JESUS it is hot. HOT HOT HOT!!!! I can’t get over how hot it already is this year; it just makes me want to stay indoors at all times. Other than the heat, I got some good news today: I filed for residency at KSU, and it was accepted!! Now… to get into the nursing program… baby steps… But enough about that; it’s time for today’s five songs!
Gossip – Pop Goes The World
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Holy song of the summer, Batman! Seriously, this one is going to make the hot months much more bearable. I have posted about the Gossip in the past, because I absolutely love the unique and powerful voice of the amazing Beth Ditto. Well, they released their newest album, Music For Men, this week, and so far, this is my favorite track on the album. This song is almost impossible not to dance and sing to; I love the tribal drumming and sticky sweet backing synth. I LOVE the crescendo the song grows to at about 1:25 in; it is epic!
Wave Machines – I Go I Go I Go
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Another free song offered on the UK iTunes, I Go I Go I Go is a fresh, and hip dance rock track for summer as well. It really reminds me of awesome bands like Vampire Weekend, and even the Lightning Seeds. This track is as fresh as recently laid out produce, and I have been loving it more and more with each listen. I LOVE when I find random, awesome tracks like this. Thanks UK iTunes (even though I couldn’t buy it/get it for free like the other UKers)!
Safetysuit – Annie
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This one is a “discovered while my ipod was running on shuffle” track. I added Safetysuit’s album, Life Left To Go, a while ago, but I hadn’t gotten around to a real listen. This track really stood out to me during the shuffle, and hearing talent like this really confuses me even more why people still love bands like Nickelback. If you like their “style”, Safetysuit is doing it, only better, and without the repetition (admit it, all of Nickelback’s songs are the same!! Stop the madness people!). I, for one, am glad that I found Safetysuit, and this great track (which really reminds me of what I LOVE about Our Lady Peace; the story telling, unique male vocals, and blaring distorted guitars). I only wish Safetysuit were getting the publicity that NB is.
Michael Johns – Heart On My Sleeve
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I’m going to be totally honest: I didn’t care very much that he was even in the top 10 on American Idol. Yes, I thought he could sing beautifully, but since he wasn’t a “front runner” in my eyes, it was easy for me to ignore him. However, being that I definitely think AI has gained a really credible means of spotting true talent over the seasons, I wanted to check out his release when I saw it on iTunes earlier this week. Well, this song, the first track off of the album, has all of the vocal grittiness of Daughtry, with a tendency to lean more towards a Take That style (not to mention that it sounds A LOT like their amazing track, Rule the World). Overall, if for no other reason that I found this great track, I’m glad that I gave Michael another chance.
Alexisonfire – Burial
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At this point, there really shouldn’t be any surprise to any of you how deep my love for Dallas Green (aka City and Colour) runs. Be that as it may, Dallas sings in Alexisonfire, a post-hardcore band, which, I have to say, is NOT my cup of tea. After hearing City and Colour, it is almost a shock that Dallas is even a driving force in Alexisonfire at all. However, they released a new album this week, and with the last track on the album, Dallas injected a MAJOR dose of his folk sensibility into the record, and I couldn’t be more elated, as it is a gorgeous song. I’m glad that Dallas tenderized at least one track on the album, because it gives folk lovers like me a chance to love something about a band that I probably wouldn’t otherwise listen to.
Well, there you have it! Five fresh tracks that are definitely music to my ears; what about to yours? Let me know what you liked or didn’t like, and as always, please tell me what you are listening to.
I feel compelled to say, that no, I did not feel the need to post any Michael Jackson songs, as I am not what I would consider, a fan of his music. I liked some songs, but nothing to the level of “love”, so I didn’t feel any need to stretch that, just because of his death. Anyway, there really isn’t anything that I could “introduce” you to about his music, which is kind of the point of the 5SF in the first place, so there we go.
Have a great weekend, and STAY COOL!
William is yet another fantastic discovery that I came to via nothing more than a picture of the bearded singer. Sometimes, all it takes is some bearded goodness to get me interested, and luckily, William’s music is so beautiful that it drew me in even deeper. I discovered his album The Sparrow and The Crow through iTunes, where it was just released back in April; even though searches on the internets show that it actually came out late in 2008. I might have to ignore that fact, because this fantastic folk album could easily find a spot on my top albums of 2009, because it is incredibly beautiful, and each song is even more beautiful as the last. I have a weak spot for those bearded folk guys… what can I say? And it doesn’t hurt when they are incredibly talented to boot!
