Vicariously, I Live While the Whole World Dies

Posted on March 23, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Tool
Song: Vicarious
Album: 10,000 Days
Mood: Prepared to watch kids die in The Hunger Games

This morning I was rocking out to the dark grooves of my “Fav. Tool Songs” playlist when the song “Vicarious” came on. While intently listening to the lyrics, despite having them practically all memorized, I thought to myself, “This is another great song to represent The Hunger Games.” Now last week when I wrote about a fitting song for the movie, I was going more for epic. But “Vicarious” can be viewed from a critical standpoint. Mainly, us as the outsiders questioning why the people of the Capitol would find such sick pleasure in the Games.

Obviously the song was written years ago, but it describes our, mainly Americans, secret lust for tragedy and pain. Just think about the nightly news. More often than not, it’s a focus on the negative with the one happy story about a puppy being rescued. The movies we watch, often brutal, sometimes sadistic. We can’t look away, can’t fathom the evil in this world. Part of it probably has to with our animalistic nature. Maynard professes, “I need to watch things die from a good safe distance / Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies / You all feel the same so why can’t we just admit it?” This is the very essence of The Hunger Games. The Capitol has their eyes glued to the television, taking sick pleasure in the Games, while those in the 12 Districts pray for mercy. The Gamemakers’ jobs are to create the most thrilling game each year, ensuring each year is bloodier and more gruesome than the last.

To sum it up, “Part vampire, part warrior / Carnivore and voyeur / Stare at the transmittal / Sing to the death rattle.” Enjoy the Games this weekend. The world will be watching.


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Dancing to the Dark Side of the Moon

Posted on March 22, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Ernesto vs. Bastian ft. Susana
Song: Dark Side of the Moon
Album: A lot of random trance albums
Mood: Dancing to some fun beats

Every Friday in my office we do music Fridays, which I’ve most likely mentioned before. Tomorrow’s theme doesn’t get any more broad, “beats.” I went for a nice mix of rock and dance beats that always get me going. Here on the blog, I thought I’d share the dancey side with a favorite track of mine, “Dark Side of the Moon” by Ernesto vs. Bastian. No, it’s no cover of Pink Floyd but I’m sure it’s a direct reference.

This hot trance track just gets under my skin, in a completely good way, and makes me want to dance. Maybe go as far as to dance in a secret room in the office like in the video.  If this is what it sounds like when the “record plays the dark side of the moon,” I could dance all night. The video offers some nice eye candy as well, up until the two stripper-like office girls pull the dweeby coworker into the mix. I don’t understand his outfit nor his dancing. It’s a hot mess, but the song is killer and it puts me in the mood for a rousing good time at a club. I think a dance club night is in order…


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Feeling Magnetic Today

Posted on March 14, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Semi Precious Weapons
Song: Magnetic Baby
Album: You Love You
Mood: Awesome and looking damn good

I don’t know what is up with Mother Nature, but I welcome the spring-like weather with open arms. The temperature was already nearing 60° this morning and it’s still climbing. The sun is shining brightly and for once, I don’t need to wear 10 layers of clothing. So the weather has already put me in a chipper mood. Now top that off with a fancy-shmancy dinner date tonight with someone almost as awesome me and things are looking good for Kristen. Oh wait, I’m also looking quite adorable in a dress too. Can’t forget that. It’s not every day you see me in one of these!

So what song can I put on that strokes my ego and makes me feel even more amazing? A Semi Precious Weapons song of course. It’s difficult to feel sad around a glam rock band that was boosted into the spotlight thanks to Lady Gaga (even though she used to open for them back in the day). These boys just have fun rocking out on stage with pop rock and high heels. Okay, just lead singer Justin Tranter enjoys some drag. Tranter’s vanity is probably only surpassed by two of my coworkers and today I’m feeling vain in this dress. That’s why “Magnetic Baby” was an ideal choice. “It’s not my fault, this is how my momma made me/I’ve been magnetic since I was a baby.” (A good runner up song would have been the song “Semi Precious Weapons” which boasts, “I can’t pay my rent but I’m fucking gorgeous.” That also applies to my life.)

If you’re feeling just as “magnetic” and conceited as I am today, you’ll enjoy today’s mood music.


