Author: The Smart Cookie

Thirty something reader, writer, and music lover who believes all people should have the freedom to espresso themselves however they choose. This community is born out of an equal love of reading, writing, and the power of faith and coffee.

#MusicReview: Waiting For Sunday is on to something with ‘The Windsor Effect’

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

I’m still trying to figure out the mystery behind the Windsor Effect, new album from Canadian rock quartet, Waiting For Sunday. Affiliates

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A jazz-trained bassist, classic rock lead guitarist, industrial rock
drummer, and indie-rock vocalist and you have Waiting For Sunday – a
unique blend of musical sensibilities with widespread appeal. Comprised
of producer and drummer Colin Everall, singer Dan Hudson, bassist Mircea
Tracke and lead guitarist Matt Gauld, Vancouver, Canada-based Waiting
For Sunday has recently released The Windsor Effect, a 12-track
multi-faceted album of diverse themes and styles. This new album is the
follow-up to their 2011 debut, “The Courage, The Strength, The Wisdom &
Doubt”.

You can follow along with my song by song review by listening here.

Song by Song Review

“Pebbles Become Stone”: This a bit of a let down in terms of an album opener. I expected more from this track but found myself feeling all-around disappointed. Maybe there is something about this track that I am missing. The only great part is the guitar solo during the breakdown.

“Last Call For Safety”: I like this track from the beginning with the dramatic guitar chords that bring the track to life (almost gives life to me after the first track), it reminds me a little of a Cute is What We Aim For track without the extra bells and whistles. My favorite lyric: “We have run the river dry.”

“The Love is Gone”: 

This track is a bit of a conundrum to me lyrically but I like the haunting musicality it gives off.

“Tell Me That You’re Mine”: With soft guitar chords that remind me of a mix of a Taylor Swift love song and a Secondhand Serenade song, this track has to be my favorite because of it’s romantic feel.

“Long Live The Strong”: With a classic rock feel, this is another one of my favorites. My favorite lyric, “Nice to meet you but where the hell did we go wrong?”

“Wanted”:”Well there’s truth to the matter, with love comes sacrifice.” I really like the story this track is telling. One of love, rejection, and betrayal, all with music.

“Borderline”: The piano is a surprising solace for this track’s beginning. This track almost communicates a sense of yearning for whatever it is talking about.

“Chasing Youth”: The electric guitar really gives this an old-school rock feel, and reminds me something I would hear in a biker bar. My favorite lyric: “So I wonder why, the grass is always greener on the other side.” This track overall is another favorite of mine.

“Seasons Are Dire” The soft guitar chords along with the ballad like vocals, this song reminds me a little of a new spin of Death Cab For Cutie’s Follow Me Into The Dark.

“Details” Minor dramatic guitar chords and a heartbeat drum backing the vocals of what appears to be a track about a love that fell apart.

“Oh, The Night”: Probably my favorite track on the entire album because it has the makings of being a radio single that blows up fasts on the charts. I await big things from this track all by itself.

“Scripture”: Not really sure if I like this track at all and once again, I feel a bit let down by the overall musicality and lyrics. Then again, you be the judge as everyone has different tastes when it comes to music.

If this album spoke to you, and you want to know all of Waiting For Sunday’s whereabouts please make sure to check out their site, follow them on Twitter, and Like them on Facebook.

#ICYMI: New music from Greer

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

As most of you all know, I love finding new music. It’s like the same feeling as when the coffee from my Starbucks espresso kicks in. It gets my adrenaline pumping and boosts my mood. The feeling intensifies when the music is really good, and I become obsessed with the song or songs. For example, right now I’m obsessed with the song Just Like Fire by Pink. It’s melodic, punk enough to not be candy coated, and it’s written and performed by Pink, whose music has helped me through many trying times in my life. Once again, this song hits a high note.

In the same way, independent pop artist Greer has released two new songs recently that are equally as mood-boosting. Affiliates

“Love Me Less”: a club anthem with the message of being who you are despite the pressures someone you love puts on you.

