Something Corporate Blog and Journals

Last night I had the opportunity to catch Dear Jack, Andrew McMahon's documentary about his battle with Leukemia, on the big screen. I should've brought tissues, because I definitely cried. Read more...

Andrew McMahon's solo tour was a welcome departure from the normal style and pace of his Jack's Mannequin shows. "An Evening with Andrew McMahon" as one of my tickets called it, felt more like and episode of VH1 Storytellers. The audience was let in to Andrew's world and the stories behind some of his songs. The most intriguing story by far was that of "Walking By" where he explains how the line "my cheshire cat doorstop..." came to be. Videos and details ...

Chapter Five: You Are My Life, Lucy

 

It was just a few hours before the big anniversary for Jack and Lucy. Lucy was excited and went all out with her wardrobe. She put on a black and white silky, Zebra patterned dress and bought new high heels for the night. She curled her hair and did her make-up to look like a 1940's pin-up girl. While doing this, she sang to her favorite love songs that reminded her of Jack. "Invitation only, grand farewells; crash the best one, of the best ones. Clear liquor and cloudy eyed, too early to say goodnight. You have stolen my heart, you have stolen my heart. And from the ball room floor, we are in celebration. One good stretch befo-"

"What cha doin'?" Alex asked as he stood in the doorway of Lucy's bedroom with his arms crossed, head cocked to the side and a smile on his lips. Lucy jumped, not expecting Alex to be there. She was lost in her own moment, singing along to the music. "Wow, sis," Alex stood there flabbergasted as if he'd never seen her look so beautiful.

"What?" she asked him a little confused, yet he stood there with his eyes grown big and the smile on his face had been bigger.

"I never knew that my little sister could look so beautiful." Alex admitted. For that comment, Lucy stood up and spun around giving Alex a whole 360 look at her. "Come here." Alex said with his arms wide open. The siblings hugged and Alex looked so content about everything, even if she was dating Jack. Then, the doorbell rang and they both jumped and went downstairs. "You ready?" Alex asked Lucy as he placed one hand on the doorknob waiting for Lucy to nod her head, which she did and he opened the door. Jack stood their dressed up in black slacks, a gray button up shirt and a black vest, he was also holding a bouquet of white roses which were Lucy's favorite.

"Hi sweetie," Jack stepped into the house and went in for a kiss... with Alex then they both laughed, he turned around and smiled at Lucy. "Hi." he said and they kissed. Jack handed her the flowers and she almost had tears to her eyes, but she didn't even know what she was in for tonight. After a few minutes of talking to Alex, they left.

"Alex, make sure you put the roses in water." Lucy reminded him, giving him a hug. 

"I know." he laughed. "I love you."

"I love you too, bro." she smiled and took Jacks hand and out the door they went. Like a gentleman, Jack opened Lucy's car door for her and closed it, also. He got into the car and didn't start it or anything, he just smiled at Lucy. Lucy smiled back.

"I cannot believe how lucky I am to have you." Jack told Lucy and she blushed. "I mean that, you are my life, Lucy." he smiled, Lucy tried to hold back tears of happiness of finding someone as good as Jack.

"I love you." Lucy told Jack. Then again, they leaned in for a kiss and took off to the restaurant. Jack turned on the CD that he had put in earlier and their song "Hurricane" by Something Corporate came blasting through the stereo. It was no big deal since they always referred to each other for this song. It was sweet, they needed no one else in the world.

"I love you too, Lucy-Loo." Jack laughed.

 

...to be continued...

It’s August and here in Wisconsin that means it’s storm season. When the temperature gets warmer, the winds get faster and lightening strikes with rapid tornados. Now that doesn’t mean that this mix can ONLY be for something as big as a tornado or hurricane, it can be as small as mist. So, here you go, my list of best storm songs to ride out the wind on.

