#Obsessed

I know, I know...the last post was supposed to be the last before the new arts/baking/ music blog that I'm launching. That being said, I really just needed to share these 3 obsessions that I can't get out of my head! 

Kid Cudi Ft. Haim - Red Eye (single)  I cannot get enough of this very catchy song.  It's mind numbing at times, with the chorus floating straight through your brain making it confusing as to where in the song you are, but all in all I really dig it.  I'm also still on the Haim high from their Labor Day Weekend concert in Boston.

Volcano Choir - Repave (entire album) If you're a fan of Justin Vernon, and quite obviously I am, then you're really going to love this new album from Volcano Choir.  I am VERY close to buying tickets to the Paradise in Boston for 9/11 when Volcano Choir comes, but I'm not sure that I can really justify going down to Boston by myself in the middle of the week. That being said, I'm not sure that I'm counting it out either as I am that obsessed with them right now.

everything Jessie Ware. If you haven't given Jessie Ware a listen, then you should really stop what you're doing and get on that.  My cousin Eleonore actually sent me the video for Wildest Moments and from their I was hooked! I'm sure that she's been around for a while now, but I'm glad that I finally am getting on her bandwagon.  Her soulful voice can be dreamy, like Sade, but also incredibly striking and bold. I love bold! Her album, Devotion, is out now and I highly recommend it.  Still not so sure of where to start? I'd go with Wildest Moments and Running; if you're not a fan after those two, then I'm not sure what your problem is.

What are you currently #obsessed with?!

Last post until new site!

Hello there all! You may have been wondering what has been going on, or really you probably just figured that I fell into old bad habits. WRONG! I've been moving, getting a new job, and just generally having fun with friends! I've also been setting up the new site, so that's something too!

I will say this, this past Sunday night I went to The Paradise in Boston and saw HAIM! This concert floored me. I was expecting great, but we were blown away by the sisters' talent. They have it all folks, don't wait to listen to their EP and also their new album dropping at the end of this month! Here's a pic from where I was standing at the show!!

Young Bands Series: King Krule

King Krule is 18, about to be 19 in a couple of days and has a new album coming about titled 6 Feet Beneath the Moon.  Unlike The Orwells that I featured in this series a couple of weeks ago, King Krule is alone in his musical pursuits and has been recording since before he was 16. I have a hard time describing his sound, and I think that is partially why I love him so much.  It's different, but familiar at the same time.  

I first heard King Krule because my friend Kevin and I were talking about what our Music Drafts would be...if the music industry were to have a draft that had first and second round picks...Anyway, I gave Krule a listen because it was part of Kevin's 1st round pick of artisits/songs that he was loving for the summer. Easy Easy, his favorite song, was pointed out to me specifically so I started there.  

King Krule's baritone makes you think that there is no way that this kid is only 18.  It lends itself well to the smooth and low growl that he emits during most of the songs that he sings.  The entire album is a map of growing up and how isolating it is to be in your teens and into young adulthood.  Everyone knows what this feels like, you're lost in your own head for most of the time! King Krule just brings it out in drawn out words and syllables that everyone can appreciate.

King Krule, take a listen!

Upcoming Shows!

Haim 9/1
The Cold War Kids 10/18
Beyonce 12/20


I'm hoping I can squeeze in Frank Turner on 11/30 and then whoever else comes into town for under $30! Always on the lookout for new bands to check out, so let me know if there is anyone that I should be supporting and seeing live!

Falling for the cooler weather

Begrudgingly, I have to admit that I'm not too upset with the cooler weather moving in.  The Fall is one of my favorite times of year for weather, food, and music.  It's warm during the days and cool at night, making you want to cuddle in and hunker down at a bar for a good show!

As I did in the summer, I've started a fall playlist that will grow throughout the season.  Really, it's still summer until the end of September, so I guess we can just call this the summer cool down list.  Check it out on my GrooveShark here! Follow me and share with me what you're listening to!