“Deal With The Devil”: Not really for me as a born-again Christian as I’m not looking to make a deal with the devil in any way but thanks Greer for suggesting this. The beat on this track is sick, though.

#MooreJacks: LumberJacks Need To Eat

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Today I want to get right of the heart of the matter by  saying thank you to Hormel Foods Dinty Moore® brand for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to try Dinty Moore® beef stew!

Before I get to why I decided to try the stew, let’s talk about lumberjacks. Much like everyone else, lumberjacks need to eat, constantly, to overcome their rigorous training. Dinty Moore beef stew is a quick and hearty option for aspiring lumberjacks.

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Starting on July 15th in Chicago, there is a nationwide competition for lumberjacks and the winning ingredient behind every star athlete is the food or fuel they intake daily. That’s why I highly recommend Hormel Foods Dinty Moore brand beef stew.

 

When DINTY MOORE® beef stew was introduced in a big blue-and-white can no one could have predicted the product popularity that would follow.

Today, from cupboard to table in minutes, DINTY MOORE® products are great tasting, well-balanced meals that will satisfy the whole family. Tender beef, fresh potatoes and carrots all simmered in a delicious beef gravy make DINTY MOORE® beef stew the number one selling stew in the nation.

Varieties:
Canned Products
DINTY MOORE HEARTY MEALS®

• Beef Stew
• Chicken and Dumplings
Microwavable
DINTY MOORE® Microwave Trays

• Beef Stew

DINTY MOORE® Microwave Cups

• Beef Stew
• Chicken and Dumplings
• Noodles and Chicken
• Rice with Chicken
• Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

DINTY MOORE® Big Bowls

• Big Bowls Beef Stew
• Big Bowls Chicken and Dumplings
• Big Bowls Hearty Burger
• Big Bowls Chicken Pot Pie Stew
• Big Bowls Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

• The suggested retail price for DINTY MOORE® canned products is $1.79 for the 15-ounce can, $2.69 for the 24-ounce can and $4.59 for the 40-ounce can.

• The suggested retail price for DINTY MOORE® microwavable products is $1.39 for the 7.5-ounce cup, $2.59 for the 10-ounce tray and $2.49 for the 15-ounce cup.

For example, I bought my can for $1.98 at Walmart. I found it to be a hearty lunch before a good writing session and was surprised by how good it tasted.

DINTY MOORE® canned and microwavable products are available nationwide at major grocery stores.

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I’m not to familiar with the training regime for a lumberjack who is looking to compete nationally that’s why I’m so glad Adrian Floygt is here to save the day and show every lumberjack how to be a lumbersexual.

• Introduced in 1935, Dinty Moore® beef stew is an American classic and remains the No. 1 selling canned stew in the nation

• Today, from cupboard to table in minutes, Dinty Moore® canned and microwavable products are great tasting, well-balanced meals that will satisfy the whole family

• The lumberjack lifestyle has been a part of American culture for over a century

• The lumberjacks many people think of today are not the typical axe throwing, wood chopping or crosscut sawing burly men of the logging world, rather, they are now typically spotted in a fitted flannel and trendy lace-up boots with freshly trimmed beards to match: the lumbersexuals

• As part of the Dinty Moore® brand campaign to bring back the true lumberjack, Hormel Foods went to the depths of Minnesota in search of a team of lumbersexuals to transform into real lumberjacks and, ultimately, compete in a professional lumberjack competition this summer

• The brand is partnering with STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® and professional lumberjack Adrian Flygt to train the lumbersexuals in core areas of logging and forestry, giving them the necessary skills to walk, talk and compete like a lumberjack

• The lumberjack spirit has been a part of our brand from the beginning, starting with our animated character that appeared on our product labels and in our ads, so it seemed fitting to become a part of this great competition and salute our heritage

• With the official lumberjack training completed this spring, the lumbersexual team—Lumber Michael, Lumber Jamin, Lumber Ben, and Lumber Ian—will now move on to compete at the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series U.S. Pro and Collegiate Championships on July 15 in Chicago Southland, sponsored by the makers of Dinty Moore® beef stew

• For more information about the journey to becoming a true lumberjack with the makers of Dinty Moore® beef stew, visit MooreJ and join in the #MooreJacks conversation on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

• Hormel Foods will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2016

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Make sure to take the Buzzfeed Quiz to find out more about what kind of lumberjack you are, and check out all the hyperlinked images above to get fully engaged with all the ingredients to a lumberjack victory.

