Category: music suggestion

music musings, music suggestion

my favorite albums of 2012… finally

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Well, I honestly didn’t think it would take me this long to get to this. It seems that when you work in healthcare, that you are so drained when you are home from work, that you just want to vegetate; well, at least, that seems to be my norm at least. Needless to say, I have been working all the darn time, and have far less time to blog and enjoy music than I would like. That being said, I do want to highlight the amazing albums that I fell in love with in 2012, and continue to enjoy now. Here are my favorite albums of 2012:

1. Mumford and Sons – Babel
No other album captured my attention in 2012 like Babel. This album builds on their previous album, Sigh No More, and brings a more well seasoned and polished, but somehow more raw and richer sound to the band. They are making the music that I love listening to most right now, and it is fair to say that I cannot get enough of Mumford and Sons. I was very happy to see them win a Grammy for the album of the year for Babel, because it is very, very well deserved. This is definitely the album I listened to the most in 2012, far and above all the rest. There isn’t a bad track on this disc, and it firmly cemented these guys as one of my favorite groups. Highlights: I Will Wait, Babel, Holland Road, Lover of the Light.

2. P!nk – The Truth About Love
I have loved P!nk for years, and like a fine wine, she seems to only be getting better with age. I had some high hopes for this album due to a very strong lead single with Blow Me (One Last Kiss), and my hopes and expectations were not only met, but completely blown away. I was fortunate enough to see P!nk live recently, and she is certainly growing stronger as an artist; and this album proves it. She has found her niche, honed her sound to her sensibilities, and she is making amazing music. She’s not only a great singer, but a clever song writer, and outstanding artist who has earned the respect that she so rightfully deserves. Definitely my favorite P!nk album so far. Highlights: Try, All We All We Are, Blow Me (One Last Kiss), Walk Of Shame.

3. Marina and the Diamonds – Electra Heart
Much like I Am Not A Robot generated overwhelming excitement for her debut, when I heard Radioactive, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the sophomore album from the fabulous Marina and the Diamonds. While I did have to wait a little while (Radioactive was quietly released late in 2011), what I got was sheer delight. Marina is one of those artists that has such talent that it cannot be masked. This album only builds on her debut; she continues to make very strong, very well written and produced pop. It felt like she was growing and spreading her branches, looked out into what other areas she’d like to explore with her sound; and the result is spectacular. I was fortunate enough to see her live (finally!), and she was magnificent, as expected. As I have been doing for a while now, I will continue to keep my eyes and ears glued to the happenings and music of this fabulous pop chanteuse. Highlights: Primadonna, Radioactive, Lies, Power and Control, How To Be A Heartbreaker.

4. Of Monsters and Men – My Head is an Animal
You may have heard the kinda overplayed (not really, though, it’s a magnificent song that I am still firmly in love with) hit Little Talks, and thought, this is a lot like songs from Mumford and Sons and the Lumineers! And while it is in the same vein of folk driven rock, these guys have a quirk that begs for their own bit of the spotlight. After falling in love with Little Talks, I had to check out the rest of their album, My Head is an Animal, and I am glad I did; the entire album is full of well spun tapestries of folk rock with haunting Icelandic vocals from the band’s leads. The entire album is a delightful folk rock adventure that finds itself very welcome in this days popular music canon (It’s a folkspolsion!); and very prominent and in heavy rotation on my iPod as well. I love when a lead single takes you on a journey of fantastic musical discovery, which is exactly what happened here. Highlights: Little Talks, Dirty Paws, Love Love Love, King and Lionheart.

5. Benjamin Gibbard – Former Lives
What can I say, I am a sucker for this nerd-do-well’s swoon-inducing voice, and while it is a (slight, everso) bit tamer than a Death Cab for Cutie record, it is a fantastic mini-departure that sounds like something Benjamin has been waiting to get out for some time. It’s always a risk when a very well known band’s lead takes a step out from the front of the band to make a solo record, but in this case, it is a welcome and fanatic effort that is down right wonderful from beginning to end. Obviously, it isn’t TOO different from a Death Cab for Cutie album, seeing as he writes the songs and is the singer for the band, but it has a bit of a more country vibe that the band doesn’t really showcase. When I heard he was doing this album, I knew I would love it, and you know what, I do! Highlights: Bigger Than Love, Lady Adelaide, Lily, Dream Song.

6. Ke$ha – Warrior
This album was a giant surprise to me; both in how much I liked it, and in how good it turned out to be. I have continually tried to frown on Ke$ha as a one hit wonder, or a flash in the pan, but when Die Young refused to leave the airways, or my head, and I found myself tapping my toes in time with the downbeat each time I heard it, I knew that Ke$ha was more than growing on me; she’d already done it. When Warrior was released I figured I’d at least give it a listen, considering how much I like Die Young, and honestly, I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed it; and kept enjoying it. It is fair to say that I couldn’t stop listening to this album, and I am glad that I gave in to “guilty” pleasure, and just enjoyed it for what it is; pure fun, trashy, never-taking-itself-seriously pop. However, speaking of guilty pleasures, as Dave Grohl said, “I don’t believe in guilty pleasures, I believe you should be able to like what you like. If you a like a fucking Ke$ha song, listen to fucking Ke$ha.”… it appears now, that he couldn’t be more right, and listen to Ke$ha I will. Highlights: C’mon, Die Young, Thinking of You, Last Goodbye.

7. Adam Lambert – Trespassing
I loved him on Idol, and unfortunately, I was a little bit disappointed by his debut album. That being said, when I heard the lead single, Better Than I Know Myself, I knew he had come into his own, and that this album would be the album that he wanted to make; and I was right. He clearly had a lot more input this time, and the result is a more mature record that really feels like a comfortable fit for him. His voice has never sounded better, and they highlight his incredible range a lot more on this album. This is the album I wish he would have made first, but I am glad he got the opportunity to follow up his debut with something this strong. He should be on the radio a LOT more than he is; this album is full of singles. Highlights: Better Than I Know Myself, Never Close Our Eyes, Broken English, Underneath.

