Let's see... yes. I was at the library (like I always am) and I stumbled upon James Blunt's first album, "Back to Bedlam." I cannot help but review it. So, let's get on with it! DISCLAIMER: I was not paid to do this, I did not get permission to do this. None of this music belongs to me. Once again, this is completely MY opinion, and if you disagree, I can't help you there. Track 1: High - 4:04 - 6/10 Definitely not the best song on the album. The opening reminds me a bit of "Yellow" by Coldplay (shocked me outta my skin the first time I heard it), but it's not one of James's best. All in all, an average song. The choruses are pretty good, but other than that, unremarkable. Track 2: You're Beautiful - 3:33 - 8/10 I am not going to argue with this song. This is the song that I heard on the radio, long ago, that made me fall in love with Mr. Blunt. Compared to the rest of the album, though, this song is just a warm-up. I love the story, and I also love how it doesn't have a strictly happy ending. Track 3: Wisemen - 3:43 - 8.5/10 Wisemen, now, is an excellent song. It's a lot rockier than some other tracks, and I love both the verses and the chorus, the verses slightly better. And the lyrics are beautiful, if a little perplexing. But hey, this is songmeanings, right? That's our job, decoding songs like these. Track 4: Goodbye My Lover - 4:18 - 8/10 And back we go to quiet. This song is probably one of the saddest songs in my library, but it's simply gorgeous. The piano is excellent, the second verse is my favorite. It's the kind of song you listen to when you're feeling quiet and a little sad. Track 5: Tears and Rain - 4:04 - 8.5/10 Now the opening of this one reminds me of "Carry You Home" off Mr. Blunt's second album. But anyway, this song's a bit like tracks 1 and 2 put together. And that's a great mix. Two thumbs up for this one, and I'm actually reading "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde because of this. Great song, great book. Track 6: Out of My Mind - 3:33 - 9/10 Now, THIS song. This song is definitely one of my favorites. I love the lyrics, the beat, everything. Points only deducted from the sort of plain chorus. But still, the verses are absolutely fantastic. This one of the songs I just want to sing along to every time it comes on. :) Track 7: So Long, Jimmy - 4:25 - 9.5/10 This is my favorite track off the album. I was surprised, I didn't think I'd like this song, just glancing over the lyrics. But the impossibly catchy guitar in the background and the fact that "Out of My Mind" gets you in just the right mood for this song makes it irresistable. Two thumbs up for Jimmy Blunt and Jimmy Hogarth! Track 8: Billy - 3:37 - 7/10 This song is also sort of plain, but it's quite hard to follow up a song like "Jimmy." It keeps the rock-y beat, but something about this just doesn't work. Perhaps the "Tears and Rain"-esque verses? Anyway, Sort of unremarkable, but I still can't help loving: "Tomorrow comes, sorrow becomes his SOUL-mate!" Track 9: Cry - 4:06 - 5.5/10 I wanted to like this song, I really did. I loved the lyrics, glancing over them, but after 4 awesome, rock-y, catchy songs, this one just doesn't cut it. Another rather boring, average song. But maybe put it in the slow playlist with track 4--it might not be overpowered by catchier songs. Track 10: No Bravery - 4:02 - 9/10 Yes, "Cry" did serve a purpose. It was slower, preparing you for THIS song. This song is... impossible to describe. Ugly. Disgusting. So utterly beautiful. This IS the saddest track on the album. It just reminds us of how horrible war really is. I can't help but love it. Overall score: 8/10 A very, very good album. Overlooking shortcomings, this definitely one of my top 5 favorite albums.

I am happy. Thriving Ivory + New Album = Happy Gallow. It's called "Through Yourself and Back Again." Ten Tracks. Hopefully, ten three-and-a-half to four minute pieces of musical perfection, each with the capability to send all the little fanboys and fangirls (such as myself) into a swoon. Hopefully, better than the last album. Or at least on the same level of the last album. Here's the tracklisting, for the lazy people: 1. Love Alone 2. On Your Side 3. Some Kind of Home 4. Where We Belong 5. While the Candle Still Burns 6. Moonlight 7. Cobwebs 8. Run 9. Motorcade (So Long, So Long) 10. Come November And here are my thoughts. 1. "Love Alone", for some reason, makes me think of "Better Than Alone." And if it's a rehashing of that song, I've got no problem. But I was expecting a NEW new song, not an OLD new song that-most-of-the-fans-haven't-heard-but-nevermind. 2. "On Your Side," "Run," and "Motorcade" are the only songs I know absolutely nothing about. So, hey, they might surprise us. 3. Clayton likes "Some Kind of Home." Therefore, I'll trust Clayton and say that I am going to like it as well. 4. "While the Candle Still Burns," is, in fact, on Youtube. A live video, it was recorded in 2007. Before the first album came out. Almost an entire year before the first album came out. Perhaps an old-style song? 5. "Moonlight" is a slow, acoustic song. 6. "Cobwebs" contains this line: "I'm clearing all the cobwebs/There's nothing here but dust." 7. Why do, when I think "Come November," the words "Sleepless in November" come to mind? I seriously can't remember where I remember those words from... Aaaaand... that's it. Wow. New tagline: "I STALK, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO."

Hey, All!!! Well, let's see. Has anything happened over this month or so? I acquired the Missy Higgins CD, "On a Clear Night". Also, the Fray's "How to Save a Life". And Five for Fighting's "Slice". "On a Clear Night" turned out to be the best, but I'm not arguing with the Fray's "Trust Me." Very good song. Very. Slice was... well, Slice. I'm not gonna complain, but nothing stuck out, really. In other music-related news, I'm finally gettin' to go to a THRIVING IVORY CONCERT in August!~ YAY!!! Lessee, they're playing with Ryan Star (who's not bad, not bad at all) and DEAR GOD I JUST CAN'T WAIT. ~Gallow