alita's tunes

Top Tunes (week ending May 19, according to last.fm) 1. Farewell...

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:34:28 -0700

Top Tunes (week ending May 19, according to last.fm)

1. Farewell J.R – Night Wolves

5. Bruce Springsteen – Hungry Heart (What can I say? I was craving Warm Bodies music last week.)

My listening was all over the place last week, but with the weather cooling and threatening rain, it tended towards the mellow. Now that the rain has descended in earnest I fully expect to see a similar top tunes list next week.

soundboard: The Hush Sound - Lighthouse I was listening to this...

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:13:11 -0700

soundboard:

The Hush Sound - Lighthouse

I was listening to this on the train the other day and by that, I mean really listening. And then I realized how gruesome this song is. Awesome. Basically it talks about a ghost in a lighthouse and two lovers. Eerie and creepy, I imagine a foggy beach scene with some dark lighthouse.

The Hush Sound was also one of the bands playing at my first ever concert. I remember really enjoying the album Like Vines afterwards. If I’m ever feeling nostalgic, I listen to this album.

The Hush Sound are from Illinois and they went on a hiatus from 2008 to 2012. A new album is expected to come out later this year.

I hope you enjoy this creepy choice on this lovely Saturday.

-Sherwin

Top Tunes (week ending May 12, according to last.fm) 1. Magic...

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:20:08 -0700

Top Tunes (week ending May 12, according to last.fm)

1. Magic Man – Texas (These guys announced their signing to Neon Gold / Columbia Records last week. Super excited for them!)

2. Reptar – Houseboat Babies

3. The Get Up Kids - Ten Minutes (Took a trip down musical memory lane last week and spent a day listening to almost nothing by TGUK, Saves The Day, Dashboard Confessional, Midtown, New Found Glory, and the like. ‘Twas wonderful.)

4. Savoir Adore – Dreamers

5. Magic Man - Paris

soundboard: Beach House - The HoursSubmissions Week 2013 After...

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:46:38 -0700

soundboard:

Beach House - The Hours
Submissions Week 2013

After their impeccable 2010 release Teen Dream, where could Beach House possibly go? How could they possibly get any better? However, last year’s Bloom puts those concerns to rest and beyond. At this point in the game, it has become clear that the duo operates by perfecting their sound instead of drastically changing it from one release to the next. In this way, Bloom is their most fully fleshed-out and sonically whole record. Moreover, it has become one of my go-to albums for anything and everything from walking to class to late night paper writing.

From the very first listen, ‘The Hours’ has always stood out to me, and the warmer weather has made it all the more pertinent and necessary. As usual, Scally’s guitar riffs are in perfect sync with Legrand’s vocals and keyboard. The song is quite an unexpected burst of energy with more prominent percussion adding another level to their already layered sound. A track this beautifully rich could have only come from the duo building and developing their dreamy repertoire over the course of four albums. A common complaint about Beach House and their music is that its sometimes slow tendencies induce sleep and drowsiness. But in ‘The Hours,’ that is hardly the case. The sun is out and it’s shining through the blinds. Just open your (‘frightened’) eyes.

-thepatformist

Top Tunes (week ending May 5, according to last.fm) 1. The Royal...

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:13:18 -0700

Top Tunes (week ending May 5, according to last.fm)

1. The Royal Concept – World On Fire

2. Reptar – Houseboat Babies (A song that I feel I should be totally offended and annoyed by… yet I can’t stop listening to it.)

3. Savoir Adore – Dreamers

4. Magic Man – Texas

5. The Royal Concept – D-D-Dance (Expanding my Royal Concept listening a bit… this may replace World On Fire’s spot soon.)

Tumblr is full of Spring today. High Highs - Flowers Bloom

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:24:09 -0700

Tumblr is full of Spring today.

High Highs - Flowers Bloom

Photo

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:14:32 -0700

unsettledgap: This semester, I’ve spent much time studying to...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:16:54 -0700

unsettledgap:

This semester, I’ve spent much time studying to the sounds of Passion Pit’s Gossamer album. It’s one of those albums I can listen to straight through without skipping any tracks. Though I like all the songs on Gossamer, “Constant Conversations” is my favorite. What can I say? I’m a sucker for bittersweet lyrics, vocal harmonies and playful electronic distortions.

Passion Pit - Constant Conversations (by majesticcasual)

Top Tunes (week ending Apr 28, according to last.fm) 1. Family...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:52:39 -0700

Top Tunes (week ending Apr 28, according to last.fm)

1. Family of the Year – St. Croix

2. The Royal Concept – World On Fire

3. Family of the Year – Living On Love

4. Family of the Year – Diversity

5. Family of the Year – The Stairs

I went to see Family of the Year play last week, hence their takeover of this list. It was my fourth time seeing them and I will continue to see them play if only to see St. Croix live again. I mean, all their songs are great live band, I just really love that song.

As much as I listed to Family of the Year last week, this song would have been at the top of the list if there was a way to scrobble SoundCloud plays with last.fm: We Are The City - Baptism

allmymetaphors: if you think that i won’t listen to the same song 400 times in a row you are dead...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:24:00 -0700

allmymetaphors:

if you think that i won’t listen to the same song 400 times in a row you are dead wrong

true story

We Are The City - Baptism This song starts off providing a good...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:23:20 -0700

We Are The City - Baptism

This song starts off providing a good helping of the chills and then ends with heart pounding awesomeness.

*waits impatiently for full length*

soundboard: Siblings - Colours I’ve sung the praises for Songs...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:29:21 -0700

soundboard:

Siblings - Colours

I’ve sung the praises for Songs From A Room a few times on Soundboard but let it be known the most recent edition last Friday was both the best I’ve ever attended and played at. The Sofar Birmingham crew really made a wonderful evening; the atmosphere was so warm and I felt like I left with a whole bunch of new friends.

