The Corrs - Summer Sunshine

I know I've been MIA temporarily, but I can make it up to you with poppy Celtic music that will instantly make you feel better.  It works for me.  You can't listen to The Corrs and not have a big smile on your face.  I have the same reaction to Great Big Sea.  Some stuff is just meant to be happy, and today, I'm feeling it.  "Summer Sunshine" brims with sweetness, infectious guitar and keyboard work, and a violin that just won't quit.  It's out of my norm, the grinding guitar work of the metal world, but stepping outside of the box is well worth the risk in this case.  "Summer Sunshine" is a perfect little love story for welcoming in the month of June.  By god, I'm ready.

Bif Naked - Lucky

I've liked Bif Naked for a long time, and hell, half of that time I didn't even know it.  When I was in public school and got most of my music off of the radio, "Lucky" came on one evening as we were pulling into out driveway, and I made my mom wait until they said who it was by until she could turn the van off.  We waited, but they never said it.  They never played "Lucky" again (or at least, when I was listening).  I went years remembering the song, and it wasn't until we finally got the internet (dial-up, but I survived) that I found it.  Bif Naked.  Of course!

"Lucky" is a delicate love song that finishes strong, powering by the guitar and fueled by Bif's vocals.  We really are the lucky ones, to have a long like this in existence.  There's just something about it that screams beautiful.  And it's from 1998?  "Lucky" could still rock it on the charts now if it was re-released!  I suppose this is another example of music transcending through time; even after fifteen years we've got a winner.

Tegan and Sara - Living Room

Ages ago (okay, the summer of 2011), I was lucky enough to stumble across Tegan and Sara's third album, 2002's If It Was You.  I hadn't been aware of its existence until then, as I don't follow the duo as closely as I probably should, but I knew enough that it had to be mine.  Nothing really stood out to me until a few weeks ago, when "Living Room" came on while my library was shuffled.  Who knows, maybe it takes two years to let something grow on you.  This song is short, but terribly catchy, and another case of a song that makes me want to pick up the acoustic guitar again.  The entire story can be summed up in the opening lyrics:

My windows look into your living room, where I spend the afternoon on top of you.  I wonder what it is that I did to make you move in across the way from me.

They've got me here.  "Living Room" may be the perfect alt-indie piece eleven years after its creation.  Some things must be aged (like good wine or whiskey) to be loved, I suppose.

Gabriel Bruce - El Musgo

God forbid that one day Leonard Cohen dies, but should that ever happen, I think we've already found his next incarnation.  Let me introduce Gabriel Bruce, a smoky-voiced crooner from London who has impressed me for a while with "El Musgo."  It gives you exactly what you'd look for from Mr. Cohen, but Gabriel Bruce gives us something a little more modern with an electronic organ (or something like that) in the background with industrial percussion sounds and a humming choir to boot.  "El Musgo" is slow and heavy, but harbors greatness.  It's the kind of track that builds over time, and before you know it, you're hooked.  That's how Mr. Bruce got me.

I just hope the weather's better wherever you are.

Violent Femmes - Please Do Not Go

A few weeks ago I was derping around my parents' house and sojourned to Value Village for a monthly adventure in hunting for vintage CDs.  First score: a big-honking collection of Louis Armstrong.  Second, and what got me the most excited in front of a group of strangers: the self-titled Violent Femmes debut album.  I do have a greatest hits collection of theirs, so I did have about half the songs already, but I couldn't pass it up for three dollars.  I'm glad that I did just so, or I probably wouldn't have "Please Do Not Go."

"Please Do Not Go" is another acoustic-powered folk fest from the alternative trio, and nothing too crazy.  It's a relaxed track, and it's also a little sweet while being a little sad.  Don't worry, it's nothing too complex to go over your head, just words above getting back the one who got away, and like a lot of songs that I love, there is a sense of hope.  Hope is what fuels the engine, and Violent Femmes have it down pat.  "Please Do Not Go" also makes me wish I didn't give up playing the acoustic guitar...again.

