Pink Rock Candy-Entertainment

This post is— let’s see— at least a week late, but I think it takes time to fully digest an album. Since I buy my music like the rest of you— LEGALLY, when they’re released— writing about how awesome the new Kings of Leon album is, the day it came out, was out of the question. That’s a lie, because anyone who’s following my twitter would have seen multiple tweets of me raving about Only By The Night.

The album isn’t as rough as their previous albums have been, which is something I’ve heard criticized, but I for one don’t mind that it sounds a bit more produced than normal. There also aren’t any standard hipster dance-party songs and they have gradually stepped out of the country rock sound they had when I first heard of them.

I’ve listened to Only By The Night, in its entirety over 20 times in the past week, and that’s pretty good considering I have entire albums on my iTunes that I haven’t even heard once.

I love Caleb’s constantly strained and urgent vocals. I love that the guys were probably drunk while writing most of the songs making the lyrics sort up confusing. I love that the drums in “Cold Desert” are truly like a heart beat. I even love how some of the songs begin by sounding like songs by other bands, but then change into this amazing, totally KoL rhythm. I doubt there is one song on the album I wouldn’t listen to a thousand times and still adore.

However, I am a staunch advocate of hearing is believing, take a listen to their single “Sex on Fire”, and fall.

For more info on Kings of Leon head to their website or myspace.

p.s. They have a ton of Kings of Leon home videos on their youtube page. The videos are mostly really funny, and the guy’s southern accents are bound to charm your pants off, even if you don’t find them attractive in the least.

It’s almost my birthday! Actually, THAT’S A BIG LIE because my birthday’s in November, but it feels like it’s almost my birthday. Why? Because in four days Viva la Vida comes out, and once again, the world will be perfect. I think I’m going to throw my own personal Viva La Vida dance party in my bedroom on Tuesday morning (now that I think about it, Tuesday’s actually my mom’s birthday). Its seems to me like the world, and not just my world, is revolving around Coldplay, and I’m ready to be a lemming and follow the trend— that is unless the album’s terrible, though that’s doubtful.

First of all, my favorite Sirius satellite radio station, Alt. Nation, station #21 for those of you who care, is having Coldplay take over the station for the next 10 days starting at 6PM EST today. That means it will be all their picks all the time!

Then, there’s the fact that everyone in my family is excited for this album which is a rarity. Our musical tastes vary from Coltrane to Soulja Boi, so for all of us to agree on one band is an accomplishment. My brother walks around the house singing “Viva La Vida” and my dad blares the stereo every time he hears “Violet Hill” on the radio. I love it all, and I’m a bit obsessed with their military jackets, though it is a bit reminiscent of My Chemical Romance’s marching band jackets for The Black Parade.

Oh, and has anyone seen that Apple commercial with Coldplay. I’m sure you have because it’s on TV ever five seconds, and you’re probably inadvertently humming, “I used to rule the world/ Seas that rise when I gave the word, Now in the morning I sweep alone/ Sweep the streets I used to own,” or is that just me?

Among all these great Coldplay achievements, though I’m not sure if they really care about my family’s taste in music, there’s THIS…

Chris Martin and Will Champion were being interviewed by BBC and Mr. Martin decided he wasn’t comfortable with the interview and walked off the stage. Part of me sympathizes with him because I know interviews can be monotonous and many reporters are rude and ask idiotic questions— yes, there is a such thing— but there are better ways to handle that than walking off the stage. Some of my favorite interviews occur when a musician is fed up. Sometimes sarcasm is a better defense than abstinence. So, next time, Chris, just make the interviewer look like an idiot and the people who are your fans will laugh and those who aren’t don’t matter to you anyway.

In other, non-Coldplay news, Vampire Weekend is playing at Central Park tomorrow and if I don’t have to work, I’m totally going. I suggest you go to if you’re anywhere close to NYC. Get the details here.

