Album Of The Week: One Direction - Midnight Memories

Once upon a time, there appeared a text post on my dash on tumblr (yes, I spend a lot of time there), which went along these lines: "I'm so punk rock I listen to whatever I like." I'm probably not the best example for some "punk rock" girl, but I do listen to whatever I like, which includes One Direction. It's not that I have their whole discography on my iPod, but I regularly have this phase where I open spotify, make my way to their current album Midnight Memories and listen to it. Most of the time this happens at 2am or later. I just realised that I've never listened to the whole album before, so it's about time to do that!

Best Song Ever

This is my main 2am jam, so yes I can sing along, and at that point of time I'd probably even say that this song is pretty good (still not the best song ever, come on). It's so catchy, how can you possibly resist it??

Story of My Life

I can literally feel how I turn 13 all over again, and I'm pretty sure that I'd be all over these guys if I actually was 13 right now (you know, the yes-it's-a-good-idea-to-plaster-your-room-with-their-faces phase). And now that we're doing this whole confession thing, I think they're cute (Louis wins though) and I really like this song no matter what time it is. You can despise them as much as you want, but you can't deny that they're talented singers. If my dad likes this song, your argument is invalid anyway. 

Diana

Oh, it's time to dance again!! Jesus, whoever is responsible for these songs really knows how to create some catchy tunes. Let's move on, shall we.

Midnight Memories

This one reminds me of another song, but I can't think of which one. I linked you to a live version on purpose because for me this looks and sounds a bit like they're trying to take some steps away from the boyband-image and put quite some effort in making their voices sound all raspy and rockstarish! I certainly like it!

You & I

Ah, things are becoming calmer again, that's good. I'm actually waiting for the day that I can recognise them by their voices because then I'll be in too deep and then it won't be long until I consider to actually go and see them in concert. The only thing that's keeping me from doing that is the fanbase. No offense, I'm sure that some of them are all adorable and nice, but I've seen enough trouble they caused to have my opinion and I don't feel like starting a fight with a bunch of hysterical kids. 

Don't Forget Where You Belong

If that's not an important message then I don't know what else you need. Are they singing about themselves? Ah yes, that's a nice song. 

Strong

This sounds faster again, good. There are eleven songs left on this album, holy smokes. Somebody understands the concept of making fans happy, eh? This song is all right, but that's all I have to say so let's move on.

Happily

Is it rude that the lyrics make me chuckle? I hope it's not, I don't mean to be mean (bless the English language). But yes, this sounds really happy, I shall bookmark it for future (sad) reference.

Right Now

I think I figured out which voice belongs to Harry Styles, that's at least a start! And you know what? I prefer the catchy, happy songs a lot over these dramatic ones. 

Little Black Dress

The beginning sounds like it belongs to some rock song, how brilliant is that. I bet that nobody who isn't a fan of One Direction could guess that this isn't part of their discography. This is good, I like it!

Through The Dark

Lovely start actually. I can't stress enough how they deserve a lot more credit than they get from some people. Here's your daily reminder that it's not cool to degrade certain artists because you think they're ridiculous and shouldn't be seen as artists (Justin Bieber is a different kind of story because he obviously pisses off people without even singing)! So stop making feel people like shit because they like a certain type of music!

Something Great

Let's see if this one is something great. The beginning is a bit boring, I'm waiting for the great chorus! Wait, that was it? Nah, sorry but this could be a lot better. 

Little White Lies

Does this belong to the little black dress? At least I'm not tempted to fall asleep while listening to this one, and I think I might know which voice belongs to Niall. I'm making more progress than expected. 

Better Than Words

Yeah, "dancing on the ceiling" is better than words, I agree. Cheesy love song here we go, my inner teenager likes it, the 21-year-old who's typing this right now can't hit skip fast enough.

Why Don't We Go There

Oh yes, I like this one. If I'll actually get this album, I already see it coming that I'll dance down the street while listening to this, oh dear. 