Marina and the Diamonds - Mowgli's Road

Okay, so everyone loves Marina and the Diamonds right now, right?  Her new work is okay in my opinion, but I find more merit in her The Family Jewels era work.  That music shows a little more artistic flair, and it's also a little less generic pop.  Sorry (not sorry).  "Mowgli's Road" gets into my good graces because of how different it is from everything I've heard before (well, before 2010...when I got this track).  Fitting with the Mowgli theme, "Mowgli's Road" sounds like an adventure through the jungle, guided by Marina Diamandis (with a few screaming monkeys to boot).  Those pounding drums power the song, fueled by vocals that just won't quit.  Surprisingly, we get lyrics about breaking norms, shattering moulds and taking a road less travelled.  Dear Marina, forget the "Bubblegum Bitch" debacle and go back to your roots.  Keep us going down Mowgli's Road.

Rush - The Trees

There has to be a rule somewhere that requires liking Rush if you're Canadian, and at least being able to appreciate them if you're not.  Really, can we find anything wrong with them?  My early memories of the band include my brother playing "A Passage To Bangkok" non-stop, but my favourite of their songs came to me ages ago via Rock Band 2 on the Wii.  Have you heard "The Trees?"  I sure hope so.  I could play it well on medium, and that was my accomplishment of 2010.

You can take the message of "The Trees" literally, or find something else from it.  Neil Peart wanted it to be literal, but you can kind of see worldly themes in a song about trees going to war with each other.  The instruments bring the words to life; this is the kind of tune that belongs in a magical forest that only exists in fantasy (or does it...?).  Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to watch I Love You, Man and fall in love with Rush all over again.

There is trouble in the forest.

In This Moment - Adrenalize

It's been almost a year since Blood came out, and it's still sounding just as fresh to me.  The single of the same name aside, we've got a new contender in the ring, in that form of "Adrenalize."  It was released as a single back in February and the video came out about a month ago, and I was pretty impressed by the work of Maria Brink and the boys.  The track is an industrial powerhouse, and oh, what I would give to be able to see them perform this live.  The verses of "Adrenalize" are expected, with Maria's unique voice doing what it does best: she finds a way to sound good while creeping us out.  It works, and if it ain't broke, why fix it?  Regardless, "Adrenalize" shows growth from their older releases.  It's packed with power I haven't heard since "The Promise."

Maria also seems like someone I'd want to be BFFs with, and share clothes.  Just a thought.

Volbeat - Lola Montez

Sometimes, something just catches your eye (or in this case, your ear) in ways that you can't explain.  I'd seen a mention or two of Volbeat in the past, but Youtube prompted me to take a leap of faith with "Lola Montez," off of their newest Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies.  Their genre may be metal in nature, but I find that this track specifically leans more on the rock side of the spectrum.  It's brilliant nonetheless.  Lola Montez is a seductress with that spider dance of hers, and this track is just as alluring.  Is it based on the story of the real Lola?  Perhaps, but with the real girl having lived 150 years ago, Volbeat's work is a modern update on the story.  The vocals resonate, the guitar work is magical, and dare I say it, this track could be...perfect.

Don't look in her eyes, you might fall and find the love of your life.

Jason Mraz - Please Don't Tell Her

Mr. A-Z is the album you didn't know you loved.  It came before Jason Mraz's We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things era, and of course, the sound is something different from his laid-back acoustic tunes.  Think of tracks that are lusher.  He packs a lot of emotions and feelings into that album, and it shows.  While the previously featured "Plane" is at the top of the pack, "Please Don't Tell Her" erks in a close second.

"Please Don't Tell Her" stays true to its name.  It's a sorrowful love story, remembering good times when everything else proves to be difficult.  Please don't tell her that I've been meaning to miss her, 'cause I don't says it all.  It's lush, it's stunning, and you can hear the pain in each word.  Do I hurt anymore?  Do I hurt?  Well, I don't.  Things like this can be cliché in some senses, but Mr. Mraz does a tasteful job of tackling love gone sour.  Please tell him to make another Mr. A-Z.

Venomous Maximus - Path of Doom

I do like a decent amount of decent music that comes out of Texas, and on a hot and humid day like today, why not visit some stuff from that corner of the continent?  Apparently the metal scene there is bigger, more diverse, and better than I expected.  Case in point?  Venomous Maximus, a band that sounds like it could be a gladiator troupe but is actually a headrunner in what's been coming out of the heavy metal subgenre.  Their sound has a little doom, and reminds me a bit of a modern, American Black Sabbath.  Not bad, boys.

