“PRAY FOR THE WICKED” Snap Judgments

My friends, in just a few short weeks I will be going to my FIRST EVER Panic! At the Disco concert. And I will be likely going alone because apparently playing kickball is more important than Brendon Freaking Urie. Whatever. More space for my joy. #DontKillMyVibe

Panic released their sixth studio album, “Pray for the Wicked,” today and although I still miss the brilliance of the “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out” era—I’m still a diehard fan and I am so excited to see them live. I was lucky enough to see Brendon last year when he was on broadway with “Kinky Boots” and I’m sure seeing him in his alt-rock element is going to be a highlight of my life.

I know I will be abusing the replay button on Spotify for this album, but here are my first impression, snap judgments upon first listen…

  1. (Fuck A) Silver Lining

To be honest, I haven’t been a huge fan of this song since it was released a few months ago…I’m warming up to it, but I still think there HAD to be a stronger album opener.
✰✰1/2

2. Say Amen (Saturday Night)

I am still shamelessly in love with this song. And that high note *heart eyes* AND the fact that the video is the prequel to “This is Gospel” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes”…*bows down*
✰✰✰✰1/2

3. Hey Look Ma, I Made It

This is the “Death of a Bachelor” of this album. Heavy on the strings, a tad more lighthearted than their typical fare.
✰✰✰

4. High Hopes

Tied for my favorite song on this album. I’m SO pumped to see this live.
✰✰✰✰✰

5. Roaring 20s

I have a feeling this will be awesome live.
✰1/2

6. Dancing’s Not a Crime

A super fun song, I just have a feeling I’m going to forget about it as soon as it’s over…
✰1/2

7. One of the Drunks

Meh. Probably won’t purchase.

8. The Overpass

Another meh. Probably won’t purchase either.

9. King of the Clouds

This song literally makes me feel like the king of the clouds. It’s so light and airy and what I imagine it would be like being high in song form.
✰1/2

10. Old Fashioned

Another super fun song, but Old Fashioneds are gross. Sometimes I forget how young he was when their first album was released…

11. Dying in LA

This is what my family and friends would refer to as “Kate Music.” Lyrically depressing, acoustic-y piano goodness. If this song is autobiographical, I’m super sad: “Every face along the boulevard is a dreamer just like you. You looked at death in a tarot card and you saw what you had to do…But nobody knows you now, when you’re dying in LA.” Tied with “High Hopes” for my fave song of the album.
✰✰✰✰✰

This entire album feels a little like Britney Spears’ “Lucky.” Someone goes to LA looking for fame and fortune. They make it big and live a life of luxury. But you don’t know that they cry, cry, cry in their lonely heart THINKING IF THERE’S NOTHING MISSING IN MY LIFE, THEN WHY DO THESE TEARS COME AT NIGHT?!

…excuse me now while I go stream Britney all afternoon.

17 Favorite Songs of 2017

Best of 2017: Music

I went through my iTunes and grabbed my top played songs of 2017. I limited this list to songs released in 2017 to make it easier, or else this list would have been made completely of Dashboard Confessional, My Chemical Romance, and Panic! At the Disco, because my ears still live in the early 2000s. These are also not listed in order of play count.

Things I noticed…

I am still a One Direction super-fan and all five of them deserved spots on this list—but it’s not surprise to me that my Number 1 and Number 2 aka Louis and Harry made the top 17. I also love the trend of Spanish/English songs and I hope this continues into 2018.

  1. Waving Through a Window, Dear Evan Hansen Cast
  2. Perfect, Ed Sheeran
  3. Two Ghosts, Harry Styles
  4. Heavy, LINKIN PARK feat. Kiiara
  5. Reggaeton Lento (Remix), CNCO & Little Mix
  6. The Cure, Lady Gaga
  7. Praying, Kesha
  8. Mi Gente, J Balvin
  9. Miss You, Louis Tomlinson
  10. Despacito (Remix), Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (feat. Justin Bieber)
  11. Most Girls, Hailee Steinfeld
  12. Getaway Car, Taylor Swift
  13. Believer, Imagine Dragons
  14. Lemon, N.E.R.D. & Rihanna
  15. Meant to Be, Bebe Rexha (feat. Florida Georgia Line)
  16. Wolves, Selena Gomez
  17. Cut to the Feeling, Carly Rae Jepsen

LISTEN HERE!

