Lost in Stereo

A music blog for everything in between

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Favorite Concerts of 2019

2019 was the year of concerts. Capping around 50+ shows, I thought I’d narrow it down to my top 10 favorite shows. 

1) YungBlud at Webster Hall.

Yungblud’s chaotic energy was what drew me to him in the first place so I expected nothing less at his shows. I was given that and more. I can’t even explain how phenomenal the show was and the feeling of that room. It truly was a show I’m never going to forget.

2) The 1975- BBT Pavillion Camden

I’ve never seen a bad 1975 show and this show didn’t disappoint. The boys were in fine form and with an unexpected setlist made it perfect

3) Ruston Kelly- The Bowery Ballroom

If you haven’t heard of Ruston Kelly, please look him up immediately. Folk-rock with beautiful lyrics and melodies make him one of the best songwriters out there. His heartfelt performance at Bowery made me fall in love with music all over again. 

4) All Time Low- Starland Ballroom

Nothing Personal was one of the biggest albums of my teenage years so it made sense to me to see ATL perform the album in its entirety. Well worth it. The band was tight, the crowd was losing their mind, and they brought back all my nostalgic teenage feelings.

5) Gary Clark Jr- Beacon Theatre

Living legend. Nothing else needs to be said. 

6) 5 Seconds of Summer - Opening for Chainsmokers at Barclays Center

Yes, I went to this tour only for 5SOS and I do not regret it. They came out like a fireball with a straight 45 minute set never letting the crowd breath. They should have been the main act plain and simple.

7) Kacey Musgraves- Beacon Theatre

Right before Kacey won her Grammy’s she played the Beacon and made the entire place a dance party of tears, joy, and everything in between. I saw her late in the year too at Radio City but the Beacon show takes the cake. 

8) The Aces- Bowery Ballroom

One of the most fun shows I’ve been to this year. Such a solid band that I can’t wait to see how far they go. 

9) IDKHOW- Mercury Lounge

Charismatic, funny, of the cuff, and pure enjoyable music. It was only a tiny set but god they really made an impact. 

10)  Lovelytheband- Irving Plaza

One of the my favorite bands in the last few years so I was expecting a lot and wasn’t disappointed. They sounded phenomenal and the crowd made it that much more intimate.

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Top 5 EP’s on 2019

Since I did albums and decided to not include EP’s I thought I’d give them their own category. 

1)  Send Her to Heaven- The All American Rejects

I am probably one of the biggest AAR fans around so I was undoubtedly excited when this Ep drop and I’m so glad it didn’t disappoint. Sadly, only three songs but every song has a different element of the Reject styles. “Demons” being my personal favorite angsty song with a fun mocking “Gen Why?”. This ep def topped my list of 2019.

2) Inner Monologue- Part 1- Julia Michaels

This was a hard decision since I was obsessed with both parts. I chose part 1 because it made me fall in love with Julia herself and her raw songwriting talents. “Happy” has become one of my favorite songs ever written and it’s just a testament it doesn’t always take an entire album to see full potential.

3) Strange Love- Simple Creatures

My heart exploded hearing that two of my favorite musicians were doing a collab.  The results were not disappointing at all. “Lucy” is a masterpiece and “Strange Love” is fucked up and equal parts romantic. I loved both ep’s equally but Strange Love descended me into a madness I was not coming back from.

4) Oh My Messy Mind- James Bay

I’ve been in love with James Bay for a very long time but I’ve had some rough patches. I wasn’t a huge fan of the last album but this EP brought me back to the girl who saw him 5 times in a year because he was just that good. “Bad” is honest, beautiful, and the perfect shattering song. I’d kill for a full album of this energy.

5) Tryhard- The Band Camino

You ever hear a band that you can’t believe is that good? That’s The Band Camino. I randomly found this band because of a festival I was going to. They had previously released two eps before TRYHARD but I found this one first. Blown away is an understatment. Yes, you have your bops like “Daphne Blue” but the real clincher for me was “Haunted”. These guys are going to be big and I can’t wait to watch it happen.

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Top Ten Favorite Albums of 2019

This was a lot harder then I thought it’d be. I also decided to split this into two categories between albums and EP’s since a lot of my favorite music came out of EP’s this past year. So he’s my list...

1) Thank You, Next- Ariana Grande. 

Seriously, this is a perfect pop album. No filler tracks, no cheesy songs, just pure pop with some really beautiful heartbreaking songs. “Ghostin” is just perfection. I can’t say one bad thing about this album

2) FANDOM- Waterparks

Biting, angry, fuck you anthems with honest feelings about being in the spotlight. I knew after hearing “Turbulent” this was going to be a great album. I’m also personally obsessed with “Miss having Sex”  

3) Wasteland, Baby!- HOZIER

Hozier will always be my comfort. his mellow voice with dark lullabies and heart wrenching lyrics. He’s the reason I relax after anxiety attacks. Of course this album had to be in my top ten of the year. New loving sounds with some pop interludes made it a nice step in his beautiful collection.

