Music Moment: Ed Sheeran

I hesitated to write my own review of Ed Sheeran's widely anticipated new album x, pronounced 'multiply', simply because it would just be one more review to add to the hundreds that have already been written. That being said, Ed Sheeran has been one of my favorite artists for years now, and I feel like it would be just wrong not to say something.

So, first of all, I've always had a bit of an obsession with Ed. Not just the OHMYGOSH I LURV HIS MUSIC obsession. Like, I have an obsession with him as a person. He's a ginger, like me, so I feel an immediate connection to him. He also has the coolest tattoo sleeve of all time. And he's BFFLs with T-Swizzle. If you ask any of my friends, I swear up and down on a regular basis that he will be my husband. And they all say, but Lacey, you don't really know him.

I'd argue that I do.

No, I haven't met him, and no, I don't have telepathic abilities. But Ed's music is highly autobiographical. His music is incredibly introspective, and it offers a narrative of his life and his thoughts. His newest album certainly shows us his ups and his downs, his loves and losses.

And now, for my Top 5 (I couldn't possibly order them in any particular way, so these are just random):

- "Photograph": Basically, if you don't like this song, you're wrong. Pure, romantic, sweet, classic Ed.

- "Thinking Out Loud": This song takes me back to some older soul music, and it's a little bit reminiscent of Marvin Gaye and maybe Stevie Wonder a little bit. Stellar vocals on this one. It's also a serious contender for my first dance song at my wedding, it's that touching and romantic.

- "I'm A Mess": This song is an acoustic number about inner turmoil and the self-destructive touch Ed seems to feel he adds to every relationship (a theme also touched upon in the very catchy "Nina"). It's catchy, conflicted, and emotional.

- "Bloodstream": Seriously, this song is amazing. It has a very indie, Snow Patrol vibe (probably because one of Snow Patrol's members helped create it), and it is very gritty and dark and definitely shows the tumultuous side of Ed Sheeran. Very, very cool sounding. It kind of builds up throughout the whole song until suddenly it's this big orchestration at the end and...just go listen to it, I have no more words.

- "Take it Back": This song is only available on the Deluxe version, and it's definitely one of the songs that many aren't going to like because Ed's rapping. There's been a lot of mixed reviews on his rapping, and a lot of people think he's trying to hard to change into a pop-y artist. But all of his previous music has included some rap elements, so that argument is invalid. Ranting aside, this song literally won't get out of my head. I've made it my personal goal to be able to rap the insanely well-penned and delivered verses, and the chorus is simple but vocally outstanding. This song was the perfect combination of staying true to his roots and branching out and trying new things.

All in all, this album is everything I could've wanted it to be and more. Stellar, work, my husband!...I mean, Mr. Sheeran....

My rating: 6/5

~ Lacey :)

Music Moment: Sam Smith

Unless you live under a rock, chances are you've heard of the out-of-nowhere pop-soul artist, Sam Smith. Or, as I like to call him, the male (and better, in my opinion) version of Adele.

Smith has recently released his first album, In the Lonely Hour, and a lot of buzz has surrounded him. He's famous for his heart-wrenching ballad about the pain and loneliness involved in having a one night stand, called "Stay With Me", but I'm of the opinion that some of his other songs are in desperate need of a spotlight as well. And so, without further ado....

• "I've Told You Now": Easily in my top three from this album. It starts off slow and bitter, and then grows into a passionate and frustrated song about being in love and spending so much energy on pursuing a relationship and having it all ultimately be futile. So stunning. And his falsetto.... Perfection.

• "Like I Can": Dare I say it, my favorite song from the album. You can try not to sing along, but I can guarantee you'll fail. Such a catchy, heartfelt song, and I predict this song becomes popular in the future.

• "Leave Your Lover": Oh, gosh, the yearning in this song is tangible. We've all been there...wanting that special someone to realize his or her significant other is inadequate and hope that they see that all along, he or she belonged with you. Why am I getting some Taylor Swift vibes...?

• "I'm Not the Only One": Sad. Passionate. Conflicted. A beautiful addition to a beautiful album. 