 

 

#ICYMI: Nishe’s new song “Out of Place” is perfectly in sync

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According to their Twitter bio, Nishe is a UK based alternative rock band which is made up of three guys portraying different environments, mixing energetic guitar riffs with urban grooves and cutting edge electronic layers.

Check out their song above and make sure to follow them on Twitter. I see nothing but big things in store for these three guys. This song has just enough rock and roll edge to be considered to be featured in a skateboarding video.

#MusicReview: Tumbler’s new album Come To The Edge will have you “on the edge” of your seat

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Alternative rock is one of my favorite genres so when this band came up in my inbox, I jumped at the chance to review it. You could say alternative rock was the soundtrack of my high school years. It’s the music that gives rhythm and melody to every day emotions and situations but still instills hope with guitar riffs and catchy drum beats but it’s not sugar coated or melancholy like pop music, nor American like country music. Much like pop music, alternative/folk rock music is a worldwide genre that grips you when you least expect it to.

Hailing from Epsom, England, this band is made up of members Harry Grace (vocals and guitar), Richard Grace (vocals and guitar), and Dave Needham (guitar, keyboard, backing vocals). Tumbler was born two years ago, when a lifetime of family music and weekend kitchen concerts turned into something more. Harry started taking the music seriously. Dave happened along. A whole bunch of songs left the kitchen, took flight and turned into an album. They called it‘You Said’.Reaction was gratifyingly positive. In a world that already has over 37 million songs, it turns out there was room for a few more. In honesty though it didn’t change anything, we’d already started on a second album before the first was released.The thing is, you can’t help learning. Through the course of making ‘You Said’ they discovered some useful stuff and developed some new ideas. Out of all the material available they  began to understand what songs suited Tumbler best. Meantime Harry was growing as a writer and performer.

“Don’t Take Much”:  Musically, Tumblr as a band sounds like a mix between MGMT and The Beatles, and this song really showcases that. The chorus for this song is beautifully written:

“Trust and let it go/ oh baby, love’s stronger than you and I know.”

“Falling”: A song about falling in love and the start of a new found feeling between you and the other person. Harry wrote it and explains here that it starts out with the vocals because it’s exclamatory due to pent up emotions that he felt the need to express with this song. It’s one of my favorites off the album because I love the strongly worded lyrics used throughout.

“Nothing To Hold You”: Musically, it starts out sounding like a Patsy Cline song but contains amazing mixtures of sing-along worthy lyrics and folk musicality.

“Sweetest Thing”: This song has a lighthearted musicality that reminds me of a song you would hear in an opening scene of a romantic comedy.

“Week”: Another one of my favorites off the album because it’s just such a catchy, heavy guitar laden melody with a chorus that is lyrically sound: “But I/ I won’t run/ from this house we built from stone.”

“Winter Cold Heart”: Totally badass musicality with this track because of the mystique of the chimes used and how it really creates a wintry atmosphere. Very specific imagery creates a story that comes to life in this track, one that you will have on repeat.

“Diamond in a Drawer”: The sound of the chisel on this track against heavy minor guitar chords really sets this track’s musicality apart and I find it to be another one of my favorites off the album.

“Joanne”: This song is forty years old and has been passed down through Richard’s musical career. Dave added a nice piano track to the vocals that creates a melodic mystique to this ballad for the mysterious woman named Joanne.

“In Safe Hands”: Normally, alternative rock has a sort of “woe is me” statement underneath it but this melodic guitar heavy track is hopeful, and gives the listener positive vibes. It creates a peaceful atmosphere and definitely could be nicknamed the “traveler’s song.”