"Path of Doom" came my way a few weeks ago via their record label's Youtube channel.  Napalm hasn't disappointed me in the past, and they're keeping up that streak.  It's dark, it's heavy, and by god, it's wonderful.  Fittingly, it reminds me of some doom I've listened to in the past, but "Path of Doom" holds onto other elements to keep it going.  The vocals are clean, but gritty, and the guitar work is phenomenal.  It's the kind of song I suggest to fellow metalheads looking for something new.  Hey, you're a metalhead, right?

Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful

An old friend visited me this weekend, and spoke wonders about the Great Gatsby movie she saw last weekend.  It's high on my list of things to see if I can find someone to come with me.  I do love me some Leonardo Dicaprio, and an American classic put to film is alluring, but part of the appeal comes from the music.  The soundtrack is full of artists and songs that I love, and of course, if there's any sign of Lana Del Rey, I'm there in a heartbeat.

"Young and Beautiful" is the lead single for the soundtrack, and is a delicate and sad love story set to the piano.  The story: it's a thrilling time now, but will you feel the same when things begin to change?  I can't say anything bad about what Lana does here, because it's perfection.  The orchestral version is also noteworthy and recommended; it's like the original but only a bit more lush.  Whichever one is your fancy, "Young and Beautiful" takes the lead for a reason.  With words like this sung by a woman like Lana, there's little room for error.  She does it again.

Kanye West - Heartless

Say what you want, but I say that 808s & Heartbreak is still Kanye's best album.  It's so experimental that it's just the way it is.  While he's working away on his next release now, I'm still reveling in nostalgia.  Years ago I was watching the "Heartless" video on Much Music and eagerly waiting for the chance to buy the album at Wal-Mart.  I was a glassy-eyed eleventh grader back then, slowly getting back into rap.  "Heartless" got me the same way "Welcome to Heartbreak" did.

"Heartless" has a little more pep in its step, but still makes good use of Autotune and retains some good rap flavor.  The verses are all Kanye rapping his heart out, and it really paints the picture of a scorned love story.  The lyrics?  Genius.  You got a new friend, well I got homies, but in the end it's still so lonely.  The chorus?  Soulful.  The background beats?  I've never heard better use of the piano and woodwind instruments.  There's a reason this is one of the bestselling singles of all time.

Oh Land - Break The Chain

I'm an Oh Land fan.  I quite like her self-titled album, and continually find sparkling gems for my music collection.  Now, here's the story of how this post came to be.  At home, with my sister's speaker and a large bathroom, I usually listen to my ipod while I'm showering/getting ready for the day.  "Break The Chain" came on randomly (because my ipod is always on shuffle), and I immediately thought what the hell is going on I can't remember this song and I must know everything about it.  Then, ah, Oh Land.  This will be good for the blog...  And what would you know, it is!  "Break The Chain" is pop of the electro-subdued variety, and it has a little bit of an industrial-tech atmosphere to it.  And the vocals?  Lovely as always.  Oh Land, you've done it.

The Fray - Vienna

I hope that everyone still remembers The Fray.  They're not as prominent as they were in their How To Save A Life days, but if you heard that title track, you'll have a hard time forgetting them.  I'm actually a fan of the rest of the album.  I find the tracks very poignant and artistic, and their work is nothing like the other piano-driven pop bands that I dislike (ahem...Coldplay...).  "Dead Wrong," "Hundred" and "Little House" are some of the standouts, but "Vienna" holds a special place in my heart.  For realsies.

"Vienna" isn't a literal powerhouse track, but a sleeper hit.  The piano is a little more delicate, and the lyrics are a little sadder.  There's really no way to reach me, 'cause I'm already gone.  It tells the tale of a couple separated by distance, though there's hope that one day, perhaps years from now, they will be reunited.  It'd be easy to get cliché here, but The Fray keeps it cool.  They keep it good, and that's what makes "Vienna" an all-time favourite song of mine.

Megadeth - Insomnia

Well, I'm back into Megadeth.  Their songs pop up on me now and then, and I fall back in love.  It's a vicious cycle that I'm more than happy to be a part of.  My new favourite is "Insomnia," off of 2000's Risk.  It's grittier than my old favourite, "A Tout Le Monde," but that's what I like about it.  Dave Mustaine explains that it contains dark illusions to the 80s, which I can pick out here and there, but it can literally be seen as the tale of an insomniac.  Dare I say it, it sounds like an early Tool at work on this track.  Now, I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to seeing what the next Megadeth track I fall for is.

