Songs Collection February #2 - 2014

So what we've got on this list? Two wonderful cover versions by The National, who covered Perfume Genius' "Learning" and Childish Gambino, who covered PM Dawn's "I'd die without you". A new Phantogram song is also featured here, as well as new releases by Fanfarlo, Alpaca Sports, Little Comets, Halls and the new collaboration of Cocteau Twins' member, Simon Raymonde and Stephanie Dosen. 

1. Little Comets - Coalition Of One

2. Phantogram - Bill Murray

3. Childish Gambino - I'd Die Without You (PM Dawn cover version)

4. Alpaca Sports - Just Like Johnny Marr

5. Fanfarlo - The Beginning And The End

6. Halls - Aside

7. The National - Learning (Perfume Genius cover version)

8. Snowbird - All Wishes Are Ghosts

Songs Collection February - 2014

It's Superball night tonight, but for some of you that might not watch that important sport event, there are seven wonderful songs to hear down below. starting with tripy new song by Thievery Corporation; A beautiful collaboration of The Bird And The Bee and Matt Berninger from The National for an upcoming film called Endless Love; New songs by EELS, Timber Timbre, Soak and Lane 8 and one haunting cover to Nick Drake's song "Things behind the sun" by Darkside and Tamara.

1. Thievery Corporation Feat. Shana Halligan - Depth Of My Soul

2. The Bird And The Bee Feat. Matt Berninger - All Our Endless Love

3. Timber Timbre - Hot Dreams

4. EELS - Agatha Chang

5. Darkside Feat. Tamara - Things Behind The Sun (Nick Drake cover version)

6. Soak - Blud

7. Lane 8 Feat. Lucy Stone - Nothing To Say

Trouble Will Find Me - The National [Review]

Since the release of High Violet, the amazing fifth studio album of The National, an American Indie band from Cincinnati, Ohio, I've waited for their next album. That haunting sound with Matt Berninger's baritone which fits the lyrics perfectly made me listen to it over and over again. The only thing that was better that year was the Arcade Fire release, The Suburbs, which was brilliant (It seems that they gonna release a new record this year too). The sixth release of this five piece band, which consists of Matt Berninger, Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Scott Devendorf and Bryan Devendorf, named Trouble Will Find Me, catches them in a certain point of their musical career, where only troubles can appear after such a great success. Well, when I first heard Demons from this album, it seemed that they won't repeat the excellence of the previous album, but as long as I listened to the whole album, I was convinced that that they are still one of the most fascinating bands in the world. The sound remains almost the same and Matt's voice still sounds wonderful, but the work they made on the ballads such as I Need My Girl is something so precious that I cannot describe in words. I don't think it's better than High Violet, it's different in some kind of ways... Take a listen to five of their songs, three of them from Trouble Will Find Me

Album Rating: 8/10

Don't Swallow Your Cap (Taken From Trouble Will Find Me, 2013)

Bloodbuzz Ohio (Taken From High Violet, 2010)

Sea Of Love (Taken From Trouble Will Find Me, 2013)

Sugar Wife (Taken From Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, 2003)

I Need My Girl (Taken From Trouble Will Find Me, 2013)

Empire (Pick Word #28)

We're living in the modern age, in which the idea of Empire is no longer used in its classic form. In contrast to the Roman Empire or the Persian Empire, we can see the forecast fall of the world's greatest economic and ideological lighthouse, USA, while the emergence of China as the new Empire might be completed in the next few years. If the classic empire tried to invade new territories in order to expand its control over natural sources, today the struggle field concentrates in economic advantages and ex-Territorial fields such as the cybernetic space. Still, we can find some artists who sing about their own views about empires such as The National, Manic Street Preachers, Gorillaz, Andrew Bird and Kasabian. which kind of empire do you like the most?

