Saves the Day….One of  my TOP bands.  “Stay What you Are” was the album that truly propelled them onto the mainstream music scene.  This is a great album from front to cover.  Enjoy and HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Come on 2010, Please be good to me.

Band Bio:

Saves the Day is an American band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1994.^[6] The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, bassist Rodrigo Palma and drummer Spencer Peterson.

After forming under the name Sefler in 1994, Saves the Day released their debut studio album, Can’t Slow Down, in 1998. It was followed by Through Being Cool (1999), which featured their first single, “Shoulder to the Wheel”. Stay What You Are was released in 2001, peaking at number 100 on the Billboard 200. It spawned two successful music videos on MTV2, for the singles “At Your Funeral” and “Freakish”, and has since sold 200,000 copies.^[6] After the success of Stay What You Are, Saves the Day signed to Dreamworks Records, who co-released their next studio album, In Reverie, with Vagrant Records. The band stated that the label had “completely abandoned it three days after it was released”, with the album peaking at number 27 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Top Independent Albums chart.^[7]

The band recorded their fifth studio album, Sound the Alarm, in 2005, without a label. They eventually re-signed with Vagrant and released the album in 2006.^[6] It was announced that Sound the Alarm was part one of a three part concept. The next album in the trilogy was released in 2007, titled Under the Boards. The final album in the series is planned to be released in 2009, titled Daybreak.-”wikipedia.org”

Last night, my good friend Nessa returned from her extended stay in Alaska for the holidays so we decided to celebrate and venture out to a new restaurant.  Since I live in Downtown Reno, we had many options but we finally settled on “The Golden Flower” (http://www.goldenflowerreno.com/) .

Immediately when we walked through the door, we realized this was a local hot spot as we could barely find seating.  Once we established our seating situation, we briefly scanned the menu and both decided on different variations of Pho.  I chose  the #1 – Xe Lua  :  Which included Rare Beef, Meat balls, Tripe and Brisket.  Nessa chose  the #12 – Tai : Rare Beef only.

Both of our servings were very plentiful and had more than enough Noodles and Meat.  Overall I felt that this was a good experience.  The service was good and the delivery was SUPER fast which is a plus in my book! I approve.

P.S. – The price was spot on! 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 beers = $19.75.  That’s Whats up!

Rating Chart:

Poor +

Good ++

Excellent +++

SLAMMIN’ ++++

The Golden Flower Rating:

Food: +++

Service: +++

Price: ++++

Atmosphere: ++

“The Motion City Soundtrack” was one of my favorite bands in High School.  Before they hit the music scene, I had never heard a band use the keyboard with such a raw / aggressive sound.  It wasn’t before long, that “The Motion City Soundtrack” hit the big time and signed a major record deal.  Unfortunately their sound has slightly altered over the years, becoming more and more “Mainstream Pop Chart” but I prefer to remember them before the major record deal.  Today I provide you with “The Motion City Soundtracks” FIRST album, “I Am the Movie”. Enjoy.

Band Bio

Motion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. Only two of the founding members are still a part of the lineup: lead vocalist and guitarist Justin Pierre and lead guitarist and backing vocalist Joshua Cain. The band also includes keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, with drummer, percussionist and backing vocalist Tony Thaxton.^[11] Motion City Soundtrack has released three studio albums and sold almost 600,000 records throughout their career, including over half a million in the United States alone.^[12][13]

Motion City Soundtrack’s first release was a 7″ single, “Promenade/Carolina“, in 1999. The following year they released their debut EP, Kids for America, and then a second, Back to the Beat. They released debut album I Am the Movie twice, in 2002. Their first five releases were all self-released with the aid of a small record label. Backed up by their constant touring it fashioned them a fast growing fan base, and a signing with Epitaph Records.

After spending their first five years finding the right lineup, the Epitaph re-issue of I Am the Movie in 2003 was the band’s big break. First major single “The Future Freaks Me Out” arrived with live and television success, but failed in radio airplay and the charts. 2003 and 2004 brought three Split EPs alongside Schatzi, Limbeck and Matchbook Romance. The second album, Commit This to Memory, has been their most successful album to date, selling 285,000+ records and peaking at number two on the Top Independent Albums chart.^[14] It featured the single, “Everything Is Alright”, which also found success on the likes of MTV, but also fell short in radio airplay and the charts. – “Wikipedia.org”

If you haven’t taken the time to view the John Mayer “Where the light is” Live DVD, please do. This DVD is a detailed exploration of what encompasses John Mayer and his various different sounds and genres. Most people know John Mayer as the POP chart topping, Jennifer Aniston heart breaker but in this DVD he reveals the depth of his musical genius. Though this isn’t the DVD, the play list below is a compilation of most the songs from the “Where the Light it” DVD. Enjoy…This play list is perfect for a Snowy / Rainy day!

Introducing “The Anniversary”.  I expect that many of you have yet to hear the awesome sounds of the Anniversary.  They were primarily a live band but recorded a couple of great albums.  “The Anniversary” is truly one of my favorite bands but I never had the opportunity to see them live as much of there touring encompassed the Mid and East Coast. Enjoy.

Band Bio:

The Anniversary was an American indie rock band. They formed in Lawrence, KS in 1997 when Josh Berwanger, James David, Christian Jankowski, Adrianne Verhoeven and Justin Roelofs solidified a line up that had been in flux for a year. After two years of playing shows across with the Midwest with bands like The Get Up Kids, Braid and Superchunk, The Anniversary signed to Vagrant Records.

Originally perceived as a poppy, keyboard-driven emo band with the release of their debut album Designing A Nervous Breakdown in 2000, they outgrew their roots and developed a stronger, classic rock influenced sound with the release of a split CD with Superdrag in 2001 and their second full length, 2002’s Your Majesty. After touring heavily throughout 2002 and 2003, The Anniversary began demo-ing tracks for what would be their third full length. But four years of constant touring and personal strains within the group led to the band’s demise in early 2004.

Yo Yo! Sorry that I have been absent over the past week. I was home in Vegas spending some quality time with the family. At any rate, I am back and ready to pick-up the grind at the office. Enjoy the short play list that I have prepared for all you Cubical Warriors returning to your offices! Hopefully this will get you through the first hour of your Manic Post Holiday Monday! Peace.

~Seth~

Once again I bring you some fabulous background music to get you through the hectic work day but I did not do this alone this time. This great INDIE play-list was also crafted by the great “LOCH NESSA”. If you don’t indie….well….shame on you because this play-list is crackin’….sucka! Get your Swag on’ and Enjoy!

I am adding a NEW theme to Seth’s World: Compilations! When I get the chance, I will now build playists for your enjoyment, Thanks to Grooveshark.com! Enjoy the “Saves the Day” Compilation! C-Ville comes through with another great recommendation.

Great Song!

Once again, I’m takin’ ya back to da Ol’ Skool. Yesterday I enjoyed a great debate over some of Hip-Hops greatest.  During the debate we reviewed some of the most influential rapper of the 90’s and “Big L” with out a doubt one of the best talents in the rap game.  It is unfortunate that Big L died at such a young age because I feel that he would still be CRUSHING rappers and raising the bar.  Big L was an influence to many great current rappers but none more than Jay-Z.  My good friend Joey B said it best yesterday, “Jay-Z crafted not only his lyrical structure but his swagger from Big L”.  After watching the “Put it on” video, it is clearly evident that Big L was adored by Hova.  Take a look at the video and tell me what you think. Enjoy!