Matt’s 2007 release, Some Mad Hope, actually made my year end best of list, but recently, I gave it another listen, and remembered how much I loved it. I love his vocals and the way in which he weaves a pop rock anthem. This was one of those experiences when I “re-discover” something on my ipod, something that I hadn’t listened to in such a long time for no other reason than I hadn’t thought to. Matt’s single, Come On Get Higher is making the rounds on radio right now (part of the reason I dusted his album off and gave it another listen), and I hope that he will release Gone as a single too; both are favorites of mine from the album. I can’t wait for new material from Matt, and I hope that his success will signal something new very soon.
This is the free download of the week on the UK’s iTunes, which is awesome for them, but unfortunate for us; since we can’t download it in the US. However, some searching the internet proved fruitful, and I was able to find this amazing track to bring to you today. I love the blaring backing snyth of this track, and the pulsating beats that go along with it. It really reminds me of a recent discovery, Miike Snow, with a similar energy and ferocity to it. I hope that when Dan finally releases his album that it is filled with more great songs like this one; because this song is fantastic.
Perhaps one of the funniest names of a seriously amazing dance band, Booty Luv recently released their new single, Say It, and I have been LOVING it more and more with each listen. It has a similar floor stomping beat that the best tracks off of their debut, Boogie Tonight, had when it was released back in 2007. I am hoping that this song is an indication of what we have to look forward to on Booty Luv’s highly anticipated follow up. If that truly is the case, the release date can’t come soon enough. This song makes me want to fucking dance all night long, and is definitely one of their best to date.
Little Boots is one of those greatly hyped acts that for whatever reason, I grew instantly skeptical of. Perhaps it is the stubborn side of me that likes to make things difficult, but whatever it is, it made me ignore Little Boots’ release Hands (other than my instant love for previously featured track, New In Town). Well, in steps one of you guys (fellow music blogger 
I got a huge, welcome surprise when I looked at the new release list on iTunes this week; one of my favorite Canadian folk artists, Hayden, released a new CD, The Place Where We Lived! You may remember that his amazing In Field and Town made my year end list for 2008, coming in at 
Well, it looks like this week, we have not one, but two Canadian singer-songwriters! I mentioned Matthew back in May when I discovered his AMAZING track, Easily Bruised. Well, after falling for that song, I went and downloaded his album Ghost Notes, from which the song hails, and I found many more amazing tracks. His style reminds me a bit of Hayden at times, as well as other folk-rock acts like Joshua Radin and even Bob Dylan. This song is achingly beautiful, and it reminds me why I love searching for new music; occasionally, I stumble onto something truly amazing. This song is just that; truly amazing.
I have featured Jack on the 5SF in the past, but I quickly lost interest in him because of how many of the songs from his debut where a bit too similar to stand out for me. Well, I heard that he was revamping his style, and releasing a new record this month, and after checking it out, I must say that I have regained my interest in him; big time! I love the changes he made to his sound, and I find myself really liking this album. Pull My Heart Away is my favorite track that I have heard so far from the aptly titled, Everything Is New; which is out June 22.
I was late to come to the church of Patrick Wolf, but honey, I am swaying the pulpit now! I liked several songs off of his previous release, The Magic Position, but overall, the entire album didn’t resonate with me for whatever reason. When I heard he was to release a new album this month, I was excited to see what he would bring me next, and I must say, after listening to The Bachelor, the entire album resonated with me on a much deeper level. It took me a minute to appreciate the often avant garde style Wolf harnesses in his music, but once I did, I realized how fantastic he is. There aren’t many artists out there carving their own niche anymore, and Wolf really reminds me of the innovativeness of artists that came before him; especially those like David Bowie. Watch this kid, because he is doing some pretty amazing stuff with music.
Lastly today, I wanted to pay homage to one of the greatest bands ever, the almighty Blur. When I was in high school, Blur was one of those bands that made me really realize how much music meant to me, and it helped me appreciate really great music at the same time. This song, from their AMAZING debut, Leisure, is a fantastic reminder of so many good times from those days, and a welcome stroll down memory lane every time I hear it. Leisure is one of those albums that I can listen to from beginning to end, and it will always be amongst my favorite records of all time; along with many other Blur albums too. 
Not being a HUGE fan of hip hop, this song took me by major surprise! The first time I heard it, was all, “damn! I love this!!!”. It combines a bit of the “lady group” nature of Destiny’s Child, and blends it with the hotness of Amerie (ala One Thing), and together, it certainly has me trippin’. I love the beat, and the fact that all four ladies can sing. This song is ready for the clubs, and I am certainly adding it to my summer playlists. Wiggle wiggle wiggle girl… let’s get that dance on! 
