It’s that time again, and I’ve got you five new songs for this Friday. Today’s selection is a little all over the place (some of it is a little out there, I’m warning you!), but each song deserves some love, as I have been digging each of these tracks lately. Let’s get started, shall we?
Keane (feat. K’naan) – Stop For A Minute
I have this strange relationship with Keane; most of their stuff falls under my radar, but every once and while, they release a MAJOR single that completely captures my attention. Last time that happened was when they released the massive Spiralling, and I literally couldn’t get enough of that song. Now, they have done it again with this insanely catchy track, which has one of the best choruses of any song on the radio right now. While I’m not super hype on the rap portion of the song, the massive chorus won me over instantly, and has me playing this song on major repeat right now. This is definitely one to roll the windows down and blast as you ride around enjoying the beautiful spring weather we are having right now.
Kelis – Acapella
While I will openly admit that this one took a while to grow on me, it has managed to take me completely by storm over the past couple of weeks. The more I hear this song, the more I love it. The beat begs to be danced to, and I like how fresh and different it is from most of the other stuff circling the airwaves out there right now. While Bossy will probably (see definitely) always be my favorite of Kelis’ songs, this one certainly highlights the fact that Kelis is not a shot in the pan; she has changed her style and done something brilliant in every endeavor she has taken musically. I can’t wait to see what her upcoming release, Flesh Tone (out July 6) has in store for us.
Jónsi – Go Do
Remember earlier when I said that there was some stuff that would be a little “out there” this week? Well, here it is. This ethereal track is from the recently released solo album, Go, from the lead singer of the Icelandic rock band, Sigur Rós. While I really can’t understand most of what he is singing in this song, I absolutely love the beautiful vocals and the accompanying airy and fanciful music. The first time I heard this, I had a bit of a WTF moment, but I will admit that I was instantly turned around, and was kicking myself for my doubt by the end of the song; this song is awesome. There’s definitely some strange stuff going on in Iceland, as evidenced by this, and the type of music fellow Icelander Björk makes. However, after hearing this, I honestly think that the Icelandic strange is the kind of strange that I am pretty sure that I love; after all, I love a lot of Björk’s music, and I find myself really loving this as well. Side note: apparently, he’s openly gay, so that’s a bonus to be featuring an out artist today!
Sia – Clap Your Hands
Sia managed to fly under my radar for almost a year, only to take me by storm with her previous release, Some People Have Real Problems. As such, I was pretty excited to see that her next release, We Are Born will be released very soon (June 7th to be exact). Subsequently, when I heard this song, which is the lead single from the upcoming album, I was a bit on the fence; I didn’t love it instantly. However, Sia has proven to be a grower for me, and that is exactly what happened with this one; it has really grown on me, and I am loving it more with each listen. This one is definitely more upbeat for her, but it works, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the new album has in store.
Laura Marling – Rambling Man
I have fellow music blogger xolondon to thank for turning me onto this amazing song. He posted the video for this song (which is filled to the brim with a shirtless, burly man; that certainly got my attention!), and rightly pegged this as Laura so amazingly channeling Joni Mitchell, for which I have nothing but praise and admiration. This song is a triumph, and I think that Joni would be proud that Laura is making music like this today. This song is well written, and beautiful, and I am truly delighted to have been turned on to it. Thanks xolondon for schooling me on the delicate beauty of Laura Marling! (note: I posted a Laura Marling song in the past, but her new stuff had completely flown outside of my radar; until now.)
Well, there you have it; another five song Friday in the bag. What did you think? As always, let me know what you thought, and why not throw in a few suggestions of your own while you are at it? I hope you enjoyed these songs as much as enjoyed bringing them to you… until next time!
is FINALLY here, and it is overall, pretty amazing. The stand out tracks really, really stand out, and this one is a new classic as far as I am concerned.
recently, and it rekindled my already strong love for this amazing song, as well as my love for the amazing Erik Hassle; and as such, I wanted to scream from the rooftops about this song… again. This song (surprisingly) may have not made 2009 Erik’s year, but it’s making 2010 look like it certainly could be; if there is any justice, this song is going to blow up the radio in the coming months.
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. 
