Panic! at the Disco - Hurricane

I remember back when Panic! at the Disco's third album, Vices & Virtues came out, I was worried.  The main reason was because Ryan Ross and Jon Walker had left the band, leaving Brandon Urie and the drummer (Spencer Smith...sorry!) with full control.  Also, after looking at the distinct differences between A Fever You Can't Sweat Out and Pretty. Odd. I worried that they would be doing another drastic change.  Well, it actually didn't turn out to be too bad.  Think of this sound being a happy medium of their Beatles-esque musical and electronic alt-rock.  There are a handful of gems in this treasure chest, and "Hurricane" is the diamond.

"Hurricane" is about sex.  Now we're all in understanding, especially with lyrics like hey stranger, I want you to catch me like a cold and I led the revolution in my bedroom and I set all the zippers free.  But Urie and Smith make it about more than that.  They fuse a peppy chorus with borderline-baroque sounds and make "Hurricane" hella catchy to boot.  Though the album as a whole isn't spectacular, shining moments like this make it worth the listen.

We said no more war
No more clothes, give me peace
Oh, kiss me.

Deerhunter - Helicopter + Diplo & Lunice Remix

Snowy Friday afternoons call for one (of many) things: dreamy indie.  And who has that dreamy concept down?  Well, Atlanta's Deerhunter has the laid-back indie genre down pat, but they get into the land of nod with an oldie called "Helicopter."  The track leans on a succession of bells and other percussion instruments, as well as some nice guitar work that doesn't overpower the song.  This is what I like to listen to when I'm walking home from an evening class, it makes the city streets a little more fantastical. 

And of course, all good songs come with remixes that are just as spectacular.  This one, courtesy of my forever favourite Diplo and unknown-to-me Lunice, is how I first heard of Deerhunter back in 2010.  This remix is less dreamy indie than the original, and a little more electro.  The spattering drums are a nice touch, the vocals are sped up just a touch, and the original melancholy feel isn't lost. 

We know he loves you the best.

Rococode - Empire

I think every day calls for some relaxed indie pop, especially Thursdays.  Why?  Because I said so, that's why.  Rococode is even a home-grown group, so my fellow Canadians are kind of obliged to take a listen to "Empire."  Think of them as being in the vein of Metric, but a little less stadium rock, a little more sweet (not that Emily Haines isn't, just so you know).  Laura Smith's female lead vocals are a touch demure, but I wouldn't out anything else with the laid-back guitar work and easy-on-the-ears drums.  The point I'm trying to make here is simple: listen to me, and get good music in return.  Simple enough, right?

Doldrums - I'm Homesick Sittin' Up Here In My Satellite

Doldrums: the best electronic collective you haven't heard of.  That's right, I'm going there.  Now, this isn't some thumper track devoid of lyrics.  "I'm Homesick Sittin' Up Here In My Satellite" is a cacophony, perhaps the marching band that parades through paradise once you leave this world for another.  It's a little jazzy with a tinge of pop thrown in, and as intimidating as this combination may sound with the addition of electro snare drums, it's approachable.  Don't be scared off by the long title and marching band aesthetic.  "I'm Homesick..." shows a side of the electronic genre that's rare, but it exists.  Time to take the plunge, people.

Rise Against - Help Is On The Way

Few songs out there can get me in a blubbering emotional state.  "Lover of the Light" is up there, but "Help Is On The Way" coupled with a stellar music video puts Rise Against over the top.  This track isn't from the amazing collection known as The Sufferer & The Witness, but I'll allow Endgame to have this one.  It's too good to pass up.

You may be able to guess where this one will go.  "Help Is On The Way" assures us that no matter how bad it gets, help will be on the way.  This is classic Rise Against; you'll be able to tell just by the guitars.  What they've got is power and emotion in their work, and relating songs to real life.  The weep-worthy video follows a family living on their roof to escape hurricane flood waters.  Watch at your own risk, it's the most hauntingly beautiful thing I've ever seen.  Just get into the whole thing, people.  Better yet: miss this at your own risk.

We were told just to sit tight
'Cause somebody will soon arrive

Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War

I know I featured a Stars song maybe two weeks ago at the very least, but this time it's worth the repetition.  I was actually going to have this come before the post about "A Song Is A Weapon," but good things come to those who wait.  "In Our Bedroom After The War" and the album of the same name came my way in the twelfth grade (pushing three years now).  I'd ordered it on a whim from Amazon, not knowing much about the band or even how they sounded.  Risks are worth the reward nine times out of ten, people.  I was instantly smitten by their brand of indie rock, and drooled for hours over the title track.

Few songs can be called perfect.  It takes a lot of questioning my ability to critique music, and questioning my own taste, but "In Our Bedroom..." is indeed perfect.  It's a story on a hill, rising in power and emotion as we follow a couple waking up to find that the war is finally over.  Lift your head and look out the window.  Even with the approaching climax, "In Our Bedroom..." is still very soft and delicate, never overpowering.  And when the chorus breaks out...get ready to soil your pants in amazement. Feel free to tell me if this isn't perfect, because I'll tell you why you're wrong.

Avenged Sevefold - Lips of Deceit

So here's the whole story: my brother likes to borrow things from his best friend.  CDs, movies, video games, you name it.  He was on his way to her house one day and asked if he should steal anything.  I replied with, "Oh, a good collection of CDs."  He returned home later that day with a bag containing her entire collection of music.  Thus, that is the story of how I got so much Megadeth and Marilyn Manson on my laptop.  She also had Avenged Sevenfold's debut album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet.  I'm a sometimes-fan of theirs, mostly from their self-titled days, but I've still got the bulk of their recordings in my possession.  I figured there was no harm in seeing what they'd been up to back then, and was surprised when I found metalcore.  Huh.  Seems like that's what they were up to before they got into their brand of alternative metal.

"Lips of Deceit" stood out to me because it has elements of their newer songs that I like, and the accompanying metalcore vocals really ice the cake.  The guitar work is strong, and that clean-rough mix of vocals shows some good contrast.  This is my kind of metalcore.  The rest of the album is so-so, which is to say it's good they've moved on from this stage of their career, but "Lips of Deceit" shows that there's a reason we experiment.  Good things happen sometimes.  I'll still take "Almost Easy" over everything, but I give props to the band for this.  It is possible for them to pull off metalcore.  Bring back harsh vocals, A7X!