Tam Za Tumanami - Arkona

It's been a while since I've featured my favourite Russian folk metal mongers in my blog, and frankly, it's long overdue.  After my Arkona t-shirt came in the mail a few weeks ago, I've fallen back in love with the tales of Kievan Rus and Masha's death growls.  Once a folk metal monger, always a folk metal monger.  Today there will be no death growls in their "Tam Za Tumanami" or "There Is A Fog," but it's still the folk metal that I'll never stop listening to.

There may be a fog in "Tam Za Tumanami," but your head will be clear listening to this masterpiece.  Call it more atmospheric than the Arkona you're familiar with, but it's what sets it apart from other songs that makes it special.  Really, anything that takes advantage of the bagpipes is okay in my book.  If only I could speak Russian and sing along...that'll be the day.  But until then, it's just me, my t-shirt that is entirely in Russian and the folk metal music that is awesome, no matter how varied it is.  Sometimes slowed down and atmospheric is how you have to do it.

Take U Home - Meek Mill feat. Wale & Big Sean

We're almost to the end of May with a blog post (almost) every day!  Success!  I am as elated as ever, a feeling I also get when listening to Meek Mill's Dreamchasers 2 mixtape.  As it turns out "Lean With It" was only the tip of the iceberg.  The Philly rapper has plenty of tricks up his sleeves, as well as a boatload of talent that I would love to see in concert.  In the meantime, his mixtape will do.  The standout track, no doubt, would be "Take U Home."

Now "Take U Home" borrows a lyrics or two from the Black Eyed Peas' "Don't Punk With My Heart," but Fergie is put to shame with the lines I wonder if I take you home, will you still be in love, baby, 'cause I need you tonight.  Simply put, this song is about going to the club and trying to bring home a girl with a boyfriend.  Scandal!  But with the help of Wale and the great Big Sean, Meek Mill convinces me and everyone else listening that we're all going home with him.  I'll call the cab now.

Q (The Best One Of Our Lives) - Evans Blue

As an amateur writer, I sometimes find myself thinking "wow, I wish I would have written that."  It's usually with novels that I try to get through (halfway done The Gargoyle now, with no signs of stopping), but now and again it's with a song.  The first time I heard Evans Blue's "Q" (before Matisyn left the band, FYI) I wish I would have written this song.  That's how good it is.  Even five years after 2007's The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal of Life Ends, "Q" still stands as the epitome of of the alternative genre.

Here you have a few things.  "Q" offers lush guitars, vocal prowess you can only dream coming from a man's mouth, and lyrics that'll have you drooling.  I still drool.  The titular if this was a night, it was the best one of our lives could now be what you name a Facebook photo album, but they still get that one.  Every word sung in "Q" is breathtaking.  Even though Matisyn no longer fronts the band, I'm still anxious to get my hands on their latest release.  He gave us two incredible albums, and among them, one song that I will never stop listening to.

Norah Jones' Top 10

Norah Jones!  You know who she is, don't you?  My first encounter with the lovely songstress was when I heard of the five Grammys her debut Come Away With Me won ages ago.  Since then, with Feels Like Home, Not Too Late, The Fall and the new Little Broken Hearts (which I haven't gotten a chance to listen to yet), Ms. Jones has gotten better while still retaining the jazz flavor that got her those five golden gramophones.  I'd be stupid not to look through her discography (regrettably without her newest album) and find her ten shiniest gems.

Smash The Control Machine - Otep

I'm exhausted!  Completely exhausted!  Not only was I up until three last night, I also was on my feet all afternoon serving lunch and cleaning up at my sister's school, and then we went swimming after!  What is this?  Then again, the allergy pill I took this morning probably didn't help, but I digress.  I've got copious amounts of iced tea and some alt-metal courtesy of one of my personal heroes and quite possibly the most rocking woman in the industry today: Otep.  Her name also refers to the band she leads through singles such as the wake-you-up-shake-you-up "Smash The Control Machine."