#ilovelucius

This past Friday night my sister, brother in law, and I went up to Newmarket, NH to see one of our favorite new bands, Lucius! Not only are we completely in love with them, but Rolling Stone is too. Check out how they are the new up and coming band to watch! 

The concert was held at the Old Stone Church in Newmarket, NH.  It's a small, friendly old church that has switched ownership so many times, I've lost count. The bar flows through the night and their only rule is if you fall over, you've had too much.  Tables and chairs are scattered throughout the small space with exposed beams and remnants of old church still visible in everywhere. With soft lighting and a stage that is only a step up from the tables, the Old Stone Church becomes alight with excitement when a band gets on stage to start a perfectly personable show.

Friday night we were delighted by Lucius and their opening act, Alpenglow! starting around 9 and playing well past midnight, the two bands were absolutely magical and probably put on one of the best shows I've ever been to!!

Today's Obsessions

Lucius. Wildewoman
Jay Z. Picasso Baby
Asaf Avidan & The Mojos. One Day/Reckoning Song
Andrew Bird and Tift Merritt. Newport Folk Festival set
The Civil Wars. The Civil Wars (self-titled new album that hit toady)

I can't stop listening to these 5 things right now.  I know that they are all very different from each other, which is a huge reason I think that I'm appreciating them all today. There hasn't been a good flow to my mood today, so I think that's sort of where the mixed and matched songs are coming from.  

I'm eager to hear Lucius's new album hitting in October and listening to the new Civil Wars album is absolutely heart breaking. I hope that they come back together eventually, I'm not alone when I say that I love them and think that they have an amazing gift.  

The Asaf Avidan track is a little more out there than I usually get into, but I was watching The Crash Reel documentary about pro-snowboarder Kevin Pearce, and this song was the outro.  I loved it and had to keep listening to it! 

Jay Z, obviously, is making huge headlines with Picasso Baby. I also have Condos in my Condo, but that's more because I am a Condo and I live in a sort of Condo....it works. Anyway, it's been cool to hear my family immortalized in a Jay Z song, not to mention a really good Jay Z song.  I love the way that he tells everyone it's not that different, art and music, aren't they all related at some point anyway? 

New Series of Posts : Young Bands

I thought that I would start a new blog series focusing on younger than average bands and artists.  It seems as if there are a ton of new musicians hitting the scene that are at least 6 years my juniors and it's sort of crazy to me! The bands/artists that I'm looking to focus on are people that may still be in high school, but that are trying their best to break out into the music world, school be damned! 

The first band I want to draw attention to is a seriously ROCKING band out of Illinois.  The Orwells hail from just outside of Chicago and they are garnering attention from everywhere, especially NPR and SXSW. Their first album, Remember When, debuted last summer and basically told the music scene that they were here to stay.  Since then, the guys have been working on finishing up high school early in order to work on their new album.  

If you haven't listened to them this is my take: Reminiscent of a late 60's early 70's rock band, almost a Doors meets Ramones flair. Keeping them current, though, imagine that Nirvana, The Strokes and the Black Keys had a baby (not feasible, I'm aware). That is this band.  I completely imagine myself listening to them playing in a smokey bar somewhere in middle America circa 1973.  

The Orwells make me want to listen to their music, and I like that. 

T Swift...ugh

So this past Friday I was invited by my aunt and cousins to join them at the Taylor Swift Concert at Gillette Stadium.  When my cousin first asked me if I wanted to go, my initial reaction was "I really want to say no....but I won't," and now after having seen her live, I can honestly say, T Swift...you were alright.  

I've been to many concerts, probably not as many as other people, but enough to know when an artist is being truly genuine when thanking the audience for attending and paying A LOT of money for tickets.  This concert, especially, was gratitude worthy because it rained for the entire show.  Not pouring, but enough to make you wet and sort of uncomfortable. These things being said, I sort of felt like Swift was too good for it. I don't know, it just really rubbed me the wrong way that she never really said thank you genuinely.  

