The Letter I

Ida is one of the best chill out bands that you will ever hear. Their music is very minimalistic, and dual guy/girl vocal harmonies that create a beautiful and peaceful landscape. The band has released many albums since it's debut in 1994 on both major and independent record labels. I love throwing on an Ida album when I am reading. So relaxing. I'd suggest their album I Know About You, but this song is off of their most recent full length Lovers Prayers.
Ida - Lovers Prayers


80's synths, catchy lyrics, and a beat you can most certainly work out to. Definitely the type of song that gets stuck in your brain, so be ready to sing it all day!
Iglu & Hartly - Day Glo


This band hails from the Great White North. That's Canada if you weren't sure. Take off you hoser! Straight up indie rock. I first heard this song on my way home from work, I found myself going a lot faster than what I should have been. Neat fact, the bands name is taken from the Paul Simon song One-Trick Pony.
Immaculate Machine - Dear Confessor


I posted a song by the Islands quite a long time ago but I can't resist posting another from them. This is a rowdy little number that breaks down to an almost Caribbean calypso feel half way through which makes it really hard not to dance to. These boys are also Canadian, hence the french title of this song which I believe translates to "I love to see you leave."
Islands - J'aime Vous Voir Quitter


I don't know much about Ingrid Michaelson, she's fairly new on my radar, but from what I have heard I really dig her stuff. She did a really good Ukelele version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. This song is a poppy post break up song. Happy isn't what you would expect for a description of break up song. The lyrics are simple yet convey a great deal of emotion perfectly. On a side note, I always laugh a little when I hear this song because back in my middle school days I had a gym teacher named Mr. Weeber who nick named me B.O.K. I used to camp seasonally in the summer with my family at a campground called Baldwin Oaks. One weekend I saw him at the campground and he gave me the name "The Baldwin Oaks Kid" which was shortened to B.O.K.
Ingrid Michaelson - Be OK


Immortal Technique is one of the best underground rappers I have ever heard. He's super hardcore and voices his views with no filter. In other words this cat is raw. I have listened to his album Revolutionary Vol. 2 so many times I have lost count. The album as a whole is very political, by that I mean it attacks the united states government, particularity the Bush administration, which is fitting for the time the album was released. However, do not let that be a deterrent from checking out this album, it's filled with great lines and fresh as it was 10 years ago. This song is exactly what rap should be!
Immortal Technique - Industrial Revolution


I know I posted this song before, I am sure it was one of the first few posts for this blog, but I LOVE this song! Mmmmm whatcha say....

1890

One Day I went To Ohio. It was So Insane I had to take The First Train Home

I listen to a great morning show out of Philadelphia called The Preston And Steve Show. This isn't your typical lame local morning show either. The first time I listened they were talking about how one of the DJ's didn't have toilet paper in the stall at work that morning so he had to go to the next stall and because it was so early he didn't worry about anyone coming in so he didn't really pull up his pants. Well one of the co-hosts walked in on him. Needless to say the show is hilarious and I have been hooked ever since. Besides being funny they have great celebrity interviews and have some killer bands every now and then. I listened to a show this morning and I became a fan of Matisyahu because of the show. I knew who he was before and heard a few of his songs a long time ago but never really checked him out. If you don't know much about him he's an American Hasidic Jewish reggae musician. His music is very uplifting and heartfelt. Yeah, he talks a lot about religion, which I don't mind but I know a lot of people get turned off by that. However I would say give it listen, the music is awesome, the guy can rap/beatbox, and has a sweet beard. He has a new album coming out August 25 called Light. This is the first single, One Day, from the album played live in studio on WMMR's The Preston And Steve Show.
Matisyahu - One Day (Live On WMMR's The Preston And Steve Show) (No Longer Available, But This Is)

The Low Anthem are a three piece band from Rhode Island that know how to kick out some blues influenced folksy down home jams. They just released a CD called Oh My God, Charlie Darwin which is such a clever title. The faster songs are rough stomps with vocals that are raw and remind me of a Tom Waits song and the slower songs are beautiful porch sitting back roads driving songs. The first song "To Ohio" is low key and has lyrics like a CSNY song. "The Horizon Is A Beltway" is a song that will have you tapping your toes with it's prominent drum beat and belting (pardon the pun) out the sing along chorus.
The Low Anthem - To Ohio
The Low Anthem - The Horizon Is A Beltway

Discovery is a side project for Vampire Weekend keyboardist and producer Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot lead singer Wes Miles. The band is gaining acclaim from music critics all over because of it's synth driven electro-pop. This song is just So Insane as the titles says. It jumps from fast to slow and back again, but what makes it shine is the great sunshiny singing and melodies reminiscent of Passion Pit, and you can never have too much of that. Discovery also have a great cover of I Want You Back by Jackson 5. To check out more about them click here.
Discovery - So Insane

