Tara's Music Recs

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 17:51:25 GMT

Lydia | A Story For Supper
This is my latest can't-listen-to-anything-else band. It's hard to describe what they're like. They're a typical indie rock band -- except not. I can't figure out if it's the instruments, the shared vocals between male guitarist and female keyboardist, or the lyrics. (I think I have to go with all three.) They might take awhile to get into, but once Lydia have hold of you, you're hooked. Another favourite song of mine is Laugh Before You Grin.

Midlake | Young Bride
I heard about Midlake a long while ago, but never gave them a proper listen until my friend recommended this song to me. As soon as I heard it, I gobbled up every Midlake song I could find, and have been listening nonstop for days. This song remains my favourite. The opening instruments are beautiful, and the almost muted sounds throughout the song pull you in. I can't stop listening.

Phoenix | Consolation Prizes
The video for this song was on MuchMusic's The Wedge in August, and I fell in love right away. It's one of those crazy, fun songs with a great beat and lyrics that get stuck in your head. Phoenix is a band from France that have already put out a few albums, and have also done work with another popular French band, Air. Apparently they were featured on The O.C. as well.

This Will Destroy You | Some Remedies Are Worse Than The Disease
I've been listening to a podcast called Shifted Sound a lot, and This Will Destroy You is one of the bands that has been featured. They can be described as a post-rock instrumental band, and while this is the only song I've heard so far, I love the sound. Hard drums, hypnotic strings, parts that hit you fast, and parts that you take in slowly. It sounds amazing.

Wed, 03 May 2006 21:25:29 GMT

I have been downloading like a madwoman. I'm also feeling lazy, so my descriptions probably won't be very long. Sorry I haven't posted in nearly two months. I've been too busy downloading.

30 Seconds to Mars | The Kill

I've had this song forever, but didn't really listen to it until someone on my flist posted screencaps from the new video (which I could've been in if only had a dress!). I really, really love it now. Just a great rock sound with lots of emotion, and near-silence at the end with a few seconds of voice-over. You say you wanted more / What are you waiting for / I'm not running from you

Augustana | Boston

A gorgeous guitar-and-twinkly-piano song. Starts off soft and pretty, building slowly as the song goes on and reaching a strong guitar section around the middle. Really nice song, and Augustana is great. Essential yet appealed, carry all your thoughts across an open field / When flowers gaze at you, they're not the only ones who cry when they see you

The Books | Enjoy Your Worries, You May Never Have Them Again

The Books are just amazing. They're often compared to Sigur Rós and Xiu Xiu, in that there are few lyrics and most parts of the songs seem random. Their music is made up of many instruments beyond your standard guitar/drums/keyboards, and they take speech, noise, and music samples from absolutely everywhere. This is one of my favourite songs and it really sums up what the band sounds like. Give them a try! It's very cool.

Brighten | Friends For Lovers

I recommended Brighten in my last post, and I just have to do it again. I did end up seeing them last month and I pretty much fell in love. I bought their EP and have listened to it nonstop since. I almost feel bad for passing out their songs, because I want them to have as much support as they can get. Anyway, this song starts off very energetic with great guitars and an awesome rhythm. Overlapping and group vocals that sound perfect together. My favourite part of the song is definitely the ending, and it's what this song is most known for. You'll see why. How crazy can crazy get when / There is nothing to call normal like before / Maybe you should find what you believe in / Hate isn't your true love anymore

Buck 65 | Devil's Eyes

Buck 65 is a Canadian hip hop artist. I haven't looked into him much, but I've found a very non-hip-hop song that I just love. It's very suspenseful and almost strange. All vocals are in a sort of beating monotone, with gorgeous violins and drums and guitars in the background. The violins especially stand out. It's hard to say much about it, but it really is a fantastic song. You won't be disappointed! Catch the music video too if you can, it looks awesome. There's a sound / That we make when we sleep around / Walking through it like a trance / Unhappy movements in your eyes

Glory Nights | It's Better Faster

I've just discovered these guys today, on a new indie podcast called Canada Noise. They're a pretty typical rock/emo/alternative band, but they sound awesome. This song in particular is very strong and driving. It isn't my favourite of theirs, but so far it's been really hard to find their music. We must come out alive / We all have a dream / Black as night / And brighter than the dawn

Loquat | Swingset Chain

Another song that I've had forever, but didn't really listen to. A nice, nostalgic, pretty song with female vocals. A bit similar to Imogen Heap, with less electronica. Very dreamy. They're not very big, and I can't find the lyrics, and as I've said before I'm horrible at picking out lyrics by ear. Plus, y'know. Lazy.