All in all, I'd have to say my Top 5 from the album would have to be (and this is a tentative order, because tastes shift):

1. Like I Can

2. Stay With Me

3. I've Told You Now

4. I'm Not the Only One

5. Leave Your Lover

(Runners-Up include "Money on My Mind", "Not in That Way", and "Life Support")

I highly recommend this album for anyone who wants a little music to make them feel something again. Yeah, a lot of it is mellow and bittersweet, but it's beautiful, and what more can you ask for from a freshman album?

RATING: 5/5...possibly a 6/5 

~ Lacey :)

Quote of the Day: Unknown

Some quotes motivate you. Some quotes make you want to be crazy and young and wild. Some quotes inspire you to reflect on yourself and your priorities. Some quotes give you an opportunity to question things. Some quotes reaffirm your beliefs.

And some quotes make you desperately, honestly want to fall in love with the writer.

"I love unmade beds. I love when people are drunk and crying and cannot be anything but honest in that moment. I love the look in people’s eyes when they realize they’re in love. I love the way people look when they first wake up and they’ve forgotten their surroundings. I love the gasp people take when their favorite character dies. I love when people close their eyes and drift to somewhere in the clouds. I fall in love with people and their honest moments all the time. I fall in love with their breakdowns and their smeared makeup and their daydreams. Honesty is just too beautiful to ever put into words."

Whoever wrote this...you are a rare, rare gem. It appears to be written by a guy, but who really knows. And I don't even care. These words a raw in a beautifully chaotic way and it is my absolute favorite form of expression. It's a poem that's not really a poem, but a poetic introspection. 

Indulge in this. It's pure honesty.

~ Lacey :)

Music Moment: James Vincent McMorrow

I won't lie. I get quite sucked into mainstream music all the time. I've been a die hard Taylor Swift fan since her very first single Tim McGraw popped up, and I've been known to jam out to virtually anything my local Top Hits radio station has to offer: Britney Spears, One Direction, Selena Gomez, Lil Wayne...you name it.

But I also like to think of myself as an old soul. And I think one of my dearest musical obsessions, James Vincent McMorrow, taps right into that ancient part of me.

I don't have one singular album to recommend, although Early in the Morning is the one with the most songs, so I'd go with that. Personally, I don't own the entire album, but I'm considering doing the whole Complete My Album thing on iTunes because I've yet to find a song of his that I don't immediately love or have it not grow on me.


McMorrow's genre is labeled as Singer/Songwriter and sometimes Alternative on iTunes, but that's not very accurate. He reminds me a little bit of an older, rougher, and if possible, more poetic Ed Sheeran (whom I also harbor a deep love for). His songs are generally soft, whisper-y, and so lyrically and instrumentally beautiful that they've moved something deep within me.

If I had to recommend just a few of his songs, they'd be We Don't Eat, If I Had a Boat, Ghosts, Higher Love, and Wicked Game. He has also sung a song under the band name Japanese Popstars called Shells of Silver, which is just fantastic. All are slow and rhythmic. If you're looking for something to pump you up for the big game, this is definitely not your guy. But if you want something to calm you down and speak directly to your soul, this is it.

He may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I kind of like that about him. His music speaks to me, and that's all that I care about.

I hope that maybe, he speaks to you, too.

~ Lacey :)

Quote of the Day: Ernest Hemingway

For today's daily dose of inspiration, Mr. Hemingway is making a generous reappearance. And again, he doesn't disappoint.

"Try to learn to breath deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough."

I guess this goes along with my recurring theme of never taking a single moment in life for granted. Dear Ernest makes a very earnest statement indeed here (I couldn't resist, I apologize). He's saying that we can't live life looking down. We have to be deliberate in everything we do, whether it's sleeping, eating, screaming, loving, crying, laughing...every single action we take and emotion we experience is special and unique and worthy of everything we have to put into it. 

I say follow his words. If you're going to eat, savor your meal. If you're going to sleep, do so deeply and dreamily. If you're going to laugh, annoy everyone around you with that snort your get embarrassed about. If you're going to get angry, scream at the top of your lungs and communicate how you feel (within reason, obviously; don't end up in jail). Cry hard, smile wide, breathe resolutely. There is only one life here on Earth. Start living it.

Because, as Mr. Hemingway so delicately put it, you will be dead soon enough.

