Song(s) of the Day – 9/15/10

Well, apparently I’m not so good at this blogging thing as I’m routinely missing my Humpday Song of the Day! So here I am playing catch up again. Got two for you today. One I was just recently exposed to by Christina Maria, the Canadian women that was in my last post. And the other was shared with me by an old Australian friend many years ago.

Nina Kinert – Beast

So let’s start with the new. The song is called Beast and it’s by a Swedish Folk singer named Nina Kinert. Wow, just wow, what a great voice and a kind of haunting simple song played on the piano and accompanied with some strings. I can’t wait to delve deeper into this artists music. Unfortunately her newest album can’t be found on iTunes.

Found this cool live version. The only album version on YouTube was a still shot of the album cover and that bores me!

Nina Kinert Links:
Official Website (This site is pretty useless as it only has a couple links to click and one is to order her CD and it’s in Swedish and the other is to her Myspace page)
Myspace
Last.fm
Wiki

Northstar – Pollyanna

Now on to the next treat for the day. This song is called Pollyanna and is by a band that broke up in 2005 named Northstar. Two of the members of Northstar have gone on to form the band Cassino. Northstar was kind of a high energy alternative rock band with some catchy songs. Even though one of their favorite songs of mine is more of an acoustic ballad called Two Zero Two I wanted to show you their fun side.  Why they never got as big as some of the bands they used to tour with is a mystery to me.

Sorry, couldn’t find a more interesting video for this song. Plain album cover with music.

Northstar Links:
Myspace
Last.fm
Wiki

Song(s) of the Day – 9/01/10

Once again I got behind last week. I was all about the Blog Contest that my friend had entered and didn’t get around to posting anything else. So here’s another Twofer Song of the Day!

I love spreading the word about musicians that have tons of talent, but aren’t known by hardly anybody. Here are two greats I’ve found via YouTube.

The first is Christina Maria and I couldn’t decided between here songs so I’m gonna share two! She’s a young and talented musician with a great voice. She’s Canadian and loved to travel which is apparent from her YouTube videos. Her music is a little bit folky, little bit jazzy, and a little bit bluesy and her vocals are soulful, and I loved how I read someone describing her, seductive. She just has one of those voices that is kind of timeless. It’s a bit of a fluke how I came across her channel. It started when I was searching YouTube for Rafe just to see what videos of mine came up or possibly trying to find my IamRafe channel and I came across a Canadian guy who plays music and promotes other bands on YouTube and his name just so happened to be Rafe. His channel is Rafem and he occasionally posts videos by other musicians to get the word out as his YouTube channel is kind of popular. Well one of those videos was one by this young lady and I was blown away…though I think I was hooked before I even heard her sing. Watch this video and tell me that isn’t the coolest entrance ever!

I’ve since subscribed to her channel and purchased her latest album on iTunes which is great. Here is the title song from that album and a pretty cool video too!

This is a fast paced fun little one!

Christina Maria Links:
Official Website
Myspace
Last.fm
YouTube
Twitter

Next up is Tyler Slemp. An Oklahoma native who I happened across when another YouTuber I follow did a cover of one of his songs which is still one of my favorites. Come to find out one of his best friends played golf for Drury and I had hung out with a few times. Tyler writes amazing lyrics which have a way of putting you right into the stories they tell. He’s got a soothing voice that could put you to sleep if he didn’t put so much emotion into his singing. Stealing another quote from a bio I read that was taken from the producer he’s currently working with. “He is one of the few singers on this planet that can convey the same emotion in the vocal booth as he did the day he wrote the song” This couldn’t be more true. You can listen to any of his YouTube videos and just hear him pouring his soul into these songs….well maybe not all of his songs as he has a couple that are just for SnG. Unfortunately I don’t think any of his songs are for sale yet, but he’s been in the studio and is trying to finish up the album any time now. Was supposed to be done in July, but I think something came up with his car or something and alot of the money he raised for the album had to be spent elsewhere. Check out his Facebook page and see if you can’t donate so he can finish this album!

