I agree that it is not always easy to find an hour in the day to get a full workout in, especially with a brand new semester and all the work that comes with it giving you the stink eye.

That is why you need to work out more efficiently.

There are certain exercises and combinations of exercises that burn calories faster than others. If you only have 30 minutes to work out, walking on a treadmill is probably not the best way to burn off that box of cookies from last night (though it is better than skipping the gym altogether…)

So, which exercises are the quickest calorie burners and the fastest routes to a healthy and fit body?

1. Running

2. Rowing

3. Swimming

Not only do these three exercises burn the most calories in 30 minutes (avg. 300 for a 145 pound person), but they also build muscle and tone your entire body. Walking, biking and even using the elliptical trainer will not work your body as hard or as well, because those exercises target your lower body and leave your upper body hanging out and doin’ nothing.

If you don’t even have 30 minutes in your action-packed schedule to get to the gym, try jumping rope. You probably haven’t picked up a jump rope since playing Double Dutch in 2nd grade, but 10 minutes of jumping rope can burn up to 200 calories! Picking up the jump rope for a few 10-minute sessions throughout the day (between classes, right when you wake up, etc…) is a super easy way to burn calories quickly.

It is really easy to find excuses not to work out, but try and squeeze these exercises into your day. You’ll feel better, look better, and give yourself a much needed break from catching up on all the reading you’re somehow already behind on even though it’s only the first day of class. (Seriously, WTF is up with that?!)

Just about everyone out there seems to have dating horror stories. Seriously, ask anybody; chances are they’ll tell you that they have a relationship that they wish had just never happened. I myself went through a pretty nasty break up earlier this year. Not only was I with the guy for over 3 years, we lived together and were planning a wedding when I realized that what we were doing was a mistake and called everything off.

I’ve spent the past 7 months trying to put my life back together and pretty much hating my ex for how nasty he got post-breakup.

Recently, however, a friend and I were talking about living without regrets. She said, “I don’t regret anything. Sure I’ve made mistakes and have had rough times, but all of that made me who I am today. And I love what I see in the mirror, so why bother with regrets?” I love my friend for her incredible amount of self confidence, and she really made me think. I realized that instead of hating my ex and wishing that I’d never met him, not EVERYTHING about our time together was bad.

From every relationship I’ve been in, I’ve taken something away and learned from them all:

Chris, you were my first boyfriend. We were pretty darn young; possibly too young to really date considering we had curfews. You drove me up the wall with all of your outrageous lies. You really think I believed you when you said that your mom was dating a millionaire and that he promised to wire you money for a car when you were old enough? You drove me up the wall over those months but from this, I learned the wrong way to break up with a guy. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you to your face and had my best friend tell you. I don’t blame you for never talking to me again.

Evan, you were the epitome of mixed signals. You flirted excessively and told people you liked me, but when I asked you out we only dated for a few weeks… if you can even call it that, because you avoided me the whole time. You are the only guy I’ve dated who broke up with me. And it hurt. But you taught me that just because a guy is older than you, it doesn’t mean he’s more mature. I also had to learn the hard way that just because a guy will sneak out of a play with you to go make out in his truck and says he’ll call the next day, it doesn’t mean he will.

Jake, I think you were nuts. You told me you loved me entirely too soon and I was not ready for it. After I broke up with you, you left 6 voicemails within an hour that were all of you crying. Talk about wayyyyyy too heavy for high school. But there was some good. Because of you I love laying out and watching the sky at night like we used to do on the high school’s track. And I learned that there is such a thing as falling too hard, too fast. Like every other naive high school girl I thought I would one day meet the guy of my dreams and I would be love at first sight. But I realize now that love happens gradually and it shouldn’t be rushed.

And finally, Matt. I was with you for almost all of my college career, and my senior year has been quite an adjustment without you around. Like I said, I’ve spent the past 6 months hating your guts because you got so hateful towards me after I broke up with you, but now that I look back on it I can understand why. I broke your heart. You had the biggest impact on my life. Thank you for introducing me to sushi, Band of Horses, and East Texas, all of which are some of my favorite things now. You taught me that even though you really do love somebody, that doesn’t mean they are the one. I couldn’t be what you needed and vise versa. I also know now that you really need to love yourself first before you can love someone else; that’s something we both needed to work on.

So even though I went through some stupid/rough stuff with these guys, I can’t hate them. I value every experience each one gave me and I believe I can be a better girlfriend for whoever I date next. Here’s to living life without regrets!

Now it’s your turn! What have you learned from your exes?

My sister is getting married and I’ve had weddings on the brain, so this week I’m dedicating this review to her and doin’ the something old, something new, and something blue routine. It doesn’t just apply to brides, you know. I didn’t borrow any of my music this week (I’m not good at giving back), so I had to leave that one out.

