YACHT - Dystopia

The earth, the earth, the earth is on fire.  We don't have no daughter.  Let the motherfucker burn.

Quite the opening, eh?  YACHT is a group that falls somewhere between electronic and every other genre...with tendencies towards industrial pop and all things gritty, maybe alternative.  "Dystopia" is a pop song for people who hate pop; part of why YACHT sets themselves apart from the rest of the electronic acts.  They focus just as much on vocals as they do on the noise.  There is no need to obscure anything...Jona Bechtolt sings exactly how she should: full of power and bravado.  This lady can sing.

"Dystopia" is about what you think it is.  The end of the world.  Isolation.  Nothing but bad things on the horizon (every day the flames get higher).  The earth is on fire.  Jona's words mixed with fuzzy synths, the pound of a keyboard, and the shake of a tame tambourine paint a strange picture of post-apocalyptic Earth.  In her voice, you can sense that Jona is tired of the way things are.  Who wouldn't be?

It feels like I'm rambling in this posting...blame that on seven hours of sleep sandwiched between a wall and a friend on a futon not meant for three people...but every word I say about YACHT and "Dystopia" is true.  You don't need to be fully awake to know that.

Nicolas Jaar - Keep Me There

If I can reiterate anything I've said in this blog, it's that minimalism is the new theatrics.  This has recently become more apparent with electronic music.  Songs don't need words to create an impact on the listener, but they also don't need screaming instruments distorted into catatonia or the occasional scream to wake you up if you've become bored.  Yes, I once yawned during a fast-paced house song, and I'm not afraid to say it.  Minimalism is interesting.  The current master of minimalism and all things electronic for that matter is Nicolas Jaar, dominating with the track "Keep Me There."

Beginning with the low hum of a bass voice repeating the same lowly rhythm, you almost see a line of slave labor before you; they hum as they work.  A few melancholy instruments enter the arrangement, almost the soundtrack to an independent movie that appears so dramatic and impossible in the previews that it goes on to win an Oscar for best original screenplay.  Soon there is a yawn from my favourite corner of the orchestra; the horns (I'm not that's a real section, but it should be).  Once the song ends, you might feel confused, and if you're like my brother, disturbed.  "Keep Me There" could also be the soundtrack to an artistic horror movie that focuses more on atmosphere than blood and guts.  It takes a few straight listens to get the bigger picture in your head.  Be patient, this song will keep you there.

Foster The People - Miss You

FTH has put indie back on the map.  Their "Pumped Up Kicks" might be the best song I've heard in 2011 so far, but after sampling their album Torches, I found other gems that have been seemingly hidden from the world.  Amongst them, "Miss You."  It isn't the indie you know.  In fact, it's the indie you least suspect.  Foster The People has a unique sound that doesn't repeat in any of their songs, and with this track, they give you the result of indie spending a fun night on the town with electronica.

With a fuzzy throb in the background, a cheery-sounding first reels you in before pulling a 180 flip.  The chorus, repeating I really miss you, miss you... slows to a grinding halt with melancholy vocals that evoke the title two words.  This is what someone should sound like when they're missing you.  The chorus makes it so "Miss You" isn't a one-note song.  Sure, the electricity of the verses is fine, but this makes it entirely something else; something that hasn't been done before.  After all, there is a little moment in the fact that you can be snapping along to the verses and have to stop when the light tap of the keyboard takes over.

There are literally hundreds of bands that manage to sneak into the charts only to take a treacherous fall back down.  It happens, but it's best avoided through being unique.  I hope that Foster The People keep it up with being different; it's doing wonderful things for them.

Panic! at the Disco - The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage

I'm the kind of person who likes to reminisce now and again.  I remember back to the days when I lived and breathed punk music, scrawling band names onto all of my school notebooks and trying to get away with listening to a CD player during class (unfortunately, this all happened before I got an ipod).  I was always plugged in back then (though that hasn't changed much), and always listening to the same few bands.  This included Panic! At The Disco, back when they were more electronic than trying to recreate The Beatles.  My favourite of their songs (and still my favourite) back then was the lengthy titled "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage."

It's catchy.  It blends punk and electronica without trying too hard.  The lyrics are complex, yet fun.  I've discussed crossover genres before; it's either done perfectly or done horribly with no in-between.  With their debut album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, Panic! At The Disco achieved perfection in doing what I like bands to do: stand out.  "The Only Difference..." stands out from the album and their entire repertoire as a short, yet powerful song.  It might be classified as "alternative" music, but it's something that you can dance to.  Swear to listen?

