Sick Puppies - All The Same

Song: All The Same

Artist: Sick Puppies

Album: Dressed Up As Life

Sick Puppies is an Australian rock band.

I think the song All The Same is basically about a dysfunctional relationship. One person in the relationship does not really know what they want and keeps leaving but coming back to the same person. The other person in the relationship knows this and waits for her even though it's only hurting him. They're stuck in an endless cycle because they're dependant on each other. The music video is pretty much a short movie showing this relationship and showing Sick Puppies lead singer Shimon Moore as one of the two people in the relationship. It's not the first video made for this song. The original video was done for The Free Hugs Campaign, which is an organization started by an Australian man where people offer free hugs to strangers. I really like this song. It's one of my favorites by Sick Puppies.

"All The Same"

I dont mind where you come from
As long as you come to me
But I dont like illusions I cant see
Them clearly
I dont care, no I wouldn't dare
To fix the twist in you
You've shown me eventually what you'll do
I dont mind
I dont care
As long as you're here

[Chorus]

Go ahead and tell me you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
And do it all over again
It's all the same

Hours slide and days go by
Till you decide to come
But in-between it always seems too long
Suddenly
But I have the skill, yeah
I have the will, to breath you in while I can
However long you stay is all that I am

I dont mind, I dont care
As long as you're here

Go ahead and tell me you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
And do it all over again
It's always the same

Wrong or Right
Black or White
If I close my eyes
Its all the same

In my life
The compromise
I'll close my eyes
Its all the same

Go ahead say it
You're leaving
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are now
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's all the same

Sick Puppies - All The Same - Youtube (Music Video)

Rise Against - Make It Stop (September's Children)

Song: Make It Stop (September's Children)
Artist: Rise Against
Album: Endgame

Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois.

Here is another Rise Against song. I know I'm doing a lot of Rise Against songs, but they're one of my favorite bands and they just released a new album Endgame on March 15th, 2011. So I'm probably gonna do a couple of songs from the new album. In the month of September 2010 several teenagers commited suicide as a result of anti-gay bullying. That is what this song is about. The song is about how ignorant and prejudiced people bully those who are different from them. About how gay young people and even straight kids presumed to be gay are being bullied until they reach a breaking point. And how something has to be done about the society that lets this go on. Horrible examples of homophobia are seen all the time. I once saw a child of about 7 years old on TV holding a sign that said "God Hates Fags". That was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen. That child didn't even know the meaning of what he was being made to support. What if that child turns out to be gay? He would most likely be closeted and ashamed and scared to be himself because of his parents' homophobia. Things like this are the reason kids are killing themselves. This has to stop. During the song the names and ages of five of the teens who commited suicide are spoken. As I said before Rise Against is one of my favorite bands, and I admire them for writing a song about this. It makes me love them even more.

"Make It Stop (September's Children)"

Woah, woah.

Bang bang go the coffin nails, like a breath exhaled,
Then gone forever.
It seems like just yesterday, how did I miss the red flags raise?
Think back to the days we laughed.
We braved these bitter storms together.
Brought to his knees he cried,
But on his feet he died.

What God would damn a heart?
What God drove us apart?
What God could

Make it stop
Let this end.
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.
It's come to this,
A weightless step.
On the way down singing,
Woah, woah.

Bang bang from the closet walls,
The schoolhouse halls,
The shotgun's loaded.
Push me and I'll push back.
I'm done asking, I demand.
From a nation under God,
I feel it's love like a cattle prod.

Born free, but still they hate.
Born me, no I can't change.
It's always darkest just before the dawn.
So stay awake with me, let's prove them wrong.

Make it stop.
Let this end,
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.
It's come to this,
A weightless step.
On the way down singing,
Woah, woah.

The cold river washed him away,
But how could we forget.
The gatherings hold candles
But not their tongues.
And too much blood has flown from the wrists,
Of the children shamed for those they chose to kiss.
Who will rise to stop the blood?

