Tag: music

the 31 best of 2009: 16-20

16: Band of Skulls – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
Using jangly guitars, banging beats, and sounding like a well-made mash-up of Chrissie Hynde and the White Stripes, Band of Skulls take heavy influences from classic rock and completely rock out on this fantastic album. Perhaps it is the pairing of the male and female vocals that really draws me in, because I never got into the White Stripes, as the musical formula is very similar; at least, the distortion effect on their guitars is really close to the one Jack White uses, and they also use heavy drumming to back up the whole shebang. That being said, while they do stick to a similar musical formula as the White Stripes, I think that Band of Skulls have made their own consistently amazing album with Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, as there really isn’t a bad track on it; and when I say, “not a bad track”, I really mean, “they’re all quite brilliant, actually”. After one listen, I went back time and time again to rock out to this fantastic ode to classic rock (as well as clear hat tip to the White Stripes), and I am glad I discovered them through their amazingly catchy lead off single, I Know Where I Am; which is definitely one of their best. Looking back, I am really glad that I went and listened to the whole album, because like the lead single, it too, is down right great. Standout Tracks: I Know What I Am, Fires, Cold Fame, Death By Diamonds and Pearls, Light of the Morning.

17: Brandi Carlile – Give Up the Ghost
On her follow up the to the amazing album, The Story, Brandi does right by not deviating from the folk-country rock that she creates oh so well. However, this time around, she ups the ante, and instead of sputtering out after the half-way mark (as I felt her last album kind of did), she stays strong throughout the entire album. On Give Up The Ghost, Brandi’s vocals are more raw and real, and the yodel of her voice is more pronounced and peppered throughout. Overall, this album is a solid one, and Brandi has proven to be quite the talented musician; she is certainly building something more and more beautiful on that foundation she laid with her previous two albums. This time around, she distances herself from those that she could be so directly to in the past (namely, the Indigo Girls); showing growth and attention to a nuanced detail that really signals that she is coming into her own. With this distancing, she highlights her own strength and individuality as an artist, and the result is a wonderful album that should definitely win her many, many new fans; and die hard fans of her previous work should certainly be more than pleased with this direction and growth. Standout Tracks: That Year, Dying Day, Before It Breaks, If There Was No You.

18: Westlife – Where We Are
As a long time fan of Westlife, all I can say, is that if this album doesn’t make you a fan, then you probably never will be. However, for those of us that love beautiful songs about love, I can definitely say that these boys have done it again. Following what was (in my opinion) their best album, Back Home (well, other than their Greatest Hits Vol. 1), I had high hopes for another near-flawless Westlife album. However, worry set in when it was announced that the first single would be a cover of Daughtry’s What About Now (which is the ONLY reason that this album didn’t place higher, and receives four stars from me). While it is a great cover (probably better than the original, which isn’t surprising seeing as the do covers VERY well), their cover of the song, the inclusion of it on this album, and especially the decision to make it the lead off single from the album, are all just extremely unnecessary in my opinion. Westlife has relied on covers so much in the past, and I rarely understand why after listening to the rest of the album. The same holds true with Where We Are; after listening to the rest of the album, it is clear that it stands firmly on its own as a solid album, full of great songs (most, if not all, soaring over What About Now in their quality). Basically, the only thing left to say here, is what’s been said already; it’s a great album of love songs, and if you are a fan of Westlife, you certainly know what to expect, and you will NOT be disappointed. Even working with the predictable Ryan Tedder doesn’t ruin the Westlife formula, and that’s really saying something right there; if it works, it just works. Standout Tracks: Sound of a Broken Heart, How to Break a Heart, Leaving, The Difference, No More Heroes.

19: Angel Taylor – Love Travels
The first time I heard Angel Taylor’s Chai Tea Latte, I was blown away. This song is perfect. The juxtaposition of saccharine sweet lyrics (chock full of coffee and personality themed double entendres) with an incredibly beautiful melody and achingly tender vocals had me buckling after one listen. After falling for that song, I was clamoring for more material from Angel, and when she subsequently released Love Travels shortly after, I was not disappointed. The rest of the album is full of her piano driven pop that is just a pleasure from the beginning through to the end (with her strongest tracks opening and closing the album; smart move on her part). My only complaint, is that there are moments where she bears a very strong similarity to one of my favorite female singer-song writers, Sara Bareilles, and that striking similarity (especially the track Not Even Human, which is undoubtedly, one of Taylor’s best) takes something just a little something away from her originality. However, that being said, if you love Sara Bareilles, you will probably then love Angel Taylor as well; so really, it’s a win/win if you think about it. Overall, Love Travels is a beautifully orchestrated piano-pop album, filled to the brim with delightful melodies about love and longing. Standout Tracks: Chai Tea Latte, Not Even Human, Maple Tree, Lightning Strikes.