Does He Know

The end is near! No, it wasn't that bad, no sarcasm involved. 18 songs are just a long way to go. This one is all right, nothing striking about it to be honest.

Alive

The lyrics in the chorus are quite nice, the rest isn't too impressive, but then again I'm not sure if this song is intended for impressing anybody!?

Half A Heart

We made it! And now that you went on this crazy journey with me, you might as well admit that One Direction aren't half as bad as you thought they were. I couldn't listen to their stuff 24/7, but at certain times and during certain emotions, some of these songs are really good! 

We Came As Romans - Tracing Back Roots

When I went to work this morning, I thought to myself that it's time to liveblog again. I also noticed that it's time to check out one of the bands on my list, so I decided to combine these two realisations. I picked out We Came As Romans because they just released a new record called Tracing Back Roots. Feel free to join me here!

Tracing Back Roots

"Eight years ago I committed a sin and there were many more that followed with; some that changed my mind, some that broke me down but all of them made me who I am now." 
I have to admit that I don't know anything about We Came As Romans so what happened eight years ago? If you know it, drop a comment and enlighten me!

"Eight years ago I admitted a dream
To chase it I had to give up everything
But the things I've learned and the things I've found
All of them made me who I am now!"

Okay nevermind, I think I found the solution on my own.

I didn't see clean vocals coming at all and I surely didn't expect them to sound this good, oh my God wow. 

Fade Away

More clean vocals!! I'm already a fan -  what these guys do there is pretty damn amazing. I totally enjoy how there's no screaming at all, it fits to the song. 

I Survive

Looks like I can get used to the clean vocals and believe me, I'm more than happy about it. Their vocalists have such great voices. 
This song absolutely fulfills its purpose because it makes me feel like I can achieve everything I want. 

Ghosts

I like the guitars at the beginning and oh, he's screaming again okay. It reminds me a little of Memphis May Fire? This song is so good, I don't even know what else to say. I really like how they combine screaming and singing!

Present, Future, And Past

Ah, it's getting more aggressive again, great. I already see the mosh pits right in front of me, it's like I can smell and feel thousands of people going crazy around me.
Again We Came As Romans prove what great vocalists they have, I'm impressed. 

Never Let Me Go

This one might be my favourite song so far, bless this band. 

Hope

"I won't stop, I won't let my own passions fade away in my dreams"

Songs that encourage me to chase my dreams have a special place in my heart, that's for sure. 

Tell Me Now

Creating the lyrics for a song seems to be manageable in my eyes but how the hell do bands find the right melodies and tunes then? This is one of the songs that makes me think about this issue a lot, it just fascinates me. 

A Moment

We're getting closer to the end of the album, this song is good but I don't really know what to say about it so let's move on quickly. 

I Am Free

I guess I just really like this band - they could sing the names which are listed in a phone book and I'd still like it. Obviously this song is much better than a phone book, so. 

Through The Darkest Dark And The Brightest Bright

The title sounds like a vow at a wedding, the song itself may not be suitable for a traditional wedding though, I suppose. Apart from that, it's the perfect ending of a perfect record. 

It was the best decision I made in a while to check out We Came As Romans and if you don't already know them, you should do the same! I'm definitely in love. 

Ed Sheeran - +

This album has been chilling on my iPod since forever but I never really listened to it, I don't even know why. I didn't do a live blog in a while, so I thought this album would fit pretty well. You can join me here if you like or on Spotify of course. 

The A-Team

Hands down, we all heard this song already a million times but do you ever get tired of it? I don't. I still love it as much as I did when I heard it for the first time. I still get really dramatic and imagine I'm in my own music video whenever I listen to it and it's great. The meaning of the song isn't that great though, apparently it's about a person being addicted to drugs like heroin (which is called a "class A" drug). 

Drunk

I've never been drunk before. Like, never ever. A little tipsy of course, but I always stop before something bad might happen. 