Love Is All | Aging Had Never Been His Friend

A great (and slightly crazy) band from Sweden. They remind me very much of Sleater-Kinney, The Sounds, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Gossip, The Grates, etc. This song is so much fun. It makes you want to get up and dance. I keep the one I love in the freezer / If you wish, I'll let you look

And finally, just because I already had it uploaded, here is Morningwood's debut album. Enjoy!

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 02:30:27 GMT

Billy Talent | Standing In the Rain

Yay, Canadian music. I've always loved Billy Talent; they're a typical hybrid of rock and punk. And they're so good. Driving guitars and great vocals (if you like non-screamo yelling). The chorus always gets stuck in my head: Milk carton mug shot baby, missing since 1983 / Standing in the rain, twenty years of dirty needles, raindrops running through my veins

Brighten | Ready When You Are

Brighten are a really great indie band from California, and this spring they're touring with Eisley (so hopefully I'll be seeing both in April!). More rockish than Eisley but still sort of in the same vein I suppose. And I shouldn't be here alone tonight / So just bring me home alright so I can see you

Broken Social Scene | 7/4 (Shoreline)

BSS's new single, now airing on mainstream stations and programs. Dreamy vocals and great percussion; it's much like anything else BSS has recorded. Meaning that it's perfect. It kind of has a reaching feel to it, like the intensity of the music is trying to reach for something. Lovely indie stuff. (Although I guess it's more indie has a genre, than a label description.) If you wanna get it right, you can own what you choose / But you wanna live a lie, and love what you lose

Chauntelle DuPree | One More Day With You

Chauntelle, for those who don't know by now, is one fifth of Eisley, an all-family band from Texas. This is a sweet little acoustic song that she wrote and performed, I really love it. Haven't you heard? Haven't you tried to understand? / It's alright, it gets easier with time

Islands | Rough Gem

I downloaded Islands' album Return to the Sea the other day and I cannot get enough of it. The band is comprised of two former members of The Unicorns, who were awesome before they broke up. Great instruments and rhythms, silly song titles and lyrics, and several references to songs by The Unicorns. If you like The Unicorns or just want something fun and completely spastic, download this. You can scoop out my brain / Shape it into an ear and then tell me your pain

Psapp | Velvet Pony

I've recently been really into Psapp, an electronica group from London. It's very much like Imogen Heap and Frou Frou; soft female vocals and basic electronica sounds and instruments. The beginning notes really remind me of something, but I can't figure out what. Very cool. Also impossible to find the lyrics to, and I'm terrible at figuring them out by ear.

Sigur Rós | Glósóli

I remember, before I'd even heard of Sigur Rós or indie music, I saw their video on TV for The Nothing Song. I watched the entire video through, and my mainstream-only little mind thought, "Why do I like this? This is so strange." So I forgot about it. Thank God I rediscovered them. I could die at the gorgeousness of this song. There are certain songs that I can feel, inside my chest, and this is one of them. I close my eyes, and I can't decide whether I want to lie down, or run faster than I've ever run in my life. It makes me dizzy. The vocals in Icelandic, the constant drum in the background, the increases and decreases in intensity, all those beautiful instruments ... and the ending. Just ... wow.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Gold Lion

I love this song so much. Such a great beat. Powerful vocals that are sort of slow but energetic at the same time. It's awesome. The Diplo Remix</li> is pretty funky, too. We'll build a fire in your eyes / We'll build a fire when the cover's getting brighter / Cold as I, makes the moon without a tide