Shakira - Waka Waka

I've recently started listening to Shakira.  A lot.  This ocurred much to my dismay and the confusion of the people around me.  Even weirder?  I prefer Spanish-language Shakira over English Shakira.  Why?  In her Spanish songs, she sings a little better and with a special something that you don't see in English versions.  I admit, I was hooked after buying "Laundry Service" from Value Village the other day, but have only been listening to the Spanish songs regularly.  However, her best song does not come from that album, or really any other album for that matter.  It's the 2010 World Cup song, "Waka Waka" (Spanish edition, the English one pales in comparison).

Who knew that Shakira and African rhythm go so well together?  "Waka Waka" is interesting; not something that anyone has seen from her before.  It's a song that you can not only move to, but move to and not feel bad about.  You know how it is, a song comes on and you have to dance, only to take a close listen to find that it's about dealing drugs, explicit sexual escapades, etc (but if you don't feel bad, more power to you).  "Waka Waka" has an uplifting message, even if I'm not able to understand it in Spanish.  Some things are universal; i.e. beautiful music.  Just don't go anywhere near the English version until you've heard "Waka Waka" in Spanish.

Stranger Day - Not Playin'

Time for a new, obscure music definition that I just made up five minutes ago...slow-motion rap.  It's slow-tempo, not fast enough for you to dance too but not slow enough to prohibit casual swaying or hands-in-the-air.  Typically, the chorus involves vocals belonging to an outside party, humming a sentence on repeat.  Slow-motion rap is a good break from a world that relies on heavy beats sped up to 90 km/h in order to earn a spot on the Top 40 chart.  Relative unknowns do it the best; case in point: Stranger Day and the brilliant "Not Playin'."

I looked up the video for this song yesterday, and find that it really says everything I want to (some parts are even in slow motion...how about that?).  This is what you'd listen to while driving down a dusty back road, aviators on your face and the windows rolled down.  Head bobbing is encouraged, but don't get ahead of yourself.  Magic happens with a formula for success like this.  Stranger Day manages to do what genre comrades such as Rockwell Knuckles, Donnis, Madchild and even Kanye are familiar with: standing out in a sea of "typical."  His "Not Playin'" is anything but typical.  Trust me, I'm not playin' with you.

Protest The Hero - Hair-Trigger

Oh, to love a band unconditionally...  Though I don't pride myself in being a "fangirl," I have to admit that I get a little crazy whenever Protest The Hero comes up in a conversation (it isn't often, but when it does...).  I've been a big fan since I first heard "Sequoia Throne", and subsequently bought their first two albums as soon as I could, and then their EP.  It's rare to find a group of young men doing something so brilliant with music.  Their guitars could tear you to shreds, reminiscent of a thrashing Iron Maiden.  And Mr. Rody Walker's vocals?  You know how I like a man with a higher-than-usual singing voice.

I do have to admit that I fell behind on my PTH news recently, until I found their third album on the shelves in Wal-Mart.  Sucrrilous is draws on the elements of their last release, Fortress, with good theatrics, vocal harmonies (in progressive-metal? who knew it could be awesome?) and lyrics that you know are good, but have to look up to make sure you get them right.  Of the many highlights of the album, my recent love is "Hair-Trigger", a near-five-minute epic in which Mr. Walker describes a strange story of that sweet little redhead who has her hooks in my back.  It isn't quite a love story, and isn't quite a revenge ballad.  It's a love-hate story told in PTH's signature style.  Though they've grown as a band, they haven't so much in a way that their albums are drastically different from each other.

Quite possibly the best Canadian band in a looooong time, Protest The Hero is doing music right.  I'm content with being their number one fangirl.

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

The Forever 27 club gained another member yesterday morning, in the black-beehived, chain-smoking, binge-drinking, crack-snorting Amy Winehouse.  Though I can't agree with most of her lifestyle choices, I can agree with most of the world in the fact that she was a powerful musician; something different in a world of bubblegum Disney pop and anyone who knows a few chords of the acoustic guitar.  She gave us hope that maybe, the music of yesteryear wasn't gone from our lives after all.  It's saddening to know that she was taken from us so young, and that perhaps this untimely end could have been avoided, but Miss Winehouse left us with nothing short of greatness in her discography.  In her memory, I bring you my possible favourite song of hers, "Back To Black."

A sultry, dark, jazzy tune gives Amy the formula for success.  This is what she did best.  With the occasional shake of the tambo, the pounding of the piano, and her strong vocals (has anyone heard anyone like this before?  I'd be interested in knowing if someone has a similar sound to Amy Winehouse), she proves that one doesn't have to be mainstream in order to achieve both success and critical acclaim.  The best part is that her musical career was devoid of duds, even her slightly newer releases, such as a wonderful cover of "Valerie."

