alt-J Album Review

First of all, I would like to commend alt-J on "This Is All Yours," their sophomore album released in the late months of 2014. If I haven't heard them before, I sure as hell have heard them now.

When I first heard alt-J on Spotify, I was intrigued but unconvinced. I don't know why. Up until then, I had only heard "Nara", "Hunger of the Pine", and "Every Other Freckle", and found that they were catchy and fit under my Indie music tastes. I saved the whole album to my music on Spotify and took a listen to a few other songs. As I kept listening to more Indie music, I found myself coming back to those three songs in particular.

Their sound is addicting as much as it is amazing. I haven't heard of them until recently, and holy cow, their music is raw. They speak to you even if you don't know it yet. I think I'll be an alt-J fan for a very long time.

Second of all, I can never understand the lyrics or what they're saying half the time; but, for all I care, this whole album could be instrumental and still sound good. I'd still buy it. It's not until you look up the lyrics that a whole new meaning is unveiled, and you begin to understand the depth of the lyrics even if you don't think you do. There's something relatable for everyone.

Click the link below if you don't believe me...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/this-is-all-yours/id887763843

The Fault in Our Stars book review

I had ultimately heard of this book through word of mouth and my "job" as being a TA (teacher's assistant) to SLOHS's librarian, Mrs. Sawyer. She insisted that I had to read it, and I took her advice, knowing it would take me a while to read it anyways since I have no real time for reading lengthy (if you will) books. I, initially, didn't know what to expect from John Green, assuming that he was somewhat a serious writer with, maybe, a touch of humor somewhere within the depths of his stories. Every time I waltzed into Barnes & Noble (which, by now, is almost every day, precisely after school. My grandparents wonder why they haven't set up a cot, or some makeshift bed, for me yet. I'm pretty sure almost everyone that works there knows my name and is wondering why the hell I haven't gotten the membership yet...) I see the book up by the teen fiction section, accompanied by the statement "Okay? Okay"

It looks something like this.



If you have not already read TFIOS (the book's abbreviated state), you need to do so immediately. This book, in its entirety, has made me realize that life itself is beautiful. If you question whether life is beautiful or not, you have a problem. You need to read this book.

Here's a brief synopsis of how this book is so cleverly laid out:

Hazel Lancaster is a 16 year-old girl that has cancer in her lungs, and while attending "Support Group", she meets Augustus Waters. As they start to hang out with each other and fall in love, Augustus uses his dying wish to send them both to Amsterdam, where Hazel meets an alcoholic Peter Van Houten (who wrote Hazel's favorite book, An Imperial Affliction) who, with Hazel's insisting, refuses to answer her questions about what happens after the book abruptly ends. It is in Amsterdam that Hazel realizes her true love for Augustus, and that his cancer has returned. The Fault in Our Stars deals with the risky business of two star-crossed lovers being in love with a potential amount of numbered days.

The Fault in Our Stars makes the ordinary seem extraordinary. This novel is adored by people, young and old, everywhere. I strongly encourage every living soul to read it and read it again. It makes you wonder why you take things for granted and what you can do to, and I quote, "live your best life today."