Phosphorescent - Song For Zula

Cold summer days call for slow and pretty indie.  I wouldn't have it any other way, and artists like Phosphorescent give me renewed faith in itunes' song of the week selections.  Brooklyn native Matthew Houck calls his genre "experimental," and I think that's a good way of categorizing this brand of indie-alternative.  "Song For Zula" is a sweet-but-sad number that references Mr. Cash's "Ring of Fire" in recounting lost love and the struggle to get some kind of meaning from it all.  The string section pulls on my own heartstrings, and it's nearly a cacophony, people.  It's a delicate cacophony, and today, it's exactly what I want.

Sarah Brightman - Glosoli

I'm normally not a huge classical music fan, but I can appreciate the work of Sarah Brightman.  Back in the fall I found her classic Time To Say Goodbye at Value Village, and falling in love came shortly after.  Naturally, when I heard that she was coming out with a new album this year, I had to have it for my collection.  Dreamchaser turned out to be a work of art, and I continue to enjoy her cover of Sigur Ros's "Glosoli."

Her English translation of "Glosoli" works wonders for me, and I think Sarah gives her version a little more accessibility, though there's nothing wrong with the original.  Don't be scared off by the classical genre, as the instruments are nothing but beautiful and perfectly compliment Sarah's vocal prowess.  It's delicate and sweet, but still packs a nice punch at the end.  Needless to say, Sarah Brightman is someone I need to see in concert.  That is all.

Billy Talent - Saint Veronika

Okay, so it's still considered recent that I posted "Fallen Leaves" not too long ago.  Oh well, it's my blog, and after revisiting that shred of my past, I sort of fell back in love with Billy Talent.  I even took a look at the third album, just to see if I found anything salvageable.  I found that I was proven wrong.

I first came across "Saint Veronika" years ago, when the music video received some airplay of Much Music.  Warning: it creeped the hell out of me back then, and still does.  You've been warned.  Video aside, there's something different about "Saint Veronika" compared to the band's earlier work, but it still offers something refreshing, even if that something is a little dark and twisted.  I like songs that are doomed to end badly, so sue me, and "Saint Veronika" is just that.  Lead singer Ben still swings with vocal prowess, and the band behind him brings the words to life with impressive guitar and percussion work. 

If I've learned anything from this, it's that we grow out of most of our fears.  Most.

Alanis Morissette - Precious Illusions

Ms. Morissette's Under Rug Swept was probably one the first fifteen or twenty CDs that I owned.  It came out in 2002, and I believe that I got it in my possession that summer after my tenth birthday.  The album was new territory for me.  Still a popper, her genre was something far different from Britney Spears and the like.  It still remains as one of my favourite albums, and I always find something new when I take that nostalgic listen.

I remember being my ten-year-old self and trying to write out the lyrics of "Precious Illusions" as the song played, listening closely to catch each syllable.  Thankfully it received radio play back then, and I could hear it in the car when the batteries in my Walkman died (ah, the dark ages before the ipod).  The song is bohemian pop, and Alanis explores the process of exploring oneself to find your next incarnation, partly through finding love.  Though I know who I'm not, I still don't know who I am.  Nostalgia may be 50% of the reason I love "Precious Illusions," but the execution takes the rest of the cake.  After all, part of the words encourage slightly hanging on to the past.  Why not?

America - Sister Golden Hair

Summer calls for alt-indie as much as it calls for folk rock, and why don't we revisit the 70s in the case of the latter?  A while ago my mom's friend gave her a DVD with about 200+ old and classic songs, so I did the right thing and momentarily swiped it for my own use.  1975's "Sister Golden Hair" was on it, by that little band called America that you may or may not know.  I'm sure that my parents have one of their records buried in our den closet.  I do like most folk, so naturally, the song grew on me, and it's a rather sweet-but-sad little ditty.  The guy doesn't want to get married, but still loves Sister Golden Hair.  It's told beautifully nonetheless, and that guitar work gets me every time.  Every damn time.

