Train - California 37

Train has done a new album, California 37, and once again they manage to be a breath of fresh air. This pop rock band from sunny San Francisco always seems to make me smile and surprise me in a way. They have such positive vibe in their songs and although some of their material is a bit too pop for my taste, so far they've managed to put out songs on every album that simply make me wanna dance and mosh around my appartment. The new album is no exception. And there's something appealing in Patrick Monahan's voice.

I think this album isn't their best one. But then again, my all-time favourite Train-album happends to be Drops of Jupiter which was the album that brought them to larger audience. That is one hard album to beat. For Me, It's You came quite close.. But the new album has it's special moments and the first two track are included to my special ones. This'll Be My Year is just so loaded with positiveness and then ofcourse Drive By is the first single released from the album. And somehow, I can imagine Mermaid to be the summer hit of the year. It has all the elements, pop rock sounds, beach, sun and beautiful girl to whom Monahan is singing to. Not so much a favourite of mine though..

Tracks:

1. This'll Be My Year
2. Drive By (first single release)
3. Feels Good At First
4. Bruises (featuring Ashley Monroe)
5. 50 Ways To Say Goodbye
6. You Can Finally Meet My Mom
7. Sing Together
8. Mermaid
9. California 37
10. We Were Made For This
11. When The Fog Rolls In
12. To Be Loved


http://trainline.com/

Owl City - All Things Bright And Beautiful

Something more positive and pop for this Monday. Owl City is something totally different I've written about and listened to lately. But the album named All Things Bright And Beautiful certainly suits very well everything from depressing Mondays and sunny, summer Sundays. The album works as a cheer-up or a chill-out music while sippin' your sweet, cold strawberry margarita. :) Just listen to Deer In The Headlights and you'll probably agree with me.

Owl City is basically just a one-man-band put together by Adam Young in 2007 in the basement of his parents. After releasing his music independently through Myspace and iTunes Owl City got a label deal with Universal Republic and is now touring with a band that includes vibraphones, violins and such. Adam Young seem to have stayed the same as he was in the beginning of the Owl City when he was responding to any messages and writing blog constantly, giving a feeling to people that they knew him.

This may not be my cup of tea in the way I'd listen to this every day, time after time but I'm definitely going to remember Owl City when chillin' with my friends in the warm summer sun. Maybe I'll ask the dj to play songs like Yacht Club or Alligator Sky.

http://www.owlcitymusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/owlcity

Flashback Friday

We all know Tommy Lee as a drummer of Mötley Crüe. But Tommy Lee's done a couple of solo albums as well, of which Tommyland - The Ride from 2005 is the latest one. I gotta say I like the previous album, Never A Dull Moment, more but chose this one for today just because I happen to love the positive vibe on this album. Just watch the video for Good Times and you'll probably understand what I mean. The album was released at the same time with his autobiography Tommyland and works very well as a soundtrack for the book (Not that the book needs any soundtrack, but I'll get to that later on with my book reviews.). This album shouldn't be overanalyzed but be enjoyed as it is, simple, good-times music for hanging out, chilling in the park maybe while snuggle with someone special. Hello Again suits that snuggle part particularly well. If a bit more attitude needed the third track Tryin' To Be Me is your choice. Or Tired (with Joel Madden from Good Charlotte) which doesn't hide at all to whom it's meant.

This album certainly isn't the same caliber with what we've learned to expect from the guys of Mötley. But it works after all. I Need You or Make Believe or Makin' Me Crazy are great when compared to the right music genre, pop. (It ain't rock but..) A bit of pop occasionally won't harm any of us. ;) And there's nothing wrong about being and feeling positive. I know I'll keep on listening to it every now and then with a smile on my face. And luckily Mötley still keeps on touring because one thing is sure: Tomme Lee is kicking every critic's ass while sitting behind his drum-set!! (I dare you, you try yourself to do it bigger and better every time when getting on stage, still after all those years..)

http://tommylee.com/

http://www.myspace.com/tommyleetv