20: Eulogies – Here Anonymous
This album came out of complete left field for me. I first heard of the Eulogies back in August, when I saw the super cute video for the great first single Two Can Play from their sophomore album Here Anonymous (which is actually a sweet duet featuring Nikki Monniger of the Silversun Pickups). After I fell in love with that delightful song, I wanted to hear more, and I am glad I did; Here Anonymous is a fabulous alternative rock album, driven by sweet melodies, slick arrangements, and delightful vocals. They really remind me a lot of Peter Bjorn and John, with the added sweetness and delight of bands like The Weepies and She & Him, in the way that they layer each track, and how they weave in such catchy choruses to carry almost every song on the album. This album was a great random find for me in 2009, and I’m surprised I’m not seeing it on more year end lists; this band deserves a lot more attention, especially when you consider the overall greatness of Here Anonymous. Standout Tracks: Two Can Play, Eyes On The Prize, Day To Day, How To Be Alone.

the 31 best of 2009: 21-25

21: Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
This album was probably one of my biggest surprises in 2009; considering that I had never even heard of Biffy Clyro before the midpoint of the year. I love it when I stumble onto new bands, and when I first heard The Captain, I knew I had stumbled onto a great one (a find that I happily bestow credit to BBC Radio 1!). Perhaps my favorite thing about Biffy Clyro is the complexity of their melodies and song arrangements. They do the “typical” rock and roll thing, but they craft their songs in such a way that you never know which way it is going to go; there are so many intricate elements in the layering of instruments, and the arrangement can often turn on a dime (they continually utilize unique time signatures that can change within a song). Not only do I love the way in which they make music, but the lead singer’s voice and especially his accent are both down right beautiful. On Only Revolutions, Biffy Clyro have made many songs that are clearly built with a careful attention to detail that is nothing short of impressive; I can’t even imagine how difficult some of these songs must be for them to play. The result is an album that utilizes essential elements of guitar-driven rock and roll, and twists them into something unexpected, nuanced, and extremely enjoyable. Standout Tracks: God & Satan, Mountains, The Captain, That Golden Rule.

22: Patrick Wolf – The Bachelor
While I did enjoy several songs from his previous album, The Magic Position, for some reason, it never really resonated with me on as deep a level as The Bachelor did this year (this is a major theme in my life for some reason). However, I never forgot about Patrick, because of his seemingly endless attention to detail and innovation with both his music, as well as his entire persona; there is something about him that I completely respect, because of the way this is reflected in his seemingly care free attitude. He is truly an artist that pays attention to every inch of his music, and broadcasts his personality both in his sound, as well as his appearance. Though he may be avant-garde in nearly every aspect of his style, I find that on The Bachelor, he has also made himself accessible; this album is chock full of extremely well orchestrated pop songs that forcefully push the boundary of pop music today. Patrick captured my attention fully with this album, and I love the unexpected elements peppered throughout the record; such as the brilliant (albeit sometimes creepy) use of Tilda Swinton narrating on several tracks. Overall, he has crafted an almost fairytale-like album, filled with twisting, popping, and dancing narrative-driven music; all of which beg to be devoured and savored to their last drop. Patrick is truly an innovative artist, and The Bachelor is a reflective, and brilliantly innovative album; which you would never know by the badly photoshopped art that serves as the album’s cover. Standout Tracks: Damaris, Hard Times, Blackdown, Thesis, Vulture.

23: Noah and the Whale – The First Days of Spring
Definitely more subdued and stripped down than their first debut, this album steers clear of the uber catchy pop sensibility of tracks like 5 Years Time, and instead, focuses clearly on well developed folk. The result, is some of the most beautiful songwriting to be put to music in 2009. Specifically, the track Blue Skies, is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, and it is definitely one of my favorites from 2009 (it came in at #6 on my singles chart for this year). Overall, the album has a very solemn and raw feel to it, and the band really crafts what seems like a soundtrack to a beautiful film about love (which is most likely what they were going for, seeing as they did a film to accompany the album). I must say, that this album was a complete surprise for me, because I wasn’t really able to get into them other than their first single, the aforementioned 5 Years Time, so I am glad that this album really resonated with me. Some of the songs on here are just breathtakingly sweet, delightfully delicate, and utterly beautiful. Standout Tracks: Blue Skies (song starts about 30 seconds into the clip), The First Days of Spring, I Have Nothing, My Door Is Always Open.

24: Alexisonfire – Old Crows/Young Cardinals
While this is definitely the hardest album on this countdown, I have to say that it was the “softer side” of Alexisonfire that initially captured my attention; well, sort of. Last year, my number one album of the year was Bring Me Your Love by Dallas Green’s City and Colour project; and Dallas just happens to be one of the lead singers of Alexisonfire. Because I adore him, and City and Colour so much, I had to check out Alexisonfire’s new album Old Crows/Young Cardinals when it came out in June. What surprised me most, was that, even though it is stylistically very different from City and Colour, I really enjoyed it. To say that post-hardcore is not my kind of music is a drastic understatement, so I was just as surprised as any of you reading this probably are, because not only did I really like this album, but I knew almost instantly that it would be amongst my favorites for this year. This album is consistently well crafted from start to finish. The blaring guitars, banging drums, and very well written lyrics are driven by the emotive and powerful rock and roll that is echoed in the vocal delivery, as well as the musical arrangement. I also like the they show their softer side (and more of Dallas’ City and Colour-like influence) on a couple tracks, like Burial; which is the track that I would credit as making me initially take notice of this album. Burial may have made me piqued my interest, but it was the energetic all out rock and roll of tracks like the amazing Young Cardinals that had me blasting this from my speakers for months, and enjoying the album in its entirety, more and more, with each listen. My love of this album just goes to show, that if you open yourself up to something new, you might end up really liking it; and in the case of Alexisonfire, I most certainly do. Standout Tracks: Young Cardinals, Burial, Old Crows, Midnight Regulations.

