The Juliana Theory - We're At the Top of the World
Emotion is Dead (2000)
Other Songs to Check Out: "August in Bethany", "Shotgun Serenade", "I Love You to Death (Drive Safe)"
http://www.thejulianatheory.com/newsite/
Two songs by The Juliana Theory stick out for me way above the rest. When it came to making this post, I was going to originally go with "August in Bethany". It's a slower tempo song, much more depressing, and the first Juliana Theory song I heard. However, the only youtube video I could find of it was homemade but some random kid and made me want to kill myself (because it was so bad/corny), so I instead chose "We're At the Top of the World", from Emotion is Dead. Back when I used to "play the drums" (I was really bad), this was the first song I learned. Simple beat, catchy tune and a happy-go-lucky song. After Emotion is Dead, I felt that The Juliana Theory went in a totally different direction with their music, and I really started to lose interest in them. It's a shame because their first two albums were fantastic. Unfortunately, The Juliana Theory no longer exist. But if you find you like this song, you have at least 2 great albums-worth of music to have a go at.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
#77 Hadouken! - Declaration of War
Hadouken - Declaration of War
Music for an Accelerated Culture (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Driving Nowhere", "Does it Offend You (Remix)"
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=88425749
I don't really know how to describe Hadouken's music. It's very energetic, often doesn't make much sense, and has a very angry feel to it. Yet, they rock. Another band based out of the UK, it's not surprising that they are also heavy into the remix scene. In fact, they have a whole myspace (http://www.myspace.com/hadoukenremixes) dedicated to their remixes, many of which are quite popular. So far they only have the one album out, Music for an Accelerated Culture, but according to Wikipedia/NME, they are well on their way to completing a second album. Unfortunately, this music video seems to have a very low volume level... I advise you to pump up your speaker volume before giving it a go.
Music for an Accelerated Culture (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Driving Nowhere", "Does it Offend You (Remix)"
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=88425749
I don't really know how to describe Hadouken's music. It's very energetic, often doesn't make much sense, and has a very angry feel to it. Yet, they rock. Another band based out of the UK, it's not surprising that they are also heavy into the remix scene. In fact, they have a whole myspace (http://www.myspace.com/hadoukenremixes) dedicated to their remixes, many of which are quite popular. So far they only have the one album out, Music for an Accelerated Culture, but according to Wikipedia/NME, they are well on their way to completing a second album. Unfortunately, this music video seems to have a very low volume level... I advise you to pump up your speaker volume before giving it a go.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
#76 Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day (Demo Version)
Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day (Demo Version)
Illinois (2005) [note - Demo version isn't on Illinois, but the regular version is]
Other Songs to Check Out: "The Upper Peninsula", "To Be Alone With You", "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Featherless in Ypsilanti"
Sufjan Stevens is so awesome that it's necessary to profile him again, even though GIRL! already had this song among her "other songs to check out" recommendations way back near the birth of our blog. "Casimir Pulaski Day" wasn't the first song I fell in love with from Sufjan, but it's now my new favorite. I have a real soft spot for depressing music, and this song could take the cake for sad songs. When searching for a YouTube video, I came across a demo version that he must have made way back before Illinois. I find that I like it more than the final version - the subtle differences make this version sound more deep and natural than the recorded version (in my mind). Both versions are tops in my book though, so to each his own!
Illinois (2005) [note - Demo version isn't on Illinois, but the regular version is]
Other Songs to Check Out: "The Upper Peninsula", "To Be Alone With You", "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Featherless in Ypsilanti"
Sufjan Stevens is so awesome that it's necessary to profile him again, even though GIRL! already had this song among her "other songs to check out" recommendations way back near the birth of our blog. "Casimir Pulaski Day" wasn't the first song I fell in love with from Sufjan, but it's now my new favorite. I have a real soft spot for depressing music, and this song could take the cake for sad songs. When searching for a YouTube video, I came across a demo version that he must have made way back before Illinois. I find that I like it more than the final version - the subtle differences make this version sound more deep and natural than the recorded version (in my mind). Both versions are tops in my book though, so to each his own!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
#76 Hey Ocean - A Song About California
Hey Oean - A Song About California
It's Easier to Be Somebody Else (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: -
http://ca.myspace.com/heyocean
For anyone wishing it was already the middle of summer, here's a song to at least get you in the right frame of mind. Listening to this, I just picture a beach, sunshine and frolicking in the sun. Hey Ocean are just another in the line of great bands coming out of Vancouver, and one that I was actually introduced to by a good friend of mine quite some time ago. I never did heed her constant nagging to give them a fair shot, which is a shame because she was going to Hey Ocean shows all the time, in intimate, smaller venues which would have been a blast. Fast forward to now and Hey Ocean are embarking on a North American tour, among other things, and seem to be hitting the airwaves with quite a following. I've yet to hear the rest of the album, hence the lack of other-song recommendations.
It's Easier to Be Somebody Else (2008)
Other Songs to Check Out: -
http://ca.myspace.com/heyocean
For anyone wishing it was already the middle of summer, here's a song to at least get you in the right frame of mind. Listening to this, I just picture a beach, sunshine and frolicking in the sun. Hey Ocean are just another in the line of great bands coming out of Vancouver, and one that I was actually introduced to by a good friend of mine quite some time ago. I never did heed her constant nagging to give them a fair shot, which is a shame because she was going to Hey Ocean shows all the time, in intimate, smaller venues which would have been a blast. Fast forward to now and Hey Ocean are embarking on a North American tour, among other things, and seem to be hitting the airwaves with quite a following. I've yet to hear the rest of the album, hence the lack of other-song recommendations.