Using jangly guitars, banging beats, and sounding like a well-made mash-up of Chrissie Hynde and the White Stripes, Band of Skulls take heavy influences from classic rock and completely rock out on this fantastic album. Perhaps it is the pairing of the male and female vocals that really draws me in, because I never got into the White Stripes, as the musical formula is very similar; at least, the distortion effect on their guitars is really close to the one Jack White uses, and they also use heavy drumming to back up the whole shebang. That being said, while they do stick to a similar musical formula as the White Stripes, I think that Band of Skulls have made their own consistently amazing album with Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, as there really isn’t a bad track on it; and when I say, “not a bad track”, I really mean, “they’re all quite brilliant, actually”. After one listen, I went back time and time again to rock out to this fantastic ode to classic rock (as well as clear hat tip to the White Stripes), and I am glad I discovered them through their amazingly catchy lead off single, I Know Where I Am; which is definitely one of their best. Looking back, I am really glad that I went and listened to the whole album, because like the lead single, it too, is down right great. Standout Tracks: 
On her follow up the to the amazing album, The Story, Brandi does right by not deviating from the folk-country rock that she creates oh so well. However, this time around, she ups the ante, and instead of sputtering out after the half-way mark (as I felt her last album kind of did), she stays strong throughout the entire album. On Give Up The Ghost, Brandi’s vocals are more raw and real, and the yodel of her voice is more pronounced and peppered throughout. Overall, this album is a solid one, and Brandi has proven to be quite the talented musician; she is certainly building something more and more beautiful on that foundation she laid with her previous two albums. This time around, she distances herself from those that she could be so directly to in the past (namely, the Indigo Girls); showing growth and attention to a nuanced detail that really signals that she is coming into her own. With this distancing, she highlights her own strength and individuality as an artist, and the result is a wonderful album that should definitely win her many, many new fans; and die hard fans of her previous work should certainly be more than pleased with this direction and growth. Standout Tracks: That Year, Dying Day, 
As a long time fan of Westlife, all I can say, is that if this album doesn’t make you a fan, then you probably never will be. However, for those of us that love beautiful songs about love, I can definitely say that these boys have done it again. Following what was (in my opinion) their best album, Back Home (well, other than their Greatest Hits Vol. 1), I had high hopes for another near-flawless Westlife album. However, worry set in when it was announced that the first single would be a cover of Daughtry’s What About Now (which is the ONLY reason that this album didn’t place higher, and receives four stars from me). While it is a great cover (probably better than the original, which isn’t surprising seeing as the do covers VERY well), their cover of the song, the inclusion of it on this album, and especially the decision to make it the lead off single from the album, are all just extremely unnecessary in my opinion. Westlife has relied on covers so much in the past, and I rarely understand why after listening to the rest of the album. The same holds true with Where We Are; after listening to the rest of the album, it is clear that it stands firmly on its own as a solid album, full of great songs (most, if not all, soaring over What About Now in their quality). Basically, the only thing left to say here, is what’s been said already; it’s a great album of love songs, and if you are a fan of Westlife, you certainly know what to expect, and you will NOT be disappointed. Even working with the predictable Ryan Tedder doesn’t ruin the Westlife formula, and that’s really saying something right there; if it works, it just works. Standout Tracks: Sound of a Broken Heart, How to Break a Heart, 
The first time I heard Angel Taylor’s Chai Tea Latte, I was blown away. This song is perfect. The juxtaposition of saccharine sweet lyrics (chock full of coffee and personality themed double entendres) with an incredibly beautiful melody and achingly tender vocals had me buckling after one listen. After falling for that song, I was clamoring for more material from Angel, and when she subsequently released Love Travels shortly after, I was not disappointed. The rest of the album is full of her piano driven pop that is just a pleasure from the beginning through to the end (with her strongest tracks opening and closing the album; smart move on her part). My only complaint, is that there are moments where she bears a very strong similarity to one of my favorite female singer-song writers, Sara Bareilles, and that striking similarity (especially the track Not Even Human, which is undoubtedly, one of Taylor’s best) takes something just a little something away from her originality. However, that being said, if you love Sara Bareilles, you will probably then love Angel Taylor as well; so really, it’s a win/win if you think about it. Overall, Love Travels is a beautifully orchestrated piano-pop album, filled to the brim with delightful melodies about love and longing. Standout Tracks: 
This album came out of complete left field for me. I first heard of the Eulogies back in August, when I saw the super cute video for the great first single Two Can Play from their sophomore album Here Anonymous (which is actually a sweet duet featuring Nikki Monniger of the Silversun Pickups). After I fell in love with that delightful song, I wanted to hear more, and I am glad I did; Here Anonymous is a fabulous alternative rock album, driven by sweet melodies, slick arrangements, and delightful vocals. They really remind me a lot of Peter Bjorn and John, with the added sweetness and delight of bands like The Weepies and She & Him, in the way that they layer each track, and how they weave in such catchy choruses to carry almost every song on the album. This album was a great random find for me in 2009, and I’m surprised I’m not seeing it on more year end lists; this band deserves a lot more attention, especially when you consider the overall greatness of Here Anonymous. Standout Tracks: 