25: VV Brown – Traveling Like The Light
To describe this album in three words, I would use the following: tenacious, energetic, and fresh. VV Brown drifted onto my radar when I heard her massive single, Shark In The Water, and I immediately knew I had stumbled onto something major. Once I had a proper listen of her debut, Travelling Like the Light, my suspicion was confirmed; VV Brown is a very talented musician. If I could compare her musical style to anything, I would say that she is probably best described as a mash up of Janelle Monae and the Pipettes; both of which are musical acts that I truly adore. VV’s take on pop, using big band elements, fresh beats, and her oh so beautiful voice is certainly a wonderful addition to the music I fell in love with in 2009; and it is yet another reminder of just how much amazing music comes from Britain. VV does share a lot in common with the aforementioned Monae, not only in appearance, but in her freshness, as well as her way of using simple, tried and true elements in her music. One thing is certain, however, both ladies are talented in their own right, and there is more than enough room for both of them on my ipod. Standout Tracks: Back In Time, Shark in the Water, Game Over, Everybody.

the 31 best of 2009: 26-31

UPDATE: Please notice that I added a link to at least one song by each artist, so you can listen to that song on youtube. Enjoy!

26: Matthew Barber – Ghost Notes
Matthew’s stripped down, beautiful acoustic folk-rock really took me be surprise; when I stumbled on his song, Easily Bruised, I really wasn’t expecting to find an entire album that was so equally wonderful. Vocally, Matthew bears some similarities to Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen, yet he crafts his own tender precision with each song on Ghost Notes. Matthew’s musical style blends the delicate elements of folk, peppered with hints of a country twinge throughout the album; which, combined with the beautiful imagery in his lyrics, makes Ghost Notes a truly beautiful collection of songs. I think that it is his stripped down side that highlights his talent best, as some of the slowest, and most delicate songs on the album are above and beyond his best; such as the amazing track, and perhaps my favorite from the album, Where the River Bends. I will say right again, that this album was a pleasant surprise, and a great random find for me this year; I am more than pleased I heard it, as I knew right away it would definitely be amongst my favorites from this year… and as you can see, it certainly is. Standout Tracks: Where The River Bends; Modern Woman; Easily Bruised; Somebody, Sometime.

27: Anouk – For Bitter Or Worse
I first became aware of the Dutch singer Anouk when I heard her amazing song Lost a year or so ago; but it wasn’t until For Bitter or Worse that I can actually say that I truly got into her music. I noticed that she was releasing a new album this year, and after hearing the AMAZING lead single, Three Days in a Row, and the sheer vocal talent that she effortlessly throws about in that song (especially the incredibly crescendo at 3:16 seconds… um, can I get a WOW?), I knew I had to do myself a favor, check out the rest of this album. I’m glad that I did, because overall, For Bitter or Worse is fantastic. Anouk’s strongest attribute is her gritty, impressive voice, but she also weaves beautiful melodies with well written lyrics throughout the album, and together, they make for a truly weathered and very professional sounding rock album. After hearing this album for the first time, the only question I was left with, was WHY on earth is this woman not massively famous in the United States; or even globally, for that matter? Talent is clearly not the issue here (that voice!), and as such, it is certainly a wonder as to why Anouk isn’t more of a household name outside of her home country; she makes music that is nothing short of impressive. Regardless of how famous she ends up being here in the States, I can tell you one thing; with this album, she has definitely made a fan out of me. Standout Tracks: Lay It Down, Three Days in a Row, Woman, For Bitter or Worse.

28: Peter Bjorn and John – Living Thing
I fell in love with Peter Bjorn and John with their amazing album Writer’s Block. After hearing their new single, Nothing to Worry About, I was worried if that love would continue for their new album, because the song actually annoyed me at first. However, once I heard the song a few times, I found the PB and J in it that I loved, and I slowly, but surely came around. With the release of Living Thing, I will admit, that I wasn’t sold at first; missing this time, were the clever whistling and the insanely catchy indie pop that filled Writer’s Block, and in their place, was a noticeably harder, and more experimental edge to each song. However, much like the first single, I slowly came around, and ended up finding the root of Peter Bjorn and John at the heart of the album, and liking it as well. A few of the songs, like It Don’t Move Me, I got into instantly, because they are completely and utterly brilliant; and highlight just how talented Peter Bjorn and John are. It just goes to show, that there are bands out there that are capable of so much, that you never know what piece of their seemingly endless spectrum they are going to show you; and with Living Thing, Peter Bjorn and John have shown that they are definitely one of those bands. Standout Tracks: It Don’t Move Me, Nothing To Worry About, Just The Past, Last Night.

