music

Earworm: “Flaws” by Bastille

You all know my weak heart for indie rock.

And we all know how much I love the UK. And having recently rediscovered Bastille through YouTube of all places, I figured I’d share this with you all.

I’ve had Bastille’s debut album Bad Blood sitting in my music folder for the longest time, my friends had recommended them to me and I downloaded their album without even thinking about if I would like their music or not. This is one of the greatest leaps of faith ever, because lo and behold, I love their music. They’re a high quality four man group, and Dan Smith’s vocals definitely throw it over the edge.

And his hair? DAMN HIS HAIR IS AWESOME. (This lil bit about hair is a little joke at The Big Cheese and my other cousins who mock me and my “One Direction” hair. By the way, my gravitar is inaccurate to my face, now. I should change that.)

Anyway.

Bastille is great, listen to the entire album Bad Blood. Look up their acoustic sessions on YouTube. Find their Abbey Road sessions, too. It’s incredible. The violins and the vocals it’s just heavenly.

Regular:

Acoustic Live in Paris:

Abbey Road:

Earworm: Foolish Games – Jewel

I recently listened to Jewel’s greatest hits album, and it sort of brought back memories of when she was really big back in the 90’s.  Yes, it’s not the typical music I listen to these day’s, but back then, I was still sort of discovering anything outside of the top pop hits that were being played on the radio.  I didn’t get a say to what music was being played in the car, and I didn’t really care much for music outside of the car back then.  Anyway, Jewel was probably one of my first musical crushes.  She’s just so beautiful, and such a powerful voice.  Anyway, here’s one of my all time favorite songs of hers.

 

Here’s also a nice  version that is found on the greatest hits album, it’s a duet with Kelly Clarkson.  I really enjoyed this one as well.

 

 

 

 

Join Spotify!

I know, I know. Pandora has been your go to. Or maybe you just pirate your music. Possibly you just use YouTube for all of it.

Well now is the time to stop that. Ever wonder how I come up with such obscure songs for my Earworms? Well you shouldn’t, because I try my best to inform you lot of how I came across the songs. Regardless, the predominant culprit is Spotify. (more…)

Earworm: “Ocean’s Deep” by Born Ruffians

Judge my indie music taste. I dare you.

[Disclaimer: hipster music has gotten to me.]

Born Ruffians is a band incredibly popular on SoundCloud, and I realize why. Their sound is infectious. “Exuberant pop,” I heard, was one of their taglines on SoundCloud. And it reigns true to its word, this description.

Lead singer Luke Lalonde has one of those whiny voices girls swoon over, but I’m glad zero of my friends know of this band, for they’d ruin it for me.

My largest fear for indie bands (and yes, this is so ‘hipster’ for me to say) is to see them become a radio/production company puppet. One where their music no longer comes from the heart but from trying to make pop hits. Acts lose their integrity from fame, it’s the sad truth. Sure, some bands handle it properly, such as Fall Out Boy and Paramore and Panic! at the Disco (all coincidentally signed to Fueled by Ramen records). But many bands just go to shit.

Born Ruffians is unheard of, and they’re unspeakably good.

Have a listen to this acoustic jam.

And here’s the regular edition.

Let me know which one you prefer!

Earworm: Tegan and Sara – Closer

I didn’t like this song at first, but the more I heard it, I grew to love it.  It’s so catchy, and sort of reminds me of Franz Ferdinands “Take Me Out“.  Enjoy

and here’s Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out”

Earworm: “The Run and Go” by Twenty One Pilots

Who knew Ohio could produce such great musical duos?

Akron already blessed us with The Black Keys, and here come along twenty | one | pilots from Columbus?

Surely they were a well known band before I discovered them, but wow my ears are pleased. Very pleased. They’re another fantastic band signed to Fueled by Ramen.

My friend Marco had been trying so hard to get me to listen to their music, always plugging them into conversations here and there. At around 4 in the morning, I decided, hey, what’s some new music to listen to? Oh, right, these guys! And here I am. Pointlessly rambling to a computer screen hoping for you guys to read this and listen to the same music as I do.

Unfortunately, the voice of lead singer Tyler Joseph does have a bit of a resemblance to Nate Ruess, lead singer of fun.

So here. Enjoy it.

Magna Carta Holy Shit.

No, I’m not calling Jay-Z’s newest album shit. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

I have never been so hyped about a new hip-hop/rap album. Kanye’s recent Yeezus got me excited, but I’m calling it right now, Magna Carta Holy Grail will be rap album of the year. J Cole’s Born Sinner is of the same caliber, with great music as well, but MCHG… Damn.

Seen all those Samsung commercials promoting it? Heard the background music? Those teasers do not do this album justice. Of course, you get a glimpse of the production process. But once you hear the album, you’ll be blown away. I know I was.

Here’s the tracklisting for you.

  1. Holy Grail (feat. Justin Timberlake)
  2. Picasso Baby
  3. Tom Ford
  4. F*ckwithmeyouknowigotit (feat. Rick Ross)
  5. Oceans (feat. Frank Ocean)
  6. F.U.T.W.
  7. Somewhereinamerica
  8. Crown
  9. Heaven
  10. Versus
  11. Part II (On The Run) (Feat. Beyonce)
  12. Beach Is Better
  13. BBC
  14. Jay Z Blue
  15. La Familia
  16. Nickels and Dimes

Here’s my advice. Don’t hesitate to download this album. This is going to go down in history as one of the best rap albums of all time. Jay never disappoints.

 

Earworm: Just Give Me A Reason – P!nk Ft. Nate Ruess

First of all, I would like to apologize for posting this.  I know some of you may like this, but I do not.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s an OK song…wait, never mind, I just really don’t like it.  They overplay it on the radio.  Just yesterday, all three of my usual morning stations were playing the song at the same time!  It gets regular rotations on Sirius‘ Hit’s 1, Top 20, and the Pulse.  And it’s been stuck on my head.  I probably wouldn’t mind it so much if fun. didn’t get so much air play too.  I am just not a big fan of fun.  Nate Ruess just sounds like a man that just inhaled helium, and at the same time got kicked in the gonads.

Anyway, here is the video.

 

[youtube http://youtu.be/OpQFFLBMEPI]

Earworm: “Horchata” by Vampire Weekend

What in the blazing balls is a Horchata?

horchata

Okay, so that’s a horchata. Why did Vampire Weekend use a Mexican concoction as a song?

I’m honestly too lazy to delve deeper, though. I like the song, it’s soothing, it’s fun to say “horchata.”

There’s no music video, but the live version is available. Oh, and this just makes their fanbase look like 16 year old hipster girls.

Earworm: “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” by Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran. I love this guy. Millions of da chicas love this guy. His album, +, has received commercial success worldwide and his songs are blaring on most pop radio stations, Satellite or standard FM or otherwise.

His first single, The A Team, peaked at number one. This song is his follow up single. It peaked at number 4, and I like it so much better, just because the songs have such contrasting sounds.

You Need Me is nothing like the A Team, actually. It’s no ‘pity on the beautiful hooker’ song, it’s a, ‘screw you, I’m me’ song. Fantastic, really.

Here’s the music video. Get at it.