College Experience

Rolling Stone Magazine came out with an online article ( Here: Guns N' Roses  ) that spoke further about the band's new reissue of their seminal debut album, Appetite for Destruction, that is set to arrive June 29th. The album includes their best hits, unreleased tracks, live songs, and even covers. ( They even have a cover of Elvis Presley's song Heartbreak Hotel. ) The article also has a list of all the songs and more info. Let's get started with the start of this legendary rock band that formed in 1985 from Los Angeles, California with its members including the following: vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler.  Guns N' Roses has released six studio albums, accumulating sales of more than 100 million records worldwide, including 45 million in the United States, making them the 41st best-selling artist of all time.  Their Not in This Lifetime tour is currently the fourth highest-gross...

I know that I have talked about Fleetwood Mac before, but this is big news to everyone and I couldn't pass it up. The rumors are true, Fleetwood Mac is going on tour at the end of this year and the start of the next. But Lindsey Buckingham, one of the original members who was vocals and lead guitarist, will not be going with them. It is really sad because I would only buy tickets to see him with the rest of the band. A bunch of articles went around saying that Lindsey got kicked out of the band. This whole situation really sucks because he has always been a crucial part of the band and now two other guitarists are replacing him. It just goes to show how good of a player he is. The tickets for the tour went on sale last Friday and I am still debating to go or not. I don't really want to get front row seats though if Lindsey isn't there. Its sad that all the drama in this band still continues and they cant agree for the benefit of the fans. The band mates are say he wasn...

Depeche Mode's global tour that started in 2017, the Spirit Tour, just entered Latin America last month and the band is seeing tons of success in that more than 2.5 million people have gone to their shows and each show averages 1.8 million dollars. They set a record for having four sold out shows at the famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. It is crazy that after almost 40 years since the bands start in 1980, their is still a huge fan base that overwhelmingly supports their music and shows. I have even thought about going myself to see them. Depeche Mode is an English electronic rock band that consists of its three members Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, and Andy Fletcher. They are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, have sold over 100 million records worldwide, and are rank number 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". I would recommend listening to  Personal Jesus ,  Policy of Truth , and  Enjoy The Silence . These songs are so unique which really makes them stand...

The Beastie Boys will be going on a U.S. tour this year starting June 18th in Boston. They just remixed a song . If you haven't heard of this rap-rock group from New York City, The Beastie Boys started at the begining of the 80's with the members called Michael "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Adam "Ad-D" Horovitz. Their music infuses hip-hop, rock, and rap with even some alternative styles. They take the record for being one of the longest lived hip hop acts worldwide and have been the biggest selling rap group since Billboard has been recording rap artists in 1991 with over 50 million albums sold worldwide. The Beastie Boys got into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 right after Run-D.M.C.  However, the band ended in 2014 because MCA passed and so the remaining members told everyone they arent going to continue the band, but they still work on music and some remixes or short shows. Their best album is called Licensed to Ill. I highly ...

This Saturday at 8 p.m., HBO is showing a new documentary about the king of rock n roll, Elvis Presley. It is a three hour doc about his creative process with music up to his last recording sessions. (Here is the link to the trailer  The Searcher ) There is already a ton of documentaries about Elvis and it will be exciting to see if this film goes beyond the ordinary. Elvis Presley is the highest selling solo artist recorded ever in the world with over 600 million sales. He has yet to be defeated and his close runner up is Michael Jackson (however he only has around 350 million). Elvis deserves all the credit he receives because he is so remarkable. He was able to combine country, blues, and gospel to his music while his performances, that were seen as very sexual, would cause a roar in the crowd. While rock and roll was just beginning, Elvis was able to lead the new movement and become the heartthrob of everyone.  The internet, books, and documentaries have so much informati...

5SOS ( pronounced five-sauce) stands for the band Five Seconds Of Summer. They are an Australian pop punk band who are returning with new music and probably a new album after taking a two year break. ( Makes me wonder how long One Directions 'break' is going to be. Shade ). The band formed in 2011 and hit fame in 2014 with their song She Looks So Perfect and when they became an opening act on tour for One Direction. They are inspired by Blink-182 who are a pop punk band as well. Currently, they have two albums out and both have added up to just under two million records sold. If they are starting up again, that definitely means a new album is coming and I have a feeling it will have a lot more pop than their past albums. Their new song is called, Want You Back and their music video already has a million views. This new song is different than most of their previous songs, it really shows their pop side. To be honest, I am not a big fan just because I want more of a rock tone bu...

The Rolling Stone posted on their website today that the pop punk band Blink-182 have caught a deal with The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for a 16 date residency this summer. It would be a good time to relive teenage angst and go see them perform. Blink 182 started in 1992 with original members being Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, Tom DeLonge. This band is known for being one of the godfathers of the pop punk genre and they have sold over 50 million records worldwide, with 13 million being sold in the U.S. They are best known for songs like All the Small Things, I Miss You, and Adam's Song. This band is unique in that it paved the way for pop punk and inspired a lot of future pop punk bands like Five Seconds of Summer. The band has nice, relatable lyrics and always a lot of electric guitar. Sadly, the band and a rough fall out and break up in 2005. From what I have researched about the breakup, it is a lot of he said she said in that Tom felt the band wasn't progressing or ma...

