Rachel Rocks the Reviews - 6/29/10

This week I'm gonna start with You Say Party! (formally You Say Party! We Say Die!). In the past few months this group have faced a bunch of ups and downs. In late 2009 they released their most recent album XXXX and began touring Canada. Towards the end of the tour in their native Vancouver the drummer, Devon Clifford, collapsed on stage during the band's set and later passed away. They then took some time for themselves and with in the past two weeks announced that they will be back and will be touring. On June 22, 2010, the band announced that they are officially dropping "We Say Die" from their name, presumably out of respect for Clifford. It was also announced that Krista Loewen has left the band, while Robert Andow and Bobby Siadat of Vancouver band Gang Violence have joined, taking over keyboards and drums respectively. I'm glad that they're back, I've really enjoyed this album. One of my favorites is Cosmic Wanship Avengers but I'll leave you with this great video. Enjoy!

I recently got a mixed cd and this next song was one of the many on the cd. I immediately fell in love and needed to know who it was by. It turns out it was by Yeasayer and the song was called Tightrope. I really enjoy the lead singers singing style on this song and really enjoy to jam along to the guitar and drums. I'm excited to look more into this bands catalog.

Next up is Fences (Christopher Mansfield) with My Girl the Horse, this is a great folk/indie song. I came across this song while researching a bit on City and Colour and thought that they both were very similar and enjoyed their style of music. I've been listening to a bunch of folk music in the past few weeks and have been trying to soak up as much of it as possible. Some of my favorites have been City and Colour and Fences. I look forward to hearing a complete album from him not just he EP. Enjoy this live version of the song...

Last but not least this week is Mike Clark with Threes and Fours. I've searched high and low for a video of this on the Internet but haven't found one. This is a great folk song I came across a few months ago from a podcast that I don't normally listen to. This is one of those songs from the beginning you're immediately hooked. Even if he never sang, the guitar hook alone would be something that would draw you to this song but with the addition of the detailed and heart felt lyrics it makes you want to hit repeat and listen over and over again. Any chance I get I try to recommend this great song. I'm gonna try to set up a link so you can listen to it but I'm not sure really how to do it and since Joe is still without Internet (and the local computer genious) I'm gonna have to try to do this myself. Hopefully I don't break the blog...

http://radio3.cbc.ca/play/band/Mike-Clark/Threes-and-fours

Rachel Rocks the Reviews - 6/22/10

First up this week is Metric with one of my favorite songs, Twilight Galaxy, off their "new" album Fantasies. This song is a little slower and more mellow then most off the album or even in their catalog of songs but has a great beat to draw you in. One of my favorite things from this song is Emily Haines's voice and how hypnotizing it is. Also the background vocals and the lyrics are great. This song has been on repeat for the past month and a half and I still haven't gotten sick of it. Some of my favorites off this album are Gold Gun Girls, Help I'm Alive and the newest single Stadium Love. I recommend seeing them live, it's an amazing concert and the music is great. After all these years each one of their albums gets better then the rest. I look forward to what they have to offer next. Here's a fan made video:

Next up is fun, yep that's the name of the band. I recently came across these guys by doing some research on Steel Train. As it turns out Jack Antonoff who is in Steel Train is also in fun along with Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format and ex-Anathallo multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost. My thought is if you're going to have a band named fun, it should really be fun and a good listen. These guys do not let down. Their debut album Aim and Ignite is a great cd to listen to from start to finish. The lead singing, Nate, has a very unique and distinctive sound. One of my favorite songs off the album is The Gambler. His lyrics through out the song are so descriptive and touching then when you add together with the piano and violin parts it turns into a very lovely heartfelt song. This is a great cd and I recommend you give it a shot and listen to it all. But if you don't have all that time I recommend All the Pretty Girls, Be Calm and At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be). Here's a fan video:

Going along with slow sentimental songs I'm going to focus on a great song by Sick of Sarah called Paint Like That. I first heard of this group from a television show with a completely different type of song. But after going through their albums I came across this song and immediately fell in love with it. I'm a sucker for emotional heart felt songs that just focuses on the singer and a solo acoustic guitar. This is a great song and is totally different from anything else I've heard from them, but hope that the new album they're working on right now will contain a few songs like this. Going along with this song I'm going to offer up another one of their songs so you can see the difference. Can't wait to hear more from this band from Minneapolis.

Now a more upbeat rock song, here's a fan made video for Mr Incredible:

Last but not least for this week is the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Skeletons. I had been listening to the radio and had come across a song by them and thought that I was either listening to Metric or maybe even The XX. But after listening to the whole song I realized that couldn't have been one of their songs because I had never heard it before. So I waited patiently until the song came to an end and found out that the song was Heads Will Roll. I still sometimes have an issue determining if it's them at first listen but not nearly as often as I did. I got their album and immediately loved the use of the piano, drums, guitar and not to mention Karen O's vocal style. It reminded me of everything that I love about Metric. This is what Joe had said about them when I first played it for him, "she's got such great urgency to her voice and is just like here! Listen to this! Their lyrics are great and they have a signature to them that's all YYY's. Such a seductive song." I couldn't agree more.