Here’s the first song I ever heard by Tyler Slemp

Here is another one of my favorites.

And how could I not post this one. We share the same love of Zooey Deschanel.

Tyler Slemp Links:
YouTube
Facebook

Song(s) of the Day – 8/18/10

  

I missed last weeks Song of the Day and thenn promised 2 Songs on Friday and failed again to get that out. So I’m going to be posting 3 Songs today. To cut down on the size of this post I’m only posting the chorus to each song and two links to the bands.

The Black Keys – Too Afraid to Love You

Just recently got into The Black Keys and they’ve been blowing me away. There is just something timeless about their sound. Bluesy, Rocky, Soulful! I like so many of their songs, but because of lack of a good video on the one I wanted to pick (10 Cent Pistol) I decided to pick Too Afraid to Love You. Still a great song!

There really isn’t a “chorus” on this one so here’s a snippet of the lyrics:

I’m just one wishing
That I was a pair
With someone
Oh somewhere

The Black Keys Links:
Official Website
Last.fm

 Mumford & Sons – Awake My Soul

Mumford & Sons is another relatively new band that has found it’s way into my rotation. Talk about some great folky, bluegrassy music with a nice kick of rock! The way they pull off the slower songs and really rock out on some really reminds me of my friends from Ha Ha Tonka. One thing that is so cool about these guys is the fact that they have no drummer. The lead singer has a kick drum for his right foot and a tamborine mounted to a pedal for his left foot. Plus, their banjo player has to have one of the coolest banjos I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know they even made them in anything other than the basic round ones.  Anyway enough talking.

Chorus:

In these bodies we will live
In these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love
You invest your life

Also, I couldn’t not post this video too. It’s Awake My Soul again, but it’s been chopped down some and set to some clips to one of my favorite movies. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Mumford & Sons Links:
Official Website
Last.fm

Broken Bells – The Ghost Inside

Apparently this is the update that includes bands I’m just now starting to fully appreciate. Broken Bells is another one of them. This time I randomly came across them while browsing SXSW videos. They are a bit more experimental, using strange sounds in some of their songs. Almost techno type sounds, but they are much more melodic than your average techno song with one line being repeated over and over. While looking them up on Google I found out that the band consists of Brian Burton, of Danger Mouse, and James Mercer, the lead singer of The Shins. If you know the shins you know Mercer has quite the distinct voice, very pleasant to the ears! Burton has also produced for Beck, the Gorillaz, and The Black Keys (Coineciendence they happen to be featured in this post…yes, ironic..yes) so you know the quality of their sound is top notch. Here is a strange video to one of my favorite songs off their debut album.

Chorus:

Feel like a daughter
She’s like a star tonight
Without warning
She gave up
The ghost inside

Broken Bells Links:
Official Website
Last.fm

Song of the Day 8/04/10 – The Future Freaks Me Out by Motion City Soundtrack

 

It’s here it’s here! Humpday Humming…ok this isn’t much of a song to hum to, but I felt like busting a move instead! I can’t believe it’s been a week since my last post. Whoops sorry. My last post was last weeks song of the day. Anyway, upward and onward!

Love me some Motion City Soundtrack! I’ve been picking a lot of slower acousticy type stuff that is probably boring you to sleep at your office computer! So here’s a little pick me up for your Wednesday…let’s get you over that hump and ready for the weekend! This band is a much more energetic band than the last few I’ve posted and if you are familiar with more popular music you’ve probably heard of them. If you haven’t then I’m ashamded to be your friend…JOKES! All is well though, cause now you are going to get a chance to check them out.

Also from now on when I post my song of the day I’ll be posting the current position that band is in on my Top Artist on Last.fm as well as the number of plays by that band. Stats will look like this.

#37 Motion City Soundtrack – 130 plays

Enough chit chat! Here’s a video to their song The Future Freaks Me Out by Motion City Soundtrack

Lyrics:

I’m on fire and now I think I’m ready to bust a move
Check it out I’m rocking steady
Go!