People will say horrible things about her death, for instance, that people who behave in such a way deserve what they get.  Even celebrities who run into trouble don't deserve to be taken this young.  What if Janis Joplin was still alive?  And Mr. Hendrix?  We may never known how greater Amy Winehouse's music could have become, but we are left with what was, and I'm more than happy to have that.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Weapon of Choice

"Weapon of Choice" is another song that's haunted me for years.  It received some airplay on the somewhat-local alternative station, but it seemed that I always missed the band name, and when I could have gotten the song, the thought didn't even cross my mind.  Enter this year, where it finally finds its place in my music library.

A not-so-acoustic-y, modernish Beach Boys reprise, "Weapon of Choice" channels the good ol' days of parties on the beach, when you could have an open bonfire and not get fined by the city.  It has a carefree mood to it.  There's even the shake of a tambourine in the background.  But, with a fun set of electric guitar riffs rising the background comes deeper lyrics, such as I won't waste my love on a nation.  Could Black Rebel Motorcycle Club be using their somewhat-rising status to get a point across about current affairs?  Anything is possible.

This is a song for the summer if I've ever heard it.  So take my advice, get this song, listen to it on your way to the beach, and then attempt to surf.  Even in the Great Lakes (because that's all some of us have).

Lonely Galaxy - Modern Romance

I still don't know what genre to put this masterpiece of a piano ballad under.  In one direction is jazz, and the other...something I'm not to sure of.  Lonely Galaxy's "Modern Romance" oozes melancholy and heartbreak, but it is much more powerful than it is depressing.  Yes, it may make you sad upon first listening, but contrary to anything I've ever said before...this is power done right, and with a piano.  And a few strings lurking in the background.

And the lyrics? K4djhlshfshfksjh (that means indescribable joy, with a 4).  They are some of the best lyrics I have heard since my love f music began at the age of seven with Britney Spears' Oops...I Did It Again.  Lonely Galaxy explains I don't ever wanna find another lover, she said "don't want that," and if I could, I'd take it back, but frankly I'd prefer a heart attack.  The "heart attack" part is sung the best, and with the most audible pain.  "Modern Romance" is the song that would play in a romcom following the reversal of events, when all of the characters refuse to see each other and instead choose to wallow in their own misery.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Forget your piano gods from yesteryear.  Sorry Norah.  You too, Fiona.  Lonely Galaxy does it better than you've ever done before.  I'm waiting with baited breath for the day he blows up.

Twin Atlantic - Lightspeed

Scottish alternative...does it get any better than this?  Thank goodness that Twin Atlantic was able to avoid the diseases that come along with most North American alternative acts: too-depressing lyrics, lazy guitars, either becoming too "poppy" or too "hardcore" for their own good...let's just take solace in the fact that there's none of that here.

Twin Atlantic's song "Lightspeed" is a fun, light alt song reminiscent of old-school Yellowcard, minus the violin.  I can't say anything bad about the lyrics; they fit in perfectly with the band's guitar riffs and avoid borderline pop territory, offering you and I were meant to be fusing fate, together we're making history.  And even though it has nothing to do with their talent and capabilities, the lead singer croons with a noticeable Scottish accent that someone like me can't help but love (you know how foreign guys are...they get all of the girls).

So who is "Lightspeed" for?  Someone who wants to jump around on a hot summer day (or night) and not worry about the tempo drastically changing (what I call a matrix moment, which I can liken to moments when Neo is able to avoid bullets in slow motion) or how lame the band is (ahem...Fall Out Boy...ahem...).  Twin Atlantic is nowhere near lame.  I'd say brilliant, and the stuff they pump out...beautiful.  Don't miss another of their standout tracks, "Caribbean War Syndrome."

Telephoned - Run Away

Yesterday, I acquired dance group Telephoned's (that didn't make much sense with the 's, but disregard your confusion.  The band is named Telephoned) mixtape, Off The Hook.  If you like music that gets you moving without being too theatrical or in your face, I suggest you get yourself over to rcrdlbl and download it.  It's filled with short dance ditties, and includes covers of "Use Somebody" and "Empire State of Mind."  However, the first track that stood out to me was the one-minute-and-fifty-three-second "Run Away."

It's a simple formula here.  Horns (personal favourite instrument of the moment, sorry, acoustic guitar).  Powerful vocals that won't shatter your eardrums.  What sounds like beatboxing.  A small touch of theatrics (what's dance music without it, after all?).  And there you go.  In less than two minutes, Telephoned captures your attention with a song that is labelled as dance, but is much more pop.  It's also a bit tragic, not terribly upbeat at all, but that's what makes it good.  How many cheery pop songs have you heard recently?  If you're like me, the answer is too many.