8. Trampled by Turtles – Stars and Satellites
Yes, this is the third folk-rock/Americana album on my year end list, so you should have a sense of what kind of music I have fallen head over heels in love with, as of late. Someone was talking about Trampled By Turtles on one of the many social media sites I frequent, and I thought, what an interesting name for a band. Then, I saw them mentioned by several other people as being fantastic, so I figured I’d check them out; boy I am glad I did. When I first heard Alone, I was swooning so hard I knew I had to have more. The haunting vocals over banjo picking and soaring violins builds into an all out hoedown, one that I wish I could go to each and every night. I ended up listening to the entire album and loving it; although it is definitely routed in more southern, bluegrass driven folk than the previous two folk bands that are on this list. This was an excellent discovery that I am glad to have found thanks to the many friends that were talking about this awesome band. Thanks!! Highlights: Alone, Beautiful, High Water, Widower’s Heart.

9. Brandi Carlile – Bear Creek
If you are a fan of bands like the Indigo Girls, then Brandi Carlile is a no-brainer. I’ve loved this lady since her debut, The Story, which made my best of list waaay back in 2007, and followed her through her sophomore effort, Give Up The Ghost, which made my best of list in 2009. Needless to say, I was very excited to see a new album from her in 2012, and with the lead single That Wasn’t Me being one of her best efforts to date, I knew almost instantly that there would be another best of list Brandi would be a part of; and look a here, I was right. Her voice is so sharp that it could cut glass, and so delicate that it would pick up the pieces. Brandi’s songs tug at your heartstrings, and fill you with delight while inducing chills with her ability to take country folk down to the local church for a choir backed performance. This album is another shining example of a great artist making consistently great music, and it was one that I was glad to pick up in 2012. Highlights: That Wasn’t Me, A Promise To Keep, Hard Way Home, Save Part of Yourself.

And of course, other GREAT albums that I discovered in 2012 (some of which, just missed my best of list by a hair):

  • Casey Abrams – Casey Abrams – Great solo album from one of my favorite Idol contestants that was clearly too talented to win the show. And he’s a cute ginger-bear!
  • A Fine Frenzy – Pines – An album I was very excited to see released, only to sadly, not get into it. Maybe it will get it’s chance later on.
  • Agnes – Veritas – Different, more mature record than her saccharine debut, but some great stuff on here, nonetheless.
  • Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel… – I adore Fiona, but I really didn’t get into this album. I was excited for it, but it never made it to the top of my list.
  • Bat For Lashes – Haunted Man – The INCREDIBLE Laura made me long for this album, and when it finally came out, it was meh. What happened??
  • fun. – Some Nights – The overplayed radio singles were great at first, but now I am bored; totally victims of too much airplay. Congrats on best new artist though!
  • Gossip – A Joyful Noise – It would have been impossible to top their phenomenal major label debut, and well, it was. I still love Gossip, and want to actually see them live at some point.
  • Carly Rae Jepsen – Kiss – Let’s all agree that Call Me Maybe was a phenomenon; one that she will probably never be able to acheive again. Hey, if you are going to be a one hit wonder, might as well make it a doozy! At least there are a few more pop treats to be had here, however.
  • Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again – Great album full of sleepy, gorgeous folk. Great surprise.
  • Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – The Heist – Not usually a fan of rap, they hooked me with the gay-friendly Same Love, and I came back for more with Thrift Shop. Also, could Macklemore be any cuter? Uh, no.
  • Madonna – MDNA – There were a couple of good songs, and a bunch of terrible ones. I know it’s an unpopular opinion, especially amongst the blindly following gay boy fanatics, but Madonna is a pretty terrible writer; these songs have never been more trite.
  • Maroon 5 – Overexposed – As usual, some great, but overplayed radio-ready hits, and some surprisingly even better ignored album tracks.
  • Jon McLaughlin – Promising Promises – Promising, but didn’t resonate with me too strongly for some reason. Has a few songs from a previous album, and I just didn’t get to listen as much as I wanted, unfortunately.
  • One Direction – Take Me Home – So NOW America wants to get on board with the British boyband craze? I love these guys, but they’ve got nothing on Westlife.
  • Phillip Phillips – The World From The Side of The Moon – This is the season I decide to stop watching Idol. Nice. Great pick, and I love that he seems to be a very strong artist. Can’t get enough of his hit Home, either!!
  • Joshua Radin – Underwater – I love this guy, and he makes the sweetest music.
  • Emeli Sande – Our Version Of Events – Good thing she decided medical school wasn’t the way to go; she’s not only an incredible singer, but a great pop artist now!
  • Scissor Sisters – Magic Hour – There is some good stuff here, however, and that’s a big however, they kinda lost me on this one; if they keep changing too much, nothing of the band that I fell in love with will remain.
  • The Script – #3 – Their last album was so amazing, that I figured they wouldn’t be able to top it so soon; I was sadly right. Perhaps I will get more into it, but I didn’t love it as much as I did Science and Faith.
  • The Shins – Port of Morrow – Good Shins album, solid; just not life changing.
  • Silversun Pickups – Neck of the Woods – I feel like they lost A LOT of their oomph. This album is much more subdued, and honestly, lacks the fire they had before.
  • Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror – Great sophomore album, just not as edgy and fresh as their first.
  • Taylor Swift – RED – Surprise! I like a Taylor Swift album. I am sort of, but not totally ashamed.
  • The Ting Tings – Sounds From Nowheresville – Big changes, almost abandoning their quirk, but still fun nonetheless.
  • Usher – Looking 4 Myself – It looks like he found himself on a dance floor, and I love to dance.