5. “Calm Before The Storm” by Fall Out Boy (from Take This To Your Grave album)

Granted, this was before Pete’s guy-liner era and before Ashlee and their son, Bronx ever came along. Way before that actually… It was actually when they were still not so known and main-stream as they are now. They were touring in a 16 seater van and living in their home sweet home, Chicago. This song is on the list because it’s one that you just want to rock out to and head bang to pass town. It’s not here because it has “storm” in the title, but it gives you the feeling that you are a part of the rain. It’s pretty spectacular if you ask me.

Favorite Line: “What meant the world had folded like legs and fingers holding onto what escapes me; what he has: a better kiss that never lasts.”

4. “After The Rain” by Nelson (from After The Rain album)

For those of you new to this game, no, those are not two blonde Swedish chicks, those are guys. Yes, hard to believe, I know. Now for those of you who already knew that, you get a gold star. I’ve loved Nelson since I was born, especially this song. The album (which came out in 1990) was a big deal since the Nelsons go back generations in music, starting out with Gunner & Matthew’s grandparents, Harriet & Ozzie and then their father, Ricky Nelson. All three generations were spectacular, I mean, they truly were. But the best always came down to the Nelson brothers who were (as some say) White Lion meets Loverboy meets Bon Jovi in a way, and they were ultimate sex symbols for that.

This song in particular has the reason in the title, “After The Rain”, it’s amazing. The song is about a relationship crumbling into pieces (hence the first lines “Look in the mirror girl, by now you should know, you’re living in a fantasy and you can’t let go. He never really loved you from the start, the only thing he ever gave you was a broken heart…”) As a girl, this song really reached out and touched me in ways that you’d never imagine (that sounded… wrong…), but at the same time, it’s perfect for a mix like this.

Favorite line: “Only after the rain can you hope to find true love again…”

3. “Red Sky” by Thrice (from Vheissu album)

This song was introduced to me by my friend, Daniel last year as the storms were topsy turvy three hours away from him where I was. It was flooding it the sky was turning variant shades of colors before my eyes. Even though some say that the song is saying not to die in the ocean because your wife will cheat on you and you will have to “make your bed at the bottom of the sea”. And others think that it’s about a captain talking about a storm up ahead since the sky can turn red before a huge storm.

Whatever it is, this song has a feel to it that makes you want to lay in bed or in the cabin on a ship and just wait for the storm to pass you by. I get sea-sick easily, even listening to the song… :/

Favorite line: “The stars retreat behind their vail, the clouds clinging to your sail. The storm is coming, can you see?”

2. “Remembering Sunday” by All Time Low (from So Wrong, It’s Right album

You never know what ATL frontman, Alex Gaskarth, had going through his perverted little smarts when he wrote this little number. Possibly the most heart-aching song I’ve ever heard, yet strangely, it reminded me of the clouds without their rain. I don’t know, maybe “Sunday” is not a chick, maybe I’m right about this… Maybe I’m ‘so wrong, I’m right’… that was an unnecessary pun, I’m sorry. But I know for a fact that I am wrong it’s about a man and a woman who were in-love, the woman in which was afraid of commitment (i.e. “She says she doesn’t believe in love, he’s determined to call her bluff…”) and the woman, Sunday, went missing one night do to one thing that she did that was so terrible to this man whom I want to believe is Alex himself.

This song makes you want to actually help this guy on his “desperate endeavor to find my whoever, whoever she may be” even though “the neighbors said she moved away, funny how it rained all day…”. This song makes you want to wander in the rain almost. It’s beautiful and the lyrics are something you’d never normally hear coming from ATL almost like “Wake Me Up When September Ends” or “Good Riddance (TIme of Your Life)” by Green Day, “I Miss You” or “I’m Lost Without You” by Blink-182, or the biggie and original of shockers “November Rain” by Guns N Roses.

Favorite Line: “Leaning now into the breeze, remembering Sunday, he falls to his knees.”