Anyways, obviously Whitney Houston is the something old. I’m not saying the woman is old (hell, she looks good for her age!), but she has been around the block a few times. These United States are my something new, and I couldn’t be more excited about that. And the Drive-By Truckers are my something blue, since I love them to death, but listening to their album made me feel a little bit blue.

And I guess all of that means I’ll one day be marrying music.
Considering the guys I’ve dated in the past, that is fine by me:

Whitney Houston- I Look to You

Oh hey, Whitney Houston. You’re back. Have I mentioned I’m excited? Like, jump out of my pants and do a little dance around my bedroom, excited? Well, I was. And I have to admit that you let me down just a little bit. I don’t really know why I expected you to be the exact woman you were before, but what happened to those vocal cords? OK, so maybe I’m being a little bit dramatic, but I really do miss hearing Whitney’s true crooning. I always said if I were to audition for American Idol, I would sing “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” to which my friends and family burst out laughing. Because I would definitely make the show…the horrible audition part of the show.

Nope, I’m just not a fabulous singer. But I do think I could actually sing some of Whitney’s new stuff from I Look to You, because her voice just isn’t getting up there. So many of the songs on her new album play off of Whitney’s horrible marriage (to the awful Bobby Brown), which I think is a good thing. Pain brings awesome music. And Whitney’s lyrics are as powerful as ever, especially in songs like “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” But I want her to start screaming and showing her real power. I am a big fan of the first song on the album, “Million Dollar Bill” because it reminds me a bit of the old Whitney (the song sounds totally 80s-ish) and her voice actually gets up there a bit. And it’s fun. I really do like the title track, but again, it leaves something lacking. Whitney also duets with Akon on an interesting track. It’s cute, but probably won’t become a hit, like most Akon collaborations do. Sadness. I guess love lets you down sometimes.

These United States- Everything Touches Everything

I had heard of These United States before this week, but I knew absolutely nothing about them and had never heard a lick of their music. I had no clue what they would sound like when I was getting ready to listen to Everything Touches Everything. But you know what? I enjoy them immensely. They’re really hard to describe, but it’s basically pretty mellow music with great lyrics and the occasional dance-ability. One of my very favorite songs on the album is “Secret Door.” While it’s a pretty mellow song, the lyrics are absolutely outstanding and definitely prove to me what amazing songwriters These Unite States are. “I am going to start the morning out/Throwing out the day before/I am going to let the morning in/The whole thing pouring in/And what is more…I am the captain of this ship/For what it was/And what it is and what it shackles/Or it leaves behind that shore/I am my executioner/But death is not the final word/And my life is not some secret door…I will push you if you push me.”

Another one of my faves is “Will It Ever” because of its sorta country vibe. And “Conquests and Consequences” is such a different sound, I find myself listening to it over and over. Every once in a while I’m surprised by a band I never really knew existed and this time it’s These United States. Now I have a feeling I’ll have a hard time remembering when they weren’t a part of my life! But then again, maybe I’m just in the honeymoon faze.

Drive-By Truckers- The Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities

I consider the Drive-By Truckers to be one of my all time favorite bands. As in, they are majorly awesome. I have about a million of their songs on constant rotation on my iPod, but it never seems to be enough. So, although, I’d absolutely love for them to come out with something really brand new, I take what I can get. And that’s The Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities. It’s basically all their previously recorded material that they ended up not using. You might think this wouldn’t be as good as their published music, but when you look at DBT’s albums, you see how much of a storyline they have and why there might be some actually really good stuff that just wasn’t able to be included.

The album starts off  with “George Jones Talkin’ Cell Phone Blues” and just exemplifies what the Drive-By Truckers are to me. It has a little bit of modern behavior mixed with some old school dirty South. Right away I can see why they didn’t want these perfectly amazing songs to go to waste. I have to say I was way overly psyched to hear Jason Isbell on this album (I still haven’t gotten over him leaving the band) and am now pretty obsessed with “When the Well Runs Dry.” And “TVA” too. These are definitely my favorite tracks on the album, because they sound amazing, yes, but also probably because I’m feeling a bit of nostalgia too. But now I think I’ve relapsed into my Jason Isbell pain, which probably isn’t very healthy.

This week might be the most random mix of reviews ever. Seriously, ever. I even surprised myself a bit.

I was ready to love who I already loved and hate who I wanted to hate, but that’s not at all what happened. The one album I was most excited for fell flat. And the one I barely even wanted to listen to (and would rather throw out my window) I kinda liked. A little too much. To the point where I had to force myself to turn it off.

I’m going to warn you right now: don’t listen to Ashley Tisdale if you aren’t into Disney pop music. Because you’ll probably end up enjoying it. And then feeling pretty embarrassed. Especially when you can’t get enough and want to blast it from your car and the people who pull up next to you can hear it…and judge you.

