The Fray's Best Yet...

With one double platinum album under their belts, The Fray has exploded onto the Billboard charts with a more artistically expressive sound. Lead singer, Isaac Slade, possesses a rugged vocal range with a thread of angst and sadness. Their successful debut album How to Save a Life, spread like wildfire after airing on Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, and One Tree Hill in 2006. The band’s hits “Over My Head (Cable Car)” and “How to Save a Life” hit airwaves and stubbornly remained on the radio past their expiration dates. The Fray has officially graduated from the teen drama scene to a melody that will please their growing audience.

Dropped on February 2, 2009, The Fray’s self-titled album borrows styles from U2, resurrects the rich vocal textures of Keane, and tops the mixture off with a healthy helping of Coldplay’s string arrangements. Slade’s determined vocals and gut-wrenching piano melodies harmonize to become the central piece of each song. Tracks such as “Where the Story Ends,” “We Build Then We Break,” and “Ungodly Hour” are saturated with disappointment and betrayal. Nearly all of the songs paint a picture of loneliness and battered emotions that reveal the pain-filled journey Slade’s life has taken. By the album’s close, it’s clear that some hope and joy can arise from the pain. “Happiness” bends the ideal definition into a more realistic light. Here, the old and the new collide as the uplifting harmonies blend together. Thankfully, The Fray has moved from background music to a more talented sound.

"A Hundred Million Suns" Brilliantly Shines

More than one decade ago, the Scottish band known as Snow Patrol, led by the smooth harmonies of Gary Lightbody, was barely a blip on the airwaves. It wasn’t until the release of their album, Final Straw, that their fan base spread across the pond. Zach Braff, director of Garden State and lead actor on NBC’s Scrubs, included Snow Patrol’s heartwarmingly sweet tune “Chocolate” on the follow-up to his directing debut with The Last Kiss. Still riding high on their newfound success, the band released a third album titled Eyes Open that contained the heartbreaking “Chasing Cars,” a song that further catapulted the band’s popularity.

In October 2008, Snow Patrol released A Hundred Million Suns and produced a mind-bending work that pushes through the creative barrier and soars to unearthly levels. The album’s opening track “If There’s a Rocket Tie Me to It” holds you at a distance with its electronically haunting tune, but draws you in with Lightbody’s uneasy vocals that foreshadow a journey into the unknown. A lighthearted song called “Crack the Shutters” is filled with saccharine-sweet piano melodies and a smattering of bells that might give listeners a toothache. But it is well worth it. Another unique song is the melancholy “Set Down Your Glass,” which will provide comfort while breaking your heart all at once.

The album’s peak occurs at 16-minute artistic culmination that begins with a gentle movement of strings and quickly explodes into a fury of drums and trumpets. The next movement segues with a quirky electric heat, and ends with a blissful dance that fades into space. Clearly, Snow Patrol refuses to be pigeonholed into one particular genre. A Hundred Million Suns successfully borrows the best from pop, rock, alternative, classical, and electronic to create one hot album.

Second chances in Seven Pounds...

Tim Thomas, played by the multi-talented Will Smith, works for the IRS and investigates the lives of people who are desperate for a second chance at life. The world is a cruel place at times, filled with disappointment. Why do bad things happen to good people? Tim is desperate to find the answer to this question and provide hope for those that suffer against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Directed by Gabriele Muccino, Seven Pounds explores the human soul's capability for kindness and love. The film is familiar ground for Muccino and Smith, both of whom were director and actor, respectively, in The Pursuit of Happyness. Like that film, Seven Pounds holds a distinct intensity that continues to build until the credits roll.

My Commentary: I was pleasantly surprised by 2006's The Pursuit of Happyness and couldn't wait to discover the vulnerable side of Will Smith in Seven Pounds. Smith, present in nearly every scene, played Tim Thomas's human desperation with heartbreaking honesty. Tim was a man that needed to rediscover the hope in humanity by showing others grace in the face of disparity. I applaud Smith's ability to reach out and grasp the emotions of the situation and deliver a unique insight into life, love, and second chances.

Rating: ********* (9 out of 10)

Who would love it? Adults of all ages. Scenes are too graphic and intense for children.

Man's best friend is the world's worst nightmare...

If John Grogan were to place a personal advertisement, it would read: 35-year old journalist looking for a dog. Canine should bring joy, comfort, and companionship. Preferably, dog should show aversion towards toilet water, leather furniture, and excessive drooling. Animal should be obedient to master’s commands at all times. No one expected that this dog would be Marley.

John and Jenny Grogan, talented journalists floating on the wings of newlywed bliss, embraced the dream of an all-American family life when they purchased a puppy. Named after a talented reggae legend, Marley gallivanted into the Grogan family’s home, forever leaving a paw print on their hearts and floorboards.

Marley never fit into the stereotype image of an innocent puppy. His otter-like tail scattered the Grogan’s whimsical idea of a well-behaved dog to the wind. The book’s subtitle, “Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog,” revealed that Marley had quite a large bone to pick – with the world.

The Grogan’s dog bounded through screen doors, chewed through countless leashes, ate more than a garbage disposal (paychecks, gold necklaces, drywall, women’s underwear, mangos, etc.), was expelled from obedience school, and remained unaffected by strong tranquilizers recommended by Marley’s veterinarian. The dog single-handedly supported 25 percent of the nation’s pet stores from ’91 to ’03. If this dog ever crossed paths with Beethoven (the Saint Bernard many refer to as the ultimate “slobber machine”), Marley would undoubtedly win the Bad Dog Award by a nose.

Even as Marley grew old in age, the stories of mischief and folly pressed on. Grogan described the dog’s later years in noble terms with a heavy helping of respect. Clearly, the man regarded Marley as a hero in the making, oh yes; this hyperactive canine contained the stuff made of legends.

Shortly after Marley’s passing, John Grogan felt a strong desire to describe how this 97-pound mass of energy had wriggled into his family’s hearts. Although his carefully chronicled tales of Marley were already a popular read in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Grogan felt inspired to fulfill a lifetime dream of becoming an author. The detailed account of Marley & Me was brought to life.

Many of us find ourselves wishing we could follow the example of this badly behaved dog. If only we could bound through our lives with unbridled gusto and, like Marley, swiftly throw all caution to the wind and treat the world as one, big chew toy. Let us hope that you will be lucky enough to meet such a dog, but not own one.

...do you still love me????

For the month of January, I've been out of the country! Enjoying the wonderful delights of Europe and overindulging in good food, great people, and fantastic architecture. Check out a few pictures from my adventures....



The London Gang - minus Keri... She was taking the picture!

Floating Jake's 'nana peel down the tiny moat outside our amazing cafe!

In front of the Tower of London!


Booking our front row tickets to WICKED on the West End! They were 25 pounds (equivalent to $40 USD!)...

Big Ben and the London Eye

We got lost. A lot. But LOVED it!

Showing off my skills at being the next Maxwell Smart...

Loving Kensington Gardens in Notting Hill!

La Tour Eiffel!
Sweet picture of The Louvre

Notre Dame... Can you hear the bells???!?!?


Best thing to consume on the planet: genuine Belgian Waffle in Bruges!

Loving the square in Brussels...

Amsterdam... Where 52 cars a year accidentally end up in the canals... Hopefully, everyone has insurance...

SO, there you have it! A group of 29 students and 2 unsuspecting professors visited the cities of: Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Nuremberg, London, Salzburg, and Venice...