Remember that we all feel the weather.

Hello! It's been a few days. It's been an incredibly busy week!

On Sunday night I went to the wedding of my friends Janice & Stu and had a grand ol' time with friends and meeting new people. Jaime was my date, though her boyfriend Andrew was there - but he was DJing! We gathered in this lovely art space in Brooklyn that had shallow pools of water in the floor surrounding the seating area. There were candles in the water, and giant ice sculptured vases along the aisle. Janice looked beautiful and outright glamorous! Their friend Matisyahu officiated the ceremony and many of their other friends read poems and sang songs for them. A truly special evening.

Not to mention the waitstaff was carrying around chocolate martinis all night - we never had an empty glass for long! (All these wedding photos are via Jaime!)

Jaime, me, Lauren Ashley. Many martinis.

Deep breaths. Let's drink these.

Should you really be having another one?

There's more on the table! They won't stop! (Here we are with Lauren Ashley's Christmas-Day-proposing FIANCEE Alex!)

Andrew, a bride's favourite DJ (he was instructed to play Taylor Swift, and added it to his repertoir obligingly) and Jaime!

And Jaime decided to take a picture of my outfit:

Ann Sui for Target dress, teal tights, Madden Girl pumps. Behind that railing is the water - there were four "islands" of tables veering from a center pathway that led to the stage, where the ceremony and the reception dancing took place! Seriously great, intimate, romantic, and cool venue!

Yes, all I've covered so far is SUNDAY.

On Monday, Jesse's mom (that's right, my mother-in-law!), Sandi flew in from Missouri and we had a great BBQ dinner near Times Square. I was still tired from Sunday night and had many an errand to run after dinner, too! Plus, we were both preparing for the next day -- for Jesse's return to New York!

On Tuesday morning at 6:30am, Jesse walked into the apartment and we got to catch up lying in bed face to face while Peesy lay between us wondering why he suddenly lost his half of the bed. Then I had to get ready for work and say bye to the good husband, who had jumped off the tour bus as soon as it hit New York in order to see me before I left!

I got to skip out on work early that afternoon to attend the Jimmy Fallon taping! My friend Kelly works at NBC as well so we met up to say hello, and as Meredith Vieira was a guest, Kelly introduced me to her since they're old friends. I'm not kidding! She was super nice. I also caught passing glances at Jesse Tyler Ferguson from Modern Family (funniest show on television right now? Possibly!), though (my) Jesse later got to tell him how much he enjoyed the show. The Motion City guys were all a little nervous, as I think anybody would be taping a nationally broadcast show! Fallon stopped by the dressing room to say hi, and he was exceptionally nice and personable. (I may or may not have had a crush on him in college when he was on SNL?) MCS took the stage and played wonderfully!

Right before they took stage, I met Risa who works on the show, and apparently reads this blog! Hola, Risa! She stayed for the song and rocked out with me!

Here's Jesse with the cue cards backstage after the show:

Afterwards, we grabbed dinner with the band and managers and everyone and then we had to hop a train back to Brooklyn for LOST!!!!! I can't sit here and discuss LOST right now. I simply cannot in this forum.

Jesse and I finally got to sleep, though I decided to wake up for my daily workout again on Wednesday! I then had the most busy and annoying day of work I've had in a long time, and when 5pm rolled around I was completely exhausted from stress. However, I was quickly reminded of the evening's event: Motion City Soundtrack at The Fillmore/Irving Plaza!

I'm not lying here. I think it may have been the best show I've seen those guys play, both in terms of music and energy. The crowd was LOVING it - singing all the new songs and jumping around. I was especially happy to hear them sing a part of "Lifeless Ordinary." Their fans rule! The guys were all enjoying themselves and smiling, too. I believe I have a new favourite MCS song live: "Even If It Kills Me." I was blown away by it the first time they'd played it back in Chicago, and this time I got chills all over again. SO. GOOD.

Also, they had a surprise for New York - they had the a capella group The Williams Octet come in and sing the song "Fell In Love Without You" at the beginning of the encore! Their YouTube video of the original performance caught the attention of the band and they started figuring out how to collaborate! Check out their amazing a capella rendition on Wednesday night via Motion City's tumblr!