To really give the group what they deserve, you'll need to download the entire mixtape.  It only takes about half an hour to listen to, and by the time you're done, you'll realize that the dance music you once knew is long-gone.  Who needs to remix the crap out of something anymore?  Telephoned does dance their way, and these days, if you're not putting a unique spin on what you're putting out, it's easy to fall into my recycling bin.

The Real Tuesday Weld - Me and Mr. Wolf

First off, have you seen Ratatouille?  You know, that movie about rats and cooking?  If you have, I'm giving you a fist bump through your computer/phone/itouch right now.  If not, I think you should drive down to Wal-Mart (the best place for entertainment...usually...) and buy it.  Why, do you ask?  Listening to "Me and Mr. Wolf", a jazzy number by The Real Tuesday Weld, reminded me of the soundtrack.  Yes, that's the point.  Sure, by describing it as "jazzy", you must assume that it's a slow-tempo, crooning vocal mash-up that could bore my 92 year-old grandmother into throwing an album out the window.  You would be wrong, good sir.  "Me and Mr. Wolf" is upbeat, full of life, and sounds like it came right out of the Disney movie mentioned earlier (though it's not about rats, it's about wolves).

It is a conversation between the big bad wolf and the girl (Red Riding Hood, perhaps?). Wolf: Hey little girl, you look so nice with that pretty red dress and those pretty back eyes.  Girl: Hello Mr. Wolf, oh what a surprise to find you here so deep in the night.  The element of conversation makes this song the piece of greatness that it is.  The conversing extends beyond the male and female vocalists, covering the horns that speak to each other in the second half of the song.  The twisting horns have to me my favourite part of this four-minute masterpiece, and sound a little European, though it doesn't take away from the upbeat jazz of the song.  I could even dance to this if I had a big bad wolf lurking around.

So what's the moral of this story?  Don't talk to strangers?  Don't trust a wolf dressed in your grandmother's clothes?  No, it's that jazz doesn't have to be boring.  It can be full of life.  It can speak to itself, and can speak to you as well.

Scars on Broadway - Insane

I usually am not a fan of bands breaking up and creating new bands.  Case in point: the dissolution of System of a Down.  Serj went one way (and didn't disappoint me), and Daron and John went another.  Shavo was seemingly caught in the middle, but that's okay.  Shavo's good enough to do his own thing.  Anyways...Daron and John came up with Scars on Broadway, a band that is SOAD without Serj, but nonetheless capable of great things.  Their debut (and only to date) album (self-titled) doesn't bore the listener.  Some tracks stand out more than others, and in my opinion, the slower "Insane" beats out all the rest (you saw that coming, didn't you?).

Sped up, "Insane" could probably fit into SOAD's Mesmerize, but keeping it slower lets Scars on Broadway stay in the "slightly different from the old band" category.  With Daron repeating let's go insane again, bring back the pain again while going through slow riffs like it's nobody's business, you're able to appreciate their music a little more than you could on other tracks.  There are no theatrics.  There isn't a surprise climax that includes Daron wailing at the top of his lungs while John pounds on the drums.  In a perfect way, "Insane" stays consistent, and beautiful.

Donnis feat. Dev - Ring My Bell

If you can recall that earlier this month I featured "Ticket To The Moon" by rising Atlanta rapper Donnis.  I also mentioned a more recent track of this that would be appearing in the near future...well, no need to wait any longer.  "Ring My Bell", an airy, stripped-down (so you know it's good) song with Dev taking over the chorus, was the first song of his that I heard, courtesy of rcrdlbl. 

Firstly, you haven't heard Dev like this before.  Her soft rendition of the chorus (you can ring by bell, oh I won't tell, no I won't tell.  Ring-a-ling-a-ring-a-ling my bell, no I won't tell...) is toned down for an artist such as herself, and I myself wish that she would do it more often.  The closest she comes to this in another song is the high-pitched chorus of "Top Of The World", and even then, it's a far stretch from the amazing job she does with "Ring My Bell."

Then there's Donnis.  I already have nothing but good things to say about him, his choice of good beats, and the lyrics he spits out.  "Ring My Bell" lacks the theatrics of his mixtape, Diary of an ATL. Brave, but that's what makes it unique.  Now and again, stepping outside of the box is a good thing to show the world that you're more than a one-note artist.  Actually, I encourage it.  Donnis does a spectacular job of doing exactly this; another reason why I can't wait until this guy blows up in the world of rap.

