Album Review: Supermodel by Foster The People

Well, Foster The People is finally back. And boy am I glad. The only song you heard on the radio by them for the past four years is "Pumped Up Kicks." Not saying that its a bad song, just it gets old after awhile. Earlier this year, the band released "Coming of Age," and it was an instant hit among fans who have been waiting too long for a new album from these guys. I, for one, am glad to see them back in the music scene and am enjoying the new album very much. I have seen several negative reviews on the album, but I personally think that is because not that many people actually like indie. If you are a fan of indie music, this album is a must-get.

The album starts off with the Alternative (which is what indie is, in a sense) "Are You What You Want To Be?" The song even has a little bit of a reggae sound, in my opinion. The song talks about how people these days are almost forced to do things they don't want to do. The second track is a nice ballad. "Ask Yourself" opens eyes to a lot of people. A lot of the time, people will dream and when they get what they dreamed of, they are not satisfied and just want more, aka greed.

"Coming of Age" is the band's first single in 3 years and first successful single in nearly 4 years. I love the song, a nice alternative tune with a lot of keyboard. It is about how things (like the band did) will change over time. "Nevermind" starts out with a nice finger picking of an acoustic guitar. The song suggests to forget what you are looking for because sometimes, it could be standing right in front of you.

"Pseudologia Fantastica" is probably my favorite song on the album. From the lyrics, it sounds like it is about the band's journey over the past three or four years. With the new album they almost had to start over since they were gone so long. "Best Friend" is technically the 6th song on the album, but there is an interlude ("The Angelic Welcome of Mr. Jones") between that and "Pseudologia Fantastica." It is probably my second favorite on the album. The title says it all. It is a song about best friends.

The album's 7th track, "A Beginner's Guide To Destroying The Moon," starts out with synths and that is pretty much what leads the entire song. The song has an almost sarcastic tone toward people who have "too much power." Indie can have some of the weirdest songs/lyrics ever, which might be why the album doesn't have as many good reviews as bad ones. That's exactly what "Goats in Trees" is. I kind of feel like its a nice acoustical love song but you never know sometimes. What do you think its about? Every song has a story.

"The Truth" has an almost Dubstep beat throughout the song. Fame can be a tough thing. You are always gonna get people criticizing you and they tell you what too be (which is what has happened to America's sweetheart, Taylor Swift). As most albums do, "Supermodel" ends with a slow song. "Fire Escape" is the only song on the album without keyboard being the main instrument. This world is becoming a scary place to live and you never know what's going to happen, so you have to save yourself.

The album is a little on the long side. The shortest non-interlude song on the album clocks in at 4:22. It could be a little better for working on it for four years, to be completely honest. Other than that, I am glad that these guys are finally back with new music. Now "Pumped Up Kicks" will (hopefully) stop playing so much.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Purchase Links: iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 Songs: "Coming of Age," "Best Friend," "Pseudologia Fantastica"

For Fans of: Echosmith, Of Monsters and Men, Switchfoot

My Thoughts On Gay Marriage...

Good afternoon everybody! I have been thinking about how to word this post for awhile now and I think I finally have the perfect wording and everything to make my opinions (based on truth) easy to understand. I would like to start this off by saying I am neutral on the whole gay marriage thing. I don't want anyone to start commenting stuff on this post and getting on me. If you didn't want to know my opinions, you shouldn't have read it. Simple as that.

1.) I do not think it is right to bully or make fun of them. That is wrong. I have been bullied and it hurts like hell. You cry and everything. Just think, if someone was bullying you, would you like it?

2.) Why is the media focused basically only on gay marriage? People are going to be gay so please get over it. There are other things in the news that could be covered that actually affect the wellbeing of America.

3.) I'm a Christian and am frankly pissed off on how the culture I represent treats gays. It is purely sick. The Bible says keep your bodies pure, yet 13, 14, 15+ year olds are having sex out of wedlock. The Bible says to not tattoo yourself or mark up your bodies. I have a tattoo, so I cant really say anything here. The Bible says "Help those in need." There are millions of people in America alone that need help. Why not focus news on that and help them? Most of all the Bible says "love one another."

All in all, people are going to be gay. We all need to get over it and deal with it.

Until Next Time,
Alex

5 Bands/Artists to Watch in 2014

Well, as you all know, I am a music junkie. Love every bit of it. So now, here is a new annual segment I am going to start on this blog. These are bands or artists that I think you need to watch this year. I think these bands will be big, either this year, or just a little bit longer than that. So watch out to bands like OneRepublic, Maroon 5 or Owl City. These bands/artists may just beat your album on the charts one day.