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 02:39:43 GMT

30 Seconds to Mars | A Modern Myth

This is probably my favourite song by Jared Leto's band. At the moment, anyway. It starts off very slow, mostly acoustic, and builds exponentially at the end. One of those songs that you can feel. There's not really much to say about it, except that it's softer than most of their songs and it is just so so so good. So don't forget to breathe tonight / Tonight's the last, so say goodbye

Dallas Green | Save Your Scissors

I'm really starting to love this man. Dallas is better known as guitarist and secondary vocalist in Canada's Alexisonfire. If you're familiar with the band ... Dallas is nothing like it. This is his first single I believe. Very awesome acoustic music, and he has a great voice. My friends and I are all obsessed with this song. I think it kinda reminds me of the Spill Canvas ... but I like Dallas better. So why does it always seem / That every time I turn around / Somebody falls in love with me / This has never been my sole intention

Morningwood | Nth Degree

Morningwood is an extremely awesome rock/pop/dance band, and this is my favourite song of theirs right now. It has a really addictive beat. This band loves to spell things out cheerleader-style (but with more rhythm) and it's just oozes FUN. The four of us, the royal we / He bangs the drums, she's V.I.P. / He's never done, got OCD / Our love is to the Nth degree

Neverending White Lights | The Grace

Another song that my friends listen to all the time. It happens to feature Dallas Green on vocals (which I didn't know until tonight) and it's just gorgeous. This "band" actually isn't a band at all, but a collaboration of new artists for every song and album they release. I haven't heard any other songs from the compilation but this one is quickly becoming very popular. It has a mellow indie rock sound that I adore. When all this loses meaning / You'll never want it back somehow / Awake but still I'm dreaming / And never waking up

Pilate | Into Your Hideout

I will forever love this song. When it came out, I must have listened to it for months on end. If I remember correctly, Pilate's members are from New Zealand but they started out musically in Toronto (and are therefore a "Canadian" band). Anyway, it's a rockish song with a good drum beat and softer instruments in the background. There's something about the lead singer's voice that I love. Maybe it's the hint of an accent, maybe it's just the way the vocals are arranged. Haha, I remember when I first began making Harry/Ginny icons, I used nearly every lyric from this song. Your drugs bleeding / So sweet yet fleeting / My memories are sinking

Yeah Yeah Yeahs | No No No

I literally got into this band one or two days ago. I'd had about three songs saved to my computer but didn't listen to them that much. Now? I've been listening to them over and over and over. They're very upbeat with lots of drums, and Karen O's voice is just wow. They make me think of Le Tigre or Metric, with maybe even a little bit of Sleater-Kinney or Pretty Girls Make Graves. They're just really awesome and if you haven't given them a try, PLEASE DO. He'll never come back as the man you dropped / He'll never come back as the man you loved

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 02:38:14 GMT

The Arcade Fire | In the Backseat

I am not the biggest Arcade Fire fan. I thought I would adore them after downloading "Haiti" as well as this song by them, but I wasn't quite so enthusiastic when I heard more of the album. Maybe I'll give them another chance one day. I'll admit I'm proud of them; go Canada. Anyway, this is a gorgeous song performed by the female vocalist of the group. A fantastic combination of instruments in the chorus with calm bits in between, and powerful vocalizations in the middle. my family tree's losing all it's leaves / crashing towards the driver's seat

Sleater-Kinney | Prisstina

A danceable song for anyone who likes feminist rock bands. I first heard of Sleater-Kinney years ago in a magazine, when I was still into nothing but mainstream pop, and I had downloaded a song ("One Beat") out of curiosity and then abandoned it. One day I played it again, and loved it. This is probably one of their less "crazy" songs. would you like to tempt her with your dirty rock and roll? / call her your prisstina, 'cause she's such a pretty girl

Regina Spektor | Open Up (Live)

Admittedly I haven't listened to this song that much, and the quality isn't 100%, but it's a nice listen and I love hearing new, live songs by Regina Spektor especially. She's one of my favourite artists and she's one of the most original -- if not the most original -- singer/songwriters I've ever heard. It starts off as a nice piano song varying in volume and emphasis, more intense by the end with Regina making ... sounds, throughout. i am through those woods and past the train / i wait here in vain / scrubbing out the stains again

