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 :)

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 :)

Music Moment: Imagine Dragons

If there's one thing I can't stand, it's an empty blog after years of seeing it filled to the brim with posts. Which is exactly why I am now writing my third post of the evening in an effort to not make my new creation look completely barren.

What am I here to talk about? Today, I delve into one of my current favorite music groups and their album. Ladies and gents, I am way too excited to introduce you to... *insert drumroll*... Imagine Dragons!

In particular, I am here to talk about their most recent album, Night Visions.

This music group is an American indie rock band that hails from Las Vegas, Nevada. If you check them out on iTunes, you'll see that they fall under the Alternative genre. This particular class of music is usually hit or miss for me, and in this instance it was a ginormous hit.

You might be thinking: Mkay, glad you like this random band, Lacey, but I've never heard of them and I am most certainly not interested. STOP RIGHT THERE. You probably have heard one or more of their songs and have just yet to identify the artist.

Their song It's Time can be heard in the trailer for the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Additionally, Radioactive can be heard in the trailer for the upcoming, sure-to-be-killer movie The Host.

Here are a couple of my favorite songs from the album. If you can't quite justify purchasing the whole album, you should at least download these:

• Radioactive: By FAR my favorite. The beat is so jarring and addictive and momentous, and it has such an intense vibe to it.
• Nothing Left to Say/Rocks: This song has an odd combination of two songs in one. It's kind of hard to explain until you listen to it first hand. The lyrics of this song were what got to me...although the actual music is phenomenal, as always.
• Demons: So. Dang. Catchy. And lyrical. That is all.

The other songs are all wonderfully crafted as well, and overall it is such an entertaining album. Certainly worth the buy, and it comes highly recommended!

RATING: 5/5 stars

~ Lacey :)