5. The Royal Concept

Who is The Royal Concept? Yeah, that was my question a few weeks back when my favorite band, Switchfoot, announced that these guys would be opening for them on the Spring Leg of the Fading West Tour. So of course, I go and look them up. Well not exactly. I was listening to iTunes radio for my other favorite band, Echosmith, when TRC's song "On Our Way" came on. "Hot dang they are good," I thought. So I listened to the entire Royal EP from them. Once again, I was not disappointed. Although I can't make it out to the Fading West Tour, I envy you if you can, because these guys seem like they would put on a good show.

4. J. Thoven

Let's keep up with the theme of bands that open for Switchfoot, why don't we? Well I saw these guys when they opened for Switchfoot back in June of 2013. I actually got their EP for free from their site before the show because I found out they were the opening act. The EP was enough sweetness to go around, but these guys put on one helluva live show. They blew everyone away. Including me. I think I was the only one who knew the words to their songs though haha. The sound like they are back in the studio, so if that is true I cannot wait to hear their new music because I guarantee it will be amazing.

3. Bridgit Mendler

Most known for her work on Good Luck Charlie and Lemonade Mouth, Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler really hasn't hit the big time music scene yet. The only people who really know about her is Radio Disney listeners (I don't listen though). I first found out about her album in mid-2012 when iTunes had her song "Hurricane" as the free single of the week. So, of course, loving indie, I buy the album and the whole album is phenomenal. Most Disney Channel stars-turned-singers either twerk or date Bieber. Not her. I don't see any reason why she would want to. Her music is mature for her age (21) yet still appropriate for her young audience. Its hard to believe Miley is the same age and does the stuff she does. I saw her live last June and she was amazing. Now that her contract with Disney Channel is ending, hopefully she can get to recording a second album. If its half as good as her debut album, Hello My Name Is..., Then she will definitely breakout.

2. Tiffany Alvord

What to say about Miss Alvord? Well she is young, beautiful and I think I am forgetting something... OH YEAH! She can sing. And most of the world doesn't actually know it. She has been putting covers of current top 40 hits on YouTube for going of 5 years now. And not to mention has 2 full-length original albums with music videos to about half those songs. I have been watching her for a good 3 or 4 years at this point and have just wanted her to breakout so bad, but that just hasn't happened yet and I don't know why. She writes songs in a similar way as Taylor Swift. So why is it that Taylor is the biggest popstar in the world and Tiffany isn't? That is a question I, sadly, cannot answer. She is currently in the writing stage for her third original album, and I hope for her sake, it kicks major ass on iTunes, Billboard, all that lovely stuff. If not by itself, I will make sure that she gets huge.

1. Echosmith

If you follow me on Twitter (@Alex_Vanderspek if you don't), you see me tweet about these guys and girl all the time. I don't know how they aren't huge yet, considering they were on Warped Tour last year. They gained a few fans at every show, but not like other bands. But there is a reason why. Because they are Indie. Indie is slowly becoming popular, but definitely isn't favored by most parties. They are definitely at the top of my list for most played bands on my iPod. The band of four siblings, Sydney (lead vocals, keys), Jaime (guitar, vocals), Noah (bass, vocals), and Graham Sierota (drums), released their debut album Talking Dreams back in October. It is definitely, in my opinion, up there with my favorite albums of 2013. The best part about them? They are all 20 or under. In fact, I'm older than 3/4 of the band. Just trust me, go to Warped 2014, see these guys, buy a shirt and a CD and watch them become a household name in the near future. Oh and give them hugs and get an autograph too. 

What bands/artists do you think will be big this year? I think I'm pretty accurate with my predictions. If you're reading this, comment with your guess.

Until Next Time,

Alex  

insert depressing Valentine's Day post title here

Hey Guys!! Sorry I haven't posted in nearly a month, just been really busy with school starting back up and all. I hope you all have been doing well. Considering it is still one of the most viewed posts on this blog, I decided to do a second annual post about Valentine's Day. Before you start reading, though, I do want to let you know that my views toward this "holiday" have changed in the past year. I want this one to come off more with a message. Don't get me wrong, I will still be funny as I usually am in my posts, just I want people's view of this day to change.

Let me start the official part of this post by saying Happy Valentine's Day or Single's Awareness Day, you choose which one relates to you. Mine leans more to the side of SAD. Let me say this, for the first time in a while, I actually don't mind being "single." There are many plus sides to it. for example, I don't have to buy a girl all this stuff. Trust me, when God shows me the future "Mrs. Alex Vanderspek," I will, but for now, my money is mine haha. And when I look at it, what would it do for me in the long run? Honestly, having a girlfriend would be fun, but I'm only 19. You are supposed to start dating when you're ready to get married and I'm far from even taking marriage into consideration. Right now, I'm in college working toward getting a Bachelor's Degree in Music Production. I don't need a soul to hold either.

