Amy Winehouse - Me & Mr. Jones

I finally completed my Amy Winehouse discography a few weeks ago when I picked up Back To Black from Value Village.  While I already have most of the songs already, there were a few I'd been missing out on, and of course, they were all brilliant.  Personal life aside, Amy Winehouse was a stunning musician, and was definitely taken from us too soon.  Who's to know what else she would have given us had she lived longer?  At least we have what she was able to give us, and "Mr & Mr. Jones" is a mighty fine example of her prowess.

"Me & Mr. Jones" is powerful soul, and classic Amy.  It's a torrid love story with some little sweet undertones, but you know, Amy did it in the torrid way.  This is her flavor, and I'll take a double scoop.  The  piano work is brilliant, and really showcases her vocal ability.  Stuff like this has to make you ask the inevitable what if? but how about we instead ask why not?

Young Gliss feat. Dosage & Born I Music - Everything

Rainy days call for good rap music, and today, why don't we give someone new a chance?  After all, there's more out there than Swollen Members and Kanye...right?  Right?  From the depths of Philly comes Young Gliss, cousin of Questlove, if you can believe it.  "Everything" is off of his 2011 EP The Glimmer EP, but at a year and a half old, it still sounds just as refreshing.  The beats are powered by slick electric guitar work, and the rhymes are just as good.  The chorus?  It's catchy, and hell, it's even a little danceable  I want it all, I want everything, and I need it right now.  Fellow Philly rapper Dosage and DC's Born I Music lend a hand on "Everything" as well, and the three fine young men work together to give us something refreshing and worth the listen.  Need I say more?

Om - Haqq al-Yaqin

My go-to guy for long epics from the metal genre is my brother.  Give him a request for something long and guitar-filled, and he'll find you something strange.  It can be hit-or-miss, but sometimes what he sends my way is good.  Like this.  Om is an experimental metal group from San Fran, and though "Haqq al-Yaqin" isn't terribly metal sounding, I hear some doom elements that make me very happy.  Clocking in at about eleven and a half minutes, this epic sounds like Tool and Opeth jamming together on a rainy day.  It's a very atmospheric track, with interesting instrumentals and spooky vocals.  It belongs in some kind of psychological thriller from Mr. King.  I've read up a bit on the album it comes from, 2011's Advaitic Songs, and which fans of Om may not have liked it too much, if the rest of it sounds like this, then my evening is going to go pretty well tonight.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Despair

I haven't really decided if I like the new stuff that's been coming from Yeah Yeah Yeahs (I'll always be a "Gold Lion" girl), but Mosquito really isn't that bad.  It's different from what I'm used to from the band, but then again, there's nothing wrong with trying something new.  I got "Despair" thanks to one of those free song download cards they give out at Starbucks, and what I like about it is that it's so different.  I like Karen O rough around the edges, but here she's...soft.  Anything is possible.  "Despair" sounds kind of like a more-rocking version of Metric, with whimsical vocals and impressive guitar work.  If this is where Yeah Yeah Yeahs are headed now, I think I'll be okay in the long-run, though I still wouldn't mind some gritty pieces of the past stopping in for a visit.

Kanye West - Black Skinhead

So what if Kanye spawned a child with the Antichrist?  I can put his personal life aside to enjoy his music, and you bet your ass I was at the mall at 9:30 a.m. last Tuesday to get Yeezus.  My collections wouldn't have been complete without it...literally.  It's definitely a lot different than what I've gotten from him before, and while it's good to be different, new music also needs to be good.  No worries there.  Yeezus is an artistic cacophony that showcases all of the hard work Kanye put into this.

"Black Skinhead" was the first track to speak to me.  I'm not sure if it was Kanye's aggressive lyrics, the industrial-jungle beats, or a strange combination of the two, but it's got me.  This shows the growth he's developed as an artist since My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and I'm happy to see it.  "Black Skinhead" is pure power and energy, and the closest I'm ever going to get to Kanye death growling.  I'm devoted, and you know it.  Oh Kanye, as long as you keep making albums, I'll be buying them.

Battle Beast - Black Ninja

June may be a busy month for me, but I still take the chance to blog whenever I can spare the ten or fifteen minutes to listen to a song and post about it.  Let me make up for a long absence by revisiting a group that can only be described as a female-fronted Iron Maiden.  That's right, it's Battle Beast.  I was sad to see Nitte Valo go in 2012, but this Noora Louhimo character isn't half bad.  In fact, she's pretty damn good at what she does.  She gives us sweet-symphonic-esque before shocking us with something that Bruce himself would be proud of.