Joe's MIA this week

So this week we had to change things up from previous weeks and that meant the posts are going to be a little different then they have been in the past also. Joe just received the keys to his new house so he's been moving in all weekend and also doesn't have Internet. Sooooo I'm here to give you an extra posting of a few songs that I'm enjoying...

So first up in the Rachel's Extra Post is Chase & Status ft Plan B with a song called End Credits. It's something I came across while looking around iTunes one day. I had been going through Prodigy's play list when I saw that another person had bought the Chase & Status song. I'm always up for new songs so I figured why not give it a try. It first draws you in with the guitar and then changes into a sort of dance song. I've really enjoy this song and the beat when it breaks into the dance part.

This next song is a favorite of mine. One of my favorite bands is Tegan and Sara so when I heard they were going to be featured on the new Tiesto album I got interested in what it could be. I was completely surprised (in a good way) by what was on the album. I'm not much of a dance/techno/rave music fan and wasn't thrilled with the previous collaboration between the two groups of musicians but this was more then I expected. The lyrics are great and the beat is amazing too. I find myself singing and dancing along more times then not (they also perform a great acoustic version at their concerts). The video is pretty awesome too...hope you enjoy!

Last but not least on this extra posting will be Uh Huh Her with Not a Love Song. I think it has a great hook and after a few listens, here's a quick heads up, will get stuck in your head. Which isn't a bad thing because it's a fun song. I have heard a bunch of songs from this record and think that their electo-pop sound is pretty good. They have been in the studio working on their newest album and I'm looking forward to hear what they came up with.

Rachel Rocks the Reviews - 6/15/10

I first heard of Civil Twilight last summer and since then have kept up to date with their music and tours. The song that originally drew me to there music was Letters From the Sky. You might have heard it on the summer mini series Harpers Island or a variety of other television shows. This song has it all, from the beginning with it's piano, to the middle where you think it might be over and then finally to the end where the combination of all the instruments come together to a finalizing jam. I look forward to more from these guys from South Africa.

A few months back I went to a concert where Steel Train was the opening act. I didn't know much about them but after listening to their music and watching them perform live and interact with each other I was immediately hooked on them. I found myself smiling through their entire act and made me want more from them. I went home got their cd, Trampoline, and immediately fell in love with it. They also performed a bunch of new stuff at the concert because they have new cd coming out at the end of the month (which I'm looking forward to getting). But from their last record I recommend I Feel Weird. This song is a great example of their harmony, amazing beats, and catchy tunes. I also will recommend Firecracker and Kill Monsters in the Rain from this cd and getting their live version of Road Song. Next month I'll be traveling to Rochester to see them perform I look forward to it and more from them. I'll let you know how the concert is!

I originally heard of Flyleaf from my fiancé. I'm a big fan of music and especially live music, but when my fiancé offered to take me to the Family Values tour with Korn I was a little nervous. It's not really my typical music scene, but I figured you only live once. They had upwards of 10 bands open and Flyleaf was one of the later bands. I immediately fell in love with the music. Joe will make fun of this about me but I seem to be drawn to girl led bands...maybe it's just that there aren't as many and as a female I need to stick up for them and support them. I was completely blown away by the music that came out of this 5' nothing woman. The power of her voice and the words she sang have stuck with me even 4 years later. One of my favorites is So I Thought, followed closely by Arise from the new album released late last year. I recommend their whole self titled first album, it won't be a disappointment. To hold you over I'll leave you with So I Thought, this is some live stuff cut together with the actual song.

Last but not least is a group that I recently just came across, The Dodos. I was completely surprised by how much I enjoyed them after listen through their whole album Visiter. It's a great mix of indie and folk music, not to much or not to little of the other. The use of guitars, banjos, drums and an always must hand claps really draws you into this whole record. One of my favorites off the album is Ashley but I also recommend Walking and The Season.

Rachel Rocks the Reviews - 06/08/10

First up for this week is Ra Ra Riot with Dying is Fine. Later this summer I will be going to a concert and I wanted to get comfortable with all of the music that would be played. This is one of the groups that will be opening for the main act. After listening to a few songs I grew to like their style, it reminds me a bunch of Vampire Weekend. I then went online to find out as much as I could about them. As it turns out they are from Syracuse, New York (not that far from us here in Buffalo) and got their start doing house parties and college events at the University, again very similar to Vampire Weekend. The chorus of this song is catchy and I bet after a few listens you'll be bopping to it. Not to mention how many musical groups include a violin and cello? A good band that I look forward to seeing later this summer...I'll let you know how they are live.

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Next up is Killola. I tend to spend hours on iTunes viewing little known groups and stumbled across this group among the many. I went to the bands website and found that I could actually download both of their albums for free...how can you turn down a sweet deal like that? They released a single, Cracks in the Armor, at the end of last year that will be on their new album that they're working on/finishing now. This has become one of my favorite songs from this group and I hope that the rest of the record is just as great as this single...hopefully there is more to come from them in the future. Enjoy!