Well, here it is… finally. My favorite albums of 2012. What did I miss? I know I missed out on Mika, as I have been told, but what other albums did I forget to mention, or haven’t heard of yet? What do you think? What were your favorites of 2012? Can you think back that far? Sorry it took me so long to get this out, but it is better late than never… right? Alright, perhaps I should go ahead and start my 2013 best of list so that I could try and get it done on time…

cream of the crop, music musings, music suggestion

Best songs of 2012

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Well, I know it’s a bit late, but better late than never, right? And yes, I DO plan on doing a best albums of 2012 post in the comings days/weeks!! Now, I bet you are hanging there with bated breath, right? Well, in the mean time, here’s my top 70 songs from 2012. Did I get it right? What are your picks? Let me know if I missed anything in the comments!

  • 1. Mumford and Son – I Will Wait
  • 2. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
  • 3. Phillip Phillips – Home
  • 4. Adam Lambert – Better Than I Know Myself
  • 5. Karmin – Brokenhearted
  • 6. Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
  • 7. Jason Mraz – I Won’t Give Up
  • 8. Drake – Take Care
  • 9. Usher – Climax
  • 10. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – Same Love (feat. Mary Lambert)
  • 11. Bat For Lashes – Laura
  • 12. Brandi Carlile – That Wasn’t Me
  • 13. P!nk – Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
  • 14. Adele – Skyfall
  • 15. Marina and the Diamonds – Primadonna
  • 16. Ke$ha – Die Young
  • 17. Girls Aloud – Something New
  • 18. Cheryl Cole – Call My Name
  • 19. Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen
  • 20. Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
  • 21. Nicki Minaj – Starships
  • 22. Owl City – Good Time (feat. Carly Rae Jepsen)
  • 23. Alphabeat – Vacation
  • 24. Azalea Banks – 212
  • 25. Scissor Sisters – Only The Horses
  • 26. Trampled By Turtles – Alone
  • 27. Gossip – Move In the Right Direction
  • 28. Maroon 5 – Payphone
  • 29. Fun. – We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae)
  • 30. Loreen – Euphoria
  • 31. Madonna – Girl Gone Wild
  • 32. Angel Taylor – In My Dreams
  • 33. Christina Aguilera – Your Body
  • 34. Joshua Radin – Tomorrow Is Gonna Be Better
  • 35. Emeli Sande – My Kind Of Love
  • 36. Stooshe – See My Like This
  • 37. Olly Murs – Troublemaker (feat. Flo Rida
  • 38. Rudimental – Feel The Love (feat. John Newman
  • 39. Passion Pit – Take A Walk
  • 40. The Saturdays – 30 Days
  • 41. The Wanted – Chasing The Sun
  • 42. Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire
  • 43. Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing (feat. Florence Welch)
  • 44. Tegan and Sara – Closer
  • 45. One Direction – Live While We’re Young
  • 46. Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again
  • 47. Will.i.am and Britney – Scream and Shout
  • 48. Deadmau5 – The Vedlt (feat. Chris James)
  • 49. Agnes – One Last Time
  • 50. Benjamin Gibbard – Bigger Than Love
  • 51. Icona Pop – Good For You
  • 52. Melanie Amaro – Don’t Fail Me Now
  • 53. Rita Ora – R.I.P. (feat. Tiny Tempah)
  • 54. The Shins – Simple Song
  • 55. Kelly Clarkson – Catch My Breath
  • 56. Justin Beiber – As Long As You Love Me
  • 57. Little Boots – Every Night I Say A Prayer
  • 58. Morgan Page – Body Work (feat. Tegan and Sara)
  • 59. Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child
  • 60. Kylie – Timebomb
  • 61. The Script – Hall Of Fame
  • 62. Sara Bareilles – Lie To Me
  • 63. Casey Abrams – Midnight Girl
  • 64. Goldfrapp – Melancholy Sky
  • 65. Patrick Wolf – Overture
  • 66. Brandy – Put It Down
  • 67. Silversun Pickups – Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings
  • 68. Sleigh Bells – Comeback Kid
  • 69. The Ting Tings – In Your Life
  • 70. Stars – The Theory of Relativity

EDIT: GLARING OMISSION!!!!! I forgot to put Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks on this list!! EEK! I may go back and edit it in, as it was fairly high on my favorites this year. Ugh.

There it is! Thoughts?!

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion, you tube

5SM: february 27

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Well, it certainly appears that there is more and more time in between these installments of the five song ____day, and I blame it mostly on work. Work schedule is crazy, and erratic, but overall, manageable; when I do have days off, I tend to just relax and enjoy them, so I guess blogging has taken a back seat to life right now. However, I am still loving music, and listening to new stuff, and I really want to continue sharing it with those of you that still read this rarely updated blog. So, I will do 5S___days when I can, and fortunately, today is one of those days!! So, without anymore excuses, let’s get to the tunes!

Jason Mraz – I Won’t Give Up

I FUCKING LOVE this song. I have been harsh on Jason’s work recently, mostly because I really liked him early on in his career, and then he went a little too Jack Johnson for my tastes. However, this song has him firmly back on my radar; this is definitely one of the most beautiful songs about love that I have ever heard. It is lyrically beautiful, and musically, even more so. The delicate way he sings the vocals are touching and tender, and add even more to the sentiment of the song. This one is on repeat for me, and I can bet it will be a song that I am loving for years to come. Simply amazing. I have no idea what is going on with that look he is rocking in the video, though… that’s just weird.

Adam Lambert – Better Than I Know Myself

I was a big fan of Adam’s when he was on Idol, and I honestly think he should have won. But, when he released his debut, I was kind of glad that he didn’t, because he clearly had a little more input than winners often get on their post-idol debuts. That being said, I did like his debut, but I didn’t LOVE it. Well, I think he is an amazing singer, and I was just waiting for something highlight just how incredible his soaring vocals are; well, THIS IS IT. This song is a pop masterpiece, and SHOULD be a number one hit. The song is clever, and the beat is slick. The vocals are probably his best to date, and really highlight his incredibly range. This song is such an earworm, that I have been playing it on repeat for months. I cannot get enough of it. I am really hoping that his new album Trespassing, which is due out soon, will have a lot more like this to offer. Fingers crossed! Also, how hot is he in the video? Smoking!

