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

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

Mason's Tips for Writer's Block

I have noticed that quite a few people on wattpad complain about writer's block.

I totally agree that writer's block is one of the most crippling things a writer can experience if you let it cripple you.

Click Pickover's Tips for Writers has quite a bit of useful information if you would like to check it out, but I am going to compile a list of things that help me get through writer's block.

1. Take a step away from your work.
      If you find yourself absolutely stuck on your writing, and you're pulling your hair out in sheer and utter frustration, simply take a step back. Give yourself a little break, but don't let the break transform into anything much longer than a few hours.
     The main goal is to get past whatever is blocking your writing, not ignore it.

2. Reread what you have written to pinpoint exactly where you are stuck.
     This will help you isolate the exact point in your writing that is bothering you. In my case, when I get writer's block, it's because there is a specific part in my writing that I don't like or I believe doesn't work. All I have to do is rework my writing until I like it.
     This takes time, but in the end it's totally worth it.
3. (This one is my favorite) Listen to music that inspires you.
     This is more of a tip to avoid writer's block all together. When writing, I listen to my musical muses, and I highly recommend that every single writer out there sit down and find music that inspires you.
     In my case, I listen to Milla Jovovich, Marina & the Diamonds, Ellie Goulding, Florence & the Machine, Tori Amos, and Lana Del Rey. Something about the combination of their music just keeps me going, and it honestly helps me avoid writer's block completely.

I hope this help any of you, and if you have any questions, please drop them in the form of a comment(:
Also, if you have any tips for writer's block, please share them below :D
We could all benefit from it <3