Modest Mouse- No One’s First and You’re Next

If there was an award for best album title’s ever (is there??), modest Mouse would win by a long-shot. With album names like Good News for People Who Love Bad News, This is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About, and Building Something Out of Nothing, Modest Mouse’s new album certainly fits in with their trend of awesome names. It’s called No One’s First and You’re Next and I’ve already played it about 50 million times. I always refer to Modest Mouse as an acquired taste; a band you might hate the first time you hear them. I know I tried to like them at first, but just couldn’t. And then one day I heard “Float On” and I sort of fell in love. And now, the first time I heard this new album, I loved it, solidifying in my mind that I am now a true Modest Mouse fan.

The album is actually a collection of previously released B-side and A-side tracks, but since I’m not a crazy obsessed Modest Mouse fan (yet), I haven’t heard any of them. It’s kind of a big jumble of music and you can tell it’s an EP, rather than being a full album. But I kind of like that. I can’t even pick a favorite song, but I have to say I absolutely love the build up that “The Whale Song” brings and can’t help but wonder if the lyrics are referencing Modest Mouse’s launch into fame and desire to go back to the way it was. Other definite listen-tos? “Satellite Skin” and “Autumn Beds,” but I really do enjoy the whole album. And I sincerely wish it was much longer than 8 tracks.

Howling Bells- Radio Wars

Howling Bells was completely new to me this week. I thought I would like them more than I actually do, mostly because I heard they’ve played along with bands that I adore, like The Killers, Coldplay, and Snow Patrol. And I’m not saying I don’t like them, – I’m just saying  they were a little too “whiney girls singing” for my tastes.

I do kind of like “It Ain’t You” because it seemed to be pretty happy and upbeat. Maybe the only the only happy and upbeat sound on the whole album. I also enjoyed “Nightingale,” because I love the clapping in the background, making it probably the most interesting song of all. I found “Let’s Be Kids Again” to be a bit blah, but I did kinda, sorta love the lyrics: “Let’s be kids again/Life was so simple then/Let’s be kids again…We don’t wanna know about this currency/We don’t wanna know about this 9-5/Just a simple life/Can you picture this/We don’t wanna hear about your policies/We don’t wanna live up to these expectations/A childlike dreal/Yeah you know what I mean.” Ok, so they totally get what I’m feelin’ right now…but I’m just not sure I want them to sing to me about it.

Ashley Tisdale- Guilty Pleasure

Let me first be clear about one thing: I am not a fan of High School Musical. In fact, I haven’t seen a single one of the movies. I do think Zac Efron is kind of cute, but that’s beside the point. And he’s much too young for me, anyway.

Like most people over the age of 9, I think it’s pretty ridiculous that so many of the High School Musical stars are coming out with their own albums. Really? Because I want to listen to Disney music, right? Then I saw a few interviews with Ashley Tisdale and I started to kind of like her. So, sue me. She’s a cute girl with a nice personality. And much more adult than I thought she was. Then I saw her perform “It’s Alright, It’s OK” and I really kind of enjoyed it. So I gave her a listen. And you know what? Her album is called Guilty Pleasure, and I can totally see why.

I think she’s kind of my new guilty pleasure. And I think the girl can totally move beyond the whole Disney stigma one day. I mean, her music is a bit racey. Maybe I’m totally out of line of here, but doesn’t “Masquerade” totally sound like it’s about role-playing? Yup. I’m in love with the song “Hot Mess,” and its totally PG-13 lyrics: “I’m such a hot mess/With you/I never knew/Never knew it could be so fun/It’s true/I was such a good girl before you came along/But you’re so racy/You’re my new favorite guy/So unruly/So uncivilized.” Doesn’t really sound like lyrics coming from a Disney star does it? And “Delete You” is the perfect song for 2009! We all have guys we need to delete. Not to mention there’s a song called “Hair.” That’s all about a guy running his fingers through her hair so she feels like “a sexy superstar.” It’s the most ridiculous song ever: “I like what you do to my hair. Who knew that looking a mess could feel so good?” OK, honestly, I’m stopping now. I have to stop. I am now Ashley Tisdale’s biggest fan. What happened to me?

This week was all about utilizing what I learned in Girl Scouts all those years ago. No, not building a fire or navigating my way out of a forest, but that whole “make new friends but keep the old” adage. And by “friends” I mean, “musicians who I consider to be my friends because I spend so much time with them and turn to them when I need to cry, sing really loud, or dance around in my undies.”

There were some great new releases this week from some of my favorite musical talents ever, in addition to some from bands I never knew. And while I may have fallen for some of the new stuff, I’ll always hold onto the old faves.

