30 SECONDS TO MARS WINS BEST ROCK BAND AT EMAs

30 Seconds to Mars rocked the world's face at the EMA awards last night with their song, "Hurricane." Madrid was very kind to our boys; "WOOOOOOOO!" transcends all language barriers. The flashing cameras only intensified the atmosphere that was so Spanish and so MTV and so awesome. The crowd was completely enamored...and you know what? so was I!

This song deserves the attention -- it's a brilliant collaboration between 30STM and Kanye West. It should have been included on This is War, but their respective labels wouldn't play nice, so the album is without Kanye...but with everyone else! I can't get over what a fantastic idea it was to include vocals from a crowd of fans on the album.


At any rate, the band rocked the transition into the hip-hop section - it wasn't so much abrupt as it was already happening before I realized how much I was enjoying it. The drums aided the transition, but the synth strings preserved the beloved 30STM vibe. Even Kanye himself borrowed Jared's vocal styling a tiny bit. ("In the MOOOOrnin'!" sounds much like "This, is, WAAAAAAR!" Watch the performance and you'll see what I mean.) And then it eased into a dance remix sound, which was SO COOL.

I nonetheless think EMAs are trying way too hard to honor a very specific subgenre within the media. Hurricane is only sort of conveying an environmental message...the song is more about the depravity in human nature than the rights of the planet and learning to appreciate it. Sure, there's references to pollution and acid rain, but that's all it is. A reference. The EMAs take an underwhelming approach to the concept on This is War.

But at the same time, can I really complain about a venue that lets us see this?


He might look like he dressed as Michael Jackson's ghost for Halloween, but he can wear whatever he wants to with bone structure like this.

Free Jimmy download, Lifehouse in London

Get Jimmy Eat World's "My Best Theory" free from Amazon.com, today only!

In this song, the classic rock sentiment of sticking it to The Man evolves into a cry for moderation and common sense. JEW calls for less-than-crazy opinions to reach out and shape the way things go.

I love this sentiment. We should cling to what works for the majority of the populous. That's democracy after all. However, the majority is politically lazy, and laws are passed that cater to the demonstrative groups, rather than the well-populated groups.

It's like a party. You all know that friend -- the one who is tall, loud, and opinionated. She calls for a lot of attention, and you forget to notice how many people are actually there.

So are we just watching politics happen? Do we notice how many people are affected by the gay rights movement, or our country's debt? Are we really looking after the majority?

Jimmy Eat World hopes you are, from the sounds of it.

My Best Theory is the current single from Invented, JEW's recently debuted album. The summery introspection evolves into a complicated blend of folksy harmonies, sweeping grandeur, and some thrashing guitar/drums for kick. But overall, it's a little softer than their usual fare.

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Lifehouse finishes up the European leg of their tour in London, and a tweet from the band today requests things to do there. Lucky for them, I love London! (Ha. We'll see if they notice...)

My recommendation included the crypt at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Major selling point? Ambiance!

You literally eat on historic gravestones and under a vaulted brick ceiling. With Halloween around the corner, I bet it's even better than when I was there in May.

It's also just off of Trafalgar Square, which instantly lends itself to going to the National Gallery, too. The Gallery houses da Vinci's "The Virgin on the Rocks" and van Gogh's "Sunflowers" among others.

I'm telling you, Lifehouse, you gotta go.