29: Jack Penate – Everything Is New
I’m going to start by saying how glad I am that Jack took a different direction for his aptly titled sophomore album, Everything Is New. While I enjoyed some of the rockabilly style he harnessed on his debut, it is definitely the more pop sensible Jack that I prefer. With this album, Jack focuses his effort on building true orchestrations, and in doing so, crafts elegant and grandiose pop arrangements on practically every track. While it is what many would consider a short album, clocking in at just shy of 34 minutes with 9 tracks, Jack has shown a great attention to detail this time around, and avoids the pitfall of having each song sound incredibly similar to the one that preceded it (as was the case with most of his debut). The elegance and beauty on this album highlights a really talented pop musician; one who has learned how to better utilize his rock and roll roots. For me, the deep (and at times, playful) beats, the horns, and the recorded-in-a-concert-hall feel that practically every track as to it, coupled with Jack’s tender, yet earnest vocals, make this album an enjoyable listening experience throughout. Standout Tracks: Pull My Heart Away, Be The One, Let’s All Die.

30: Noisettes – Wild Young Hearts
When I first heard Don’t Upset the Rhythm, I knew instantly that I had something to look forward to this year from The Noisettes. What followed, was the impressive Wild Young Hearts, an album that highlights not only a talented vocalist, but a band that draws on classic elements and playful melodies. The impressive and beautiful voice of Shingai Shoniwa will have you thinking you are listening to something straight out of 50s or 60s Motown, but the blaring guitars and thumping drum beats will remind you that you are actually hearing something fresh in 2009. This album follows the trend that Amy Winehouse reinvigorated with her 2007 effort, Back to Black, and continues the revitalization of that throwback sound today. What I loved most about this album, was the familiarity that permeated many of the tracks; like how parts of Never Forget You have a musical similarity to the theme song to Laverne and Shirley. While I fell instantly for the lead single, and quickly hopped on board with continued love for the album upon its release, I would definitely have to say that this is one of those albums that I should have spent a little more time with this year. Standout Tracks: Don’t Upset the Rhythm, Atticus, Never Forget You.

31: Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted
Starting off with the massive single, My Life Would Suck Without You, Kelly’s fourth album starts strong, and offers a much more radio-friendly album than her previous effort. Kelly’s voice is better than ever, and she soars in and out of rock-heavy break up anthems, and reigns it in for the tender ballads. Overall, the Kelly Clarkson that I fell for with Breakaway is back, and it is almost like the lackluster album between these two albums never happened. Kelly rightfully claimed a lot of chart success this year, and given the number of strong single-ready tracks left on All I Ever Wanted, I suspect that she will keep going strong in 2010 with the momentum off of this album. My only negative critique of this album concerns the tracks that fill the middle of the album, and distract away from the clearly superior, clearly single-worthy tracks. While these tracks can certainly be blamed for dragging Kelly down on my favorites list this year, I’m just glad that the chart-dominating Kelly Clarkson is back. Standout Tracks: Don’t Let Me Stop You (THIS MUST BE A SINGLE!), My Life Would Suck Without You, Ready, I Do Not Hook Up.

songs that sample and desecrate the original in the process

There are a ton of songs out there that use samples from other, amazing songs that came before them. No song is safe from being sampled, and often times, the song that it ends up in completely desecrates the original song. There are some samples that I will admittedly enjoy, but there are those that I hear, and I completely cringe, because the song they are sampling is brilliant, and their song is anything but. Worst of all to me, is that many times, the sampled song will be much more obscure, and most people will just think that the brilliance of the sample lies with the artist who crafted the “new” song.

Here are just a few of the songs that I’ve heard recently, that sample amazing songs to make them more popular, and in doing so, completely tarnish the original song:

Jason DeRulo – Whatcha Say (Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek) (horrible mention: The Game – What You Say)
Kid Cudi – Make Her Say (Lady GaGa’s Poker Face)
Tinchy Stryder – You’re Not Alone (Olive’s You’re Not Alone)

Specifically, the most egregious of offenses to me, especially lately, is Jason DeRulo’s catapulting to fame off of the superior talent of Imogen Heap. Her amazing Hide and Seek didn’t come anywhere near the top 10, even though it should have, and this idiot’s song that completely rips off her talent is sitting pretty, making it seem as if he has even a shred of talent; when clearly, it lies with Imogen. Overall, I know that this is a common practice in hip hop, and I know that it won’t be ending any time soon, but as is the case with the aforementioned tracks, I can’t stand them, and I won’t be getting used to the idea of these rip offs dominating the airways anytime soon.

what’s going on with me

I am finishing up the semester, and thank goodness; doing 3 classes in a mini-mester is ridiculous. Nope, it’s beyond ridiculous. All in all, I don’t ever want to do that again, but I am glad to have it (almost all of the way) behind me.