Regina Spektor | Pound of Flesh (Live)

One of my absolute favourite Regina songs at the moment. Piano and lyrics with a distinctive rhythm that always gets stuck in my head. Thankfully. If you know Regina at all, you know that each of her songs sounds completely different from the others, and that she doesn't really play it safe. This song isn't quite as out there as many of her others are, but it's still far from the usual piano/folk/antifolk. if you cannot crawl away then you must stay in bed all day / if you stay in bed all day you're sure to have some visitors

Sufjan Stevens | To Be Alone With You

I literally got into Sufjan yesterday. I'm so behind. I'm terrible at putting genres to artists, but I suppose it's a kind of soft indie folk/pop. And I think he's a Christian artist, but I know very little about him and am only judging by song lyrics. This is a very mellow, very beautiful love song. I love his voice. you gave up a wife and a family / you gave your ghosts / to be alone with me

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 01:37:57 GMT

Glue | Haunt

Glue is one of the only hip hop groups I can tolerate, except I don't tolerate them -- I love them. Mainstream hip hop has few topics and just annoys me. The beginning of the song sounds a little repetitive with the beat (or maybe I've just listened too many times) but the chorus makes everything fit. I can't tell what intrument plays in the background of the chorus, but I just love it.

Laura Veirs | Galaxies

A nice indie-pop song with a good beat. Guitar that isn't too overpowering and reminds me a bit of Cat Power, and lots of subtle sounds in the background. Laid-back but powerful.

Laura Veirs | Parisian Dream

As soon as I hear the beginning of this song, I smile. A little bit more lively than Galaxies, and features a great string instrument (can you tell I don't know my instruments very well?). Another song that really reminds me of Cat Power. Makes me want to lay down, close my eyes, and listen really closely, to the music and the lyrics and everything.

Panic! At the Disco | Build God, Then We'll Talk

These guys describe themselves as rock/big beat/techno at their myspace. Awesome lyrics with a great tune. Random lalala'ing and a melody that changes all the time but isn't hard to follow. They switch from whispers to shouts and generally make you want to dance. Near the end is a beautiful bit with what sounds like cellos that I could listen to over and over. Extra points for having a reference to "Favourite Things" from The Sound of Music.

Panic! At the Disco | I Write Sins, Not Tragedies

The thing about this band is that the choruses never leave your head. It's somehow really clever how the lyrics and tune fit together, it sounds different, or maybe it's just me. Ever-so-slightly spastic music. A very clear lyric near the beginning is "the poor groom's bride is a whore" -- just in case your mother happens to walk in the room or something. Haha. A fun-sounding song, one of my favourites.

Sat, 05 Nov 2005 05:02:42 GMT

Augustana | Stars and Boulevards (megaupload)

Really pretty piano at the beginning. The lead singer has a very familiar voice and though it's rockish and not particularly soft, it's a really nice song. Found on MuchMusic's The Wedge.

Bluepocket | Hollywood Sound (megaupload)

I found this song at a fansite for the show Radio Free Roscoe; the characters often play Toronto indie stuff on their radio show. It's a really silly, fun song that is kind of creepy, but makes you want to dance. I love Bluepocket, but it's really hard to find their stuff.

The Mark Inside | Sweet Little Sister (megaupload)

Reminds me a lot of Fell In Love with a Girl by The White Stripes, in that i) it's very odd, ii) it makes you want to dance, and iii) you can't help but love the tune. It sounds like an indie rock band imitating Ram Jam's Black Betty. Quite awesome. Found on MuchMusic's The Wedge.

Projet Orange | Tell All Your Friends (megaupload)

Projet Orange are from Quebec and this song is from their first English album. It took me forever to track down, and now that I have it I play it constantly. A good rock song with a slightly addictive beat and chorus.

Texas | Put Your Arms Around Me (rapidshare)

This is the song playing over the final credits in the movie Ever After. It was my favourite movie when I was around 12; I watched it every day and always rewound the credits so I could memorise this song. Very, very pretty with gorgeous vocals.