We're calling for,
Insisting on, a different beat.
A brand new song.

Whoa, whoa
Make this stop
Make this end.
This life chose me, I'm not lost in sin.
But proud I stand of who I am,
I plan to go on living.

Rise Against - Make It Stop (September's Children) - Youtube (Audio Only)

Papa Roach and Buckcherry with Bleeker Ridge and My Darkest Days Concert Review (Explicit Language)

Papa Roach & Buckcherry With Bleeker Ridge & My Darkest Days

 


 

Bleeker Ridge Onstage!

Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach Onstage!

 

On March 18th 2011, I saw Papa Roach and Buckcherry with Bleeker Ridge and My Darkest Days at the Barrie Molson Center. Bleeker Ridge were the first band to play. They are a Canadian rock band from Orillia, Ontario, Canada. They started their set with a song that I really like, Easier Today. The members of the band put on a good show, They're energetic, and lead singer Taylor Perkins interacted well with the audience. They played their two hits Small Town Dead and You Would've Liked It. Right away they got me pumped up and ready for a rock show. I'm definitely now a big Bleeker Ridge fan.

After Bleeker Ridge, My Darkest Days came out. They are a Canadian rock band based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I wasn't very familiar with My Darkest Days, but they put on a pretty good show, and interacted with the audience. The concert I was at was the last of the tour and My Darkest Days and Bleeker Ridge had just gotten back to Canada from the US. Both bands mentioned that they were happy to be home. And when they played their hit Porn Star Dancing the lead singer of My Darkest Days, Matt Walst had everyone in the audience raise their middle fingers and shout "eh" after everytime he said "Porn Star Dancing".

Papa Roach played next. They are an American rock band from California. Lead singer Jacoby Shaddix ran up on stage and the band immediately began playing. Jacoby left the stage and went into the audience during the first song and at one point was about three feet away from me. They were very energetic, particularly Jacoby. He jumped around the stage and acted crazy. At one point a beach ball with the logo for Rock 95 (the radio station sponsoring the event) was released into the crowd. The ball wound up on stage. Jacoby picked it up, said "I fuckin hate these things" and proceeded to bite the beach ball and rip a hole in it with his teeth, popping it. He then said "No disrepect to the radio station, we love those guys, but a rock concert is no place for a beach ball." It was hilarious/awesome. Papa Roach put on a fucking amazing show and had me singing along, shouting, clapping my hands and head banging.

Buckcherry were the fourth and final band to play. Buckcherry is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. The second song they played was Rescue Me which is my favorite Buckcherry song. Lead singer Josh Todd danced around on stage and spoke to the audience. Buckcherry guitarist Stevie D threw his guitar picks into the audience throughout the show. I got one of the guitar picks, which was so freaking awesome. They finished up the show with the song Crazy Bitch. All in all it was a FUCKING AWESOME show!! I loved it!! The show was definitely well worth the $50 ticket price per person, (there were cheaper tickets but we paid for general admission to be on the floor, which in my opinion is the best place to be at a rock show. I got really close to the stage.) All four bands put on great shows, but Papa Roach is still my fav of the four (and one of my favorite bands in general). I would definitely go see a Papa Roach show again, if the oportunity arose. Jacoby Shaddix is a crazy man (in a good way).

Buckcherry Onstage!
[All three photos taken by me]

Linkin Park - Wretches And Kings

Song: Wretches And Kings
Artist: Linkin Park
Album: A Thousand Suns

Linkin Park is an American rock band from California.

