For Your Reading Pleasure...

Days Off

mgrella — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:08:04 +0000

Took 2 days off, making this a 4 day weekend. Boy did I need it! It’s good to get away from the insanity of my job. Every little thing was getting on my nerves, and until I get another one, I have to deal with this one. It sucks, but the days off were well needed and helped a lot. I’m not looking forward to Monday, though. Ick.

I’m currently overwhelmed with my ipod. I didn’t want to get one at first, but I love it so much now! It has revived my music collection like nobody’s business! I am finding, however, that to make a decent playlist is near impossible because I have too many songs! I never thought that could be possible. My whole life is the search for the perfect playlist, and I’ve come close many times, but I haven’t achieved it yet. I’ve often thought that if I spent half as much time in other areas in my life, as I do trying to create the ultimate song list, I’d be an unstoppable success. Maybe one day.

Long Time No Write!

mgrella — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:46:33 +0000

It’s been such a long time since I’ve written anything, let alone blog! I need to get back into the swing of things. I love to write, but I’ve fallen out of the habit, and I’m in such a terrible rut, I need to put my keyboard and pens to work! Writing: a means of expression; in particularly, for me, a release of tension.

Lately I’ve been watching Hairspray. The original with Ricki Lake was good, but the remake with Nikki Blonsky is phenomenal! How cute is she?! Also, the soundtrack is genius! I must order it from Amazon soon. I even liked that annoying Zac Efron as Link. John Travolta, though an ugly woman, had the best Baltimore accent ever. I didn’t realize people there spoke that way! Great movie.

The Awake Tour Concert Review: The Josh Groban Experience

mgrella — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:43:53 +0000

Am I in the right place? That is Groban’s band playing Zeppelin, right? Why am I looking at Josh Groban as if he’s a total rock star? In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t so off kilter at all.

For the complete review, please click/vote/comment: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/330080/the_awake_tour_concert_review_the_josh.html

Bon Jovi’s Lost Highway Leads to a New Found Treasure

mgrella — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:50:41 +0000

Bon Jovi has had a long lasting career based on good music, faithful fans and the ability to gain new followers with each successive album. Continuing on the country path of “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” a song performed with country star Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, the band has followed up with an entire collection of Nashville friendly songs. In fact, Lost Highway was recorded in Nashville, TN.

At first thought, Bon Jovi purists may want to down a bottle of bad medicine. After all, what do these Jersey boys, the undisputed kings of anthem rock songs, know of country music? Are the guys who can sell out Giant Stadium faster than you can blink, turning in their steel horses for a seat at the rodeo? Will they ever be allowed on the Jersey Turnpike again after this potential fiasco? Not to worry; Bon Jovi will not be run out of the Garden State any time soon. Though the disc isn’t the big hair sound many are used to, it is only a small departure from the evolution the fellas have been taking all along. And while critics will see Lost Highway as the guys selling out, other more open-minded individuals will find a great surprise. The album is good…damn good, and worth the ride.

To read the full review, please visit and vote: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/307800/bon_jovis_lost_highway_leads_to_a_new.html

Review of Travis Rush’s Come And Get It

mgrella — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 21:22:59 +0000

Broken Halo Records presents Oregon-native, Travis Rush, to country fans everywhere with his first album, Come And Get It. Citing such musical influences as Elton John and Billy Joel, Rush, whose instrument is also the piano, offers a 12-track disc with his debut album. Rush co-wrote all but one song, and also co-produced Come And Get It. The end result is a nice start to what could be a lengthy career in the pop-country music scene.

The first track hits the listener with a decent rock song. “I Wanna Be With You” has a driving, open road sound. Though it has a catchy but over-simplistic chorus and the second verse of the song seems too long, it succeeds in peaking one’s interest. There is a definite sense that this rock track sounds great live. Country ballad, “The Real Thing” follows. This song doesn’t rate well. It is too wordy for a ballad and the vocals are not believable, either. Another ballad that fares better is one of lost love. “Just For Tonight,” written for his ex-wife, is a personal story sung in gentle tones with meaning; here the lyrics are better and go well with the emotion of the song.

The upbeat, title track, “Come and Get It,” not only has a well developed story line, but is fun, attitude-infected and likable. Things slow down once again with another longing for love tune, “Then I’ll Cry Instead.” This lukewarm ballad is a duet with Leah Yorkston. One of the best songs of the album is the faster tempo of the quaint “Get Up Off The Ground.” The lyrics and melody fuse together to speak of life lessons learned. The advice passed onto him by his father is one we should all take to heart and practice. “It ain’t about how fast or hard you fall; Son, you’ve gotta get up off the ground…”

Rush is on a roll with great melodies and words as “Leap Of Faith” enters. This love song is everything a woman would like to hear. The country-pop “No Substance In Your Style” again boasts good lyrics. The best vocal on the album is found in “Easier Said Than Done.” This track relays the story of moving on; it’s touching and displays vocals that are convincing and authentic. The rock track “What Momma Don’t Know” is appealing, clever, entertaining, and probably fantastic live. “Before I go to Heaven, I’m gonna raise a little Hell…” The disc takes a turn towards the typical sound of a country song with “You Gotta Live.” The final track of Rush’s album is “Put The World On Hold,” another pretty love song that is simplistic in a good way; the soft melody joined by the piano and acoustic guitar adds to the song’s allure.

Ultimately, Travis Rush’s debut album is a solid entry into country music, with even a few tracks for non-country fans to perk their interest. The problems on this first attempt are things that Rush will no doubt get a chance to improve on with experience and time. The upbeat, faster tempo songs, along with the pretty ballads sung with sincerity, are where Rush shines. Travis Rush’s disc, Come And Get It, is what country fans or those curious, should do exactly.

Sanjaya the Next American Idol?

mgrella — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:25:31 +0000

Nothing against the kid, but…seriously? He’s still on the show? This makes me wonder if I should give credibility to the rumors that have long circulated, suggesting that the results are rigged. He doesn’t suck or he never would have made the qualifying rounds to begin with. However, his mellow, too shy, awkward stage presence makes me embarrassed just watching. I can see a young Michael Jackson type of smile thing going on, but his appeal over Sundance’s big voice…seriously?

I had hoped that Phil, Sanjaya, Haley and Antonella would leave…one out of four is bad news. How could Sabrina leave? This proves one of two things…song selection is ultra important or the show’s producers throw these type of shocking results at the audience to keep us watching.

Unsolved Zodiac Murders Still Fascinate

mgrella — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:15:34 +0000

It’s a case that has fascinated many: A serial killer who had no rhyme or reason for choosing his victims and was never captured. For years, the public’s fear was only intensified with cryptic letters printed in newspapers, threatening more attacks. A murderer on a killing spree never brought to justice, inspiring a copycat killer.

To read the full article, please visit: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/161104/unsolved_murders_by_the_zodiac_killer.html

How to Find the Right Size Bra

mgrella — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:15:56 +0000

This article was kind of embarrassing to write and very odd to promote, but it paid pretty well.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/155122/how_to_find_the_right_size_bra.html

Yes!

mgrella — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:37:41 +0000

I finally completed this long article I was writing about the Zodiac Killer. Woo! What a sense of relief! Now on to doing my taxes. Ugh! But first, the Academy Awards. And the Oscar goes to…

TGIF – Sort Of

mgrella — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:44:57 +0000

I’m glad the work week is over, but these 4 days were actually pretty nice. Most everyone was on vacation, and the atmosphere was so laid back. Monday is going to be chaotic as they return. I used to love the weekends, but seeing as my personal live is less than optimal these days, (who am I kidding…years), I kinda look forward to my job.

I’m going to watch the Oscars Sunday, and the blockbuster videos I rented last weekend, ”Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning” and “The Devil Wears Prada”. I returned “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Saw III” and “The Grudge 2″. I was anxious to see these movies that I missed out on the first time around, and I gotta say, I felt a disappointing relief. On the one hand, I was glad I didn’t waste 10 bucks on these films, but on the other, I wanted them to be good at least seeing as I waited with anticipation for the rental, and they weren’t what I expected. Quick movie review: “Little Miss Sunshine” could’ve been funnier, “Saw III” was more disgusting than scary, and though “The Grudge 2″ was creepier than the first and made me jump, the story line left something to be desired.

That’s all for now. I guess I’m glad it’s Friday.