I keep seeing a random Facebook pic pop up from time to time spreading a rumor that Fleetwood Mac, the greatest rock band in the world, is going to go on tour in 2018. If you check their website, it says there is no upcoming dates. (Plus we are already too far ahead in the year for them to just announce on a whim or too quick) However, the excitement was real and then lead to huge disappointment for everyone who saw that fake post. Moving forward, I am now going to talk about the best band in the world, while that is a opinion, I will fight to prove to anyone that my statement is a fact. Let's start from the beginning, or 1975 when the band consisted of the following main members: Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, and John McVie. It is true that Fleetwood Mac is one of the best-selling bands in the world because they have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, which is more than these artists: Guns N Roses, Prince, David Bowie, George Strait,...

 I was heading to school this morning listening to "That's Alright Mama" by Elvis Presley when the whole rock n roll blues hit me. It hit me enough to want to turn on Johnny Cash and listen to "Ring of Fire". Without even knowing until later today, it would have been his 86th birthday. This year in September will mark 15 years since his death. I thought it would be best to remember him on his birthday and considering fate had me listening to his songs early in the morning. It is also a great coincidence to think considering both Johnny Cash and Elvis have big impacts in Nashville, Tennessee, with Cash having his own museum there. Johnny Cash was born February, 26 1932 and became a singer-songwriter and guitarist. He had a nice blend of rock, country, and blues to which everyone enjoyed. Cash was able to sell over 90 million records in his lifetime. Despite his quick legacy and fortune, he cared deeply for his second wife June Carter and because of this strong b...

Dolores, the lead singer of the 90's Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, unexpectedly died on January 15, 2018 at 46 years old. This hit home with every fan considerably, considering she was such a warrior and strong woman figure to me and many others. Her voice was one of a kind, had a soft Irish accent, and couldn't be replaced by any other. Whilst going through depression and anorexia during her prime years, she still managed to write songs that hit the top ten charts and her albums went multi-platinum. The Cranberries in total sold over 40 million albums worldwide. According to Billboard, the day after her death, The Cranberries music sales grew 11,094% compared to the day before with their catalog of albums selling over 9,000 and over 35,000 digitally downloaded songs. Obviously, many people were struck with shock and decided to get their music in remembrance. There is a lot of talk about the unique style of the band and some describe the music as "dream...

You can not be a true rock and roll fan if you haven't heard of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne or Black Sabbath. In the latest news from the Rolling Stones, they announced that Ozzy is going to do his last world tour ever, called "No More Tours 2", this year. This is a huge, bittersweet step in his long-going career, because he is 70 years old. Ozzy also told the Rolling Stones that he is not retiring from music and performing, but he just wants to be close to home and continue small gigs. Ozzy has been going solo for almost 40 years since he was kicked out of the band Black Sabbath but to no avail still managed to pave the way for rock music. Up until his start as lead singer with Black Sabbath in the early 70's, rock music never had a "heavy" feel or as some might say "dark" undertone. It was the beginning of what we now know as the genre of heavy metal and songs like "Paranoid", "Iron Man", and "War Pigs" changed the ...

I have noticed that a lot of my friends and I have found out the reality of the college experience. I have only been through a semester so maybe I will change my current views. College is hard work and none of that is shown to us through the media or movies. There was a little superficial part of me that thought by now that I would have a lot a friends, a lesser work load, and go out to parties more as well as live the pleasures of life more. Even in the conversations with my high school college counselor, college was made to seem glamorous. At the moment I am consumed with tests and studying and it is a full time job. I don't go to parties, I never even went to one in high school. I do not have a incoming flow of friends. I am not living in a romantic movie where I find a lover and he becomes my husband. If we put aside the major cliches, there is still major misconceptions that no one seems to strike down. No one talks about how to deal with becoming an adult, how to manage stre...

I do not know why I am feeling better all around this month. Things just seem right. I am not as stressed, down at myself, and have been talking more. I am ready for this year to end and start fresh because it has been a rough year for me. That also means that next year is going to be really great because life works out in my favor like that. A really tough year followed by a really amazing year. I have been more productive with college work and staying on top of stuff. I have slowed down on working out at the gym, but I feel like I make it up with all the other stuff I get done. Slowly but surely I am actually getting small things done, unlike last month where I couldn't even focus. I am worried about next semester and my following college years though because I have really high and low months and my life has not been stagnant like I want. I still don't know how people make friends in college. The friends I have made weren't necessarily brought on by me, they just  were f...