Betty won’t stop listening to modern rock
How she hates to be alone
I try to compensate her lack of love with coffee cake
Ice cream and a bottle of ten dollar wine she says hey
I rock the Haro sport
I rock the cow girl blues
I rock too fast for love I’m footloose in my Velcro shoes
What’s up with Will and Grace?
I don’t get drum and bass
The future freaks me out

I’m on fire and now I think I’m ready to bust a move
Check it out I’m rocking steady
To the beat in my head
It goes oh, oh-oh-oh
I know that she’s the only one
I’d rather waste our time together
Yeah, ‘cause we can get down

Betty can’t quit carving question marks in my wrist
How come we’re so alone
We waste away the days with nicotine and television samples
From an era we hate to admit we embrace
We fail to represent
We fail to be content
We fail at everything we ever even try to attempt
And so the story goes
As only Betty knows
It’s time to take control
(Get Down)

I’m on fire and now I think I’m ready to bust a move
Check it out I’m rocking steady
To the beat in my head
It goes oh, oh-oh-oh
I know that she’s the only one
I’d rather waste my time with her

Betty, I need you
I miss you
I’m so alone without you
To call up on the weekends with my cellular phone

Betty it’s so hard to relate
To the whole human race
I don’t know where to begin
I don’t know where to begin
If we can both find a way
To do the things that we say
We might not sit in our rooms
And drink our daydreams away
Betty, I’m a dreamer
I’m not a vicious schemer
Oh Betty won’t you.. ah fuck it

I’m on fire and now I think I’m ready to bust a move
Check it out I’m rocking steady
To the beat in my head
It goes oh, oh-oh-oh
I know that she’s the only one
I’d rather waste our time together
Yeah, ‘cause we can get down.

Links:
Motion City Soundtrack Webpage
YouTube
Myspace
Facebook
Last.fm
Twitter
Wiki

Song of the Day 7/28/10 – Strong Enough by Kina Grannis

Yay! Humpday! Here’s your music for the day. I’ve been posting up these co-write things I’ve been doing for the Kina Grannis co-write contest and have failed to introduce you guys to her lovely music. I also realized I’ve yet to share with you all a female artist…and I’m a sucker for a girl that can play the guitar and sing like this!

I found Kina on YouTube and she’s got quite a following online because of her connection with her subscribers. She’ll make shoutouts on almost all her videos..birthday wishes, etc etc. After checking out her Wiki I found out she also won the Doritos Crash the Superbowl. Her first video one YouTube was for her entry for the DCtS in Nov. 2007.

You really just can’t help but fall in love with how sweet this girl is. You can tell from her videos that she’s just an amazing women and her music too is just candy to the ears!

The song of the day is Strong Enough by Kina Grannis. It’s off her newest album, Stairwells. I chose to use a video someone posted on YouTube of the actual album version as I like it better than the acoustic cover she does on her channel (the audio quality just isn’t up to my standards 🙂 ). The album songs great though. So here it is, and if you like, definitely go check out more of her videos…she does some creative things. I suggest watching the video to “Valentine”

Lyrics:
Welcome to the days of wariness
Where I’m feeling an echo inside my chest,
I’ve a heart beating impatiently long,
Waiting for the other half of it’s song
It’s song

[Chorus:]
No, it’s not enough
Don’t touch my hand and call it love
If you can’t hold it tight, tonight
If you’re not strong enough

And times have told the ways things come to light
Realizing a lack in your will to fight
Despite words crying at inconsistencies,
As you fall uneasily to your knees, your knees

[Chorus]

And I’m not blind to what you’re doing here
Make me feel like I’m special,
But my dear, I have seen through a weakness in your eyes
You don’t know it, but you’re telling me lies,
Me lies

And you will soon awake to see
There is no heart in anything you say to me
We thought we’d found a harmony, a perfect match of melodies
No, But if you listen closely now, I’ve been singing all alone

No, OooOoo…

[Chorus]