Little Tybee - Passion Seekers

For the Georgia band that offers listeners a breezy blend of folk and a hint of jazz, "Passion Seekers" was an easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy choice for a single.  I found it on the MuchMusic website a few months ago, so here's hoping that it gives Little Tybee the popularity it deserves.  Unless you're a native of their hometown, you probably haven't heard this kind of music before.  It's a fresh alternative to the boyish indie that's been clogging my laptop since May.  The sultry tempo of "Passion Seekers" takes you to a warm beach at sunset.  Slow dancing is encouraged.

Yes, "Passion Seekers" qualifies as beautiful.  If you listen to this and think it's ugly and gritty, you're not listening well enough.  There's the quiet strum of an acoustic guitar, an arrangement of strings and a voice you've probably only heard at the end of classic Disney movies.  Okay, I'll explain.  If you've seen the Rescuers, you probably remember the song from the opening credits, when the message in the bottle is floating through the water.  Little Tybee's "Passion Seekers" reminds me of that, but less sorrowful and more loving.  I think I know which movie I'll be watching tonight...

The point?  Oh yeah.  If you haven't heard of Little Tybee before reading this, you need to go to itunes, type their name into the search bar, and spend every red cent you have on their songs and albums.  I recommend "Humorous To Bees", which offers another gem that will be making an appearance soon.

Chevelle - One Lonely Visitor

Am I alone in here?

Chevelle is one of my favourite bands.  Ever.  I have all of the albums; even the drastically different and poorly played debut Point #1 (all is forgiven, though, after Sci Fi Crimes).  From the middle of their career as professional musicians, the song "One Lonely Visitor" comes off of the album Wonder What's Next, a generally typical release as a band is figuring out their sound and what they can do to improve.  Wonder What's Next is an album of experimenting.  While "One Lonely Visitor" channels the acoustic channel evident from their debut, they do it differently now, and they do it better.

"One Lonely Visitor" is stripped down to two essential instruments: an acoustic guitar and a voice that can start off soft and eventually deliver in ways no one would expect.  The Loeffler brothers give us a song of sadness, but it doesn't come without the realization that things are about to change.  It's time to wake up and separate feelings that I keep falling into, seems like good reason.  Even though it couldn't be more of a mess, that's what makes the song brilliantly beautiful.  It is a mess of emotions without ever being a mess...if that makes sense.  Oh well.  It's the things that make you think that stick in your mind.

The last minute and fifty seconds is something you HAVE TO listen to.  I don't care if you've got places to be or things to do...listen!  You haven't heard power in a song this strong since Kanye (even if this predates him).  More Chevelle features coming in the not so distant future...

Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - As We Enter (Tinie Tempah Remix)

I was intrigued when I first heard about an album project between Nas and Damian Marley.  "Patience" was the first song that I heard from the CD, and I can't deny that it's good.  It was brilliant.  Nas and Mr. Marley compliment each other and keep things interesting in a genre that is famous for getting stale.  Even though it was good, I kind of forgot about the two of them for a few months as bigger, shinier things came across my path (I'm only human).  Then, a few days ago, I found "As We Enter", remixed by British rapper Tinie Tempah.

I think Tinie's opening verse (compared to the original version's verse) fits in flawlessly with the words thrown by Nas and Damian Marley.  He came here with no introduction, or information, but he holds his own against the big guns.  Nas enters in the chorus, a catchy ditty that grabs your attention.  He and Damian Marley seemingly duel it out following this.  Who wins?  It's a tie.

How can a a rap song capture your attention with just over two minutes of air time?  Interesting background beats are the key to the formula of success (or to my liking of a certain song).  It has to be fast-paced (but not too fast), and unique from a world where a throbbing bass is overused.  In the "As We Enter" remix, the background noise almost makes the song, if not for the great talent that lets you know the king's back, time to return the crown.

Triumph Of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death - The Dirty Street

With the upwards of 3300 songs lying around the laptop, it's not entirely impossible for me to forget what I've acquired.  This is especially true for all of my rcrdlbl downloads...I've got a lot, and with new songs coming out every day, it's easy to lose track of things if they don't immediately jump out as brilliant.  Prime example?  "The Dirty Street."

I don't know much about TOLSATD.  Actually, I don't know anything about them.  From listening to "The Dirty Street", I can conclude that there is a male lead singer, a female vocalist, a guitarist, a drummer, and maybe someone else that I've missed (there's always one of those in a band).  I'm probably wrong about a bit of that assumption, but the most important thing one learns from listening to "The Dirty Street" is that this indie band has a way with emotions and strange guitar riffs.

The female vocalist takes on the challenge of the first verse, with a soft and quiet voice that you have to really listen to in order to appreciate.  The male singer has the chorus, with a louder (though still understated) bravado that is barely singing.  It's him speaking his true feelings to the listener, asking all the questions he wants to know: Did he catch you stepping out onto the dirty street?  Did you take a sip when you know damn well when you know you can't handle your drink?

