February 2012
32 posts
6 tags
Kavinsky - Night Call
I discovered this song last night after watching Drive (2011) which is an absolute beaut of a film and fell in love with the songs minimalistic synth approach to modern pop. The blend of gentle female vocals and audio-tuned male vocals offer the song an extra dynamic whilst slotting in perfectly with the art-house nature of Drive.
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7 tags
MGMT - The Handshake
I forever adore the signature psychedelic style of MGMT which persists within The Handshake from their album “Oracular Spectacular”. I especially love the chorus of this song with the muted vocals and soft guitar strums that contrast against the harsh repetition of “you’ve got the handshake” towards the end of the song.
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7 tags
The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling
This is perfectly represents their new album, El Camino, which keeps the same style as Brothers but takes their basis of Rock up an extra level. The video is one of those classic “footage” videos but is perfectly balanced with energetic views of fans and backstage shots with the precision of timing and subtle effects of grainy/scratched film.
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B.O.B - Ghost In A Machine
This is one of my favourite songs from B.O.B.’s first album; B.O.B. Presents: Adventures of Bobby Ray. I love the mix of classic piano and an old school hip hop beat with electronically generated sound giving a futuristic and timeless effect. The old school hip hop drum beat give it a production feel in the especially in the build up to the chorus adding extra theatrics to the song.
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Crystal Fighters - Champion Sound
I have had this song on repeat all weekend. From their album, Star of Love, the Crystal Fighters have played with their Spanish roots to develop a European tone to the song whilst keeping the ambiance that is found within the whole album. I love how the video doesn’t play safe and throws in everything Spanish but instead follows the refined vocals and keeps to just experimenting with...
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Birdy - Shelter (The XX Cover)
I haven’t been a massive Birdy fan but I absolutely love this cover of The XX’s Shelter. The XX are already quite stripped back in their style of music but this completely lowers it to adjusted vocals and a piano which works perfectly as the narrows focus allows the lyrics to take a story telling form. Birdy version definitely gives the song the power that the original lacks.
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6 tags
Cage The Elephant - Ain't No Rest For The Wicked
This is not only a great song lyric-wise but I love that this is one of the only songs by Cage The Elephant in which the music video isn’t completely surreal although the lead does look pretty tripped out on drugs. The country rock style of the song gives this song a distinction from their others and is best heard when you download it with the audio split so that various instruments are...
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Jack Peñate - Every Glance
Whilst this is taken from his 2009 album, Everything Is New, I hadn’t actually heard this song until I was hunting for music from pre-existing artists on my iTunes just last week. I love the tranquil beginning and calming backing vocals which transitions into a more upbeat chorus which, mixed with the interesting array of instruments, gives the song an extra edge.
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Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Adventures Of Rain Dance...
This song stays true to the original Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s style yet has adopted a relaxed tone with a light drum beat with blends perfectly with the toned down bass. On first listen, I fell in love with the verses (even the occasional sound of cowbells) and grew to love the chorus. I absolutely love the artistic simplicity of their music video filmed on Venice Beach, California, that just...
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6 tags
Kings Of Leon - Ragoo
I can’t even express my love for Kings Of Leon whom are my one and only favourite band of all time. I honestly do not know where to start but I guess this song is a pretty humble beginning. Whilst it is one of their older songs, from the album “Because Of The Times”, it reminds me of the summery feel of “Come Around Sundown”. This is definitely one of my favourite...
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6 tags
James Hill - Billie Jean (Cover)
This by a thousand galaxies, one of the best covers I have ever come across. James Hill is amazingly talented for everything you hear is 100% vocals and ukulele. He has made an extremely popular song into a fresh, simplistic and original performance that really tells the tale of Billie Jean with a subtle touch of humour.
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6 tags
The XX - Intro
The simplicity of The XX is deeply rooted within Intro, the first song on their album xx, yet the dramatic beats of drum and hypnotic vocals provide this song with both depth and a sense of journey. I respect artists that appreciate the value of instrumentals that provide meaning enough without feeling obliged to add lyrics and this is a prefect example of one that works amazingly.