Karmin – Brokenhearted

It’s not very often that a group comes out of nowhere with a single this polished. These guys were on SNL a few weeks ago too; before they even have an album out!! This bodes well for them; hype is well deserved when you are this good. This song is yet another pop masterpiece that has blown me away and that I have been playing on repeat for weeks. I have started hearing this one on the radio too, so that makes me excited to see what is coming next from the very talented Karmin. I hope it’s as amazing as this track!!!

Neon Hitch – Get Over U

I can’t remember how I found out about this song, but I adore it. It’s blazing chorus rings through your ears, and begs to be danced to. The lyrics are touching and sad, perhaps because it was co-written by the amazing Sia. It’s kind of nice to have an upbeat song about heartbreak every now and then to even out the playing field; not everything has to be mellow to convey a lover scorned and moving on. Great song.

Ricki-Lee – Raining Diamonds
I haven’t heard much from Ricki-Lee since her fantastic 2007 album, Brand New Day came out. Then, BOOM! Out of nowhere, this track just hit me right in the face!! It is fantastic!! I reminds me of the energy and power that Agnes’ Release Me had when I first heard it, it is electrifying. I am hoping that this can be a cross-over hit for Ricki-Lee, but only time will tell. She apparently has a new album coming out soon as well, and after hearing this, I am certainly looking forward to it. Like the other tracks I’ve presented today, this one is on heavy rotation for me as well. Since the video is not available on youtube (LAME), here’s a link.

So, there you have it, 5 new songs that I have been loving and blasting on repeat lately. I do hope that you enjoyed them… let me know in the comments, won’t you? Til next time!!

music musings, music suggestion

2011: my 11 favorite albums

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I know, right? FINALLY! The wait is over, and here are my 11 favorite albums from LAST YEAR, 2011. Now, this list really isn’t a surprise to me, because these are the albums that I listened to most throughout the year, and they are all stellar. However, for the first time, for me, there was a clear tie for first; I couldn’t pick one of them over the other, no matter how hard I tried. That being said, I hope you enjoy my picks for my favorite albums of 2011. I also listed several albums that were great, but just didn’t make the cut, because they weren’t up to the par of these special few. Now, on to the list!

(tie) 1. Adele – 21
I have loved Adele pretty much from the first moment I heard of her. I saw some blogs talking about this “up and coming” singer back in early 2008, and after hearing some live stuff, I was instantly on board. What came next was an amazing debut, 19, which was my number 4 album of 2008. Then, I saw her live at the Variety in March of 2009, and that concert solidified her as one of my favorite artists. Obviously, I was jazzed to here a new album was slated for early 2011, but I wasn’t prepared for this opus that she would release. This album doesn’t have a single bad track on it. It is immaculate. This is an album that is current, and one that will age well; it is a new classic. Adele is one of those singers that has such talent that it isn’t really being matched by many right now; and people are taking notice. This is one of those rare instances where there is something I love so very much that happens to make it on the radio, and gain the attention of the masses; this album made 2011 a huge year for Adele. Now, if she can just quit pushing herself so hard, take some breaks, and protect that amazing voice; I want to enjoy her for a lifetime.
Standout Tracks: Turning Tables, Set Fire To The Rain, Someone Like You, Take It All, Rolling In The Deep.

(tie) 1. City and Colour – Little Hell
This album being on top shouldn’t surprise anyone that reads this blog regularly; I adore Dallas Green, aka City and Colour. He is another one, like Adele, that when I first heard of him, I was instantly hooked, and I realized quickly that I had found an all time favorite artist in him. His most recent album, Little Hell, is raw, beautiful, dark, poignant, flawed, and still, damn near perfect. This album takes what he does best (making amazingly well written songs and setting them to hauntingly beautiful acoustic music), and builds it to a crescendo. This album captivated my attention from when it was released in June, and continues to be on heavy rotation for me now; this is a shining example of a supremely well made album by a truly amazing artist. Little Hell showed me that I chose well when I declared City and Colour as one of my favorite artists, because he does not disappoint. I was worried that it wouldn’t meet or exceed Bring Me Your Love (which is one of my favorite albums of all time), but he met the mark, and made an album that stands proudly along side it. Excellent, excellent music, here folks, and one of my favorites of the year by far.
Standout Tracks: Northern Wind, O’ Sister, Grand Optimist, We Found Each Other In The Dark, Little Hell.

3. William Fitzsimmons – Gold In The Shadow (Deluxe Edition)
I finally got to see him live earlier this year, and I KNOW that this influenced my decision to put his album this high; the album is amazing, but hearing it live made for one of the best concert experiences of my entire life. William is an incredibly folk musician, and his music is tender, and achingly beautiful. What pushed him higher on the list was the re-release of this album as a Deluxe Edition, because it contains some of his most beautiful songs to date (which are included in the standout tracks). Another great album by another amazing artist; are you sensing a trend here, people?
Standout Tracks: By My Side, Beautiful Girl, Ever Could, Blood And Bones, Bird of Winter Prey.

4. Jessie J – Who You Are
Initially, I was a bit turned off by her (not a huge fan of Price Tag), but I listened to the whole album, and man, I was blown away. This chick can SING!! She has some amazing songs, and her debut is nothing to scoff at; it’s brilliant. Definitely one of my biggest surprises of the year; glad I gave her a second chance! Also, the re-release with Domino was smart; Domino is such a fantastic addition to an already amazing album.
Standout Tracks: Who You Are, Do It Like A Dude, L.O.V.E., Domino, Abracadabra.