That being said, I appreciate your patience (if you are still reading) in waiting for my top 31 CDs of 2009 blogstravaganza. I promise it’s coming, and I am almost ready to unleash lots of music goodness on you; I am just putting the final touches on the order of the list. Stay tuned! Sorry for all of the run around; things have been crazy in my life!

the best songs/singles of 2009

Since I rarely like to follow convention, I am NOT sticking to the prescribed definition of a single for this list; after all, some artists resist releasing their best songs as singles, while others know what’s good for them.

Here are my top 75 songs/singles of 2009:
1) Will Young – Hopes and Fears
2) The Saturdays – Here Standing
3) RichGirl – He Ain’t Wit Me Now (Tho)
4) Marina and the Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot
5) 30 Seconds to Mars – Kings and Queens
6) Noah and the Whale – Blue Skies
7) Antony and the Johnsons – Another World
8] Lady GaGa – Bad Romance
9) Madonna – Celebration
10) Passion Pit – Sleepyhead

11) Erik Hassle – Isn’t It Obvious
12) Silversun Pickups – There’s No Secrets This Year
13) Kelly Clarkson – Don’t Let Me Stop You
14) Angel Taylor – Chai Tea Latte
15) Katharine McPhee – Say Goodbye
16) A Camp – Bear On the Beach
17) Chase & Status – End Credits
18) Miike Snow – Animal
19) Great Northern – Story
20) The Gossip – Pop Goes The World

21) White Lies – Death
22) Amerie – Heard ‘Em All
23) Nick Lachey – All In My Head
24) Mariah Carey – Obsessed
25) Owl City – Hot Air Balloon
26) Marmaduke Duke – Rubber Lover
27) The Low Anthem – Charlie Darwin
28) JLS – Everybody’s In Love
29) Alesha Dixon – Breathe Slow
30) Death Cab For Cutie – Mirror Speaks

31) The Swell Season – In These Arms
32) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll
33) Mat Kearney – Closer To Love
34) Band of Skulls – I Know What I Am
35) The Sounds – No One Sleeps When I’m Awake
36) Little Boots – New In Town
37) LaRoux – Bulletproof
38) Booty Luv – Say It
39) Alphabeat – The Spell
40) Ke$ha – Tik Tok

41) Bat For Lashes – Daniel
42) Glasvegas – Geraldine
43) Hellogoodbye – When We First Met
44) Peter Bjorn and John – It Don’t Move Me
45) Mew – Beach
46) A Fine Frenzy – Bird of the Summer
47) Alexisonfire – Young Cardinals
48) Florence and the Machine – Bird Song
49) Bon Iver – Blood Bank
50) Britney – 3

51) Metric – Gimme Sympathy
52) Elizabeth and the Catapult – Apathy
53) Matthew Barber – Easily Bruised
54) Frankmusik – Confusion Girl
55) Lily Allen – The Fear
56) Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
57) Anouk – Lay It Down
58) Eulogies – Two Can Play
59) Weezer – (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
60) Mayer Hawthorne – Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out

61) Noisettes – Don’t Upset the Rhythm
62) VV Brown – Shark In The Water
63) Parachute – She Is Love
64) Mika – We Are Golden
65) St. Vincent – Actor Out of Work
66) Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
67) Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson – Relator
68) Cascada – Evacuate the Dancefloor
69) Lovemakers – Love Is Dead
70) Robbie Williams – Bodies

71) Nelly Furtado – Manos Al Aire
72) The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
73) Alexandra Burke – Bad Boys
74) Adam Lambert – Time For Miracles
75) Imogen Heap – First Train Home

Well, that was quite lovely, now wasn’t it? Consider this the blueprint for a pretty kick ass play list; approved by me.

where’s the countdown!?

Hold yer horses!!

The year end countdown of my favorite albums of 2009 is on its way; I just have to get in gear to take on this blogging extravaganza. I am finishing up my classes this week (thank goodness), and I hope to get going shortly.

This year, I am going to do something a bit different, however. I am going to group albums together, and do one post about 5 at a time; with the exception of the top ten. Each of those kids will get their own post. Now, I will probably run into the new year with these, so don’t get your knickers in a twist if you don’t know my number one album when the clock strikes twelve on new year’s eve. I am also toying with doing a “best songs/singles of 2009” post as well, but it’d probably be best to wait and see how that one materializes.

With that being said, I look forward to doing the countdown again this year, because there have been some AMAZING albums out this year. As always, I certainly didn’t hear all of them, but I did manage to hear a bunch; and out of that bunch, I can pretty clearly identify my favorite 31. I hope you enjoy the countdown as much as I do… see you soon!

5SF: november 20

Thank goodness it’s Friday; it means the weekend is almost here, and it also means that new music is coming your way via the 5SF! Today, there is a little bit of a celebration of the letter A; seeing as all of the songs featured today, are by artists whose names start with A (well, at least in some part). The A game was not intentional on my part, but hey, I’ll run with it; sometimes having an angle makes things more exciting. Let’s get down to business, shall we?