Strong enough, OooOoo…
Strong enough,
Strong enough,

[Chorus]

Strong enough, OooOoo…
Strong enough,
Strong enough…

Kina’s Links:
Kina’s Website
YouTube
Myspace
Facebook
Last.fm
Twitter
Wiki

Song of the Day 7/21/2010

Ho Hum Humpday! Wednesday Weekly Song of the day! Music made by .Moneen. Ok, not sure what that was about, but I like writing in alliterations sometimes. Anyway, moving on. Todays Song of the Day is Don’t Ever Tell Locke What He Can’t Do by the band .Moneen. and yes, the periods are part of the name…kind of like “fun.”.

.Moneen. is a band that’s been around for some time now and started out as a more underground punk style band. Their album that got my attention was The Red Tree, which is a great CD from start to finish. Some punk style songs mixed in with a few slower ballad type songs and a few that manage to pull off both in the same song. Definitely one of my favorite bands to listen to if I’m feeling in the mood for some heavier rockin’! I also love that their song titles are ridiculously long and in some cases don’t even contain words that are even in the lyrics of that song. Some examples: “There Are A Million Reasons For Why This May Not Work…And Just One Good One For Why It Will” and “The East Has Stolen What The West May Want”

.Moneen. – Don’t Ever Tell Locke What He Can’t Do

ahhh
I took everything you said
ahhh
Harder than we should
Are we wanting more than to try to sell you out?
Are you one, you one, you one?

He’s trying to say we can’t
Yes I can!
And you can’t have all that you want
Yes I can!
And when your wrong I’m still not right

Sign on
And throw it back against the wall
You asked me how
And what if I resent you now?
And what if I can’t trust in anything you say?

You trying to say we can’t?
Yes I can!
You can’t have all that you want
Yes I can!
And when your wrong I’m still not right

Let’s start again
Replace it
Let’s start again
Erase it
So move along and face it

You trying to say we can’t?
Oh yes I can!
You can’t have all that you want
Oh yes I can!
And when your wrong I’m still not right
Oh yes I can!

Band Links:
Moneen Website
Myspace
Last.fm
Facebook
Twitter
Wiki

Song of the Day 7/14/10

Hump Day rears it’s ugly back once again and it’s time for another Song of the Day!

This weeks song is Light a Roman Candle with Me by the band fun. fun. is what is left of one of my favorite bands of all time, The Format. I’ll probably end up featuring a Format song one of these days, but seeing as they aren’t a band anymore I figured I’d give you their newest stuff with fun. Not to brag or anything, but I know the drummer too. Jon used to drum for one of my good friends from HS in his college band called The Silent Film…another band that will probably eventually make it into my SotD Blog. Unfortunately they too are no longer together. fun. is another indie pop type band, with a focus on acoustic guitar and piano. Have a listen!

Light a roman candle with me
Just a roman candle, you can wear your sandals
and I’ll pour you just one cup of tea.
Then you can go and rest
you haven’t seen my best, so…

Just spend an evening with me
Just a lazy evening, then you could be leaving
or we could stay and talk until three.
I will think it’s magic and I’ll hope you’ll agree, so…

Light a roman candle with me.
Just a roman candle.
Just a perfect apple.

If we were honest and both wrote a sonnet together
a sandwich with everything on it,
at least we would know that the sparks didn’t glow
but we owe it to ourselves to try,
so we aim and ignite!
So often I call and I plead with you:
“Give me a chance!”
It’s not often that I understand
the ins and the outs of what’s wrong and what’s right
So don’t think of tomorrow tonight.

Oh, I know, it goes on, it gets old
But for now we’re young, we smell good, we’re alone…

You look for a legend,
I’m looking for common ground.
Your heart isn’t breaking,
and mine isn’t making a sound.

Oh I know, it goes on, it gets old
Oh I know, it goes on, it gets old…

Light a roman candle with me.
Just a roman candle.
Just a perfect apple.

