RHCP

If we're being real, I really wasn't a huge fan of this album. I'm not that into heavy rock, and I feel like RHCP became a lot more soft and well, pop-y as the developed further on which is why I am a fan of their later work.

The only songs I really like are Give it Away and Under the Bridge





These songs I think could be defined as RHCP Classics, they are both have memorable refrains and relatable lyrics, which makes them so well loved. Give it Away is significantly faster and harder than Under the Bridge, but I think it still is less harsh and less-screamy than some of their other songs on the album. In contrast to almost the entire album, Under the Bridge is a nice, slower song about heart break and loss, who wouldn't eat that up?


As for the rest of the album... Sorry not sorry, I am a pop princess now & forever, that's just the way I am.

ALAS, no fear, I have not given up on RHCP,

The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie is actually in my top 10 favorite songs



First of all, HELLO COWBELL. Love that. Secondly, very catchy, upbeat tune; not as in your face as their old stuff. There's also more actual singing on this track than the loud talking/ yelling on their old tracks.

More all time faves:







All of these songs are their softer works...coincidence? I think not.

In Conclusion, I love RHCP, but not during the Blood Sugar, Sex, Magik phase.

New Phoenix Album

Phoenix released a new album this past month, and I've just now gotten the chance to listen to it all the way through. The album definitely has several break out hits, I will give a quick sampler of my favorite tracks.

Entertainment is the first track on the Album, and it starts the album off with a bang



It's got a Japanese theme to it, the real music video was long and weird so I didn't post it. Anyways, this song is catchy AF with a repetitive, funky keyboard Asian melody. The lyrics don't seem to be largely significant or impact the song's appeal.

SOS in Bel Air is great, I can't find a link that's not a horribly-filmed fan video from a concert. Sorry. Listen to that one on your own time, partner.

Here is a link to "Trying to Be Cool" and "Drakkar Noir"



Trying to Be Cool has a real Passion Pit vibe to it, lot's of funky keyboard/ techno transitions. This song emphasizes the lyrics a lot more than Entertainment, and man I love the lead's voice.

Fitting to the true spirit of an album, I think Drakkar Noir sounds extremely similar to Trying to Be Cool. Same kind of steady beat and funky keyboard track. While I think it's important for artists to maintain a distinguishable sound, I could see others arguing that their music all sounds the same.

Bankrupt! (the song the album was named for) is almost entirely instrumental, or vocals don't come in until around minute 5. I'm very cranky that I can't find a link to this online yet, the album is still so new that I guess no links have been legally posted. Dammit internet.


Anyways, overall, I love the album. Phoenix has a real soothing, easy listening sound that I can listen to whenever and wherever.

Ghostland Observatory

An all time favorite band of mine, I was reminded of them when we watched the LCD Soundsystem documentary/ I think they have pretty similar techno pop sounds.

Here is a sampler of my favorites:

First, the "cities"

Silver City (top 5 favorite songs of all time)



The main refrain:

Well, I don't come from the city,
I came here on the train,
In search of something pretty,
It's my heart I have to blame.

The american dream? A beautiful girl? I don't know what their chasing, all I know is that I don't ever want them to find it so that this song can go on forever.


Their most popular song, Sad Sad City



Give me the Beat




And somehow one of their less popular songs, Time




I don't really know why, but I will always be inclined toward techno/ electronic music, and Ghostland Observatory always hits the spot. Even though all of their music is full of funky keyboard and electronic sounds, I still think they maintain a good amount of diversity in their music to keep everything from sounding the same/ keep it fresh and interesting.

LCD Soundsystem

I LOVE LCD Soundsystem/ was real pumped to find out we were watching a taping of a LCD concert in class.

First and foremost, "I Can Change" is the shit I do like.



First of all, this song is catchy as hell: decently repetitive lyrics and upbeat pop-y music make this song impossible not to love. Secondly, James Murphy hits some real crazy high notes in this song, and I'm like, you go James Murphy, do your thing!

"Tribulations" is also my jam



Once again, a real funky techno beat to fist pump/ jump around to. This is actually the first LCD Soundsytem song I knew, and I had it on repeat on my lil' ipod shuffle for weeks.

I also really like Dance Yrself Clean, however, the build up is real long.



Well first of all, the whole song is like 9 minutes long, so that's already a whole lot of listening. Although the build up is long, there is some really nice harmonies and I like the real basic drum beat. But then, when the techno-fied jams come in full force around 3:08 or so, things get real crazy awesome & I love it.

The Shins

RIYL: Broken Bells, Edward Sharpe

The Shins are like a comfort-food band: always reliable to play for any audience or mood. And while I'm always down for that, I get a lil' tired of listening to them after a few tracks, but I'm picky and prefer faster-paced music so that's just me.

My all time favorite: Australia



How happy and soothing is that. Very Edward Sharpe-esque. However I have pretty much 0.00 idea what the lyrics are supposed to mean:

A dual tone under wall
The selfless fool who hoped he'd save us all
He never dreamt of such sterile hands,
You keep them folded in your lap,
Or raise them up to beg for scraps,
You know, he's holding you down,
With the tips of his fingers just the same,
Will you be pulled from the ocean,
But just a minute too late,
Or changed by a potion,
And find a handsome young mate,
For you to love.


The man is oppressing us? Love is cruel? There's a big man with fingers? I don't know!

Here are some more of my faves:



"The Simple Song" Aptly named. Still catchy and nice though.







Okay, and I'm pretty sure this one came directly off of a Broken Bells Album:



In conclusion, an easy listen, but nonetheless, enjoyable.

Beastie Boys

So, I struggle with how I feel about Beastie Boys. Sometimes I'm like this is super cool and different and such a unique sounds. And other times I think it's straight racket/ clashing sounds and I hate it so much. Another problem I have with the Beastie Boys is that I don't care for the voice of the lead singer/rapper/ whatever you want to call it. I feel like he is intentionally speaking obnoxiously and I'm just like stoooop. I get a Natalie Portman rap feel from them, and I feel like they are almost being intentionally annoying.

For instance, wtf is going on in this music video



However, one thing that saves the Beastie Boys for me is that I am a big fan of sampling/ remixing (as I expressed in my last post), and I think their work is revolutionary in the sampling sense. Even though some songs I'm pretty sure are just straight samples from other artists played back to back, overall, I think they do a pretty impressive job meshing sounds and making them their own.

My fav Beastie Boys song from Paul's Boutique is easily Car Thief



It reminds me of Girl Talk in the way that there is some slower songs playing in the background mixed with some faster beats and add-on techno/ DJ noises.

Anyways, Beastie Boys typically just bothers me, but I do like a few select tracks.

Remix City

I can't think of a specific artist I'm listening to right now besides JT who I just blogged about, so instead this blog is just going to be a compilation of my current favorite remixes. So basically, if I were a DJ, this would be what I would be throwing at you at your next club outing. Enjoy:

So, usually I don't get dubstep, think it sounds like a robot taking a shit, but every now and then I'm like okay, alright, this is pretty cool.

Sleepless (Loadstar Remix) -Excision


Okay, this next one is the "Original Don" Flosstradamus remix. This is the ish I do like. However it's not really the same unless you have it PUMPING out your speakers/ the addition of a strobe light or something crazy.



Then, pretty much the entire Project X soundtrack is awesome remixes, but this one is easily the best:

Kid Cudi - Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix)



Speaking of Ratatat in that last mix, here's another with Biggie Smalls I love:



Also, I really like all of AVICII's mixes, I saw AVICII at ACL this past year and it was party city.







Anyways, I can be really into club-type mixes and jams, or I can really hate them. It's pretty hit or miss.