Ludo - Overdone

Oh, aren't I overdone today?  I'm wrestling with some kind of stomach bug as the weather gets warmer and I continue to long to go home this weekend.  At least I've got Ludo.  I've always got good things to say about these four boys from Missouri.  There's no word about a new album, but 2010's Prepare The Preparations is holding me over for now.  "Overdone" is off the album, and it's nothing insane like "Love Me Dead" or the like, but has that theatrical quality that makes my love for Ludo steady.

"Overdone" is subdued for these boys, but nothing short of amazing.  Mr. Volpe still puts all of his power into the chorus.  It's a sad ditty, but it's special.  There's something about "Overdone" that is memorable.  It could be the 80s-esque guitar work, a melody from a fantasy movie, or lyrics that paint a sad, yet hopeful picture.  We've all been overdone before, but we all get saved eventually, right?

YC The Cynic - Rude Boy Jamaican

I downloaded the New York Renaissance mixtape a week or two ago, and first off, it's free.  Secondly, it's rife with underground rap from my second favourite state, with bits and pieces from the likes of Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$...and someone who's new to me.  YC The Cynic is a young man from the Bronx who has created something along the lines of sophisticated with "Rude Boy Jamaican."  It's nothing over-the-top, minimal if you have to call it something, but it listens to very nicely.  This is the kind of rap that doesn't get you with flashy videos and girls in metallic bikinis.  YC lets the words speak for themselves, with some help from an old Eek A Mouse song sampled in the chorus.  It's not easy to keep that original reggae flavor in a modern rap song, but YC does it...and does it well.

Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel No. 2 + Lana Del Rey - Chelsea Hotel No. 2

My girl Lana has been releasing a lot of really good covers lately, and I think that out of the handful, her take on Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" is the best...even before "Summer Wine."  Yeah, that's right, I said it.  The original could be a daunting track to take on, as Mr. Cohen is a bit of a master at everything he does.  It's a very minimal song, with only Leonard and an acoustic guitar, but that minimal beauty really injects feeling into the memories of long lost love.  Forget the ten others I mentioned in the past, because he's the real Canadian treasure.

Lana doesn't do anything too crazy with "Chelsea Hotel No. 2."  Hell, if any woman has ever had the voice to cover it, it's her, and she does a fine job of it.  She does Leonard Cohen justice, but makes it her own at the same time.  Sometimes with songs, you match the perfect words to the perfect voice.  We've got it here, people.

White Lies - Bigger Than Us

Well isn't this one a blast from the past?  "Bigger Than Us" first came my way thanks to MuchMusic, back when I religiously watched the video flow between classes.  White Lies is the trio behind the track, and speaking only as the twenty-year-old I am, they're fairly attractive.  Looks aside, these British boys sound like a lush Franz Ferdinand in "Bigger Than Us," mixing epic vocals and guitar work that's full of life.  The video is weird, so don't say I didn't warn you, but don't let that detract from the music.  Years after its initial release, "Bigger Than Us" is still a breath of fresh air, and just as epic as it was two years ago.

The Oh Hellos - Wishing Well

It is an absolutely gorgeous day over here.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I hope you're still not getting horrid amounts of snow.  Lovely spring days call for lovely indie music to match the mood, and Texas gives us The Oh Hellos, a folky brother-sister duo who kind of sound like a female-fronted Mumford & Sons.  Not bad.  Off of Through The Deep, Dark Valley comes "Wishing Well," which overflows with acoustic sweetness, and packs a punch at the end that will surely get you good.  Don't think too hard about this one, just listen and get into that spring-and-summer mood.  I know I am.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz - Thrift Shop

I know, I know...top 40?  I can break the mold if I want to.  "Thrift Shop" jokes have been all over Tumblr for a while, and in that time I made myself avoid actually listening to the song.  That couldn't keep me away from it for long.  It was pretty easy for me to get into this one, my mind flowing with fond memories of my days working at the Mennonite thrift store back home.  It's a little jazzy with a good dose of hip-hop, and catchy as hell.