This album was probably one of my biggest surprises in 2009; considering that I had never even heard of Biffy Clyro before the midpoint of the year. I love it when I stumble onto new bands, and when I first heard The Captain, I knew I had stumbled onto a great one (a find that I happily bestow credit to BBC Radio 1!). Perhaps my favorite thing about Biffy Clyro is the complexity of their melodies and song arrangements. They do the “typical” rock and roll thing, but they craft their songs in such a way that you never know which way it is going to go; there are so many intricate elements in the layering of instruments, and the arrangement can often turn on a dime (they continually utilize unique time signatures that can change within a song). Not only do I love the way in which they make music, but the lead singer’s voice and especially his accent are both down right beautiful. On Only Revolutions, Biffy Clyro have made many songs that are clearly built with a careful attention to detail that is nothing short of impressive; I can’t even imagine how difficult some of these songs must be for them to play. The result is an album that utilizes essential elements of guitar-driven rock and roll, and twists them into something unexpected, nuanced, and extremely enjoyable. Standout Tracks: God & Satan, 
While I did enjoy several songs from his previous album, The Magic Position, for some reason, it never really resonated with me on as deep a level as The Bachelor did this year (this is a major theme in my life for some reason). However, I never forgot about Patrick, because of his seemingly endless attention to detail and innovation with both his music, as well as his entire persona; there is something about him that I completely respect, because of the way this is reflected in his seemingly care free attitude. He is truly an artist that pays attention to every inch of his music, and broadcasts his personality both in his sound, as well as his appearance. Though he may be avant-garde in nearly every aspect of his style, I find that on The Bachelor, he has also made himself accessible; this album is chock full of extremely well orchestrated pop songs that forcefully push the boundary of pop music today. Patrick captured my attention fully with this album, and I love the unexpected elements peppered throughout the record; such as the brilliant (albeit sometimes creepy) use of Tilda Swinton narrating on several tracks. Overall, he has crafted an almost fairytale-like album, filled with twisting, popping, and dancing narrative-driven music; all of which beg to be devoured and savored to their last drop. Patrick is truly an innovative artist, and The Bachelor is a reflective, and brilliantly innovative album; which you would never know by the badly photoshopped art that serves as the album’s cover. Standout Tracks: Damaris, 
Definitely more subdued and stripped down than their first debut, this album steers clear of the uber catchy pop sensibility of tracks like 5 Years Time, and instead, focuses clearly on well developed folk. The result, is some of the most beautiful songwriting to be put to music in 2009. Specifically, the track Blue Skies, is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, and it is definitely one of my favorites from 2009 (it came in at #6 on my singles chart for this year). Overall, the album has a very solemn and raw feel to it, and the band really crafts what seems like a soundtrack to a beautiful film about love (which is most likely what they were going for, seeing as they did a film to accompany the album). I must say, that this album was a complete surprise for me, because I wasn’t really able to get into them other than their first single, the aforementioned 5 Years Time, so I am glad that this album really resonated with me. Some of the songs on here are just breathtakingly sweet, delightfully delicate, and utterly beautiful. Standout Tracks: 
While this is definitely the hardest album on this countdown, I have to say that it was the “softer side” of Alexisonfire that initially captured my attention; well, sort of. Last year, my number one album of the year was Bring Me Your Love by Dallas Green’s City and Colour project; and Dallas just happens to be one of the lead singers of Alexisonfire. Because I adore him, and City and Colour so much, I had to check out Alexisonfire’s new album Old Crows/Young Cardinals when it came out in June. What surprised me most, was that, even though it is stylistically very different from City and Colour, I really enjoyed it. To say that post-hardcore is not my kind of music is a drastic understatement, so I was just as surprised as any of you reading this probably are, because not only did I really like this album, but I knew almost instantly that it would be amongst my favorites for this year. This album is consistently well crafted from start to finish. The blaring guitars, banging drums, and very well written lyrics are driven by the emotive and powerful rock and roll that is echoed in the vocal delivery, as well as the musical arrangement. I also like the they show their softer side (and more of Dallas’ City and Colour-like influence) on a couple tracks, like Burial; which is the track that I would credit as making me initially take notice of this album. Burial may have made me piqued my interest, but it was the energetic all out rock and roll of tracks like the amazing Young Cardinals that had me blasting this from my speakers for months, and enjoying the album in its entirety, more and more, with each listen. My love of this album just goes to show, that if you open yourself up to something new, you might end up really liking it; and in the case of Alexisonfire, I most certainly do. Standout Tracks: 
To describe this album in three words, I would use the following: tenacious, energetic, and fresh. VV Brown drifted onto my radar when I heard her massive single, Shark In The Water, and I immediately knew I had stumbled onto something major. Once I had a proper listen of her debut, Travelling Like the Light, my suspicion was confirmed; VV Brown is a very talented musician. If I could compare her musical style to anything, I would say that she is probably best described as a mash up of Janelle Monae and the Pipettes; both of which are musical acts that I truly adore. VV’s take on pop, using big band elements, fresh beats, and her oh so beautiful voice is certainly a wonderful addition to the music I fell in love with in 2009; and it is yet another reminder of just how much amazing music comes from Britain. VV does share a lot in common with the aforementioned Monae, not only in appearance, but in her freshness, as well as her way of using simple, tried and true elements in her music. One thing is certain, however, both ladies are talented in their own right, and there is more than enough room for both of them on my ipod. Standout Tracks: 
