Yayo - Lana Del Rey

Before Lana Del Rey became the gangster Nancy Sinatra we all know and love, she was a little less-well known and was more familiar with her original name, Lizzy Grant.  Her debut album, Lana Del Rey A.K.A. Lizzy Grant, contains some gems that you might not have expected to come out of the woodwork, including "Yayo," a track originally from her Kill Kill EP. 

"Yayo" is slang for cocaine, and keeping the drug in mind upon your first listen, the track becomes something else.  It's the slow-motion soundtrack to the most intense scene of the movie.  Miss Del Rey's got one haunting voice in this near-six-minute masterpiece.  I'll let it slide if you choose to think it's about fast-paced romance and the whatnot, but I need you like a baby when I hold you has one meaning only.  "Yayo" is tragic, and at the same time, it is nothing short of beautiful.

Don't do drugs, kids.

One Last Show - Flobots

I'm all for a blend of genres.  You know that, I know that...everyone knows that.  But can it be done with anything, for instance: hip-hop and alt-indie?  That's the feel I get from Denver's Flobots, a five-piece complete with emcees and some strings.  Could potential for greatness ever be greater?  No.  Flobots have the formula for success and deliver.  They've got a new album out, rife with greatness, but I quite like "One Last Show."

"One Last Show" combines a lot into the four minutes it runs, including raps, guitars, viola arrangements, and whatever else you might think of (with some limits).  It's catchy to say the very least, and you're going to get one last show for the lonely souls stuck in your head before you can realize what's happening.  Flobots prove that there are hidden gems scattered throughout the music industry; looking for them is half the fun.

Mystery Girl - Romans

You know what I always say...the best music in the United States usually comes out of New York.  Today the state and city brings us "Mystery Girl" by the indie-alt-rock trio Romans.  This is another one of those end-of-summer songs, rife with beachy vocals, surfer-tinged guitars, and the atmosphere that hey, this might be better on the beach.  Who would have thought?  Romans' name makes them a little hard to research, but know that they're worth knowing, you know?  Listen now while you can; school is creeping around the corner.

We Need A Resolution - Aaliyah feat. Timbaland

Aaliyah's self-titled album, her last, was originally mine when I was in the fourth grade (or fifth, I honestly can't remember), until I let an unfortunate frenemy borrow it and never got it back.  This is why I like Value Village, because I know my old CD collection leaks back there as time passes.  A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to stumble upon my old favourite, as well as Jefferson Airplane's The Worst of Jefferson Airplane.  Aaliyah was just as good as I remembered, and my favourite track from more than ten years ago is still the same.

"We Need A Resolution" is a slinky R&B number with Timbaland on guest rapper duties, though Ms. Houghton is still the star of this track.  For the past ten years I've had who should be hurt, who should be blamed looping through my head.  It takes a certain kind of artist to keep that going for that long.  "We Need A Resolution" follows deciding an outcome between two feuding lovers (am I supposed to change, are you supposed to change), but who would ever feud with greatness like this?

Rest in peace, beautiful.

Disturbed - Criminal

You can say what you want about Disturbed.  I used to be their biggest fan back in the day, and their Indestructible is definitely in the top 12 of all of my favourite albums (not on the master Top 10 list from yesterday, unfortunately).  You can make the argument that all of their songs sound the same, and whatever else you've got, but there's one thing you're not taking into account.  Where would nu metal be without these guys?  Nowhere, probably.  Last I checked David and the boys were on a hiatus, but they had a bevy of strong guitars way back when, with undeniable power to boot.  "Criminal" sums them up in one song, their best in my opinion.

"Criminal" comes from an album rife with songs about war and adventure, but stands out from the rest of the pack with a few things.  One, the chorus that will blow your socks off.  Mr. Draiman's voice is solid as he croons deliver me from all of this, I want you to quicken my end.  Two, hard guitars that never cease to stop rocking.  Three, lyrical prowess.  Everything is here that provides perfection, and the boys of Disturbed do wonderful things with it.  Listen to the bridge and tell me that all nu metal is awful.  I dare you.

Laura's Top 10 Albums

Ah, Labor Day.  The official end to summer...though my summer won't technically be over until 10:30 a.m a week from now.  What better way to chase away those beginning-of-school blues than to revisit my ten favourite albums.  Most are oldies, in a sense, but it's the nostalgia in part that makes them brilliant.  I can only feature one song from each, but I encourage you to take a listen to every track on every album.  Why not do it today before you have to get back to your job-slash-school in the coming days?

Bob Marley - "Legend"



Sarah McLachlan - "Afterglow"



Swollen Members - "Monsters in the Closet"



Yellowcard - "Lights and Sounds"



Chevelle - "Sci Fi Crimes"



Protest The Hero - "Kezia"



Fiona Apple - "Extraordinary Machine"



Kanye West - "808s & Heartbreak"



Jason Mraz - "Mr. A-Z"



Nightwish - "Imaginaerum"

Into Giants - Patrick Watson

Yes, it's getting late on a Sunday night, but I still have yet to welcome September in musical fashion, and now is the time to do so.  Tonight, let's look at a song that's waited a long time for its turn on this blog.  From Canadian Patrick Watson and his eponymous band comes "Into Giants" from their recent release Adventures In Your Own Backyard.  It came to me via itunes as a free video of the week, and let me tell you, this is how you capture someone's attention with a music video.  But if we take out the visual, we still have a darling indie track that follows a very lovely love story (starting as lovers, don't know where it's gonna end).  I've tried my best to find the name of the woman responsible for the accompanying female vocals, though I've unfortunately come up short tonight.  So if that doesn't bother you as immensely as it does me, it's time to take a listen to "Into Giants."  Get on it!