Below is the single, from the album, that initially caught my attention. This is, obviously, the rebellion I had mentioned previously.

Hollywood Undead is a band that mixes rap and rock (more rap than rock, though) in a mix of increasingly passionate and completely shallow songs. It’s actually an adventure listening to their album, Swan Songs, because you never quite know what to expect. There’s energy and irreverence and passion all mixed in to one album that just captivates the same feelings that early Eminem and Limp Bizkit works did. It’s nice to get a little taste of that old rebellion and crudeness that made some of that music so fun to listen to. If you like older Linkin Park, you may like Undead, too. Their serious tracks can, very often, sound like an LP track from a few years ago.

Give these guys and listen and let me know what you think. Everyone, at work, who has heard me playing their music has been very impressed with them. It makes me wonder why they aren’t more popular.

Click the link below to see a few of their videos.

I must say, though, I have been legally purchasing music more and more often because of Amazon. These guys just get it. They offer great quality files in a format that is universally supported by every single media player out there. How can it get better? Well, when they sell brand new albums at $3.99, it definitely gets better.

That’s what happened, today. I actually illegally downloaded the new Paramore album, “brand new eyes”. Before getting a chance to give it a listen, a tweet from Amazon’s MP3 Store appeared in my Twitter feed. They were offering, for a limited time, the album for only $3.99. The CD and iTunes versions are selling for $9.99. How can anyone say no to an entire album for a measly four bucks? You can’t. I deleted the illegal download and bought the album from Amazon. Why? Because these guys just get me.

Work has been consuming a lot of my energy, lately. With over 50 new hires and a large turnover in management, it’s been a bit hectic adjusting to all the changes taking place. My department, specifically, is starting to get a lot of focus put on it. That’s good in the fact that we’ll be able to get the attention we deserve, but we really need to make sure we’re on the top of our game, now. Luckily, for us, the team is comprised of mostly veterans who are all good workers. It’s nice knowing the people working beside me are reliable. Well, a good number of them are, anyway.

This time of year is also proving to be a big music period, for me, and quite unexpectedly so, at that. Smile Empty Soul and Chevelle have already released their albums, though the latter’s effort isn’t that great. Bands such as Paramore, Breaking Benjamin, Weezer, and Three Days Grace all have new material coming down the pipeline before the year is up. Thank god. The first half of the year was as dull as can be, musically, and I was starting to get really bored by it.

That’s it for me, for now. By the way, any other albums you think I should be aware of?

All my life, hold my breath
Wonder what trouble is coming next
Hold on tight through this mess
Sing that song cause you sing it best

La la la la

Hey…
I love it when you’re spitting in my face
The way you scream when you’re breaking all my things
I love the way you put me in my place
Don’t ever leave me alone

Five cent heads, two bucks a pint
I was late with the rent but I never say die
Wet my bed, is it ever gonna dry?
Learned to take your shit with a big ass smile

All my life, hold my breath
Shrugging off visions of an early death
Hold on tight through this mess
Sing that song cause you sing it best

La la la la

Hey…
I love it when you’re spitting in my face
The way you scream when you’re breaking all my things
I love the way you put me in my place
Don’t ever leave me alone
Hey…
I love it when you rip my heart away
When you hold it in my face so I can see
I love the way you bring to my knees
Don’t ever leave me alone

Hold on to me
Hold on to me
Hold on to me
Hold on…

Hey…
I love it when you’re spitting in my face
The way you scream when you’re breaking all my things
I love the way you put me in my place
Don’t ever leave me alone
Hey…
I love it when you rip my heart away
When you hold it in my face so I can see
I love the way you bring to my knees
Don’t ever leave me alone

Notes: This is the first single from their upcoming album, “Consciousness”. Honestly, it rocks. You can give it a listen over on my Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/bangbang023

I can’t believe you sold…
I can’t believe you sold out
Rip your soul out
Rip your soul…

Would you face me and look into my eyes
Before you lie straight through your teeth
And maybe you’ll pull it off again
But you can count me out

Look to the sun
For the energy you’re gonna need
While fighting for your legacy
Take it and run
So they’ll never know the holy ghost
Is not in you and never was

I can’t believe you sold…
I can’t believe you sold out
Rip your soul out
Rip your soul…

Would you face me and look into my eyes
Before you lie straight through your teeth
And maybe you’ll pull it off again
But you can count me out

Can’t believe you’re selling out
We only bury all the useless
We bury all the useless every day
Can’t believe you’re selling out
We only bury all the useless
We bury all the useless every day…

Would you face me and look into my eyes
Before you lie straight through your teeth
And maybe you’ll pull it off again
But you can count me out

They’re so tasteless
Changing
To be the one they want
Faceless
Wasted
You don’t know who you are

Notes: These should be almost perfect (uncertain about the second line of the chorus, though) and I’m definitely the first site on the web with these lyrics. I believe this song is from Smile Empty Soul’s upcoming album, “Consciousness”, but they haven’t clarified that either way.

The first half of the album is very focused on him being insane and controversial and he does it right. Unlike on “Encore”, Eminem doesn’t waste out time with tracks laced with fart noises and the like. Instead, he delivers, as quickly as ever, joke after joke about his mother and celebrities and women. It’s ceaseless and harsh, but entertaining to listen to.

The ending of the album is more serious with the track “Deja Vu” being the highlight of the album, for me. Eminem, as he’s done so many times before, just exposes himself to the public eye and openly admits to the drug addictions he’s battled over the past four years. It’s a very well done retrospective. He may never change and be as mature as he is in songs like this, but it’s a personal touch that really adds much needed heart to the album.