After the wonderful show, the guys and all of our awesome, fun friends went to a nearby billiards hall for some post-show shenannigans. We stayed out for a little while, as bus call was relatively early. Jesse decided to stay in New York one more night and get a train the next day for Hartford. I had to say goodbye as I left for work on Thursday, knowing I won't be seeing him for a long, long while. (More on that in a future post.)

As for Thursday, I was tired and my throat felt a little scratchy (probably due to stress, screaming my lungs out, etc.) and so the day felt like it was at a crawling pace. When I finally got home, I ate, and then did not move from the couch, as Tyler, Erica, and I watched Thursday night comedy. And then, I slept. So good.

And now it is Friday! And you've heard about my week! And this weekend?

FRIENDS ARE VISITING! Not just any friends! But the crazy awesome blogger LIZ (check out her BLOG and her TUMBLR) and blogger MEREDITH (her TUMBLR!). I'm beyond excited for some sweet hangs with these Philadelphia ladies - we have bounced around many an idea for plans, and we'll try to fit in everything we can +craziness +disorder +havoc. That's how I do. There will be updates. I feel they are necessary given the participants. Good thing I got some sleep last night!

Rip scripts, slash, burn up the courage.

Another thing about my job is that it can be pretty easygoing on most days - except for one week out of every month. Which happens to be this week. And when I return to the homestead every evening during these kinds of weeks, the last thing I want to do is look at a computer some more! But I'm hoping to get a post up tonight that's been in the works for a while! Stay tuned.

For now, here's a list of random:

• I get to see Jesse next week!!!!
• Remember back in December, when I went to Chicago for the Motion City Soundtrack shows and posted each night's setlist to my tumblr? Well, since Motion City (re)learned their entire catalog back then, they're switching up their setlists each night of their current tour and Jesse has taken it upon himself to post their setlist each night to their own tumblr! Check it out!
• Their album My Dinosaur Life debuted on the charts at #15 !!! WOOOOOOO!!! Also, it's the only album artwork that doesn't show up on my computer here at work:

And #3 on the Alternative Chart !!!

• Jesse and I are currently in the lead for that wedding photo contest - but please vote for us if you haven't! It ends on Monday, February 1st.
• I get to see Jesse next week!!!!
• Motion City is performing on THE JIMMY FALLON SHOW next week, too! You bet I'll be there!! (And of course, remind you to watch on February 2nd!)
• I got to hang out with my bestie Jiscilla last night, as she's taking off tomorrow to visit our other bestie Christy in Austin, TX. I'm jealous of sweet friend hangs PLUS sweeter weather than the snow/sleet that's going on right now in New York. However, last night was uproarious fun with the gang, and Jiscilla's lovely boyfriend Tyler footed the bill at the end of dinner in a suprise move. Dude rules.
• My friend Jim has the same "break out laugh face" that George Clooney does.
• In (seriously) unrelated news, Robert Downey Jr.'s Golden Globes speech has pushed him into the #1 spot on my own popularity chart, the Top Five. George, after years as king, has been dethroned. Also, in case you hadn't heard, Mark Ruffalo and Joseph Gordon-Levitt replaced Lee Pace and Chris Pine, as well.
• The gym, I'm loving it. Haven't skipped a morning yet!
• And I recieved another FormSpring question yesterday, another one I already answered! Here's the question: thanks for sharing! (i asked what you do for a living) "transponster" i detect a Friends reference! (You are correct!) It seems you live a lifestyle that is desperately desired, did you always imagine your life would turn out this way? If not, how did you imagine it would?  Here's my answer! (It's somewhere there in that list!) Thanks for asking - and for thinking my life is desirable! I'm pretty happy with it!
• Of course, anyone can ask me anything.
• I get to see Jesse next week!!!!

That's what I've got.

MY DINOSAUR LIFE - MY TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW.