Amerie – Heard ‘Em All
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1120_amerie-heardemall.mp3]
I’ll admit I wasn’t a fan of Amerie at first. I initially found 1 Thing slightly off-putting because of the intensity, and the way she basically screamed the song at you. Well, a few years later, I heard the brilliant Take Control (which was on her last record, that apparently, wasn’t released in the US), which gave me new respect for Amerie; which translated into me even beginning to enjoy the (actually quite amazing) 1 Thing. Naturally, when I noticed that Amerie had released her new album In Love and War earlier this month (and especially after hearing this banging lead single) I had to check it out. There are several great tracks on it, and I have been playing this one in particular on repeat. Amerie’s music has a feel to it that lets you know it’s her right off the bat, and songs like this make me want to get out of my seat and dance around. The layered big band instruments and booming bass make this a track that is just begging to fill dance floors. The energy in this track is high, and with this new single, Amerie has come back to the States stronger than ever.

Alexandra Burke – Bad Boys
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1120_alexandraburke-badboys.mp3]
The first time I heard this song was a little over a month ago, and initially, while I did like it, I wasn’t blown away by it. However, after several subsequent listens, it has grown on me, and I have been enjoying this guilty pleasure more and more with each spin. This is one of those songs that would fit perfectly on US pop radio, but because it is a UK artist, the chances of that happening are ever so slim. However, I read that Alexandra (who won X-Factor last year, the year after Leona Lewis; one Brit who famously did make it to the top of the US pop charts) is actively working with several big names in the US music industry, in order to get her more exposure on this side of the pond. Only time will tell, but having Flo-Rida in the song certainly bodes well for her potentially topping charts in the states at some point in the near future (not that Flo-Rida is in any way a draw to this song for me whatsoever).

Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment
audio removed
Alright, ladies and gents, here is the first single from American Idol runner up, Adam Lambert’s debut album of the same name (which is out next Tuesday). While I do admit that I was skeptical at first (seems to be a theme today) of this track, I realized that for me, it was in large part due to the hype surrounding Adam’s impending debut. I was a major fan of him on the show, mainly, because love him or hate him, there is absolutely no denying that this guy has some major singing talent. However, the pressure that winning or coming in second on AI puts on that contestant’s first release after the show is staggering; and given history, unfortunately equally disappointing. There have been very few American Idol alums that have truly delivered for me, and as such, I was nervous about what Adam would do with his debut. After giving this track enough of a chance to allow the stink of over-hype to wear off, I will say that I am definitely more optimistic about Adam’s debut album; the track is a real grower, and really highlights his insane singing voice. We’ll have to see if the rest of the album delivers, but for now, I’m definitely more excited to see what he has in store for us on Tuesday.

Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1120_ladyantebellum-needyounow.mp3]
I’ll admit, I don’t really like posting “big hits”; especially if they are in the top of the iTunes/Billboard charts. I enjoy focusing these 5SFs on stuff that people may not have heard before, or stuff that you might miss because its brilliance was (or would probably go on to be) vastly overlooked. There are notable exceptions (ahem, Lady GaGa’s Bad Romance last week), but for the most part, posting what’s burning up the charts (and the radio) isn’t the central point of these 5SFs. This may seem like a tangent, but I felt like I needed to clarify, because this is another notable exception; a song that I discovered because it was the top of the iTunes singles chart. I have heard of Lady Antebellum, but never really heard any of their music; mostly because I am not what I would consider a huge fan of country music. However, after seeing this song soar to the top of the singles chart, I had to least give it a listen, and least hear what it was about this track that made so many people want to buy it. After watching the video (ahem… the lead male singer is HOT), I instantly heard why it would jump to the top of that singles chart; this song is incredibly beautiful, the lyrics are eloquent, and the arrangement is masterfully crafted. I love the sweet and tender elements of this song, and I am glad that I gave it a listen; especially because of the fact that it’s unlikely I would have heard it otherwise. Sometimes, you find something at the top of the charts that you haven’t heard, and sometimes, it turns out to be wonderful; this is definitely one of those times.

David Gray feat. Annie Lennox – Full Steam
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1120_davidgray-fullsteam.mp3]
I found out about this collaboration from my friend Gregor, when he posted a video for the song on his facebook page. I actually downloaded the new David Gray CD, when it came out a while back, but because it wasn’t really meshing with me for whatever reason, I never got all of the way through it. It just so happens, that this is the last song on the CD, so I never heard it before seeing his post. Well, I’m glad that I gave it another listen, because Gregor introduced me to a truly beautiful collaboration by two extremely talented artists. I have been a fan of Annie Lennox for as long as I can remember, so seeing her name attached, only piqued my interest in the song that much more. I love the juxtaposition of their two very different vocals, and the inherent “David Gray” nature of the song (the something about all of his music that makes it almost unmistakably him) suits the pairing wonderfully. Thanks for pointing out this amazing gem of a song, Gregor!

