Basically at this point it has been so long since last I posted that I am doing a big blogging faux pau, and writing about all kinds of stuff at one time. Tac, my social media expert and husband will not totally love it, but what are you gonna do? Besides, he’s too nice to say anything.

So much has been happening in the land of music! I haven’t been writing about it, but I’ve sure been thinking about it a lot. I feel overwhelmed at the thought of trying to play catchup and making separate posts for all this, hence the all at once.

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First of all, I love White Lies and their new album To Lose My Life. Of course Scary Larry told me about them. Tac and I both have listened to then a ton. They are best loud, but quieter works too.

Cover of Tale to Tell

The Mummers have turned their EP “Tale to Tell, part 1″ into a full length album. Seriously, if you haven’t, please listen to them and feel the love, and if you didn’t like them the first time TRY AGAIN! They added 4 wonderful songs, of which I am so impressed with all four. When I am in the mood for pure beauty and magic I turn to them.

My daughter got an iTunes gift card and I was so proud when she bought some more Relient K (her favorite band) and an EP from HelloGoodbye (the one with the avocado on the front). She is adorable.

Jimmy Chamberlain left The Smashing Pumpkins! And, I’m totally excited about it too. Why not be happy about it, since its that or be upset. I am entirely hopeful that Billy Corgan will just crank out some wonderful things with a new creative juice or something like that. I also wish the best for Jimmy, he is amazing, I love his work with The Pumpkins, but like I said earlier: I choose optimism over sadness and despair right now. Plus, I really love Adore, and that was done without Jimmy for all you non-pumpkin nerds.

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The Silversun Pickups have a new album, Swoon, and it has made me very happy. One of my favorite songs is called “Growing old is getting old.” My brother Adam is turning 30 today, so I am dedicating this to him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!!!! I am saying this is going to one of the albums on many people’s “best of 2009″ lists. I just keep listening, and it gets cooler every time.

If you are still reading: “hey thanks.”

And Happy Late Birthday to you, Larry!

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This is kind of a short post, mostly I just wanted to see what you think about it.  James Iha formerly of  The Smashing Pumpkins is finally in another band: Tinted Windows.   I just listened to their new song, Kind of a Girl, here.

Over all I would say they are musically talented for sure, but the lyrics? (to this song anyway)  Not so much.  It was too bubble gum for me, but that is what they were going for I guess, so they did a good job.  I was hoping that it would be better, so James could feel cool too.  He’s kind of like the ex-girlfriend that wants to look super hot and be all that, next time she sees her ex-boyfriend (Billy Corgan) at a party.

Prediction: Kind of A Girl, will surely end up on the soundtrack of a Disney-type tween movie.

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How many of you saw the Super Bowl commercial featuring The Smashing Pumpkins new song “FOL,” (Feel Our Love)? I didn’t see it during the actual game, but still I watched it several times.

You can download the whole song for free here, if you’d like. I love it, there is some real energy in this song, you do kinda “feel it.” And you end up singing it repetitively, maybe that’s what happened (Billy got his own song stuck in his head when he wrote it). Seriously though, I was a little nervous when I heard the new song would be released through a car commercial, I can’t really even think of a logical reason why.

After hearing it, and it is straight up Pumpkin goodness, I realized how silly that was. Because its actually really cool; I just got a great song from Billy for free. Take that Corgan nay-sayers, he was creative and managed to get paid for his work, but his fans didn’t have to be the ones to do it.

After listening to that one song many times, today I listened to a shuffled mix of everything Smashing Pumpkins (yes, Billy, I do listen to entire albums) and at once my super fandom was totally validated when “Bye June” came twinkling out of the speakers. That was followed by “Rose March” and I was as happy as I was the first time I listened to Siamese Dream.

(Below) enjoy some “Bye June” accompanied by some wonderful pictures taken in Scotland.

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The Smashing Pumpkins have been doing concerts for (mostly) happy people all over the country this month, but so far from what live performances I have heard, this one from the Bridge School Benefit on 10-26-08 has been my favorite. Especially because there are some songs that I had not heard before; namely “99 Floors,” and “Owata.”

I realize that my admitting to not having heard them yet possibly exposes me for the incredibly busy mom fan that I am, as I am not the intense reading everything I can and listening carefully to every show put in the live music archive fan that I wish I could be sometimes.

I’m not complaining though, I love every second with the kids. However, I have not had new Pumpkins in the playlist since American Gothic, so downloading the Bridge School Benefit was pretty wonderful to me. I thought for sure a couple of my favorite readers would like it as well. The song list isnt in the player box, so just listen and/or skip through as you like.

