summer lovin'

It's mid-winter which naturally it's around that time that I begin to crave summer again. Of course, summertime is the best time, and I usually wish it were summer if it is not (except for the week of Christmas, during which I am in a complete state of peppermint and Christmas carols). Fortunately I live in Texas, and it's 70+ degrees at least 75% of the year, but it's that other 25% that's tricky - and that I'm currently fully submerged in. It's gross. I can't stand it. Thus, I sat down this weekend and headed over to Spotify (which you should totally download right now if you haven't already) to make the perfect summer/beach/pool party playlist which I appropriately named "Pool Party." I'll be adding to the list as the year progresses and we move closer and closer to summer, but here's the list that I have as of now for my pool party playlist. It's kind of all over the place, so bear with me and enjoy!

Good - Better Than Ezra
Carried Away - Passion Pit
Take A Walk - Passion Pit *
Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey 
Gone - Switchfoot
New Perspective - Panic! At The Disco *
1985 - Bowling For Soup 
The Boys Of Summer - The Ataris *
Lonely Boy - The Black Keys
Gold On The Ceiling - The Black Keys
Summer Of '69 - Bryan Adams *
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
Santa Monica - Everclear
Girls & Boys - Good Charlotte 
Colours - Grouplove
Tongue Tied - Grouplove
Come To California - Matthew Sweet
Kids - MGMT
Electric Feel - MGMT *
Float On - Modest Mouse
Everybody Talks - Neon Trees
Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers *
California - Phantom Planet
Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen *
Anna Sun - Walk The Moon
Tightrope - Walk The Moon
In Too Deep - Sum 41
Beverly Hills - Weezer
Island In The Sun - Weezer
Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard
Trojans - Atlas Genius
Symptoms - Atlas Genius
Where The Kids Are - Blondfire
Waves - Blondfire
Jack And Diane - John Mellencamp *
Pink Houses - John Mellencamp
Hurts So Good - John Mellencamp
San Francisco - The Mowgli's *
Diane Young - Vampire Weekend
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet *
Safe And Sound - Capitol Cities
Punching In A Dream - The Naked And Famous
Young Blood - The Naked And Famous
I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles
Rockaway Beach - The Ramones *
Harlem - New Politics *
Climbing Walls - Strange Talk
Santeria - Sublime *
Best Day Of My Life - American Authors
Believer - American Authors
Let's Go - Matt and Kim
Out Of My League - Fitz and The Tantrums
How To Be A Heartbreaker - Marina and The Diamonds *

*If a song contains a star that means it is one of my favorites on the list and you're an absolute psycho if you don't go listen to it right now. 

♥ savannah ♥

My best friend, Savannah Patterson, is a talented artist and photographer, as I've known for quite a white now. She recently started a blog to showcase all of her photos and artwork, and you should definitely follow her (or at least check out her work) here. I've known her for a long time and I am totally confident in her and her work. Best of luck, Savannah! xoxo

Savannah Patterson, photographer + artist + best friend.

save rock and roll

Today was generally a good day. I got to leave school early (after taking two easy exams) and then went to eat lunch at one of my favorite restaurants in town with some of my friends. Also, my favorite band, Fall Out Boy, followed me on Twitter (and you can too - @__alexwalker), and for the rest of the day I've just been lounging around and watching lots of Gossip Girl. 

A very important spiritual event occurred in my life Wednesday. It began when Fall Out Boy MOMUMENTOUR tickets went on Facebook pre-sale. There I was, sitting in the middle of French class, checking the clock, when the hour struck for the tickets to be available. I desperately unlocked my phone and navigated my way to Fall Out Boy's Facebook page where I was directed to a ticket sale site via a series of links. I dug through my backpack and ripped out my debit card. I selected two seats (one for me and one for my bestie, duh) and charged them to my phone. Ten minutes later, I received the conformation e-mail. Classmates probably think I am was crazy (well, that ship already sailed long ago I'm afraid...) but I'm going to see a concert I've been waiting several years for! And, just like that, I'm headed to Dallas on August 5th to the MOMUMENTOUR - Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and New Politics (I am beyond stoked for all three!). I could not be more thrilled. I just wish I had some money left so I don't have to live like a poor person for the next few weeks. But, thinking of August, I will cope. And on that note, I leave you with this. Enjoy. 