Monday, March 2, 2009
#75 Frankmusik - Better Off as Two
Frankmusik - Better Off as Two
Complete Me (June 2009)
Other Songs to Check Out: "3 Little Words", "In Step", "Fascination (Remix)"
http://www.frankmusik.com/
I have been a Frankmusik fan for awhile now. I've signed up to be on the mailing list for two artists, and he is one of them. He, like many artists I dig these days, does a ton of remixes... but he also writes a lot of his own stuff. He's about to launch a "Live & Lost" tour, where he basically will play shows wherever his fans tell him to. It's a pretty cool concept, and one that makes me really wish I was living in the UK right now so I could see one of his live acts. It was a tough choice between "In Step" and this song, but because this one is brand spankin' new, I thought I might as well make a (pathetic) attempt at staying ahead of the curve. Listen, enjoy, and be excited for summertime when Frankmusik's full length album is due. Oh, did I mention that this is another stunning music video?!
Complete Me (June 2009)
Other Songs to Check Out: "3 Little Words", "In Step", "Fascination (Remix)"
http://www.frankmusik.com/
I have been a Frankmusik fan for awhile now. I've signed up to be on the mailing list for two artists, and he is one of them. He, like many artists I dig these days, does a ton of remixes... but he also writes a lot of his own stuff. He's about to launch a "Live & Lost" tour, where he basically will play shows wherever his fans tell him to. It's a pretty cool concept, and one that makes me really wish I was living in the UK right now so I could see one of his live acts. It was a tough choice between "In Step" and this song, but because this one is brand spankin' new, I thought I might as well make a (pathetic) attempt at staying ahead of the curve. Listen, enjoy, and be excited for summertime when Frankmusik's full length album is due. Oh, did I mention that this is another stunning music video?!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
#74 Sloan - Flying High Again
Sloan - Flying High Again
Never Hear the End of It (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Cheap Champagne", "Nothing Lasts Forever Anymore", "All Used Up"
http://www.sloanmusic.com/
I never really got into Sloan when I was younger. Being from Canada, they were highly promoted on the local radio and TV stations, and usually had songs on all the trendy mixtapes of the day (Big Shiny Tunes, NOW! etc.) Recently I somehow stumbled upon the YouTube video of "Flying High Again", and decided that the song was crazy-awesome and that I should give the rest of their stuff a fair listen. I'm now a changed man, and a legitimate Sloan fan. They have a ton of very catchy songs mixed in with some filler, but that will happen when you've put out upwards of 10 albums. This song is awesome because of several reasons. One, you have all four members of Sloan singing a different verse (and then all coming together for the chorus). Two, the video is shot using some special colour filter that makes the video look like it's from the 70s. Three, it's a fairly short song, making it something that you'll want to play over and over because you wish it was actually twice the length it is. Finally, it's one of those great "car sing-a-long" songs that you can blast as you rip down the highway, attempting to belt out what your pitch-perfect version of the line "we're flying high against all denial and some people think we're crazy".
Never Hear the End of It (2006)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Cheap Champagne", "Nothing Lasts Forever Anymore", "All Used Up"
http://www.sloanmusic.com/
I never really got into Sloan when I was younger. Being from Canada, they were highly promoted on the local radio and TV stations, and usually had songs on all the trendy mixtapes of the day (Big Shiny Tunes, NOW! etc.) Recently I somehow stumbled upon the YouTube video of "Flying High Again", and decided that the song was crazy-awesome and that I should give the rest of their stuff a fair listen. I'm now a changed man, and a legitimate Sloan fan. They have a ton of very catchy songs mixed in with some filler, but that will happen when you've put out upwards of 10 albums. This song is awesome because of several reasons. One, you have all four members of Sloan singing a different verse (and then all coming together for the chorus). Two, the video is shot using some special colour filter that makes the video look like it's from the 70s. Three, it's a fairly short song, making it something that you'll want to play over and over because you wish it was actually twice the length it is. Finally, it's one of those great "car sing-a-long" songs that you can blast as you rip down the highway, attempting to belt out what your pitch-perfect version of the line "we're flying high against all denial and some people think we're crazy".
Friday, February 27, 2009
#73 Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla
Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla
Takk... (2005)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Sæglópur", "Sé Lest"
www.sigurros.com
When I first heard Icelandic band Sigur Ros, I didn't really get why everyone was so crazy about them. I mean, their music was beautiful, but I didn't really think it was worth all the hype. But as usual they grew on me, and now I find their ethereal music a breath of fresh air. "Hoppipolla" (which means "Hopping into puddles", yet another reason to love it) feels like you're flying high above the earth floating through clouds...I know it sounds cheesy but it's true! Even better is the fact that they've created their own language, Vonlenska (or Hopelandic), which is not in fact a language at all but in fact "a form of gibberish vocals that fits to the music". Basically the lead singer is using his voice as an instrument to convey emotions through noise instead of words. Of course I don't speak Icelandic so I can't tell the difference, but the result is moving all the same.
Takk... (2005)
Other Songs to Check Out: "Sæglópur", "Sé Lest"
www.sigurros.com
When I first heard Icelandic band Sigur Ros, I didn't really get why everyone was so crazy about them. I mean, their music was beautiful, but I didn't really think it was worth all the hype. But as usual they grew on me, and now I find their ethereal music a breath of fresh air. "Hoppipolla" (which means "Hopping into puddles", yet another reason to love it) feels like you're flying high above the earth floating through clouds...I know it sounds cheesy but it's true! Even better is the fact that they've created their own language, Vonlenska (or Hopelandic), which is not in fact a language at all but in fact "a form of gibberish vocals that fits to the music". Basically the lead singer is using his voice as an instrument to convey emotions through noise instead of words. Of course I don't speak Icelandic so I can't tell the difference, but the result is moving all the same.
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