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recap: Ben Folds @ the Greek,

New Music Tuesday Review for 2015-02-03

This list was really hard to whittle down for some reason. I think initially I was worried that I wouldn't have enough songs. If I don't love the song, I shouldn't put it on here though so this list is a little on the light side. On to the list!

Hurricane by MisterWives

Nice positive anthemic song about defiantly being yourself and thinking for yourself:

"We are not your property

See with our own clarity

Ears close, eyes open, voice won't be broken

Won't dance within your walls"

Now and Again by Tor Miller

Really great chill song. I love the piano part and the chorus is nice and full.

I'm Good by The Mowgli's

Another really positive anthem this week. Maybe the lyrics are a little sugary but it just makes me happy listening to it.

Hypernight by Title Fight

A great atmospheric rock song that is technically very interesting with an awesome bass line. One of our favorite bands, Merchandise, is opening for them next month so it will be good to get a first hand impression of them.

I'll Make Time for You by Kristin Diable

I love the old school sound on this track complete with the electric organ and echo-y vocals. 

New Music Tuesday review for 2015-01-27

I got a little behind with posts the last couple weeks so no TBT today First up the list from the 27th.

Black Sun by Death Cab for Cutie

Finally some new music from Death Cab! Just a great song with a nice guitar piece running through it. 

False Hope by Laura Marling

With her vocals I can't help but think of Chrissy Hynde and I love how the song builds from being sparse in the beginning to a full rich bridge.

Bubble by The Dodos

Some nice '60s style harmonies with some very interesting drum work on this song.

The Last Ones Standing by Tep No

I love the finger plucking throughout the song and it is a nice chill dance song.

Loose Man by Torche

Heavy heavy driving guitars so a bit of a contrast from Tep No. Big and loud. I love it.

Teenage Illusion by Soda Fabric

A very stripped down and sparse song with a nice groove to it. 

Weight of Love by The Black Keys

This is my new song obsession. Just a rich gorgeous song that musically is just impressive. The bass line is incredible and the guitar solo starting at 2:45 is nothing other than face melting. While I live Gotta Get Away and Fever from this album, this is a masterpiece in my mind that blows them away.

Lou Reed - Don't Leave by LoveyDove

A great groovy song paying homage to Lou Reed. 

Mistakes Like This by Prelow

A nice hip hop groove like Common yet sung lyrics that are great. Just a chill groovy song.

Julep by Punch Brothers

What a great song. Sonically it is like valium or a cool breeze in the evening: just so relaxing and peaceful.

#TBT for 1/22/2015

Welcome to your dose of the 90's music with ThrowBack Thursday! Today we are going on a super sugary pop journey starting with...Lovefool!

My roommate in high school had the soundtrack to Romeo and Juliet and would dance and lip sync this to get me to crack up in study hall.

XM coughed up Mouth by Merril Bainbridge. A one hit wonder that I had totally forgotten about:

For the afternoon song, one from "She's All That", Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer

New Music Tuesday for 2015-01-21

It is that time again! After a day of listening, here are my New Music songs this week.

Juntos by Juanes

We start things off with a fun song from Juanes that has a great beat and groove to it with some soulful vocals.

Fade Out Lines by The Avener

A great calm dance song with a really chill vibe. 

I Am the Fool by The Bros. Landreth

I really really love this song. I am a sucker for the blues anyways but this is a tight song with some nice harmonies during the refrain. I'll be seeing if these guys are coming to LA this year!

I Don't Want to Let You Down by Sharon Van Etten

A chill and soulful song with rich guitars.

Leaf Off / The Cave by José González

A total atmospheric song that wouldn't be out of place in a 60's drum circle with some gorgeous harmonies.

Los Angeles by Mat Kearney

A wonderful blend of folk and hip hop with amazing lyrics. My wife has loved Los Angeles since she was little and the fact that we packed our beer can of a car to make our life out here makes these lyrics resonate deeply.

No Cities To Love by Sleater-Kinney

Some great old school punk sound on this track. I love the bass riff on this and it will be some time until I am skilled enough to take it on.

Parasite by Armors

Slow, driving, anthemic rock.

Sunburns by Fences

Jocular, playful rhythms that make great use of contrast between the mellow versus and a raucous refrain.

Voodoo Doll by Diamond Rugs

A really fun stripped down song that reminds me of B-52s "Rock Lobster" stylistically.