Last week, you may have seen my tumblr post regarding Anna's track-by-track review of the streaming My Dinosaur Life. Her post inspired me to write my own track-by-track and I've decided to post it here in celebration of the album's official release - TODAY!

Here is me celebratin'!

I wish I could say I had a glass of wine or two before taking these pictures, but I didn't. I am simply that excited for the date to be JANUARY 19TH 2010! It was a long time coming. Plus, I keep posting the album cover and that just gets boring to see on every post, right?

Anyway - here's what I wrote last week in response to Anna's post:

I love these track-by-track reviews! After only being able to discuss the songs with a handful of people who’d heard it, I’m eager to hear what others think. I’m in love with My Dinosaur Life, and I write that trying to be completely unbiased, as somebody who’s been listening to the band before I knew them, and just happened to marry the keyboardist - I write that as a fan! (As dorky as it may be. As “meant to be” as it all seems.)

I’m somebody that falls in love with music and then must hear how others hear it (see also: Heartbreaker, Deja Entendu, The Con) - I made all my friends buy I Am the Movie on the power of seeing them live in 2003 before it was released on Epitaph and having only a two-song sampler of “My Favorite Accident” and “The Future Freaks Me Out” to pass around. I scoured the AP.net threads for first-listen opinions on CTTM as well…and pretty sure I left my own. I remember when they posted “Better Open the Door” on AP.net pre-album release and I listened to it over, and over, and over again. I’m not going to lie: hearing the songs for EIIKM and MDL in-studio months before release definitely still gave me a rush of fan-excitement.

Also, I’ve come to find that MCS have the BEST fans! They all seem so fun and positive and ready for whatever MCS has in store for them.

I present to you my fan-to-the-max track-by-track review --

01 Worker Bee

What great lines to open an album with - "it's been a good year, a good new beginning." First songs should get you excited for what's in store, and I think "Worker Bee" is a wonderful example; it always leaves me full of anticipation, every time I hear it. Also from the get-go, you hear Justin singing his lungs out superbly and he keeps up that raw intensity through most of the album.

02 A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)

This catchy number was the first demo I heard, and just from that recording - with the machine drums - I had it stuck in my head for days. I found myself walking around and singing the chorus; at the same time I can't stress how absurdly greater the songs became after Tony's drums were added - before I was just walking around, but after hearing the final version I was bopping my head and shuffling my feet down city sidewalks. Tony's drumming has some sort of crazy charisma, I swear.

Of course, my first reaction to the song was to the lyric "indoor living, lacerated to the bone," I remember telling Jesse, "Did he say indoor living? Oh man, the fans are gonna love that." (Read: I freakin' love that.) I also loved hearing this song played in Las Vegas for the first time in July, and then played several months later in Chicago to a room that knew the lyrics and the room singing along: "but I'm gonna need a little help to get me, need a little help to get me..." etc., etc., etc. Sentiments of camaraderie.

03 Her Words Destroyed My Planet

You all know me too well: I immediately loved this song because of the Veronica Mars namedrop (seriously, does this give you enough incentive to watch that marvelous television show yet?!). The sounds of the song are kooky and perfect, I am almost always shaking my head violently side to side when I hear this song. Hey guess what I'm doing now? THAT. 

But back to those lyrics - some people mistake all the pop culture references in the songs as some sort of abstraction without real emotion, but MCS songs (especially about love) are entirely relevant and relatable. I've already gotten an email saying "there's no way this song doesn't remind you of me." It's true! These songs about love are also never corny, which never ceases to amaze me.

04 Disappear

Love the strength in this song - the first "I can disappear" always comes with the imagery of a fist pump. The song bites and drives and never lets you go. The chosen words add to the mood, such as - cadavers, decompose, festering, severing, artery. The last words seem a desperate plea after feeling like this song has been chasing you...

05 Delirium

I dig the minimalist-sounding verses here, complimented by the big choruses that tread upon old subjects that haven't tired. Another great example of Justin's fun vocals, plus the classic MCS pull of sounding fun but talking about something more serious - or are they? Honestly, this song makes me laugh when he sings, "I didn't know it was hot in the middle."

