Teen Daze: Saviour

Another one of those indie-rock band who's songs all sounds like summer.

Temple of the Dog: Hunger Strike

Temple of the Dog was everything that was American rock. In tribute to Andrew Wood (deceased) of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden sung lead and backing (having contributed the idea), backed by Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar, Jeff Ament on bass, Mike Mcready on lead guitar, Matt Cameron on drums and Eddie Vedder providing lead and backing vocals, nothing existed as close to perfection. Nothing. 
The band released its only album, the self-titled Temple of the Dog, in April 1991 through A&M Records. Although earning praise from music critics at the time of its release, the album was not widely recognized until 1992, when Vedder, Ament, Gossard and McCready had their breakthrough with Pearl Jam.

Cab Calloway: Minnie The Moocher

Blues Brothers featured this, but even they couldn't do this song justice.

Three Dog Night: Never Been To Spain

Another one of my mother's favorites, Three Dog Night is a classic of Southern  Rock, and have been in existence since 1968, to the present time (which is fairly impressive). Based in Los Angeles, they're best known for their years of 1968 to 1975, topping the Billboard lists with 21 top hits. 

Wilco: Radio Cure

Wilco is another one of my favorite bands, but this time from Chicago. I love anything they put out, though this song has meaning to me, more than any other. I'm partial to it, simply for reasons that stretch beyond 

Lindsey Stirling: Crystallize

My. two. favorite. things. in. one. song. Is there anything this gal can't do? Play the violin to dubstep and dance in the FREEZING COLD. + 5 points, Gryffindor.

William Fitzsimmons: Passion Play

Passion Play speaks for itself, but I'll blurb the author. William is a singer-songwriter working out of Illinois, with deep roots in James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Dylan, and Joni Mitchell, as evidenced in his laid-back styling and acoustic background.

Calexico and Iron & Wine (cover of the Rolling Stones): Wild Horses

Calexico has the best version of this song. On vinyl. Oh. My. Gosh. (Iron & Wine is here, too.)

Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi is one of the few artists I look at their videos. His visual accomplishments are on par with his musical accomplishments. The lyrics to this song are simple, but still impressive. Overall, Kid Cudi stands as one of my favorite artists from the hip-hop genre.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Snow (Hey Oh)

Mmmmmmmmm, I like Red Hot Chili Peppers. On eggs, with coffee, or just in my ears :]

Nirvana: Heart Shaped Box

Grunge rock, acid wash jeans, etc. etc. etc.

Laura Marling: Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)

Laura Marling, at least for me, is associated with good memories of getting better, of healing and of rehabilitation. Those feelings come back anytime I hear Laura's voice. I like to think she channels England's magic through her fingers and her voice. 

Baths: Aminals

Aminals is a fun song with a lot of different elements comprising the song!

The Swell Season: Sleeping

I used to have issues sleeping (still do) and I dealt with them by making a sleep playlist of music. The Swell Season was give or take about half of it. So relaxing.

Pandit: Pack Your Bags

I'm not going to lie; I have a category of music in my head that's a catch-all. This particular song falls into it. I like it, it's memorable, but for the life of me, it's in that category. I heard it on a TV show earlier and had to Shazam it. Sure enough, it was in my computer, and has been since February of 2011. Enjoy!

A Perfect Circle: The Outsider

Maynard said in a acoustic session explaining this song "I had a friend who had some chemical problems. I ended up meeting his brother and his brother was so out of touch with what he was going through…so this song is kinda sung through the perspective of the brother who doesn't understand what his loved one is going through and in a way has no compassion for what he is going through… this song is called the outsider because that brother is standing on the outside of a understanding and doesn't get it. This song is from the perspective of someone who is ignorant and doesn't have the time or patience to understand what their loved one is going through."

"What's your rush? Everyone will have his day to die. Medicated drama queen; picture perfect non-belligerence. Narcissistic drama queen craving fame and all its decadence."

Dashboard Confessional: I Light My Own Fires Now

Middle school was filled with Dashboard. I didn't really understand what Dashboard Confessional was until college, and now, if my dashboard could talk...you guys wouldn't be reading this--you'd be listening to my dashboard talk.

Modest Mouse: Float On

Modest Mouse is a super-fun alternative rock band from Issaquah, Washington who have an intriguing sound!

GROUPLOVE: Colours

Grouplove is a LA, CA based indie-pop group who've found something special in spontaneity. Whatever they found, I like it lots.
"You've still got your head"

The Fray: Never Say Never

Automatically joining the mile-high club, these Denver-bound fellows blend melodic rock-pop with rich, sonorous vocals weaving masterful tapestries of art, otherwise known as songs. This one in particular utilizes ample use of the voice of a piano and the sonorous vocals discussed earlier.

