Song of the Day 02/14/13: Cloud Cult – Love You All

I know I’m on hiatus but… Happy Valentine’s Day!

Song of the Day 01/31/13: Relient K – Savannah

I was one of those people who didnt like Relient K because of how quickly they appeared in everyone’s vocabulary in 2007 and I wrote them off as “Some emo christian band” without ever even listening to them. Then I met the most wonderful woman in the world and she shared two of their songs with me on some mixes and I fell in love with their album Five Score and Seven Years Ago. For some reason, I never went on and checked out any of their other albums. I just stopped there like “good enough”. I was so wrong! Listening to their 2009 album Forget and Not Slow Down and I am in love! The stand out is definitely “Savannah” at the moment. This song is in my heart. It’s in my soul. It’s in my bones. I can feel every little emotion that’s being exuded and I just want to hole myself up in a cabin and absorb this album for a month.

Speaking of which…

Song of the Day will be going on hiatus for the month of February with only a semi-possibility of returning. To find out more, definitely check out the latest post in my Musical Thoughts category HERE.

Song of the Day 01/30/13: Knife Party – Internet Friends

Quick warning, this song has some filthy language in it. I dont usual mention that unless it shocked me when I first heard it. Now that you’ve been warned… HOW HAS IT TAKEN ME THIS LONG TO GET INTO KNIFE PARTY?? “Now you’re going to die!” This song is brilliant!! Crazy Facebook stalker and some amazing Dubstep. Theirs this part around the 2:17 mark that I refer to as the Nine Inch Nails section and I cannot get over that little part! I could listen to this on repeat all day! I’m posting the original version because its the one I’m most into currently but I’ve heard a couple remixes that are more fast paced and intense and I’m really excited about getting into all of them!

Song of the Day 01/29/13: Rammstein – Klavier

Speaking of the late 90’s and early 00’s, I’m a big fan of Rammstein’s work during that time. Rammstein is tough for me because when I listened to it in the 90’s, there wasnt internet access in the way that there is now(Or at least I didnt have a good enough grasp to use it that way). I just listened to the songs in german and had no idea what was being sung. I still loved it and the voice was simply another instrument. It’s not a big surprise but it turns out they wrote a lot of really disturbing lyrics. I still prefer to listen to them without the lyrics because I like to preserve the songs I love the way I perceive them. Not be disturbed by what they are actually about. That being said, I cant help but look up my favorites from time to time. I always knew this song was about a piano. Thats about it. Turns out its about a guy who is obsessed with a piano player and when he finds out that she plays piano not just for him (not sure if thats literal or a metaphor), he kills her. The songs verses describe him sitting at the piano with her  corpse while her family or the police (not sure which) try to get him to unlock the door. See what I mean? I was once told that the way in which the lyrics are written, almost every Rammstein song has a double or triple meaning and that they are very deep and that its a shame I cant speak german. Not so sure I feel that way. Still, I love the song just as much. It always did have a beautiful and creepy vibe even before I knew it’s subject matter.

Song of the Day 01/28/13: Adema – Trust

Adema comes from one of the most dreaded corners of rock music. Nu-Metal. Now as much as I understand the disgust of this genre due it producing acts like Limp Bizkut and Korn (Wow what’s with the K’s? I never realized that.) it is still apart of my history and everyones history who grew up listening to metal in the later 90’s and early 2000’s. I never listened to a single album after their debut but I can say that Adema’s self-titled album is one of my most listened to albums in 2001. Something about its blend of angst and melody really sold itself to me. It’s weird because Ive never been a fan of Korn(Adema’s obvious influence. Marky Chavez is actually Jonathan Davis’ half brother). Still, you know those albums you’ve listened to a million times in a row so that it doesnt matter how you grow musically and mature, you can still go back and love that album? This is one of those albums for me. So I can’t judge it. For all I know its a terrible album by general standards.However, drowning in the nostalgia of being a freshman in high school, I couldnt tell you. I love it. So if you woke up this morning and thought, I wonder if there’s any great Nu-Metal albums a missed… I’d start here.

