5 songs I can’t get enough of: April 7, 2014

1. Beat Up Car by Taking Back Sunday

I know I’m totally bias since this band is my favorite band in all the lands, but this song makes me feel things deep inside. Not only do the escapist lyrics appeal to me (So if you’re interested, I’ll take you anywhere. I’ll buy some beat up car, we could get out of here. I’ll take you anywhere that you wanna go), but the vocals are stronger than ever and when the chorus hits, I feel the tunes in my soul. This is the most perfect song for this time of year as it’s beginning to warm up to spring – roll those windows down and blast this song and feel like you’re flying.

 

2. Yellow Paper by Royal Teeth

Since Spotify recommended this band to me a few days ago, I haven’t been able to get enough of them. I’m obsessed with their entire debut full length Glow (listen to this album now before you do anything else), but this song gets me every time. It’s slower than most of its surrounding counterparts, but it’s so sweet and mellow. The two sets of vocals are so smooth in this song that they almost melt completely together. It’s beautiful.

 

3. Haunt On by The Stationary Set

This is the title track from an album that I’ve listened to way too many times to count. Even when I was first jamming to this song, I wanted to sing along so badly that I’d throw in the words I knew and just ad-lib sounds for the rest. I can feel the passion in this song and that is something to take notice of. This song slowly builds on itself and about three minutes in, if you’re not feeling this song on a personal level, I’m worried about you. I love how the build up takes most of the song, then the band goes all out for a bit and then after some heartbeat-ish drumming, it’s over. Just, ah. So good.

 

4. The Boy Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn from The Broken Circle Breakdown Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

I just want to go ahead and say that this is not my normal style of music. I know I live in a small town in Southwest Virginia, and I know my area is ripe with bluegrass, but I’ve never really gotten into it. If you’ve seen this film, this will make sense to you. I guess that’s what does it for me – having seen the film and knowing the emotional impact this is going to give you in the film, this song is just perfect. The male vocals start it out, with some light banjo picking and after a bit, female vocals work in until everything picks up and you have a howling good time. But for real, all the instruments come together in such a beautiful arc that it’s hard not to at least appreciate it. (Also, I know I’m a music blog and not a movie blog, but this movie is one of the best movies I have ever seen – check it out)

 

5. Memoria by Fairweather

I just discovered this band a couple of days ago and if you’re in need of some new rock tunes, check out this self-titled album that just came out last week. This song in particular is my personal favorite from the album – probably because of the pulsing drums and insanity of the guitar workings. This band isn’t all prim and proper polished kind of rock, so turn away if that’s something you look for. I love the sounds that make me feel like I’m at a rock show – as if I could close my eyes and envision it surrounding me.

 

What are you all listening to right now?

5 Songs I Can’t Get Enough Of

1. Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood

This song has been on repeat since I discovered it. I literally cannot play this enough. At home, in the car, at work, in the shower. I love all versions of this song. It’s a slow, seductive beat with just a slight bounce in its step. It’s soft enough to jam to if you’re feeling mellow, but there’s enough to the song that you can sing it at the top of your lungs if you’re feeling it (which I usually am). I love the whole album (I Love You), but this track has stuck out to me since day one.

2. Chocolate by the 1975

Upbeat and poppy, this song brings some beautiful English blokes to the forefront. I’m going to be honest – most of the time I have no idea what the lyrics actually are (even after Googling them),  but you better believe I still sing along in a slurred, lisp-ish kind of way. This jam reminds me of what Oasis would be if they were thrown into a blender with some obnoxious bubble gum pop and what resulted was the best smoothie you’ve ever tasted. I’m anxiously awaiting their newest album.

3. Explode by Patrick Stump

When FOB went on their hiatus, I was angry and resentful, so I mostly ignored all of the members for a good time. That included the time period when Patrick Stump went solo. Spotify recommended the album to me a few days ago after I’d been listening to some questionable tunes and some Fall Out Boy and I gave the album a listen and this song nearly made me fall out of my chair I was dancing so much. The rest of the album is all right (Patrick, you’re better with the band) but dude, this song blows the roof off of the building.

4. The Mother We Share by CHVRCHES

I know this is total hipster stuff, but really, this jam is hard to shy away from. There are some sick beats happening and then this slightly Ellie Goulding-ish vocal comes in and all hope is lost for you resisting this jam. I usually don’t like music like this, but something about this song is too catchy for its own good.