Mat Kearney- City of Black and White

If you don’t listen to Mat Kearney, you need to. He’s hard not to like, trust me. I loved him from the minute I heard his album Nothing Left to Lose in 2006; from his smooth voice to his meaningful lyrics to the fact that he spells his name with only one “t.” I’m also in love with his new album City of Black and White, which is filled with his smooth voice again and equally as many meaningful lyrics. And yes, he still spells his name with one “t.” If you like music like The Fray and Joshua Radin, you’ll likely enjoy Mat Kearney.

My favorite song is definitely “Here We Go,” but honestly, there’s not much I don’t like about Mat’s new album. “Never Be Ready” is also pretty awesome and I totally love the lyrics: “We’ll never be ready/If we keep waiting for the perfect time to come/Hold me steady, we’ll never be ready.” The only thing I really miss with this new album is Mat’s white boy rapping. I suppose this album does sound a bit more mature without it, but it was so incredibly fun it’s hard not to miss it. But I guess that’s how it always goes when friends start growing up and changing; they may be different, but you find a way to love ‘em anyway.

Mandy Moore- Amanda Leigh

Mandy Moore is probably one of my favorite people in the world. Ever since high school, if you asked me who I would want to play me in a movie, it would be her. I thought it was nearly impossible for me to like her any more and then she married my other favorite person, Ryan Adams. I thought the world would implode upon such an awesome marriage of two beautifully talented people, but thank God (at least so far!) it didn’t. And Mandy survived to make another album, Amanda Leigh. Now, before you think I’m some super Mandy fan who isn’t going to properly judge her album, I’ll admit right now, I was not a huge fan of her last album Wild Hope. I found it to be mighty boring. So I was super nervous for Mandy’s latest release. But she didn’t disappoint me at all.

Marriage must be doing something good for her because her album is absolutely amazing. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. Why is Amanda Leigh so much better than Wild Hope? It actually has a lot of personality, unlike the previous attempt. The first single “I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week” actually gets you dancing, but also showcases her beautiful voice. It’s almost like “Candy” grew up….a lot. There aren’t really any songs on Amanda Leigh that I dislike, but I’m a really big fan of “Fern Dell” and “Nothing Everything,” which are both upbeat and fun. I also have to love “Merrimack” because it’s totally about the river I grew up next to. Oh, and I absolutely love “Bug” as well, because “Bug” is Ryan’s nickname for Mandy. OK, I’ll stop gushing about Mandy Moore now. At least until she and Ryan Adams come out with an album of duets. Then the world really might implode.

Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I know I’ve head about Phoenix before, but I had no idea who they were or why should I listen to them. Then I learned they were “French Rock” and I still had no idea why I should listen to them. But then I listened to Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix and now I know why I should listen to them. Because apparently I was made for French rock. And Phoenix is just awesome. Allegedly, the album’s first single “Lisztomania” is about Franz Liszt and his piano performances. I have absolutely no idea who Franz Liszt is, but I totally feel like I have this “Lisztomania” when I listen to Phoenix.

Phoenix is the kind of music that makes you get up and dance and throw your hands around in the air. I’m not kidding here. They actually sound a bit like NYC’s own MGMT, mixed in with a bit of The Strokes. And maybe a dash of Franz Ferdinand too. I don’t even know the band very well, but I already feel like they’re allowed to have songs like “Love Like a Sunset,” where they spend 6 minutes building up the song instrumentally, and then start singing with only a little over a minute left. It works! Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix makes me wonder why more people I know don’t listen to Phoenix. And for that matter, why don’t more people I know listen to French rock? And what other French rock have I been missing out on? I’m grabbing my beret, heating up some crepes and working on building up my French music catalog ASAP. This is good stuff.

I like music I can sing along to. Even better is music I only have to listen to once before I start singing along. Sometimes I find myself singing along before I even know the lyrics. Other people get annoyed at my mixture of mumbles and hums, but I can’t help myself.

That’s how this week’s new releases were for me; I loved them right from the start and couldn’t help singing along. Plus, the lyrics to many of these songs pretty much rock. Of course, I already knew all the songs on the Ben Folds album, but I was immediately dancing and singing along to the new versions (and that’s not always easy to do with a cappella music).

I’m pretty sure, in fact, that this week’s new releases have caused my roommate to start packing and my neighbors to buy earplugs. What? I never said I had a good voice, but I really just can’t help singing along.

Ben Lee- The Rebirth of Venus

The first thing I thought upon hearing Ben Lee’s new album was, “Where have I been?!?!” I’ve been hearing about Ben Lee for so long and then blatantly ignoring him. I’m not sure why; it could have something to do with my general dislike of super short names. But now I’m angry I never gave him a chance, because this stuff is good. Like really good. Good as in, the first time I listened to the The Rebirth of Venus, I immediately found myself singing along. How could I sing along to songs I had never heard before? I don’t know, but I was.