Now to everyone celebrating this day, you suck because you have someone on this day. Lol kidding, but this is a day to celebrate love. So, let me get this straight, girls, is this the only day you want your boyfriend to "love" you? Like really! Shouldn't you love each other every freakin day that you're together? Yeah, I think so.

Now back to ALL THE SINGLE LADIES (and guys, I just wanted to throw a little Beyonce in there for you). Guess what!? You no longer have to feel all depressed because you are single! There is someone who loves you and I mean LOVES, bro. He even sent His one and only child to die. For you. Well let me say this, if someone told me I would have to die for every dang person in this world, I would say, "HAIL NO! ARE YA CRAZY IN THE HEAD!?" Lol well Jesus didn't say that, When He easily could have. God loves you more than any boy or girl EVER could. I'm being serious. It may suck majorly when someone just cuts your relationship off, (I go back to December 2013 lol) but God is there. Guess what!? No matter what you do, God will never love you less. He will never "break-up" with you. He may get a little disappointed when you sin, but God is love. You are a beautiful creation of His. Love is one of the most mentioned things in the Bible. Embrace it man

Now this last paragraph relates to EVERYONE, whether you are single or un-single. Instead of planning a really nice date. Instead of eating Ice Cream and watching movies. Instead of giving up your V-Card (Valentine's Day movie reference). I say, go feed some homeless people and tell them about Jesus. You know what the cool thing is? If you are in a relationship, you are still together on Valentine's Day AND you are spreading love. You can even do this if you are single. It's actually pretty cool. Valentine's Day is just another commercialized "holiday" about love. So lets all un-commercialize it by helping others! Isn't that a great idea?

If you read this, thank you so much! I love you. And I mean it!

Until Next Time,
Alex

Anberlin. The End.

I really can't believe this news that was announced yesterday. Anberlin is breaking up after 12 years of being a band. Just 2 weeks after their announcement that they will be on the world's biggest tour this Summer, Warped Tour, they say they will be releasing one final album and going on one final headlining tour as a band. I honestly didn't see this coming and am actually kind of shocked. I was kind of wondering after they released their THIRD career greatest hits album. I never thought it would be the end of them though. In their 12-year run as a band, they have sold millions of albums and have easily become one of America's most popular alternative bands. They toured with bands like Switchfoot, The Maine, Stars In Stereo and Paper Route. All their albums (six total) debuted in the top 20 of Billboard.com's Hot 200 chart. I'm sure their last album will be the same. I'm completely positive. And don't be surprised, either, if it reaches number one.

I first became a fan of their music when "The Unwinding Cable Car" was a single and I heard it on the radio. That song was so amazing, so I decided to buy the entire "Cities" album. That is still one of my favorite albums. Then, I got a compilation with their song "Glass To the Arson" which is one of my favorite rock songs of all time, if not my favorite. Those two songs began my obsession, so I ended up getting every album of theirs. If you haven't discovered them yet, I think you are out of your mind. 7 albums (with the 8th coming this Summer) all of them being phenomenal both lyrically and instrumentally. I think Stephen has one of the most unique voices I have ever heard. I love how no two albums of theirs sound the same. I'm gonna miss this band like hell. And I mean it. They will forever be in my hearts as one of my favorite bands. God bless Anberlin because I know they are breaking up for a good reason. Although we may not know what yet.

Until Next Time, Alex

What I Learned During My Social and Texting Fast

Well let me start this off by saying that this was a lot easier than I thought it would be. At the beginning, it was tough, but God got me through. What I did is did not go on any social sites and didn't text for a week as part of my new year's resolution. I'm addicted to it at an unhealthy level. I never realized that until the end of the fast. I also am not a Christian. I'm not afraid to admit that. I USED TO, before the fast, listen to mainly mainstream music. There is nothing wrong with mainstream music, just when you listen to it more than Christian music, there is. I also never read the Bible, unless I was in Church. Which is 30 minutes on a Sunday morning. That is not enough. In fact, you should spend at least 30 minutes a day reading it. I feel like this fast changed my life for the better. I am gonna look at life a whole lot different now. I will be texting less and reading the Bible/praying more. If it wasn't for God "making" me do this, I was pretty sure I was headed for hell at the end of my life. Now, I can work on getting to heaven.