Wretches and Kings is off Linkin Park's fourth studio album A Thousand Suns, which was released in September of 2010. The song contains part of a speech made by Mario Savio in 1964, who was a political activist in the USA, and was a leading member of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement.  I think this song is very politically and socially concious. I think it's about how a lot of times people in positions of authority and power will push around people who don't have that kind of power, and view them as lesser beings. I think it's about rising up against an oppressor or oppressors. This song is very much a protest song to me. I love this song. The song Wretches and Kings mixes elements of rock, electronica, hip/hop and rap. Linkin Park has always been a mixture of rock, hip/hop and rap but Wretches and Kings and indeed a lot of songs on A Thousand Suns are not really in any definable genre. Linkin Park seems to have created a genre of their own.

"Wretches And Kings"

"There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part; you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop." (Mario Savio)

To save face / how low can you go
Talk a lot of game but yet you don’t know
Static on the way / make us all say whoa
The people up top push the people down low
Get down
And obey every word
Steady getting mine if you haven’t yet heard
Wanna take what I got / don’t be absurd
Don’t fight the power / nobody gets hurt
If you haven’t heard yet then I’m letting you know
There ain’t shit we don’t run when the guns unload
And no one make a move unless my people say so
Got everything outta control
Now everybody go

Steel unload / final blow
We the animals take control
Hear us now / clear and true
Wretches and kings we come for you

So keep pace / how slow can you go
Talk a lot of shit and yet you don’t know
Fire on the way / make you all say whoa
The people up top and the people down low
Get down
And I’m running it like that
The front of the attack is exactly where I’m at
Somewhere in between the kick and the hi hat
The pen and the contract
The pitch and the contact
So get with the combat / I’m letting ‘em know
There ain’t shit you can say to make me back down no
So / push the button let the whole thing blow
Spinning everything outta control
Now everybody go

Steel unload / final blow
We the animals take control
Hear us now / clear and true
Wretches and kings we come for you
Steel unload / fire blow
Filthy animals / beat them low
Skin and bone / black and blue
No more this sun shall beat onto you

From the front to the back and the side to side
If you fear what I feel put ‘em up real high

"There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part; you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop. And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all."

Linkin Park - Wretches And Kings - Youtube (Audio Only)

Breaking Benjamin - Had Enough (Explicit Language)

Song: Had Enough
Artist: Breaking Benjamin
Album: Phobia

Breaking Benjamin is an American rock band from Pennsylvania

Had Enough is off of Breaking Benjamin's third studio album Phobia released in August of 2006. I think the song Had Enough is about dealing with someone who is greedy, and who wants it all, with no regard for other people. Someone who doesn't really care who they hurt to get what they want. Someone who always has to win no matter what the cost, and even at small things that aren't really that important. And saying that, the person is a jerk and that their priorities are fucked up. Saying to that person, that they will get what they deserve, and end up the loser in the end. I think Breaking Benjamin lead singer Benjamin Burnley is saying that he has had enough of that person's shit, and that he's through with it. I really like the drumming in this song, and Ben's vocals are also really good. I really like this song.

"Had Enough"

Milk it for all it's worth.
Make sure you get there first.
The apple of your eye.
The rotten core inside.
We are all prisoners.
Things couldn't get much worse.
I've had it up to here, you know your end is near.

[Chorus:]
You had to have it all,
Well have you had enough?
You greedy little bastard,
You will get what you deserve.
When all is said and done,
I will be the one to leave you in the misery and hate what you've become.

Intoxicated eyes, no longer live that life.
You should have learned by now, I'll burn this whole world down.
I need some peace of mind, no fear of what's behind.
You think you've won this fight, you've only lost your mind.

[Chorus:]
You had to have it all,
Well have you had enough?
You greedy little bastard,
You will get what you deserve.
When all is said and done,
I will be the one to leave you in the misery and hate what you've become.

Hold me down (I will live again)
Pull me out (I will break it in)
Hold me down (better in the end)
Hold me down.

[Chorus]
You had to have it all,
Well have you had enough?
You greedy little bastard,
You will get what you deserve.
When all is said and done,
I will be the one to leave you in the misery and hate what you've become.

Heaven help you.