"Black Ninja" comes off their new self-titled album, and I can picture this as an Iron Maiden song.  I won't lie about that.  The verses are very mysterious and atmospheric, but a hard-rocking chorus brings everything together in a nicely contrasting way.  Noora's got it here.  The instrumental work is also very nice, nothing too hard while at the same time not being too soft.  This is the perfect metal song for the summer of 2013; who knew something that sounds like British heavy metal could come out of Finland?

Fleetwood Mac - Second Hand News

I remember ages ago when my mom brought home Rumors on CD, excited that she could finally listen to her favourite songs again.  Being the brat I was back then, I groaned ewww and went back to my Simple Plan and Sum 41 (well, who's laughing now?).  Eventually I caved and gave Fleetwood Mac a try, as part of my quest to have as much music as possible, and I was surprised.  I was very surprised.  Young Laura learned from her mistake of being quick to judge music just because it's old, and look where we are now.

"Second Hand News" was the track that first stood out to me, probably because it was so different from what I was listening to back in 2005 and 2006.  There's something about this blend of folk and rock that simply speaks to me, with a bigger-than-all-of-us quality while still sounding very minimal.  Putting that kind of special something into music is what makes the world go 'round, and really, I can't do it justice with my words alone.

Metric - Blindness

The first real concert (that means I don't count the Britney Spears impersonator) I went to was Metric, when they played in Windsor back in 2010.  I was able to sneak in when my friend had an extra ticket, and boy, that day was fabulous...even though I had beer poured on me.  Emily Haines killed it on stage, and I don't think I'll ever forget the band's performance of "Stadium Love," but another song off of Fantasies holds a special place in my heart.

"Blindness" is an alternative work of art, that slowly rises in power until you've got something genius on your hands.  The electric guitar work isn't overpowering, but just as strong as it needs to me.  It's fuzzy, and it's whimsical.  Emily Haines is softer than usual on this track as well, but don't count her out.  She always packs a punch at the end.  "Blindness" is simply a song that you enjoy because it is beautiful.  No more, no less.  Just right.

Daft Punk - Instant Crush

I love Daft Punk as much as the rest of the world should, but after hearing their new "Get Lucky," I found myself a little leery about their new album, Random Access Memories.  I know that I should base things on one track, but it just wasn't what I expected.  Even so, I gave some more of their new stuff a fair chance, and luckily found a track that I could fall in love with.  "Instant Crush" is in the vein of "Something About Us," perhaps the 2013 update.

"Instant Crush" isn't the Hawaiian-alt-electro stuff that goes along with "Get Lucky."  It stays true to Daft Punk's roots, and reminds me of some of their old work while still sounding very now.  It's a delicate and sweet ditty, powered by lovely guitar work with a synth-filled chorus.  "Instant Crush" is the perfect combination of alternative and electronic music, in perfect harmony.  It may sound a little sad, but it won't make you feel anything but happy.  The song is roommate-approved too, if that says something.

Chevelle - Saferwaters

Who knew that a little more than two years ago, I would have a blog with 600 posts to my name?  I sure didn't!  I figured this would fizzle out the same way other projects had, though I'm happy to hit this milestone.  As I've done in the past, the 100 marks are reserved for the songs that are especially awesome.  They're out there, don't you worry, and of course, one of them belongs to my forever faves of Chevelle.

It was 2008 I got Vena Sera, one of my absolute favourite albums (after Sci Fi Crimes, of course).  It's a collection of lush whimsy, and nothing on that CD beats "Saferwaters."  Fitting with the title, the song has a very aquatic atmosphere (I'm not sure how, but I can't argue with the sounds), and is the lushest of all lush things to exist.  The Loeffler crew knows a thing or two about making really nice and organic music, and "Saferwaters" is some of their best work ever.  The vocals are delicate on the verses, but powerful on the chorus, and every word is filled with meaning.  Then again, I can't do it justice just like this.  A listen will make it go full circle.

It took 600 posts to get this up, but some things are well worth the wait.  Here's to 600 more.

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire ft. Adrian Marcel & Joe Black - Hoes I Don't Remember

My new favourite solo rapper, Brooklyn's Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, satisfied my need for subdued-but-power-packing rhymes very recently.  Kismet is the name of his new mixtape, which I downloaded about a week ago.  It's so far better than the last one I got, and I've already got my favourites.  "Cherry Raindrops" and "I Was Drunk When I Wrote This" are indicative of the man's style, but there's something about "Hoes I Don't Remember" that speaks to me.