Until Next Time,
Alex

Album Review: Fading West by Switchfoot

BREAKING NEWS: The best album of 2014 has released. And only two weeks into the new year! Well, that is actually just my humble opinion and it isn't only because they are my favorite band and I have been waiting for this album for over 2 years. In their 8th studio project, Switchfoot once again reaches new heights and has songs that you will hear everyone at the concert singing along to. I describe their music as "Surfer Indie Rock," which is exactly what it is. I found out about this movie/cd combination in June of 2012 when I went to their concert and there were cameras and Jon said "Tonight we are recording a movie called 'Fading West.'" About a year and a half after it, the soundtrack that accompanies the movie is released. Coming off the best 2 albums of their career ("Hello Hurricane and "Vice Verses"), they had a lot to hold up to. They didn't want to just write "another 3-minute pop song." They wanted to reach new heights and I believe they did that and then some. The 11 songs on the album not only reflect their journey as a band, but their memories of being one of America's most popular bands that travel the world for a living. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you "Fading West."

The album's lead-off track is one of the best I have ever heard. "Love Alone Is Worth the Fight" is about how love is such a touchy subject these days. The title says it all. Love is one of the few things that is truly worth fighting for. That's what the band has always focused on. Jon Foreman, rhythm guitarist, lead singer and main songwriter for the band, has always written about probably every kind of love that their is. The band is so successful because they are full of love. "Who We Are," the album's lead single and is the most personal song about the band's journey on the record. At the beginning of their career, they were told a lot that they would never make it far, which is what made them so popular. They even state that the band has came farther than they ever expected.

"When We Come Alive" is basically Jon reflecting on how surprised and excited he is that Switchfoot became so popular. He even states in the film that he never in a million years thought they would release eight full-length studio albums. When they come alive, they light the sky. Being a musician is one of the hardest careers out there, since you are away from your family for most of the year. The fourth track on the album, "Say It Like You Mean It," is my favorite. I love the beginning bass riff. This is the song about people criticizing the band and saying that they would never make it. They didn't believe those words, even if the person saying it said it like they meant it. They took those words and never gave up. In fact, they turned it into eight full length albums.

"The World You Want" features a little snippet of them singing in Bali. The song has very similar lyrics as their 2004 hit "This Is Your Life." Everyday that you live, you make the world that you are living in. Your choices, your actions make the world around you. Who you choose as friends, what you do, etc. For Switchfoot, their music makes their world and if I were them, I would enjoy every minute of it. "Slipping Away" is another reflection of Jon's of how all of Switchfoot's success feels like a dream. He never quit and he and Switchfoot deserves every bit of success they have gotten. They have gone through hell, but survived because of their perseverance.

"BA55" is the longest song on the album, yet has the least lyrics. It's almost like a worship song. In the song, Jon writes on how he wants and believes that God is the fire that can burn him clean of all his mistakes. He is telling God to take his soul in the song because, without God, they would be nowhere near where they are today. "Let It Out" is another one of my favorites on the album. When Switchfoot first started out, all their members were in high school. They were really scared to sing in front of everyone and were scared that they would never be successful. They then realized that life is short and sometimes you got to step out of your comfort zone if you want to be a successful person in life.

"All Or Nothing At All" is basically Jon's song to Switchfoot's fans. They are the reason they kept fighting. It is probably what he told himself even in Switchfoot's darkest times. He wants to have it all or nothing. If you have nothing, then whatever are you going to ever make of yourself? Being from a city that is an ocean city and spending most of their off time in the ocean, there was no doubt you would hear one or two songs that relate to water. "Saltwater Heart" is just that. This is Swichfoot's song to their home city and state of San Diego (where I was also born and lived in for a total of about 10 years of my life). It is the city where all their career started and it will most likely be the place of their final concert (God forbid that ever happens though). "Back To the Beginning" is the perfect way to end the album. First of all, because i will go back to the beginning of the album several times over. But it reflects on, again, how successful they have become. Sometimes Jon wants to just go back to the beginning of the band's career and trying to remember how it felt.

Well, this album makes me completely speechless. It is so good and is perfect in so many ways. I mean, it's Switchfoot for Pete's sake. Like most of Switchfoot's albums, "Fading West" has such a summery sound. That being said, even though I listen to them year-round, Switchfoot is always perfect in the middle of July on the way to the beach. That is very true, considering all of the band members are just about on the professional level of surfing. I can say one thing to you, if you like indie or Switchfoot, you will not be disappointed. They just keep getting better with every release. Cheers to the best album of 2014.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Purchase Links: iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 Songs: "When We Come Alive," "Let It Go," "Say It Like You Mean It"

For Fans Of: They are Switchfoot. If you are reading this, you probably know who they are. If you don't, go listen and fall in love.