5. Electric Feel by MGMT

I always freak out when this song comes on Pandora when I’m in the shower and I never actually listened to MGMT in excess until a few days ago. This is the one song I keep coming back to, though. When I’m not listening to it, I’m thinking about it. When I’m not thinking about it, I’m listening to it. This is a perfect song to turn on at 4:56 when you need that little extra boost to get through your work day. You’ll be lost in the solar beats and and soothed by the gentle rocking motion until you’re ready to walk out that door in peace after a long day. Seriously, I love this band.

I have these songs on a playlist to themselves on Spotify and I just listen to them over and over again at work. You’d think I would get sick of em, but they’re just that good.

What song(s) can you not get enough of right now?

Back to the Music vol. III

I’m a little behind with these playlists, aren’t I? I’ll try to catch up within the next couple of weeks since I usually post them on Sundays when I take the day off from reviews.

Without further ado, here is the third installment of my favorite tracks of the albums I’ve reviewed!

Click to open on Spotify.
Which are your favorites? Which do you not like? What would you like to see more of? Let me know in the comments!

Archive page is now live!

Hey all – I just wanted to make a quick post to say a word about my all new Archive page that you can find at the top of the blog. I had been doing some archive stuff at work and decided it was a decent idea to do it for the blog – for myself AND my readers. I can see what I’ve done and if there’s something you’re looking for, it’s much easier to access this way.

You can check out the archive simply by clicking right here for now. It has an A-Z listing of every album I’ve reviewed, links to that post, and a date for the post. I’ll keep the archive updated now that it’s all put together.

I hope everyone had some great holidays! I’m ready to get back into the swing of things around the blog parts with some more frequent and routine postings.

And as always, feel free to get at me on Twitter @candacesykes or shoot me an email at candaceasykes@yahoo.com for comments or reccomendations. I love hearing from everyone, so hit me up there or leave some comments on the blog!

Thank you!

Before I start my post for the night, I’d like to put some huge Thank You‘s out there into the universe.

Firstly, thank you to Orianthi who has posted my review of her Fire EP on her Twitter and her Facebook. When I sat watching her on Michael Jackson’s This Is It, or when I sat singing along to her Believe album in my car, or even when I began this blog I didn’t expect anything of this magnitude. I thought I’d just keep a blog to make myself write more often. I had no idea one of my favorite musicians would be reading and sharing a review I had written about her music.

And thank you to every one who has read this blog. To those who read it daily, to those who read it once a week, or to those new folks who have been reading it and sending my stats through the roof. Thank you.

You can always feel free to contact me on Twitter or through an email at candaceasykes@yahoo.com or you can of course leave some comments on the blog!

Just for Fun: Top 25 Most Played

I was looking at my iTunes earlier and discovered a rather hilarious Top 25 Most Played list. Have a look (and a laugh)

1. Hold It Against Me – Britney Spears (47)
2. Honey Bee – Blake Shelton (34)
3. Breaking News – Michael Jackson (17)
4. Enchanted – Taylor Swift (17)
5. El Paso – Taking Back Sunday (17)
6. Monster – Kanye West (14)
7. Blue Gangsta – Michael Jackson (14)
8. MakeDamnSure – Taking Back Sunday (13)
9. Love The Way You Lie (featuring Rihanna) – Eminem (12)
10. New Again – Taking Back Sunday (12)
11. A Decade Under the Influence – Taking Back Sunday (12)
12. One-Eighty By Summer – Taking Back Sunday (11)
13. My Blue Heaven – Taking Back Sunday (11)
14. Carpathia – Taking Back Sunday (11)
15. Didn’t See That Coming – Taking Back Sunday (11)
16. Set Phasers to Stun – Taking Back Sunday (11)
17. Your Own Disaster – Taking Back Sunday (10)
18. Everything Must Go – Taking Back Sunday (10)
19. Cute Without The E (Cut From The Team) – Taking Back Sunday (10)
20. Speak Now – Taylor Swift (10)
21. Teenage Dream – Katy Perry (9)
22. Chasm – Flyleaf (8)
23. Teeth – Lady Gaga (8)
24. Na Na Na – My Chemical Romance (8)
25. What Hurts The Most – Rascal Flatts (8)

There is no doubt about my favorite band, is there? (I would also like to mention that songs 10-19 are off of the album Live From Orensanz. Amazing. Go listen.)

This, ladies and gentlemen of the blogosphere, is why I’m writing this blog.
Quite frankly, besides a few tracks, that top 25 is embarrassing.