The album starts with “What’s So Bad (About Feeling Good)?” and it is absolutely the perfect opening. It immediately got me dancing along, “No guilt/All pleasure/Come on/I wanna hear you yell it now.” So from song 1, I was already starting to fall in love with Ben Lee. I could probably talk about every single song on The Rebirth of Venus, but I’ll keep it to just a few. “I Love Pop Music” sounds exactly like you’d think it would. I almost didn’t want to like it, but I legit could not help it. My favorite song on the album is definitely “Families Cheating at Boardgames” and I think it does an excellent job at showcasing Ben’s voice. Plus the lyrics are pretty much to die for:“Break away from what you know/You are not alone/We can build a brand new home/You are not alone.” More amazingness about Ben Lee (as if you needed it)? He’s married to Ione Skye. You know, from my all-time favorite movie, Say Anything. And their child plays the pots and pans in the intro to “What’s So Bad (About Feeling Good)?” God, how sweet. Ben Lee, I think I love you.

The Great Northern- Remind Me Where the Light is

I first heard of The Great Northern a couple years ago when I heard their song “Home.” I absolutely loved it, so I listened to a few more of their songs. None of them really did it for me like “Home,” but I was super excited to listen to their new album, Remind me Where the Light is, nevertheless. And I’m happy to report that it’s pretty close to where “Home” is in terms of enjoyability. And in terms of singability. It was pretty obvious to me why “Houses” is the first single off the album; it’s perfectly catchy. But it isn’t my favorite song. I’m a big fan of “Stop,” which is one of the slowest songs on the album and was strangely reminiscent of Bon Iver for me. And that’s obviously a big plus.

I also appreciate the lyrics on the song “Numbers”: “Beware of strength in numbers/They play better than one/A group of those who follow/Can never reach the sound/Be careful who you’re thinking/Will save you in the end/Maybe we’re all just waiting/For one beautiful friend.” Another one of my favorites is “Driveway,” also another of the slower songs. While I might not be able to help singing along, I also think Great Northern is the perfect background music for me. And that’s not an insult at all; it’s a total compliment. It’s quiet, melodic, and has the ability to calm me. And trust me, it takes a lot to calm me.

Ben Folds- Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella

I am a big lover of Ben Folds and I’ll take him in any fashion I can get him in, be it with the Five or a cappella. I think this album, Ben Folds presents: University A Cappella, is a really cool concept. It’s almost like you don’t realize how perfect Ben Folds’ music is for a cappella until you hear these a cappella groups singing it.  And then you realize these songs were made for it. Well, maybe not made for it, but it works really, really well. This album probably has many of your favorite Ben Folds songs on it, so it should make you quite happy. I think “Still Fighting It” is one of the songs that works the best as a cappella and found myself listening to it over and over. But “You Don’t Know Me” also worked quite well, as you could probably tell from the original version Ben Folds sings with Regina Spector. My sister just told me that “The Luckiest” is going to be her wedding song, so this version had me tearing up a bit. And I absolutely loved “Brick” and almost enjoyed the lead singer more than I enjoy Ben Folds singing it. Almost.

Of course, the a cappella groups overshadow Ben much of the time, but I guess that’s kind of the point. I think it just made me realize that while I’m loving this album, it’s also making me crazy craving some new Ben Folds.

When the Internets talk, I listen. Really. Think about how easy the Internet makes it to discover new music.  Almost as easy as it is to find porn (but not quite as easy. It is way too easy to find porn on the Internet).  Sometimes when I’m bored, I just browse the Internet to discover new bands and I’m constantly shocked by how many artists and bands I’ve never heard of until I see or hear them online. And then fall instantly in love with them.

So, Internets, I thank you. Thank you for bringing us more than porn. Thank you for introducing me to this week’s new releases.

Metric - Fantasies

I had never heard of Metric before, but recently the Internets have been all abuzz about them. Not liking to be left out of things, I obviously had to listen. My first thought upon hearing the opening track of Metric’s new album, Fantasies, was “Wow, how catchy!” but in a sort of unique way. I instantly liked lead singer Emily Haines’ voice as she sung “Help I’m Alive,” and after doing a big of Googling (duh) discovered that she was born in India and has contributed to tracks from Broken Social Scene (so that’s where I know that voice).  Metric reminds me a lot of Tegan and Sara, but I actually think I already like Metric a bit better. The album’s first single, “Gimmie Sympathy,” is one of the most fun tracks on the album with lyrics to prove it: “I can feel it in my bones/Gimmie sympathy/After all of this is gone/Who would you rather be/The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?”