P.S. Totally sorry about this being a music blog as of late...I do love my music and when there's nothing else to post about that's generally what most of my blog's content consists of. xoxo

currently obsessed with...

There is a house in New Orleans they call The Rising Sun

and it's been the ruin of many a poor boy

and God, I know I'm one

My mother was a tailor

she sewed my new blue jeans

my father was a gamblin' man

down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a gambler needs

is a suitcase and a trunk

and the only time he's satisfied

is when he's drunk

Oh mother, tell your children

not to do what I have done

spend your lives in sin and misery

in the House of the Rising Sun

Well, I got one foot on the platform

the other foot on the train

I'm going back to New Orleans

to wear that ball and chain

There is a house in New Orleans they call The Rising Sun

and it's been the ruin of many a poor boy

and God, I know I'm one

- "The House of the Rising Sun" The Animals, 1964

Glycerine

Hello, blogging world. It's been a few weeks, but I've been very busy. Today is Friday and though I should be studying for finals or reading an amazing book I'm almost finished with, Anne Rice's The Tale of the Body Thief (definitely check out that series - my favorite. ever.),  I am instead writing this short post. I was debating what to write about today, but earlier, when I was bored at school, I came across a wonderful video that I instantly fell in love with. Everyone knows Bush's song "Glycerine." Well I found this little jewel today: an MTV video of Bush performing "Glycerine" live from Woodstock 1999. So, this weekend, I'll be reading lots of Anne Rice, deep breathing while frantically skimming my entire AP Art History textbook, and watching this video approximately 10,000 times. Without further ado, here is my new favorite thing ever. Enjoy.

hony

I'd just like to bring to everyone's attention a website that I think deserves so so so much attention right now: Humans of New York (HONY). It's a blog run by 29-year-old Brandon Stanton, who lives in New York City and photographs its residents for his photography website. He was recently added to Time Magazine's '30 Under 30' list, which basically means he's a super cool person under the age of 30. He also just came out with a book of all his best/favorite photographs/interviews/quotes he's collected over the years, and it is available here (I already put it on my Christmas list!). I'm sure it will be as amazing as his blog is. - Alex 

Humans of New York book by Brandon Stanton

you got to lose to know how to win

Every time that I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It went by like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay

Yeah, I know nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win

- Aerosmith, "Dream On," June 1973


"Dream On" has always been one of my favorite songs. The line, "You got to lose to know how to win" has always been my favorite line from the song. It makes so much sense...how can someone be successful in anything or even have substantial knowledge of it if they've never failed, or lost? The answer is that you can't. My Saturday thoughts aren't much: don't be discouraged if something doesn't work or if someone hurts you. Know that now, you are really the one with the upper hand. You've been hurt, or something hasn't gone right - but now, you know what you don't want. Who you don't want to be. 

"Dream On" can also be used to demonstrate the theme of losing/winning. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest songs of all time. However, Rolling Stone magazine listed it as #173 on its '500 Greatest Songs of All Time' list...not that being listed at all is a loss, but #173? Really, Rolling Stone? The Beach Boys were listed several times before Aerosmith was even mentioned. Not that there's anything wrong with the Beach Boys (I'm actually rather fond of them), but listing many of their songs before any Aerosmith song, especially before "Dream On"? Oh, Rolling Stone. You really have lost it.

Well, now I need to run to the grocery store because, well, I guess I have to eat. And, as always, homework is calling. But in case you were wondering more about "Dream On", you can read all about it here. And if you wanted to read Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, you can check that out here. - Alex