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A few summers ago I went to visit my sister in Virginia and her friend introduced me to Ballyhoo. They are very well known in the Baltimore/DC area. As I left to return home I got their cd from the friend and haven't stopped listening from that day on. One of my favorites is Cali Girl. It reminds me a bunch of 311, which always puts me in a summer mood. So I figured since the weather is getting better out and the temps are going up, why not throw in a summer like song. If you get a chance I recommend listening to I Lately Notice and Cerveza, definitely worth the listen.

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Last but not least this week is Matt & Kim. I was recently catching up on the acts that performed at Coachella this year and came across this group. I watched the whole live act and still wanted more. I picked up their latest album Grand and immediately fell in love with the first song, Daylight. The catchy piano will keep you intrigued throughout the whole song and make you want to come back for more. It was also featured in a Bacardi commercial. Plus the video is a lot of fun to watch...(you might also know them from their other video, lessons learned, were they strip in the middle of Times Square...surprisingly enough they actually played it on MTV)

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Four Songs to Listen to Forthwith - 06/06/10

You know how sometimes you put on a winter jacket for the first time in a new season and you find money from last year in the pocket? That same thing happened to me with this song, The Acorn – Crooked Legs. I first noticed this song a couple years ago when Pitchfork reviewed their album, I heard it and liked it, but never kept it around in any playlists. On Friday another great professional review site recommended a song by The Acorn, “No Ghost”, I recognized the name and knew I liked them, but couldn’t but a song to the name. A quick search in my music library and it all comes flooding back. I hope you enjoy this song, it’s a comforting long song filled with percussion and strings. Check out The Acorn for more Indie Folk Rock.

There’s going be a lot of stuff posted on here that you may not like right away, the sound could be totally new or even something you immediately recognize as something bad. Don’t worry about it, there will be other things to make up for it. But if you give these little monsters some time you may grow to appreciate their art. Sleigh Bells just released their first album this week they are loud, noisy, distorted, catchy, and different. It’s a genre Wikipedia is calling Noise Pop… it fits. No music videos from them, here’s the latest single “Tell ‘Em”.

Oh.. you’re still here… good. I’ll be nice this time. This is The Cloud Room – Hey Now Now. This song came out in 2005, that’s five years ago. This is a great song, but you probably haven’t heard it. No, I mean like a really great song, literally exactly like the kind of stuff you hear on the radio every single day, there’s no subjectivity here. If you at all identify with rock and roll, you will like this. It is approachable the first time you hear it, and after that it only gets catchier. Rolling Stones named it one of the top ten songs of 2006, it’s been used in several national commercials and made it’s time around music blogs several times. But it’s still not on the radio. It is a perfect example of how mainstream radio snubs its nose at anyone that would dare go the “indie” route.

I was talking about my taste in contemporary folk at a campfire this weekend, it’s one of my favorite genres. It’s simply refreshed folk, typically just acoustics with voice, but horns and strings are not uncommon. This song, Badly Drawn Boy – The Shining is a beautiful example of this idea. It is simple and elegant. There is a beginning, middle, and ending. Like a sweet poem it is so much more than just entertainment. This is a mood altering song.

Rachel Rocks the Reviews - 06/01/10

First up is Postcards by An Horse, I recently saw them open for Tegan and Sara in their tour of Canada this past winter. After the concert I went straight to the merch table to pick up their cd. I recommend the whole cd and look forward to the next one. While it may sound like a full band it actually just contains two members, Kate Cooper and Damon Cox. The two met while working in a record store in Australia and would jam after hours, the rest as they say is history. There are many tracks on the cd that I enjoy and one of my favorites is Postcards. They recently released a video for it...while listening to it, remember there are only two members in this group...plus they're Australian, how can you go wrong with their accent?

Next up is The Submarines, I didn't know much about them. I had heard a few of their songs in different tv shows and movies. But recently I was watching a video on youtube and this song was playing in the background. Again I pulled out my handy dandy iphone and used shazam to find out what song it was. It immediately grabs you with its bubbly pop, great chorus and a great combination of musical instruments. It'll put a smile on your face and after just few listens, start to sing along. I plan on getting their albums to get to know them better because what I've heard so far I've really enjoyed.

After researching a little more about last weeks group, Now Now Every Children, I came across One For The Team. Both groups were at one time signed to Afternoon Records. I went to look up some of their music on youtube (my go to site) and Garden was the first song to come up. I LOVED this song...the harmonies, guitar and video made me more interested in finding out more about this group. After spending a few hours on youtube and iTunes collecting as much info and music I can now say I'm a fan and am excited to get to know their music even more.

Last but not least, Helicopter by Bloc Party. I recently rediscovered my Bloc Party cd and put it in and immediately began dancing to this tune, not to mention it's also one of my favorite songs to play on Guitar Hero On Tour (for the Nintendo DS). The guitar riff grabs you from the beginning and keeps you on the edge of your seat for the rest of the song. Not to mention the lyrics and bass guitar aren't to shabby either. It's an oldie but still a great song to have on any summer mix. Enjoy!