"You can never say never."

Foster the People: Pumped Up Kicks

Foster the People hails from Los Angeles, CA and is classified as an indie pop/rock group, with this song being their first hit, debuting in summer 2011, and it caught on quick because of it's quirky catchy tune.


"All the other kids with the pumped up kick ya better run ya better run faster than my bullet."

Phoenix: 1901

"Fall in thought I couldn't tell how to fall out."

Whitley: More Than Life

Summer. Car. Night time. Light on leaves. Opossum. If you guys can make sense of the previous sentence, maybe I was out with you. Whitley seamlessly blends organic acoustic flavors with electronic overtones creating songs with hushed, whimsical tales of love and loss. 

teen suicide: Goblins Cry Too

Goblins cry too, who knew?

The Naked and Famous: Girls Like You

Girls like you are few and far between. Otherwise, there'd be more songs like this ;]

CocoRosie: Promise

I really appreciate anything that's different than what I'm used to. CocoRosie is different, and it's a good sort of different. I included them in a presentation for my French culture class last semester. They're a French group--even though the sisters grew up in the states, they met up again for the first time in years again in Paris. Magic happened, music happened--CocoRosie was made.

Clutchy Hopkins: 4:08

Clutchy always has a fun, smooth feel to it. 4:08 is no exception!

Star Slinger reworked by Cocteau Twins: Elizabeth Fraser

I love anything that Star Slinger mixes. Anything-smoothies, songs, icecream-I like it all from Star Slinger!

Bon Iver: Re: Stacks

Another band that I had a hard time picking a song for, Bon Iver is nothing if not beautiful every time.

Damien Rice: Cannonball

O is by and large the best album I've heard, and the decision of which song was again a struggle. All of them are something else, and should be listened to! Check out the whole album if you've got the time.

Songs: Ohia: Goodnight Lover

Another one of my jealously guarded favorites, Jason Molina's haunting tenor and lyrics soothe any soul. His guitar picking sure doesn't hurt, either. This song seemed appropriate, since it was the first I ever heard from him. I'd listen to it for hours. Actually, I think I got it from a bot that used to be on my Y! Messenger friends-list, as odd as that is. Whoever that was...bot or person, I'm grateful for my exposure.

I'm not really going to lie, this song, by this point, is so memory-filled that Jason's soul-searching tenor does exactly that and I avoid this song specifically to keep from crying.

The Decemberists: The Raincoat Song

The Decemberists are folky (though I hate that word) and refreshing. Their songs are (usually) lyrical and light. They also make good songs to play on the guitar, but that's a different matter. I struggled on which song of theirs to post, but finally decided on The Raincoat Song, one that was previously unfamiliar to me. I'm discovering more music!

The Shape of the Earth: Epilogue

Another band I'm guilty of not hearing another song from, Shape of the Earth, at least in this song is full of passion. I'm glad someone finally posted another video, the one I originally saw was terrifying (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv6kDkIjAto for you brave souls.)

The Beatles: Here Comes the Sun

The Beatles are a favorite of my mother's. This is a favorite of mine. Here Comes the Sun is a light uplifting song, but the Beatles are so influential on my music I can't help but say they're the best of the genre. Indie-rock might be completely different without the Beatles, pop and other genres would also suffer. The Beatles influence on the world of music is too deep to being to analyze. Instead, just let it flow.

Vacationer (Mmoths remix): Trips

Summer in a song.

Death Cab for Cutie: Title and Registration

Death Cab for Cutie reminds me what it is to be young, to be free and to be alive. I am all of these things, but Death Cab takes me back...back to Freedom, to the bridge, to the Autumn breeze...

Balmorhea: A Circumnavigation

A Circumnavigation is another refreshing and crisp band with a rhythmic feel that's mellow and relaxing from the Icelandic post-rock band Balmorhea.

Brand New: Play Crack The Sky

Brand New is a good break-up band. They're a perfect mix of emotions for that specific situation, sad and mad...sometimes in the same song. Play Crack the Sky is one of their sadder songs, and thusly one of my favorites. Call me a pessimist, but I prefer being called a realist. High school was a lot of Brand New...and part of college. I'd moved away from them, until someone got me back into them. I'll never be rid of Brand New, or the need for them--they keep a body down to Earth.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor: The Sad Mafioso...

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is quite different than anything I've posted thus far. They're in a league of their own. Eclectic, soul-stirring renditions of astounding power, GY!BE indeed alters the state of consciousness, playing with heart-strings and opening parts of your brain (some that ought stay closed!) GY!BE should be taken in small doses, as a person's spirit can only take so much moving!