06 History Lesson

For a while, I had been listening to the original version of this song (the song that went up on MySpace last week until it got replaced by the actual final version). I think the first version didn't have a lot of personality - and MCS is nothing if not full of that. This version is a bit more complex and fun; there are gang vocals!

07 Stand Too Close

Maybe my favourite songs are those without actual choruses (i.e., "Last Night"). This was a hit with me personally right when I heard it. Handclaps, people, handclaps. Romance me with handclaps, I'll be yours forever. But for real: there's a seriousness here juxtaposed with cheeky lyrics. And as the song culminates in louder and louder sounds, my smile gets bigger.

08 Pulp Fiction

And even bigger! Maybe it's those choice keyboards at the beginning - they almost remind me of a certain No Doubt song - guess I'm a sucker for those spacey keyboard sounds. And here is the onslaught of pop culture lyrics everybody loves MCS for! The rapid-paced song ends soothingly in those lovely "aahhhhs" - I'm most definitely into it.

09 @!#?@!

Here it is! My dance around the room and sing into the mirror song! I always think that any album worth a damn has one of those especially for me (or others who do the same!). I can't wait to hear the crowd go crazy to this one live. I remember hearing the geeky (& yes, very explicit) lyrics and specifically the phrase "sensitive home boys" and thinking fans were going to die laughing, as I did upon first hearing it. I definitely snap my fingers along and dance around like I'm at a sockhop - no joke! And no, I will not video this for you! WORD!

10 Hysteria

Totally into the opening of this song; it makes me think that perhaps Motion City Soundtrack should just tour with No Doubt already! Nobody will get that. But since I know every ND song and their intricacies, I find myself bouncing around to My Dinosaur Life like I do of their own fun, beguiling, layered albums. Plus, I can't deny that I don't have dreams about a tour line-up like that. But you know what this song has that very little ND songs have? You guessed it: handclaps.

11 Skin and Bones

Honestly, going through these songs makes me realize how much I love each and every one of them together and separately. There's not one I would toss out of the bunch. The whole album is pure and unadulterated MCS, and the streak continues with this mounting and lovely ditty. It makes me want to "frolic." Yup.

I hesitate to restate this, but maybe this one's my favourite? Can I have five faves? Twelve?

12 The Weakends

Okay, wait, no THIS is my favourite song on the album. I could listen to that intro and kick-in forever. I'm not much of a jam band fan, but I wouldn't complain if those first 45 seconds or so lasted for many more minutes. I think it just relaxes me into the finale of the album only to jolt me awake: we're not done yet. And that's what this song, and ultimately the album is - aggressive. Some of the songs are obviously softer, but I'm pretty sure MCS just knocked you out with how awesome these songs are by the time you come to those last notes and the slow burn.

Don't forget to buy it, now! Have I not convinced you how RAD it is yet? Because, really, it is. It's not just me. All the reviews coming in have been backing me up, and I couldn't be more happy. Also: PROUD! I'm so proud of those dudes and their abilities to produce (with Mark Hoppus' help, of course) My Dinosaur Life.

Support them by checking the album out at your local retailer or online at Shockhound, Amazon, or iTunes (here's the Deluxe with five extra songs!).

And please, send me any links to your own blogged reviews or leave your thoughts in the comments! What's your favourite song? Which one can't you wait to hear live?! TELL ME! Let's discuss!!!

MY DINOSAUR LIFE RELEASED TODAY!!!

I will post my track-by-track review later today, lo prometo! I've just been able to hang out with Jesse for the past two days, so I've had no time to write it! I also have to get up early to work out, just got back from Motion City Soundtrack's acoustic set at Looney Tunes in Long Island, and have no time to sit down and be in the right mindset to write it!

But I will link you to all the places you can purchase this WONDERFUL WONDERFUL album My Dinosaur Life! I mean, you heard Alternative Press gave the album 5 stars out of 5 right?? And Entertainment Weekly gave it an A-?!

BUY IT NOW! ----

SHOCKHOUND

Amazon

iTunes

And support those music stores in your area! Get a physical copy! The Joe Ledbetter artwork is RAD! Really take a close look at that booklet and everything...