The joke is really on me, though, because what did I do as soon as I got home? Why, I completed my Red album, of course! Those songs are just SO G D catchy! Curse you, Taylor Swift, I will continue to listen to your music because it's fun, but not because I like you. 

p.s. no 22 year old feels that way about being 22....go fill your own gas tank and tell me how you feel when you can't get a full gallon out of the spare change in your car. that's what 22 feels like.  

Newport Folk Fest

Unfortunately I won't be in the audience of this year's Newport Folk Fest. Ticket prices, poor timing, you name it, it happened and the dreams of attending this year's sold out weekend festival of folk have been dashed once more.  I happened to be lamenting the loss of the upcoming weekend today when I was on NPR's Special Blog Series dedicated to the fest.  They are a great source of music, especially for this festival, because they sponsor it! Anyway, I was checking out the line-up for the weekend and found some bands that are MUST listens if you are into folk music.  Maybe it's just because I'm older now and feel more comfortable about embracing my music choices, but I really feel like folk is making huge strides in the mainstream and I think that it has a lot to do with the "Homegrown" movement.  No matter the reason, I'm a huge fan.  Here is a list of some of the performers that people who are lucky enough to be going to the Folk Fest should take the time to see:

Shovels & Rope - This should be a band that True Blood features in their next episode...just sayin'. Anyway, one listen to their title track O' Be Joyful and you will be hooked.  It's a southern rock that few bands can nail down, but they've managed it and have managed to sound modern at the same time.  Sometimes folk can sound too steeped in the past, not Shovels & Rope.  They bring it to the present with catchy drum beats and a more garage-y sound.  

Hurray for the Riff Raff - I can't even begin to describe how in love with this band I am.  People have told me that I rarely give bad reviews of bands on my blogs, that's because I'm not in this to talk about how I don't like people. I'm here to tell you what I love and can't stop listening to.  This is a band that I cannot. stop. listening to.

Spirit Family Reunion - A band that I am truly devastated that I won't be able to see this weekend, they are a truly incredible band.  There are so many moving pieces in this group; instruments, people, voices, harmonies, melodies, and so much more...passion? I know that they love this life and they love making music. Oh yea, did I mention they have a washboard?!

Jake Bugg

Definitely worth it to listen to this 19 year old.  This kid will probably be called the next Bob Dylan, but that's just because his voice is vaguely similar, other than that I really don't think that he's anything like Mr. Dylan.  I find him to be more of a British Buddy Holly. 

Bugg gives off the feel that he just rolled out of bed and decided he was going to be a musician that day, in the way that only a 19 year old could.  He plays his guitar with passion and precision, showing audiences and fans that he isn't just a cool voice, but also a talented musician.  

By no means am I the first to break the news on Jake Bugg, but for those that read I felt that I would have been remiss not to mention this kid's rising star. That and I'm really digging his album!

Current Obsessions

I get obsessed with things relatively quickly, but it never lasts long.  It really ties in with the fact that I am such an impulsive person and like to try new things in bursts.  Music is not exempted from this way of thinking, I am always getting on kicks of listening to a particular artist or genre for days straight.  The same really goes for my movie choices; I don't think it's a surprise that I once watched The Goonies every day after school for a month straight!

Here is a list of my current obsession:

Vampire Weekend: the entire new Modern Vampires the of the City album - When I first purchased this album I was only listening to it in the car and wasn't really appreciating the music at hand. I was constantly being distracted by driving (what?!) and getting in and out of the car while in the middle of a song.  I like taking the first few listens of a new album to decide whether or not I like something, and I wasn't really giving myself the chance. I decided to listen to the album while I was baking.  It would give me plenty of time to hear everything in its entirety and also to listen to it loudly; who doesn't blast music while baking for friends? Anyway, all of that being said, I fell in love with this album and haven't stopped listening to it since!

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: Same Love - This song gives me the chills, I love it so much! I believe in equality for everyone, and even though this song really only hits at the issues that the country is currently having regarding same sex marriages, I think that it extends beyond that.  Every civil rights movement has music to help it along, and this song and artist are really climbing the charts with a message of change for the better.