So, there’s another set of songs for you to digest this week. Be sure to not only let me know what you thought (comments are love, people!), but also what you are listening to, and any suggestions for future 5SFs! Have a great weekend!

5SF: november 13

First up today, let’s take a look at a truly inspiring story from what I can only describe as a true example of what our nation’s youth should aspire to be like. That kid has some courage. I wish there were more like him; maybe someday he will be the majority, and we can all share in equal civil rights in this country. Here’s hoping! Thanks Will! You rock!

Now, I have some AMAZING songs for you today. One of them, I have literally been clamoring FOR WEEKS to get to post about! Without further adieu, here we go!

Will Young – Hopes and Fears
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_willyoung-hopesandfears.mp3]
It’s time for some well placed gushing ladies and gents! This song is completely, utterly, and fantastically amazing. This is the new single from Will’s upcoming release, The Hits, and it is definitely one of his best songs ever; how fitting that it would be recorded for his first greatest hits compilation. Will nearly took the top spot in my best of CD countdown last year, and my love for everything Will Young certainly hasn’t diminished in the slightest. So I guess you can imagine my excitement when I heard that he would be releasing new material this year; even if it was only going to be a little bit of new stuff for a greatest hits compilation. Well, one listen of his new single, and it seems my excitement was well placed. From Will’s consistently beautiful vocals, to the absolutely amazing arrangement, to the clever video (what time would have more Hopes and Fears attached to it than being pregnant?! Brilliant!), this song is the whole package. After the first listen, I knew that I loved this song, and I am more than excited to feature it this week. This song has been on major repeat for me, and I just cannot get enough of it; it is amazing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I certainly do!!

Lady GaGa – Bad Romance
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_ladygaga-badromance.mp3]
I was torn about posting a Lady GaGa song this week (since by now, everyone and their mother is sure to have heard it), but given the video’s release this week, and how good this track is, I couldn’t ignore it. When I started talking about her, it didn’t seem like many people cared, but slowly, everyone seemed to come into the Haus of GaGa. A little over a year later, and she is a bona fide pop sensation that seems to somehow be picking up even MORE steam. As I hinted at above, this week, the internet has been all a flutter because of the release of her AMAZING video for Bad Romance, the new single off of her (not a reissue after all!) new, upcoming album, The Fame Monster. Lady GaGa took me by storm when I first heard Just Dance, and I am glad to see that she is still working her ass off in bringing the true quality goods of pop music to the table. Not only does she nail it with her innovative take on pop, but she kills it with fashion and the video as well (I would personally like to shake Mr. Alexander McQueen’s hand for those ridiculously AMAZING shoes in the video too; dude, you are a genius of fashion. Those shoes at 3:30 make me want to be a lady JUST so I can wear them. Amazing). Lady GaGa is a pop phenomenon, and if you weren’t paying attention by now, I have to ask, “what is wrong with you?”; the Haus of GaGa has certainly set up permanent residence, and pop music is all the better for it.

JLS – Everybody In Love
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_jls-everybodyinlove.mp3]
It should come as no surprise to my regular readers of the 5SF that I love British pop music, and after hearing this song in BBC Radio 1, I was reminded of just why I love it so much. This song is incredibly catchy, and the chorus will be stuck in your head for hours after hearing it. I only heard of JLS a few weeks ago; apparently, I missed out on their first single, Beat Again, when it was released a few months back. However, with the release of this new single (which is an official UK number one!) that coincided with the release of their self-titled debut last week, it seems that I couldn’t ignore them any longer. While the jury is still out on the rest of the album, this song is getting constant play on my ipod. This song reminds me A LOT of the great pop ballad-type anthems made popular by the Backstreet Boys back in their hay-day (I’m thinking of perhaps their biggest song, I Want It That Way). JLS may have come in second on last year’s X-Factor, but by the sound of things, they are doing quite well for themselves post-X-factor in 2009.

Biffy Clyro – The Captain
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_biffyclyro-thecaptain.mp3]
This has been a good year for finding rock bands from the UK (Band of Skulls, Glasvegas and, White Lies to name a few). When I first heard this song, I thought it was Snow Patrol, because the lead singer’s vocals in this song have a very similar sound to the lead singer of Snow Patrol. To my surprise, it was actually Biffy Clyro (who’s lead singer is Scottish), who I have heard of, but I had actually never heard anything by before. My interest was peaked, because I have had some experience with Biffy Clyro, because the lead singer is a part of a side project called Marmaduke Duke; whom I posted about in a previous 5SF back in April, after falling in love with their AMAZING single Rubber Lover. While I unfortunately didn’t fall for Marmaduke Duke’s album as much as I did for Rubber Lover, I have found a new found interest in Biffy Clyro with this song, and subsequently, their new release Only Revolutions (which is quite good throughout!). This is a great, very catchy single, and I am glad that it got me into a band that I doubt I would have ever paid attention to, had it not been for this great song.