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A Chill, Acoustic Tuesday

Posted on March 13, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Charetta
Song: Never
Album: Defying the Inevitable
Mood: Relaxed, chill

Tuesdays are probably the most uneventful day of the week. I’m sure I’ve told you all that before. Normally my “mood” is very focused with a specific song in mind. Today, though, I’m feeling pretty chill and not really sure how I feel or what I want. “Chill” is a pretty broad mood but I wanted to go in the direction of acoustic. But when I say acoustic I don’t mean Bon Iver… No, I mean a hard rock band toning it down for a song or two.

Today’s song comes from a Long Island/New York local band that I fell in love with over a year ago. (Shameless plug? You bet! Because they’re awesome!) You can never have too many awesome female fronted bands in my opinion. Charetta usually gives us a good pummeling with their heavy riffs, but the song “Never” tones it down for a beautiful, stripped down song. It’s easy to close your eyes and drift off to lead singer Angelina’s angelic voice on the chorus. (It takes some willpower not to do that at work.) “Never” is an excellent choice for a Tuesday that would otherwise be forgettable. But it’s hard to forget how much I love this song every time I put it on.


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May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor

Posted on March 7, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Clint Mansell
Song: Requiem for a Dream
Album: Requiem for a Dream Soundtrack
Mood: Epic and adventurous

I’ve been completely enthralled with The Hunger Games this past week. I’m flying through the first book and I cannot wait until 5pm so I can continue reading on the subway. Yeah I’m obsessed at the moment, I can admit it. And you can judge me because I jumped on the bandwagon along with everyone else. But you know what? It’s a really well written book with a completely screwed up concept and it’s interesting. At the end of the day, isn’t that what matters most? The interesting part…not the messed up plot.

So the movie is coming out soon but I obviously haven’t listened to the soundtrack, the instrumental soundtrack that is. (I don’t need to hear Taylor Swift and Adam Lambert songs, thank you very much.) So to get myself pumped, I need something epic. Like truly EPIC! Kids are dying left and right, fighting for survival, using brutal tactics to massacre the competition. I needed a song that embodies this hyped mentality while still reminding me of the pure and utter sickness I feel at the same time. I envision myself if I were placed in the Hunger Games and the hatred I would feel towards those who forced me into this twisted game for their viewing pleasure.

The perfect song? “Requiem of a Dream” from the movie of the same name. The song instills that same sadness and tragedy, with slowly building strings and chanting in the background. If you close your eyes, you can envision the children, scared out of their minds, anticipating the sound of that gong. Around the 3 minute mark, the games have begun –screaming, panic, death, unquestioned brutality. And it slows again, the aftermath of the destruction. Only one remains…

I hope the actual soundtrack does the book justice. Get lost in this beautiful song today; feel empowered…but hopefully not to kill.


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Fight Fire with Fire Today

Posted on March 5, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Scissor Sisters
Song: Fire with Fire
Album: Night Work
Mood: Happy and empowered to take on the world

Normally Mondays are the bane of my existence. They still are, but today I’m viewing Mondays from a new perspective: I’m going to kick its ass and subsequently kick ass the rest of the week and hopefully every week after that. It’s time to grab life by the balls…er reigns. Since I was in a particularly good mood this morning, despite fighting off sleepiness, I opted for cheery, happy, and overall upbeat music to listen to on the train. I went straight to Scissor Sisters. Scissor Sisters are what good pop is made of –great synth beats, deeper lyrics, and lots of sexual under-and-overtones. It’s hard to hate on this energetic pop band.

While most of their songs are very playful, “Fire with Fire” is that one great inspirational track. It’s not only fun and positive, it’s actually really empowering. It’s essentially saying we’re going to get through this rough time and come out ahead, by fighting fire with fire of course. It’s the perfect anthem for kicking Monday right in the ass. “The morning isn’t far away/I had a dream we were holding on/And tomorrow has become today, become today/And now we’re free to be number one.” So when hope seems lost, go out guns blazing. Set Monday on fire.


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Sex, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll . . . Minus the Drugs

Posted on March 2, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Halestorm
Song: I Get Off
Album: Halestorm
Mood: Sexy times and rock n’ roll

Because my office is awesome, we have “Music Fridays” every week centered around a specific theme. Today I picked the theme: “sex and drugs.” Obviously the theme is always up for interpretation so whether you want to choose a song just about sex or drugs, a combo, or a heavily induced druggie singer, the world is your oyster. I tried to do a nice mix but since this Halestorm song literally just played moments ago, I figured I would share it today on the site.