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6 tags
Florence + The Machine - No Light, No Light
I can’t even begin to express my love for Florence + The Machine. After the huge success of her first album, she came back with her second, Ceremonials, that completely threw her first off the radar. The songs on Ceremonial have a more intense and funeral-esque style that has heavily matured from the experimental childhood songs of the amazing Lungs whilst still keeping signature sounds such...
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Kasabian - Man Of Simple Pleasures
Taken from their latest album, Velociraptor!, which returns to earlier roots of rock resembling artists such as The Rolling Stones and Radiohead but still keeping that distinct Kasabian sound. Velociraptor! has enough variety to please all fans but Man of Simple Pleasures is definitely one of the best songs on the album along with Days Are Forgotten, Re-Wired and I Hear Voices. The song’s...
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The Raconteurs - You Don't Understand Me (Live)
I absolutely love this song and just these guys in general! Jack White never ceases to impress and I adore the radiant atmosphere of live music, especially festivals, as the ripples of cheers only add to impact of the song. You Don’t Understand Me’s blend of guitar and piano provides the perfect balance of soft rock, blues and even a touch of jazz whilst the vocal range of both White...
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M83 - Midnight City
This is an amazing song for playing, full blast, on a cold winter night. M83, named after the spiral galaxy “messier 83”, released a variety of songs in 2008 and one in 2010 but Midnight City is their first chart success and its pretty obvious why. The opening riff of the song has been made memorable by various media use such as Made in Chelsea and adverts for the 2012 Olympics but...
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January 2012
16 posts
6 tags
Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People
I absolutely adore the music video for We Are The People in which a simple acoustic to overlapped with abstract electronics sending us into a dream-like state. The video is a 100% representation of the cultural tone of the song as they roam the deserted land of Mexico, dance in waterfalls, meditate in purple smoke and participate in a skeleton face paint parade (otherwise known as the Day of the...
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6 tags
Bombay Bicycle Club - Lights Out Words Gone.
I have been an avid listener of this song since it came out in October last year but I feel it is definitely a song that serves a more summery purpose and so is a great choice along with their song “How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep”. Bombay Bicycle Club have used there 2011 album, on which this song is featured, “A Different Kind of Fix” to return to electric guitars...
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Handbook - Take Me (Up High)
Discovered via a request by Christine, http://r-love-ution.tumblr.com/, I have spend the whole weekend listening to Take Me (Up High). Handbook is an unsigned artist and so there isn’t currently an official music video but this song is still available on places such as soundcloud.com. Its variation of beat harmonises with its catchy and repetitive lyrics that add a touch of soul to provide a...
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5 tags
Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness
I rarely find female artists whom I like and was originally undecided about Lana Del Rey but after her 2nd release “Born To Die”, I have pretty much decided that she has not only an unusual yet amazing voice but her use of anticipation in the build-up of instruments in songs such as Summertime Sadness offer another dimension to the typical love song. I am eager to see if her new album...
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Pretty Lights - We Must Go On
I just discovered this courtesy of http://themusiclibrary.tumblr.com/ and absolutely loved its urban 90’s beat (something that is replicated within the video which is mix of beautifully shot and edited street-style observations) accompanied by modern dynamics such as its vocal style.
Pretty Lights is a one man artist who makes electronically produced music using various samples such as...
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6 tags
Portugal. The Man - Guns and Dogs
Portugal. The Man are an extremely new found love of mine. They are an American band that formed in 2004 but I have somehow only managed to discover them! Their 2009 album, The Satanic Satanist is by far my favourite as it’s mix of instruments, layered vocals and obscure lyrics manages to transport me to an unknown culture.
P.S The album artwork for the Satanic Satanist is apparently a...
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Radiation City - Find It Of Use
I just came across these guys in search of new music and fell in love with both this song and video. The song has a surreal feel to it with its use of harp and calming vocals which blends perfectly with the soft filters and changes in focus used in the video. You can also find these guys at http://radiationcity.tumblr.com/!
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The Black Keys - The Only One
These are 100% my most listened to artist of 2012. These guys have been around for a long time but their album “Brothers” is by far the best, converting you back (or in my case, to the unexplored and lusted territory) to the era of soft underground jazz mixed in with a wanted dose of modern psychedelic rock. I will definitely be posting more of these guys!
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