Born from the Ashes (Again)

and again.
and again.
and again.

I bet we're all tired of hearing me say that I'm back. Right?

SO, guess what, guys and gals, I have finally gotten around to buying a new laptop!!

<insert some cute picture of party hats and confetti.>

Shh.. just use your imagination, I don't have a cute enough photo! ;]

Anyway, I can't start working on my wattpad stories until I yank the hard drive from my poor deciesed laptop child.
(Let's all have a moment of silence for past electronics.)

I also need to buy a case for the drive so that I can use it as an external drive in order to get to the files on that hard drive. Until then, I've started working on a few little things to keep all my lovely wattpad followers happy.

I hope that everyone is as excited as I am to get back into the swing of writing. My life didn't feel quite the same without it, but now that I'm writing again, I already feel better, more level headed.

Thanks so much for all of your support guys!
-Mason

Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds

Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds

Tove Lo (Ebb Tove Elsa Nilsson) is a Swedish singer from Stockholm who has been popping up everywhere as of late. I first encountered this gem on YouTube with her 2013 single Habits. You guys know me, give me a grungy girl, and I'm bound to give her music a chance; I'm very happy that I looked into this one!

Tove Lo released her debut EP (Truth Serum) in March of this year; however, I actually didn't get around to listening to it (besides on Pandora) until I already had my claws into her debut album Queen of the Clouds. I encourage everyone to give both a chance!

(Click the links! They'll take you to iTunes. You're welcome. ^-^)

Queen of the Clouds dropped on September 24th 2014 through Island Records. Two singles led up to the release of the album: Habits (Stay High) and Not on Drugs. So far, since the release, Talking Body has also been named a single. 

The album itself is split into three 'mini albums': The Sex, The Love, and The Pain; however, while listening, each section more or less resembles the other with a slightly different tone. Most of the themes (sex, drugs, sex, sex, sex, drugs) carry on throughout the entirety of the album.

As mentioned above, Tove sings a loooooooooooooooooot about drugs and sex. Trust me, I'm not complaining. It's just something to keep in mind. At times, the album is a psychedelic high with bright colors, pumping beats, and (sometimes) ridiculously fun lyrics; however, at times, Tove's songs are actually pretty depressing. 

It's a nice ride; it's thoroughly enjoyable actually. 

(Even if it is a little manic.)

Overall, the album is very strong. Tove's lyrics feel honest; it almost feels like she's trying to make you feel exactly how she's feeling. Granted, sometimes that can be a little hazy, grungy, and a little raving. I still feel however that the three sections are a little pointless. Most of the songs in each section carry the same themes, so I don't really see where the line is drawn. I have a feeling that after a few more listens, it will all become clearer.

I give the album **** out of 5 *'s!

My favorite songs are:

Talking Body

Moments

The Way That I am

Not on Drugs

Habits

This Time Around

The only song on the album that I didn't care for nearly as much as the others was Like Em Young; however, I can definitely see the appeal of the song, and I feel like it will grow on me. As of right now, I don't care for it all that much, but hey, you can't ALWAYS like them all, huh?

As always, thanks so much for reading guys! Let me know if you check this gal out, and let me know what you think of her music!

*Support these artists! This is their art, and we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy it!*

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