The Swell Season – Paper Cup
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_theswellseason-papercup.mp3]
To say that I was excited for the release of the new album by The Swell Season would be quite an understatement. However, and somewhat unfortunately, the hype must have gotten to me, because I have had a difficult time really getting into it since it was released a few weeks ago. That being said, this song was an instant stand out, mostly because of the beautiful arrangement, and the intricacy with which they weave the melody throughout the chorus. The gentle guitar picking, and the beautiful deep bass, all overlain with the distorted keyboard, comes together to create something truly gorgeous. Add to that the sweet and sensitive vocals of Glen Handsard, and what’s not to love? Nothing, I tell you. This is definitely one of the best tracks off their new album; and perhaps shining some attention on it this week will motivate me to keep trying to get into the rest of Strict Joy (which is good, but I think I hyped it up so high that there was no way I wouldn’t be let down at least a little).

Well, there’s your 5 song Friday for this week; what did you think? As always, let me know not only what you thought of this week’s selection, but also what you are listening to. If there is something that I am missing out on that is a must hear, please, do share!

5SF: november 6

Making a triumphant return to its regularly scheduled day, the 5 Song Friday is back with some great new music for you this week. Let’s just dive right in, shall we?

Chase & Status – End Credits
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_116_chaseandstatus-endcredits.mp3]
Holy mother of drum & bass, Batman!! Seriously, if you are a fan of drum & bass, this may be your new anthem. The track is immensely beautiful in its execution. I haven’t followed drum & bass since I was in high school, so I was quite surprised when I heard a drum & bass song on the radio; although it was BBC Radio 1, which kind of makes sense (they play a lot of stuff that “mainstream radio” wouldn’t touch). Since hearing it, I have been clamoring to get this track so I could feature it on a 5SF; this song is HUGE. I especially love the elegant melody, beautiful vocal, sharp snare, and full bass; you really need to do yourself a favor and listen to it with a really good set of speakers, because the bass really commands the true grandness of this song. I had personally never heard of Chase & Status before hearing this, but I am all ears now; especially if they keep making music this brilliant.

The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_116_theavettbrothers-iandloveandyou.mp3]
I heard some buzz about these guys, and after noticing they were fellow beard enthusiasts, I looked (and listened) a little more at what they had to offer. After hearing this track, I have to say that I am glad that I gave their music a listen. This song is an excellent example of how simplicity and beauty in the arrangement, coupled with strong imagery and beautiful vocals can make for truly amazing music. I especially love the sincerity of the line that is the namesake of the song, Three words that became hard to say/I and love and you, and the way in which the singer delivers it. If for no other reason than that line, I LOVE this song; sometimes, an attention to detail is all it takes for me to fall head over heels with something, and that has certainly happened in this case.

Matt Alber – Walk With Me
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_116_mattalber-walkwithme.mp3]
What can I say; I’m a sucker for a beautiful man with a beautiful voice. I have posted a few songs from Matt Alber’s debut, Monarch, in the past, and just this week, I stumbled back onto his album, and I couldn’t resist posting about him again. The tonal quality of his voice literally makes me weak in the knees, and the delicate way in which he weaves in and out of those harmonies is magical. I have my hopes that there will be a new album from Matt very soon. As I said in the past, his debut was kind of a conflict for me, because there are some AMAZING songs on it, but there are more than a couple filler tracks that really drug it down. That being said, when you go back and listen to the stand out numbers, those tracks show a level of talent and an beacon of extremely great promise from this out gay artist. When he nails it, he does so beautifully and effortlessly; and boy does he nail it with this song.

Melee – Can’t Hold On
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/melee-cantholdon.mp3]
Here’s another blast from the not-so-distant past; Melee’s amazing debut album, Devils and Angels made my top ten of 2007, coming in firmly at number 7. I recently stumbled back onto this great track from their debut while my ipod was on shuffle, which got me wondering what these guys are up to these days. A little searching on the internets, and I was able to track down their twitter; which seems to be about the only place they are currently active on the net (at least they are still doing stuff, and haven’t unceremoniously broken up/moved on!!). This song still maintains the freshness it did the first time I heard it, and it was nice to pay some attention to these fellas again; it has been too long, and I need some more Melee in my life. Here’s hoping a new album comes our way in the not-so-distant future. In the meantime, soak up the amazingness of this gem.

The Refreshments – Banditos
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_116_therefreshments-banditos.mp3]
This is the song that almost got away. You may recall, that quite some time ago, I had a revival of 90’s songs that I loved back in the day, and I never managed to rediscover all of them due to how much time had passed, and the fading of distant memories. I remember loving this song imensely when I was in high school, and I could vaguely remember that there was a pin up girl on the cover, but I could never remember the name or any of the words of the song. That drove me crazy. I had all but given up finding this elusive track, when this past week, James and I were out to dinner, and it started playing in the restaurant. I couldn’t believe it! Suddenly, it all came rushing back, and I downloaded this great song as soon as I got home. I couldn’t resist posting this today, because re-finding this song was just too perfect not to share. I just love how random life can be sometimes!

What did you think of the Friday five this week? Anything you want to see featured here that you are listening to, but I seem to keep missing? Please, let me know! Have a great weekend, and keep the music playing!!