5. Lady GaGa – Born This Way
What can I say, IT’S GAGA. Seriously, haters beware; this is pop music people. GaGa is still killing it, several years into the game at this point, and clearly, has no intention of slowing down. Some of the tracks on this album are the best of her career; she clearly has a knack for what it takes to make a hit. This album is excellent from beginning to end, but the Deluxe version “extras” were just so-so. Overall, GaGa has never let me down, and this album was certainly one of my favorites this year.
Standout Tracks: Heavy Metal Lover, Born This Way, Marry The Night, Americano, The Edge of Glory.

6. Patrick Wolf – Lupercalia
I love how eccentric this guy is; he clearly has his own style, and flaunts it with such, well, style, that it begs for attention. I really enjoyed his previous work, and was excited to hear a new album from him this year. However, it was all shock and awe when, low and behold, this is the happiest I have heard him! There are so many wonderful love songs on this album, and it is definitely my favorite album he’s released to date. Do yourself and watch the video for House too; it is EPIC. I love artists that aren’t afraid to be themselves, and Patrick is the definition of unique. His talent is too wonderful not to explore and share.
Standout Tracks: House, The City, Bermondsey Street, Together, The Future.

7. Feist – Metals
I am a gigantic Feist fan; I have been since I saw her live on her tour for The Reminder. That album caught me by surprise and ended up being my number 2 album of 2007. I didn’t think I’d have to wait so many years to get another fantastic album from this Canadian chanteuse, but when she announced she’d follow up this year, I was thrilled. She didn’t disappoint, either; fantastic follow up to a fantastic previous album.
Standout Tracks: How Come You Never Go There, Bittersweet Melodies, Anti Pioneer, Graveyard, Caught A Long Wind.

8. Death Cab For Cutie – Codes and Keys
What can I say, Death Cab are one of my all time favorite bands, so obviously, I am going to be excited when they come out with new material. This time, they released some very happy and upbeat songs, and many of them channeled electronic elements of Gibbard’s seemingly abandoned side project from years ago, The Postal Service. I was more than happy to hear those influences on this album, and still hold out hope for another Postal Service album; but that’s a different story for a different time. The songs on this album are excellent, and it is yet another great album but one of my favorite bands… this seems to be the trend for 2011.
Standout Tracks: St. Peter’s Cathedral, Stay Young Go Dancing, You Are A Tourist, Unobstructed Views, Some Boys.

9. Florence + The Machines – Ceremonials
While her first album took me a little while to fully enjoy, I was waiting at the starting gate for this go ’round. Florence is truly an artist that crafts a song from the words, to their pronunciation, to the music, and the orchestration; all of these are her instruments, and the effect is a layered song that is unique and gorgeous. She uses her dynamic musical talent to craft yet another album that many people will continue to talk about for a while to come; she has proven she is truly an artist to watch, and listen to.
Standout Tracks: Shake It Out, Only If For A Night, No Light No Light, Remain Nameless, Never Let Me Go.

10. Mat Kearney – Young Love
Always a favorite of mine, Mat tries a few new things, while bringing the signature of his previous work on board, making yet another fantastic album. The blend of hip hop with pop-rock is unmistakably Mat’s signature, and he weaves more delightful music on this album, and makes some of his best music to date. While it didn’t quite wow me as much as his previous effort, it does stand out as one of my favorites of the year, and there really isn’t another negative thing I have to say about it.
Standout Tracks: Ships In The Night, Count On Me, Chasing The Light, Rochester, Hey Mama.

11. Britney Spears – Femme Fatale
Arguably, this is by and large, one of her strongest, and most cohesive albums to date. Some of the songs on this album made for some of her most dynamic, and interesting singles as well. Overall, this album will certainly be one that Britney can look back on one of her overall best. That being said, the inclusion of the complete throwaway track, Big Fat Bass, almost derails the entire effort for me, but I skip it each time I listen to the album, so I won’t let it ruin the pop masterpiece that soars throughout the rest of the record. It’s Britney, bitch, indeed.
Standout Tracks: Till The World Ends, Criminal, Seal It With A Kiss, I Wanna Go, Hold It Against Me.

Well, there you have it; my favorite 11 albums of 2011. I hope you found something you hadn’t heard, and give it a chance. I also hope that you enjoyed these albums as much as I did in 2011, and will continue to enjoy on into 2012 and for years to come.

Now, the rest… These are albums that were very good, but for whatever reason, missed the 5 star mark. Some of them just have fantastic singles, but a lot of throwaways dragging them down, and others were just good, but nothing stood out as fantastic. Either way, here’s a bunch of other music you should check out, as it was stuff I was digging in 2011:
Matt Alber – Constant Crows: Love this out crooner, he’s as easy on the eyes as he is on the ears. A great follow up to his debut, and the Madonna cover is amazing.
Beyonce – 4: Color me disppointed; some AMAZING singles, some really bad songs. All over the place.
Bjork – Biophilia: Kinda like above, an amazing lead single, the rest was weird, but interesting.
Bon Iver – Bon Iver: Love him, even though his voice is a bit weird to me.
Alex Clare – The Lateness Of The Hour: Dubstep meets soaring, chill inducing male vocals.
Kelly Clarkson – Stronger: Originally, I stated it was ‘meh’; well, it grew on me, some real stompers on here.
The Decemberists – The King Is Dead: Some of this is excellent, some just too twangy.
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues: Gorgeous, but also a bit too ethereal for me.
David Guetta – Nothing But The Beat: An album full of floor filling dance singles, what’s not to love (well, a few of them, that’s what).
Jennifer Hudson – I Remember Me: I love this girl. Practically as good as her debut, with just a few slight missteps.
JLS – Jukebox: Overall, enjoyable, but nothing really stands out of the pack.
Cher Lloyd – Sticks + Stones: Excellent, almost made my year end list. Reminds me of the spunk of Lily Allen. Swagger Jagger is a deal breaker, though.
Jennifer Lopez – Love?: Color me surprised with this one! Some MAJOR singles, but the rest is filler.
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming: Pretty, weird, pretty weird… but good!!!
Jon McLaughlin – Forever If Ever: Great songwriter, but some of them felt like half-hearted efforts. The stellar songs are stellar, though!
Matt Nathanson – Modern Love: Didn’t love it as much as his previous release, but still good nonetheless.
Noah and the Whale – Last Night On Earth: Very different than their previous album, which I loved; hard not to compare the two.
One Direction – Up All Night: Fun and poppy.
Peter Bjorn and John – Gimme Some: A bit more edgy and harder than their best album, Writer’s Block, but still good.
Nicole Scherzinger – Killer Love: Damn, this almost made my best of list; but the filler songs are bland. Where she shines, however, she is brighter than the sun!
Slow Runner – Damage Points: Saw them open for William Fitzsimmons; great band, great sound!
The Saturdays – On Your Radar: A little disappointing considering their previous work, but still great girl band pop.
Vanbot – Vanbot: Almost made my best of list; excellent, Swedish pop, reminiscent of fellow Swedish pop princess Robyn. Definitely one to keep your eye on.
The Wanted – Battleground: Kinda like JLS; overall, enjoyable, but nothing really stands out.
White Lies – Ritual: Quite excellent, and maybe with more listens, I’ll love it even more; it just didn’t capture my attention last year.
Will Young – Echoes: Oh how I had such high hopes for this album, and I tried, I tried so hard to love it. It has some AMAZING singles (Jealousy being my favorite song of the year, btw), but the rest of the album was a little more dance, and little less heart for me. Will’s previous album was perfection to me, so I was pretty sure this one couldn’t stand up to it, and unfortunately, it didn’t. That being said, I really love him, and he is one of my favorite artists, and despite only a luke warm feeling for me, it’s a great album nonetheless.
Young The Giant – Young The Giant: Some great singles, but the high points far outshine the low points.