1. 99 Floors
2. Owata
3. Sunkissed
4. The Rose March
5. A Song For A Son
6. Disarm (with Josh Groban)

Also, and I should do separate posts for each of these but if I waited to do that it might not happen…., there is some more new music to speak of.

Tac got I Empire by Angels and Airwaves a couple weeks ago, and we have been quite enjoying it.

Neater even, we finally bought Impeccable Blahs by Say Hi. If you follow the link, the song “These Fangs” is the one from this album on the player. We have spent whole days listening to just this album.

I saw that Shiny Toy Guns came out with a new album, but havn’t given it any time yet to see if I want it. Have any of you listened to it yet? What do you think?

And lastly, sorry to Larry about the Bloc Party review , I like them so much too, except that album. Although I would like to admit one or two more songs have since grown on me, so I guess I really like at least half the album now. But the other half, still not doing anything good for me.

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One of the things I love about Stephenie Meyer so much is that music makes a big contribution to her writing. She is then so kind as to share her playlists with us, so we can hear what songs and voices inspired her books. She also thanks the band Muse in more than one of her books for creating their beautiful music, as it has fueled her awesome writing even more. Since I love Muse *almost* as much as Billy Corgan, that kind of thing makes me all happy.

Not all of the bands on this list are held in my highest esteem though, some of them were never even considered for my own personal “Twilight” playlist, and while I am no expert in this, it would seem almost scientifically impossible for such fabulous writing to have been inspired by songs I feel such animosity towards. But I learned a long time ago that not everyone can share in my exact vision of what perfect music is

Breaking Dawn Playlist

Book I

* Beach Boys: Wouldn’t It Be Nice
* Billy Idol: White Wedding
* (INXS: Never Tear Us Apart)
* (Muse: Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You)
* Blue October: Congratulations
* Plain White T’s: Take Me Away
* Jack’s Mannequin: Dark Blue
* Coldplay: No More Keeping My Feet on the Ground
* Fuel: Hemorrhage

Book II

* Nine Inch Nails: Down In It
* Aerosmith: What it Takes
* Incubus: Earth to Bella (part 1)
* Interpol: No I in Threesome
* Korn: Twisted Transistor
* TV on the Radio: Wolf Like Me
* My Chemical Romance: The Sharpest Lives
* Motion City Soundtrack: Point of Extinction
* R.E.M.: Accelerate
* Blue October: My Never (song not released until March 2009)
* Jimmy Gnecco: Someone to Die For

Book III

* Smashing Pumpkins: Today
* Right Said Fred: I’m Too Sexy
* (Jimmy Eat World: Chase this Light)
* (Jackie Wilson: Your Love is Lifting Me Higher)
* Linkin Park: Pts. Of Athrty
* 3 Doors Down: Duck and Run
* Simon and Garfunkel: Hazy Shade of Winter
* Death Cab for Cutie: I Will Follow You Into the Dark
* Muse: Intro [Absolution]
* Muse: Take A Bow
* Muse: Assassin
* Ok Go: Invincible
* Travi: Safe
* Arcade Fire: No Cars Go

As much as I never wanted names like Linkin Park, Korn, Incubus, or Fuel to ever, EVER, make an appearance on this blog, I decided to give you the full (un-jen-edited) version. Stephenie’s site has a cool little player where you can listen to all of these songs if you like.

I was thrilled to see INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart” because that was a favorite song for many years of my young life. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Muse was a new found treasure for me, and I have enjoyed it a bunch. NIN’s “Down in It” paints an accurate picture of the emotional pain taking place in the book, I have not listened to that song in years so it was fun to hear it again. TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me” is the most perfect song for Jacob, plus I totally like that song, and I always dig a little My Chemical Romance.

FINALLY!!!! The Smashing Pumpkins made it on one of her playlists; and “Today” is one of the greatest songs ever, its also one of their most popular and being the fan that I am I wish one of their lesser known songs could have found it’s way to the list as well…perhaps “Eye” since that is such a hot sexy song, and so is the PG honeymoon scene in the book…but I’m still overjoyed for “Today.” Also, “Invinsible” by OK Go is such a perfect song for the end of Breaking Dawn, great song pick. I have not heard Coldplay’s “No More Keeping My Feet on the Ground,” but it gives me something fun to look forward to buying soon…(along with Block Party’s new album which I was so happy to read was released today).

If you really liked the books, you might enjoy seeing a few pictures from a little Breaking Dawn party my cousin had a couple weeks ago. You can see them on my lovely sister’s site. Enjoy!

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