"The Dirty Street" is a sad song.  You can hear it in their voices.  It has a slow tempo, and is nearly stripped down to the bare minimum.  What does that mean?  It is utterly beautiful, and I'm astonished that I lost track of it after it was removed from my Recently Added playlist in January.

Iron Maiden - When The Wild Wind Blows

Iron Maiden practically invented metal.  It was once again my younger brother who introduced me to them, after discovering his own love of music and buying "The Number Of The Beast."  Still working my way out of the hole created by alternative and punk, I was initially unsure of what I was hearing.  It had the things that I was growing to love in rock music: guitars that wouldn't quit, high male vocals (yes, it's perfectly fine to like that in a vocalist.  If only Bruce Dickinson was 30 years younger...).  Soon, my brother was working on completing the Iron Maiden discography and I was happily copying all of the songs to my library.  Now a tad of a know-it-all when it comes to their songs, both me and my brother were looking forward to the release of their newest album "The Final Frontier."  Of course, they knocked it out of the park.  But what was the most epic song on one of their most epic albums (facing serious competition from "The Trooper")?

When The Wild Wind Blows.

An eleven-minute masterpiece, "When The Wild Wind Blows" chronicles the story of lovers who mistake an earthquake for the fallout and take their lives.  Yes, that was a spoiler.  Beginning softly, rising to a powerful climax, and finishing on a fitting sombre note, the song literally makes the album.  Yes, if it hadn't been included on "The Final Frontier", I'm not sure how much I would have liked it.  If Iron Maiden can do anything flawlessly, it's tell a story with a beginning, middle and end in their songs, and still make it an epic.  I've listening to this song a lot, and never once have I gotten bored or tied of it.  After all, if a song is eleven minutes long, shouldn't it grab your attention and hold it hostage long enough so you develop Stockholm Syndrome?

I think the answer is obvious.

You can disregard all of my other suggestions if you want, but if there's any song I feature here that you should take a listen to, it's this one.  Now what are you still doing here?  Go to Wal-Mart and buy "The Final Frontier" ASAP.

Kanye West feat. Mos Def, Lupee Fiasco & Big Sean - Don't Look Down

Kanye West, you sly dog.  How did you get to be the first artist to have two songs featured by me?  Oh yeah, because you are one of the greatest musicians of our time.  With a snare drum, Mos Def and two others for help (yes, I know they have names, but I only know one song by Mr. Fiasco and none by Big Sean), he gives us "Don't Look Down."

"Don't Look Down" is new, though was not released on the most recent My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, instead as part of his "Good Friday" project.  What it lacks in popularity and the disdain of Mr. West (it should have been included on your album, Kanye.  C'mon.  You know better), it makes up for in power.  Yes, I'm aware of the pun.  Opening with Mos Def, we're given a sombre rap song that is motivational at the same time with, don't look down, it's an impossible view, spread your wings aeriel.  With electronic vocals, the pound of a piano, and Kanye's magic touch, "Don't Look Down" is stellar.  Definitely beautiful.

I'm sure there was reasoning for it not being included on the album, but perhaps there is solace in the fact that "Don't Look Down" isn't as popular as its colleagues.  No, I'm not the kind of person who only likes unpopular things, but that fact gives this song a special quality.  Don't look down, look ahead.

Evergreen Terrace - Hopelessly Hopeless

Wandering away from the world of rap and whatnot, I bring you Evergreen Terrace.  No, not that one.  The band.  They're from Florida, and they fall into metalcore category.  Now, these guys are good.  A more melodic Dead and Divine, I'd say.  Though their 2007 release "Wolfbiker" remains high on the list of my favourite albums, the most recent "Almost Home" is nearly as stellar with high notes throughout the recording.  Specifically speaking, "Hopelessly Hopeless" is the song that reaches out and grabs you by the collar of your shirt until you're listening to what can only be described as melodic hardcore.

Evergreen Terrace is good at offering guitars bordering on being thrash and interlacing throat vocals with ones that can be called "clean", though are gritty and rough enough to steer clear of the post-hardcore genre.  The chorus acts as the repeating climax and lyrical highpoint of the song with I can't believe that you pulled me under, capsized in seas and I never understood are we all we are? 

"Hopelessly Hopeless" is the song that would get the crowd going at a concert.  You're picturing it now, aren't you?  I'm anxious to see what they'll do next, even if they're not recording anything now.  Dear Evergreen Terrace, your namesake has existed for more than 20 years.  How about you do too?  Sincerely, everyone.

