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

Hey! Robots took my piano while I was sailing the sea!

Be glad you are a human. Here are three reasons why.
Songs To Wear Pants To - Never Been In Love
Broken Family Band - Song Against Robots
Marina and the Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot

This song is always played on my local classic rock station and it is the song that got me hooked on Jackson Browne. If you don't really know who he is, he sang Doctor My Eyes. I am a huge fan of his music. It's not too rocking, and not to lame. I'd say it's prefect background music for studying or relaxing activities like reading. It's the kind of music where you don't notice the lyrics but when they do catch your ear you'll want to hear the song again. This song in particular is a great one. I love how it makes you feel as if you understand what it's like to be in a band. To be a musician that just loves to play for the sake of playing. Unfortunately this track is live and The Load out and Stay run together and I couldn't find a combined version. I do recommend playing them back to back, it will be worth it trust me.
Jackson Browne - The Load Out
Jackson Browne - Stay

Cross genre songs rarely work out well. With this song that is not the case. This song makes me feel like I am sailing the seven seas of music. At first the journey is nice and calm (the lyrics), maybe a little lonely and dark (the music). Then suddenly in the middle of the ocean you come across some choppy water and ahead you can see a storm moving closer and closer. The water becomes more and more violent. You batten down the hatches and prepare for the wild ride(the rap). In the end you come out victorious but can't believe what you just went through. Now you have a story to tell. This song has some of the fastest rapping I have ever heard.
Islands - Where There's A Will There's A Whalebone