"Smash The Control Machine" is Debbie Harry's rebellious younger sister meets System of a Down's lyrics meets Slipknot's instrumentals...and it's a masterpiece of alternative metal.  Otep explores capitalism and commercialization here (then they outsourced my job and gave a raise to my boss, and bailed out the banks but billed me for the loss), and the need to do the titular smashing of the machine that controls us all.  Otep Shamaya is brilliant; I've had a girl crush on this woman since she appeared in Seventeen magazine in the early 2000's.  I proudly wear a black t-shirt with Otep across the chest and smash the control machine written at the bottom.  What are you doing?

I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones Cover) - Superhumanoids

I've been hearing a lot of good covers lately.  A lot.  And that makes it hard to pick one to throw into the lineup, though later on in the summer I intend to start listing off electropop covers as often as I can.  But I digress.  Enter Superhumanoids.  I'm a fan of the quartet's "Malta" and nearly every remix of it.  Now they're back, and with a pop cover of the Ramones classic "I Wanna Be Sedated."  Who knew punk could be dreamy?  I knew all along, of course.

Superhumanoids' "I Wanna Be Sedated" begins with breaths of the string section as those lovely pop vocals begin twenty twenty twenty-four hours ago, I wanna be sedated...  This is how you do a cover without sounding like you're doing a cover.  Though I usually condone keeping some flavor of the original, Superhumanoids rewrites history and causes the thought of the Ramones to momentarily slip from your mind.  Their cover is also super-eerie to have playing as the sky darkens with thunderclouds on a Saturday morning.  So why not listen before the clouds part?

Leave The Lights On (The Crystal Method Remix) - Meiko

You can give me all that garbage about originals vs. remixes and everything in between, but I won't listen.  While I'm a fan of delicate little Meiko and her flavor of pop, I like the punch that comes with the remix of her "Leave The Lights On" by The Crystal Method.  I like there to be a punch in a lot of my music, I'll tell you that.  The Crystal Method lifts Meiko out of normal pop and gives her an electropop flair with throbbing bass, pangs of synth and beats that want to get your hips moving.  Now can you be mad about liking the remix more? (It's short and sweet today...it's pool party season!)

Huzzah - Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire

Guess what?  This blog has surpassed 8000 pageviews!  And do you know what sound I made when I saw it this morning?  Huzzah!  Coincidentally, that is the name of today's selection by the best rapper you've probably never heard of: Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire.  Now this guy...this guy...he's someone I'd be friends with.  Why?  You know I like artists who aren't afraid to do their own thing, and Mr. eXquire does his own thing and then some.  On Facebook, he lists his members as "Me, My Penis, My Fist, My Heart and Yo Bitch..." and cites Four Loko as an influence.  He's cool.

"Huzzah" can be see as a song that promotes drinking and whatnot, but if you take music that seriously, you need to stop reading my blog.  I don't listen to Slipknot and start stabbing people, do I?  Mr. eXquire puts it best in the line man, you only live once, might as well throw a fit.  "Huzzah" becomes a song you blast in your car as you drive through the city, shouting all of the words at the top of your lungs.  Just be careful about the words you shout if you drive by a cop.  Again, Mr. eXquire explains himself: disclaimer, I did not make this song to promote the sale of alcohol.  Uhh...I can't think of the word right now, it's like my brain is fucked up from drinking alcohol.  Keep your mouth shut if you have a problem with the content, and just listen and enjoy yourself.  Thank you.

A Prayer For Me In Silence - Flogging Molly

At my brother's insistence, I put Flogging Molly's latest Speed of Darkness onto my computer after he picked it up from the mall.  Yes, I love a good Irish ditty, but it's rare that I let other people put music on my computer.  Call me an overprotective mother, if you will.  But I listened to him and copied the CD onto itunes.  After all, I'm supposed to be open to everything, even if I'm just a casual fan of Flogging Molly.  What I found was a very well-done album filled with powerful odes and energetic ditties.  My favourite turned out to be the short-but-sweet "A Prayer For Me In Silence."

My brother tells me that lead Dave King is married to fellow band member Bridget Regan (a Detroit native!), and Wikipedia confirms it.  "A Prayer For Me In Silence" has husband and wife duetting  over a forest's minstrel.  It's rare for me to pass up a male-female duet, and it's Irish nonetheless.  The lyrics are sweet and sincere (eat my heart when you are hungry, I have nothing more to give) and clocking in at only a minute-fifty-four, it has me wanting more.  A lot more.  In a good way.