ENJOY! Stay tuned for my review and let me know how much you love it!!

Total calamity, the choices I have made.

Hey Jessica I was wondering if you would be willing to review the new Motion City Soundtrack cd? I'd really appreciate it, I've lost contact with all my friends who are MCS fans and would love to hear another fans take on it. If you don't want to I understand.

Thanks for having a blog that always makes me smile,

*hugs*

Lurker from Ohio
 
Hi! I'm working on a track-by-track review of My Dinosaur Life to post next Tuesday on release day! Keep an eye out for it, and leave a comment with your own thoughts! (You can even do that now if you want.)
 
I'm bummed to hear that you don't have any one to flip out with to MCS! I hope this doesn't deter you from going to shows - you should probably pass along a little MCS mix to a friend who may not have heard them! Also, one great thing about the internet is now you can find people who love a band or movie or whatever as much as you - for MCS fans I'd definitely check out the official boards on their website, and if you want some reviews from fans, I'd start with Anna on tumblr, who inspired me to write my own review! MCS fans are super awesome!
 
Can we follow you on twitter too?

MOST DEF: http://www.twitter.com/jessicaxmaria

Um, you know how I wrote about my hobbies and "researching obscure facts"? Well, I was watching the first season of Ally McBeal on DVD the other night - I got the entire series for Christmas (thanks, bro!) - and I noticed somebody Ally was gawking at in a bar was none other than Jon Hamm! And I imdb'd it, and his no-lines-character wasn't even credited. But, it's definitely him in the 1997 episode. Also, I realized the casting director's name for the episode was "Judith Weiner" and I was like, "Could she be related in any way to Matthew WEINER who created Mad Men?!?!" But after some thorough research, I came to find that Judith died a few years ago and there were no Google-able connections between Judith and Matthew. I twittered the gist of THAT, and here's the pic I grabbed while it was on pause:

Have fun following my crazy!

Haha. I too, watched "Ke$ha" on Conan. I didn't see what the big deal was. In fact, I had to change the channel midway through the song. I don't mean to bash on her, but it's just not my style of music. Although where I'm from, lots of people seem to like her a lot. So I get roasted for not liking "what's cool" lol. Is there any other artist you find depressing?

Not everybody has to like what's considered cool! Music is your own deal.

My own deal? Ke$ha was embarassing to watch. And then bringing out presents for Conan afterwards? I don't think he was into it, either. I think I would have a lot more to be depressed about if I actually listened to the radio, but in those moments where radio is all I've got, what I've heard pretty much sucks. Plus, looking at any type of iTunes or Billboard chart is no fun. In my super-humble opinion, here are some acts that make me sour: Owl City, Black Eyed Peas, Boys Like Girls, and Miley Cyrus. That's what I can think of from the top of my head.

I mean, I know music is one's own thing for the most part, but to see what the majority chooses to listen to and pay for is depressing. Especially when you're married to someone in the music industry! Of course, when you see certain acts climbing the charts and doing well - like Paramore - there's glimmers of hope. I'm hoping for the future!

(Ask away.)

We're just carbon-based, we're just pixie dust.

I just want to make sure you've heard: you can now stream Motion City Soundtrack's new album My Dinosaur Life on their MySpace page! It doesn't become available for download until the official release date on January 19th, but I'm so excited everybody gets to hear it! What do you think?! I'm so in love with all of it, all the songs, I love the album!

And if you love it as much via the stream, you should probably pre-order it for it $7.99 on Shockhound!

Also, if you haven't seen their newest music video for "Her Words Destroyed My Planet" - watch NOW! I hope it makes you laugh as hysterically as I did the first time I saw it:


(If the video looks cut off or weird - go to the site!)

How adorable are the kids? And the dancing? I remember Jesse flying to LA on a Friday back in December, arriving, learning the choreography with the kids on Friday night, and then filming the whole video over the course of Saturday, and leaving LA on Sunday! Hardworking, let me tell you!

I'm so proud of him & the dudes and it's all quite exciting to witness as everything they've been working on unfolds. Things are happening!

