Over the past three seasons, help Arrow has introduced a number of comic book goodies and baddies to the small screen, discount
and yet only Deathstroke has displayed any super-powered abilities. At a Q&A last month, showrunner Marc Guggenheim even told reporters, “With ‘The Flash’ in existence, there’s no real compelling reason for us to do super powers on ‘Arrow.’ “ Thus indicating that Ray Palmer’s alter-ego, The Atom, would not be using his shrinking abilities on the show.

But that doesn’t mean that The Atom won’t show up in some capacity before season 3 is over. In fact, earlier this year while filming episode 6, Routh made some noise when he told fans he’d actually already seen concept drawings of The Atom’s costume. At the time, Routh wasn’t sure when exactly he’d get to suit up, but it looks like that moment is getting closer.

Because earlier this week, Brandon Routh posted a picture of himself getting prepped to play The Atom. See that pic and find out more about his secret identity on Arrow.

Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach

Another year has come and gone. And with it are the release of new albums, meningitis the exciting discovery of new musicians, generic and the cathartic release of finding songs that touch you in all the right ways: mind, body, and soul.

Then, we have rinse and repeat as you listen to it all over and over again.

Welcome to my Tops of 2009: Music Edition. Complete with new genres, new sounds, new musicians, new albums, and new songs. Here are my favorite and most listened to:

+Musicians
+Albums
+Songs

Musicians:

Bobby Long

I already loved the song ‘Let Me Sign’ that he co-wrote with Marcus Foster and was sung by Rob Pattinson on the Twilight soundtrack. But I never thought I’d like blues rock til I went to his show and heard him for the first time. I fell in love with his style and his voice.

Fav Songs: ‘Who Have You Been Loving’, ‘In the Frost’, ‘Penance Fire Blues’, ‘The Stranger Song’ [+Grooveshark]

Marcus Foster

It’s interesting how similar yet different Marcus is from his friends Bobby and Sam. I can’t wait til the three of them get more widespread and popular. While Bobby is more mellow and powerful, Marcus can get more lively and frantic.

Fav Songs: ‘You, My Love’, ‘Shadows of the City’, ‘Kiss is a Knife’ [+Grooveshark]

Rob Pattinson

Having played the guitar and piano for all his life, he’s been a musician longer than actor. But for now he’s chosen to go the other route. We’re just grateful for his occasional live gigs and contributions to the Twilight soundtrack. I really hope he does it again for the Eclipse soundtrack. Or he could just release a CD under a pseudonym.

Fav Songs: ‘Let Me Sign’, ‘Broken’, ‘I’ll Be Your Lover Too’ [+Grooveshark]

The Fray

There’s just something about their style that is unique. I loved their last CD and I really love their new CD. Their lyrics and sound led by a piano rather than guitar separate them from other bands on the radio.

Fav Songs: ‘Say When’, ‘You Found Me’, ‘Over My Head’, ‘How to Save a Life’ [+Grooveshark]

Paramore

With its youthful sound a lot of people like Paramore, but few want to admit it. I’m not one of those people. 

Fav Songs: ‘Decode’, ‘Let the Flames Begin’, ‘Crushcrushcrush’, ‘Brick by Boring Brick’ [+Grooveshark]

30 Seconds to Mars

I’ve loved 30 Seconds to Mars since I heard the first album and have stuck through two more albums. They have such a unique sound with uplifting, angsty, electronic, rock&roll. They’re a paradox. 

Fav Songs: ‘Kings and Queens’, ‘Edge of the Earth’, ‘Hurricane’, ‘Attack’, ‘A Beautiful Lie’, ‘The Fantasy’, ‘The Kill’, ‘Savior’, ‘From Yesterday’, ‘Buddha for Mary’, ‘Capricorn’ [+Grooveshark]

Plumb

I can’t really remember how I got into Plumb, but I think it was through recommendation. But she’s had music in Bruce Almighty, Just Married, View from the Top, Brokedown Palace, Drive Me Crazy, The Perfect Man, Mom at Sixteen, etc. and TV series Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, ER, Roswell, One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries, etc. 