Take last night as an example.  My cousin got married and "DJed" the reception himself.  It was a so-so mix of 80's rock until we got to "Thrift Shop," which I suspect my other cousin got onto the list.  The most fun of the epic dance party was doing the running man and singing along to the lyrics.  Say all the bad things you want to about this one, but I'm a big fan of what Macklemore and the gang are up to.

Slipknot - Wait and Bleed

My affair with Slipknot began with their last album, All Hope Is Gone, but it's their earlier work that really speaks to me.  I'm a sucker for that industrial sound, what can I say?  "Wait and Bleed" is one of the heavy-hitters off of their self-titled debut.  Don't blink, because you might miss this short ditty, but there's something infectious about it that may keep you from doing so.  Corey Taylor is flawless, going from a clean chorus to surprisingly catchy verses.  As well, a lot of instrumental power is put into a track this short.  Why waste what little time you have, am I right?  "Wait and Bleed" may not be as heavy as some of the other tracks off the album ("Prosthetics," anyone?), but you never forget the first big single.  More than a decade after its release, it's hard to do so for "Wait and Bleed."

Beyoncé - Bow Down / I Been On

I'm less than a casual fan of Beyoncé.  I like a song here and there, though have never gone out to buy an album.  Back in the day I was a big Destiny's Child fan, but I've grown out of that phase of my life for the most part.  Even so, I found "Bow Down / I Been On" an interesting selection from Lady Bey.  I find that sometimes she can be a little generic, but this one has something special.  I'm also a sucker for sputtering snare drums.  Beyoncé really takes command of the track, and you have to if half of it is called "Bow Down."  If this proves anything, it's that surprises are around every corner, and maybe Rcrd Lbl hasn't completely gone downhill after all.

Alkaline Trio - This Could Be Love

When it comes to Alkaline Trio, I like three of their albums.  That's right, only three.  Agony & Irony, Crimson and Good Mourning.  So sue me if you see merit in the others, but I just prefer the sound of this trio from the trio.  Good Mourning is good, of course, and rife with acoustic gems and alternative wunderkinds like "This Could Be Love."  You may expect sweet nothings, but instead you'll get a twisted love story set to punky guitars and drums.  The chorus?  It gets a rare OMG from me.

Step one, slit my throat
Step two, bathe in my blood
Step three, cover me in dirty sheets and run laughing out of the house
Step four, stop off at Edgebrook Creek and rinse your crimson hands
You took me hostage and made your demands
I couldn't meet them so you cut off my fingers, one by one

Yeah, it's twisted, and the location for hand washing changes with each refrain, but gauging a reaction is part of what music is all about.  There is love in here somewhere, behind the matches and kerosene, within the flowing guitar work and smooth vocals.  This is love, when it comes to "This Could Be Love."

Swollen Members - Almost Famous

I fully intended to buy Beautiful Death Machine the day it came out, but I was distracted by shoes on March 19th.  No matter, because I've got it now, and I'm still only missing their debut album in my collection (along with Heavy, but for the band's sake...I don't count it).  This new release from Madchild, Prevail and Rob The Viking is a solid effort...somewhere between the sounds of Black Magic and Dagger Mouth.

"Almost Famous" is my early favourite, and if I can compare it to anything, it's an aggressive version of their own "Moonshine."  It's a bit literal, in chronicling the group's fight to be known, and how no matter what, they're three BFFs through to the end.  I commend the boys for sticking together all these years; it gives them strength in consistency.  Madchild can also narrate my nightmares any day.

Device - Vilify

Disturbed being on an indefinite hiatus is saddening, really, but I'm willing to take what I get with side projects.  David Draiman brought his vocal talent to a band called Device, and "Vilify" was the first song to come my way.  I admit, I was leery, only because I've been scorned by side projects before.  Little did I know what I was in store for.  Obviously, "Vilify" will sound a little bit like Disturbed, but that's only because you've got the same lead singer at the helm.  The difference is the sound of the instruments.  Device sounds a little more industrial than Disturbed, and it's something I'm more than fine with.  "Vilify" is a breath of fresh air that will satisfy my Disturbed fix, and I am seriously considering buying the album.