Band Links:
Official Website
Myspace
Facebook
Last.fm
Twitter
Wiki

Song of the Day 7/07/2010

It’s that time of the week again. Good ol’ hump day. Which means time for the song of the day.

This weeks song of the day is Some Constellation by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (Often shortened to SSLYBY). My freshman year at Drury I attended a random party in a small on-campus apartment and this goofy dude was playing the keyboard and mixing songs so everyone would dance. It was a great time considering the lack of space and the lack of actually knowing very many people there, but I ended up finding out that Philip, the guy playing keys, played for a band called Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

Me and the roommate would frequent local shows and finally got a chance to see them live a year or so later and it was great. They have two lead singers that switch off from song to song and they tend to switch instruments from time to time. Guitarist switches to drums, bassist switches to guitar, and drummer switches to bass. Made their live show interesting.

With a kind of indie pop sound it’s really hard not to enjoy the tunes these guys produce. I don’t think they’ve made a song I haven’t loved. Off their most recent album, Pershing, I couldn’t stop going back to Some Constellation for another listen. It’s a bit more laid back then the rest of the album, but that tends to be the songs I like most. Hope you enjoy.

Birds on the pillow
And paper lanterns hangin’ from the ceiling
Sticky stars aglow
Mappin’ out some constellation
I’m tired of standing in the light outside her window
For her I would row to the ends of my imagination

Pleasure to behold
A silhouette so real yet oh so static
Measured and controlled
Lets down her hair, takes off her army jacket
I’m trying to figure out what’s right – do I stay or go?
For all she doesn’t know, oh, cause she wishes that she still had it

Birds on the pillow
And paper lanterns hangin’ from the ceiling
Sticky stars aglow
Mappin’ out some constellation
I’m tired of standing in the light outside of her window
For her I would row to the ends of my imagination

Undiscernible lyrics fade way…(Something about “the middle of the night”)

Band Links:
Myspace
Facebook
YouTube
Last.fm
Bandcamp
Twitter
Wiki

Song of the Day 6/30/2010

Wednesday will now consist of a song of the day. Since it’s the middle of the week I figure you might need a little something to get you through the rest of the week. Sure it’s just one song, but maybe you’ll like it so much you listen to it for the rest of the week. Or you didn’t know the band and decide to listen to all their stuff. I just hope you’ll like what you hear.

Today’s song comes from one of my favorite bands ever. It’s really hard for me to pick my favorite band, but these guys definitely fall in my top 5. So take a listen. It’s funny how you can know the lyrics and sing them and not even take it in. I’ve loved this song for a long time and it wasn’t until I posted the lyrics up here that I realized just how sad they are…doesn’t change the fact that it’s a great song.

Band: Margot & the Nuclear S0 and So’s
Song: Dress Me Like a Clown

Lyrics:
I am alive, I am alive,
And that is the best that I can do.
You go near your light,
I swore you were mine.
I’d take you back a thousand times.

Talk of the town you’ve been around,
if he is the man u want then go.
but tonight we’ll leave all our lovers behind
and try to live a quiet life.
My love is dressing me like a clown

You are an ass a snake in the grass
Vanity seeps from out your pores,
And baby its time to pay for my crime.
Nothing i say can make you mine,
Be that singing in key or runnin to me.
I can think it as good as you.

But tonight we’ll leave
All our stupid songs.
We’ll try and reach the hills by dawn.
My love is dressin me like a clown.

Tonight we’ll leave all our lovers behind
And try to live a quiet life,
Margot dress me like a clown.

Tonight we’ll drink to an early grave,
We’ll laugh but we will not be saved.
Someone has dressed us all like clowns.

Darling it’s sin. Where do I begin.
Putting your contact lenses in,
You see the lights
Scurry like mice
Reflect in the streets
And you pour words
Out on the roof.
Way to grow up
Turn me around
Then lock me up.

Baby you are an ass a snake in the grass
Vanity oozes out your pores.
Oh oh oh ohh
Oh oh oh ohh
Oh oh oh ohh