Wait? What? I do something besides sit around watch movies? What kind of black magic is this?
But yes, I decided to take a little break from reviewing movies for now because, well, I didn’t see anything worth talking about. So today I wanted to talk about something I’m also passionate about: music. I play guitar and I sing a little bit so music has been a big part of my life ever since I was a little boy honestly. So let’s cut the shit, here are some of my favorite bands in no particular order. I will mention which one is my favorite of course.
Weezer
Kind of weird starting off with Weezer, but let’s be honest, I grew up with Weezer. As I got older, I started getting more and more in to them. Most of their songs just have this energy to them that keeps me coming back for more and each song just gets catchier and catchier. They’re one of those bands that just creates music that to me anyways never gets old and I can listen to each song on repeat and still never get tired of it until I get tired of it. I actually got the chance to see them in concert a few weeks ago and they put on one hell of a show. Even though it was late at night and I was actually outside stuck in the rain, they managed to keep the audience moving, dancing, energized and even laughing throughout the two hours they performed. Definitely the best concert I’ve been to out of the two I’ve seen prior.
Listen to "Undone (The Sweater Song)," "Thank God for Girls," "My Name is Jonas," "Hash Pipe," "Susanne" and "Say It Ain’t So."
Album recommendation is "The Blue Album," "The Green Album," "The White Album" and "Pinkerton."
The Lumineers
Yeah, a bit more mellow than Weezer, but it’s my list, shut up. Anyway, just something about The Lumineers just keeps me listening. Their ballads (with only a few exceptions) just sound so beautiful and even though some of it does sound it it’s been done before, most of the time I don’t even care because it just sounds like they make it their own. Not to mention for most of their songs their lyrics are actually heartbreakingly beautiful. Like some bands they manage to say something in their songs that I don’t think much of until I fully analyze it, then I just say, "Yeah, that actually makes sense… It’s depressing, but it makes sense." The Lumineers is just one of those bands to me in which I just listen to if I just want to chill out and relax. That’s the best way I can describe it.
Listen to "Ophelia" (my personal favorite), "Stubborn Love," "Flowers In Your Hair," "Cleopatra," "Charlie Boy" and "Morning Song."
Album recommendation is their self titled album and "Cleopatra" because that’s all they have.
Brand New
Mixed with heavy rock and some soft rock, this is the band that just always tells the truth. Yes, you can listen to some songs and fully rock out, but their main purpose isn’t just to get the heads banging. Most of the time (in my point of view; honestly, I could just be thinking too deep in to it) they’re always trying to say something about society and how corrupt we might be, but maybe if we try a bit harder we might not be as corrupt. Sure, some songs might not be that way but that’s how I see it at least. Also, some songs will just make you cry. No doubt. Listen to their lyrics and you’ll know what I mean. Wow, for a band I love, that was actually pretty hard to critique.
Listen to "Sowing Season (Yeah)," "Archers," "Jesus Christ" (my personal favorite), "Okay I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don’t," "Limousine," "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows," "Millstone" and "Luca."
Album recommendation is "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me" and "Deja Entendu."
Bright Eyes
This band will make you cry. Just throwing that out there. No matter what kind of speed the song is it will make you cry. I love every second of it. Also Conor Oberst’s voice is just amazing.
That’s all I have to say. They’re amazing.
Listen to "Lua" (my personal favorite), "At the Bottom of Everything," "Land Locked Blues," "We Are Nowhere and It’s Now," "First Day of My Life," "Poison Oak," "The Movement of a Hand" and "Arienette."
Album recommendation? Well, they have a lot, but my personal favorites are "I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning" and "Fevers and Mirrors."
Nickelback
Ha! You actually thought I was serious? You should've seen the look on your face!!!!! Yeah, no. I’m not a 12-year-old who thinks he knows what music is, but really is just trying to be cool. Seriously, who writes a song about a photograph?
In all seriousness...
Mac DeMarco
A bit more obscure (shout out to my friend Mitch for introducing me to him), but I think that’s what he should continue to be. Obscure. I can’t really see him going mainstream. His music is honestly just hard to describe. For most people it would sound like typical stoner music, in which I can totally see why, but something about his songs just make them really catchy, even though it’s not really all that fast. His music is actually really hard to talk about because all I can think of is that it’s nice. It’s what I need I hear after just a tiring day. His songs are pretty simplistic (granted I haven’t listened to all his songs so I don’t know how true that statement is), but it just calms me down. It’s nice, I can’t really see anyone just flat out hating him. Give him a shot. I love him.
Listen to "Blue Boy" (my personal favorite), "Salad Days," "Let Her Go," "Brother," "Goodbye Weekend," "Another One," "Treat Her Better" and "Dreaming."
Album recommendations are "Salald Days," "Another One" and "2."
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is my personal favorite band right now. Once you start listening to one song, you’re immediately hooked. They have such great beats that just immediately hooks the listener, but then once they start listening to the lyrics the whole song becomes pretty intense. The best way I can describe this band is that they just understand what you want to hear. Like, if I’m sad one day, then I can just put on some of their songs no matter how sad it is and I would just feel better because they just understand.
Listen to "Transatlanticism" (my personal favorite), "The Sound of Settling," "Title and Registration," "I Will Possess Your Heart," "A Lack of Color", "Grapevine Fires", "Soul Meets Body", "What Sarah Said", "Brothers on a Hotel Bed", "Talking Bird" and "Little Wanderer."
Album recommendations are "Transatlanticism", "Plans" and "Narrow Stairs"
They’re just absolutely euphoric.
Arcade Fire
Again, it’s really hard to describe, but their music just sounds absolutely beautiful and extremely catchy. Just listen to some of their songs and you’ll know what I mean. There is no real way for me to describe it.
Listen to "Wake Up", "Supersymmetry", "Rebellion (Lies)", "Reflektor", "The Suburbs", "Windowsill" and "Neon Bible."
Album recommendations are "Neon Bible", "Funeral", "The Suburbs" and the "Her soundtrack."
The Black Keys
These guys will have anybody dancing. Their songs are very simplistic, and even when they’re talking about something serious such as love, they’ll still have the catchiest beat ever. I’ve always been a fan of bluesy indie rock and The Black Keys are the perfect example of that, I honestly can’t think of a song by them I don’t like and they’re one of the bands that I feel like I would love to see live many times. I just love them so much.
Listen to "Tighten Up", "Gold on the Ceiling", "She’s Long Gone", "Everlasting Light", "Next Girl" and "Gotta Get Away."
Album recommendations are "Brothers" and "El Camino."
LCD Soundsystem
This is the last band I’ll talk about. Sadly not around anymore, their music was very upbeat and no matter what mood I was in, their music would always put me in a good mood. Again, pretty simplistic lyrics, but I don’t really care. Their music just has me coming back for more and more and I can’t get enough of them. If you like dance-electronic music, then check them out.
Listen to "All My Friends" (my personal favorite), "Dance Yourself Clean", "I Can Change", "Daft Punk is Playing at my House", "Someone Great" and "Home."
Album recommendation are "This is Happening", "London Sessions" and "Sound of Silver."
Obviously those aren’t all the bands I listen to, they’re just the basics of what I listen to. Check them out when you get the chance.