But Metric also does serious, which is quite evident on “Collect Call” with lyrics: “I know it’s a lie I want it to be true/The rest of the ride is riding on you/Over goodbyes we’ll buy some place/For wishing you could/Keep me closer.” Though I think the new wave sound of the music does a lot to make Metric unique, I’m pretty sure it’s Emily’s smooth voice that carries much of the album. And I have a feeling Metric puts on a killer live show. I hope I get to find out.

Silversun Pickups – Swoon

Another band the Internet loves that I had yet to discover.  I was not OK with that, so I gave their new album, Swoon, a listen and I started to enjoy them very quickly. I read that Silversun Pickups are often compared to The Smashing Pumpkins, which I could hear in the intros to songs like “Panic Switch” and also in lead singer Brian Aubert’s voice. But the songs sound a bit happier than The Smashing Pumpkins (in general), so I wouldn’t take the comparison too far. I also heard a sort of Kings of Leon sound, which is a very fabulous thing, in my opinion. I heard this especially in “Substitution” and “Catch and Release.” I really enjoy “Growing Old is Getting Old,” though the lyrics are quite depressing, focusing on our mortality: “So we all/Are growing old/And it’s getting old…Suddenly we decompose/But we’re not alone.” I really love the upbeat sound of “Sort Of” and found myself dancing around my room and accidentally memorizing the lyrics. And it’s always a good album when that happens. I guess there’s not much I didn’t like about Swoon and you have no idea how fast I’m going to be purchasing the Silversun Pickups’ older album. I actually sort of can’t believe I haven’t done it already. I can totally hear Silversun Pickups being played all over MTV and while I really do hope more people discover them and start to get obsessed like I am, I kind of like that not everyone knows them. I’ll try not to be greedy though.

Death Cab for Cutie- The Open Door

So this one I already knew, but it does seem like the Internet has always been obsessed with Death Cab for Cutie. Though it seems like Death Cab recently came out with a new album (they did! Less than a year ago!), there is no way I’m going to complain about yet another one from them. Yes, it’s only a 5-song EP, but it’s one to get excited about. The songs on The Open Door are a lot more upbeat than the Death Cab I’ve come to love, but they still have the same amazing lyrics and it was nice to hear something less mellow/make-me-wanna-cry-alone-in-my-room from them for a change. The album starts with “Little Bribes,” which is the perfect opening track. The tempo of the song is a lot more upbeat than the lyrics, but I kind of liked the contrast: “You said this city has a beating heart/That pushes people down the boulevard/And they’re all hoping for a wish fulfilled/In a desert for a dollar bill. “A Diamond and a Tether” is a bit more mellow and like the old Death Cab for Cutie, with the same deep lyrics: “I know you can’t hold out forever/Waiting on a diamond and a tether/From a boy who won’t flie/Who won’t take to the skies/If he thinks you’re about to say goodbye.” Lots of times EPs frustrate me because they’re filled with the leftovers from a previous album; songs that didn’t make the cut. But The Open Door isn’t like that at all. The songs are all so different from Narrow Stairs that they probably wouldn’t have fit in if they were on the album. My only complaint about The Open Door is that Death Cab didn’t record a few more songs and release it as a full-length album. But I really can’t complain at the delicious little taste they gave me with this EP.

Ooh, the anticipation! Some of my most-liked bands are back with new releases this week.  And considering I’m already a fan of them, they all have a lot to live up to. So, will they make me remember why I love them so much or will they crush my hopes?

Well, a little bit of both actually.

I’m the kind of person who is good at finding the good in everything; and I found a lot of good in each of my selections this week. Each also had a little bit of not so hot, but in case you were wondering, I’m not even close to deleting any of them off my iTunes. None of them were my absolute favorite albums the artists have put out, but I’m loving them nonetheless.

Gomez- A New Tide

Gomez’s albums never fail to excite me. Sometimes they take a listen or two for me to get into, but once I’m in, I’m fully in. And A New Tide is no different. Though the album is a bit less experimental and a bit more mainstream sounding than I usually expect to hear from Gomez, I still found myself hitting repeat constantly. One of my favorite things about Gomez is that all of their songs sound so incredibly different from one another, while still sounding exactly how you’d expect Gomez to sound. This is due partly in part to the fact that they share vocal duties and partly just due to their amazing versatility. I’m still trying to figure out why more people aren’t Gomez fans, but I think it might have something to do with their struggle to remain unique, but also gain mainstream appeal. And I could definitely hear the struggle in this album. But it wasn’t apparent enough to stop me from really enjoying it.