Be calm.

I have a lot of catching up to do, I KNOW! My holiday weekend was sure fantastic - I'll have to tell you about it when I have more time.

For now, I hope you have all heard the new Motion City Soundtrack single, "Her Words Destroyed My Planet" ---- right?! Well, if you haven't, get on it - buy it for 99 cents at Shockhound.com! Also, have you heard the lyrics: I fell asleep watching Veronica Mars again...yeah, as an obsessive VMars lover, I was hooked upon first listen. (And if you haven't seen Veronica Mars, it's well worth the DVD price!)

Have you listened to it? What do you think? I love when the song kicks in after the intro and if I'm listening to the song alone in my room I usually have to get up and bounce around a little. I'm so very excited for January 19th, 2010 when My Dinosaur Life will be released. If you happen to be seeing Motion City in the next few weeks on tour with WEEZER, stop by their merch table where you can purchase this amazing Joe Ledbetter lithograph from the always-awesome Beth and I believe get a download code for the album!

Last night the dudes played the first show of the tour in Chicago and Jesse and the rest are pretty stoked - not only to be touring with Weezer but also to actually be playing shows and with Tony again! Anybody going to see the tour? Jesse said he had a lot of fun last night!

In other news, I came across something on the internet that got me really excited. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I'm a huge Dashboard Confessional fan (my love has not faltered over the years...). Though he cancelled the tour that would bring him to New York for three nights in a row (yes, I would have done all three nights!), Carrabba and Lefler are touring acoustically with New Found Glory, who are also performing acoustically. They played their first show of tour two nights ago in LA and Spin.com had a good little recap, and the setlist made me happy!

Dashboard's setlist via Spin.com -

"Ghost Of A Good Thing"

"The Swiss Army Romance"

"The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most"

"Until Morning"
"So Impossible"
"For You To Notice"
"Get Me Right"
"Bend And Not Break"
"Up My Sleeve" (from John Lefler's Better By Design)
"Breakable" (Ingrid Michaelson cover)
Interlude: "Over The Rainbow" (Judy Garland cover)
"Carry This Picture"
"Stolen"
"Screaming Infidelities"
"Belle Of The Boulevard"
"Remember To Breathe"
"The Good Fight"
"Where There's Gold"
"Vindicated"
"Hands Down"

Encore:
"The Best Deceptions"

The whole So Impossible EP was played, as well as a lot from his first two albums and only one from my least favourite album Dusk & Summer. Strangely, they didn't play "Even Now" from their latest Alter the Ending - I would think it fits in so great with their set and I believe they've already filmed a video for it. I am now plenty excited for the tour to hit New York!

Also, I love the fun. album Aim and Ignite. You can download it for $5 on Amazon.com right now! If you loved The Format as I did, you would love this album. This is all old news, though, I'm sure.

Let me say it again for the bajillionth time in this post: LOVE! I apparently LOVE everything.

That's all I've got for the moment. Wait! PS - I'm on book 51 of the year now! Hurrah!

I am with you til the end.

Have you heard?

Download the new

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK

song "Disappear" !!!

I love it. A lot. What do you think about it!?

The dudes are gearing up for an intense winter which includes a Halloween show on October 30th at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis (they have FUN stuff planned!), plus three shows in a row in Chicago in December - each show dedicated to playing one of their albums start to finish, another impending announcement regarding shows before year end (it's GOOD, trust.) and the new year means even more touring and yes...the new album, My Dinosaur Life. I'm so excited and excited for you to hear it!!

I'm stoked to join in the fun - well, as much as I possibly can. You know, I'm here in a cubicle, but I hope to escape ocassionally to join in the festivities when I can. (Yes, festivities.) Just as this past year has been a whirlwind with some quiet moments, I believe the upcoming year is about to jump to new levels of tornado-quality. Good, enthralling, lovely-sounding tornadoes!

Stay tuned for more official announcements on their newly designed site and you might also want to get a profile there ~ friend me if you do! I'm, quite surprisingly I think, "jessica maria" on the site.