Song of the Day 01/27/13: Bastille – Pompeii

Just when I was starting to lose faith in Hype Machine, they come around and totally redeem themselves! Hype Machine is a blog compiler where I go to hunt for new music and I was very disappointed with their user voted year end list last for 2012. I was finding less and less music there I related to. Then in the past week and a half I’ve found 3 songs of the day there. It’s given me some new found hope. The song sounds like Derek Webb’s strange choral samplings from Ctrl added to something by Phoenix.  I’m now excited for Bastille’s new album.

Song of the Day 01/26/13: Bush – Machinehead

I must be in some weird 90’s nostalgia mood. First Silverchair and now Bush. If you grew up in the 90’s, you loved “Machinehead”. Seriously if there is really someone out there who doesnt like this song that grew up in the 90’s (and I mean didnt like it, not, hasnt heard it) I want to know who you are because we need to talk about your mental health. Also I would love what there is about this song that could make it not likable in 1994.

Song of the Day 01/25/13: Karetus – Get Down

I just got off an unexpected 14 hour work shift. I’m exhausted. I should be asleep, but instead I’m listening to and Arnold Schwarzenegger laced Portuguese dubstep song. It’s making me happy. Enough said.

Song of the Day 01/24/13: Silverchair – Faultline

I got a couple requests for this song as a song of the day a few months back, (I think this was the specific track off the album requested…) and to show that I listen to my readers, here you go! The song came on in my car yesterday and I was just like, “This shall go up!” For those of you unfamiliar with Silverchair, think of an australian Nirvana. Cool fact about the album this track comes from? The band members were only 15 at the time of the recording. Imagine recording a double platinum album while you were still in high school?  So if for some reason, you never got a chance to check them out, definitely pick up Frogstomp. It is a truly amazing album.

Song of the Day 01/23/13: Nero – Doomsday

I’ve been wanting to check out Nero ever since they collaborated with Muse, but for some reason it has taken me this long. I finally got a chance to check out their album and was shocked to discover I already knew “Doomsday”. At first I was like, “Where have I heard this before?” Then I remembered that the new trend in video game trailers is to use dubstep and I was like “Borderlands 2!” I havent checked out the rest of the album yet but it seems promising based on “Doomsday”.

Song of the Day 01/22/13: Sebastian Ingrosso and Tommy Trash – Reload

I’be been getting back into a progressive house mood lately. Maybe its this crazy cold thats hit michigan that just makes me want to dance. Tommy Trash is a recent discovery of mine that I’m loving more and more each day. Especially this awesome collaboration with Sebastian Ingrosso. I first heard it mashed-up with a couple other tracks and I was like “Woah! I really like that one part! Who is that?” Tommy Trash.

 

Song of the Day 01/21/13: f y f e – Solace

I dont know much about f y f e. No one does. But he released this amazing new song to Soundcloud with promises of an album releasing this March. All I can say is that I’m thrilled if the rest of it is going to sound like this. It starts off innocently enough and builds slowly but when the chorus finally hooks you in, there is just no escaping its purely crack-like quality. This song is going to be huge!

Song of the Day 01/20/2013: Matt Redman – 10,000 Reasons

We sang this in church today and it was amazing. This is definitely my favorite new worship song discovery of 2012. A great sing-a-long chorus and a powerful meaning. What more can I ask for?

Song of the Day 01/19/13: B’z – Bad Communication

B’z again?!? YES! B’z again! Started getting into a discussion about B’z with my younger brother and he’s only heard their last two albums so I just had to share some of their older best work. Case and point: Bad Communication. This song has everything! Just listen to that harmonica! Imagine sitting around a camp fire with B’z and just having them play Bad Communication for you out in the fields on some huge farm. I’ve talked before about just how much I love Koshi Inaba’s voice and he does NOT disappointed on “Bad Communication”. And once Tak Matsumoto gets started on those finger picking solos with Koshi howling in the background. Instant classic! This band is flipping perfect when they want to be!