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: january 6

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Howdy friends!! Welcome to the new year! No, I haven’t come to bring you the year end countdown of the best albums of 2011 yet, because frankly, I haven’t gotten the list finalized yet. I seemingly love working all of the time, but I do promise that it will come soon (perhaps next week?!). In the mean time, here is some new music that I have recently started listening to.

honeyhoney – Don’t Know How

I first “heard” of honeyhoney almost a year ago; the song LA River was playing in the background on a scene during an episode of Brothers and Sisters. I found out because I took to the internets for research, and obviously to find and download that amazing track, but alas, nothing came of it. Then, I put it on my “to be downloaded list”, and honestly, kind of forgot about it. Then today, I noticed that Amazon was offering a free playlist of songs from “people they liked”, and a honeyhoney song was on it! Turns out the album Billy Jack was released in October! Sweet! So why didn’t I feature that song, you may ask? Well, as much as I love LA River still, this song is incredible. The female singer’s vocal reminds me a lot of Brandi Carlile, and I cannot get enough of the country-rock vibe of this delightful song. The album is great as well! I guess good things do come to those who wait; those who wait, and then randomly, almost a year later, are reminded of something excellent by something completely unrelated.

Green River Ordinance – Dancing Shoes

This one falls into the category of songs that I have discovered by listening to SiriusXM radio. This is a beautiful ballad alt-folk track that reminds me a little of Counting Crows (mostly the lead singer’s voice), but with a freshness of current hot bands like Mumford and Sons. This is a gorgeous song, and one that I have been listening to on repeat since I Shazamed it a few days ago.

Plug In Stereo – Oh Darling feat. Cady Groves

Look a here! Another track discovered directly from good old SiriusXM. This is a little bit Hellogoodbye with a healthy touch of Bright Eyes. I love stuff like this. The song is so sweet, even if it does remind me a little of that massively overplayed Hey There Delilah by Plain White Ts. Either way, another excellent discovery thanks to SiriusXM; maybe I shouldn’t cancel my subscription, even though they took away my BBC Radio One months ago…

fun. – We Are Young feat. Janelle Monae

So apparently this was on Glee? I honestly don’t remember it. This is one of those songs that I found by accident months ago (see September), but for whatever reason, forgot about it. Then! I hear it playing on Chuck, and instantly, I am like, I KNOW THIS!!! Then I finally downloaded it properly. I absolutely love this track! It’s great! It reminds me a little bit of Jump, Little Children, a band most of you probably haven’t heard of, but the lead singer sounds like him nonetheless. Overall, a very fun (ha!), very radio-ready track. Thanks to Chuck for putting this one back on my radar screen!! This sounds like a song that should play over the credits of a high-school movie/coming of age dramady, doesn’t it?

Jessica Mauboy – Inescapable (Youngboyz Mix)

Ending on a dance note! This one is thanks to my buddy Stu posting it on my FB. I first heard of Jessica Mauboy when Stu alerted me to her sassy greatness back when she was in Young Divas, just after she was on Australian Idol, and then when she broke out on her own. She’s had a few songs that I liked, and it looks like she’s still up to it; this song is very danceable, and I can’t get enough. Thanks Stu for the heads up about this one!

So there’s a new 5SF, actually on a Friday for you!! I hope that you enjoyed the tracks that I picked; please let me know what you think. As always, please let me know what you are listening to as well. Remember, the best of 2011 albums countdown will be coming to this blog in the near future, so stay tuned! Til then!

music musings, music suggestion

2011: my favorite songs

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This is kind of a recap of last year’s rules, which still completely apply:
1. No artist may appear more than once (not including collaborations, because honestly, I didn’t even think about that until just this moment, and the damn list is together), otherwise some artists would have literally 10 spots on the list.
2. These are most of my favorite songs from 2011; they aren’t all singles, and some of them were even better than the released singles by those artists.
3. This is a pretty representative song sample of 2011, IMHO; even though some of you may be pissed not to see certain Billboard “hits” on my list.
4. This really highlights how all over the place my music tastes are, doesn’t it?
5. Enjoy.

