Tina's Blog

This month's theme here on BUZZNET is Makin' Memories! Whether you're in the midst of making new memories or you just want to reflect back on your favorites, now is the time to share them!

Ok that title makes it sound like I've been rolling around in trash. Ke$ha's awesome, but I don't roll like her. Anywho..

One year ago today, on May 22, 2012, I finally got to see my favorite band, Garbage, live for the first time ever on their Not Your Kind Of People Tour! Tears were shed, memories were made.

I remember buying the tickets online and waiting 30 minutes until that little "Please wait" spinny thingy finally stopped and it said I got them.

So after shaking and crying for a good 15 minutes, I just sat here going "holy sh!t, I'm seeing Shirley Manson in real life!"

So imagine my reaction once I was actually there and they hit the stage.

After I while I calmed down like a normal person. Shirley talked to the audience between each song and made us feel like family.

So many feels.

There are great concerts and then there are AMAZING concerts. The ones that stick with us until we're old and grey. The ones we'll tell our future children about while they roll their eyes. The ones we'll always remember when we think about that one band who really made an impact in our lives.

For that night's set list and more pics, go here!

What shows have left an impact on you?

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I know I've featured this song before but it fits my mood today. It's amazing how one song can say it all.

"My poor heart aches every step you take, every move you make."

♥

It's been a while since I've blogged about new music! Let's change that!

Today I bring you Magic Man!

Magic Man is a five piece alternative/synthpop band from Providence, RI. I discovered them through one of my favorite bands, Gentlemen Hall, on Facebook. They've sort of got that Passion Pit meets St. Lucia thing going on that I'm head over heels for. If Pretty In Pink were made in 2013 this would be the soundtrack.

Take a listen to their EP, The Fox Den Demos, below:

Magic Man will be on tour this summer with Walk The Moon! Ticket info here.

The Fox Den Demos are available for FREE by clicking here.

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"Reconsider" is a Japanese bonus track from The xx's sophomore album, Coexist. I actually just discovered it a few weeks ago and fell in love with Jamie's remix.

Jamie xx Edit

Original

Jamie's remixes of "Reconsider" and "Sunset" are available now here.

Most nights, you can find me curled up with a good book. I find myself drawn to YA fiction. I'd like to even write my own YA fiction book one day. I've just discovered a whole new plethora of titles from Deb Caletti. If you're a Sarah Dessen fan, you'll love Caletti's novels. I just finished The Six Rules of Maybe today and it inspired me to share some Friday night inspiration.

The Six Rules of Maybe

1. Respect the power of hope and possibilities. Begin with belief. Hold on to it.

2. If you know where you want to go, you're already halfway there. Know what you desire but, more importantly, why you desire it. Then go.

3. Hopes and dreams and heart's desires require a clear path - get out of your own way.

4. Place hope carefully in your own hands and in the hands of others.

5. Persist, if necessary.

6. That said, most importantly - know when you've reached an end. Quit, give up, do it with courage. Giving up is not failing - it's the chance to begin again.

What are some things that have inspired you lately?

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Welcome to a new segment I like to call Put Your Records On. For a more detailed intro, click here.

I know I talk about Garbage a lot, but really, I just can't help it! They're such a big part of my life and music collection so I'm pretty sure I'll be discussing every album of theirs at one point or another.

Today, Garbage's fifth studio release, Not Your Kind Of People, celebrates it's one year anniversary! I remember a year ago today I was beyond excited to finally have a brand new Garbage album after their seven year hiatus. The physical copies didn't come out until a week later but that didn't stop me from raiding iTunes and lying on my bedroom floor all night, just devouring each song; letting them all seep in while finding the ones I could relate to. Of course I shed a few tears - anything that has to do with this band makes me sob like a baby. It's pathetic.

With songs like "Beloved Freak" and the title track, "Not Your Kind Of People," these four wonderful human beings proved to me once again that they are indeed my 'kind of people' and I don't have to spend this period of my life alone in my thoughts.

"Running around trying to fit in, wanting to be loved. It doesn't take much for someone to drag you down. When you build a shell, build an army in your mind, you can't sit still and you don't like hanging round the crowd. They don't understand."

When you spend most of your life as an outsider, trying to find your place in life, it's nice to finally see the positive aspects. Sure we might feel overlooked but it's nice to know that you're not alone, and we just aren't some people's kind of people - which is fine because they're not ours either...if that makes sense.

"Not Your Kind Of People" portrays an image of the real world I never could quite figure out. It always felt divided to me: the haves and the have nots. Some people are just given everything without having to work at it while others are slaving away for something they feel like they are never going to reach because "the haves" are given it all so easily. With "Not Your Kind Of People," I learned that "we are extraordinary people" and we don't need the acceptance of anyone but ourselves. The world is not divided. We may do things differently than the norm, but we do them our way. Some will get along and some won't. Thinking that the world was somehow divided seemed really ignorant of me and I won't allow anyone who thinks they are "higher" than me to discourage me from pursuing anything.

"I never saw you coming from inside my little prison. Your autograph would really buy me time."

One of my absolute favorites from this album is "Control." I remember hearing it for the first time and just getting legit chills from start to finish. I'm not exactly sure what their viewpoint was when writing the song but to me, it's how I feel about my last relationship and how one life changing moment made me lose all control over what I wasn't allowing myself to admit.

"I confess I've lost control. I let my guard down. I let the truth out. I was suffocating."

