to be my friend and I want to be your friend, I will put in 110% to make sure that everything works well between us. I'm not judgemental in the slightest, I will laugh at your jokes, I will let you borrow my CDs, I'll buy you concert tickets-I will actually do anything for you to make sure that you're happy.

But it's funny how you can put your life on the line for the people who mean the most to you, and they don't reciprocate in the slightest. It's actually really heartbreaking actually.
I've gotten to the stage in my life so many times where I've lost so many friends due to the lack of reciprocation between us, but in a way, I don't think some people can handle my friendliness. I think my optimism when I finally make a new friend scares them away, as well as my really quirky characteristics and interests-the things that helped me make friends on my first day of high school.
So I guess in a way this is an apology.
I know I'm very loud and enthusiastic about everything and it makes me seem kinda...scary? so I'm sorry if that has been a factor as to why friendships that have fallen apart.
But seriously, if you have a problem in the slightest with me and you're not putting in your weight into our friendship. Can you please clearly tell me that you don't want to have anything to do with me? I won't get offended, but it will spare me the heartbreak, distress of not knowing what's happening between us, and also time that I spend putting in a one-sided friendship. You're better off calling me and friend breaking up with me than sending me one word text messages when I be myself and try and be your friend.

/endrant.

ELLIE'S ALBUM REVIEWS OF 2013 (so far)

We have passed the half way mark of 2013, and to be completely honest the past six months have been filled with amazing new albums from some amazing bands. There have been five albums which have been definite stand outs for me that have been released this year, and there are so many more to be released before the end of the year. So here it is, Ellie's album reviews of 2013.

5. Mindless Self Indulgence-How I Learned to Stop Giving a Shit and Love Mindless Self Indulgence

Apart from a re-release of their album Tight not too long ago, this is the first record that MSI have released since 2008. It isn't really drastically different from If or any of their other albums-which is really good, because sometimes when bands regurgitate the same stuff from their earlier albums it can seem boring and repetitive. It's got some really funny songs on it, my favourite being I Wanna Be Black. It's fantastic to have Mindless Self Indulgence back again!
Favourite song: I Wanna Be Black

Rating: 16.5/20

4. Sleeping With Sirens-Feel

Feel is such a different album from Sleeping With Sirens' earlier albums. It's a risky move for a band who classify as "post-hardcore" (wikipedia) to release such a light album. The good definitely outweighs any negativity in the way the album was put together. So much has happened for the band since the release of Let's Cheers to This which was released in 2011, and all these events are referred to in the lyrics (my favourite being Kellin mentioning his young daughter Copeland-my heart melted) My favourite thing about this album though were the different collaborations with Machine Gun Kelly-something that worked out unbelievably well, Shayley Bourget and Matty Mullin. All up, I really liked how it was so different and I honestly think the band has matured so much in between albums.

Favourite song: Congratulations

Rating: 17/20

3. Bring Me The Horizon-Sempiternal

I only started listening to BMTH at the start of the year, and they have gained a place in my heart as one of my favourite bands. This album is also really different to their previous albums, and I think that was my favourite thing about this record. Oli Sykes has put on an amazing display with his amazing vocals-something that in my opinion was not very apparent in their previous records. It is so much more melodic and beautiful in my opinion. I also love the emotion in some of the songs, it's just so raw and spectacular.And despite all the controversy surrounding the crediting of Jona Weinhofen, the album is still absolutely amazing and the band are truly taking over the world with this record. Not to mention, only 94 days until I see them for the first time, along with Of Mice & Men and Crossfaith! Yay!

Favourite song: Antivist

Rating: 18/20

2. 30 Seconds to Mars- Love, Lust, Faith + Dreams

Everyone knows how much this band mean to me, so having them release their fourth album that was so spectacular was just...*screams*. This album was not This Is War, but it definitely still has the epicness typical to the band. It's very experimental, and the themes of love, lust, faith and dreams (all the songs fall under some of the categories) make the album the amazing one that it is. The use of guitars and synthesizers, as well as the amazing drumming and raw vocals and lyrics, it's the recipe to the perfect album. Only 34 days until I see the band again! 

Favourite Song: Conquistador

Rating: 19/20

AND FINALLY....THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM OF 2013 SO FAR IS *cue drum roll*

Fall Out Boy-Save Rock and Roll

I think we all remember where we were when Fall Out Boy simultaneously announced that they had gotten back together, announced a promotional world tour, released a song and the date of their come back album-I fondly remember that it was 1am when my good friend casually text me "Fall Out Boy are back, just so you know" and I broke down crying in the arms of my other friends, then proceeded to sing the whole of Infinity on High loudly in tears. It was a beautiful moment. Anyway, this was probably one of the comebacks of the decade. For many people, Fall Out Boy's comeback acted as a solace after My Chemical Romance's break up-it gave hope to those who lost it (I know that was the case for me). But enough about their come back, this album is too very different and the songs are spectacular. They empower, they make you sing and they make you want to go on a roadtrip by the beach. As well as this, the collaborations were interesting-I still have no idea what Courtney Love is singing at the start of Rat A Tat-and amazing having Sir Elton John himself singing on one of the songs. It is so amazing having such a great band back on the scene and let's hope that the best things happen to them here on in.

Favourite song: is that a serious question?

Rating: magic/20

If you're so inclined, I will do a special on the past six months on my first radio show of semester two on Radio Monash! If you beg to differ on my opinions, let me know!