I’m especially a fan of “Natural Reaction” probably because it reminds me a lot of the Gomez of the past and because the lyrics really pull me in. “I get so nervous waiting for a natural reaction/I can’t stop thinking you’ll explode/Leave me a nervous wreck.” If you didn’t know Gomez and you were to listen to that and then to “Win Park Slope,” another of my favorites, you might not even realize it’s the same band. “Win Park Slope” is filled with a Deep South blues-y, but exotic sound. I’m pretty sure this album won’t launch Gomez into mainstream popularity and it might make long-time fans a little empty, but I’m pretty happy with it. Give them a chance and maybe you will be too.

Gavin DeGraw- Free

First of all, I am a lover of Gavin DeGraw and everything he does. I’ve always enjoyed his smooth, versatile voice and I’m thrilled to hear it again on Free. While I really enjoyed a portion of the album, I wasn’t overly-excited by the rest. I absolutely love that he starts the album off with a cover of Chris Whitley’s “Indian Summer.” But then I was expecting the rest of the album to have a country-pop, twangy feel; and it didn’t. But I was a fan of the single “Stay” from the second I heard it. Once again, Gavin’s lyrics are pure poetry that anyone can relate to and he sings them with his powerful voice: “You don’t have to be part of the problem/I just need a second chance….I need your love/But it never hurt this much.” I thought “Why Do the Men Stray” was going to be really touching, but with lyrics like “Why do the birds sing” it felt cheesy more than anything. And yes, “We Belong Together” was cheesy too; but in a completely beautiful way.

I was probably mostly disappointed because Gavin’s album was only 9 songs. Really? He didn’t have 3 more that were worthy of making it on there? I can imagine it’s hard when you come out with such a hit like “I Don’t Want to Be,” but this album definitely doesn’t reach the level of Chariot, which also had amazing songs like “Follow Through” and “(Nice to Meet You) Anyway.” However, I’m still listening to Free, because Gavin’s voice really does something to me.

Peter Bjorn and John- Living Thing

The first time I learned of Peter Bjorn and John was when I saw them on The Tonight Show performing “Young Folks” with Victoria Bergsman. Honestly, at first I thought there was something wrong with them. It would be hard to find two more awkward people than John and Victoria, standing there with blank stares whistling along to the music. But after I realized they were actual legit singers, the song got stuck in my head for weeks.  So I was psyched to hear about their new album Living Thing. And yes, some of it is incredibly weird and some of it I’m not quite sure if I like or not; but I think Peter Bjorn and John could do anything and I’d just attribute it to their quirkiness and end up enjoying it.  The first single on the album,“Nothing to Worry About” ties nicely into “Amsterdam” from Writer’s Block. Kind of. But then I kept thinking, “Why does ‘Amsterdam’ keep playing in my head??” and whistling where the whistling was absent. It’s almost like the children’s tranced out version of “Amsterdam.” Listen and you’ll see what I mean. But like “Amsterdam” and “Young Folks,” it’s addictive.

I was a little skeptical at the start of the album’s title track and its deep-voiced creepy, “living thing it’s a living thing,” but by the end, I found myself dancing along. Another song perfect for Peter Bjorn and John is “I Want You!” though the exclamation point made me think it was going to be a lot more fun than it was. The bottom line is that Peter Bjorn and John do more of their thing on Living Thing, but there’s nothing quite as awesome as “Young Folks,” which means this album just can’t be as good as their first.

Keri Hilson- In a Perfect World

Who is Keri Hilson? That’s what I said. Then I figured out that she’s the girl singing in Timbaland’s hit “The Way I Are.” Ooh, I like that song, so I thought I’d probably like Keri’s new album, In a Perfect World. Mmm not so much. Honestly, I don’t think people are buying the album because of HER. I think they’re buying it because of all the awesome people she has featured on it. Most of the album was pretty blah to me; typical R&B and nothing she sang alone really stuck in my head. But all of the tracks that featured another star were the songs I kept going back to. I have a general theory that anything the Timbaland produces will be successful, and In a Perfect World just proves me even more right. I’m sure Timbaland’s pull has a lot to do with all the cameos on the album. One of my favorite tracks is “Knock You Down,” which features both Kanye West and Ne-Yo and has more singing from them than from Keri. I’m generally not the biggest Akon fan, but I found myself dancing along to “Change Me,” in which he also seems to play the main role. Other notable features on the album include Keyshia Cole, Trina, Lil’ Wayne, and Timbaland of course.  I might be deleting Keri’s solo tracks from my music library, but I know I’ll be listening to her duets again and again. Stick to the collaborations, Keri.

The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love

The Decemberists are one of those bands I’ve always meant to listen to, but just never got around to. Well, I finally did with their new album, Hazards of Love, and I’m so psyched that I already love them as much as I do. I would definitely describe this album as being a bit different….weird if you will, but in a super good way. Even the song names are a bit strange, with titles like “The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone)” and “The Abduction of Margaret.”  And then I realized the album is a “rock opera,” meaning all of the dialogue of the show is being sung and the entire album makes a complete story. If you didn’t know better, you might discount the album at that; but don’t. No matter if you pay attention to the story’s plot or if you listen to the album on shuffle, it is enjoyable. I’m a big fan of the voice of lead singer Colin Meloy and it works perfectly with guest singers Becky Stark and Shara Worden. I particularly enjoyed “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid” and “Isn’t it a Lovely Night.” I’m not sure if the rest of The Decemberists’ albums are so quirky, but I’m definitely going to find out.

