Welcome my people to another addition of , 'LOOK WHO I FOUND', where I get really excited and brag about the awesome bands/artists I find on the Bandcamp/Facebook/Internet stuff. This time, I found a local (SF Bay Area) band that I can't stop listening too. Their name isMajor Powers & The Lo-Fi Symphony
If you're looking for a good rock band that has ways of making there own sound, these guys are pretty much the real deal. At first they sound like they have a classical style with the piano and melodic vocals, but they transition into some spectacular alternative rock amazing-ness. I found them while search on a local online magazine called, The Deli Magazine, and I was listening to the online music player with bands that they've found, and I had to stop what I was doing online, minimize my web page, and check out who this band was.
Look for them on YouTube, or just go on their website and download the album FOR FREE. That's right, FREEEE!! But I feel like I need to support the upcoming bands I write about, so I decided to buy it. I would strongly suggest checking these guys out, though!
I've been waiting for Augustines to come out with their self titled album, and IT'S AWESOME. I discovered them last year when my boyfriend found their first album,'Rise Ye Sunkin' Ships', on sale at Amoeba Music in SF. We ended up taking that album on a road trip to Sasquatch music festival 2013, and we did not get sick of them on that 11 hour drive. Yes, we had our iPods also, but we kept getting no signal, so we resulted to a CD. Now every time I hear them, it gives me happy memories. I guess I have a personal connection to them, which came to me buying their second album! All seriousness though, if you like indie rock stuff, this band is it.
These dudes sound a little different than their last album. It's a little bit more produced, but in the right ways. There's violins, xylophones, and piano all blended and played beautifully in various songs. The whole album is really inspirational, every song makes you think. Nothing like inspirational music to get you through life! There's a couple slow songs with only two instruments in them. I noticed that I do have a soft spot for slow songs with piano and vocals. The way the song is sung, you can tell that there's a lot of feeling. I think one of my favorite things about this band is the vocals done by Billy McCarthy. His voice is raspy and deep, but it works with the genre of music. It's different than whats out there now. Thanks for another awesome album Augustines!
My favorite songs from this album are 'Cruel City','Nothing to Lose But Your Head','Walkabout','This Ain't Me', and 'Now You Are Free'.
So this is the first addition of my new monthly article, 'LOOK WHO I FOUND'. Basically letting all you music lovers out there discover a new band that I found (hence the title, plus also I like to brag) on music website, Bandcamp. This is my first one so there might be some changes in the next coming articles, FYI.
This band that I found is called, 'The Dirty Nil' and their from Canada. (Insert Canadian joke here....Eh?). They've got some hard rockin' alternative music stuff going on. This one particular song they have on the website is called 'Fuckin' Up Young', and they yell majority of the lyrics, which I can't help but love. I have a soft spot for yelled lyrics. Weird, not normal, maybe? Most likely. One thing you can definitely tell just by listening to their music is that they rock the eff out!
I'm excited about this new article idea, because I love discovering new music, and this band makes me want to see them live.
Sometimes it can be a good thing to have a songs stuck in your head, other times, it's extremely annoying. I always end up listening to another song to try to get the current one out of my skull. When songs are jammed in my head, it's usually always one verse or chorus in my head replaying over, and over, and over. OR it's always fun when a co-worker or friend gets a particular song in your head (sarcasm intended) and for the life of you, YOU CANNOT GET IT OUT.
Well for the first song, it's not one of those bad songs...actually, it's a pretty great one.
For weeks now, the song'Dontcha' by The Internet has been in my head randomly throughout the day. This song has one of the funkiest bass lines I've heard in awhile. Which is probably why it get stuck in my head. I a sucker for funkiness (not a word, but you get my point). The vocals by Odd Future's own, Syd Tha Kyd are really soulful. The song is almost a soul, R&B feel. But that's not the whole band's genre specifically. Here's their video for 'Dontcha'. This song will be in your head after hearing once.
You're Welcome.
The next song can go both good or bad. I'm not crazy about the band or song, but the chorus constantly replays in my head while I'm at work. Out of nowhere, it's just like, SURPRISE! "It's too coooold for you here, and now, let me hooold both your hands in the holes of my sweater." Yes, it's 'Sweater Weather' by The Neighbourhood. It's all over the radio and I'm constantly singing it out loud and driving my co-workers crazy. It's really mellow and chill. I think the reason why it's in my head is because the chorus is so catchy and fun to sing. Again, it's good and bad. Here's their video for 'Sweater Weather'.
Sorry, and Your Welcome? Maybe? Just a little? Come on, it's not too bad...
So while driving home from work the other day, I heard a song on the radio called, 'Out Of My League'. Not knowing what band it was drove me crazy the entire way home. I had to look it up! Sure enough it's by a band called Fitz and The Tantrums. I've heard of them, but not their actual music. After hearing a couple of their songs on YouTube, I noticed that they have a dance, pop, soul thing going on. Which was a different change of pace then whats on the radio today. While doing my investigating, I discovered that they are based in Los Angeles and are currently signed to Elektra Records. If this band rings a bell, you might recognize them by their hit single 'Moneygrabber' and off their new album, 'More Than Just Just A Dream', and 'Out Of My League'.
The album itself is really catchy. It has claps, whistling, dancey beats, and the melodies are sung playfully. The vocals, I noticed, by Michael Fitzpatrick are some what similar to Brandon Flowers of The Killers. Noelle Scaggs though, just amazing. Of course she has her chorus lines and backing vocals, but her voice definitely stands out in their tracks.
However, their songs didn't stick out to me as much as their two most popular ones right now, which are "Out Of My League" and "The Walker". The other songs were very danceable and had the synthesizer play a good role in each song. Some tracks where more soulful than the others, and well as how poppy it was. Maybe it's just me, but they didn't really hook me into their music as other artists/bands usually do. I still think they are a pretty good band. Just not my style.
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