Wonder if you're guilty when you look in his eyes
Wonder why you're here, you're only wasting my time

"Hoes I Don't Remember" gets some help from Adrian Marcel and Joe Black, both unknown to me, but with a lot of potential to be known.  The trio works together to give this track some soul and flavor, reminiscing about hoes of the past, and wondering what could have become of them now.  It could have been cliché, but "Hoes I Don't Remember" stays in stable territory, and though it's no club-thumper, this is what it was meant to be all along.

I'm not saying that I love you, I'm not saying that I miss you
I'm just saying that I'm older and I never will forget you

Spacegoat - Black Glow

I usually take my brother's music suggestions in earnest, because half of the time he sends me Youtube videos with good intentions, but the other half it's a battle to see who can find the weirdest song there is.  Spacegoat comes from the former category, and I found myself falling head over heels with one listen.  Think of them as Mexico's version of Christian Mistress, blending rock and metal with some stoner and doom elements.  It's a combination, along with a female lead, that gets me every damn time.

"Black Glow" is a stunning work of art, and has me itching to make a spontaneous weekend trip to Monterrey.  Gina Ríos kills it on vocals and guitar, and the remainder of the band keep up with no mercy.  This is exactly what I like, mainly because I've seen it before with Christian Mistress, but you can never have too much of a good thing, right?  There are differences, don't you worry.  "Black Glow" is simply a nice introduction to Spacegoat.  Very nice.

Britney Spears - Break The Ice

Little known fact: The first album I ever owned was Britney Spears' Oops...I did it again! from all the way back in 2001.  I was a big fan, and after a little lull during high school, I'm back to liking her once again.  The newer Blackout and Circus are my personal favourites, but the only two albums I'm missing since they came my way via my best-friend-neighbour.  Blackout gave the world one of my favourites, a little song with a good video that goes by "Break The Ice."

I used to worry about what Britney's career would be like after In The Zone, but "Break The Ice" gave me faith that she wouldn't be stuck in the world of bubblegum pop forever.  It's a little harsh, pulsing with electronic beats and some nice synth work.  Ms. Spears does it hardcore here, and she does it very well.  She'd grown up and matured in 2008, and despite a few personal hiccups, the music came out stellar.  "Break The Ice" is seductive, and I hope the travels down this route again for her eighth album.

G-Side feat. S.L.A.S.H. - Came Up

Just as I have a special place in my heart for rap that can effectively utilize a string instrument, I have a special place in my heart for G-Side.  ST 2 Lettaz and Yung Clova have been on my radar for a while, and this is a rap group that you're going to be sorry you didn't know before.  Think of them as Alabama's answer to Swollen Members.  They give their rhymes a good southern flavor, but there's something hauntingly beautiful about "Came Up."  It's a little melancholy with the violin yawning in the background, but we should all know by now that melancholy rap is my kind of rap.  The violin half-makes "Came Up," but the rest is all on the boys from Alabama, with a little help from a rapper called S.L.A.S.H.  They never overdo it; everything is just as it should be, and that's what gives the song its beauty.  Yes, people, rap can be beautiful, and this is your biggest piece of evidence.

Frankmusik feat. Collette Carr - No I.D.

We're all allowed guilt-free pop binges now and then, okay?  Even if it comes your way from the likes of Much Music, it's fine as long as you're enjoying it.  My guilty pleasure of music may involve revisiting Billy Talent, but I also thrive on sugary pop numbers.  "No I.D." comes from Frankmusik, who I don't know too much about, and Collette Carr (I thought I knew who she was, but I don't).  Unknowns (to me) make it a little more enchanting.  I'm not sure what it means to have no I.D., but the song is catchy fun with a perfect mix of male-female vocal work.  "No I.D." is also just a touch synthy, but I'm not sure if it's just me hearing that.  Whatever it is, "No I.D." works, and when it works, it's golden.

Deftones - Swerve City

I'm riding this big Deftones kick now.  I'm not really sure where it came from, but I can point a finger at "Swerve City."  It showed up on the side of my Youtube page one day, as a recommended for you video.  I liked them enough already, so I figured "why not?"  Now look where I am, going through all of their songs one-by-one to find the library-worthy tracks.  Look at me!  Well, I can't complain too much, because this is some good shit, people.

