Sun Kil Moon: Carry Me, Ohio

Currently the project of Sacramento, Californian singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek (formerly of Red House Painters), Sun Kil Moon focuses on tributes to deceased boxers (as per the band's name, Moon Sung-Kil). They take such a violent sport (maybe there's more violent, MMA, etc) and turn the subject matter into something hauntingly pleasant. 

Other Lives: For 12

Other Lives is an American indie-rock band hailing from Oklahoma. All five of the current members of Other Lives were part of the original band, Kunek, which was a genre-fusion. The fusion consisted of (at least) indie, ambient, post-rock and folk. The band continues to go forward with that same fusion, which is overall pleasant. 

Jason Collett: Rave on Sad Songs

Jason Collett is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is also part of Broken Social Scene, but explores on his own the importance of titles and lyrics to capture a single moment, borrowing from jazz poetry. What results is a sort of country music fusion that I can dig.

James Taylor: Carolina in my Mind

James Taylor and I go way back. My mother always loved his music, and therefore I was exposed to it most likely from the within the womb and then on.

James Taylor is an American singer-songwriter, characterized by his use of sensitive and gentle lyrics and guitar. The time period, the early 1970's, was flooded with artists similar to him--John Denver, Carly Simon and Jackson Browne, to name a few. However, his music is different than each of these listed because of his perspective.

Woodkid: Iron

Woodkid was previously a video director for Katy Perry, Moby, Lana Del Rey and Yelle. His career took a turn for the better (in my opinion) when Richie Havens gave him a banjo. Combining a clear voice with spectacular videos (I usually don't even watch them) this guy has a lot of things going for him. Mellow to the core, his songs will bring peace to almost any day.

Seether: Broken (Acoustic)

Seether is an American Post-grunge band that I first heard when I was in middle school. This being a trying time in anyone's life, I latched onto it (and several other bands). This song (which was the original and less-famous version) without Amy Lee is a completely different song. I feel that the mood of the song, the rawness of it, is better captured in the acoustic guitar and the lack of anything behind Shaun Morgan's voice other than passion and pain.

Tiger Lou: Like you Said

I'm in a melancholy mood today. For no real reason.

Tiger Lou is a Swedish folk project, belonging to Rasmus Kellerman. "Like you said" is a song based around feelings and emotion, while maintaining simplicity. The lyrics are rather short and simple, while at the same time, leaving nothing out. Your heart does the work of the word unsung.

"Should leave I guess I know I should
Cause it feels just like you said it would."

Schiller: I feel You

Schiller is one of leading electronic artists in Germany. He's literally got an award room the size of my house (I'm sure. I'm still waiting on the reply to my inquiry regarding square footage). My house is pretty much a dance party whenever this song comes on, I don't care who's here. 

"I feel you in everything

in every river that might flow

and every seed you might have sown

I feel you"

Mother Mother: Bit by Bit

Mother Mother is a Canadian indie-rock band that has a unique sound. It's edgy and dissonant, while remaining poppy in sound. 

Serena Ryder: Stompa

Serena Ryder is a Canadian singer-songwriter who was decorated with "Best New Artist" in 2008. Her voice has a tremor akin to a seasoned blues singer. Her lyrics are fairly simple (which don't produce a lot of thought/feeling) but make you dance. 

Wankelmut (remix of Asaf Avidan): One Day

German in origin, Wankelmut has remixed a lot of things electronically. It's weird, but it's an interesting weird. The sounds aren't at all expected and the result is thoroughly intriguing to the ear. 

Mike Landry: Heartbeats

I don't really know a lot about Canadian Mark Landry. Other than this pleasant little blend of indietronica, he's fairly new onto the scene. He utilizes clean vocals, piano, xylophone and various electronic sounds to create this heartbeat. I'd like to see the EKG on it, cause it's pretty chill. 

Bob Seger: Night Moves

The lyrics of Bob Seger will always remain unrivaled in the world of American Classic rock. What makes Seger's lyrics so great to the every man is the content. His word don't have profound meaning, and can be appreciated by a large audience. He sings in this song about a delicious raven-haired beauty, which any(most)one can appreciate. Within the simplicity, though, is the real. His clean voice and guitar are matched with the substance of his songs. It's all clean-cut, bare and there. 

Elliott Smith: 13

New Moon is a post-humously released album, containing previously unreleased tracks and a compilation of B-sides. Elliott Smith was an American singer-songwriter from Nebraska, whose voice is comparable to the thinness of spider-webs, being delicate and thin, yet strong as steel.

He suffered (debatable choice of words) from depression and the bulk of his writing is based around the topic. It would appear that his death was self-inflicted, as he received two stab-wounds to the chest after an argument with his girlfriend, self-inflicted. Near him was a post-it note which read, "I'm so sorry---love, Elliott. God forgive me."

Youth Lagoon: Bobby

Youth Lagoon (Trevor Powers) is a project experimenting with psychological dysphoria, through which Powers attempts to map the paths through his mind with minimalism and hypnotic ambience. He describes what happens as "my mind communicating with me, not the other way around...it can take me to scary places, but I've realized those bizarre thoughts don't have to define me." His work sounds like a blend between the realm of physical and metaphysical, and I like it.

Oasis: Wonderwall

Oasis was a British pop band active from 1991-2009. "Wonderwall" was written by the band's guitarist and chief songwriter, Noel Gallagher (possibly as a love song for his at the time girlfriend). This song receives a constant following, if nothing else, from the fact of it being written as a possible love song. If anyone knows (literally anything, but mostly nothing) about a guitar, they know this song and will readily play it for you at a party or if you're a cute gal.

That aside, it's a wonderful song which a huge audience can appreciate. Noel wrote his heart out, and it comes across as such. 

Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons (Dolly Parton cover): Jolene

So, this happened. Why am I only now finding out about it? This song reveals a different aspect of Laura's voice that's just as wonderful. Dolly's original jealousy is conveyed well throughout the song, and Mumford & Sons lively tunes work well in this cover. 

Dj Schmolli (mashup Maroon 5, Katy Perry, Ellie Golding, Florence+the Machine, Linkin Park, The Wanted): Payphone Lights

This is a smooth mix of so many songs, DJ Schmolli does a really good job here of seamlessly interweaving several popular songs, from Ellie Goulding's "Lights" to Maroon 5's "Payphone", Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night", Florence + the Machine's "Shake it Out", Linkin Park and The Wanted.

Sabbatical.

Sorry, kids. I've been gone, as one person has exclaimed, something around three months. My uncle died and several other small-scale crises has held my attention for this time. However, I haven't neglected you guys, I'm on it now.