Dry the River: Bible Belt

I'm usually not a fan of videos where the singers are actually on camera, I think the experience should be auditorially and visually separate. These guys are seriously some dirty hipsters, but can they sing! Their music is all refreshingly crisp, clear, and bright; sure to enhance any mood.

Matt & Kim: Red Paint

I really like Matt & Kim...ever since I heard them on that Bacardi commercial a few years ago. A smooth blend of techno, indie-rock and other eclectic elements blend their way into Matt & Kim's repertoire.

The Format: On Your Porch

Veronica Mars (don't judge me) should've lasted longer than it did. This is a song from the show, it's somewhere between melancholy and reminiscent. If you have issues telling between The Format and the new hit group Fun, it's because the singer is the same guy!

Ocean City Defender: The Sporting Life

/Dance. Yes. Ocean City Defender is Ontario's-own K. Preston Merkley, who's use of electronics is lush and full and creates something wholesome.

Modern English: I Melt With You

Why did I have to be a month overdue? December 1989 would have made me feel a lot better about my generation. Songs like this are wonderful and never get old (not even I'm Gonna Be-The Proclaimers!)

Coldplay: Don't Panic.

I first heard this song on the movie Garden State (one of my favorite movies you've probably never seen) and fell in love with it. No, seriously. Garden State has to be one of the most under-hyped, under-watched and under-appreciated movies. This song, "Don't Panic" makes me want to do exactly that and not panic.

Jess Delgado (cover of Ryan Adams): My Sweet Carolina

I've had my eye on this gal for years. She's got a voice that's rich and sweet...this song though is something else. The lyrics are haunting, even with her voice and the nice picking.

"What compels me to go?
Oh my sweet disposition; may you one day carry me home."

Daddy Yankee: Impacto

I have no idea what he's saying...but oh does it make you move!

D.R. Hooker: Forge Your Own Chains

I love what psychedelic rock does to your brain--I'm almost certain there's chemical reactions that occur. There's just something about it, man.

Guster: Demons

I haven't heard a single other thing that Guster has done, but I'm a fan of anything with bongos in it. Demons (which is a hard word for me to spell...I want to write Deamons) is an intriguing song, suggesting that we are all naught but demons, lying to each other. Perhaps it's for our own humanity and existence, but it's hard to ponder when you're jammin'.

City & Colour: Hello, I'm in Delaware

I first found Dallas Green in Alexisonfire, a Canadian post-metal band. Launching solo, Green launched City & Colour, named after himself--Dallas, a city and Green, a colour. Dallas' voice and guitar can make any bad day seem far away.

Mumford & Sons: White Blank Page

We all have that band...mine's Mumford and Sons. So mainstream, so overplayed...but still so good. This song should be a dirge, or similarly sad. However, your toe can't help but tap.

Sigur Rós: (Untitled 3)

This song relaxes the mind, as well as the body. Sigur Rós has an odd eclectic nature, with Hopelandic lyrics where you make your own song. It's really and exercise of your mind, your subconscious id...what you hear is what you want to hear. This particular song is a good introduction to the group; without words but not without life of its own.

John Mayer (cover of Tom Petty): Free Fallin'

This song is so clean. I may hate John Mayer, and his music and his personal life...but this song is a redeeming quality. Maybe his only but I'm no judge. John Mayer is...relaxing. And mellow. 

Explosions in the Sky: Postcard from 1952

One of my earliest memories was fireworks. Magical doesn't begin to describe what the memory is. Much like this song. Explosions in the Sky is always a good choice for mellow music, light with a hint of the world. Explosions in the Sky is an instrumental post-rock band from Austin, Texas; who, much like my memory of fireworks, are known for their live performances. 

Sundrenched: Ice Cream Truck

This song makes me want to dance down streets like people shouldn't see--the sort of dancing that you do in your house, but only when you're alone. Fast-paced, light and airy...Sundrenched has got it nailed down in Ice Cream Truck.

Introduction

Ever since I was a child, I communicated best through music. Don't ask me why, I don't know. I have a couple friends that are able to associate certain artists with this, threading them throughout their entire lives, but I'm not that way. I find new artists, new songs and new beats at every turn. It's a way of coping with life, or adjusting. Change is the only constant, after all. Nuances in songs catch my ear, pick my brain; situations or settings quicken different lines or phrases to me. This blog is a way to share the gems that I find. Dance a little; smile a lot.

Sidenote: I own the copyright to none of the following links/sites, nor most of the information. It is likely that neither do they; this blog exists to raise awareness of said artists solely. This blog is no means a ways to make money, but simply to raise awareness of good music. If any writer/artist/legal copywrite holder has an issue with content, contact me directly and I will remedy the situation.