Kanye West: The entire Graduation album - This probably should have been posted in my previous post about revisiting your music, but man. I cannot stop listening to this album.  I've always really liked how Kanye collaborates with a lot of different musicians and is constantly using new sounds and samples for his songs, it makes his music interesting and fun to listen to.  

BOY: Little Numbers - I often contribute my musical findings to NPR and urge people to go onto their website whenever possible to check out All Songs Considered.  BOY came to my attention through a sort of "up and coming artist" post and now I can't help myself.  I listen to this song a couple of times a day and haven't gotten sick of it yet! It's light and breezy, which makes for a great summer song.  

The Avett Brothers - 2009 live performance from Newport Folk Fest: Again, NPR, thank you for being such a huge part of my musical education.  I first found out about The Avett Bros through my friend Kendra, she had sent me a song called "If It's the Beaches," and since listening to that one song I have become an enormous fan.  I haven't made it to the NFF yet, but I really hope that they are playing when I do, because this live performance from a few years ago is the definition of awesome. 

Those are my obsessions for right now, but tomorrow they might change.  What are the things you are listening to/obsessed with right now? Do you listen to them on repeat until you can't take it anymore? It's a slippery slope! Beware!  

revisiting

Music is a huge part of my life.  I sing, pretend to play a lot of instruments, and listen to music almost every minute of the day.  I realize that seems like a lot, but I'm constantly listening to my iPod, Pandora, GrooveShark, or (GASP) the radio!  Given that I'm constantly trying to find new music, sometimes the older music that I have doesn't get played as often. Inspired by this, I decided to whip out a couple of bands that I love listening to, but tend to save for special occasions....a.k.a. me trying to impress people with a  cool music collection....

The first of two bands that I've reclaimed listening to is a band that I'd heard, but then forgot about. I didn't even remember them on my own, it was because this one single kept playing when I was catching up on Parks and Rec on NBC.  It wasn't even FOR Parks and Rec, it was for the new show on Showtime! Anyway, the song is by a band called Dead Man's Bones.  What you say? Zach Shields and Ryan Gosling's band? Uhrrrmmm YES. This is amazing, and creepy, and bold. And I love it!  The specific song Lose Your Soul is absolutely bone chilling, but eerily beautiful at the same time. I sort of feel like I'm listening to Halloween (the holiday, not the movie). The clapping and slow build up in the beginning of the song lead into quite soulful vocals.  Ryan Gosling makes a surprisingly great lead man and really knew how to bring his personal vibe to this band.  I once read an interview with Gosling in Esquire about how he loved growing up in Disney World, mainly because he was fascinated with the lives of the people that played the real life Disney characters.  I'm clearly paraphrasing here, but how cool and interesting would it be to hangout with Mickey when he has his body, but not his head on? It give me chills to think about the childhood dreams that you must have to get over pretty quickly in that setting.  I digress, the entire album is full and well rounded, and I definitely recommend giving this 2009 release a listen.

The next band is Elbow. They are a British band that can date back as far as 1998 (not exactly the stone age, but I was in 4th grade if that gives you some perspective).  Anyway, as stated in previous posts, I love U2; I have for quite some time. It should come as no surprise to anyone that I also really love Coldplay and Oasis....and pretty much every other alternative band that has come tumbling out of Great Britain.  I started listening to these guys about a year ago at the recommendation of one of my sister's closest friends.  At first I was hesitant, not because I don't love getting music recommendations, but because their band name is Elbow. For real, guy? I set my naming differences aside finally and was impressed with the bands use of string instruments.  I wish that I heard a violin or a cello more often in modern music, especially in an uplifting way. There is a reason why those two instruments are popular picks for weddings, IT'S BECAUSE THEY MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. Sorry. The long and short of it is that Elbow has mastered the use of strings and your everyday rock band to form something unique.  Once you hear them you'll get it and you will probably be just as hooked as I am!  Take a listen to their most recent album here!