There are so many songs about being drunk (I got a hangover ohooo) and troubles with the girlfriend but I genuinely believe that Ed Sheeran is the only songwriter out there who can make these topics sound classy, almost like poems. I mean: "I wanna be drunk when I wake up, on the right side of the wrong bed, and never an excuse I made up, tell you the truth I hate, what didn't kill me, yeah it never made me stronger at all."

U.N.I

A love song again. It doesn't sound like a love song though, well not really. I mean, he's kind of rapping what makes me nervous but the lyrics are really cute again. (Sidenote: his accent even emphasises the lyrics and makes every song sound a lot more elegant.)

Grade 8

I bet it's one of the best feelings ever to have somebody tell you "I'm never gonna let you down" and actually mean it, eh? 

Wake Me Up

This song has lullaby-material. It also makes me slightly sad because the lyrics are so beautiful again that my heart aches a little from reading them.
Don't we all wish to be in a relationship like Ed sings about (in case you aren't already, of course) because I really wish. 

Small Bump

Hold on a second, Ed Sheeran is a dad? It already confuses me a lot that he's only one (!!!) year older than me and then he sings about an unborn child? Good lord what is happening.

This

Songs like this one make me want to play the guitar really badly, wow. When you listen to this one, make sure it's silent around you, use your headphones and turn up the volume a little. 

The City

The closest I ever was to a big city was when I lived in a suburb of Madrid for three months. However, it was still quite calm and silent there, so no real city-feeling for me. Anyway, this song is about London and maybe about how Ed played on the streets before he became really famous. 

Lego House

I'm in love with this song. Not only because Rupert Grint plays in the video but also because there's nothing I could possibly critisize. 

You Need Me, I Don't Need You

Nice title. Also nice way of rubbing his fame into people's faces who didn't believe in him. You go, Ed!

Kiss Me

Next time somebody asks me why I want to be with a musician, I'll show them this song. It speaks for itself, I suppose. 

Give Me Love / Parting Glass

"All I want is the taste that your lips allow"

I guess it's pointless to mention what a talented singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran is. Furthermore I'm still not over the fact that he's one year older than me but already makes something out of his life. I have so much respect for this dude. 

Tonight Alive - What Are You So Scared Of?

Tonight Alive have been on my list of bands to check out since forever so I thought it's finally time to catch up and have a look at their current album What Are You So Scared Of?.

There are album streams on youtube, for my german readers I can only recommend Spotify if you'd like to join me here. 

Eject, Eject, Eject!

Really nice intro with the combination of the instruments. If I didn't know it's Tonight Alive I'd think it's taken from a dramatic scene in an action movie or something.

Breaking & Entering

It makes me very happy that the intro flows into the first full song. The message of it doesn't sound too happy though, at the end Jenna keeps repeating "I'm burning up" so that's basically what's left in my mind after listening. There's one line I can relate to: "How can you stay in control when all that you know is falling apart?"

Starlight

You're young, there's so much you could do to enjoy your life. Be reckless, don't think about tomorrow, live in the moment, fall in love, be broke because all of this is okay. You'll grow up soon enough so take what you can get right now. That's what comes to my mind when I listen to this song.

Sure As Hell

This song describes exactly how I'd like to be. In a couple of years I'd like to look back and think: "It seems like I have conquered every fear I ever had or thought would hold me back." I'd like to look back at the things I did without regretting anything. I'd like to feel free because currently I'm still caught in my own mind what makes many things difficult. I'd like to be content with myself and the way I live my life.

Let It Land

So keep your mind open but always keep your mouth shut,
and hide it if you're broken but always keep your chin up.
It don't matter where I'm falling 'cause I can't get my mind right.
I need to pull it together if there's no one to catch me.

No, don't keep your mouth shut. If you're reading this right now and there's something bothering you, go and tell somebody. Don't hide it if you're broken because it will only get worse and worse, believe me. It might happen that there's nobody to catch you but in the end it's you who has to catch yourself. You're the one who has to save you. So yes, keep your chin up, stay strong and stop carrying this weight around on your own. 

