Spotlight On: Something Corporate

OK guys so after recommending this band to a new friend, I decided to put on my iPod and have a big Something Corporate session! I must say every time I listen to these guys I’m taken back to being a teenager. From like 14 to 17 these guys were the soundtrack to my life. All I wanted to do was see them live or even be one of them. They were so fresh and I just thought the oozed awesome-ness. My teenage years weren’t the easiest; as I’m sure everyone can appreciate and relate to. Being a teen is hard work right!? But these guys got me through. Music meant just as much to me back then as it does now and to be honest I’m really surprised I haven’t blogged about these guys before as they are pretty much my favourite EVER band and the band that had the most influence on me growing up.

I still now buy any music magazines that feature interviews with them, even one of the recent Alternative Press issues which, due to the fact I live in the UK meant I had to get it on import! But I like to keep an eye on them. They got together for summer 2010 to do a tour but unfortunately it didn’t make it to the UK. However they did release a ‘Greatest Hits’ style album called Played In Space which I of course bought STRAIGH AWAY! There is no point in me telling you which songs of theirs I love most because I truly love them all. Not a single song by them have I ever heard and thought ‘I don’t like this’. So instead I shall just give you some of my ultimate favourites; the ones which I’d recommend to a new person to listen to first, so that they could get a flavour for their music.

The first one I’d always say to check out is Punk Rock Princess. I think this would have to be my all time favourite, the song is all about fitting in and the music video is amazing. It’s a simple video but if you have seen it you’ll know how affective it is. Growing up I felt like I never fit in and the video shows that there is hope and a place that everyone can fit in. I think I must be responsible for half of the views of that video on YouTube. I’d also love to visit a club or venue that is similar to the one in the video. Secondly I’d have to say check out Straw Dog. There is a lyric in this song ‘Even if she gets no-where in life, at least she knows she’s pretty’ which I just think is amazing and obviously again the song itself is FANTASTIC. Others that I could not live without are: Watch The Sky, I Woke Up In A Car, Space, Break Myself, Hurricane, Down, Only Ashes, Ruthless, The Runaway, I Kissed A Drunk Girl, The Astronaut, If U C Jordan, Cavanaugh Park, Last December, Good News, and As You Sleep .

For me this band brings both hope and a sense of direction and gives out the message that there is a place for everyone. Anytime I miss my teen years I blast out these guys and I’m back there, in the heat of summer chilling with good mates back when times were far simpler. Even though growing was sometimes a scary and a hard time this bands influence definitely helped me out and made me the person I am today and for that I am truly grateful!

If you guys love this band as much as I do, then if you didn’t already know the lead singer, Andrew McMahon is also the front man of the band Jack’s Mannequin who I’ve mentioned on here before. Jack’s Mannequin started out as a side project for McMahon but as Something Corporate drifted apart and sadly ended he made this new band his full time one. Trust me they are defiantly worth a look!

Something Corporate Summer Tour

OMG! Something Corporate are reforming?! But only for a summer tour. After Lead singer Andrew Mcmahon developed cancer he decided to take a break from music while he battled his sickness. The rest of Something Corporate went on to from the band Firescape and after Andrew had won his fight with the disease he took a new musical turn and formed the band Jack's Mannequin (My favourite band!!) But now for a summer tour he has rejoined his fellow Something Corporate bandmates, they have also released a new album, a best of album entitled Played In Space which is a two disc album that features all of their best songs and there are also a few re-recordings on there aswell!! So go check it out on itunes!!! Sadly as they are mostly based in the USA there are no current UK tour dates :( but at least their is the best of album as some sort of comfort. If I find out that they may be coming to the UK I will be the first to let you all know!!

Bigging Up The Band: Jack's Mannequin

This band is more form the heart than the charts, my favourite band in the world; ‘Jack’s Mannequin’. After listening to their latest tracks I decided I should do a ‘big up’ of them and their amazing sound. I was first introduced to this band after seeing them guest appear on (coincidently) my favourite show in the world One Tree Hill. They appeared in an episode during the shows third season in which they played at the club ‘Tric’ for a benefits gig in support of breast cancer. Jack's Mannequin is a piano rock band from Los Angeles, California. A side project of lead singer Andrew McMahon, originally from Something Corporate (Another of my all time favourite bands), the band was formed in 2004 and released their first album – ‘Everything In Transit’ in August 2005. In June of that year, things were to digress when McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

However, after having leukaemia, fighting leukaemia and kicking leukaemia’s ass he was back and on top form kicking the asses of American fans nation wide. Their first album rolled out a number of successful tracks such as; ‘The Mixed Tape’, ‘Dark Blue’, ‘Into The Airwaves’ and ‘Holiday From Real’. Their success continued and they later released their second studio album ‘The Glass Passenger’ in 2008. Keeping true to their fans their new albums songs were somewhat reminiscent of the songs from their debut album with tracks such as; ‘Miss California’, ‘The Resolution’ and ‘Swim’. They released a new EP in November 2009 entitled 'Dear Jack' which featured 4 new trracks.

This band is recommended by me because of what they offer, not just in the way of quality tracks but also in their lyrical messages and hope. My personal favourite tracks of theirs are: ‘The Mixed Tape’, ‘Dark Blue’, 'The Resolution’, 'American Love' and my total fave ‘I’m Ready’

People who like this band will also love: Something Corporate. Recommended tracks – ‘Punk Rock Princess’, 'Hurricane' and 'I Woke Up In A Car'