"Big Bright World" is one of those songs you want to let the person you love listen to. One day, I know I will.

"We are difficult to understand. It was hard to make this simple plan work. Difficult - and that's what made it burn. You're a satellite around my heart. One million miles before the start. Indescribable - but that's what makes it you."

Happy Birthday, Not Your Kind Of People! It's been a splendid year! ♥

Don't forget to join the Put Your Records On group and tell me your favorite songs!

#PutYourRecordsOn

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Last night we said goodbye to The CW hit teen drama, 90210. The two hour series finale featured cast and crew members expressing their heartfelt gratitude for the five year run and for the chance to be a part of a cast that got along so well.

If you're sitting there thinking "whoa, hold up! It ended?" then you're probably just as shocked as the cast were when they got the news. Actress AnnaLynne McCord, who played comic relief Naomi Clark, stated that the cast had no idea they were being cancelled and that they had all found out on Twitter! Ouch!

^ Pretty much.

I can't say I'm sad to see it go, though. Those storylines were getting a bit too ridiculous. I will say that the finale was lovely and how I always imagined it should be...except for one major detail. It looks like McCord felt the same way.

McCord explained that she was "not happy with the way her character's ending was written" so she took matters into her own hands and filmed her own alternate ending, which she premiered last night on Twitter after the West Coast finale. Check out the video below:

Are you satisfied with the way 90210 ended? What surprised you the most? Are you sad to see it go?

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Welcome to a brand new segment I like to call Put Your Records On. For a more detailed intro, click here.

Tonight I'm going to discuss one of the most influential albums in my collection: Version 2.0 by Garbage, which has just turned 15 years old this weekend!

Version 2.0 was the first Garbage album I ever bought. I remember hearing "I Think I'm Paranoid" in early 2003 and becoming obsessed with it. I know, I know. I was 5 years late to the party but it was perfect timing for me. That album, along with lead singer Shirley Manson herself, shaped me into the person I am today.

Back in 2003 I was in the 9th grade. I was awkward and didn't have too many good friends. I just dreaded going to school every day because of what I might encounter or how someone would tear me down. I'm not going to sit here and talk about being bullied, though. It's a story we've often heard so much of lately, which, don't get me wrong, is a good thing. Back when I was being tormented, it was a very alienating experience. No one was really talking about it and I felt as if I was the one in the wrong if I even mentioned it - like it was all in my head. I dived into this topic a while ago here.

Shirley Manson helped me stand strong and believe in myself when I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to deal with it all. I've talked about this song zillions of times before on here about my love for the song "The Trick Is To Keep Breathing" from Version 2.0. The lyrics "maybe you'll get what you want this time around" have been playing back at me lately. Ten years later and I'm finally on the verge of getting what I want...possibily...if I work hard at it. But it all started with one bad ass woman fronting a rock band to tell me that I could. I always felt like Shirley was one of me, my 'kind of people', and time and time again she has saved me in more ways than I can count.

"Special" also holds a 'special' place in my heart as well. I tend to associate that song with the unfortunate guys I've come across in my life. Why I ever spent so much time on them is beyond me. I personally like to sing this song super obnoxiously loud. It's just one of those empowering ones. ;) With lyrics like "do you have an opinion? A mind of your own? I thought you were special. I thought you should know. But I've run out of patience, I couldn't care less," I've come to the conclusion that if I could have written any song i this world, this would be the one. I love that Shirley has a mind of her own. I also pride myself on that as well. I've encountered so many people who are crippled with the thought of thinking for themselves that it saddens me. Find your backbone!

Happy Birthday, Version 2.0! I hope it continues to change lives as it has changed mine.

Don't forget to join the Put Your Records On group and tell me your favorite songs!

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I can't go through my CD collection without that Corinne Bailey Rae song playing in my head. ♥

While browsing through my music collection this afternoon, I came across a wave of nostalgia. I will never part with these records. These albums I can easily put on a timeline to describe a certain period of my life. As I started to play those albums, I started to think of who I was vs. who I am now and I am greatful for every lesson learned through every note.

Do you have records that do that for you? Good. Listen up!

I've decided to start up a new segment here on Buzznet called Put Your Records On! This group is dedicated to putting your favorite records on and remincising. They could bring you good or bad memories. They even can be silly like *NSYNC or some early Britney Spears! Bottom line is: it doesn't matter. Tell us your stories and who you were when you bought these albums. Get creative and add some personal photos. I'll even have some monthly creative missions for you all to do if we get enough people to join! Let's make this one of the most enjoyable segments on Buzznet!

Simply tag your post with #PutYourRecordsOn and join/add it to the group here.

Also feel free to tweet me your posts at @TinaTweetsAlot using the hashtag #PutYourRecordsOn!

Tell me your favorite songs!

X Ambassadors have been on my radar for the past year. They toured with LIGHTS last spring and their music has been featured in numerous television shows. I'm not sure where the 'X' came from but they're still the same Ambassadors from their highy acclaimed Litost EP for which I fell in love with.

Brooklynites X Ambassadors made their official start in 2006 as a college band but it wasn't until 2010 that they were able to completely commit to a full time band. Timing really is everything. Their Love Songs Drug Songs EP is available today and they are currently on tour with Imagine Dragons!

For fans of: Imagine Dragons, Atlas Genius, The 1975, LIGHTS.

Take a listen to the EP preview below:

Love Songs Drug Songs is available here.

For tour dates go here.

facebook.com/XAmbassadors

twitter.com/XAmbassadors

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