Martina McBride- Shine

I think it’s pretty impossible not to like Martina McBride. OK, so lots of people don’t love country, but seriously? “This One’s for the Girls” is such an incredibly uplifting and bright song, how can anyone resist? I feel the same way about “Ride,” the first single on Martina’s new album, Shine.  It’s the kind of song you listen to whenever you need a little sunshine in your life (get it? Shine?). “Shine while you have the chance to shine/Laugh even when you want to cry/Hold on tight to what you feel inside and ride.” The songs are fairly simple as most country songs are, but the lyrics all tell us the kinds of things we need to hear from time to time. One of my favorite messages on the album is in the song, “Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong,” where Martina sings, “But if you think you’ll never move on/You’re wrong baby wrong.” Some of the other lyrics on Martina’s new album include, “today everything is so sunny side up,” “If you got love you don’t need money,” and “Everyone calls you amazing/I just call you mine.” As you can see, if you need some cheering up, all you need to do is pop Shine in your CD player (or pop it in your computer, or open it on your iTunes, or play it on your iPod). It’s impossible to still be sad after listening to Martina’s 9th studio album.

This week we’re going to do some traveling. Whether it’s back in time, to another country, or just down South; this week’s new music releases are taking us away. And I don’t know about you, but I love traveling. So grab your bags and don’t bother making a mix tape for the ride, because all the music you need is right here.

Chris Isaak- Mr. Lucky

Oh, hi Chris Isaak. You’re back. Remember “Wicked Game”? You know, “And I wanna fall in love…with you” Yes, I told you we were traveling back in time. Despite the fact that we haven’t heard from this guy in awhile, Chris Isaak just has one of those voices I’ll always be a fan of. Not only is he back with a new album, Mr. Lucky, but he’s got a new TV show as well. The Biography Channel will soon be airing his Inside the Actor’s Studio like program for musicians. So obviously now is a good time for him to come out with some new music himself. The album is great, and comes with a huge perk: a duet with Michelle Branch (yes, I am a fan). While ”I Lose My Heart” is a really pretty song with a country-ish twang, I wish he gave Michelle a larger part (like a solo somewhere in there). Isaak also has a duet with Trisha Yearwood, which is one of my favorite songs on the album, showcasing Trisha’s beautiful voice throughout. I’m not sure any of the songs on Mr. Lucky will surpass “Wicked Game,” but it’s nice to hear Chris singing again.

K’Naan- Troubadour

And now we’re traveling far, far away. What? You’ve never heard of K’Naan? OK, neither had I. But I’m telling you, you totally need to start listening. First of all, Troubadour, K’Naan’s second studio album, was mostly recorded at Bob Marley’s home studio in Jamaica. So you already know the guy’s pretty cool. K’Naan was born and raised in Somalia and raps about his home country, his experiences, and so much more. I’d describe him as a much cooler, more hardcore version of The Black-Eyed Peas. It’s rap, but it’s rap that you can sing along to; rap that holds incredible meaning behind the words. K’Naan sings lyrics like: “They don’t teach us the ABCs/We play on the hard concrete/All we got is life on the streets” and “How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday/When injustice had him caged and trapped in every way/How did Ghandi ever withstand the hunger strikes and all/Didn’t do it to gain power and money if I recall.” Umm, but I swear, it’s fun music! If you don’t believe me, just listen to “Bang Bang,” which features Adam Levine of Maroon 5. I’ve had it on repeat all day and you probably will too.

Joe Bonamassa- The Ballad of John Henry

Joe Bonamassa is going to take us down South. OK, so really he was born and raised in Utica, New York, but his blues-rock music will make you feel like you’re down South; or at least in an underground Chicago bar somewhere. I’ll admit I’m not a big listener of the blues genre of music, but something about Joe Bonamassa’s new album, The Ballad of John Henry, has me really feeling the blues. But in a totally good way. I mean, come on, he does a cover to the song titled “Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter.” I have absolutely no idea what that means, but the song is pretty much a blast. The title track and “Happier Times” almost remind me of a cleaner version of the Drive-By Truckers, so I automatically liked it. But my favorite track might have to be “Feeling Good” a bluesy-rock take on the recently made popular by Michael Buble Bobby Darin original. Who ever said the blues would make you sad? After listening to Joe Bonamassa, I know I’m feeling good.