Mae has been one of my favorite bands for ages, and I only recently got around to seeing them in concert last night. Unfortunately, it’s their last in the foreseeable future as they’re going on an indefinite hiatus….which is really a loss for everyone because they’re an amazing band and even more outstanding live.

I wasn’t able to take a picture of them with my DSLR, but here’s a picture of them I snapped with my boyfriend’s point and shoot: (I wasn’t sure I would be able to bring it in the venue…….but I found out later that I could have. Big regret.)

Unfortunately, it’s missing Rob, who plays the keyboards/guitar. And now for some of their amazing music:

Embers and Envelopes (from Destination: Beautiful) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.	Suspension (from The Everglow) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The Fisherman Song (We All Need Love) (from (m)orning) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.	Bloom (from (e)vening) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I would have a lot more listed but I figure I would have eventually listed every song they’ve ever recorded.

Rules: Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

1. The Alchemist, Paolo Coelho

• Easily one of my favorite books of all-time, if not my all-time favorite. You’d think a book so small would be a light read, but The Alchemist is jam packed with such profound statements that I was so surprised by the end of my first run through. (“What the heck did I just read? SO AMAZING.”) I’ve read some of Coelho’s other novels, but none of them have lived up to this one, in my opinion.

2. Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen

• It’s basically the mother of all chick lit…and everyone needs themselves a little Mr. Darcy.

3. The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger

• Picked it up in an airport bookstore on a whim on the way to Asia. It’s a really different kind of love story, but a really easy read. I recommend this book to every girl looking for something to pull at her heartstrings :)

4. Something to Someone, Javan

• I’m not one for poetry, but Javan has such captivating prose that I can’t help but be sucked in by his words. I have all four of his published books of poetry, but this one strikes me the most. (Off note: e.e. cummings is my all-time favorite poet, but I don’t have hard copies of any of his poetry. Must buy soon!!)

5. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling

• Harry Potter is one of the benchmarks of my teenage years, and this was my favorite installment because of one character: SNAPE.

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I pretty much harbor a massive celebrity crush on the man, so I was pretty excited to hear that he was planning on releasing a full scale solo album this past July 1st. One of my favorite things about music is that you don’t necessarily have to understand the lyrics of the artist, per say, to appreciate it…or at least that’s what I tell myself to make me feel better about listening to music I don’t understand. Hah.

Entitled Solar, this album is arguably Taeyang’s (Korean: 태양) first foray into the Korean music industry as a solo artist. (If you don’t count the release of his previous EP Hot, that is.) It personally took me a couple of listens to get acquainted and familiarized with the album — and I have to say that I love it. Some of my favorite tracks:

Superstar Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.	Just A Feeling Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
니가 잠든 후에 (feat. Swings) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.	Take It Slow Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I’m actually in love with the whole album, except for the song You’re My — it’s way too cheesy for me to take it seriously. There’s also previous hits Wedding Dress (which may or may not be my all-time favorite Taeyang song) and Where U At for us “old school” Taeyang lovers looking for something a little familiar.

This album is generally described as a hit or miss: you either love it or don’t really care for it. It’s a lot different from the songs that were present on his previous EP, and it’s taken some time for some of the fans to get used to; I guess it’s easier for me to adjust to because the music on Solar is similar to the type of music you would find in the “American” R&B scene.

I think it’s definitely worth a listen if you’re trying to find new music to listen to. Plus, you know, the man isn’t half bad to look at :)