Working Out

It's no surprise that I usually make a new playlist every time I workout. I find it dull and sort of monotonous to constantly have the same few songs playing for days upon days, so I like to mix it up. I do have a couple of tracks that are my go-to's, especially because they really pump me up, but I try to bring a new flavor to my workouts when I can.

This is what my playlist consists of for today (or tomorrow's) workout:

Young The Giant- My Body
The Violent Femmes- No Sleep Tonight
Jimmy Eat World- The Middle
La Roux- Bulletproof
Icona Pop- I Love It
Calvin Harris Ft. Ellie Goulding- I Need Your Love
Kanye West & Jay Z Ft. Frank Ocean- No Church in the Wild
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton- Can't Hold Us
Kanye West- Stronger 
Little Mix- Wings
Foo Fighters- Best of U
Green Day- Brain Stew
The Strokes- Last Nite
Sugababes- Untouched

There's no real order to how I listen to these, but I will start a run on My Body only because it makes me feel like if I can get through at least a 3 minute song than I can keep up the momentum for another.

What's on your workout list? I'm always up for new things to listen to for motivation!

Summer Tracks Part II

What with this not being my full time job (unfortunately), I had to take a break the last couple of weeks from posting.  Mostly because my job was driving me nuts, but also because I hadn't had time to experience much new music.  This weekend I made the effort to do some research and find a couple of bands that I hadn't heard before and also update the Summer Tracks playlist that I have on Grooveshark (take a listen here)! 

Again, I didn't have a ton of time, but I was able to take some suggestions from friends and listen to:

Rhye
The Mowgli's
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Though I wasn't able to do a whole lot of research on these guys, I know that I really dig all three sounds.  None of these bands are similar, at all, and that is why I like them so much.  Listening to them back to back to back made me really appreciate each one separately.  

In other news, this weekend was spent with friends that I don't see often enough and also with family whom I I will never be able to see enough of.  Saturday, the friends and I, went out in Allston and were able to do some fun exploration of the locals restaurants and bars.  I'm always hyper aware of the music in the venues that I hang out in, so it was fun to hear 3 different establishment's take on what was Saturday night music.  The first place we went to we were serenaded with some seriously rad punk music (I'm talking The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Patti Smith, etc..), then we went to a pretty normal Saturday night bar where Journey was being remixed with a Neyo song, finally we topped it off with some classic rock/nothing that could ever offend anyone at the last bar we went to. Though we weren't there for the music, I had a great time hopping from genre to genre!

I hope that everyone listens to American History Rock (School House Rock) at least once through this week, I know I will! Have a Happy 4th of July, Everyone!!

Rock Bands

I love promoting and introducing new bands and new sounds to my friends and family, and obviously, to all of you! There's something great about always hearing something new and learning new lyrics and new riffs, it's fun and exciting. It's a way, at least for me, to release some stress and to feel a little more connected to a world that I come nowhere near touching in my daily life. It's a higher power in and of itself when you go to a concert and you aren't the only one that knows every lyric, or the only one that gets excited over that one song that is barely ever played off of an album.  You feel part of a larger community of crazy music people, and that can be awesome. 

I love the new stuff, as I said, but I'd be remiss to exclude some of the bands that I consider staples to my musical education and collection.  I've been inspired to share a list of the bands that I have a real appreciation for and that I think have shaped the way that I listen to music.

U2 - Don't give me crap for liking U2. I can remember being a kid in a car with my aunt and singing every word to One.  It was powerful to me then and it's powerful to me now. I've also acquired a pretty heavy love for the entire Joshua Tree album.

The Cranberries - My older cousin Emily gave me To The Faithful Departed for my 8th birthday. It was my second CD  ever, so I was pretty pumped and listened to it on repeat.  I did not understand the political significance of anything when I was 8, but I did get that Bosnia and War Child were really sad songs and that Salvation was awesome.  

Meatloaf - As stated in my previous post about "Dad" music, Meatloaf in our household was "Mom" music.  When you know all of the words to Bat Out Of Hell and Paradise By The Dashboard Light when you're a little kid, people sort of respect you/fear you. 

The Beatles - Enough said.