Oh Robyn, how do I love thee? There are so many ways; almost too numerous to count! This track is a fantastic collaboration between Royksopp and Robyn, which I can almost BET Robyn played a big part in (it has her style all over it). If this is just another indication that the Robyn train isn’t slowing down any time soon, it makes me even more excited for her next album; and it makes me happy that in the meantime, she is working so well with other great artists out there. This is definitely the best song on Royskopp’s album, and they did themselves a major favor by working with Robyn. The synth on this track is deep, dark, and pulsating; making this song great for driving or dancing… just don’t do both at the same time!
I know that I was singing the praises of Miike Snow last week, but I have to keep singing them; their debut is one of the best albums I have heard all year. It is amazing. With this project, Bloodshy & Avant have seriously raised the bar on the indie-synth pop scene, and produced what is sure to be amongst my favorite albums for all of 2009. I love the pulsating, rhythmic beat in the background, as well as the way in which they vocode the vocals; all making for a toe tapping, and infectious track. The whole album is made up of AMAZING songs like this one, with this probably being my favorite of all. Miike Snow SHOULD be HUGE in 2009, and you can brag to all of your friends that you knew all about them, because music bloggers like me showed you the light. No thanks necessary; just go and download the album already! 
I have also written about the super-talented Swedish singer, Erik Hassle, who released one of the most beautiful singles for 2009 with his amazing song, Hurtful. As much as I LOVE Hurtful, this song is just as powerful, and with each listen, I love it even more. I love the distorted electro backing track of the chorus, and the emphasis in which he says, “isn’t it obvious that I love you!?!”. It’s a well written track that has the emotive vocals to back up its sentiment, and I always turn up the dial when this one starts playing. AMAZING song. I just realized that he is the third song featured this week by a Swedish artist. Seriously, something AMAZING is going on in Sweden as far as music is concerned, and I hope it keeps on coming!
I actually heard of Butterfly Boucher a long time ago, because my buddy Deb really likes her, but it didn’t really stick with me, because I couldn’t find her album, as it seems she never got a proper release in the US. Cut to the here and now: Apparently, being on Grey’s Anatomy is the KEY to success, because after this song was on the show, her album has found its way onto iTunes, where I saw it, and was intrigued (having heard of her before). I don’t watch Grey’s, so I heard this song when I sampled the album, and it is epic, haunting, and achingly beautiful. I hope that Butterfly gets more exposure with this album, because songs like this are too wonderful to be ignored.
I heard about Parachute through iTunes as well, because they offered up one of their songs as a free download a few weeks back. While I thought that track was just okay, I checked out some of the other songs on their album, and this song blew me away. It is really beautiful, and it makes me glad that iTunes introduces people to some great music; even if it is by way of a different song from the same album. This song is a delicate rock-pop ballad that reminds me of the sweet softness of songs by artists like Joshua Radin, and I can’t get enough of its goodness. 
I love Mat Kearney. I have for a while now. Not only is his voice swoon-worthy, but he is quite the handsome fellow. I mentioned a few weeks back that he was one of the people that I wanted to come out with a new album already (because of how much I loved his first record, Nothing Left To Lose), and it was then that I noticed he was releasing the follow up this month. I finally got my hands on the City of Black and White this week, and all I can say is WOW. With the first listen, I was blown away. Seriously, this is one of the best albums of the year for me, by far. This is one of my favorite tracks from the album, and as I mentioned, I fully expect to see this album near the very top of my year end best of list. Mat certainly did not disappoint with his sophomore album, and I only hope his career consists of more amazing albums like this one. With this release, he has solidified himself a place amongst my favorite artists.
Guilty pleasure alert!!! I normally don’t like a lot of the more “hard core” hip-hop/rap, but this track just screams in ecstasy to the wannabe thuggish girl that lives within me. Not only that, but this video is fucking fierce, and Beyonce is just too damn hot on this track to ignore. I will admit that the first time I heard this song, I really didn’t like it, but that was because I didn’t fully understand how to appreciate it. It is exactly like Kelis’ amazing song, Bossy for me; when I first heard it, I didn’t appreciate the amazingness of it. Well, now I do, and I can tell you, that thug girl living within me wants to be a damn diva… and if she were, this would be her bitch ass theme song. Perhaps what I love the most about this song, is that we now know to watch out, because Bey will cut a bitch, for sure.
Finally today, the one hit wonder from the 90’s I promised. I remember hearing this song my junior year of high school, and back in those days, they didn’t have mix CDs, and the only way to get a copy of a song was to record it off of the radio, or go out and buy the damn CD. If you were lucky enough, the band would release a single, but low and behold, in this case, they didn’t (not that I could find anyway). So, I plunked down $16 for a CD, for one song. However, this song got LOTS of play, and has one of the catchiest courses that I have ever heard, and one that still makes me smile. I have no fucking idea what “we love the only all of you” means, but I don’t fucking care; that guitar riff is like irresistible, sweet cotton candy, and I can’t get enough.