Le Butcherettes - Sick of You

Here's another little something I've been sitting on, but for a good reason!  Everything deserves its moment in the spotlight, but it had to be the right moment, you know?  Now is officially the time for Le Butcherettes, a duo from Mexico and Los Angeles that consists of lead Teri Gender Bender and percussionist Lia Braswell.  "Sick of You" actually makes use of former members, but either way, we've still got our garage punk that isn't as thrashy as some other artists in the genre.  Teri is a powerhouse, but she doesn't let the music carry her too far away (a good thing, in this case).  "Sick of You" still rocks the night away, and will have you wanting to know more about a little band called Le Butcherettes.

Nightwish - Ghost Love Score

I follow a few metal blogs on Tumblr, and there are the few elusive Nightwish songs I have yet to come across, so naturally I'm setting myself up for surprises.  One blogger posted about her love for the chorus of "Ghost Love Score," so I had to go searching.  Well, I liked what I found.  This one comes off of Once, Tarja's last album, but sounds like it might be at home in Imaginaerum.  Oh, if Annette wasn't off popping out babies, I'd love to hear her take on this one.

"Ghost Love Score" is an epic, simply put, clocking in at just over ten minutes.  The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Tarja's voice, and the boys on instruments weave some kind of fantastical love story.  And the chorus?  Tarja kills it with the I-wish-was-everlasting I fall for you.  You've still got that Nightwish sound you can't help but love, but that classical-metal feel really brings it over the top.  "Turn Loose The Mermaids" may be my favourite from the band's entire work, but I think this one might win the Tarja era.

Macy Gray - Oblivion

Let's get back into Macy Gray and The Id, shall we?  The album is still a favourite of mine more than a decade since its release, and "Oblivion" was probably my first encounter with very grand, over-the-top art-for-the-sake-of-art music.  It's not for everyone, let me warn you, but there's something fantastical about the song that gets me every time.  Macy weaves a story of a new world, where anything you want can and does happen.  It sounds a little baroque, but do you know what I say?  If it ain't baroque, don't fix it.  I had to upload the original to Youtube since it wasn't up, but I did find a few live performances that give "Oblivion" more of an island-calypso feel that's just as good.  Either way, it all flies with me.

Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark

Iron Maiden falls into that forever fave category of mine, and if I had it my way, I would be seeing them for my birthday again this year since they're playing in Moscow on July 18.  Alas, having an entire planet between me and the boys seems to be enough to keep me in Canada, but that's alright.  As always, I have the music. 

"Fear of the Dark" is a forever fave from my forever faves, and definitely one of my favourites from Iron Maiden.  The guitar work kills it, Bruce is his adorable little self, and the atmosphere and tone will knock your socks off.  A while ago I featured Van Canto's cover, but honestly, you can't beat the original.  When I saw them at Bayfest last year, their performance of "Fear of the Dark" was one of the best things I've ever seen.  I was singing along without knowing that I was.  I might have a recording, so I'll have to look through my videos, but while you're waiting, familiarize yourself with the song if you haven't already.  You better.

Billy Talent - Fallen Leaves

I approach Billy Talent differently now than I did back in the eleventh grade, when I bought Billet Talent II at the grocery store one afternoon.  Back then, they were brilliant.  Now, their old stuff is still brilliant, but I consider them more of guilty pleasure band.  I'm into harder metal more than alternative now, but it doesn't hurt to inject some nostalgia into your life.  The band's second album was their best, in my opinion, and while it's hard to pick just one song, "Fallen Leaves" had to get a feature.

I think the point of "Fallen Leaves" is to be an infectious-yet-dark alternative song.  At least, that's how I see it.  The guitar work has got it locked down, and don't tell Mr. Dickinson, but Ben Kowalewicz's vocals may be some of my favourite ever.  He's got something unique about his vocal chords, and tracks like "Fallen Leaves" really show off the finesse he has.  The bridge is my favourite part, and it's been a long time that I left my best friends, or did they just leave me? has been stuck in my head.