Back to the music! Tonight I bring you a four-piece band from Derbyshire, England, whom I had the delight of sharing the stage with on Friday. Siblings was the opening band and was an uplifting start to the night. Their harmonies were so tight; I’m always impressed by guys who can harmonise well and these four were simply stunning.

This is their fabulous brand new single, Colours. Let it brighten your night.

- Rosie

Well, this is a cute little tune.

I’ve all but stopped blogging at the moment, but I miss...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:43:59 -0700

I’ve all but stopped blogging at the moment, but I miss sharing my weekly top tunes! So for the time being I’m going to post them over here.

Top Tunes (week ending Apr 21, according to last.fm)

1. The Royal Concept – World On Fire

2. Haim – Falling

3. Haim – Forever

4. Magic Man – Paris

5. M83 vs. Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen At Midnight

I have found a hole in my coat / and I have found a lump in my...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:57:38 -0700

I have found a hole in my coat /

and I have found a lump in my throat

I need to find a way to request this song when he comes back to town in the summer.

Passenger - Wide Eyes

soundboard: Alt-J - Dissolve Me You’ll have to forgive me. I...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:14:35 -0700

soundboard:

Alt-J - Dissolve Me

You’ll have to forgive me. I find myself increasingly out of touch with the new music “scene” sometimes, which is a huge part of why I love being a part of Soundboard. My friends give me a little sampling of the music rocking their lives every week which is very helpful since, I can try to keep up with new releases and album news, but at a certain point I have to say (as I’m sure I’ve said before on this blog), there are only so many hours in a day.

All of that makes what I’m about to say sound a little crazy but… I often hold off on listening to the music that I hear people raving about. Alt-J is one of those artists who’s tracks I’ve seen on my dashboard too many times to count… and not one of those times have I ever pressed play. Or at least not until last week. The result: another of my album download’y, repeat all’y music marathons of new music.

So here’s a bit of advice… just press play. The next audio post you see on your dashboard, just press it. If you don’t like what you hear, you can just stop it, but you’ll never know unless you listen.

Runners up:

Miike Snow - Bavarian #1 (Say You Will)

Caribou - Lord Leopard

James Blake - Overgrown

- Max

derauftakt: The Royal ConceptWorld on Fire The Royal Concept is...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:18:51 -0700

derauftakt:

The Royal Concept
World on Fire

The Royal Concept is a Swedish band, ready to take over the world with their music. “World on Fire”, for example, has an infectious synth melody that will make you want to dance to it in your pyjamas.

Download the track for free now on SOUNDCLOUD and give in to the music!

regularrumination: Forever by Haim I really like this song and...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:33:59 -0700

regularrumination:

Forever by Haim

I really like this song and most of the other songs I’ve heard from Haim. The first time I heard this song, I didn’t love it, but it has grown on me in the listen-to-it-a-hundred-times-a-day kinda way. I love the way it builds. I love that it’s music that feels new, even though it’s clearly influenced by a lot of different genres.

What if I posted a new song every couple of days? And then recapped on my blog once a week? I would listen to new things and share them with you. This sounds like a good thing. Let’s see if I can keep it up.

I had the same reaction to this song. Loving this band so much right now.

stereogum: Counting Down: Death Cab For Cutie Albums From Worst...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:07:06 -0700

stereogum:

Counting Down: Death Cab For Cutie Albums From Worst To Best

100% agree with their top pick. Although I would have switched #2 & #3.

fishingboatproceeds: johndarnielle: So, people ask me this...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:18:16 -0700

fishingboatproceeds:

johndarnielle:

So, people ask me this sometimes, and I appreciate that they want me and Peter and Jon to get maximum paid for the records we make. And it is true that we’ll get the biggest cut from sales at shows, because those copies are copies we buy directly from the label. However, I am every bit just as happy and in fact in some ways happier to take a slightly reduced cut if you’re buying from your local record store, which is almost doubtless scrambling to survive every day, or from a cool mailorder, or directly from the label if the label does mailorder.

I make a little bit of a big deal about this because more people than me need to get paid for the stuff I do to happen. There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about labels and publishers as if they were hurdles to be cleared, obstacles to be circumnavigated. I can’t speak for anybody else’s experiences, though stories of label skullduggery abound, and shame on such labels. But my personal experience in independent music is that the people releasing Mountain Goats records aren’t “The Label.” They’re my friends, and they’re also almost all musicians themselves. They are people who share exactly equivalent praise or blame for the music I make, because you wouldn’t have heard it without them, by which I mean without their support and nurturing and faith I would never have made the music in the first place. So while I’m, again, grateful that people think of my well-being, it’s my opinion that the people who make the music available - especially independent labels, especially independent stores - deserve your patronage, and it’s 100% ok if I have to sell a few more records at retail to make as much as I’d make selling them at shows. I don’t do what I do in a vacuum. Without the labels that put out my stuff and the stores that stocked it and the people working in the stores who told people browsing to maybe check out the Mountain Goats, I would almost doubtless not even own a guitar right now. I’d be a nurse somewhere in California, and I’d write poetry in my downtime. Which would also be a good life, because every day above ground is a good day, unless you’re getting shot at, it sucks to get shot at, but you see my point

This is very important.

bashboomwallop: Work - Jimmy Eat World Can we take a ride? Get...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:51:32 -0700

bashboomwallop:

Work - Jimmy Eat World

Can we take a ride? Get out of this place while we still have time.