Jeremy's Album Pick of the (insert completely subjective period of time)

Okay, here's how this is gonna' go down. I see no reason why Austin should be the only one who gets an album pick of the *insert period of time between him posting*. I mean, can you really trust the opinion of a guy who capitalizes both "My" and "Romance", but leaves "Chemical" untouched?
So here's my pick of the undefined period of time and, while I'm at it, I will step up to the soapbox, take firm grasp of the megaphone, and proceed to rant about music as if I knew what I was talking about. This probably isn't anything you're interested in reading about, but that's what Reader's Digest is for. Sorry. You get what you pay for.

I've always thought of the seventies decade as being the golden era of rock. A myriad of genres all collided in the mid to late sixties to give the next decade the tools it would need, but it was in the seventies that rock became an established and, possibly for the first time, understood art form. Amid bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, I think our generation has forgotten many of the true heroes of classic rock. It's a tragedy, but allow me to set the record straight once and for all. I hereby dedicate this rant to:





New World Record

by the Electric Light Orchestra.







There's nothing new under the sun. What that means to me as an artist is simply that everything comes from somewhere and, to create something different, you have to explore its origins. That's why I listen to thirty year old bands like ELO. They are my roots, and you have to know where you've been before you can find out where you're going.
"New World Record" embodies this knowledge and brings together some of rocks strongest influences. Jeff Lynn piggybacks on everything from Mozart to Chuck Barry and back again. The result is orchestral rock at its absolute finest. The first track, Tightrope, is the consummate introduction. It opens with a sixty second symphony movement that transitions with grinding clarity into an up-tempo jam session, bringing the very soul of ELO into perfect focus. The best known pieces in the album are probably Livin' Thing and Do Ya', but every track is uniquely beautiful. The album is pure, genuine rock from front to back. You'll never listen to it with your hand hovering over the skip button.

For every generation of music, there are certain individuals from the past who lay the groundwork for greatness to come. ELO built off of Mozart, Joplin and Buddy Holly. I don't presume to be the next in such a line, and I don't presume to know where greatness will strike next. But bands like ELO are the artistic shoulders on which I choose to stand.

See you next rant,
Jeremy

The SkyMall Report

Hey Ya’ll

Austin Here. In coach as usual. Flying out east for a meeting with our man Jeremy. Things are looking up. Vic hasn’t barfed on me yet, the old guy didn’t drench me with his coke and I got a good deal on a Miles Davis album and a My chemical Romance album.

As for updates. Right now we are in the middle of discussing the upcoming summers tour, next album and a few deals in which our music will be featured in upcoming films.

Somewhere over Kentucky,
-Austin


My little pod guy was a stubborn fellow. He wouldn’t listen to reason and he had an attitude problem. Enough was enough. I was ready to ditch him and move on with my life. I was about to post him for sell on E-bay last night when he got scared and started working. I’m sitting here listening to some sweet music, and the little pod guy and I are friends now. So don’t worry. Life is good. I just thought you all should know.

Ta!
Victoria


Airplanes are a funny thing. And they raise a lot of questions. For instance, why are the seats always blue? Why can’t they be orange? And why don’t they serve M&Ms for the snack instead of peanuts? And why did I have to loose an earring? (Note to self: Find it. Or else.)

I’ve had a lovely time so far, listening to John Mayer and eating Austin’s crackers. Life’s looking great. I just hope I don’t freeze when we get off the plane. It was 18 degrees outside during our layover in Salt Lake City, and it’s supposed to be 28 degrees when we get to Baltimore.

Yikes!
Christina

Poem about goth rock:

Well, since we're posting poems, here's something I wrote with my good friend Bobby Shook on a long car trip.


The Ballad of Blake the Emo Kid

by Bobby Shook and Jeremy Clayton

Once there was a kid named Blake, who’s life was less than cool,
He struggled all his life to make a single "A" in school.
He didn’t have good social skills, he couldn’t even dance,
You haven’t got a girlfriend, Blake, so who gave you those pants?
He spent his whole high school career not trying to break free,
Wishing he was everything he didn’t want to be,
He cussed out jocks behind their backs pretending not to care,
He always knew but never dealt with life not being fair.
Well Blake had always thought he played a pretty good guitar,
He knew three whole chords and how to scream yeah he could be a star,
One day he saw an add that said to “Take an emo stand!!!!!!!
Come try out for lead singer in the Skulls of Fury Band!”
The bass player who’s name was Tom said “We only take the best.
The other guy slept in today, so you beat all the rest.”
Well Blake sat down and played a tune, and that was when they knew,
He knew how to play three whole chords. Their last guy knew just two,
Well Blake had written up some words he thought weren’t to bad,
About a tragic breakup with the girl he never had.
They needed some variety so he wrote a note or two
About the nagging parents that he never listened to.
And after they had worked a bit, he sat back down a wrote
A song against all governments, and why he doesn’t vote.
They put it on the internet to share with all the world,
To bring the joy of gothic rock to every boy and girl,
They got cash and video games, the girls were at their door.
They felt more sorry for themselves than they ever had before,
Now to end this sad but common tale, the greatest tragedy,
Is Blake is still recording and he’s making more than me.

Ode to the Silent Pod

I was given an iPod.
I was happy.
I thought of all the music I could listen to.
I tried to get it working.
But I couldn't.
Natalie tried to get it working.

But she couldn't.

We thought about drowning the iPod in Natalie's fish tank.

We didn't.

He's still with us.

And he still doesn't work.

We should have drowned him while we could.

We are now wrapped around his headphones, and we are powerless to do anything but look for a cure.

He really needs a name. Anyone?

Howdy

Well Ivy Streeters, enough of the Austin and Jeremy posts…we know who you've been patiently waiting to hear from. Unfortunately, Alison Krauss was busy and couldn't make it, so I thought I'd do a lovely little post instead.

The most exciting news of the hour is that in two weeks Victoria, Austin, and I are going to be flying back to the east coast, where we'll hopefully have lots of writing and practicing time with Jeremy. It'll be amazing to see him again, and hopefully he'll be able to put up with us. :)

Seriously though, the band hasn't been together for four months, and the girly mush and gush is starting to set in. At least with me. I can't speak for anyone else, because if I did they might kill me. Possibly. I don't know.

Now pardon me while I go and listen to Colbie Caillat's new album. I'm gong to try to fit in 145.8 listens today.

From snowy Grants Pass,
Christina <3