Song of the Day 01/18/13: Fleet Foxes – Mykonos

I can’t believe I never put this song up. Definitely one of my favorite Fleet Foxes songs if not the favorite. I love everything about this song. The soft little guitars and drums that start it off. Those harmonizing vocals! And it feels so care-free at times but then the main vocal line has a touch of melancholy that makes me think about my life. And then… “Brother you dont need to turn me away…” CHILLS! And the guitars while he says “Took you down!” Just amazing. I think I’m about to go on a Fleet Foxes kick.

Song of the Day 01/16/13: The Mars Volta – This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed

If you’ve never listened to The Mars Volta, it can be a bit shocking to the ears. However, once you let it get into your head, there is just no escaping its allure. This song perfectly encapsulates the kind of crazy sound I love about the Mars Volta with its constantly changing style and its all over the place vocals. The vocal are I think what maintains its status as the best Mars Volta album. Later albums settle for some more normal vocals(for the Mars Volta, not for any other band) that just never capture the shrieking heights they achieve on this album. A funny story about thie Mars Volta. When I first hung out with my fiance years ago, I asked her what bands she was into. She responded with “The Mars Volta” in a voice that was all, “Dont try to get to know me, you are nothing like me and could never listen to the cool obscure music I’m into”(but in like a sexy way, not a bitchy way). My response was “REALLY??? I LOVE THE MARS VOLTA!” And do you know what she said? She said she didnt believe me! She thought I was making it up to get closer to her. I actually had to pull out my Ipod and show her that I had the band on there to get her to believe me. But it was the first strike as I chiseled away at her iceberg of defense against suiters. And the story has a happy ending!

Song of the Day 01/15/13: Justin Timberlake – Suit and Tie

You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to say this! New Justin Timberlake!! And its glorious! I was a little nervous for the first 40 seconds, then all doubt left my mind! I cannot wait for this album to drop. I’d prefer an album only twice a decade if the artist puts all their heart and soul into it the way JT does.

Song of the Day 01/14/13: Les Miserables – (Spoiler Alert!)

I finally got to see Les Miserables today! I’m a HUGE fan of the musical. I’ve been listening to it for probably 15 years and I’ve seen a stage production as well. The song I originally wanted to feature was “Javert’s Suicide” and then I was like, OH CRAP! SPOILERS! Then I started thinking about it and was like, but I want to share more than one!!! So, I’ll be starting my new section on film and theater sooner than expected! For now, enjoy Javert’s Suicide while I construct an analysis of both the film and my love for the musical in general!

Song of the Day 01/14/13: Alison Kraus – Down In the River to Pray

My family was listening to the O Brother, Where art Thou? soundtrack today. I forgot how amazing all the music is in that movie. It felt only natural to share one of my favorites off of the album. A great example of the voice as an instrument. There are no other instruments in the song and yet it wants for nothing.

Song of the Day 01/12/13: Steven Curtis Chapman – You Are Being Loved

Somedays you just really need a pick me up. “You Are Being Loved” is the perfect pick me up. It’s a happy go lucky feeling song that has a wonderful message. The idea that God is singing a song over me this very moment is both wonderful and freeing. I love whenever Steven’ s voice goes falsetto. Plus the choral parts at the end makes sure the smile on my face spreads all the way up.

Song of the Day 01/11/13: Sum 41 – All to Blame

Two of my siblings and a friends from New York were over the house last night and my sister decided to play Sum 41 while we cooked and cleaned. It succeeded and doing two things. The first is that it reminded me how much Sum 41 can be. The second is that it showed all of us how awkward Sum 41 is for dinner table music. Picture us all relaxing and eating breakfast foods for dinner while some guy just screams in the background. It was a very entertaining evening.

Song of the Day 01/10/13: Haddaway – What is Love

I couldnt resist… See my previous song of the day for how I ended up picking this song of the day. This song is infectious. I think I could literally listen to this song for hours and not get sick of it. It just has this looping quality where you can never really tell where it starts or ends. It may be cheesy but for me, it will never get old. It makes me crack up every time and also makes me want to dance so it definitely gets its job done.