Let me start with a one word description of Elizabeth and the Catapult’s most recent release, Taller Children: Amazing. Elizabeth and the Catapult is one of those finds that I still can’t believe I stumbled upon, because of how magnificent they are. What drew me in initially, was the really cute cover, which has brought me to some fantastic music in the past, and certainly did so again this time. The whole album is magnificent, and will certainly be amongst my top records of 2009. The record has a softer side, as well as an eclectic feel to it, and the singer’s voice often channels the might and gusto of singers like Inara George, Aimee Mann, and even Ann Wilson. This was a fantastic find, and one that I am more than happy to sing praises about to anyone who will listen. I LOVE when I find stuff like this on the random!
After seeing Death Cab for Cutie last week, I have been listening to them almost non-stop, and I am constantly reminded of how much I love this amazing band. Seriously, Ben Gibbard’s voice and his diction are both amazingly delicious, and are a total treat to my ears. I have been a Death Cab fan for a few years now, and with each subsequent release, they only get better, in my opinion. The recently released EP, the Open Door, is where this fantastic track comes from, and was released to coincide with them beginning their tour. I love every song on that EP, and I was pleased that they played almost all of them at the show. They are amazing live, and I am glad I got an opportunity to finally see them perform.
As a fan of Great Northern’s 2007 debut, Trading Twilight for Daylight, I was excited when I saw that they were releasing a new album a few weeks ago. While I regrettably haven’t had a chance to give it a proper listen, the first track really struck me instantly, and I really liked it right off the bat. Perhaps what struck me most, is how it has a harder, edgier sound than their previous softer stuff. The marching beat coupled with the distorted guitars, and the lead singer’s haunting vocal make this a fantastically “darker” opener for their new album. It has definitely gotten me excited to delve deeper into the rest of the album; which if it is anything like this, I am sure I will enjoy.
I was surfing my usual music blogs this week, and stumbled on this MASSIVE ballad by yet ANOTHER Swede bringing the pure power of super-sweet and perfectly percolated pop to my ears. Seriously, what is in the water in Sweden?!? There are so many amazing pop artists coming out of Sweden, and Erik Hassle is certainly among them; this song is amazing and beautiful. This song overtook me with one listen. It’s massive. Keep your eyes and ears open for more on Erik Hassle; I am sure we will be hearing a lot more from him in the coming months.
There has always been something about Mandy Moore that I have liked… I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know why, but I love this girl. This song is no exception; I love the slight country twinge, and the overdubbing of her voice on the chorus. I saw the video, and thought it was a bit stupid, but it wasn’t enough to make me like the song any less. I will definitely be checking out Amanda Lee when it hits stores. 
This is kind of a blast from the “not so distant past”. I featured the Presets sophomore release, Apocalypso in my 
I love Owl City. If you followed my best CDs of 2008 list, you remember that Owl City’s self-released album Maybe I’m Dreaming took the #10 spot on my 
Last but certainly not least today, is sublime electro-goodness from up and coming HUGE sensation Passion Pit. This is their second single, which will accompany a full album release (Manners) from them this month. At first, I didn’t love this song as much as I loved Sleepyhead (which I have posted about before), but that is because Sleepyhead is PERFECT. Well, after a couple of listens, I realized something: Passion Pit is amazing. This song is awesome, and while they are definitely one of those bands I should, by all accounts hate, I actually LOVE them. I love the shrill voice, the pops and beats, I love it all. This is definitely a song that when it comes on the radio, you HAVE to crank it up. Try not to tap your toes and bop your head to this one folks… it’s difficult!
Sometimes, I am told about a band, and for whatever reason, I have to come to them on my own before I really appreciate them. Metric is one of those bands. I managed to catch the video for Gimme Sympathy last week, and I INSTANTLY loved it. Too bad my friend Deb had already been singing their praises for weeks now. D’oh! Well, I am on the Metric bandwagon now, and I have been loving them a lot this week. Specifically, this dance rock number, which really gets me dancing in my seat whenever I hear it. If you enjoyed this song (and how could you not), I highly recommend you snag the rest of their recently released new album, Fantasies. 