"Swerve City" is off of the newest Koi No Yokan, and was released as a single earlier this year with a video coming later.  The track itself has a bit of a lost-in-the-wild-west feel to it, and Chino Moreno kills it with that voice of his.  Wow.  The guitar work also has the really lush and organic feel to it, like this is simply what you'll hear riding a horse through the desert.  I wish.  The boys of Deftones have created something magical here, and Chi Cheng would be proud.

Dark Dark Dark - Trouble No More

I've regrettably been sitting on some Dark Dark Dark for the excess of two years now.  Can you blame me?  I just want them all to myself!  The Minneapolis collective is woodsy and folky, but there's something modern about what they do at the same time.  Nora Marie Invie and her vocals may be the source of this conundrum, but I have no problem with that.  She sounds like Alanis-meets-Norah in "Trouble No More," an accordion-fueled ditty that seemed strange to me two years ago, but has since become a classic of my library.  It has an old-world feel to it, but the vocals and acoustic touches bring it back to our time.  "Trouble No More" almost makes me want to return to the old country to see my family's old farmland, and feeling some connection to a song is what makes it truly golden.

Rachel Goodrich - Light Bulb + ANR Remix

Okay, so I've been gone for a while, but I'm allowed a few days away to have great fun and some distance from the laptop.  I didn't even miss the old boy, but it was waiting patiently on my desk for me when I returned home this afternoon.  Now everything is in order, and the routine of daily blogging will start again (unless I have another spontaneous trip in the works).  Following my queue of songs, today we explore the work of Miami's Rachel Goodrich for some good and quirky fun.  After all, she calls her genre of work "shake-a-billy."

"Light Bulb" is a quirky little acoustic number, complimented by the kazoo and a small cacophony of whistles and whatnot.  It kind of reminds me of something that should be on the soundtrack of a strange indie movie, but the best part is that it's good.  Real good.  It's different, but it grabs you by the hook and reels you in for more.  I actually heard the ANR remix before the original, and boy, they're two different sides of the spectrum.  ANR makes "Light Bulb" a little more accessible to those who don't like quirky folk, but it still has magic to it.  Think more pop, less folk, all good.  You dig it?

FKi - Whus Up (Hello)

My favourite boys of rap are back (don't tell Madchild and Prevail)!  Raye Rich and 1st Down are back with FKi's next mixtape, a lovely collection that goes by Transformers N The Hood II.  You all know how much the first Transformers N The Hood spoke to me, so there's no telling how wild it's going to get now.  The early frontrunner seems to be the Dragonette-sampling "Whus Up (Hello)."  I was worried at first, at the though of anyone messing with my jam on the dance floor, but the boys of FKi have given me nothing to worry about.  They've made "Hello" into something brilliant.  The chorus is nothing but stellar.  In the hands of the right person, there's potential for "Whus Up" to become a club hit with a remix, but I like this version just as it is.

Girl I got one question, are you gonna do it for the team?

Bedouin Soundclash - When The Night Feels My Song

I know that Thursday is usually reserved for being a throwback day, but have I ever been one to follow the rules?  Not really.  That's why we're getting a blast from the past today.  I was in grade 8 when I got Big Shiny Tunes X, so that would be the end of 2005 when it came into my life.  That compilation was my first step of diving into the world of metal, because if I didn't get it, I would have never heard "No Transitory" by Alexisonfire, and my obsession with the only band ever never would have skyrocketed.  However, there was something else on that album.

"When The Night Feels My Song" is the song that made Toronto's Bedouin Soundclash known.  It's not as reggae or ska as some of their other work, but I can never say no to an acoustic guitar.  The song is a very mild-mannered and sweet selection, but that's where its beauty comes from.  "When The Night..." is what you listen to on a sunny day, strolling down the street with your hands in your pockets while admiring all that is around you.  It makes you feel good, and that's what music should do, make you feel something.

A Day To Remember - My Life For Hire

Let's begin June one day late with a nice alternative selection.  There wouldn't be any other right way to do it.  I'm a casual A Day To Remember fan, mostly having songs from here and there.  I'm not terribly consistent when it comes to them, except for the first song I ever heard by the Florida alt-metalcore mongers.  "My Life For Hire" came on the radio many afternoons ago, and I was on the hook before I knew it.  I wouldn't call it strict metalcore, more of metalcore with a strong alternative core.  The guitars are heavy, but catchy, and Mr. Jeremy McKinnon has a set of pipes that I'm quite the fan of.  While I don't follow the band very religiously now, I still have a soft spot in my heart for the powerhouse that is "My Life For Hire."  You never forget your first.