Song of the Day 01/09/13: T.M. Revolution – Heart of Sword

A couple things about this song. First of all, just look at that title. Heart of Sword? What does that even mean?? A perfect J-pop title. I originally discovered this song because it was one of the original ending themes to the anime version of Rurouni Kenshin. If you play this song in front of anyone who has seen that show, they will immediately recall fond memories of the show. For me, the deepest memories come from listening to the soundtrack from the show while playing N64 with my friend Matt and my sister Abbey about 10 years ago. This song came on in the car the other day while my ipod was on shuffle and she would not let me change it. As for the song itself, two things really stick out to me beyond its completely cheesy J-pop surface. The first is the background 90’s dance music parts that sound like they were lifted out of that Haddaway song “What is Love” I can just picture the Roxybury guys doing the head nod on SNL. The second is the wailing guitar solo sections. Really random and awesome. Especially the final one as the song fades out. I just love this song. Damn now I really want to put up “What is Love” …

Song of the Day 01/08/13: Orange Range – City Boy

I was talking with my sister the other day about hilarious japanese lyrics that sound different than what they are. In this case, The lines are “City Boy” and “Oh Get it Disco”, but that is not at all what they sound like when sung by Orange Range. It is impossible for me to listen to this song and not become a happier person. One of my favorites by the band. (Also a note, the only version I could find on youtube was over this weird Korean drama. Just ignore the video and listen to the song is my advice as the video can be distracting.)

Song of the Day 01/07/13: Omnia – Pagan Polska

How do you describe Omnia? Pagan Folk is the general term but that only works if you’ve heard Pagan Folk in the past. “Pagan Polka” has everything from bagpipes to didgeridoo. When a friend of mine went on a tour of Europe, he brought back this wonderful song to make me want to dance. The first week he was back, we would just drive around the city blasting this song and I still associate this song with driving around New York City with friends. Either that or epic medieval battles.

Song of the Day 01/05/13: Lostprophets – Kobrakai

Kobrakai is special. It is special because it is one of the first songs I discovered on my own without advice from someone else. Before this, I liked the music that was recommended to me by others. When I first bought Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory, it came with a demo disc featuring two tracks from a band I’d never heard of called Lostprophets. Over a period of about 2 weeks, I must have listened to this song at least 10 times a day. I then went out and purchased the album without knowing if the rest would be any good. I’m glad I took that risk since the album now sits among my Top 100 albums of all time. I still go back to Kobrakai with a smile. Something about those whiny howling vocals still hits the spot.

Song of the Day 01/04/13: B’z – HOME

Today is my brothers birthday so I thought I’d share one of the bands he shared with me years ago. B’z is the band that really started my obsession with Japanese rock music. All big guitar solos and soaring vocals, whats not to love? Happy Birthday Josh!

Song of the Day 01/03/12: Cake – Commissioning a Symphony in C

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: There will always be a seat reserved for Cake in this world. There really is just no band who sounds like them out there. When you’re fixing for Cake, you need Cake. From the talky vocal style to the vast array of strange instruments to the always danceable bass lines, Cake is a uniquely delightful experience!

Song of the Day 01/02/13: Chase Coy – If the Moon Fell Down Tonight

This is the first song shared between my new fiance and me. We listened to this song constantly when we first started dating 4 years ago and it still remains one of our favorites today. If there was one song I could learn to play, it would be this one.

Song of the Day 01/01/13: Nine Inch Nails – We’re In This Together Now

If you’ve been checking out the blog for the past week, you know that I got engaged on the first of the year. I thought this would be a great song to commemorate the moment. One of my favorite songs of commitment, I love “We’re In This Together Now” because it embraces the dangers of being in a committed relationship and sticking with your loved one through the good times and the bad. The song just has an energy of perseverance in it that I’m sure I’ll need in the coming months as we plan a wedding while being in different parts of the country and juggling 10 other things. I also love the calm piano filled ending. 2013 is going to be an amazing year!