May 2013 : Music Haul

 porch life

This music haul covers a lot of tracks (pun intended).
There's a different sound for all sorts of summers, here's what I mean:
Porch life - more folksy perhaps? You could also just do straight up rap, we do both.
Beach life - indie synth pop // light-hearted // maybe there are shakers involved
Road life - this can take two directions - 1) upbeat, blah blah blah OR 2) contemplative, maybe woodsy music
Choose one, choose all.

*Links take you to YT video or some listening link!*

From April to May, I'm still listening to:

Houses. Houses... and more Houses. I feel like I've been winding down my day with listening to A Quiet Darkness. I am stoked to see them when they're come to town in June. 'Tenderly' is my new favorite.
The Neighbourhood from time to time. Their album I love you. is made for cruising in your car.
Cayucas's Bigfoot album is your summer soundtrack to the beach, pool, or anything that is a body of water. Listen to 'A Summer Thing' and tell me I'm wrong.
Balmorhea, especially 'Baleen Morning'. So soothing. It's music for the hangouts that don't really require much talking, you can just sit there together, and be present.

From May, I've been listening to:

Kisses, Kids In LA is another summer album. Disco-y indie pop. SO L.A. (Just kidding, what does that even mean?)
Lily & Madeleine, because their dreamy voices. I'm having visions of First Aid Kit.
MS MR's debut album, Secondhand Rapture. 'Fantasy' is a great track and I also love 'BTSK'. Lizzy's voice is like a velvety Florence Welch. And a little bit more ghostly, orchestral- actually, I think that's why it reminds me a lot of F+TM but reinterpreted. Easily one of my favorite performances of South by. Kudos to them for being on the ACL bill this year.
Daughter's debut album, If You Leave. Elena's voice is purity.
Lorde, I posted about her below. Catchy beats. Reminds me a bit of Sleigh Bells, what do you think?
Giraffage, (I keep wanting to spell this "giraffe")

Revisited:

Tokyo Police Club's Champion and Elephant Shell album, dance-y road songs
Death Cab for Cutie's The Photo Album and Plans album, fleeting day sounds
Bloc Party's track 'Sunday' because it's just so dang good

Single Tracks:

Long Days by I will, I swear
Nova Scotia by Magic Man
Paranoia by Nosaj Thing x Chance The Rapper
Gun by Chvrches
Instant Crush by Daft Punk (ft. Julian Casablancas)
Try by Nosaj Thing (ft. Toyo y Moi)
West Coast by The Neighbourhood
3am Spiritual by Smith Westerns
Tessellate (Alt-J cover) by Ellie Goulding

Lorde : The Love Club EP

New Zealand, dang, look at you. And dang, Ella of Lorde is only 16? Heavy beats and a strong voice. My music palette is expanding and it's shifting toward beats like this. Sweet summer, come sooner. 

April 2013: Music Haul

I decided that I'm just going to make lists of who I've been listening to at the end of each month, here's my "music haul" for April:

Hyperlinks direct you to YT videos or Soundcloud!

From March into April, I'm still listening to:
- Lucius, because they're perfect. I'm in love with the whole EP.
- Justin Timberlake, because you can't ever listen to too much of his newest album or the classics (especially "Cry Me A River", that song has come to have a lot of sentiment in my life as of late)
- S O H N and fyfe, because I just found their EP's on Spotify. Before I was only listening to them via Soundcloud/Hypem. Their sounds are very wavy? Beat-heavy and my music taste has been steering into that direction ever since South by.
- Slow Magic, because as I said above, my music taste is transitioning, or I guess broadening. Slow Magic has heavy vibes that lets your mind wander.
- Guards, because I have the same haircut as the band members. Just kidding, their album In Guards We Trust is the perfect soundtrack to the anxiousness I have waiting for summer (plz come sooner, let's skip Finals).  I have come to love their opening track 'Nightmare', it's striking. My favorite track is 'Not Supposed To'.
- Little Daylight, I beg of you to come out with an album. No rush...but really. Really, I will keep listening to the two tracks forever and ever.

From April, I've been listening to:
- Houses. Why is it so tragic and beautiful? I know their newest album got somewhat mediocre reviews or shall I say mixed reviews? In any case, I actually started to listen to them because it was on the "Recommended Spotify" albums and their cover art is beautiful. Just look at it. 'Carrion' and 'The Beauty Surronds' are among my favorite tracks.
- Kodaline. I found them when I clicked on their La Blog video. I saw such an honest performance while watching so naturally they captured my heart and ears.
- The Lighthouse and the Whaler. Album art is so important. It is the thing that kicks it over the edge and makes me more inclined to listen to an album. I will judge a book by it's cover...in this case, a band by their album art. 'Venice' is one of my favorite tracks. They're fun.
- The Neighbourhood. More specifically, their debut album, I Love You. It's dirty rock, I like it. Favorite track is 'W.D.Y.W.F.M.?' So. many. feels.
- Blue Hawaii. Dark, electric pop. This is my life now. 'Sierra Lift' is my favorite track off the newest album, Untogether.
- Balmorhea. An Austin band, still listening. I'll get back to this.
- Mother Falcon. Specifically their upcoming album, You Knew, due May 7th. Saw them with friends and I was really impressed. Austin, again, I love you and the musicians that come from our city.
- Cayucas. Their upcoming album due April 30th, Bigfoot. This one is good for summer jamz. They're also going on tour. They're blowing up and I wouldn't be surprised if they were to be on the ACL 2013 bill. Remember when they were Oregon Bike Trails? (Sidenote: what's up with no single-day passes ACL!?)
- Now, Now. I'm not very good at describing this band's music, give a listen for yourself.

Revisited:
- Marmalakes. I wrote about them quite a while back. Took a hiatus and then they popped back onto my radar. I love Austin, I love Marmalakes. 'Red Metal Rescue' slays me.
- Phoenix, because their newest album, Bankrupt!, just came out. I'm revisiting all of the glory and enjoyment I had while blaring them in my car circa high school times.
- The Postal Service. I will always love them. Can't wait to see them in the summer on tour. Be still my heart.

Single Tracks:
- New Summer by Young Galaxy
- Over The Love by F+TM
- Young & Beautiful by Lana Del Rey
- Morning House by Teen Daze
- Wells by Marmalakes
- Oldsmobile by Post Louis
- Oh Sailor by Mr. Little Jeans
- Song for Zula by Phosphorescent

Little Daylight // Name In Lights

I accidentally saw them at SXSW this past spring and they are one of my favorite discoveries.