I have heard this name a lot, but never really knew who Frankmusik was. Well, I was perusing an iTunes chart, and noticed that he had a song called Better Off As 2 available, so I thought I would at least listen to the sample and see what it was all about. Well, the result was an amazing, jaw-dropping WOW from me; this song is EPIC! I loved it from the first note all of the way through to the end, and I cannot stop listening to it! It has a little bit of the electo-rock sound of Hellogoodbye, yet turns its focus more to the dance floor, like other male solo artists such as Sam Sparro. I can’t wait until Frankmusik’s debut album, Complete Me is released next month; I am definitely looking forward to more of what he has to offer!
Like Frankmusik, I have heard A LOT about St. Vincent, but I had never actually heard anything BY her. Well, I saw the amazing video for Actor Out of Work randomly, and at first, I really didn’t like the song, but I really liked the video (she sits stoically while actors “audition” for her, and all show a range of intense emotion). Well, I listened to the song a couple of times, and I saw the pure brilliance in it. I highly recommend that you listen to this one several times before you make a judgment, because it is DEFINITELY a grower. Those of you that have been singing the praises of St. Vincent; worry no more, I am finally listening!
Now hear me out… I have liked Nick Lachey since he was in 98 Degrees. I have both of his previous solo albums, and I am not ashamed of that fact. My name is duane, and I like boy-band pop. There, I said it. However, this is definitely a great track, and one that I could see getting tons of airplay. Perhaps the third time is the charm for Nick, and this may be the album that brings him the fame he has been seeking since he left 98 Degrees. His first single attempt for this album may have flopped (it was a carbon-copy cover of Take That’s Patience), but this one is definitely a very great pop song, and I hope the rest of the album is just as good. I actually like this song better and better with each listen.
Finally today, I wanted to post something by the amazing Kate Nash, who made it almost all of the way to the top of my year end list in 2007 with her debut album, Made Of Bricks. Well, I have been listening to my ipod on shuffle this week, and this song came up, and it reminded me of just how much I love Kate, and how I hope that she brings us another fantastic record sometime this year. In the mean time, I will just continue to appreciate her fabulous debut, and the few B-sides (like this one) that are floating around out there. Perhaps my favorite thing about Kate is her way of story telling through song, and how she paints such a beautiful picture with her music and vocals. I miss you Kate! Come back soon!
I have been a fan of Jars of Clay for many, many years. I was a bigger fan when I was in college, but I have always loved their music, and still, I definitely count them amongst my favorite artists. Well, I saw that they had a new CD coming out this week, and naturally, I had to check it out. After my first listen, I was glad to discover quite a fantastic album throughout. In my opinion, this is definitely one of their strongest records, and it shows a real growth as a band. Their sound as matured over the years, and they consistently put out great music. This is the first single from their new record, The Long Fall Back To Earth, which I highly recommend. 
The second of 3 albums I have been paying attention to that came out this week, was Wild Young Hearts by the Noisettes. I first mentioned them a few weeks ago when I featured their fantastic first single, Don’t Upset The Rhythm. Well, after giving the whole album a listen, I was pleased to find that they too had produced a pretty great album. This is one of my favorite songs from the record, which bears similarity to the vocal styling of Duffy and Amy Winehouse, and has a sock hop/TV soundtrack flair to the arrangement. The arrangement really makes me think of Laverne and Shirley for some reason…
The third album released this week that was definitely on my radar was the debut album of Chester French. I have also talked about them previously, when I featured their fantastic song She Loves Everybody. My interest in Chester French shot sky high after seeing them open for Lady GaGa a few weeks ago, because they were excellent live. I liked all of the songs that I heard at the show, and was glad to get my hands on the album so that I could hear them again. This is probably my favorite song from the album, which is kind of good, but unfortunately overall, only has a handful of songs that really speak to me. Also note that he says motherfucker pretty loudly during one of the choruses. 
Okay, I may have mentioned it before, but I am a huge sucker for a well used sample. This is a great example of that technique; I LOVE the way she integrates the Cure’s Close to Me, and uses it to soften up her previously “uber-tough” persona. I love her accent, and how “rough” she is (ha! rough and tough!), and I am glad that she is still making her mark on hip hop. This is a fun little track that I have been enjoying since I saw the video a couple of weeks ago, and I have been meaning to feature it ever since.
Finally this week, I am posting a song that I randomly heard playing in the background of a TV show; that happens to be from PCD’s Doll Domination album. I heard it, and I really liked the beat, and I did a lot of searching on the internet to find out who it was, and what song it was; only to find that I already had it on my hard drive!! No, I don’t have an iPhone, or I probably would have just used Shazam, but thankfully, my persistence and my good research skills led me to this fun little track. I have to say, PCD really keeps throwing me surprises; I’m glad that I gave in and started enjoying this girl group!