Doubt Full - New Found Glory

Let's travel back in time, say...eight years?  In 2004 I was an awkward twelve-year-old stuck in a split seven-eight class at school and trying to find ways to inject excitement into an otherwise boring small-town-small-school life.  Case in point: I listened to what the radio was telling me and got my hands on New Found Glory's Catalyst.  Though I have to say in 2012, I'm no longer the pop punk princess I made myself out to be in elementary school, those were the days of energetic guitars and lyrics about love, hate and skateboarding.  Catalyst was a good album, and still is, though there's only one track that's stood the test of time and still makes its way onto my playlists.

"Doubt Full."

"Doubt Full" is the darker track of Catalyst, the one that all bands should feel obligated to include on any pop punk album because it usually turns out pretty good.  The track follows doubts surrounding a final, but necessary goodbye. This letter explains everything, the content, it is the truth.  Each word could cut like daggers if I decide to finally give it to you.  New Found Glory teaches us here that goodbyes have to be done, and can be done with a backing choir on the chorus (my absolute favourite part of the whole song).  It's well worth a listen for every genre-freak out there.  Don't you like not having to look up the song lyrics online for once?

Alexisonfire's Top 10

What would the first Top 10 list of the summer be if it didn't have anything to do with one of the greatest Canadian bands ever?  Oh, Alexisonfire...even though the band is no more, I've got four albums to listen the crap out of for the rest of my life.  I can't ask for much else, other than for my sunburn to go away.  It's that time of the year again...

Above and Beyond - Perpetuate

Let's keep the music nice and local today.  after all, there's always something fantastic waiting right outside your doorstep, or in this case, 45 minutes down the street.  The music scene in Windsor, Ontario has seen better days, though I've found that it's recently been improving greatly.  Who knew that behind all of the typical punk bands was some good ol' symphonic metal?  Perpetuate knew, and I can only hope now that everyone will know too.  They've got some impressive guitars, and soprano vocals courtesy of Kim McInnis that could make you wonder Annette who?  Why don't you know who they are?

Well, I'll get to their "Above and Beyond," the reason we're all here this warm Sunday afternoon.  It begins with some delicate strokes on the keyboard, catchy guitars, and vocals that conjure the exact image the lyrics want you to see.  The air was cold and damp when I took my first breath, alone and shivering, I knew the world of death.  Kim is a classical vocalist who's found her rightful place in metal, and the band behind her is right up to par.  These are the kind of guitar riffs I drool over.  This is the kind of music that makes me a proud metalhead.  So what the hell are you waiting for?  Fellow metal mongers should already have this queued up on Youtube.  If you're coming from outside the genre, take the leap of faith (I saw a production of Rent on Friday, so sue me).

Default - Django Django

The UK's Django Django is an electronic three-piece that knows a thing or two about originality and all things good in music.  Itunes hosted their single "Default" as its single-of-the-week a while ago, though not too long ago, and in that short time it's climbed its way up into my Top 25 Most Played as its infectious beats wormed their way into my head.  It's what cowboys would listen to if they had ipods and anything electro back in the good ol' days.  It's what everyone should be listening to these days.

"Default" isn't just your run-of-the-mill electro.  You get lyrics as part of this package, including my favourite we just lit the fire, and now you want to put it out again.  "Default" is anything but the default of this genre.  This stands out from a sea of Deadmau5 heads and bad Skrillex haircuts (though I can be nice and give him "Bangarang").  Now, if only Django Django could be as well-know, I'd sleep better at night.

Kurt De La Rocha - BBU

I'm back to loving BBU, quite possibly the best group to come out of the rap genre since Swollen Members, and if I've said that in a previous post as well, it's because it's true.  All you have to do is listen, and then you'll know why.  They're only following their own rules.  Who else have you seen sample Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine in a rap song?  Just them, in "Kurt De La Rocha."