Breaking Benjamin - Had Enough - Youtube (Audio Only)

Shinedown - Devour

Song: Devour

Artist: Shinedown

Album: The Sound Of Madness

Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida.

Devour, the lead single from Shinedown's third studio album was released on May 5th 2008. It has been stated that Devour is about George W. Bush. I think it's about how the Bush administration did way more harm than good. About how Bush caused damage to his own country. And about the many mistakes made regarding the Iraq war. I think the lyric "it's your final hour" is about how Bush was almost out of office when the song was released, and a lot of people were happy to see him go. I like the lyrics and I love the fast paced, hard rock sound of this song.

"Devour"

Take it and take it and take it and take it and take it all
Take it and take it and take it until you take us all
Smash it and crash it and thrash it and trash it
You know they're only toys
Try it you'll like it don't hide it don't fight it, just let it out
Steal and shoot it and kill it or take another route
Take it and take it and take it
You know they're only toys

Devour Devour
Suffocate your own empire
Devour Devour
It's your final hour

Devour Devour
Stolen like a foreign soul
Devour Devour
What a way to go

You want it, you want it, you want it, you want it
Well here it is
Everything everything everything
Isn't so primitive

Take it and take it and take it and take it and take it all
Nobody nobody wants to feel like this
Nobody nobody wants to live like this
Nobody nobody wants a war like this

Devour Devour
Suffocate your own empire
Devour Devour
It's your final hour

Devour Devour
Stolen like a foreign soul
Devour Devour
What a way to go
What a way to go

Diving down
Round and round
diving down
round and round

Devour Devour
Suffocate your own empire
Devour Devour
It's your final hour

Devour Devour
Stolen like a foreign soul
Devour Devour
What a way to go

Devour Devour
Suffocate your own empire
Devour Devour
It's your final hour

Devour Devour
Stolen like a foreign soul
Devour Devour
What a way to go
What a way to go

Shinedown - Devour - Youtube (Music Video)

Dead By Sunrise - Walking In Circles

Song: Walking In Circles
Artist: Dead By Sunrise
Album: Out Of Ashes

Dead By Sunrise is an American rock band, from California.

Dead By Sunrise is the side project of Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington. I think the song Walking In Circles is about how a lot of people walk through life without really paying attention or thinking about things that are happening. Because some people find it easier to shut off their minds than to think about the stuff that scares them. How some people will just do what they're told, because they're scared to go against the majority or against authority, and how some people never ask questions, because they're afraid of the answers. I think it's also about people who are blind to their own mistakes. This song is sung from the point of view of a person who is disturbed by the number of people who don't seem to care. I think Chester Bennington is a great lyricist and vocalist. I really like this song.

"Walking In Circles"

Quiet
Everyone's sleeping through life
Afraid that their questions
Just might have answers
Quiet
Everyone shut off their mind
So I'll turn on mine

Alone in a world
With millions of souls
Walking in Circles
Trapped in their dreams
Unhealthy, unclean
Walking in Circles, now
Do not disturb
Scream in silence
Everyone's sleeping

Quiet
We're living inside of our mouths
Afraid someone just might
Hear what we're thinking
Quiet
Careful of what you might say
'cause they'll put you away

Alone in a world
With millions of souls
Walking in circles
Trapped in their dreams
Unhealthy, unclean
Walking in Circles, now
Do not disturb
Scream in silence
Everyone's sleeping

[Solo:]

Alone in a world
With millions of souls
Walking in circles
Trapped in their dreams
Unhealthy, unclean
Walking in Circles, now
Do not disturb
Scream in silence
Everyone's sleeping

Alone in a world (Walking in circles, now)
With millions of souls (Walking in circles, now)
Walking in circles
Alone in a world (Walking in circles)
With millions of souls (Walking in circles)
Walking in circles, now
Do not disturb
Scream in silence
Everyone's sleeping

Dead By Sunrise - Walking In Circles - Youtube (Audio Only)