These New Puritans - White Chords

Better late than never...again.

I found this song through a remix on rcrdlbl.  Also worth listening to, the Forest Swords Remix sends you to a foggy dreamland where everything is chanted slowly and the atmosphere is reminiscent of some sort of horrible winter wonderland.  I was curious as to what the original version sounded like, and after looking it up on Youtube, found that is was drastically different.  Less electronic, more indie.  Still amazing, even better than the remix too.

Crooning I've got white chords running through my body to throbbing percussion, the hum of a chorus in the background and other mystical sounds, it gives a similar feeling of desolation that the remix provides, though it's not as "out there" with the inclusion of comprehensible lyrics (though who says lyrics makes a song better?  Well, my sister seems to think so...but more on that later).  "White Chords" paints a picture of a rainy London street, where you think that you have a white cat when it actuality it is black.  It is strange.  It is different that the indie you might be used to, but it is abstract art in song.  It's beautiful, as I would call such a thing.

Flogging Molly - If I Ever Leave This World Alive

I love Irish music.  Just want to get that out of the way now.

I was first introduced to Irish punk indirectly by my brother, who was and still kind of is a big fan of Flogging Molly and the similar Dropkick Murphys.  I was dubious at first, wondering aloud why it sounds like "the late night ramblings from a pub in Cork."  Preconceived notions aside, I took a few good listens and didn't get too into it until I saw PS I Love You one evening.  I fell in love with the movie (and Gerard Butler with a guitar) and perhaps Flogging Molly's best song that appears in the film.

You might be able to guess why I like "If I Ever Leave This World Alive."  Minimalist guitars, powerful lyrics and vocals, and that beautiful feeling you get once it's over.  Also Irish.  Mostly the Irish thing.  They know what they're doing over there.

Swollen Members - Moonshine

I seem to be featuring a lot of rap lately, possibly a nod to the days where I wore my own bling to school with a Starter hoodie and chunky shoes.  Come on, we've all been there at some point.  No, it was just me?  Oh.  Anyways, Vancouver rap group Swollen Members currently sit in the elite group of my favourite musical acts.  Fourth, if we're being accurate.  I've been a loyal fan since "Monsters In The Closet", buying their albums even though my strictly-alternative phase.  I usually don't find out that they've released an album until I see it at Wal-Mart, which was the case for their latest effort, "Daggermouth."  A CD that brings them out of the funk that the previous, "Armed To The Teeth" left in their fans mouths, the highlight stands as "Moonshine."

In the background, behind Madchild and Prevail's raps, is a looping drum beat with a strange sound reminiscent of a scene in "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory."  The two powerhouses are best when paired with stripped down sounds, compared to the loud and excessive they sometimes have to battle against.  They are the kings of references in rap, my favourite here being devil's night in Detroit, dig a shallow grave.  It is also easy to pick out lyrics that reference Madchild's recent drug-related issues, which are present throughout the album.  They play only a small role in "Moonshine", which is good for the listener.  Prevail enters with his gritty voice, never sounding as if he is unsure.  As the songs ends with the scratches of a record, you realize that this rap song may just be...beautiful.  Yes, I've used it again.

Swollen Members have been around long enough to know what they're doing (aside from the detour they took with "Armed To The Teeth").  "Daggermouth" brings them back to their roots with tracks that give you a gritty beauty and references that you know that you know but can't remember for the life of you.  Devil's night in Detroit?  Answer: The Crow.

Dead and Divine - Lovely Bones

I love Dead and Divine.  Well, I use to L word a lot when it comes to musical artists, but I really mean it this time.  I love Dead and Divine.  They're Canadian, they do hardcore music while still retaining a bite of alternative, and they improve with each album.  "Lovely Bones", from their most recent effort (though not for long) The Machines We Are, is one of their tracks that leans more towards alternative than hardcore, atypical for D&D.  I've found them more partial to throat than clean vocals and gritty guitars rather than the softer ones, but they do both things wonderfully nonetheless.

"Lovely Bones" is a beautiful song in alternative standards.  Giving us let's shoot some drugs and fall in love, it is a melancholy romance tune set to climbing guitars and equally climbing vocals that are traversing the ladder of power.  However, hardcore fans shouldn't discount D&D just by listening to this song.  The rest of the album, though perhaps apart from "Teeth", is a wonderful collection of songs where hardcore beats alternative in the ring and then knocks its teeth out.  Their previous album, "The Fanciful" is an even better example of this.

As I was easing myself into the hardcore genre around last summer, I was unsure of what to think of Dead and Divine.  It was new to me.  More screaming and less singing.  "Lovely Bones" satisfies the sheepish fans (as will their older "The Bronze Goddess"), and the album as a whole will garner support from those who live and breath throat.  I'm anxious to get my hands on their next album, due out this summer.  Soon this summer.

