Today I was going through my iTunes purging some of the nasties out of my music collection and it occurred to me there are a lot of great songs that I have been sitting on for some time. I'm sure at one time or another I had them in the ol' "Songs For RopBop" playlist but somehow they grew legs and got out. I fixed that though with my saw I call "tagging". You can come to expect some really good stuff in the next coming months. I bring you 6 tunes that I think are worthy for your listening pleasure.I have had this song for at least 3 years. Basia has since blown up a little more fame wise. I think I saw one of her songs featured on MTV's website. I don't really like that but I am glad she is getting some exposure cause she deserves it. The Pilgriming Vine starts out as a nice jangly acoustic song with Bulats pretty and shakey vocals dripping over like honey but ends in an almost Renaissance fair feel with fluttering flutes, flowing strings and marching drums. I always think about the video for "Saftey Dance", the part where they are all dancing around the pole,when I hear this song.
Basia Bulat - The Pilgriming Vine
Final Fantasy can only be described by one word and that is bittersweet. Final Fantasy is pretty much the solo project of Owen Pallett, who is a regular touring member of The Hidden Cameras and The Arcade Fire. He has a talent of not only singing the sound of tragedy but playing it as well with strings. Final Fantasy songs are great to have on as background music while doing important things like homework, or paying bills. I find it keeps me calm and fits my sad mood as I am giving away my money.
Final Fantasy - Took You Two Years To Win My Heart
If you have never heard of the Wrens it's because they have had nothing but bad luck when it comes to record labels. The band had a long span of 7 years in between releasing albums, and it's not because they suck either. This band is, in my opinion so so so underrated. Which also makes me love them even more as a music geek, you know the less known the cooler they are. Label issues aside this band makes nothing short of amazing indie-pop melodies with superb harmonization. The band knows how to go from quirky to intimate without missing a beat in between. I highly highly recommend going to a local record shop, and I'm not talking Best Buy, and asking them to get you a copy of Medowlands. This song is not on it, it's from an out of print album, but it's just as good.
The Wrens - I've Made Enough Friends
I don't know a lot about Kevin Devine. I know that he was in a band called the Miricle of 86, before he decided to go at it on his own. I know he's got red hair. I am pretty sure he's toured with Bright Eyes. What I do know is that this song has a chilled out tone and a really good beat. It kind of reminds me of how I feel when I wake up in the morning. When you have that "Ugh, I'm up. I should get up, but I do I really have to?" sort of feeling. Throw this tune on as you roll your bag of bones out of bed, it might make it a little easier.
Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band - Another Bag Of Bones
This stoney little number was one of my staple songs of this summer. It has a sort of lazy muggy heat feel to it.
The Papercuts - The Void
A darkened musty basement lit with strings of christmas lights. Thrift store furniture that doesn't match. Boys with glasses, black t-shirts, sideburns and straight leg jeans. Girls with scarves, little hippie purses, knee high socks, and arty prints. The room is loud with laughter and talking and in the air there is that smell of beer and cigarettes. There is a stage at the end barley lit except for a few blacklights and neon green signs. There is a bald man with a well kept beard wearing stereo headphones hunched over a sampler. Two gigantic speakers sit at his side. The music starts and the crowd watches, slightly apprehensive about breaking their conversations. Some yell over the music, others go up the stairs, most though slowly make way to the front drinks in hand, dancing begins....
Dan Deacon - Snookered
The crowd goes wild....
