Today, I am writing you from my prison of the last few days; I am laid out in my home after throwing my back out on Wednesday. It goes without saying, that right now, I am not a happy camper. However, that will not stop me from bringing you the 5SF I promised you this week. See how nice I am? Alright, let’s get to it!
Zac Brown Band – Jolene
I’ve written many times before that I am not that big of a country music fan, but I am a sucker for great music; whether it is country or not. Before the Grammy’s, I had heard of Zac Brown Band, but I hadn’t heard any of their music. After seeing them perform live on the Grammy’s, and after getting chills by their amazing performance, I decided it was time to check these boys out; and I am glad that I did. While most of their songs are a bit too blue-grass twinged for me, this song instantly stood out and has since taken me completely over. I cannot get enough of this evocative song, filled to the brim with emotive lyrics and sweet sincerity in the vocals. Add to that the truly moving fiddle, and the wonderful arrangement, and you have an amazing song, and Jolene is just that; a truly amazing song. While I may not love it all, I can definitely say that Jolene has definitely made me a fan of the Zac Brown Band.
The Courteeners – You Overdid It Doll
I first heard this one on BBC Radio 1, and it is yet another reminder of why BBC Radio 1 is such a great place to hear great music I probably wouldn’t have heard anywhere else. This Mancunian band has taken me by storm for the past few weeks with this insanely catchy song. While the Courteeners share similarities with other great British bands like White Lies and Kaiser Chiefs, these guys are certainly contributing their own welcome addition to the British alternative pop-rock scene with this great new single. I found it funny, that after they played this that first time I heard it on BBC Radio 1, that people were texting in asking if it was called “You Own a Denim Dog”, because that is what it sounds like he is singing in the chorus. I love misheard lyrics, and that one is actually pretty spot on!
Neon Trees – Animal
Speaking of insanely catchy songs, after seeing the cute video for this song (and clapping along at the appropriate sections), I immediately made a note to go and download this great track. Lead singer Tyler Green has a similar tonal quality to his voice as Rufus Wainwright, which I find surprisingly refreshing, as this is definitely more upbeat and energetic than most of Wainwright’s (also amazing) work. Overall, this is a perfect song to get ready for the warmer months, and is a welcome early addition to my soundtrack for spring. This is also one of those songs that really grabs you initially, but doesn’t stop there; it continually digs in and only grows on you more and more with each listen.
Surfer Blood – Swim
My friend Jason deserves all of the credit for this one, because he is the one that turned me on to this track. While I was a bit off-put by the strange band name, I was brought fully on board when I heard this delightful multi-layered track. I like the way they remind me of groups from my high school days, like Nada Surf, only to shift gears halfway into the song, and become super current with a sound similar to the amazing Vampire Weekend. I love the blend of East Coast pop-punk, and the West Coast surfer rock. Overall, this is a great find, and one that I predict will be big on the indie circuit in 2010. Thanks for the heads up on this great song, Jason!
The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
I heard this while watching (500) Days of Summer a couple of weeks ago, and while I wasn’t blown away by the movie, I did love this song, and made a note to download it after the movie was over. I will say about the film (and all films/tv shows/etc for that matter), that I absolutely love when a director (or music editor? well, whoever picks the songs, anyway) knows how to incorporate the perfect backing music for a scene; and in this case, they totally hit the nail on the head. This song beautifully framed the scenes it was used in, and obviously, captivated my attention enough for me to download it after seeing the movie. I almost hate to say it but this song would be a perfect commercial song, because of how well it flows as background music; but with that being said, that doesn’t in any way speak to the quality of this song. It is a great song that I am glad to have stumbled upon; even if it was just playing in the background.
Well, as I sit here, waiting for the muscle relaxers to kick in, I hope that you have enjoyed another (semi-regular) 5SF. Please, as always, let me know what you thought of this week’s selections, and also make sure to make your own!! Stay tuned for the next installment of the 5SF, coming soon to a Friday near you!!!
First up today, is the new single Hollywood from Marina and the Diamonds. I fell instantly in love with Marina back in 2009 with her MASSIVE single, I Am Not A Robot, which I still play over and over. I have been waiting for Marina to release a proper full length album, and it seems my wishes will be fulfilled later this month. With Hollywood being the first taste of what to expect, my guess is Marina’s upcoming debut, The Family Jewels, will find itself amongst my favorite albums of 2010. This song is on constant repeat in my car, and it really does seem that I cannot get enough of Marina and the Diamonds. Living in the movie scene/puking American dreams; YES!!
If this song comes on, and I am on the dance floor, my advice to you is to back the fuck up, because I am about to break this motherfucker down. Seriously, I first heard this track after my buddy Stu turned me on to it, and now it is a MUST request every time we go dancing at Mary’s. This jam has such a fresh and infectious dance groove, and it really gets me moving, and makes me want to dance my legs off. This is one of those songs that I have been enjoying for a little while now, and I have been antsy waiting to get the word out to all of you; finally, the Kid Sister love is out there!! I want to go out, stack money, and drink all night with this bad ass lady!
From their upcoming (?) album, The Spell, this track is one of those songs that is such a wonderful reminder of the great dance pop of the 90s. Just like the Kid Sister track above, this song is one of those songs that every single time it comes on, I find myself dancing like a maniac, and loving every second of it. I love everything about this song, and it is one that I have definitely been playing on repeat. Note: that while the player does say that this song is called Hole In My Heart, it is definitely mislabelled, because the song that plays in the above player is definitely DJ. To me, this is the best song Alphabeat has made to date!
This song kind of came out of nowhere for me; and I loved it the first time I heard it. The power riffs, killer vocals, and the well-written kiss off lyrics are just too good to ignore. While the Guitar Hero-esque video is a bit weird, I have to say, that it is refreshing to see a girl that can really wail on the guitar like Orianthi can, and I love the way she melds the metal guitar with pure, unadulterated pop music. This song should be getting a lot of radio play very soon as more and more people catch on to this infectious little song. 
While I was sad that Ellipse didn’t resonate with me in the way that her previous album did, I re-discovered this amazing track when I heard it in the background on one of my regular shows (I think it was Chuck). After hearing it again, I went back and spent some more time with this song, and I have to say, that I completely love it, and I am glad that I was able to re-discover its brilliance. I love the song’s inherent sweetness, and the multi-layered melodies that Imogen is so good at weaving together. Sometimes, I find songs on albums that I put down too soon, and this is a wonderful example of that happening.