Led Zeppelin - Again...enough said.

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run wasn't an album that I started listening to until I got into high school, and I really only started listening to it because it was "cool" to listen to classic rock. Beyond being "cool" it was the music that I liked listening to, mainly because I couldn't really get into a lot of the Pop that was going on in the early 2000's.  Eventually I'd come into my own with music taste and would realize that I loved alternative rock more than anything, but Bruce would always be there for me to listen to on long car rides home with my windows down.

Foo Fighters - Late 2006, sort of end of high school early college beginnings, I started listening to FF because one of my good friends Ryan was listening to them.  I knew that I had heard a few songs before, but when their Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace album hit in 2007 I was all about The Pretender. Who wasn't? I just remember listening to it while I was making some important decisions and thinking, "I wish that I could be this cool."

The Black Keys - I found the Black Keys about the same time I started really listening to Foo Fighters.  They weren't grunge, they were garage band. I felt a real connection to their music, especially the entire album Rubber Factory.  It was like my friends and I jamming out in someone's basement had a chance to make music that people would like listening to because the Black Keys could do it.  Not because I thought they were bad, it was the opposite of that. It was because you could tell that they were just playing to have fun and so were we.  

There are a few more bands that I have a real musical appreciation for, but these are sort of my go to's when I feel like I need some solid sound.

Father's Day and Dad Music

Growing up, I used to think that there were only two types of music in the world; Mom music and Dad Music.  Mom music usually involved a Broadway soundtrack and perhaps Meatloaf.  She also really loved a specific Joey McIntyre cd and for the most part, anything that was played on the Top 40.  Dad music was a little more rock and roll, as in, it was rock and roll. My Dad listened to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and The Clash, just to name a few.  As I got older, and my music tastes changed, I realized that these two categories could never continue to exist.  There was too much that my parents loved to listen to that overlapped and also that was completely different.  It turns out that my mom also loved mostly rock and roll music and that my Dad had much more of an alternative edge to him!  In honor of Father's Day (yesterday) I've compiled a list of bands that I probably wouldn't really know about had they not been introduced to me by my Dad.

The Clash

The Beatles

The Rolling Stones

Gem

Marina and the Diamonds

Coldplay

The Allman Brothers

CCR

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Led Zeppelin

Ben Harper

Jack Johnson

Queen (though, in all honesty, it was my Mom who would play "We Are the Champions" every time we lost a Cheerleading competition to make us feel better)

The list could really go on and on, his taste in music always surprises me. I specifically love that he introduced me to Marina and the Diamonds! He was the one that heard "I Am Not a Robot" first and made my sister and I listen to it, obviously forming an eternal love for her and her music. I credit a lot to my Dad, not least of all his caring and compassionate personality. He's a family man, and he loves my sister, my brother and I dearly. I love him and I'm so happy that I got to spend my day yesterday with him! 

Rainy Day

TGIF! Now, if only it weren't raining... We can't always have sunny days in New England, but we can enjoy the gloom with a few key songs and the perfect plans for dinner!  After a nice little home cooked meal (post brutal work out with personal trainer), I can't wait to have a great night hanging out with people that make me feel like the work week is just what I do, not who I am!

For a Friday night that is bound to be a little wet before hitting the bars, getting pumped up and into the right frame of mind is key! I recommend Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke (Ft. Pharrell and T.I) for just such an occasion. It's new, it's a great pop song, and it makes me want to move around a lot! A favorite line from this song, "What rhymes with hug me?" I love it when you can hear Thicke laugh a little while he is singing this specific line, it makes me like the song even more because I know that it isn't taking itself too seriously.  

Another great listen, obviously, is I Love It by Icona Pop.  My sister, brother in law, and I were all at the Marina and the Diamonds concert when we first heard Icona Pop. They were opening for Marina and we got there just in time for them to start rocking out hard core to their best known song.  Since we saw that concert way back in December, the world has gone crazy for this Swedish duo and I Love It has become a sort of anthem.  It is slightly overplayed on our Top Hits Station in the Boston area, but I still love it so much! Tough week at work? Who cares?! I don't care, I Love It basically becomes the trending hashtag of the the weekend.