Evans Blue - The Future In The End

Me (upon opening Evans Blue's latest album to find that their lead singer has been replaced): "What have I done??"

However, Dan Chandler isn't half-bad.  In fact, he's pretty good.  He's no Matisyn, but he helps the band in taking a new direction.  On their self-titled album, they are more Three Days Grace than they used to be, and they're more rock-y than atmospheric.  Nonetheless, it's a change that I welcome because they're doing it the right way.  It's not a sudden change that will shock fans (though you need help if you don't notice that their lead singer has changed.  Get yourself to Wikipedia, man!), but a subtle one that will open doors for bigger changes in the band.

"The Future In The End" is a reminder of what was.  The hook is what gives this song the edge over the others on the album, as Chandler offers, so sleep love, just dream love, and don't let it go.  Don't you let this song go.  It didn't jump out and grab me upon my first listen-through of the album, but as it kept coming up on shuffle, it grew on me.  The best songs do just that.  I'll admit, some of the songs on this album are trying to hard.  "The Future In The End" doesn't have to try.

What does this song selection prove?  The best bands can always get better, and even though change is never welcome at first, you've got to let the new idea grow on you before you can get into it.  How else would we get things done in the world?

Rockwell Knuckles - Play Catch

While on the topic of rappers who know what they're doing: I bring you Rockwell Knuckles.  Like Donnis, he's moving up in the industry and has something that sets him apart from everyone else.  What is that something?  I'm sure if we knew, every rapper would be on my list of songs to feature.  How do I judge if a rap song is any good?  It climbs onto my Top 25 Most Played while it's still on Recently Added.  Songs that do that have something.  Rockwell Knuckles has something.  Example: "Play Catch."

With words thrown against the chopped up vocals of a female singer, Rockwell Knuckles infused beauty into a genre not known for having such a thing.  Insisting that his show puts most in disbelief, he gives us a song that let's you know that you're wrong, he's right.  He's good, and anything you've heard is wrong.  You don't know anything.  I don't mind listening to someone's plans to take over the world, especially when it's presented in an art form.  Yes, rap can be an art form if done correctly.

Rockwell Knuckles isn't the guy you see in music videos rapping about snorting cocaine with twenty girls dancing around him (there would be cars too, there are always cars).  He falls into the category I tentatively call rap for people who hate rap.  Music for people who aren't afraid of music.

Donnis - Ticket To The Moon

Donnis has brought something fresh to the rap genre that I haven't seen in a long time.  His mixtape, "Diary Of An ATL. Brave", came into my possession and I've never looked back.  For me to be a fan of a rapper, two things have to exist.  One, a good background beat.  Two, something that sets him apart from the others in a world of video girls and automatic rifles.  Female backing vocals throughout the tracks is a nice addition too.  Donnis is new.  Donnis is fresh.  From the mixtape, my favourite song is "Ticket To The Moon."

Beginning with might be scared to die but we ain't scared to fly, Donnis gives us a song of redemption and hope.  The "ticket to the moon" is a journey to success and fame, and Donnis isn't coming back until he's achieved what he needs to achieve.  This song is full of emotion you don't see coming from many other rappers, who might be afraid to "go there."  Donnis goes there and never looks back.

The entire mixtape is a gem in its own right (along with a newer song in which he collaborates with Dev on, though we'll get to that later), but "Ticket To The Moon" gives Donnis the edge he needs to break into this industry.  This boy is going places.

Alexisonfire - The Northern

Happy Canada Day!  And to those of you south of the border, or nowhere near Canada...happy Friday!  In honor of the best country in the world, I bring one of my favourite Canadian bands.  I used to be Alexisonfire's biggest fan.  The absolute biggest fan.  Though their music has been shifting since their debut album (and the noteworthy "Watch Out!", the soundtrack of my '06), they still maintain a quality that is undeniable.  In their most recent effort, "Old Crows / Young Cardinals", the most haunting, if not best, track is "The Northern."

Dallas Green and George Petit contrast each other in a way that other bands can't match up to.  Dallas gives the verses the haunting element of the song, and George gives the chorus a feeling of desolation and perhaps a bit of I told you so.  George screams the best lyrics Alexisonfire may have ever included in their songs, oh father you oughta be there, I'm gonna go the heaven when I die, with Dallas in the background reminding us that he's not going anywhere.

"The Northern" currently sits at 5 for my most played songs.  Though we can't deny that Alexisonfire has softened up over the years, they still have a power in the group that gives them an edge.  Oh, you oughta be there.