~ Lacey :)

Reading Rendezvous: Thirteen Reasons Why

Normally, when someone gives me a book, I feel obliged to read it almost instantly so as to somehow let them know how grateful I was to receive something as personal as a novel for a gift. When I was gifted City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, I attacked it immediately and finished it within the week. When someone bought me a copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, I absorbed it in about three days.

But when I received Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher for my fifteenth birthday, I hesitated. I'm not sure why I did, but something about the ominous cover and cryptic back summary made me put it away and read something that had a cover which promised a bright, happy ending.

Recently, while I was looking through my decently large pile of unread books, I found this book and figured it was time to tackle it. Without looking up what the book was about to refresh my memory or asking any of my friends if they remembered reading it, I flopped down on my bed and opened it up.

And now I know why I waited so long.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a dark, introspective novel about the worst several hours of a boy named Clay Jensen's life. He receives an odd package of audiotapes on his doorstep, and when he plays the first one he's shocked to find it is the voice of Hannah Baker. Which might not be the strangest thing in the world, except for the fact that Hannah Baker killed herself.

The tapes tell her tale, each side of each tape directed towards the thirteen people who played large parts in Hannah's decision to end her own life. We hear the heartbreaking tale of how so many little things that don't seem to mean anything individually can add up to destroy a person, and we hear all this through the voice of the dead girl and the horrified Clay, who doesn't understand what he could have done to Hannah that was so bad.

What's crazy is that even though from page one it is quite plain that Hannah is very much so dead, one can't help but want to save her as she weaves her tale. The desire to reach out and tell her everything is going to be alright is so painful because it's impossible, and we get that feeling both from Clay's reactions and within our own hearts. Which I'm sure is exactly what Asher was aiming for.

This book is exactly what it sounds like--hard to read, emotionally devastating, and a genuine tear-jerker. There are very few parts of this book that make you want to smile or laugh. But at the same time, I'd recommend it to everyone, because the message is important: Everything you do affects someone in ways you will never understand, and there are always going to be consequences for your actions.

It's sad, and dark, and eye-opening, and beautifully written. Asher's writing is very comparable to that of John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) and Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower).

I recommend it to everyone inside the parameters I will lay out below, but I also follow that with a warning: prepare for tears and lots of soul searching, because I know it made me cry and think...have I done something to make someone feel like Hannah did?

SUGGESTED AGE OF READER: 14-15 (for some sexual material and drug/alcohol references)
MY PERSONAL RATING: 5/5 stars

~ Lacey :)

Quote of the Day: Matthew Gray Gubler

If you even know me in the vaguest way--meaning, you at least follow me on Twitter--then you know that crime shows are one of my most consuming obsessions. You'll probably know this because about half my tweets are about Criminal Minds, NCIS, or Law and Order: SVU. I'm pretty open about this addiction, so maybe it's no surprise that I've found a pretty striking quote from one of the actors in one of the shows.

Of all my crime shows, Criminal Minds is bordering on my favorite (although NCIS has a very, very special place near and dear to my heart, so they're always vying for the top spot). And of all the main characters, each of whom I have developed ridiculously deep-rooted feelings for, Dr. Spencer Reid, the young, quirky genius played by the magnificent Matthew Gray Gubler, has always been the biggest conundrum to me. He's adorable, disarmingly attractive in the kind of way that's not in your face, and best of all he has the demeanor of a puppy who's a little out of place in its litter. But perhaps even more interesting is the actor himself, who is so full of wise words and quirky romantic vibes that I'm surprised he is not married with about a zillion children right now.

I'm sure more of his quotes or whatever I decide is cool will make appearances on this blog, but this quote in particular really tugged at the girl inside of me who has always felt like that puppy that doesn't quite belong with its brothers and sisters.

"I think it's perfectly acceptable and rather admirable to be moderately delusional."

Oh, Mr. Gubler, it's like you understand every dreamer's biggest fear--that maybe having big hopes and wishes somehow makes us weak and stupid. But, as confirmed in this quote, that's not the case. Being a dreamer is not only okay, it's admirable. It's a quality that people should want to have, and people who don't have it should honestly be a little jealous of those who do.

This, of course, is great news for me, because being a dreamer is one hundred percent what I am best at.

And I guess that's admirable.

~ Lacey :)