Fake It

Get up, turn up the volume and dance around because that's what I did and it was great. 

Listening

The first rather calm song I think, okay no that was just the beginning.
People these days seem to have difficulties listening to others, finding somebody who actually cares about what you have to say is rare, I don't even know. Anyway, this song basically describes this issue. 

Reason To Sing

Sounds like the song for the ex boyfriend who treated Jenna like shit but she's mostly taking the positive things out of it: "At least you give me reason to sing."

Safe & Sound

There's the calm song I was waiting for! It's like the opposite of the last song because it describes a happy relationship (at least I assume it's a relationship) and it definitely sounds happy and content and it makes me feel like everything's alright. 

Thank You & Goodnight

Aaaaand another song about relationships and dating, this time Jenna is the one breaking up with somebody and wait is this Mark Hoppus from Blink 182?? I knew they worked with Benji Madden from Good Charlotte once but also with Mark Hoppus? Okay that's clearly awesome, Jenna's and Mark's voices go great together. 

Amelia

Goosebumps everywhere, big lump in my throat. This song is for a girl who died and I'm struggling with the tears while listening. This is easily the best song on the whole record, Jenna put so much passion and so many feelings into this that you can literally feel her pain in your chest.

Wish you were here but it's becoming clear that Earth's just not the place for an angel like you.

In The First Place

Okay this honestly doesn't really touch me in any way. I can't relate to it but it's catchy nevertheless!

To Die For

Nice song with pretty cool lyrics, I like the metaphors which describe the relationship between the two people. I also feel like I over used the word 'relationship' in this entry and there's only one more song left, so let's have a final listen. 

What Are You So Scared Of?

I'm not gonna start with my endless list of things that scare me, so have the best line from the song instead: "I used to be scared, I used to be like you. I used to care, then I came unglued. Well, it's something we all have to learn to do."

Band members teach me more about life than my family or friends or anybody else, that's just how it is. With every song I listen to I get another chance of looking at the world in a different way and I'm so thankful for this. In other words: Thanks to Tonight Alive for such a good album, I can't wait to hear more!

Passenger - All The Little Lights: An Experiment

Usually I listen to an album a million times before I write about it because I love analysing lyrics and the effect music has on me. This time I thought it might be cool to live blog how I'm listening to Passenger's album. Blabla aside, let's go! Join me by clicking here.

Things That Stop You Dreaming

Violins are always good. Very good actually, I love their sound. Combined with Passenger's voice the first few seconds already give me goosebumps and take me on a promising journey. "If you can't get what you love, you learn to love what you've got. If you can't be what you want, you learn to be the things you're not. If you can't get what you need, you learn to need the things that stop you dreaming." I'm not sure how to interpret the last sentence but I totally agree with the other two. What a great song.

Let Her Go

I already heard this song a gazillion times on the radio, on tv as background for a commercial of Grey's Anatomy, when my brother listened to it in the living room, on a music channel on tv. I never really paid attention to it so it's about time to do that. 
The beginning is so nice, so calm and peaceful. Then Passenger starts to sing and I'm drowning in my feelings. Seriously though, his voice is perfect, I can't even describe what it does to me. This song is so simple actually and that's exactly what makes it brilliant. 
"Well you only need the light when it's burning low, only miss the sun when it starts to snow, only know you love her when you let her go." There roll the tears, bad idea to listen to this song when you can relate to this part of the lyrics, believe me. 

Staring At The Stars

This song is perfect after the last one, simply to cheer you up again. I love the pace of it, makes me tap my toes and just enjoy it. Oh, there are violins again and is that a banjo? And trumpets? Yes, I like this song a lot. The end makes me think of summer nights, it would be the perfect soundtrack for a cheesy love scene in a movie. 
Okay but after 2:11 I'm a bit bored to be honest, for some reason it feels like this song lasts for 10 minutes and not just around 4. 

