Album: I'm Alive, I'm DreamingArtist: The Ready Set
Release: 2010
Tracks: 10
The Ready Set - recording name of soloist Jordan Witzigreuter - was a widely unknown name before signing to the Decaydance Records label after being discovered by Pete Wentz, the label's founder and owner. This signing brought about a whirlwind of events, including the release of the hit single "Love Like Woe" from The Ready set's first studio album, I'm Alive, I'm Dreaming. From here, The Ready Set gained an explosive fan base, hooking listeners in to his addictive style of music. Upon discovering The Ready Set, many soon-to-be fans went on to look at his other music, finding a mixed background that tells a common story. However, the resulting style that came out of that story definitely has its own unique and special sound.
Kicking off I'm Alive' I'm Dreaming is the hit single that started a wildfire - "Love Like Woe." With its insanely catchy beat and a slightly hip-hop feel to it, it's no wonder this song shot up on the music charts within weeks of being released. This song sets the stage for the rest of the album, creating an upbeat and happy feeling that will have you unconsciously keeping time with your foot or head. "More Than Alive", the second song on the album, tells listeners to live their own life the way that they want to, and don't let anything stop them. The sound transitions smoothly from the previous track, but still has a different style that marks it as an individual song instead of a continuation of another track. The back beat that kicks off the song is guaranteed to be stuck in your head for days, even if you can't keep up with the sometimes-fast vocals in "Limits". With vocals that move up and down the scale, this track almost seems to be a rapping song at some parts, and it has a beat that keeps your attention on the song. "Stays Four The Same" is a song with lyrics that seem to be shallow and fun, but in reality have a slightly deeper meaning when you read into them. With a fast drum beat keeping time for this song and auto-tune being used to create a unique vocal sound, this song will leave a lasting impression on you after a few repeats. An upbeat song with a slightly more serious side, "There Are Days" has a different sound from the songs that precede it, straying from the hip-hop style of sound. With a chorus that seems to explode out of each of the verses creating a separate portion of the song, and a bridge that sets itself apart from everything, this is a song that stands out even against itself. "Spinnin'" is a song that speaks for itself once you listen to it with vocals that jump from a normal range to a higher range in manner that is so smooth that it seems completely natural. The beat will have you tapping your foot without you even realizing it, and the lyrics, though a bit confusing at first, catch your attention easily and keep you hooked on the song. Starting out with a small interlude part, "Melody's Song" tricks you into thinking you have another love song on your hands, but in reality you have a song about music itself. With an interesting piano melody that carries on through most of the song, and slight additions of auto-tune to add spice to the sugar, this song is one of my personal favorites, both musically and lyrically. "Upsets and Downfalls" has vocals that hook you into the song from the very beginning, and computer generated sounds that add nicely to the song, blending in to almost seem natural. The bridge stands apart from the rest of the song in a way that makes you want to repeat the entire song just to hear the it again, easily building up your play count for this song. The first bonus track on the album, "The Ghost of Los Angeles" is probably the most upbeat song on I'm Alive, I'm Dreaming with its computer generated sounds and vocals that show us how auto-tune can be used in a good way. The sound is unique, almost seeming like it should be part of a different set of tracks, lacking the hip-hop beat that seems to permeate the rest of the album's non-bonus tracks. "Giants", the second bonus track and last song of I'm Alive, I'm Dreaming, is actually a third remake of a song that had its debut over four years ago. This version, however, has a style that relates to the rest of the album in an indirect way, with small auto-tune additions and computerized sounds and beats.
I'm Alive, I'm Dreaming is the album that revealed The Ready Set to most of the world, with some of the catchiest songs that you will ever hear. The sound of "Love Like Woe" and "More Than Alive", maybe even "Giants" will be stuck in your head for days on end, keeping you coming back for more. Although the hip-hop sound may not be the normal music style that some people listen to, if you keep an open mind to The Ready Set's music, you may just get hooked, no matter your normal listening genre. So, in the spirit of the message behind The Ready Set, live your life to the fullest and keep on dreaming.