Wolf Gang - The King And All Of His Men

Nothing says summer to me like sweet indie-alternative music, and for that reason, I introduce you all to Wolf Gang (though if you've already heard of them and their debut Suego Faults, I do commend you).  The gang from London sounds a little like Noah & The Whale, but with something extra.  "The King and All of His Men" is their brand of infectious alt-indie (though more indie than alt, you feel me?), with screamingly-good high-register vocals and swinging guitars that make the song just as danceable as you need it to.  To quote good ol' D&D: "If this is love, then fill me up."

Paramore - Proof

I'm not the punky girl I once was in high school, but there's never any harm in having a throwback moment or two.  It's how I feel when it comes to Paramore.  Back in April when I bought the new Swollen Members album I found that Beautiful Death Machine would only cost me $8 as opposed to $12 if I spent $15 beforehand.  Sure, I didn't really save too much money, but while looking for another album, Paramore's new self-titled release caught my eye.  Rightly so, there was one track that particularly caught my ear.

"Proof" is a sweet alternative love song, and that's a niche that I will always trust Hayley Williams with.  The only proof that I need is you.  Simple as that.  The instrumental work makes it catchy, and the lyrics give "Proof" its depth.  It's like a good wine.  Even better, it's a good throwback to summer days in high school where I was looking for good lyrics to put in my MSN personal message.  Oh, weren't those the days?  And aren't these the days now?

C2C - Down The Road

Country electro?  It can happen.  You remember Django Django's "Default," right?  I have a few tracks to my name that can fit into this lesser-known mix of genres, and "Down the Road" by the French electro outfit C2C falls into the category.  Don't think of it as strictly country remixed, it has a little bit of jazz and also a touch of soul.  It's a whole bunch of things working in harmony, and "Down The Road" is completely danceable too.  C2C proves that great things come from blending genres, and if I ever open my own nightclub, this is first on the evening's playlist.

Eden's Crush - Two Way

90s kids are old enough to remember the first season of Popstars in 2001, and the girl group that came out of it.  The only member of Eden's Crush that is doing anything relevant now is Nicole Scherzinger (and even that is debatable), but for good poppy fun, we've got their one and only album that was semi-successful.  Popstars produced a few good hits, but "Two Way" has always been a favourite of mine, and is still a favourite twelve years after its release (wow...that makes me feel old).

"Two Way" is a lesson on love, and a reminder that it takes two people to make it work.  Cheesy?  Maybe, but it works.  The vocal harmonizing of the chorus puts other girl groups to shame, and the verses are nice and sultry.  This is simply that good poppy fun, and the girls don't take it too seriously to ruin it all.  I can pick out Nicole here and there too; no wonder she got as big as she did.  We all have our humble beginnings, and "Two Way" is a pretty nice one for her.

Dalriada - Zach Klara

While we're on the topic of non-English music, why not see what the metal genre has to offer?  Dalriada is a Hungarian melodic folk outfit, and they kind of sound like Arkona without the death growling, with a little bit of Epica to boot.  So naturally, I like it.  Hell, on their Facebook page they even list Arkona and Korpiklaani as artists they like, so this relationship is already off to a good start.

"Zach Klara" is definitely melodic, and catchy.  Vocalists Laura Binder and Andrew Ficzek battle it out over a cacophony of guitar work, with some help from the string sections.  The band is right in describing their sound as epic folk metal, as there's really no other way to describe what Dalriada does.  I can't say I know much about music that comes out of Hungary, but if it's anything like this, I may have to stop by for a visit in the future.

Stereopony - Hitohira No Hanabira

Now, I know I've been MIA for a few days, but no need to worry any longer.  I'm back.

I've recently been getting into some Japanese alt music because of the videos Youtube has been suggesting for me.  Now, I'm a firm believer in music transcending languages.  I don't speak a lick of Japanese, but there's something about "Hitohira No Hanabira" that I get.  In English "One Flower Petal," but I wouldn't want a translated version.  Stereopony does a good job with the female alternative genre, and make it terribly catchy to boot.  I've gotten one of my roommates addicted to "Hitohira No Hanabira" too.  Now, even though this track is a little peppy, the lyrics are a little dark, circling around relationship issues without being too cliché.  It's perfect, so to say.

Also, funny story, I hooked my ipod up to my dad's truck via the good ol' cassette adapter and when "Hitohira No Hanabira" came on, my boyfriend knew it was from an anime but unfortunately couldn't think of which one.  It was Bleach, for the anime fans who read my blog.