College has made me not get ready for the last couple months. I wake up in the morning and I am left with ten minutes to get ready. In high school, I used to be able to get up an hour beforehand and do my makeup and look fine with my clothes. But these last few months, I just throw on sweatpants, wear no makeup, and pray that my clothes are clean. I am down to the bare minimum. I don't even get ready on the weekends anymore cause I can't manage my time for it. I feel like I don't have any time for it. I throw on what I got and just go about my day. I think the down side is that I am starting to hate how I look because I don't have any other clothes than t shirts and jeans. I feel like people look at me different cause I have my light eyebrows, blonde hair, and dark circles. I alienated or like a complete toehead because not a lot of people look like me. I feel like I have been walking around looking like a bum. I want to wear new clothes and look like a "prepared...

I have come to accept that I struggle with anxiety. I never thought I would be that person with anxiety. I think that word gets tossed around too much, as well as too lightly, and that there is a stigma or a certain idea that people look towards when they hear the word. I believe that every persons anxiety is different, so it is hard to describe my own to others, but that doesn't mean it isn't there at all. I have better-off days and I have worse-off days. It is a struggle to manage it with school hearing advisers and people around me say "Just speak up and learn to express your own ideas". I wish it was that simple and easy cause I would have done it by now. I don't need anyone's pity. I am just sick of people telling me or giving me "helpful" quotes like "You can do it. You'll get through it". Yeah I will get through it, but that doesn't make my anxiety just disappear. I like observing people and things around me that I don't...

Learning to drive has been something I should have learned years ago to make life easier. It is becoming more urgent that I learn because then my mom could stop driving me around and get a full work schedule. I want to be able to just drive myself to school and feel like a college student who takes themselves to study. Things would just be more simple. I could even drive myself to job interviews and get a job that could support my gas and insurance. My mom is a bad driver because she is impatient and being with her in the car in the morning scares me. There is a dilemma though, nobody is willing to take me or teach me. My mom has a fear that I will crash our only car and my sister and dad are consistently working. I have got no one else to go to. I've even thought about asking my friends parents but that always brings up the question, "Why can't your own parents teach you?" Well my parents obviously never want me to go anywhere in my life and put their needs first. I...

I am the definition of indecisive and always have been. In my best defense, I don't want to choose. I want it all. However, it's tough that I can never make a decision or know what I really want. I don't even know if going to college is what I really want. I'm just going through with all the motions people are telling me to do and that is really conflicting. Yeah I would like to be better than my parents and make a decent living but is it worth going through something I am not happy with?  A 9 to 5 is not what I want. It sounds like my life would be taken away from me just so that I could be able to afford rent at the end of the month. It is sad though because that is life and a reality for most people. There is plenty of people in this world perfectly okay with not many riches and I don't consider myself a person who really cares about money or riches. I find richness in other things, but it is definitely hard to get those things if you don't have money. I cou...

Listen, I was always a great bench-warmer growing up. When I just starting off with sports, this wasn't the case. I used to play soccer and be really good at it. It was the same with softball, but it went downhill eventually. I remember I always was a defense for soccer and my coach kept me there every game. My coach wanted to see how I'd do as a midfielder. (Is that what it's called?). I remember not being able to keep up with the running at all, even at around seven years old where kids usually run at the same pace. I remember trying my absolute best, and it wasn't enough to catch up. I went onto softball and was great at T-ball. I got worse, I know it, and I grew to hate it. Players and parents got too competitive and pushy while I just craved a fun time. I got made fun of for every wrong mistake and I would just doze of in my own place; outfield. I would purposely piss-off my coach or disobey rules so I wouldn't have to play until one day I quit. The only time ...

College is becoming more smooth, but it still isn't easy by all means. One thing I have been sick of hearing lately from other older people and even family members is how I could be doing much more to benefit myself. The same people who bring this up also bring up the same follow up stories: a lot of people in college have jobs so you should too, when I was your age, I was working and studying, you can handle it, or it is not that difficult to manage a job and go to college. I find this whole scenario actually ludacris. However, I know my limits and what is best for me. I know that at the moment, I am not able to handle a job during the week with all my studies. And that's okay. Yeah, some other college students have jobs and can manage it. Good for them. They aren't me. College, for me, is my fulltime job. I am not going to continue with this pressure that people place on me that I am not doing enough or I am lazy. You can very well take all my units and classes for me, i...

I've got an update of how my college life is currently progressing. I am really happy because I finally feel like a real college student. It always takes me a while to look back, pause, and reflect where I am. More events are happening now and I am just like, wow, I really am a college student. It's like I'm in disbelief. I know I'm not the only one who feels like this. I am managing my time better, sleeping better, and feel as though I'm back in the groove of school life and responsibilities. As a result of this, I've been feeling good overall compared to the first month where I couldn't find any balance whatsoever. I feel like a college student majorly because of the events that have taken place. For example, I went to StanFest with my friends and we are even making time to hang out more as well as exercise. It's as if I have a planned schedule, but I'm not going over board with it, so it's not feeling like a chore. I really do believe that pa...