Blame It On Me and Barcelona by George Ezra

I really enjoy George Ezra and am excited for some more tunes from him. Budapest was addictive and now there are these two great but different songs. Blame It On Me is a lot more up tempo and is the kind of song I would love to hear in a pub with everyone stomping their feet. Barcelona, in contrast, is a beautiful melodic tune.

#TBT for 1/15/2015

Sometimes I can't think of anything interesting for Throw Back Thursday but yesterday XM's 90's on 9 coughed up a gem for the song of the morning:

I have not even THOUGHT of that song in a long long time. Gotta love the 90's dance music!

For the noon update a couple of songs:

Totally thought that Edie was in the 90's but nope, just before.

When I was growing up I thought this was Madonna.

I need a little pick me up to finish my work day. I think some Garbage will work nicely:

New Music Tuesday for 2015-01-13

Welcome to this week's New Music Tuesday review! Mini Mansions and The Decembrists have multiple songs out this week but I only chose one from each.

Heart Beats Slow by Angus & Julia Stone

Beautiful haunting lyrical guitar and good vocals. I was amazed at the end of this recording that it was live.

Any Emotions by Mini Mansions with Brian Wilson (yes that Brian Wilson)

This might not be everyone's taste but this is a very chill atmospheric song. It is rooted with bass chords and definitely melds with Brian Wilson's Beach Boys sound. I love it.

A Beginning Song by The Decembrists

The Decembrists have been slowly but surely releasing the tracks to their upcoming album over the past month. So far I have to say I am impressed and this song keeps with the awesome train rolling.

Cold As It Is by The Lone Bellow

Just a really fun southern rocking song. Makes me think that I should be hearing this in a honky tonk.

Missing You Tonight by Striking Matches

Wow, simply wow. Just a great groove and great vocal harmonies. I can't believe that (as of this post) this is their only song on Spotify. I am excited to hear more from them!

Our Own House by MisterWives

This one starts a little slow but soon ramps up to this great disco type number with nice horns.

New Music Tuesday for 2015-01-06

Every Tuesday Spotify updates its New Music Tuesday playlist with a great mix of music. Some of the tracks I love but some...not so much. Every week I will share the songs that caught my ear. I realize I am a week behind so here is last weeks list:

Homesick by Catfish and the Bottlemen

Great indie sound and really creative lyrics:

"I'm not the type to call you up drunk but I have some lies to tell"

This Welsh band made their US debut last week and I am digging the album so far.

Away We Go by Joshua Radin

Very pretty acoustic folk number that sounds a lot like Elliott Smith. 

Secret by Chelsea Lankes

Wow, what a perfect, catchy-as-hell pop song. This perfect blend of kinda 80's and Katy Perry and that refrain is just infectious. Definitely my most listened to song from this list. Also, the video is super hot:

Wherever Is Your Heart by Brandi Carlile

Great old school country or folk sound that fits in perfectly with Shovels and Rope and Head and the Heart (thank you Sydney). I also just love the lyrics about traveling but that your home is always where your lover's heart is.

#TBT for 1/8/2015

Last year I did Throwback Thursdays every week with the people at work so I figured I would carry that over to here. I'll be updating this post throughout the day and will post a playlist at the end of the day.

First up some Lenny Kravitz!

Now to bring it down a bit. I remember seeing this video the first time, and it is just so poignant.

Lastly one little gem that YouTube coughed up. I didn't realize Claire Danes was in one of their videos.

Stellar Album of 2014: After The End by Merchandise

Last year was a year where I tried to push myself musically. I needed to dust off the musician in me and explore the wider world of music than what was just playing on my stereo. To accomplish this I dove into the New Music Tuesday playlist on Spotify to see if anything moves me. Easily the largest gem to come out of these explorations is After The End by the Tampa band Merchandise:


With nice bass riffs, great guitar and synth parts and stellar vocals in my range (I am a bass after all), it has some of the best qualities of late 80's alt-rock. While I love every track on this masterpiece, I do have favorites.

Enemy

The acoustic guitar part that runs throughout is infectious and pairs well with the supporting bass line. I love the lyrics on this one.

True Monument

This song feels like this wonderful sweeping wall of sound that has this great resonant echoing quality with the vocals. The transition between this song and the following track is also pretty cool as it fades into an old time radio sound.

Green Lady

I would be remiss if I didn't call out this song as this was the one that popped up on New Music Tuesday. In contrast to the previous two songs this is a heavy heavy synth song with something sounding like a citar providing a nice accent. 

Hopefully I can go and see these guys this year but in the meantime here is a nice live performance of Enemy: