Archive for July, 2009

Switchfoot has announced on their website that their latest album, Hello Hurricane, is complete.  To promote the CD and transport it to the west coast, their friend Corey will driving across the country and blasting the tracks at different venues and from his car.  He will be stopping at certain stores, restaurants, and parks.  The band will be posting updates on Twitter, so be sure to keep posted.  Here is the proposed itinerary across the United States.  You can also e-mail band if you wish to host a listening party.  More information can be found on Switchfoot’s website.  Be sure to also also stay tuned to Switchfoot’s Official YouTube Channel for more updates on the roadtrip.

Ok, so my mother, my sister, and myself decided to have lunch at Scoma’s (some of the best clam chowder I’ve ever had) in Sausalito with my grandparents a few weeks ago, but in order to do so, we had to cross the Golden Gate Bridge.  So that was fine and all.  We crossed over, had lunch, saw this awesome rock-stacking display that a guy was putting up along the shoreline, and then headed back over to San Francisco.  As many people know, traversing a landmark like the Golden Gate comes at a price.  We had to pay toll on our way back.  We did.  I took out $6.00 and had it ready for my mother when we reached the toll booth.  We gave the lady inside the money and it was all good.  We drove off, passing a “Toll Paid” sign on our way out of the toll stand.

A few days ago, we receive a letter from this FasTrak company that we did not pay the toll and did not have a FasTrak device.  It turned out that we were in a FasTrak lane.  Now if you do not know what FasTrak is, it is basically a program for commuters in which you pay beforehand for a device so that you can pass through the toll gate without being required to stop and pay the toll each time you commute.  I suppose that because we did not have this device, we received this violation notification.

Now, that’s fine, but why in the world was there an attendant taking tolls for that lane we were in?  We saw a car in front stop at the same gate and pay the toll.  After some research, we discovered that the lane we were in was a Cash/FasTrak lane.  We were not even in violation because of that.  We paid the $6.00 toll, yet we are still being fined $25.00 in addition to another bill of $6.00.  Why are we in violation of not having a FasTrak device AND not paying $6.00?

I do not know if this is a mistake or if this is just another scheme of the bridge authorities to gain some money from innocent citizens.   The problem is that we have no solid evidence that we paid the toll.  We paid in cash, and we did not get a receipt.  (Who gets a receipt for a toll?)  If we respond that it was a mistake, they might file a lawsuit in which we have little chances of winning, but if we do nothing, we lose $31.00.  Are they really that desperate?

So, the free iTunes download for the week is “Fireflies,” by Owl City.  The ratings were pretty good when I looked at the download page, so I downloaded the song for myself.  It wasn’t until today that I truly listened to it, and I must say, it is good.  The music is electronic, yet the vocals are so pure and light.  The vocals remind me of Relient K and Falling Up actually.  I checked out more of Adam Young’s work and discovered it to be similarly so.  I’m definitely liking his upbeat tunes and uplifting lyrics.

I’d like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay awake when I’m asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seems

- Owl City, “Fireflies”

I’m hoping to get a hold of the latest album, Ocean Eyes, to review.  From what I’ve heard so far, the music can seem a bit childish or cheesy, but I applaud it for being so optimistic and fresh.  It makes me want to climb a mountain or something.  I definitely recommend you check out Owl City and get that free download.

Switchfoot announces their new album, Hello Hurricane, to arrive this October.  Pre-orders begin in early August.

“Hello Hurricane acknowledges the storms that tear through our lives…this album is an attempt to respond to those storms with an element of hope, trying to understand what it means to be hopeful in a world that keeps on spinning.” – Jon Foreman

Here is a “top 20″ list of the music I have discovered and/or become addicted to (not necessarily released) in the summer of 2009.  Hope you listen and enjoy.

20.  Dave Matthews Band – “So Much to Say” – Crash
19.  Maroon 5 – “Makes Me Wonder” – It Won’t Be Soon Before Long
18.  The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – “Face Down” – Don’t You Fake It
17.  Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne – “Let It Rock” – In the City
16.  The Script – “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” – The Script
15.  The Rocket Summer – “Never Knew” – Hello, Good Friend
14.  FM Static – “Take Me As I Am” – Dear Diary
13.  Dashboard Confessional – “Stolen” – Dusk & Summer
12.  Angels & Airwaves – “Call To Arms” – I-Empire
11.  The Veronicas – “Untouched” – Hook Me Up
10.  Paramore – “Brighter” – All We Know Is Falling
9.  The All-American Rejects – “It Ends Tonight” – Move Along
8.  The Classic Crime – “Grave Digging” – The Silver Cord
7.  Fall Out Boy – “Beat It (feat. John Mayer)” – Beat It (feat. John Mayer) – Single
6.  Family Force 5 – “Earthquake” – Business Up Front / Party In the Back
5.  Paramore – “Decode” – Twilight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
4.  O.A.R. – “This Town” – All Sides
3.  Thriving Ivory – “Angels On the Moon” – Thriving Ivory
2.  Paramore – “That’s What You Get” – Riot!
1.  Welbilt – “December” – Due to the Current State of Things