Fav Songs: ‘In My Arms’, ‘Cut’, ‘Damaged’, ‘Sleep’ [+Grooveshark]

Albums:

Kings of Leon – Only by the Night (2008)

Even though their album came out at the end of last year, they took the world by storm this year with their unique sound influenced by Southern rock. 

Fav Songs: ‘Closer’, ‘Sex on Fire’, ‘Crawl’ [+Grooveshark]

The Fray – The Fray (2009)

Debuted at #1 on Billboard 200. Nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010. Has been certified Gold in the United States, Canada, and Australia. So far the album includes one top ten single ‘You Found Me’ and one Grammy nominated single ‘Never Say Never’. 

Fav Songs: ‘Say When’, ‘You Found Me’, ‘Enough For Now’ [+Grooveshark]

Paramore – Brand New Eyes (2009)

“If you didn’t like Paramore before, their third album is unlikely to sway you. They make the kind of forceful, commercial emo-pop that music lovers love to hate. However, as forceful, commercial emo-pop goes – and it does –Brand New Eyes is very good. It is brash and gauche, but charming.” – BBC 

Fav Songs: ‘Decode’, ‘Ignorance’, ‘Brick by Boring Brick’, ‘Careful’, ‘Turn It Off’, ‘All I Wanted’ [+Grooveshark]

Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane (2009)

“Though the band choose the title Hello Hurricane to represent the storms of this life, the title is appropriate. When the songs sink into the eye of the hurricane, the calm is eerily beautiful and introspective. But when unleashed, the tracks land with the fury of the perfect storm. The collected effect is one of the best albums of Switchfoot’s career.” – Relevant 

Fav Songs: The Sound’, ‘Free’, ”Mess of Me’, ‘Your Love Is A Song’, ‘Needle and Haystack Life’ [+Grooveshark]

Ben Moody – All For This (2009)

Half of the old Evanescence, and the better half, Ben Moody has also worked with Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, and Celine Dion. But there’s finally an album of his very own. And it’s been a long road to get here, but it was worth the wait. 

Fav Songs: ‘10.22’, ‘Wishing Well’, ‘All For This’, ‘Perfect’, ‘Hold Me Down’, ‘Never Turn Back’ [+Grooveshark]

Carter Burwell – Twilight Score (2008)

I don’t usually care for scores too much, but sometimes something magical comes along. 

Fav Songs: ‘The Skin of a Killer’, ‘Bella’s Lullaby’, ‘The Lion Fell In Love With The Lamb’ [+Grooveshark]

 

 

Songs:

[Zip of Songs]

She said walk on over here
to the bitter shade
i will wrap you in my arms
and know that you’ve been saved
Let Me Sign
Let Me Sign
Let Me Sign (Rob Pattinson)

Maybe god can be on both sides
Of the gun never understood why
Some of us never get it so good, so good
Some of this was here before us
All of this will go after us
Never stops until we give in, give in
Say when
Say When (The Fray)

Does your heart beat so softly without warning
Does it beat out to the slow pace of the morning
Oh when you close your eyes after all that you see
Will you let the stranger’

 

 

s beat
The Stranger (Bobby Long)

But as the morning awakens
That light sends a shudder
Twist of hope that held you down
Is left to rest and stir
You back down a hallway
To flourish the darkness
And you fool yourself
You did it all for her
Penance Fire Blues (Bobby Long)

The truth is hiding in your eyes
And its hanging on your tongue
Just boiling in my blood,
But you think that I can’t see
What kind of man that you are
If you’re a man at all
Well, I will figure this one out on my own
I’m screaming “I love you so…” But my thoughts you can’t decode
Decode (Paramore)

I shot for the sky
I’m stuck on the ground
So why do I try, I know I’m gonna to fall down
I thought I could fly, so why did I drown?
I never know why it’

 

 

s coming down, down, down.
Down (Jason Walker)

You know my darling I can’t stand to sleep alone
No sweetheart in the dark to call my own
You’re my own, you’re my own, I can sing it, I can grow
But the darkness is a stranger in our lonely, lonely, lone.
Sleep Alone (Bat for Lashes)

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
If I only could, oh…
Running Up That Hill (Placebo)

But I do not want to be afraid
I do not want to die inside just to breathe in
I’m tired of feeling so numb
Relief exists I found it when
I am cut
Cut (Plumb)