"Kurt De La Rocha" begins with the samples chopped up together, then the immortal Kurt Cobain over a few chords of the acoustic guitar.  But then BBU comes in and reminds you hey, this is a rap song, our rap song.  The song can be summed up in the nine words that grace the chorus over Kurt's voice: fuck you, I won't do what you tell me.  This is the kind of rap music that isn't entirely danceable, but is ideal for blasting over your car speakers while driving around in the summer.  If everyone in the car isn't shouting fuck you, I won't do what you tell me, then you all need to get out.  I've got my summer anthem right now...

We Are Young (Fun. Cover) - Telephoned

I'm riding a recent Fun. obsession lately.  Blame their cover of "Somebody That I Used To Know" with Hayley Williams that is ahh-mazing.  But no, this post does not involve one of their songs.  Well, it does, but it's covered by electro/dance duo Telephoned (who I will always be a forever fan of).  They bring "We Are Young" from a melancholy indie-alt number to an electropop track.  And if you're willing to bridge genres or jump between them all together, you're good in my book.

Telephoned's "We Are Young" relies heavily on the electronic side of their cover, letting the lyrics you know and love take a backseat, though they're prone to backseat driving.  You get the classic tonight we are young, so let's set the world on fire, we can burn brighter than the sun and carry me home tonight, and that's really all you need.  It's a cover, after all.  You still have to make it your own, and that's exactly what Telephoned does with their electro beeps and beats and Maggie Horn's lovely vocals.  Miss this cover at your own risk.

Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Do you know who Robert Plant is?  Good.  And Alison Krauss?  Even better.  Do you remember 2007's Raising Sand, which won five Grammys and was pretty much the best thing released back then?  I hope so.  Though "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" is Alison and all Alison, there are plenty of songs with Mr. Plant's vocals that are worth seeing.  However, today's track came to me via my neighbor when she handed up mix CDs as favours at a birthday party.  Call it a sentimental song if you want, but "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" comes before all others.

With light percussion and delicate plucking of the guitar, "Sister Rosetta" first comes off as something strange, something you probably haven't heard.  Alison Krauss also cements the fact that she's a phenomenal vocalist, crooning strange things are happening every day, I hear the music up above my head, though the side of my heart has left me again, I hear music up above among other fantastic lyrics.  Listening to this one song from Raising Sand shows the listener why this won five Grammys and knocked everyone else out of the running.  Could we really have it any other way?

Why Pianos Break - Open Mike Eagle feat. P.O.S.

Chicago's Open Mike Eagle describes his genre of music (according to Facebok, which is always right, right?) as art rap.  This interests me greatly.  It's rare to hear rap described as an art, because that's exactly what it is.  It's a recipe consisting of words, rhymes, beats, and something special.  It's a genre I will always love almost-unconditionally.  Maybe Mr. Mike Eagle has reinforced the idea that rap can be a beautiful work of art, as seen through the three minutes that is "Why Pianos Break."

"Why Pianos Break" begins with the brooding pound of piano keys, and continues as he weaves together his words and other beats enter the equation.  Where have you been hiding all this time Open Mike Eagle?  With help from rapper P.O.S. (who I'd like to know more about, frankly), he's able to show us a thing or two about a genre that so many people seem to be confused about.  Pianos break because of "Why Pianos Break."  I break for "Why Pianos Break."

Slipknot's Top 10

I read the interview in the latest Guitar World with Jim Root and Mick Thomson, and when good ol' Jim promised there would be a fifth Slipknot album, I'm sure my heart skipped a beat.  Call them nu metal, not metal, any metal, whatever you want...Slipknot has left a lasting impression on the world of music, and we can't ignore that.  As a proud fan, likely for the rest of my time as a metalhead, I am honored to list my 10 favourite songs from The Knot.  Enjoy; most should give you the wake up call you need on a Monday morning, especially if you've been up since 4:52 like me.

Bound To Let You Go - Wild Adriatic

You know what I say: the best music that comes out of the US comes from New York State, and the four-piece Wild Adriatic reinforces that crazy rule I thought would never last.  But it has lasted.  They're some sort of rock quartet that reminds me of late 2011, when I had a short but whirlwind obsession with The Dear Hunter.  "Bound To Let You Go" is in the same vein of rock with soul as "We've Got A Score To Settle" is.  There was no stopping me from enjoying this, plain and simple.