“Dial”: An acoustic guitar and melancholy vocals greet the listener and pull at your heartstrings a bit with this track about waiting for a call that never comes.

“Freedom The Cry”: The bomb alarm create a chaotic atmosphere with this political commentary track about what freedom means in today’s world whether you live overseas or in the United States.

To keep up to date on all things Tumblr as well as listen to their debut album, You Said, visit them at the links below:

http://tumbler.band

http://tumblermusic.com

https://www.facebook.com/Tumbler-1629454163961830/timeline/

https://twitter.com/Tumbler_Band

#BookReview: The Women of The Rose by Dorothy Gibbons

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When asked to read this book, I jumped at the chance thinking it would inspire me in some way to care more about breast cancer, both as a woman myself and as someone who has watched people (most recently my beautiful neighbor) die from it. I was told it’s a short story collection by the heroic Dorothy Gibbons.

Dorothy

Dorothy was the established founder of The Rose after working as the marketing director for a Texas area hospital for thirty plus years. She watched as more and more woman were turned away from proper care because they were uninsured and couldn’t afford the cost of a mammogram let alone the treatment that follows. Therefore, she started The Rose, a non-profit that pays for women to get the treatment necessary for breast cancer.

Right away, I found this woman to be a hero in all meanings of the word. Any way you looked at it, Dorothy Gibbons deserves recognition for her valiant efforts. Yet, this book wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. It read like a memoir and had no grammatical or syntax errors but I found myself hoping my heart would pick up rhythm somewhere throughout.

I basically was waiting, wishing, and hoping that the book would become just a story about Dorothy herself. The parts that I loved were solely about Dorothy’s life:

  • When she falls in love and takes in Saucy the dog
  • When she ends up divorced and has to begin online dating at 50
  • When Saucy falls ill
  • The hike up the mountain
  • The stolen money scandal

Don’t get me wrong, I feel that this book is valuable and was worthy of publication. Yet, I believe it should have been reworked as Dorothy’s personal memoir. With that said, one of you will be lucky enough to read Dorothy’s book yourself by winning a copy! (U.S entrants only)

Dorothy Gibbons Giveaway

Giveaway starts today June 20 and ends July 5 at midnight! Best of luck!!!

#ICYMI: Float Your Boat by @RyanKFollese

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I am so stoked that someone wrote a song entitled Float Your Boat because most of my life, you’d find me saying to most people “whatever floats your banana boat.” A common American phrase, Urban Dictionary defines it as meaning “soothes your soul” or whatever “works best.” It also can mean to excite someone or appeal to someone.

All these have come to manifestation in Hot Chelle Rae’s frontman Ryan Follese’s new single, Float Your Boat. Recently signed as a solo artist with Big Machine Records, Follese` is no longer just a pop vocalist but now a pop country force to be reckoned with.

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Sounding like a song Luke Bryan could have written, Follese` released this track as a summer jam meant to be listened to on a party boat or for “whatever floats your boat.”

Despite being a huge fan of Hot Chelle Rae and still awaiting music from them as a band, I’m glad to have something from one third of the band, a talented singer-songwriter with one heck of a vocal range. Digging the country vibes, Ryan. Can’t wait for the album.

https://play.spotify.com/track/3nD26V8LvqKMGhNH1PcoSa

#ICYMI: Blow Your Mind by Greer

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Devil horns included. At least that’s what I picture the CD cover saying of this track. It has serious bad-boy vibes from 19 year old Boston independent artist, Greer aka Christian Wilson. Blow Your Mind is an EDM pop anthem about taking the fast track when you meet someone. It has a very enticing rhythm and ear-worm potential lyrically.

Be sure to check it out below and to stay up to date on all things Greer make sure to visit his Facebook page and subscribe to his Youtube channel.