Finally, as I make my way into the rain tonight to go down to our favorite pub, I know that Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Get Lucky will be played at least once!  The perfect send off for a night full of carefree fun and flirting!  

And on that note....thank God it's Friday night....

HAIM

I've been reintroduced to a band that at first listen I couldn't get into, but now I can't get enough of.  Their band is also their namesake, HAIM.  I wish that my sibs and I could rock out like these sisters! The cool mix of musical influences are draped throughout each song that they delicately weave together for an altogther chill sound.  This is not your typical "chill" band, this is the band that you listen to when you want to wear loud clothing and maybe go out of your house with teased hair.  By "chill" I mean that they seem like they could care less, and that's awesome.  Again, I wish that my sibs and I were this kind of cool. 

There are some pretty core differences between my siblings and the HAIM sisters, though, let me list them:

1. Though my siblings and I all play (or attempt to play) various instruments, none of us are forming bands anytime soon...except maybe our brother. Anyone need a kick ass trombone player???

2. My siblings and I weren't handed drumsticks and guitars as babies.  We watched Disney movies and sang along to their soundtracks whilst playing our hippopotamus castanets and frog maracas.  

3. My siblings and I would rather harmonize to the likes of Peter, Paul and Mary than create our own amazing sound that can only be described as a cross between Annie Lenox, Fleetwood Mac, Solange, Destiny's Child, and perhaps Miami Sound Machine. None of those things seem like they would fit together, but believe me, they absolutely do.

Again, I love my sister and brother dearly, but our severe lack of balanced musical ability sort of snubs our chances of ever forming a really cool band.  I won't deny the fact that my sister and I pull off a killer harmony every now and again (ahem, can we say N*Sync cover of their acapella O Holy Night?), but nothing compared to this smooth set of vocals that remind me of a place that I have never been.  

Listen to HAIM and tell me what you think!

(listen to this whole song, but at about 2:42 see if you can spot which Destiny's Child music video they are pulling their dance from! I knew immediately, and then had to listen to some awesome throw back DC!)

The Shouting Matches

I try not to be overly biased towards one specific genre of music, but that doesn't always happen. We all have our favorite songs and our favorite artists, and some people just don't care! As long as there is music playing somewhere, then they are happy. I try to be that type of person. As long as there is some sort of melody being played and I can hear it, I enjoy the music of the moment.  However, when listening to music on my own, I do tend to stick to the more Americana/Folk end of the spectrum. There are a lot of artists out there that aren't getting a ton of recognition in this genre, I usually feel like it's my job to help them out.  This post isn't going to be about that though, this post is going to be about one rock band that I can't stop listening to.

This whole introduction leads me to the first of, I'm sure, many posts about The Shouting Matches.  Many of you who read this will appreciate the fact that I love Justin Vernon (Bon Iver). There are few men in this world that I feel are true musical chameleons, Justin Vernon is one of them. The Shouting Matches is his latest venture with some buddies of his from Wisconsin (Phil Cook-Megafaun and Brian Moen- Peter Wolf Crier) who are taking on some serious garage band music. I. Love. Garage bands.  The pure rock and roll that comes from riffing and jamming can be a beautiful thing, and when you're already an accomplished recording artist, usually your harmonies tend to be pretty killer too.  The Shouting Matches play to Justin Vernon's lower vocal stylings, and the results are pretty great.  Heaven Knows is my personal favorite on this album, I love a true slow and steady beat. It brings out a feeling inside of me that I can only describe as longing.  I long for that beat to be part of my everyday sound track, as in, I wish that this song could play as I walk down the street and my hair blows in the wind and therefore I looks awesome...Anyway...The album is Grownass Man and they are The Shouting Matches.

Yes, I still make mix tapes. So?