Photo Credit: Coldplay’s myspace

I doubt I could fully express my love for Flight of the Conchords, but I’m going to try, and then you’re going to watch their new video for “Ladies of the World”. Now, where do I begin? Should I start with their names? Bret Mckenzie and Jermaine Clement, which they happen to say really amusingly. How about the fact that they have an awesome show on HBO, called Flight of the Conchords. If you haven’t seen it your missing out. I was supposed to currently be watching new episodes, but because of some indignant writers the new shows were pushed to the fall— I’m totally making a sad face right now.

Or, I could just start with the fact that both Bret and Jermaine are real hotties in their own way, and by “own way”, I mean not stereotypically, and they are some of the only people who can actually get away with roller skates and 70s style tracksuits. Oh, and did I mention Jermaine’s sexy pornstache? It is bound to make any girl swoon.

The real reason Flight of the Conchords are so awesome is because they can not only be hilarious through song, but their songs are completely truthful making them even more zany. Whether they’re spoofing rappers in “Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros” and “Mutha’uckas” or making sexy seventies seduction style music in “Ladies of the World,” you’ll be laughing your ass off even when it’s completely inappropriate to be snickering, so you’ll make crazy faces while trying to stifle laughter because you’re in a public place like your school’s computer lab…ahem.

The more I think about how funny they are, the more I want to laugh, and people are starting to stare, so just watch the video for yourself— and mind the cute New Zealand accents and the bad ass foot work. One day, I’ll own at rollerskating like them!

p.s. If you happen to like this go buy there new album with a bunch of old, yet terribly funny songs called, Flight of the Conchords, what else!

My ears are swooning. For the past couple of hours I’ve been listening to the new Panic at the Disco album, Pretty. Odd., and the new album from The Raconteurs, Consolers Of The Lonely on repeat. I know everyone is probably thinking, how exactly do you put those two bands together or better yet, “If you like The Raconteurs how can you like Panic at the Disco?”

Well the first of all, I’ve decided to throw these two odd ball bands into a playlist together because both of their albums came out today (along with Gnarls Barkley’s and Temposhark’s albums). And secondly, I happen to like Panic at the Disco, so scorn me and cal me a fan girl, I don’t care.

Consolers Of The Lonely is totally fresh and full of that Jack White-y amazingness (does that make sense to anyone else?). I love how The Raconteurs (Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, Patrick Keeler, and Jack White) can take you from fun, riff heavy “Solute Your Solution” to manic, screeching, dirty rock like in “Five On The Five” to haunting country covered blues in “Carolina Drama”. If you liked Broken Boy Soldiers then you’ll definitely like Consolers Of The Lonely, for that matter if you just liked “Steady As She Goes” or “Level”, I’d suggest you pick of these guys new album.

Now, Panic haters can stop reading, because I’m about to compliment them. Though Pretty. Odd. is completely different that A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, they dropped the synth heavy beats with the ‘!’, I can honestly say I like it just as much or even more. Sure, Ryan Ross seems to love writing nonsensical lyrics, they now sound eerily similar to The Beatles, and the video for “Nine In The Afternoon” is an obvious nod the St. Pepper, I can’t help appreciate that they decided to do something different than their last album (a big risk that could alienate their fan base). I think Brenden has finally figure out the proper vocal range for him, and Ryan’s voice is very 60s pop, which makes me smile a bit to myself. My favorite songs out of the bunch are “Northern Downpour”, “Pas de Cheval”, “Behind The Sea” (yes the one Ryan sings), “Folkin’ Around”, and “Mad as Rabbits.”

Did you buy either of these two CDs? What are you’re thoughts? What other new CDs do you like?

For more information on The Raconteurs visit: theraconteurs.com or myspace.com/theraconteurs. For more information on Panic At the Disco visit: panicatthedisco.com or myspace.com/panicatthedisco.

~ Mary J. Blige - Growing Pains

~ Lupe Fiasco - The Cool

~ Various Artists - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street [Soundtrack]

~ Chingy - Hate It or Love It

~ 3 Doors Down - Citizen Soldier [Digital Single]

~ Jaheim - The Makings of a Man

~ The Morning Of - Digital EP

~ The Lives of Famous Men - Modern Love, the Wooden Vehicle

~ Gasoline Heart - What Now

~ The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Medium Rare