Mother Mother - The Stand

British Columbia's Mother Mother is one of those bands that I've always kind of been aware of, but usually fell to the bottom rung of the ladder in place of a few dozen metal bands.  Now, don't be mistaken by that remark.  These guys are good, and began the treacherous climb back to the top of my ladder with "The Stand," a track that came onto my radar earlier this year.  Before I get to the actual review of the song, let me just demand that you do one thing.  WATCH THE VIDEO.

Now, "The Stand" is indie rock at its best.  It's different from just about everything that's out there, and that's why it'll stick in your head.  And the lyrics...they make me drool just as much as Chris Colfer does whenever he sings on Glee.  The song is sung in conversation style between lead singer Ryan Guldemond and backups Ali Siadat and Jasmin Parkin:

Talk about space
Well, it's a beautiful place
But it's so damn cold
Sure, for the human race, but for the planets and the stars, and everything else and Mars...
It's like paradise spread out with a butter knife

What's the point of "The Stand?"  Remembering that everyone's fucked and they don't even know.  Oh yeah, and that Mother Mother might be the best thing to come out of British Columbia following Swollen Members.  This is music in its truest form, and can we really argue with that?

Bleached - Searching Through The Past

Surfer rock is my new best friend in the world of music, and when you put two sisters at the helm of the operation and put in a little more rock and take out some of those waves...what do you have?  Bleached, an LA girl rock duo that produces beach-friendly material that doesn't stray to far from some rocking roots.  The Calvin sisters, along with their backing members, know exactly what they're doing here, especially with the standout track from their upcoming release, "Searching Through The Past."

You've got folky-rocky vocals, catchy guitars, and lyrics you can understand and sing along with here.  I've been searching through the past, thinking about what we once had...boy, don't tell me I'm crazy.  And don't tell me that I'm crazy for associating this with surfer rock.  I would listen to this on the beach.  It's just fun music...and with that delicate few seconds of the high notes of a keyboard?  Genius.  Maybe I've been searching through my 4400+ songs for something like this.  I won't get tired of "searching through the past" anytime soon, or Bleached for that matter.

Emmy The Great - Century of Sleep

Yeah, I know it's been a while since I've brought you some musical genius.  Blame it on a weekend of epic proportions, though now is the time to get back to business.

Emmy The Great is a singer-songwriter than will grab your with the instrumental side of her songs, as well as the lyrics and that beautiful voice.  The girl is good.  "Century of Sleep" has been a mainstay with my playlists ever since I got it from rcrdlbl, and shows no sign of going anywhere soon.  Now, I've decided the lyrics are the best part right here on the spot, and I'm sure you'll agree with me...

Come back, come back, before you said
Come back so you can see
There are roses in the flowerbeds where there never used to be

What genre is this greatness?  Not your mother's folk.  It's just one of those songs I bring up now and again, where you just listen and know it's good without having to think about it.  Why argue with me if you disagree?  Just listen to this and thank me later.

Glee Cast - Rose's Turn

There's one thing about Glee that I have to point out: SEASON THREE IS A BIG PIECE OF GARBAGE.  Sorry, I had to go there.  There are too many flaws for me to enjoy it, and the song selection hasn't been terribly great.  Luckily, I still have the great taste of season one in my mouth, as well as the generally positive feeling of season two still hanging around.  Yeah, season one still owns all.  I still like when old selections come on my ipod or computer, and one that consistently makes me musically happy is Chris Colfer's rendition of "Rose's Turn" from the musical Gypsy.

Now this...this is magic.

Colfer brings a large amount of emotion into this cover, performed in a scene following his character's feeling of coming in second to his new step-brother.  But enough of the storyline.  This is why the boy won a Golden Globe.  I wish he was one of my bffs.  Those vocals, those theatrics...everything fits perfectly, with a few changes to the original lyrics.  Selections from musicals suit Colfer's unique vocals, and I wish Glee would go back to doing things this way rather than the Top 40 tracks that seem to have taken over season three.  I'm drooling by the last note of this song.  Always.  No, it may not be for the metal fans, or the alternative junkies, but I feature this because it is one of the high points in the entire series.  Still give it a listen if you're leery.  After all, this is music for music lovers.

Coeur de Pirate - Adieu

Though I may not speak French terribly well, I still enjoy listening to the French selections provided by itunes every week.  Once in a while one sticks out (you know what they are), and this time, it came to me in video form.  Yes, itunes also offers a free music video to download every now and again, and they are usually worth watching.  This week, I acquired the best free video that has ever presented itself to me: "Adieu" by Coeur de Pirate (that translates to "pirate heart").  If you thought French songs were beautiful before, wait until you watch them.

Beginning with the song by itself, "Adieu" is short and sweet ditty by Quebecois Beatrice Martin, who I by the way might have a girl crush on.  Let's admit one thing.  She has style, and I love the tattoos and hair.  Gah.  Don't tell the BF.  Anyways, "Adieu" comes from her second album and is a little peppy and you could probably even dance to it if you wanted.  Let's say that it falls somewhere between pop and indie.  I was able to find the lyrics online, to find that "Adieu" is about what you think it is.  Goodbyes.  Look at the chorus, in English:

But say goodbye to me tomorrow
But say goodbye to me on the way
Go and see the others, I don't think anything of it
I loved you and I assure you it's the end

On a final note...the video.  Watch it.  It's good.  Who doesn't like explosions of confetti and watermelons?  Adieu!

Nightwish - Nemo

As promised, I am going to look at a Nightwish track featuring former vocalist Tarja Turunen.  She was dismissed from the band some time ago and replaced by the equally wonderful Annette Olzon, but some fans still lament the fact that she never should have gone anywhere.  I'm impartial in a sense, and as I've mentioned before, both songstresses have strengths and weaknesses (weaknesses of songstresses...say that five times fast).  Tarja sounds more operatic than Annette, which definitely comes across in one of my favourite old Nightwish songs, "Nemo."

"Nemo" is a few things: atmospheric, beautiful, and definitely not about a little orange fish.  Think of the other Nemo in the lines: Nemo sailing home, Nemo letting go.  This is Nightwish at its best in the good old days, with guitars that play just as big of a role as the vocals.  And that piano...well then, now I for sure won't be able to decide who I like more.  This is a high point for Tarja, as well as the equally notable "Over The Hills And Far Away."  Nemo my name forevermore, she sings.  I'm not too sure how Nemo can be used a verb, but there is a point to all of this.  Tarja may be off doing her own thing, but Nightwish wouldn't be much now without what she did back then.  We'll still remember her place in the band no matter how many lineup changes there are.

Metermaids - Graveyard Shift

New York does it again.

What is this?  Good rap music.  Enough said.  Brooklyn rappers Sentence and Swell as Metermaids produce something wondrous in "Graveyard Shift," the lead single from their September release, Rooftop Shake.  Yeah, this could definitely be played on a rooftop, and it will definitely make you shake.  "Graveyard Shift" is a danceable rap track (no guest vocalist here...ahem....ahem...Taio Cruz...Akon...ahem) that will get you moving.  Odds are that if you like this song, you're guilty of serving the graveyard shift.  Never sleep, don't stop.  Sound like you?  Yeah, I thought so.

What sets "Graveyard Shift" apart from every other rap song you've heard before this?  Is it the girtty feeling you get stuck in your ears by listening (which I welcome)?  No, it's that guitar in the background.  Who needs to do the expected when you have that axe at your disposal?  So if you're awake from one o'clock to nine tonight, or just waiting on plans to go through (going out on a Monday...let's see how awake I am tomorrow...), then this post is for you.  Cups up.