“reputation” Snap Judgments

Taylor Swift – Reputation
Credit: Mert & Marcus, PEOPLE magazine

TS6 is officially here, folks. For me, the best part of any new TSwizz album is trying to figure out who each song is about. (PS, Remember when getting a song devoted to you was special? Especially when the singer is saying how you’re THE ONE and there’s NO ONE else? Lol.)

“Red” remains my all-time favorite Taylor album and while “reputation” is by no means bad, it makes me really miss old school Tay. She sings: “My reputation’s never been worse, so, you must like me for me.” And that statement is completely true.

Also, kind of wish there was a version of “Better Man” on here too…

I listened to the album straight thru once and here are my snap judgments:

1. …Ready for It?

Am I ready for the rest of the album after hearing this song? Lukewarm feelings.
✰✰✰1/2

2. End Game (feat. Ed Sheeran & Future)

Ed and Future make this track. You could probably switch Taylor out for somebody else and it wouldn’t matter. But still, it’s catchy and I assume it’ll be a single at some point.
✰✰✰✰

3. I Did Something Bad

Basically, “Bad Blood”‘s even edgier cousin. It’s petty. It’s bitchy. It’s near-perfect.
✰✰✰✰1/2

4. Don’t Blame Me

Meh. Definitely not my favorite on the album and I tend to like Tay’s slower ballads over the high energy ones…
✰✰

5. Delicate

Another one that’s kind of unremarkable for me.
✰✰

6. Look What You Made Me Do

After streaming this damn song for several months trying to get on the priority list for concert tickets, I can safely say I am sick of this song and if I don’t hear it until the concert (if I even get to go…) that would be fine.
✰✰✰

7. So It Goes…

Really like the beat, but that’s kind of it for the moment…
✰✰1/2

8. Gorgeous

It’s catchy, good reading background music.
✰✰✰

9. Getaway Car

I really like this, and I have a feeling it will continue to grow on me even more. Poor Tom Hiddleston.
✰✰✰✰✰ [my favorite on the album]

10. King of My Heart

(See Don’t Blame Me and Delicate)
✰✰

11. Dancing With Our Hands Tied

Another one where I feel like I’ll like it after a few more listens.
✰✰1/2

12. Dress

Hi YouTube, somebody please mash this with Liam’s “Bedroom Floor.”
✰✰1/2

13. This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Oh God. This is deliciously immature, but it’s wonderful.
✰✰✰✰

14. Call It What You Want

I love this song—but the line, “I want to wear his chain around my neck, not because he owns me but because he really knows me” rubs me the wrong way for some reason…
✰✰✰✰1/2

15. New Year’s Day

THIS is the Taylor that I miss and love.
✰✰✰✰1/2

TL;DR

  • Download: End Game, I Did Something Bad, Getaway Car, This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things, Call It What You Want, New Year’s Day
  • Stream: Gorgeous, Dancing With Our Hands Tied, Dress, …Ready For It, Look What You Made Me Do, …So It Goes
  • Skip: Don’t Blame Me, Delicate, King of My Heart

 

 

MORE TAYLOR SWIFT ON THE BLOG:

Five Best TV-Music Moments

You know those moments when the right piece music comes together with the right scene and it creates a blend of auditory and visual perfection? I live for those moments. Music has always been a big part of my life and it always plays a part in my overall assessment of a film or television program. These are the scenes that I constantly replay for the fabulous combo of acting and music. I literally got goose bumps and teared-up while re-watching the YouTube videos…for the millionth time, yes, I know how pathetic I am.

Hide and Seek, The O.C. –> Marissa shoots Trey to save Ryan. Cue Imogen Heap



Lean On Me, Glee –> The gang shows their support for Finn & Quinn


http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid398.photobucket.com/albums/pp68/caseycarlson/lean-on-memovff.mp4

Stumbling to Bethlehem, Joan of Arcadia –> Joan believes that she has been imagining her encounters with God
(starts around 4:35)



Stolen, Scrubs –> Elliott gets engaged, drama ensues



Angel, Dawson’s Creek –> Jen records a video for her daughter