"Bound To Let You Go" starts out subdued (always fine with me), but climbs to an electric-guitar-heavy-vocal-lovefest that might get you out of your seat and get you moving.  If a rock-like song can make you do that, we're onto something here.  The main point of this song is if you found yourself don't worry, 'cause I'm bound to let you go, and if I fall in love don't worry, 'cause I'm bound to let you go.  As it repeats in different ways throughout "Bound To Let You Go" you realize you're not bound to let Wild Adriatic go.  Ever.  Case closed.

Some Nights - Fun.

I wasn't sure what to think of Fun. following their hit "We Are Young."  How did we know that this wasn't just luck on their part?  Were they capable of greatness?  Answer: Yes, they were, and they're already one step ahead of us with a flawless album called Some Nights, with a title track that will have you drooling ad might just send you back to church (might, I said).  I heard "Some Nights" on the radio a few days ago after losing all hope in Detroit's only alternative station, therefore restoring my faith in the radio station, as well as alternative music in general.

"Some Nights" is a percussion-pounding, vocal-harmonizing lovefest of epic proportions.  Need  say more?  Okay, I will.  I've listened to this song 30 times since Tuesday night, with projections for "Some Nights" to make it on my Top 25 Most Played list by the end of the week.  It has the catchiness of fun pop, but an alternative edge that sets it apart from pretty much everyone else out there.  The lyrics scream use me as a Facebook status, but in this case, I don't mind.  Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, what do I stand for, what do I stand for, most nights I don't know.  This morning, I know.

Son-Reka - Kalevala

In honor of my Arkona t-shirt coming in the mail yesterday, I'm venturing back into the realm of folk metal, and what a magical realm it is.  Specifically, Russian folk metal, just because they seem to know what they're doing over there.  I won't even get into a band that combines clean vocals and death growls the way that Masha does, but there's still a lot out there, and there's a lot to enjoy in the Moscow four-piece that is Kalevala.  Their music isn't just folk metal, it's fun folk metal, and the epitome of such a thing is "Son-Reka," or in English, "Dream River."

"Son-Reka" has an impressive guitar solo halfway through, but relies on sounding more acoustic-y.  This is what the vikings would listen to in their halls after winning a battle.  "Son-Reka" is simply celebration through folk metal, and could we really ask for more?  Lead singer Ksenia also makes good use of her vocal chords, a perfect fit into this folk metal masterpiece. 

Kalevala also has their own song called "Yarilo."  Just sayin', but the band has the chops to last just as long as Arkona.  I'm excited.

We Are On Fire - CocoRosie

The Casady sisters are back with a new 7"!  And fortunate for the seven billion or so people on Earth, they're even better than they were before.  Bianca and Sierra know a thing or two about experimental indie pop music, as well as keeping things fresh as they continue to release music.  Case in point: "We Are On Fire," which is five minutes of pure awesomeness set in a far off, magical land.  Dare I say, their experimenting has paid off.

I used to have eyes the color of sky, now I can see in the middle of the night.

"We Are On Fire" is classic CocoRosie with a new twist.  While I've always been a fan of their slowed down, haunting songs, but this is just an ounce upbeat without being too upbeat.  You've got the strange sounds that echo through the verses, while the chorus picks up and is just catchy enough to get stuck in your head.  But you're not going to complain.  Why would you?  I'm excited to hear the rest of their new material; if it's anything like "We Are On Fire," we're all in for a good time.

Felix - Oh Thee 73

Lyrics found here

You know how I love me some minimal music with powerful vocals and lyrics?  It's happening again, people!  The UK's Felix, a three-piece indie collective, knows the exact way to my heart and back again, and they've done it with their delicate "Oh Thee 73."  It's the track in a set that a band slows down to bring you back down to Earth, but little do they know, it keeps sending you up into the clouds.

Friday night is the worst night to be alive, would you help me get out of the firing line?