I may have grown out of some bands I enjoyed in high school, but for now, I hope that older Billy Talent work doesn't fall victim to the same fate.  Their debut?  Decent.  Third album?  No.  Fourth? Meh.  I'm never letting the second fall out of my sight.

Midnattsol - Northern Light

Have you heard of Liv Kristine before?  I'm not her biggest fan, to be honest, but I do like what her sister Carmen Elise Espenæs does at the helm of Midnattsol.  The band is a mix of Germans and Norwegians, and the genre is a mix of folk and symphonic metal.  I don't hear much folk in "Northern Light," though.  This one is more dark symphonic than anything, and as far as vocal prowess goes, I think Carmen could go up against Tarja in the right setting.  She's not as operatic, mind you.  It's a little more subdued, and that's what I like.  The guitar work on "Northern Light" is also heavy, and creates that perfect combination of awesome with the vocals.  This is what you'd listen to when travelling the tundra after sundown.  This is what I call brilliant.

Colin Munroe - Whatever Become of You

I quite like Colin Munroe's brand of lush pop.  "Over It" will always be a favourite of mine, but along the same line with its own unique twist is "Whatever Became of You" off of the same Unsung Hero EP.  This comes after the events of "Over It," as Mr. Munroe considers what has happened to that long-lost-but-no-much beloved after the big heartbreak episode.  It's lyrical genius without being too cliche or over the top, and has an easy flow that isn't overpowering.  This isn't your typical pop song, people.  This is what dreams are made of, Hillary Duff.

Even though we've long been through, I've got your heart still torn in two.

Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi - Welcome to Heartbreak

808s & Heartbreak got a lot of flack for overusing autotune, but I would disagree with that.  This is the album that got me deep into Kanye for a number of reasons.  It's softer, sadder, and a big risk that paid off in the end.  What's art without experimentation, after all?  There are gems galore, but "Welcome to Heartbreak" was the song that got me, and therefore, it gets the feature.

God sister's getting married by the lake
But I couldn't figure out who I wanna take
Bad enough that I showed up late
Had to leave before they even cut the cake
Welcome to heartbreak

"Welcome to Heartbreak" gives us a melancholy view at a life that seems perfect on the outside.  The lyrics?  Holy crap, Kanye, your next album better be like this after the bit of disappointment I got out of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.  The combination of beats and a piano behind the lyrics really add to the sad tone of the song.  Anything else would have wrecked it.  Kid Cudi is on chorus duty and doesn't detract or overwhelm the track.  Everything comes together in perfect harmony here, and so what if Kanye uses autotune?  Rapping this one wouldn't have given the same results.

Look back on my life and my life gone
Where did I go wrong?

Silent Descent - Anagram

I don't have much of an opinion on English metal outside of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.  You know, the heavy stuff.  It's not a country known for any other subgenres.  That being said, it's refreshing to hear something new, from trance-electronic metal side of the tracks.  Silent Descent is a little different form the other trance metal I've heard, but they've got a nice thing going in "Anagram."  The instruments are a mix between nice guitar and synth work, and while the verses offer some of the deepest growling I've ever heard, the chorus has a little bit of a metalcore feel that gets me going.  All in all, a very nice track that is well worth listening to.

Nat Baldwin - Lifted

I've been known to throw the word cacophony around loosely in the last year, but this here is the cacophony to end all cacophonies.  Nat Baldwin is the one responsible, and from the depths of Brooklyn gives us an experimental blend of folk and jazz together in near-perfect harmony.  You'll see what I mean.  His "Lifted" is a true work of art, dotted with sections of disarray that you fear may not come together.  Don't fret, friends, for nothing can be chaotic forever.  The folky vocals are a nice contrast to the backwards orchestra too.  Believe me, "Lifted" will grow on you.  It took a while for me to get into the explosions of sound, but there's something about a hiccuping trumpet that gets me every time.