Jagalicious Fresh

I’ve been on a wicked iTunes spree lately, looking for some new stuff to fill up my iPod. Here’s a few of the tracks I’ve been picking up:

From the “Punk Goes…” Series…
–Wonderwall by Cartel
–Umbrella (Rihanna Cover) by All Time Low
–Hey Jealousy by Hit the Lights

I usually hate these compilation albums, mostly cause of their association with those obnoxious KidsBop commercials on TV (there’s something disturbing about a ten year old singing a Christina Aguilera song…), but these tracks are pretty awesome. The cover of Wonderwall is my favorite of the bunch; Cartel (who are known for their time on MTV’s Band in a Bubble) does an amazing job, holding off on any main guitar line until halfway through the first minute of the song…it’s amazing. Hit the Lights also do an outstanding job covering the Gin Blossoms’ hit with a little harder edge than the original. The Umbrella cover is….weird. But I like weird. It’s a little forced, like Rihanna’s publishers really pushed for the thing to get covered even though it doesn’t work well as an alternative track, but I really liked the song and got over it pretty quick.

Beat It by Fall Out Boy feat. John Mayer

Come on…how do you have on a hard version of the MJ classic? It’s awesome. You don’t even realize it’s the same song until about fifteen seconds in when that classic riff comes blaring through with no background drums on an electric bass. Fall Out Boy’s sound fits the song really well, and it’s a great update to an 80s classic. I have no idea where John Mayer comes in on this one…you’d never know he was on the track, although I assume he takes control on the completely-over-the-top-awesome guitar solo after the second chorus. This would make an oustanding Rock Band song…hint hint nudge nudge wink wink say no more…

Viva la Vida by Coldplay

It’s from the iTunes commercials. I think Apple may have made a pact with the devil that any song they use in those commercials becomes a smash hit purely out of hearing it 17 times a day. It actually got me to buy the whole album…which I found to be kind of a disappointment. Being an Apple fanboy really is like being in an absuive relationship…

Accellerate (album) by REM

Very different from some of their previous albums. They have a much harder rock sound this time around, and the whole thing is outstanding. Standout tracks include Horse to Water, Living well is the Best Revenge (so true), and I’m Gonna DJ (at the end of the woooooorrrllld!). I had the chance to see them along with The National and Mighty Mouse when they came to Merriweather Post Pavillion a month ago, and let me tell you, Michael Stipe is the ULTIMATE live performer. He manages to simultaniously be a freaking rock star and a massive dork on stage.