Laura Straub
thebakeandbrew
christopher.
Tommy Wilson
stephenkillion
amsettineri
Peter Cavanaugh
AndrewFiled under: sing like no one is listening
These are all compositions that have particularly caught my attention or affections over the past few weeks. They range from the danceable to the contemplative; and almost all would qualify as being somewhere in the middle of that spectrum depending how the day is faring. (Or if your name is Rusty and you’re looking for the TVC-15)
Anyway, on to listening and I hope you like it.
- Man Man – Doo Right
- Heartless Bastards – Out at Sea
- Metric – Sick Muse
- The Moons - Nightmare Day
- Wolf Parade – Palm Road
- Delta Spirit – Bushwick Blues
- Reverie Sound Revue – The A.M.
- Sabrepulse – Phalanx
- Cults – Go Outside
- Minus The Bear – Animal Backwards
- Coconut Records – I Am Young
- Reverend and the Makers – No Wood Just Trees
- Late of the Pier – The Bears Are Coming
- Mystery Jets – Serotonin
- Bon Voyage – Honeymoon
- We Are Scientists – Jack & Ginger
- Delorean – Grow
- Apostle of Hustle – Xerses
Filed under: Dance like no one is watching, Inspirational Anthems, Night Drive Tunes, Rainy Day Songs, sing like no one is listening, Songs for Contemplation, Songs of Triumph, songs that make you feel cool in uncool moments, Songs to listen to with the windows down, Songs to start your day, Sunny Dispositions, Time to Party Tunes | Tags: mixtape
These songs are taken from albums that have been in pretty heavy rotation on my iPod and turntable over the last couple months. It’s been a highly uninspiring and unmotivated time and music always helps in the midst of that. Summer’s almost here so grab a beer, put the screens on instead of the storm windows, and turn this up to right where the neighbors can slightly hear it.
- New Young Pony Club – Chaos
- Bombay Bicycle Club – Magnet
- Dum Dum Girls – Yours Alone
- Bad Veins – Falling Tide
- The Walkmen – The Rat
- Doves – Sky Starts Falling
- Band Of Horses – Islands On The Coast
- The Black keys – Sinister Kid
- Phantogram – Futuristic Casket
- Metric – Stadium
- Open Hand – Cool
- Matt & Kim – Lessons Learned
- Lars & The Hands Of Light – Three to the Floor
- Broken Social Scene – Chase Scene
- Gorillaz – On Melancholy Hill
- Stars – Ageless Beauty
Filed under: Dance like no one is watching, songs that make you feel cool in uncool moments, Songs to listen to with the windows down, Sunny Dispositions, Time to Party Tunes
Zeus‘ “Kindergarten” has been stuck in my head since I first heard it about a week ago. The jangly guitars mixed pop-laden keys and crooning vocals are a perfect match.
I have to say I’m not taken with the rest of the album like I am with this song. The lyrics are fun and it’s not polished. It just rocks.
Dance off. But keep your pants on, please.
-Andrew
Filed under: Songs for Contemplation, Songs of Triumph, Songs to listen to with the windows down, Songs to start your day | Tags: explosions in the sky, post-rock
One of the most vulnerable and shaping moments of my day is my drive to work in the morning. Still partly asleep, I amble my way from my front door to my 1996 Hyundai Accent hatchback, wedge my travel mug full of coffee between the parking brake and the passenger seat cushion (the cupholders are tiny), roll down my window halfway, and plug my ipod into the FM transmitter and hit play.
For a brief moment I’m floating backwards in reverse as I work my way out of my parking spot, throw it into first and I’m off to whatever joys and frustrations my day will bring. The intro for Explosions In The Sky‘s “The Birth and Death of the Day” starts and I’m given a slight rouse. For the next two minutes I take my first sips of coffee while I wait for the little girls who live a couple doors down from me board their schoolbus at the end of the driveway.
I pull into traffic and pass by the municipal airport on my left, take the on-ramp to the highway and hit freeway speed around 4 minutes. As I pass by the busy smokestacks at Capital Brewery I’m joined by the swarm of other morning commuters, 30 seconds or so pass but are only a taste of what is to inspire faster speeds when the song reaches 4:33.
I spend the next couple minutes drifting along in the left lane, watching the sun continue to rise and flare across my worn windshield. I find my exit and follow it, just before the song hits 7 minutes. The end transitions perfectly into the next track, “Welcome Ghosts” which will be the only remaining song to finish completely on my way to the campus 1 parking garage.
And honestly, this morning, it’s all I need to put me in a good state of mind as I grab what’s left of my first cup of coffee, lock the door behind me, and make my way to the office.
I can’t help but love this genre called “post-rock” (whatever that means) and this Austin, TX, band does it incredibly well. Their music is epic at its best and cinematic at its worst.
-Andrew