All The Little Lights

*Edit! I totally forgot to talk about the song which names the album, thanks to Abby for letting me know!
Anyway, this song is just as awesome as all the others are, I just love how calming his songs generally are! 

The Wrong Direction

Yaay, everything's good, smile more, go out when the sun is shining, laugh as loud and as much as possible, just live. That's what my brain is telling me right now and I don't hear something like that often. And then I look at the lyrics and all the happy feelings are gone, oh well. "The first cut is the deepest, but the rest will flippin' hurt. You build your heart of plastic, get cynical and sarcastic and end up in the corner on your own." Yeah thanks, that's what I wanted to hear. Why would you use such positive tunes for such negative thoughts, that's not fair my dear Passenger, stop.

Circles

Oh, the only song by All Time Low I really don't like is Circles, let's see what the british singer made out of this title. 

The guitars at the beginning are great, they make me think of rainy days. It's about friendship, isn't it? About childhood memories, about growing up maybe. I like the lyrics, especially the metaphors he uses. Oh, it's already over, that was fast. 

So: Passenger's Circles > All Time Low's Circles

Keep On Walking

"Last night I couldn't sleep, I got up and started walking..." - How often do you feel like doing that? Just getting up, walking away and never coming back again. I don't know, I have that quite often to be honest. 
I have to mention how great his accent is. I know it's super cliché and annoying but I really enjoy listening.
Apart from that, the song doesn't really leave an impression on me so let's move on.

Patient Love

I love how simple this song is again. Only a few instruments, Passenger and some background vocals. It gives me this warm, fuzzy feeling in my stomach I keep talking about and the lyrics send a smile to my lips because they're so cute. "Three words on the tip of my tongue not to be spoken, or sung or whispered to anyone till I scream em at the top of my lungs again." I mean, can I have somebody in my life who writes songs like this one for me, please?

Life's For The Living

Very accurate title. 

I found some lyrics I'd stick on my wall! "Don't you cry for the lost, smile for the living. Get what you need and give what you're given. Life's for the living so live it or you're better off dead."

Passenger generally is a genius when it comes to lyrics, I mean wow. Songs are like poems, aren't they? At least the ones with proper lyrics and rather not the ones you hear in a club at 3am. 

Holes

Lyrics, lyrics, lyrics. Brilliant lyrics everywhere so I'll just quote my favourites from this song because I don't have anything else to say about it.

"when he woke up with nothing he said i'll tell you something when you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose."

"Well sometimes you can't change and you can't choose and sometimes it seems you gain less than you lose. Now we've got holes in our hearts, yeah we've got holes in our lives, well we've got holes, we've got holes but we carry on."

Music teaches me more about life than school or my parents ever did. 

Feather On The Clyde

This song calms me down so much, I'm actually fascinated. Pure beauty.

I Hate

Oh, it's live, perfect. I'm gonna say it one last time, promised: Look at these lyrics. In my opinion, artists who don't take themselves too serious are the winners of this whole business. Passenger definitely belongs to the winners and this song helps him. I mean, don't we all hate  "ignorant folks, who pay money to see gigs and talk through every fucking song"? or "pointless status updates on Facebook" because "we pretend to be friends on the internet 

when in real life, we have nothing to say."? If you're a smoker like me, I'm sure you hate "stepping outside for a smoke and some guy coughs, like your lungs are his." I mean, go inside or step aside if you don't want to smoke with me, what's wrong with you.
I've never been to a festival but I can imagine how great it must be "queuing up for festival toilets, especially when you need to shit."

Now comes my favourite part of the whole song though: "And I hate them magazines, aimed at insecure teens, that make ten year old's race to grow up. Hey kids, let's all be anorexic or better eat chocolate until you throw up. Keep your Hollywood stars, and their stupid cars 

and the Bo-tox, that makes them look fucked. Just grow old with grace, have you seen Cher's face, it looks like it's been hit by a truck." 

Thanks Passenger for such honest lyrics, in my opinion more artists should come up with songs like this one. Thank you also for such a great album, your music is really good for my soul.