Don't "Panic!".. It's A Good Album!

So I recently acquired a copy of the new Panic! At The Disco album "Vices & Virtues" which was released on March 22 (A tad late I know). I wasn't a huge supporter of the band until their their sophomore record "Pretty. Odd." which was an awesome collection of songs with new sounds not previously heard from the group. "Pretty. Odd.", to me, sounded like a "Sgt. Pepper's" inspired disc, with horns,. major percussion and marching anthems all tied together with the band's signature verse style and lead singer Brendon Urie's unique singing talent.

This album is a great reminder of what the band is capable of. It has a good balance of up-tempo rock songs as well as a few lighter but intriguing ballads. The first track to stand out to me was "Ballad of Mona Lisa". It is a sweeping and emotionally charged song with an aggressive chorus and catchy beat. A similar song on the album, with a tougher edge, "Hurricane" has a great feel to it and is hard not to stomp your feet to. It comes complete with acapella shouting, clapping hands and loud choruses of resistance. On a slower and more intimate note, the song "Always" is an adorable ditty with Brendon being the main focus. A guitar, small drum beat and floating melody  allow the albums main slow-track to shine.

While we've not heard new music from Panic! in almost 2 years, this disc is a decent return to listeners ears. Not an album fans may be dying to get but an album that music lovers may want to pick up to see how a band can grow and develop their sound through the years. The album as a whole has little diversity in sound and song, but the sound that Panic! At The Disco has fallen into is one that is full, boisterous and exciting. 

Lady Madonna

So Lady Gaga has released a new single called "Edge of Glory", an awesome homage to the rock ballad from the early '90's. Gaga has been under recent scrutiny for her "similar" and "copied" music stylings of the one and only Madonna. I cry "Bullshit!".

Madonna is an artist for generations of the people of Earth (and probably outer space). Her music defined every decade since the early 80's and has stayed afloat thru late 2010 with her last single "Celebration." To compare Gaga to Madonna, or any other musician to a music icon (Usher/ Michael Jackson..?) is like saying The Olive Garden is trying to be "real Italian food." DUH! One was influenced by the other. One was a starting point and the rest are all admirers trying to spread the word. Lady Gaga is the same age as I am, and I know as a fellow twenty-something how much Madonna can influence a person, especially one so musically inclined like Gaga herself.

That being said, I must give my honest opinion on what im thinking about Lady Gaga's new direction with the lot of singles being released for her "Born This Way" album. Her newest track, "Edge of Glory," is a song filled with such emotion that only this style of music can evoke. A classic love-rock ballad that i think Is well needed in a techno-synthetic pop world. Knowing how much Gaga loves and communicates with music, there is no doubt in my mind that she has written this album with all of her inspirations in mind. This one track alone gives me a Heart, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Nicks vibe. The overwhelming and nostalgic imprint of the chick-rock era from '91-'96 is so pertinent and welcomed .Lady Gaga is one of the few artists, like Madonna, that can take the music industry and make it breathe again. I have faith that this album will be filled with new styles of rock and pop music that will continue her into the musician and artist we all know she is destined to be.

Check out the song below if you haven't yet. Available on iTunes! 
"Born This Way" out on May 23rd!!

Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga

Intro

This will be considered my very first blog. Maybe few will read this, but hopefully many will stumble upon it in passing. To myself (who will undoubtedly read this later), I tell you to continue to be inspired by life.

The purpose of this blog is open up not only my own eyes and ears to the things I find along the way, but to discuss things and write about things that I want to share with others. Music, art, fashion, thoughts..

This whole thing is dedicated to a friend who, without some unpleasant but necessary soul searching, i would never had thought of using this outlet to help further my growth in finding myself. So to that person, i am very grateful.

The Chandler is intended to be about certain things that im thinking of, or music i might be interested in. I also intend to try and reach out to as many people as i can. I am very eager and apprehensive about this whole process, but also extremely excited.

Welcome, and enjoy The Chandler.