Here’s a late Christmas gift for you all: some "new" music from fantastic musicians (as in, music that you maybe haven't heard yet). These songs don’t really fit a particular genre; they’re just my current jams and I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. They’re kind of amazing…
1. "Charlie Brown" by Coldplay
From this album: Mylo Xyloto (2011)
Recent radio hits by this artist: “A Sky Full of Stars”, “Adventure of a Lifetime”, “Magic”, “Paradise”
Notable lyrics in the song: We’ll run riot//we’ll be glowing in the dark
This marvelous song is from Coldplay’s late 2000s era, when they released gems like “Paradise” and “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall”. Also, if you enjoy the driving, catchy rhythms and sunny, sweeping sounds seen in Coldplay’s most recent record, “A Head Full of Dreams”, then you’ll be extra appreciative of this track’s sound.
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2. "Come Together" by Echosmith
From the album: Talking Dreams (2013)
Recent radio hits by this artist: “Bright”, “Cool Kids”
Notable lyrics in the song: We've got hopes on the horizon//we can't stop from climbing the mountain//we're sick and tired of keeping silent//we are, we are, we are
“Come Together” is an upbeat, anthem-like track and it’s just a lot of fun. The song strikes a great balance between the seriousness of their lyrics in “Cool Kids” and the sweet, fairytale-like aura of “Bright”. This young band is pretty darn versatile, and the contrasts between these three songs prove it.
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3. "Undisclosed Desires" by Muse
From the album: The Resistance (2009)
Recent radio hits by this artist: “Madness”, “Dead Inside”, “Uprising”
Notable lyrics in the song: I want to reconcile the violence in your heart//I want to recognize your beauty is not just a mask//I want to exorcise the demons from your past//I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart
If you like the slightly bizarre, but cinematic sounds of “Madness” and “Uprising”, then you’ll also appreciate “Undisclosed Desires”. This song isn’t well known, but it has a great chorus and interesting lyrics that tell a compelling story.
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4. "The Truth" by Foster the People
From the album: Supermodel (2014)
Recent radio hits by this artist: “Coming of Age”, “Pumped up Kicks”
Notable lyrics in this song: I've been searching for the directions and
I'm convinced the world doesn't know what it needs//There is a hope for the hopeless// I can promise you that
This is a catchy and groovy track, with Mark Foster showing off his killer vocal range throughout the song. The chorus is guaranteed to stick in your head for about a week after you listen to this song, but really, it’s worth it.
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5. "Life in Color" by OneRepublic
From the album: Native (2013)
Recent radio hits by this artist: “Counting Stars”, “Apologize”, “Good Life”, “Feel Again”
Notable lyrics in this song: Oh oh oh oh//well this is life in motion//and just when I couldn't run this race//the sun bursts, clouds break/this is life in color
“Life in Color” is the type of upbeat song you can listen to as you drive home with you windows down after finishing a tough test. Basically, it’s happiness, hope, and sunshine, all bottled up into a single track.
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6. “i believe” by Christina Perri
From the album: head or heart (2014)
Recent radio hits by this artist: “human”, “jar of hearts”, “A Thousand Years”
Notable lyrics in this song: I believe in the lost possibilities you can see//and I believe that the darkness reminds us where light can be
I first heard “i believe” in the trailer for the movie Pan and I fell in love with it. This song is written with gorgeous, but simple piano melodies and some strings backing Christina’s expressive voice. Also, the lyrics are so introspective and beautiful and yeah…just stop reading this article and go listen to it already! (But, come back when you’re done, because there are more songs to come)
7. "Ode to Sleep" by Twenty One Pilots
From the album: Vessel (2013)
Recent radio hits by this artist: “Tear in my Heart”, “Stressed Out”, “House of Gold”
Notable lyrics in this song: I’ll stay awake//cause the dark’s not taking prisoners tonight
If you’re ready to move onto some hardcore TOP stuff after hearing “Stressed Out” for the millionth time on the radio, go to some of the songs from Vessel. This specific track, “Ode to Sleep”, is unconventional and strange, but altogether brilliant. It switches moods in the middle of the song, features Tyler Joseph’s unique rapping skills (better than the rapping in “Stressed Out”, in my humble opinion), and shows intense emotions through its lyrics. I’ll warn you, this song isn’t the type that is immediately pleasing to the ears. But, it definitely deserves a few listens.
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8. “Weight of Living, Pt. 2” by Bastille
From the album: Bad Blood (2013)
Recent radio hits by this artist: “Pompeii”, “Bad Blood”
Notable lyrics in this song: All that you desired when you were a child//Was to be old, was to be old//Now that you are here suddenly you fear//You’ve lost control, you’ve lost control//Do you like the person you’ve become?
You probably haven’t heard the name Bastille in a while. But, you need to listen to this track, because it basically should be the anthem of every college student. It’s about this terrifying experience called growing up, and the alarm of suddenly being an adult. And if you like this track, there’s also a “Weight of Living, Pt. 1” on the deluxe edition of the album.