"Oh Thee 73" is exactly what I've said it is.  Quiet instruments (they're still there) and vocals and lyrics that take center stage.  The lyrics, especially; that's how Felix got me.  Electro, how retro, dancing at the disco, I am the tempo.  "Oh Thee 73" has a tinge of sadness and another tinge of regret to it, but that's what makes it brilliant.  After all, if you can't convey emotion through music, what are you really trying to do?

French Montana & Coke Boys - Husband and Wife + Tap That

I like me a good rap mixtape now and again, and Coke Boys 3 by French Montana and the four rappers known as Coke Boys (Charlie Rock, Chinx Drugz, Cheeze and Flip) is a damn good mixtape.  If this is what French calls a mixtape, then his albums that I will be looking at shortly must be stellar.  And if you've got the big guns like Akon and Mac Miller on your mixtape, you're going to go places.  Hell, you've already gone places.  I couldn't decide on simply one track from Coke Boys 3, so I'm going to give you two.  "Husband and Wife" and "Tap That."

"Husband and Wife" comes courtesy of French Montana, with Florida's own Nawlage helping out.  It turns into a sultry club number with a seductive feel to it.  It's not thumping-bass-shake-your-hips music; it's got a laid-back mood to it.  You'd dance to "Husband and Wife," I can guarantee you that.  Let it give you some inspiration for finding your next thing in the club too.

"Tap That" has Mr. Montana joined by Chinx Drugz and Stack Bundles, once again keeping the feel laid-back (laid-back rap...now that's my new favourite thing).  It has the same kind of danceable beat that comes with "Husband and Wife," with more rap verses.  The chorus will get you moving, and you'll be anxious to get your hands on the rest of the mixtape.  Why are you even waiting?  Why not listen to the whole thing now?

Kanye West's Top 10

It's a gloomy, rainy day in the country.  Why, what could ever lift my spirits and also make me feel better about wanting to puke up my guts right now?  Kanye West, of course.  Amassing a Top 10 list of his work was an exceptionally difficult task; I've said that before about my lists, but it was all lies before.  This list was the hardest to narrow down to 10 tracks.  What can I say?  Kanye is kind of freaking awesome.  He is the rap genre right now, and has been since the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.  Enjoy each track I've included here, I know I will.

Wildflower - Sheryl Crow

I'm back on a little bit of a country kick this Sunday afternoon, but Sheryl Crow's lovely Wildflower was more of a delicate pop album than a pure country one.  I've long been a casual fan, having her self-titled 1996 release in my library as well.  Though Wildflower got mixed reviews from most, I quite enjoyed it, and have been enjoying tracks like "Where Has All The Love Gone" and "Chances Are" since 2005.  But it's the title track that's the kicker.

"Wildflower" is a quiet acoustic track where Sheryl's voice and some impressive lyrics are the stars.  Here we are, burning faster than the closest star, falling back down to the Earth, I love you so, it sometimes hurts.  It's delicate (my new buzzword, if you haven't noticed) and minimal (an old favourite); therefore, exactly what I like it my music.  It's country music without the country, and pop without the pop.  A happy medium that translates in "Wildflower."  Well done, Sheryl.

Nightwish - Planet Hell

I'm going to be off to the magical land of Niagara Falls tomorrow, and will likely not have time to blog.  So instead, as a small gift to my dedicated followers and those who just stop in for a visit while they're in the neighborhood, I'm going to feature a song one day early.  Yes, I know, I'm insane.  So sue me.  This month it's my goal to have a post for everyday, and I'll do it by any means possible.

Now, to the reason why we're all here.  Nightwish.  If you've been around here for a while, you might be tired of me throwing them in your face.  My advice?  Have a glass of wine and relax a little, you crazy bastard.  There's no denying that this collective is one of the big guns.  The veterans.  The ones you can't help but love.  "Planet Hell" is an oldie of theirs that came to me via Youtube, with Annette taking over Tarja's vocal parts.  I'm going to get into a Tarja vs. Annette bit soon, so brace yourselves, trolls of the internet.  As a whole, "Planet Hell" is something different.  It's something that bridges the operatic feel of symphonic metal with everything else in the book.

