Music to Write to: BANKS - Goddess

Music to Write to: BANKS - Goddess

Why hello there again guys and gals. I'm here today with another album to review in my 'Music to Write to' column.

First things first, Jillian Rose Banks, AKA, BANKS, is a relatively new artist who has basically only been on the scene since 2013; however, she has apparently been writing music since the age of fifteen. 

(Thank you Wikipedia.)

She currently has two extended plays: Fall Over & London as well as her debut album Goddess. If you can't tell, I'm going to be reviewing her debut album; though, I highly recommend that everyone go check out her EPs as well!

Goddess was released on September 5th, 2014 through Harvest Records. 

So far, the album contains four singles: Brain, Goddess, Drowning, and Begging for Thread.

Two promotional singles have also been released: Change and Alibi.

The standard version of the album has fourteen songs in its track list while the deluxe edition has a total of eighteen. I will be reviewing the deluxe edition because, well, I can. (:

The album opens with Alibi.

Alibi is definitely a strong song to start with. BANKS' vocals stay on the higher spectrum, and I have to say that she sounds lovely. Her voice is smokey, often dark despite the pitch, and this gives the song a lovely contrast in feel. 

She sings, "I promise I'm usually better than this, and now I can't even recognize myself anymore; you turned me into this."

As the album continues, it quickly becomes blatantly evident that this gal has some serious writing talent to back her up. A quick check to Wikipedia shows me that BANKS is credited as a writer for each and every song on the album. 

By the time, This is What it Feels Like rolls around, you find yourself bumping with the rhythm, following each and every word she spills through the air. BANKS holds the ability to make you feel how each and every line of her songs is supposed to be felt, and I deeply enjoy every moment of it.

The album ends on Under the Table on the standard edition; however, on the deluxe edition, the closing song is Bedroom Wall. Both tracks are incredibly strong; though, I admit that I favor the latter. 

"You know how I see you; we should be one. 'Cause I already told you, baby. Last time I tried to sing you this song, couldn't get the words out, baby. My arms are open for you, look at me now." 

In Bedroom Wall, she embraces the love she's been so torn about during the album's journey. Despite Goddess having such a lusciously dark tone, BANKS' vocals carry so much more emotion than pain. Her range is phenomenal.

On a whole, I HIGHLY recommend this album. It's a beautiful piece of work that breathes life into a stagnant pool of over-processed pop queens and princesses. I promise that you won't regret the decision!

Favorite Tracks:  Goddess, Waiting Game, Brain, Stick, Fuck Em Only We Know, Drowning, Change, Warm Water, Fall Over, Before I Ever Met You, Bedroom Wall.

Least Favorite Track: None. I can't find a single track that I don't like!!

Rating: * * * * * (out of 5 *'s)

Please support this lovely artist by purchasing this album! I have included the iTunes link, and I will do so again!

BANKS is going to be a lovely addition to my ever growing writing playlist!

Let me know what you guys and gals think of the album! What was your favorite song? Thanks so much for reading!

- With love, Mason

I'm Not Dead!!

PHEWWWWWWWWWWWWW

So, life has been sort of a strange, new lately. My boyfriend and I separated from our friend and old roommate, packed up our tiny apartment, and moved in with our collective BEST FRIEND into a tiny old house!

It's been an adjustment.
moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoney

That's for sure.

I have been promoted at my place of work, and my boyfriend is making more money as well at his new job, so everything is coming together nicely but slowly.
Very slowly.

Speaking of my lovely boyfriend, he's actually buying me a laptop! (I'm currently bumming his.) So, I'm super douper excited to get back into the swing of writing, blogging, youtubing.
The whole shabang.

I actually have a pile of albums that I'm listening through in order to prepare some new music reviews for you guys.

Thanks (always and forever) for being so patient with me. It really means the world!!

Revisiting Old Story Ideas

If you've been keeping up with me on Wattpad, you know that I have finished plotting out the current story that I've been working on. Which means that the story will be written and wrapped up pretty soon!

Click here to read 'The Skinny Boy Tales'

As most writers are, I've found myself stuck in a place where my brain is swimming with story ideas, but I haven't quite figured out which one I want to tack down and begin writing. 

Because of this, I found myself sniffing through my story folder and thumbing through some previous ideas that I've had, and let's just say that I'm quite excited!

There are some new and exciting things coming your ways, guys and gals!

- Mason

Music to Write to: Lorde

Since my last blog post (below), I've decided that I'm going to write about all the music that I come across that I enjoy. Music plays a big part in my writing process, so what the hay, right?

Today, we're going to talk about Lorde!

Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O'Connor (Yeah, say that three times fast) is the 16-year-old kiwi gal known as Lorde. If you haven't heard her song Royals you've obviously been sleeping under a rock somewhere.

The song has ABSOLUTELY blown up lately, and for good reason. I promise that, if somehow you managed to miss out on hearing it, click the link above and you'll be snappin' right along with her.

With that being said, she released an EP titled The Love Club.

The EP has the song Bravado which shows this gals true vocal ability! 

She released her first album Pure Heroine on September, 27th of this year, and I highly recommend that you all go give it a listen.

I honestly love every single song on the album, and that's a rare feat for myself. Her lyrics are sharp and sometimes even a little dark, and she offers a unique perspective on pop music these days. I threw her entire album into my writing playlist.

Seriously guys and gals, this girl is someone you should all listen to. Tennis Court, Ribs,  Team, Glory and Gore, are some of my personal favorites!

After you check her out (because the entire internet obviously listens to me) drop a comment down below and let me know what you all think of this kiwi.
Her music is definitely something to write to!

Miley Cyrus - Bangerz

This post is going to be a little bit different from what I usually do on this blog, but I'm sure we can all agree that music is pretty important to all of us, huh?

I'm sure music is more important to some of us than other, but hey, what can I say. As a writer, music is constantly in the background; I'm actually inspired by some artists, and their music really helps me create the tone, atmosphere that I want for my stories.

With that being said, I wanted to do a short little review about Miley Cyrus's new album Bangerz.

Miley has blown up in the media lately due to her newly adopted risque appearance, personal life, and her outrageous VMA performance.

Click this link to see her performance. Just in case you missed it.

With all of that aside, she released her brand spankin' new album on October 4th, 2013.

Overall, it seems the album has received mixed reviews from most big name critics, but let's be honest, do any of us REALLY listen to them?

In my completely unprofessional opinion, Miley's new album is very well put together. It's both fun when it needs to be and completely serious in all the right places.

I'm not going to give a comprehensive review track-by-track (unless you guys and gals want me to); however, I will definitely highlight my favorites (and not so favorites) from the album as a whole.

Right off the bat, the album opens with the heartfelt and powerful, Adore You. It's an honest and true song with powerful vocals to boot.

My personal favorites off the album are as follows:
We Can't Stop
SMS
Wrecking Ball
FU (feat. French Montana)
Do My Thang
Someone Else

FU and Do My Thang feel like songs that are directly sang to us, the listeners. This girl is saying, "Hey, I'm Miley F****** Cyrus. I'm here to stay; I'm going to my thing, while coming in like a wrecking ball."
See what I did there?

Some of the songs that I don't really enjoy are:
Love Money Party
Drive
On My Own

They feel a bit forced to me, as if Miley's not actually trying to make us feel like shes this party girl, but that she just had a little extra room on the album and just shoved a few songs into those spots.

Overall, I really enjoy this album, and I'm more than pleased that I bought it. I'm really digging where her music is going, and there is no denying that this girl has made a place for herself. Let's not forget that while she may surround herself with stuck out tongues, twerking girls, and nudity, but she has vocal talent to boast about.

Go buy the album for yourself!
What did all of you think of the album? As always, I love finding new music, so please feel free to share your suggestions with me!
- Mason

Special Project to Thank My Lovely Followers

If you all follow my Wattpad messages and updates, you may have caught a post that I did earlier this week about wanting to thank all of the people who follow me on the site.

I mentioned that I wanted to do a little special project when I reach two thousand followers.

(Originally, I wanted to start the project when I hit one thousand; however, I hit that number while I was on my forced hiatus.)

Click here to follow my wattpad account.

I figured that because not many of you follow this blog, it'll be a little way to share this secret with the few of you that do follow me on here. Consider this a big THANK YOU for being so wonderful.

With all that being said, I would like to WRITE A STORY WITH MY WATTPAD FOLLOWERS!

When the time comes, I want to ask my followers to give me specific details to use for the basis of a story for all of you guys and gals.
That would include setting, character names, traits, plot points, etc.

Of course, I'll go more in depth about it all when the time comes, but what do you guys think?
Does that sound like a good idea?

Thank you guys so much for your support!

xoxo - Mason

 Click to read 'The Skinny Boy Tales'

 Click to read 'As Time Proceeds'

 Click to read 'Imaginary'

Click to read 'Souls Entwined'

My Forced Hiatus has Ended!

Well,
My laptop is finally back up and running well enough that I can FINALLY SIT DOWN AND WRITE!

It's a wonderful feeling, and to celebrate, I've already put up the newest chapter for The Skinny Boy Tales!

:D

I'm so happy to be back!