Without further adieu, here’s my favorite 80 tracks from 2011… considering the rules:

  • 1. Will Young – Jealousy
  • 2. Britney Spears – Till The World Ends
  • 3. Rihanna – We Found Love
  • 4. City and Colour – Northern Wind
  • 5. Adele – Someone Like You
  • 6. Patrick Wolf – House
  • 7. Jessie J – Who You Are
  • 8. Nicki Minaj – Super Bass
  • 9. Lady GaGa – Born This Way
  • 10. Nicole Scherzinger – Don’t Hold Your Breath
  • 11. JoJo – Disaster
  • 12. William Fitzsimmons – By My Side
  • 13. Beyonce – Run the World (Girls)
  • 14. The Decemberists – Rise To Me
  • 15. Marina and the Diamonds – Radioactive
  • 16. Bjork – Crystalline
  • 17. Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out
  • 18. Westlife – Lighthouse
  • 19. M83 – Midnight City
  • 20. Yasmin – Finish Line
  • 21. Owl City – Lonely Lullaby
  • 22. One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
  • 23. Jon McLaughlin – I’ll Follow You
  • 24. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
  • 25. David Guetta feat. Usher – Without You
  • 26. Jennifer Lopez – On The Floor
  • 27. Feist – How Come You Never Go There
  • 28. Vanbot – Make Me, Break Me
  • 29. Nero – Me & You
  • 30. Medina – Addiction
  • 31. Cher Lloyd – Want U Back
  • 32. The Saturdays – My Heart Takes Over
  • 33. Death Cab For Cutie – St. Peter’s Cathedral
  • 34. Mat Kearney – Ships In The Night
  • 35. Sugababes – Freedom
  • 36. Bon Iver – Holocene
  • 37. Gavin DeGraw – Not Over You
  • 38. White Lies – Bigger Than Us
  • 39. The Naked and Famous – Young Blood
  • 40. Selena Gomez and the Scene – Love You Like a Love Song
  • 41. Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger
  • 42. Jason Walker – Echo
  • 43. Matt Nathanson – Run
  • 44. Parade – Louder
  • 45. Nicola Roberts – Beat of My Drum
  • 46. Clare Maguire – Last Dance
  • 47. Jennifer Hudson – Where You At
  • 48. Alex Gaudino feat. Kelly Rowland – What A Feeling
  • 49. Alex Clare – Too Close
  • 50. Slow Runner – Devil Moon
  • 51. Lady Antebellum – Just a Kiss
  • 52. The Antlers – I Don’t Want Love
  • 53. James Vincent McMorrow – We Don’t Eat
  • 54. The Young Professionals – D.I.S.C.O.
  • 55. Jessie and the Toy Boys – Push It
  • 56. Ester Dean – Take You To Rio
  • 57. Young The Giant – My Body
  • 58. Katy B – Broken Record
  • 59. Peter Bjorn and John – Second Chance
  • 60. Penguin Prison – Don’t Fuck With My Money
  • 61. Benny Banassi – Cinema (Skrillex Remix)
  • 62. LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
  • 63. Cobra Starship – You Make Me Feel…
  • 64. The Wanted – I’ll Be Your Strength
  • 65. Ultraviolet Sound – Girl Talk
  • 66. Lana Del Ray – Video Games
  • 67. Audio Bullys – Only Man
  • 68. Pia Toscano – This Time
  • 69. DJ Fresh – Louder
  • 70. Leslie Hall – Hydrate Jirate
  • 71. Laura Marling – Sophia
  • 72. Emeli Sande – Heaven
  • 73. Deerhoof – Super Duper Rescue Heads!
  • 74. Aubrey O’Day – Automatic
  • 75. Alexis Jordan – How You Like Me Now
  • 76. Greyson Chance – Unfriend You
  • 77. Melanie C – Think About It
  • 78. Swedish House Mafia – Save the World
  • 79. AWOLNATION – Sail
  • 80. Ryan Adams – Dirty Rain

So there it is!! What do you think?! I hope you found a bunch of songs that you enjoyed this year on the list… it makes for an excellent “mix tape” in my opinion! There’s also a spotify playlist with MOST of these gems on it; check it out here.

blog on blog, music musings, music suggestion, song of the day, you tube

sotd: Robyn – Include Me Out

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So yeah, I bet you are wondering (that is if people even still read this poorly updated blog, sorry…) right about now… hey, where’s the year end album countdown? Well, I can assure you of something; it IS coming. I haven’t had time to get it done, because frankly, I work all of the time.

When I’m not working, I am sleeping; this job is one that wears me out majorly, but it is something that I am glad I worked so hard to get into. Being a nurse is incredibly frustrating, tiring, irritating at times, and very, very draining, but it is also really rewarding.

That being said, I am excited about bringing the year end best albums of 2011 to you, but in the mean time, here is a song that I recently rediscovered; it was on Body Talk part 2, but didn’t make the “cut” for the Body Talk album (which was a compilation of the three EPs). This song is incredible! Why didn’t it make the cut, Robyn? Oh well, at least it was on one of the EPs…

Now… stay tuned for the albums of the year… I am going to try and get that up soon!

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion, you tube

5SM: november 28

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Hey y’all! It’s a fucking five song Monday! I have been listening to some great new music lately, and here are five fantastic tracks that I can’t wait for you to hear. Also, it is nearing that time of year where the best of albums list gets compiled, and while I have quite a list going, I am eager to hear what has made YOUR lists; I don’t want to miss out on something incredible that I may not have heard of yet. So… let me know what you are listening to in the comments as well. Now to the five songs I’ve got for you today:

Vanbot – Make Me, Break Me

I couldn’t wait for a 5S-day, so I posted the video for this on Facebook the other day immediately after I heard it, because of how incredible it is. While the Robyn influence is undeniable (and frankly, welcomed with open arms), this song is fresh, and highlights the fact that there must be something genetically inherent about pop music in Sweden. In fact, Vanbot’s entire debut album is delightful, and a great find; it’s full of great songs that I am pleased to have randomly discovered. I expect to see it among my favorite albums of this year; like I said it’s delightful. Whatever is going over there in Sweden, I am glad that the pop music keeps flowing out of that magical land, and into my ears.