I love songs about going home. They make great road trip songs. I once went to a music festival many years ago where we took a school bus from Michigan to Kentucky straight with few stops. It was not a fun trip, the fest was great but the transportation to and from sucked. It was 90+ degrees and loud. Have you ever tried to sleep on a school bus? It doesn't really work. Anyway I wish I had this new single from Imogen Heap back then. It would have helped a lot. The track First Train Home is the first single from the new album Ellipse which is her third studio album and will be released on August 24th/25th. Hey, thats the same time Matisyahus album drops. Looks like thats going to be a pretty damn good week for new music. The other track I have for you is a remix of my favorite Imogen Heap song, Hide And Seek.
Imogen Heap - First Train Home
Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek (Enigma Remix)

In my effort to make things more accessible, I have decided that I am going to try and post links to the bands websites that I post about. That way if you like them you can find out information about them, upcoming shows and where to buy their albums. I don't think I'll post links for iTunes or Amazon but you can always use those great services too.

4 Girls, 4 Guys, and 1 Sloth

I am a procrastinator, plain and simple. That's why my room never stays clean, I never have food and my hair is always long. It's not like I don't want to do the things that I have to do, it's that I want to do them in my own time. That's why this Blog hasn't been updated. Besides, I just got Lego Star Wars II which has taken up a good chunk of my time. I'm totally addicted to that game. It's the original trilogy for God's sake. How could you not be? I'm a nerd, give me a pocket protector and some super tall pants and send me out the door. I decided that instead of just posting songs here I am going to add a little about why I like them and why you should open up your ear holes and give them a spin. Does my opinion really matter to you? Probably not, but I'd hope that it might entice you. After all that's the main goal of RopBop, to expand your musical horizons, and to make you a fucking cool music snob who will either annoy or impress the throngs of people who listen to bad music. I'm already there. I am going to try to find a way to make the songs play when you put your mouse over it so you can hear it with out downloading it. Which would make life a lot easier. I might do that today or not, like I said I am a procrastinator. Since I missed a week I will make this a double whammy of a post.

This song is one of my favorites to chill out to. It's electro with a danceable beat, no not techno and not too danceable. I am not a fan of techno and I find most of it unlistenable. This is the kind of song I could listen to over and over and never be sick of it. Somehow it always find it's way on my Ipod "Falling Asleep" mixes.
Mum - We Have a Map Of Piano

This song is similar to the MUM song above however it's more accepellaish. The first time I heard this song was on a You Tube Video. From what I know it was featured on the O.C. and someone got shot and they played the best part of this song, which is the "mmm what you say" part. Then SNL did a parody of it (Click Here To See It). Then people all over the net started making their own parodies of it (The Funniest Parody) Aside from it being pretty damn funny, the song as a whole is great. I still always laugh when I hear that part though.
Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek

I used to love Punk until I figured out there were other geners. However this band is great. Their first album Sing Sing Death House goes everywhere with me. Granted it doesn't get the rotation it deserves. I love to pop it in an rock out like it's 1998 and I don't have a care in the world. I might like this band so much because I think the singer Brodi is super hot. Punk girls are a weakness.
The Distillers - Seneca Falls

I love the covers. Everyone probably knows who the misfits are or have at least seen a misfits t-shirt and thought "That kids a satanist!" Phantasmic is one of those rotating member bands. The only solid member is Tess Wiley. The were a supposed christian band, or on a christian label...I don't know something like that. Either way they did a really cool cover of "I Turned Into A Martian" If you make mix tapes/Cd's at all this ones a keeper.
Phantasmic - I Turned Into A Martian (Misfits Cover) (No Longer Available, But This Is)

I recently discovered this band and I don't know much about them, but I do know that they are good. In fact I am going to go and buy this CD as soon as I am done with this post. Funny lyrics and great hooks and the singing is unique. I was going to post the song called "Chillout Tent" and dedicate it to all who went to Bonaroo, but I didn't. This one is worth a listen tough.
The Hold Steady - Your Little Hood Rat Friend

I have no idea what to say about this song. It's will make you want to walk like a giant robot or a dinosaur and destroy cities.
Man Man - Engwish Bwudd

I used to be into the whole ska revival. I had a very disposable income at that time and my friend Luke and I used to go to this record store that was bout 30 minutes from us and spend our whole paychecks on punk and ska CD's. I have a TON of punk and ska albums that just sit there and look pretty and collect dust. I selected this track in particular because it's so hilarious. A little sexist but I think it's more satire than anything.
Mu330 - Stuff
A local three piece from Grand Rapids Michigan, well they were, I'm pretty sure they are broken up now. I have seen this band play many many times and every show was so unique. I once saw one of the band members play a bike tire. Another time I saw a different band member play an acoustic guitar in his lap like a steel guitar. This band is pretty chill. Nice use of banjo and great harmonizing.
Bunkbed Nights - Rising (No Longer Available)