4) When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? - Billie Eilish

This album is going to be in everyone’s list and I am not surprised. “Bad Guy” to “All Good Girls..” every song is packed with a sarcastic punch. Her stunning voice just kills it every time. I did not stop listening to this album and probably won’t for years to come.

5) Cuz, I Love You- Lizzo

Lizzo makes you love yourself and makes you truly beliee your exes are shit. Every song on her album is pop gold with a self help twist. Seriously, who the fuck doesn’t love her?

6) The Balance- Catfish and the Bottlemen

Solid indie rock album. “Encore” is one of my favorite songs of the year.

7) Fine Line- Harry Styles

This was a very late contender but after hearing “Falling” my mind was made up. Pure 70′s rock sound with absolute heartbreak. Falling and Cherry are raw anthems of vulnerability. Another album that would lose something if it lost any of the songs. I am blown away how good this album is. 

8) Hypersonic Missiles- Sam Fender

A mix of Springsteen and The Killers. Lots of passion and poetry with this album. I see him becoming very much a storyteller of our generations. One of the most honest albums of the year

9) Doom Days- Bastille

Another end of the world anthem album. Fun, pop, with always dark lyrics to get your through the night. Bastille never fails with me wanting to scream into the void and at least have fun doing it. 

10) Lover- Taylor Swift

I never in a million years thought I would love a Taylor Swift album like I did this one. Yes, there are a few song I don’t care for but that doesn’t outweigh how some many songs are well crafted. “Cruel Summer” was on my repeat list for days. I have no bad things to say about this album and that is a first. 

Honorable Mentions

Saves the World- Muna

Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent- Lewis Capaldi

Father of the Bride- Vampire Weekend

Pep Talks- Judah & The Lion

Neotheater- AJR

Social Cues- Cage The Elephant

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Yikes, it’s been a while.

2019 was pretty insane. I saw at least 50+ shows plus a full time job and personal; things mashed in between so I didn’t spend as much time as I wanted to on this blog. But hey, 2020 is a new decade and a new start. So i’ll send this off with a bang of my favorite songs/albums/concerts of the past year and maybe I’ll do one for the decade. Let’s rock and roll!

[lostinstereochurch]

I admit, I’m still on a euphoric high from living my childhood dreams at Warped Tour this weekend. One of my favorite moments was getting to see Good Charlotte, a band that meant the world to me from about the ages of 12 to 14. I do still listen to them occasionally but not to the point that I still believe Joel Madden is my soulmate or begging my parents to buy every piece of MADE merchandise. 

While the set was a little messy due to being evacuated a short time before, they brought back all the nostalgic feels playing everything from Riot Girl to The Young and the Hopeless to Little Things. Hearing Little Things made me remember the reason I fell in love in the first place, while sadly Benji didn’t perform his biting backing vocals, it was well worth the childlike joy I felt. It also reminded me how great there debut really was. It made kids like me feel accepted and to basically tell the world to fuck off. Who didn't need that now and especially then?

I’d also like to shout out the woman who stopped me as I left there set to let me know how much she loved watching me go crazy to them. Thanks for appreciating my inner preteen. 

[lostinstereochurch]

A fitting opener to my song of the day, The Mixed Tape (this joke can make itself, who needs an English degree?) by Jacks Mannequin. This song just evokes a feeling of teenage freedom, falling in love for the first time, and the energy of every teen show on CW (looking at you OTH). 

Andrew McMahon has always flirted around the indie/pop/emo scene from his solo work to Something Corporate so again fitting for a blog named after a ATL & Hozier song. While I wasn’t the biggest Jacks fan, I always appreciated the visceral lyrics and edgy vocals. So cheers to the Mixed Tape, may you consistently remind us of our begotten youths

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Welcome To My Life

I’ve toyed with the idea of this blogs for years by the want to spew my music knowledge, love of songs, and the insentience of my friends to shut up and stop texting them breaking news. I didn’t choose music, it chose me from in utero. My parents are huge music freaks, believe me I don’t remember a time in my childhood that wasn’t revolved in some way around music. My mother specifically went to see her favorite bands, 8 months pregnant with me. So that level of dedication (or insanity) has been intertwined in my life. From watching MTV music videos, to screaming songs in the back of my cars, to dreams of being a musician, It’s not far fetched I grew up to spend a majority of my nights at concert venues, researching everything I could possibly know, and falling hopelessly in love with every musician I meet. I love music plain and simple. I love all types, I don’t judge what people love or connect with. Music is music and should be enjoyed by everyone not just an elite few that many people (young girls especially) are taught to be. So here I am sharing bits of my life that I love, the news, the weird facts, the stories, and everything in between. Hope you enjoy as much as I will.