Top 5 albums from the scene

This list highlights the best songs from the scene. My generation's best examples of life on record. If you're asking yourself what is "the scene" it was a time before emo was emo. When good music for teenagers wasn't just about whiny voices. Every generation has there songs, the 80's found solace in their synth-pop ballads, the 90's had grunge and flannel, our generation saw an influx of ironic t-shirts and Abercrombie color-coordinated outfits. All of these albums were made before I graduated High-school, since it must be a generational thing about storytelling and all. These are the albums that kept you up till 4 am singing your lungs out, the songs that made you say "bros before hoes." So, without further ado, i give you the best of the best.

1. Fall Out Boy "Take This to Your Grave"
Take This to Your Grave, is one of those albums you heard about from a friend who found it from a friend, who saw these crazy guys from Chicago play in a shitty little club in the mid-west. The song titles are ambitious, making the kind of pop-cultural references that make VH1's "I Love" series seem dated. "Tell that Mick He just made my List of Things to do Today," and classic titles like "Grand Theft Autumn," Chicago is so Two Years Ago," and "Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes."

The greatest of accomplishment of the album is that it never slows down, it finds ways to build momentum with each song that plays. Arguably the worst song on the album, "Reinvinting the Wheel to Run Myself Over" is is still fast paced and energetic, which sets up the finale of the album almost like a live show before an encore.

2. Taking Back Sunday "Tell all Your Friends"
If you have somehow found a way to go your entire life without hearing this album, then you have been living under a rock, or in a polygamist convent on mars. This is one of the albums that started the scene. "Tell all Your Friends" made dual vocals the coolest thing since Y2K, remember that stupid abbreviation for the worldwide computer crash that never happened, and ushered in a generation of males who saw themselves as Tyler Durden's army. Lyrically, the songs are deep and disturbing as if hearing a schizophrenics frantic conversations within.

Particularly the video for "Cute Without the 'E', (Cut from the Team)" lives in infamy as one of the greatest of the decade, an almost perfect shot for shot recreation of "Fight Club." The dual vocals captured the inner psyche of Durden, as if the band and film were meant to be. The true testament to the album's greatness lies in the fact that many believe the band hasn't been able to recreate this sound and power since.

3. Brand New "Your Favorite Weapon"
Teenage angst and the confusion of growing up in the post-modern era finds it's voice in "Your Favorite Weapon." "Jude Law and a Semester Abroad" is the perfect fuck you to any girl that ever seemed fake and abused her beauty or popularity, which seems like most of the girls we wanted in high-school. Again, clever lyrics and slick guitar riffs make this a timeless album.

"Last Chance to Lose Your Keys" (another 80's reference) and "Seventy Times 7" are the albums highlights. The album title explains the feelings after a break-up, i was just your favorite weapon, just a toy, nothing more. The album ends with "Soco Amaretto Lime," which is not only a fantastic drink, but proof of the insecurities that all 18 year-olds feel. Making it a better graduation song than Vitamin C's "Graduation" which should be banned from airplay and use for eternity.

Fun Fact: Taking Back Sunday's "Theres No 'I' in Team" and Brand New's "Seventy Times 7" share the same bridge, both bands lead singers have been known to have an ongoing feud after Lacey left TBS.
"And is that what you call tact?
You're as subtle as a brick in the small of my back.
So let's end this call, and end this conversation."

4. Cartel "Chroma"
Cartel made its mark thanks to the social networking blow-up known as Myspace. Which is why they give credit where credit is do with the video for "Honestly." The album starts with a scratchy record like song called "Say Anything (Else)."

The album overall is a call out to every guys night you've had. "Luckie St." has everything you remember from a drunken walk home from a night at the bars. The albums greatest success is the ending, cartel saves the best for last. "Q" and "A" is the best 1-2 punch for songs hands down. "If you're not getting answers ask better questions." The songs take everything from a great album and bashes them together in a melodic finale that will make an entire room sing along.

5. Something Corporate "Leaving Through the Window"
It would be an insult to youth and music if this album was left of the list. If I could count the times this album has been played during romantic encounters and drunken nights with my friends its arguably the most played album ever. Nothing captures the essence of youth and that unsure feeling of high-school like Something Corporate.

The album opens with "I Want to Save You," a blaring anthem that makes the mundane seem extraordinary. More loving than most albums, Leaving finds a way to put into words the stirs of young love.

"Astronaut" is the album's most introspective song. The lyrics are the perfect way to wind down a night. "Hurricane" is the anthem of the album, it has everything the excitement of young love has. Coupled with "Woke Up in a Car," and "Not What it Seems," and "Drunk Girl" we see one of the most complete albums of the decade. Not to mention, it made piano rock cool again... You're welcome Billy Joel!!!


Honorable Mention:
Houston Calls "A Collection of Short Stories", Brand New "Deja Entendu", The Starting Line "Say it Like You Mean it", Say Anything "...Is a Real Boy", Death Cab for Cutie "Transatlanticism" Saves the Day "Stay What You Are", Yellowcard "Ocean Avenue" & "One for the Kids", Northstar "Pollyana", Senses Fail "Let it Enfold You", Something Corporate "Ready, Break" & "North", Starting Line "Based on a True Story", Story of the Year "Page Avenue", Thursday "War All the Time", The Academy Is... "Almost Here"

Note: EP's are a completely different list, so those will be addressed another date and time.

Top 5 Break-up/ Single Guy Movies

By now most of us have experienced a break-up in our lives. Everyone has there lists of top love stories and all that non-sense, but I feel like its necessary to give the other side its due. This list is in so particular order, all movies are equally important to the break-up motif.

1. "500 Days of Summer" - need I say more? The films starts by telling you it's not a love story.

2. "High Fidelity" - John Cusack has found a way to embody every unsure music obsessed non committal guy in history. The endearing yet pathetic friends, the quest find out what went wrong to get him to the point. Every guy has done the Ex revisit, its just something we do.

3. "Swingers" - This classic is Vince Vaughn at his best before he became a character of himself. The movie speaks to the truth's of love, they never come back till you're over them, and Vegas red eye specials often times don't end up as planned. The quotes alone are enough to keep your crew laughing for months on end "the beautiful babies were lovin' it! You were so money!"

4. "Funny People" - I know i'll be dogged for this, but unless you've lived this Gatsby like experience than you'll have a hard time appreciating the story. Boy meets girl, falls for girl, becomes a star/ asshole, cheats and leaves girl, finds out he's dying and tries to win her back realizing she's the love of his life, boy fails miserably.

5. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" -I can't think of a better way to forget about someone than to have them wiped from your memory, then half-way through it, renege and trying to hold on to the memories. Oh how a broken heart is complicated.

Let me know what you think and which movies you would add or take off.

Honorable mention: The Last Kiss, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Garden State, Nick and Norah's infinite playlist, Jerry McGuire, The Break-Up (although it seems slightly obvious), Chasing Amy and Mallrats, The Wedding Singer, Annie Hall.