One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful

It seems like the Brits do boybands better than almost anyone, and this is a new contender in the boyband genre that are killing it with this single (they were on the show the X-Factor, and came in third… looks like that show really does well at finding talent). Their new album Up All Night is a solid release, and one that is sure to have many singles. This song is a great pop song that will probably never see the airwaves here in the states; which is a bummer, because it has a lot of great energy. I have been listening to this one on repeat, and I am glad to share it with you today. Thanks to my buddy Douglas for telling me about the wonderful One Direction!

Cher Lloyd – Want U Back

After falling head over heels for Cher with her previous single, With Ur Love (which I posted about on the previous incarnation of the 5S-day), I was curious to hear what else she would release. Imagine my surprise when her debut album Sticks + Stones was actually brilliant (save a song or two), and was filled with great songs like this one. I love this song; it’s my favorite from her album. She has a lot of the same spunk that reminds me of Lily Allen, which I adore. This is yet another great find that I randomly stumbled upon; 2011 has had some great finds, and they seem to be getting better and better!

Penguin Prison – Don’t Fuck With My Money

I have seen a lot of talk on the blogs about Penguin Prison, but for whatever reason, I was never moved by one of their songs. Then I saw the video for this one, and I loved the song! This song reminds me a lot of that one song from the 90s that I’m sure everyone knows, but not a lot know who sang it: the New Radicals’, You Get What You Give. Similar feel with a more dance beat; I like it. I’m glad I am on board with the oft talked about Penguin Prison now!

The Saturdays – My Heart Takes Over (Digital Dog Remix)

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING tears it up like taking a beautiful ballad, and a laying a slick as hell beat over it, turning it into a dance-floor filler. This song is definitely one of the best examples that I have heard in many, many years. The Saturdays’ My Heart Takes Over is a gorgeous ballad that I love all on it’s own, but this remix that they released is like pure pollen to a bee; I cannot get enough of it. I only wish there were more remixes of this high quality doing the same thing… where are Thunderpuss when you need them (remember them?)? Either way, brilliant. Their new album is great as well; not as wonderful as I was hoping, but I guess you can’t win them all, can you?

BONUS:
Westlife – Lighthouse

Lastly, it is bittersweet that I bring you Westlife’s most recent single Lighthouse, off of their final album, which is a Greatest Hits collection. This is a band that I have followed for more than a decade, and have loved for so long that I am really broken up about their impending split. I am a major sucker for a beautiful pop ballad, and these guys have delivered many, many times in that department. I have loved following them for all of these years, and am glad that they have put out so many wonderful albums. Westlife will always be among my favorite artists, and I will definitely cherish the great pop music they released in their impressive career. My only hope, is that Shane and Mark release wonderful solo albums, and keep making music that I love. Westlife, I love you guys, and you will most certainly be missed.

Well, a farewell, and some great music, what more can you ask for on a Monday? Hope you enjoyed my picks, and please let me know what you are listening to as well. As I said, I will greatly miss Westlife, and I am just glad that those guys have made so many amazing albums over the years; the fans have a ton of great music to cherish from their amazing career… I just wish it wasn’t over. *sniff*

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion, you tube

5SW: november 2

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Howdy! Long time no talk, eh? Well, things are going well here. I am on my own at work, and I am doing okay; I know that it’s going to take a while before I am fully comfortable with this whole nursing on my own thing. Other than that, I have been trying to enjoy my days off, as the days I am at work are so intense; when a nurse says that they work 12 hours, they WORK that 12 hours!! Overall, though, things are good with me, so I figured it was time to do a 5S-someday, already! I have some great stuff for you today too, so let’s get to it!

Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out

She’s back!!! While it took me a while to warm up to Florence the first time around, and perhaps it had something to do with the fact that everyone and their mom was telling me just how amazing she was, I eventually came around, and was all ears when her new album came out this week. So far, this is my favorite track off of Ceremonials, and it is a real mover and a shaker, which is the stuff by Florence that I like best. Great single; this one is sure to get her even more exposure (like she needs it… haha).

Jon McLaughlin – I’ll Follow You

This is what I have come to expect from Jon McLaughlin; beautiful, well written ballads (and he doesn’t disappoint). This is from his recently released third album, Forever If Ever, which didn’t pack quite the punch his debut did for me, but has some great stuff nonetheless; this being the best of the bunch for me. The arrangement on this track is just hauntingly beautiful; what can I say, I am a sucker for a great piano-driven ballad.

M83 – Midnight City

I really only heard about M83 with their last album, Saturdays = Youth, which I quite enjoyed, and after hearing this new single from their recently released double album, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, I am hooked back into their weird, ethereal sound. This song is too catchy to turn off. They are even using this song in the latest Victoria’s Secret ad; so I expect M83 to get pretty huge in the coming months.

Cher Lloyd – With Ur Love (feat. Mike Posner)

My buddy Stu turned me on to this song; it is perfect pop, and a major earworm! I love how cute and sassy this song is, and how adorable is Cher Lloyd? I wish that more British pop would make waves here in the states, but at least I have friends that keep me updated on the clearly better pop music being made across the pond. I can’t wait to hear what else this lady has in store with her debut album, out this month.

Rihanna – We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)

I have been hard on Rihanna in the past; perhaps a bit too hard. I made some amends when I professed my love for Only Girl (In The World), which I still think is one of her best songs to date. Well, I am here to make even more amends, because this may just be her best song to date. Calvin Harris’ magic has made this THE song of the moment right now. I have been playing this on repeat for a few weeks now, and I cannot get enough. RiRi, baby, as long as you keep this up, we might just get along in the end; who would’ve thought after Rude Boy that I’d say that? Not me, that’s who!

So what did you think of the 5 songs from today’s 5SW? I hope you enjoyed them; please let me know. Also, let me know what you are listening to; I am constantly on the hunt for new music!