 

Bitter’s Kiss “Love Won’t Make You Cry” is a stand-out in vulnerability

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Pop music is probably the music that you can say keeps my blood pumping when I’m searching for meaning in life. It’s the music that contains elements of hope, usually is brighter in tone than other genres, and most of the time makes you want to dance. When given the chance to review Bitter’s Kiss’s EP I jumped at the chance since I’m an avid listener and huge fan of most pop music including indie pop.

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Bitter’s Kiss is primarily a vehicle for singer/songwriter Chloe Baker to showcase her talents.  Chloe grew up in a home filled with music, with a father who maintained a studio, a guitar collection and a band, and has been active in musical theater for years.  Chloe currently attends High Tech, an arts academy in North Bergen, NJ.  Chloe has been serious about writing music for around a year, and has worked with her father to record and produce her music over the past several months.  The reception has been incredibly positive, with a lot of encouragement to take her efforts to the next level.  Chloe uses songwriting as a diary and a means of exploring her world.  The magic of Bakers work though is that despite this sad and often strange world she still manages to find hope.

Released April 15, 2016, “Love Won’t Make You Cry” is Bitter’s Kiss’s debut EP.

Song by Song Review

“Bitter’s Kiss”: With a strong guitar introduction, we find in this track a story told of having to move on after loving someone so deeply, and that awkward place mentally and emotionally when you both love and hate that person. My favorite line: “You’re the devil and the angel on my shoulder/you’re my rock and my boulder” Baker’s vocals on this track really add a whole emotive element.

“Waste of It All”: With an old school  feel, this track tells the story of being the stronger one in a toxic broken relationship, who is the person who keeps the relationship going despite the waste that it is. “Somehow I can’t be loved” is my favorite line in the breakdown because it showcases both a strong vocal performance but also creates a deep vulnerability for the speaker of the track.

“Love Won’t Make You Cry“: A hope filled track about love and how it’s really supposed to look like.   I like the softness of both the vocals and instruments, musically painting a vivid image of love being something that will embrace you instead of defeat you. It’s one of my favorites off the album for that reason alone.

“No One Will”: With the sound of a Carpenter’s song, I like how it’s a third party observer story that shows how this person is watching other couple’s hold hands knowing full well that their is a certain fragility to letting yourself fall in love with someone. Baker’s vocals have a certain haunting quality that emotes a sensitive, dreary side.

“The Rope”: When I first heard this track, I felt that it was mocking people who have faith but the background of this song explains the beauty behind the madness. Baker’s cousin was deeply religious but ended up committing suicide. A rain backtrack is heard in the introduction followed with minor chords on the guitar, it showcases the importance of staying true to one’s identity and finding something personally significant to make life
meaningful.

“Lovin’ Life”: Despite the dark world we live in, it is possible to choose happiness every day, and I like the positive vibes this song promotes. It has electronic pop influences that make the track cheery.

“Already Gone” Right away, I was intrigued by the overall musicality of this track, struck by how not only does it have an enticing rhythm but the lyrics and vocals emote a sense of hope.

“Too Far Too Fast”:  A reaction to watching her older sister go off to college and noting how quickly time passes. One of my favorites because it emotes many life lesson’s she hopes her sister takes with her on her way off to college and is lyrically strong. It ends the album on a high note.

You can keep track with all Bitter’s Kiss new music via their website and Facebook page.

Deister’s album Spines of The Heart is a brooding reflection

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I only thought there was classic rock and alternative rock until I listened to Bryan Deister’s debut indie album, Spines of the Heart. 11700565_1170353296323286_7402019110996327945_o.jpg

Bryan Deister  is  trained in classical, jazz, blues,  progressive rock, and modern music, he writes, sings, and composes all of his music including the chorals, polyrhythms and unique instrumentation such as funk banjo and rice percussion. Along with Nirvana, Weezer, Voltaire, My Bloody Valentine, Bryan decided that dark, thoughtful, well written music is what he really wanted to be a part of. This led to him take writing music seriously and venturing off (from classical and jazz) into all of the 20th century style
composition techniques from John Cage to John Lennon. Bryan is working hard at Berklee College of Music, keeping up his  Writing and Composition Scholarship. Bryan says “Hopefully after Berklee I will continue to improve in all facets and be able to write interesting music without starving.” His latest 2 Disc Album of 23 songs came out 12/22/2015 and is entitled  “Spines of the Heart”.

Song By Song Review

Listen along

“All That I Have”: Right away, I was gripped by the electronic rhythm of this track, the raspy whisperings of Bryan’s vocals and felt like this track could be easily labeled a banger in the genre of electronic rock. It really starts the album on a high note.

“Responding Well”: With an overall haunting feel and musicality to this track with a long instrumental introduction, any listener to this track would respond and receive it well.

“In Her Eyes”: With a constant hum of a vocal vibrato against a war drum, this song talks about melting “in her eyes” because they tell a vivacious story because of all the things her eyes hint at and can be visually seen through them. It’s almost magical realism meets music.

“Have You”: Sticking to the genre, the softness of the musicality gives it the appeal of a rock ballad.

“Silent Screams”: My favorite off the album because of the use of rice percussion and the rhythm  of the track, followed by a seriously rad guitar ripping solo in the breakdown of the track, it just has the sound of a song that would be featured in a superhero vs super villain fight scene in a Marvel movie.

“Approaching”: A haunting piano ballad that creeped me out in the best way when I first listened to it, it discusses the end of an era, or of the world as we know it. Bryan’s vocals really add to the overall musicality of the track making it yet another experimental rock banger in my book.

“Brighter Dawn”: Almost sounds like a Beatles “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” style track, it’s a cry out to God with elements of sensing human weakness and needing God’s supernatural strength to carry you through.

“Into The Sky” Right away when I heard this track, I sensed great musical potential from it. With musicality that likens to fellow rock band MGMT, I like the vocal layering of this track. No surprise that this track is currently charting at #148 nationally and #5 on the indie charts. It is mind-bendingly beautiful.

“Gone”: Too haunting for my tastes, this track hints at suicide after a heart-wrenching break up or a loss.

“Come”:Haunting much like a ghost singing to you in a dark train or subway tunnel, the minor piano chords will stick with you long after you listen to this track.

“Today”: Definitely can be likened to a Kurt Cobain/Nirvana song, it’s incredibly haunting both musically and vocally.

“Nobody’s Angel”: With a pressurized air sound in the introduction against a minor piano track, it leads into a John Lennon style vocal performance with rhythms that could be likened to a Panic At The Disco track.

“Wait”: This experimental rock track is too demonic-sounding for my tastes.

“Emily”: I like the electronic rhythms of this track as well as the vocals as he sings about a girl named Emily.

“What You Want”: “Stand up, stand up and take it.” The lyrics declare from the beginning of the track and with chords that mirror church bells, it’s a song that fights to the finish.

“The Bread”: When I first saw the title of the track, I thought how weird? After listening to the track, I see that this track has religious elements and is another prayer to God, based off the “Our Father.”

“Always Further”: A clock ticking and drums introduce this track while Bryan’s vocal vibrato  haunts the listener.

“Seven Eight”: A follow-up to “Silent Screams,” it experimentally and musically hints at the joke that “seven ate nine.”

“Nothing More” A brooding organ style piano ballad that is nothing more for the listener than a track worth listening to.

“Sure”: I love the rhythm of this track and war drum musicality with echoes of vocal vibrato.

“Vacant Eyes”: Electronic rhythms and a heartbeat backtrack with lyrical themes that discuss loving someone so much you would die for them.

“Apart of Me”: With a metal-sounding introduction, it almost sounds like this ack could have been featured in the Mad Max film. And although it becomes a very strange piano ballad, it could still have given a certain experimental element to a movie that thinks outside the box. The track is thirteen minutes and 29 seconds long and contains a mix of the albums different musical elements all in one final track.

Check it out at http://www.bryandeister.com and stay in touch with all new releases from this artist by liking his Facebook page.