I hope this blog introduces you to new songs, books and movies. If they aren't all already part of the popular culture, they should be. Or hopefully will be!
There will always be a new post of the day drawn from the new as well as old familiars that haven't been seen or heard in a while. The songs will always be personal favorites of mine so apologies in advance!
Nice song by Nine Inch Nails from the new album, Hesitation Marks (2013). The music sounds a little different. It's lost some roughness around the edges but it still has an industrial rock sound that works. It's just different, that's all.
The lyrics remind me of "Big Brother" when referencing satellites. I think the song is about the fact that we are constantly being watched from the sky, though it might be drones rather than satellites in reality. And maybe finding a way around all that surveillance?
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!
Jason Aldean is an American country artist with five albums over the last eight years. This is one of my favorite songs from his last album Night Train (2012). I like the fact that his country twang is authentic - at least I'm guessing that it is since he was born and raised in Georgia.
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artist and buy his music.
The Monster is one of my favorite songs on Eminem's latest album, The Marshall Mathers LP2 (2013). I think his best songs are collaborations with other artists (notable among the crowd are Nick Reuss from fun and Sia). Eminem is definitely talented and entertaining! But, as always, the lyrics are not for the faint of heart.
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!
Modest mouse is an American group that's been around for almost twenty years. They have eleven studio albums. Satellite Skin is from their most recent album, No One's First and You're Next (2009).
They've been working on their next album for several years - not sure if it will ever come out.
For those wondering about the name of the group, it is not a take on the cartoon character, Mighty Mouse. Wiki reports the following as the source of the name:
Their name is derived from a passage from the Virginia Woolf story The Mark on the Wall which reads, "I wish I could hit upon a pleasant track of thought, a track indirectly reflecting credit upon myself, for those are the pleasantest thoughts, and very frequent even in the minds of modest, mouse-coloured people, who believe genuinely that they dislike to hear their own praises."
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!
The Editors are a group that formed more than ten years ago. After several name changes, they finally settled on their current name in 2004, as they were getting their first recording contract. They've had four albums, the most recent was The Weight of Your Love (2013). It's a good album with What Is This Thing Called Love being my favorite. It's a little melodramatic but still good.
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!!
The Civil Wars is an American duo with country roots. The group has said the inspiration for the band name came from driving around and seeing civil war monuments (see NYCARTSCENE for more from that interview). I wonder if it has more to do with the dynamics of the two as they sing on some of their songs.
With two studio albums to their credit in the last three years, John Paul White and Joy Williams have a good start towards a long and successful country music career. Eavesdrop is one of my favorite songs from their second album, The Civil Wars (2013).
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!!
Lauren Aquilina is an eighteen year old singer-songwriter from England. She has two extended play albums, both of which had a single that broke the top 100 for the UK Singles Charts. Lilo is from her first album, Fools (2012). I can't wait for her first full length album.
I wasn't sure what a lilo was but apparently it is a UK term for an inflatable mattress. I guess the lyrics make more sense with that knowledge!
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artist and buy her music!!!
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian group that formed thirty years ago. With fourteen albums, they've a lot of songs from which to choose. Amazing to see any group last so long but Push the Sky Away (2013) is the first without Mick Harvey, who was one of the founding members. It's still an excellent album with lots of good music with vivid imagery. Wide Lovely Eyes is from Push the Sky Away (2013) - good song though Higgs Bosun Blues is the song with the catchier title! That song belongs on Big Bang Theory (my favorite sitcom on television!).
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!
Vienna Teng is an American folk-singer. Though she's had five studio albums, I don't think she's had major commercial success. I think that's our loss. As a Stanford Comp Sci grad who has worked for Cisco, she certainly has a fallback career if need be.
She has released a new album recently, Aims, but I haven't heard it yet, though I'm very excited based on past work. Stray Italian Greyhound is from her 2009 Inland Territory album. I liked the work a lot and think we can expect great things from Vienna.
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artist and buy her music!!!!
Really interesting song from Jay-Z and Frank Ocean. Go to rap-up.com for a video from Jay-Z that explains the song - basically reflecting on the fact that the water on which his yacht is floating is the same water that brought his ancestors as slaves.
Catchy tune and I like the contrast between Frank Ocean's and Jay-Z's voice makes the song all the more interesting!!
Please see the video below for music and lyrics.
If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!!
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