My friend Steph has always told me she loves it when I make mix cd's, and I've grown to believe her. Bless her little heart, I'm sure she just humors me, but I love making mix cd's. It's fun, time consuming, and lets me be a music snob. I clearly love being the person to introduce new music to people, so this form of sharing is one that I hold near and dear. 

I'm trying to get better at posting a lot, so bare with me while I find my weekly flow again!

Summer Tracks

The start to my summer of 2013 playlist.  I love Groove Shark, I thought I'd share the start to my summer playlist that I intend on growing throughout the next few months. Let me know what should be on there and I'll keep updating it! Some of these aren't so new to anyone, but they are still summer staples that make the summer perfect.

Hope everyone is enjoying their day!

-A

"No postcode envy..."

It's been too long, I'm aware.  Here are some updates!

First of all there's way too much music out there for me to pinpoint one band that I think will be the next up and coming this summer, but I will say that I am pretty proud of my past predictions with Alabama Shakes and The Lumineers! Even the Milk Carton Kids are coming into their own! Glad I got to go to that concert last summer for under $30, that will never happen again.

Here I go again with my predictions for the 2013 year for next bands to be listening and looking out for:

Lucius.  I have a 6 degrees of separation with this band, so I'm partial to them no matter what, but it really doesn't detract from the fact that they are awesome.  Killer harmonies and this amazing way of sounding like they are crying, but they aren't, I can't explain it.  They have been playing everywhere that they can and are working hard to get their names out there. Listen to "Turn It Around" and "Go Home" for great first listens. If you're too lazy to find them on your own, here is their Tiny Desk Concert from NPR!!

Bearstronaut.  Another 6 degrees of separation, but still an amazing band.  They will actually be playing with Lucius at the next Boston Calling concert in September, and I cannot wait to see them! Electronica isn't always my jam, but these guys make me want to dance...a lot. They really let their creativity shine through in their song Paradice with a ton of different musical influences. Think 80's pop combined with some bass drops a la dubstep.  Again, not always my go to, but it gets you going and really pumps you up!

The Lone Bellow.  Again, THANK YOU NPR, for showing me The Lone Bellow.  I have just recently started hearing them being played on the radio and I am so happy for them.  They are a truly unique band mixing country, folk, and rock and roll music to create their own form of melody.  They remind me of the Civil Wars at times, but still completely different.  My favorite song is Two Sides of Lonely, it's beautiful and melodic, sad and happy all at the same time.  I can't tear myself away when I listen, especially when it comes to the bridge.  Listen here to their Tiny Desk Concert and hear what they sound like live.


Last but not least, my latest love Lorde.  A 16 year old from New Zealand who makes me feel like I haven't accomplished anything in my life because of how talented she already is.  I see her going places and possibly having the break out hit of the summer with Royals.  Listen to it below, I couldn't resist posting the actual video.  I heard her for the first time last night on our local alternative radio station 92.5 The River and have not been able to stop listening to her. There is something about this song that is infectious, and, as I just told my friend K, I would like everyone to love it as much as I do.


Enjoy and share with me any new finds you may come across!

A time for change!

Okay, I've been really hyping this site up to a lot of people lately, so hopefully that motivates me to actually post and keep it up to date! 

Some great music is coming up in 2013 and I'm really excited for it. I have a feeling that it's going to be the year that dance music from the 80's comes back full force and the mind numbing pop dance songs sort of fade into the background. A girl can dream, can't she?! I will have to say that the folk/americana movement is really making itself known in the mainstream and that is something that I LOVE! I know that it won't last long, but thank you, Phillip Phillips for making your American Idol song that of a wonderfully worded ode to your Home. It has made other bands, like The Lumineers, have a change at being played on stations like Kiss 108. 

Some bands that I'm excited for this year:
fun.
Bearstronaut (SERIOUSLY! take a listen to them, they are a cool group that hails from the Boston area. 80's pop, but also a cool ethereal almost Beach House vibe!)
The Lone Bellow
Cat Power (she came back in 2012 with "Sun" and I'm really hoping that she doesn't go away again for such a long period of time)

let me know if there is anything else that I should be listening to!!

-ac