As for the ladies, I honestly can't say I prefer one version over the other.  Tarja has that voice to lean on, and her vocal battle with Marco has that contrast I like to see in metal.  However, Annette breathes new life into "Planet Hell," giving it more of a modern edge that allows the heavier metal fans to fall in love.  When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of the matter, I'm an Annette-o-phile, but they're even here.  Maybe for ten minutes, you could give both a listen, and allow yourself to tour the underworld.  Save yourself, I'm headed for the ferryman.

Also, give Julius some props for the drums.  Holla.

Thank U - Alanis Morissette

I'm happy to say, that thanks to Value Village and three dollar used CDs, I've nearly completed the Alanis Morissette discography.  I've so far found that my favourite is the early Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, filled with angsty tracks of yesteryear and everything under the tree that could be called unique.  Alanis outdid herself there.  You might have heard "Thank U" on the radio before (I'm pretty sure I have), but if you haven't, why not give it a listen now?

Thank you frailty, thank you consequence, thank you, thank you silence.

"Thank U" is a tender side of Alanis, and one I quite enjoy seeing come out through song.  There's a delicate pound on the keyboard (an oxymoron, I know, but what a good one to come up with on a Friday morning), a present drum set and a casual guitar that keeps "Thank U" in the territory that is beautiful.  Maybe sometimes there's no reason to go insane instrumentally, and keep the focus on Alanis and her lyrics.  This lady is my hero. And the video...it kicks some ass.

Destroya - My Chemical Romance

I'm conflicted when it comes to My Chemical Romance.  I'll give them The Black Parade, an album of pure artistry that came out near the end of my emo phase and the beginning of my time as a metal monger (and what a time that's been).  But it's that iffy, almost poppy sound that has me confused, especially in their latest album, Danger Days.  Maybe I've just grown out of some music.  Who knows?  However, I did find one solid track from that album that's lingered in my head long enough to make it to my blog.  "Destroya."

You don't believe in God, I don't believe in luck, they don't believe in us, but I believe we're the enemy.

"Destroya" is, simply put, fun alternative track.  It's a nice change from all of the heavy stuff out there these days.  Gerard and the boys build up to pounding percussion, vocals that don't quit, and guitars that might sound the same throughout the song, but are in fact quite good.  The chorus is your golden ticket here, delivered with precision.  It gets an A for execution, as it's really what sold me.  What part of "Destroya" will do the same for you?

Every Night I Say A Prayer - Little Boots

Throwback pop might just be my favourite of the pop genres (in a close tie with indie pop), and Little Boots has the throwback part down pat.  She's a modern-day Madonna in a world of Disney pop stars and girls who think they can sing but can't.  This Brit can sing, and knows her way around electropop while still retaining her own sound.  It's a happy medium that everyone can enjoy, and her latest "Every Night I Say A Prayer" will be the one you remember.

"Every Night I Say A Prayer" has no religious convictions.  It's a bass-pumping pop song tinged with synths and the keyboard.  The chorus will get you, I guarantee.  I have seen into the future, every night I say a prayer.  I'm looking forward to hearing some remixes of this song too; it has the potential to become a solid club staple.  I've already got one by Tensnake, so what else do you have for me, internet?  The bottom line?  Big things come in small packages, and Little Boots, the Brit with a voice that could, is going to be a very big thing.

Fear of the Dark - Van Canto

I usually don't condone covering an Iron Maiden song unless you want the full force of my wrath to ensue.  Cradle of Filth got away with it, though I'm going to say now that it's difficult to cover one of the greatest bands to ever exist while not trying to ruin it.  You have to be unique, but still stay true to what the men of Iron Maiden were trying to do.  Why not give it a run by going a capella?  I was browsing through Van Canto songs and found that the collective covered "Fear of the Dark."So I gave it a go, and the rest is history.

Van Canto's "Fear of the Dark" might take some getting used to if you're a diehard Iron Maiden fan, but it'll grow on you, I promise.  Here, you have a different flavor on an old favourite (1992 was a good year, after all).  There are no guitars, only vocals that are meant to sound like there are.  No, they really only sound realistic during vocal stretches, but it's an interesting way of going about things.  I'm also a big fan of turning this into a male-female duet of sorts; you know I love that contrast.

Maybe I'm just too excited to see Iron Maiden in concert.  Yeah, I am too excited.