The Music of 2009

Every year there are a ton of new albums released. This year of course has been no exception. Many new artists have been corporately produced, while some legitimate artists have tried to keep me sane over the year.

I'll keep this as short as I can, by just giving a short review of artists who like, and what they threw into the mix...

"Sci-Fi Crimes" by Chevelle: Amazing new CD. I wasn't really a fan of them until listening to the new album. I had always thought that they were a decent band with a few songs that I like, but had never really thought to dig deeper. Honestly they are probably the most under appreciated bands out there, and are one of the few bands that still know what the meaning of 'rock,' is. My rating: 9/10.

"Billy Talent III" by Billy Talent: To be honest when I first heard this album my first thought was, "shit... they're just another band now." Since then, my opinion has changed... a lot. This CD is way different than their last piece of work, but it's definitely in a good way. They clearly have put more thought int their lyrics and have somehow managed to become more cohesive as a band. My Rating: 9/10.

"Life Starts Now" by Three Days Grace: ... I need more time I think. Three Days Grace used to be my favourite band. Since 2003 when they broke onto the music scene, I've always said they were my favourite, and I meant it. Now though, they've slipped a bit, and are now just behind Slipknot and Chevelle. Don't get me wrong, this new album is good... it's just now what I had hoped it would be. The aggression seems to missing, and it seems like they're going a little more mainstream. As long as they don't try turn into another generic sound, I'll be happy. I still think it's good, but it's not as good as I hoped. My Rating: 8/10.

"Shaka Rock" by JET: Not usually my type of rock sound, but I have to give JET props on their work. Pretty good lyrics and musicianship. Very catchy, but not in a way that would put them in a pop/rock category. Definitely better than their previous two albums (which were pretty good anyways.) My Rating: 8.5/10.

"Innocence & Instinct" by Red: I had never heard of this band until this year. Shit, I'm so glad that did. This is an amazing album by a band I hadn't really expected to be in to. By that, I mean, this band has many Christian inspired undertones, yet they keep the relevant so that even if you don't necessarily look for them, there is still an intelligent message. My Rating: 9/10.

"Dear Agony" by Breaking Benjamin: Since it only came out today, I can't really get my head wrapped around it entirely. With that said however, I think that it's great so far. After hearing the first single about a month ago, I've been stoked. So far the album sounds like it's a second chapter to "Phobia." My Rating: 9/10.

Overall, it's been a decent year.

Why Do You Care?

Every single day there is another story in the news, or on the television about some spoiled rich person in Hollywood who are in some type of "distress." By distress of course this means, they are in the hospital because they got a papercut, or now have a charity campaigning for them because they don't have enough money for the Ferrari. Yeah I know, who the fuck would want to settle for a plain old Lamborghini?

Seriously though, there are everyday people who have a lot bigger problems than those that are on our front pages, and five o'clock specials everyday. People who are having there homes foreclosed or are forced into things everyday are simply an afterthought. That is, if they're even thought of, of course.

What I mean in today's rant, is that I could really give less of a shit if Donald Trump has built another mansion. It's not relevant to any of us if you think about it. What's even worse is when people actually go out of their way to make a fuss out of something that doesn't affect them. The most famous instance of this that I can think of, is when amateur pornstar (let's just be honest, it's like the most productive thing that's she's ever done,) Paris Hilton was released from jail, there were hundreds of dumb preteen-future-bitches waiting with posters and crying because the Great Paris Hilton, was out prison.

They had a good point for wanting her released. What she did wasn't all that bad. Wait... what did she get sent in for?

Oh right, because she was driving recklessly while being drunk. I guess you'd be dropping your pathetic little posters if she was doing 90 in a school zone at the time... hypocrite fuckers.

As usual, I'm right about all of what I've mentioned. If it was you or your friend who had done that, get ready to spend the next year or two in a cosey jail cell with "Big Mike." Oh and I hope you're not in need of a new heart anytime in the near future. If your name doesn't rhyme with Pilton, or Gohan (lol... Dragon Dragonball...) expect to get those affairs in order.

Most of us are like ants. We all work for some fat bitch that decided she was our Queen. Eventually you are going to get stepped when you venture outside.

School (Damnit.)

Oh God, the inevitable bullshit looms ever nearer. Yes, the beginning of another school year. Where millions of us (most of which have no future... you know it's true,) go back to learn things that will be 'useful,' and guide us for the rest of our lives. It's also a time where I have to start going to bed at a reasonable hour (midnightish.) It's the time where we all die a little inside. One more year will pass, and all we have to show for it, is a few pieces of paper with information on how we're either excelling at becoming a future worker drone, or how we are going to one day be another huge disappointment to our friends, family and possibly a gynaecologist.

For some of us, this school year means, that it's the last go around. It's last last year that we have to be stuck in the same little town, with the same people we've known since we last threw toys at each other (for some of us that was actually just yesterday...) Most importantly though, it means that this year, our marks actually affect us... A LOT. For me especially this is quite depressing. Through grades nine to eleven, I simply did enough to get by. Some would call this 'lazy,' but I call it efficient. I'm sure you can see how I'm right... again.

Don't get me wrong, there are bright sides to school though. We get to see our friends more often, we get to meet new people and if we actually like the subject, we mind actually enjoy learning some shit.

Ok, so as you can see, there are plenty of good reasons to go back. The underlying issue though is that once we're trapped until 3'oclock, Monday through Friday, is that we lose almost all of our independent freedom to think. Now by this I don't mean your thoughts on how you INDEPENDENTLY dislike your French class... no it's ok to think that. But what isn't encouraged is to think WHY DO WE NEED TO LEARN FRENCH? Should a class like that not be optional? Will the majority of us ever need to learn French?

Non, nous volonté pas.

That's right, I'm totally saying that our schools don't want us to think for ourselves most of the time. They discourage us from doing things that are just human nature. Any kind of violent act is discouraged. Don't get me wrong, I'm not encouraging violence, but I do encourage people who stick up for themselves. Instead of taking abuse by his peers all through his school life, and then deciding to one day go on a shooting spree, little Timmy should just punch that bully in the face, and I can guarantee you won't see any more problems.

They (schools,) treat swearing for the most part, to be a hardcore act of defiance. Fuck that, it's just a common thing to do. If some kid in the hall accidentally knocks a book from under your arm, I think that it's your right to call him a dick. That kid knows that you probably don't mean it, and YOU know you don't mean it. You're just letting off some steam. It's just words, people get over it.

I could go on and on, about how all of this is a great form of bullshit, but I truly know that this is all falling upon deaf ears so to speak.