1. “Rainy Day Song” by Chase Coy (from Goodbyes and Autumn Skies album)

This song even starts out with the nursery rhythm “Rain rain, go away..” and ends up in being one of the best songs to slowly ride the storm out with. I believe Chase truly knew how all of us kids felt and had to write a song about it for many reasons especially those who don’t want to say goodbye to the golden rays of sunshine.

I believe that this one song is pretty much self explanatory, but this is the most that I want to give you. It’s in the title, it’s in the mix. Now go and listen to it!

Favorite Line: “But for now, I’m stuck here waiting for the sun to come and stop this awful downpour.”

Song that JUST missed the cut:

“Northern Downpour” by Panic At The Disco (Pretty.Odd)

“Hurricane” by Something Corporate (Leaving Through The Window)

& “Rainy Monday” by Shiny Toy Guns (We Are Pilots)

Check out some photos of William Tell and Owltrain from the front room last week...

This is the first time Andrew McMahon has  played in the UK as either Jack's Mannequin or Something Corporate for six years and the fans in the freezing queue outside Kings College can talk about only two things: How long they have been waiting for this show and which songs they need him to play. Still, with no support act and a 2+ hour slot, he should be able to fit in something for everyone, from the die-hard SoCo fans to the young girls staking out the front row. Show details...

http://cland3stin3lov3.buzznet.com/user/playlists/truth-be-told-i-miss-you-5199216/

heres the link.
so yea why do i have 7something hundred friends and i cant even get one buzz.
well anyways buzz it. =]

heres the list.
1. another heart calls - the all american rejects
2. ruthless - something corporate
3. i will follow you into the dark - death cab for cutie
4. whoever she is - the maine
5. thinking of you - katy perry
6. automatic eyes - the academy is...
7. still aint over you - augustana
8. way back into love - from the music and lyrics sound track
9. love remains the same - gavin rossdale
10. what is love - rookie of the year

Today we celebrate the birth of the piano-pounding genius who heads up Jack's Mannequin. This is how we celebrate...

It's been three years since Jack's Mannequin released their debut album, Everything in Transit. But there is finally good news for loyal fans of JM's mellow sound; Andrew McMahon says a new album (The Glass Passenger) is in the final stages of the mixing process and ought to be available in September. More deets.

Orange County, California is a breeding ground for good music. Whether you're into metal, rock, ska or emo -- the OC has got a band for you! It was hard to narrow down the list of incredible talent to just five bands but I am happy with my choices. Take a look, read over my explanations and post your own list in the comments!

DJ Rossstar's top five favorite bands from Orange County

5. Something Corporate

Something Corporate wrote some catchy songs and Andrew McMahon is a great lyricist and frontman. I got the pleasure of seeing this now-defunct band perform many times and they were one of my first interviews ever back in 2002. Their music is still great to listen to -- especially on long drives.

4. Zebrahead


Zebrahead combine elements of pop-punk, rock, funk and rap to create a sound that is like nothing else you have probably heard. It's a shame this band is not as big in the United States as they should be. Their live shows are full of energy and each of their four albums are a bit different thus showcasing their musicial abilities.

3. Lit

Lit are my favorite alternative rock band. Most people only know their hit song "My Own Worst Enemy." Although that song is very catchy I definately recommend checking out their album "Atomic" whicih is my favorite of the three. Lit's music is timeless but is best to listen to when the  weather is warm and the sun in shining.

2. Reel Big Fish

I don't care if it's "cool" or not. I prefer ska over metal and Reel Big Fish are the kings of ska. Their live show is definately in my top 3 and I have seen them play well over 15 times and it never gets old. Aaron Barrett is a great and unique lyricist and the band is more talented at their instruments than you probably realize.

1. The Offspring

Whether you consider The Offspring "punk" or not, this was, in my eyes, one of the very first punk bands I listened to growing up. They helped introduce me to a world of music I may not have found otherwise and they continue to put out incredible music every few years. (My favorite album of theirs is 2000's Conspiracy Of One.) I can't wait for the new album in 2008!