The song “I Get Off” is strictly on the sex and rock n’ roll side. Despite the dirtiness of the song, I’m convinced the band is somewhat wholesome. The song is straight up kink, “I get off on you getting off on me.” Add to that the element of voyeurism. Apparently lead singer Lzzy Hale is well aware she has someone peeking into her room late at night. It’s understandable since she has been featured in Revolver magazine’s Hottest Chicks in Rock two years in a row. Let’s not forget this writer has an overt weakness for chicks in hard rock and metal bands. Enjoy some straight up fun rock with sexy, powerful vocals. Get down with your bad self Lzzy. Just make sure no one is videotaping.


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Nu-Metal Nostalgia

Posted on February 27, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Limp Bizkit
Song: Break Stuff
Album: Significant Other
Mood: Nostalgic for the nu-metal late 90s.

This morning I created a Genius playlist based on Korn’s “Falling Away From Me.” Genius idea, I know. Apple did a wonderful job whisking me back to the late 90s, back when nu-metal ruled the airwaves. Immediately after the Korn song, Limp Bizkit popped up. Couldn’t be more appropriate since we wouldn’t have been graced with the insane Fred Durst without a little help from Korn. Limp Bizkit was always a favorite of mine back in the day, no musical shame. And you know what, I still like them enough that they made their way onto my iPod.

So because I’m feeling nostalgic for the days when mainstream society could tolerate drop D tuning on a guitar, I thought I’d share some classic Limp. I chose “Break Stuff” because it also fits the mood of a typical Monday. They never seem to go well. There’s a lot of angst, cursing, and rocking out here. It’s also makes the perfect theme song for anyone extremely pissed off. The best part is hands down the buildup to the lyrics, “And if my day keeps goin’ this way I just might break your fuckin’ face tonight!” So much anger! All hell breaks lose after that.

Good times! Break your computer. Go ape-shit. Reminisce. And enjoy your Monday everyone!


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An Epic Start to the Weekend

Posted on February 24, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Within Temptation
Song: Jillian (I’d Give My Heart)
Album: Silent Force
Mood: Epic and rockin’

I’m still in my rockin’ mood from yesterday and crave some more headbanging and possibly air instrumentation. But since it’s Friday and the weekend is finally upon us, or will be in a few hours, I need a little boost today, something epic. Now when I desire epic and grandiose, I have to go with Within Temptation. You might think a band like Epica would seem way more appropriate, but believe it or not, it can sometimes be too much. They lay on the choirs pretty thick. I much prefer Within Temptation because while their roots are metal, they’re not heavy-handed with the symphonic part.

Their earlier work often followed a formula of a heavy instrumental intro, Sharon’s angelic voice, and then going full force with everything. “Jillian (I’d Give My Heart)” is a prime example. We have super epic intro followed by soft vocals and then I’m just blown away the rest of the song. It’s always been a fan favorite and makes for one hell of an opening song at their concerts. The large choir in the chorus never ceases to give me chills. An epic start to what will hopefully be an epic weekend. And if not, at least I can rock out hardcore.


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A Toe Tappin’, Head Noddin’ Kinda Day

Posted on February 23, 2012 by KristenM Leave a comment

Artist: Static X
Song: Push It
Album: Wisconsin Death Trip
Mood: Ready to rock

The past two days I’ve been on a complete metal kick, craving songs a little heavier then I typically listen to on a day to day basis. I set up a Genius playlist based around an In This Moment song and for once, Apple did a good job nailing it. Every song made me want to nod my head and stomp my foot to the beat. I was even tempted to whip out my air drumming skills but it didn’t seem too appropriate on the subway. Actually, it’s something I only do in the privacy of my own room…

So many good head-banging songs I could have chosen but I went for a bit of an oldie. Remember Static X? Yeah, they’re actually still together and lead singer Wayne Static released his first solo album last year, if I’m not mistaken. “Push It” was the first song I ever heard by them and I’m fairly certain it was their first single but I’m not interested enough to look. “Push It” is a fast paced industrial metal song with an insanely catchy hook, fast hi-hat riding, and the perfect blend of guttural and high screams.  It’s over all too quickly, but the song does its job: I bob my head and tap my foot in sync with the beat and all is right with the world. Okay, maybe not but I disassociate myself from the rest of the world for 2.5 minutes.


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