The National - Fake Empire (Taken From Boxer, 2007)

Manic Street Preachers - My Little Empire (Taken From This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours, 1998)

Kasabian - Empire (Taken From Empire, 2006)

Andrew Bird - Scythian Empire (Taken From Armchair Apocrypha, 2007)

Gorillaz - Empire Ants (Featuring Little Dragon, Taken From Plastic Beach, 2010)

Weekend Candy: 13 Of April 2013

So the weekend is getting closer and it it's time to sum up some of the songs I've heard last week. What we've got here today are songs from the new albums, which were released lately by Kurt Vile, James Blake and OMD (Yes, they're still alive...) We also mention to albums which celebrated anniversary last week: Murmur by REM which celebrated 30 years and Bring It On by Gomez, which celebrated its 15th anniversary. Down below you can find the new release by The National and new songs from Anna Von Hausswolff, The Pastels, Treetop Flyers, Denison Witmer, Jade Parker, Beady Eye, Valleys, Foxes, Lightening Dust and Pajama People. Now it's your turn to listen, what are you waitin' for

 ,

Gomez - Whippin Piccadilly Taken From Bring It On, 1998

Fifteenth Anniversary

The National - Don't Swallow Your Cap Taken From Forthcoming Trouble Will Find Me, 2013

Beady Eye - Flick Of The Finger Taken From Forthcoming BE, 2013

Anna Von Hausswolff - Mountains Crave Taken From Ceremony, 2012

 Valleys - Hounds Taken From Forthcoming Are You Going To Stand There And Talk Weird All Night, 2013 

 Kurt Vile - Never Run Away Taken From Wakin In A Pretty Daze, 2013

 Foxes - Beauty Queen, 2013 

OMD - Metroland Taken From English Electric, 2013

Treetop Flyers - Things Will Change Taken From Forthcoming The Mountain Move, 2013

Jade Parker - Together, 2013

Lightening Dust - Diamond Taken From Forthcoming Fantasy, 2013

James Blake - To The Last Taken From Overgrown, 2013

Denison Witmer - Asa, 2013

The Pastels - Check My Heart Taken From Forthcoming Slow Summits, 2013

Pajama People - Wintertime Taken From Forthcoming Cool Intentions, 2013

REM - Radio Free Europe Taken From Murmur, 1983
Thirty Years Anniversary 

St. Vincent

Maybe the name Annie Erin Clark is not known for the most of us, but might heard about St. Vincent, which is the stage name of this talented singer from Tulsa, who started her career as a member of The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens tour band before she started her own solo career. St. Vincent released three full albums and a collaborative one with David Byrne, The former leading singer of  The Talking Heads. She's also a multi-instrumental player, who can play guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and more while she sings with her clear, soft voice. This beautiful morning gave me an inspiration to go back to hear few of her songs, so here are five pearls I've found.

Cheerleader (Taken From Strange Mercy, 2011)

 

Paris Is Burning (Taken From Paris Is Burning EP, 2006)

All My Stars Aligned (Taken From Marry Me, 2007)

Actor Out Of Work (Taken From Actor, 2009)

Sleep All Summer (Featuring The National, Crooked Fingers cover version)

Ohio (Pick Word #12)

As part of my project which aims to explore songs about all 50 American States, I decided to start with Ohio. Although it's the 34th most extensive state in US (2012 Database), it is the 7th most Populous with over 11.5 Million people. The capital city of this state is Columbus, which is the 15th populated city in USA. Some of the cities there grew great acts such as The Black Keys and Devo (From Akron), Afghan Whigs and Over The Rhine (From Cincinnati), Kim Deal (From Dayton), Nine Inch Nails (From Cleveland) and many more. For that reason, we can find a lot of songs written about Ohio, so it wasn't an easy one, but I think it's diverse and interesting. Now you can lay back and listen to the first part of Wide Awake In America series which features Damien Jurado, Over The Rhine, The National, Sun Kil Moon and The Dandy Warhols

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio (Taken From High Violet, 2010)

The Dandy Worhols - Ohio (Taken From Tales From Slabtown Vol. 2, 2000, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cover version)

Damien Jurado - Ohio (Taken From Rehearsals To Departure, 1999)

Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio (Taken From Ghosts Of The Great Highway, 2003)

Over The Rhine - Ohio (Taken From Ohio, 2003)

2012 Songs That Will Remain In My Ears #3

So here goes part three of songs that will remain in my ears from 2012 in music. you can enjoy the earlier releases down here and afterwards listen to the following great songs by Chairlift, Patrick Watson, The National, Kathleen Edwards, The XX, Andy Stott, Fiona Apple, Chromatics, The Twilight Sad and Black Marble

Part #1

Part #2

 Chairlift - Wrong Opinion Taken From Something

 Patrick Watson - Lighthouse Taken From Adventures In Your Own Backyard

Fiona Apple - Anything We Want Taken From The Idler Wheel  

The National - I Need My Girl Non-Album Track

Kathleen Edwards - Chameleon/Comedian Taken From Voyageur

The Xx - Chained Taken From Coexist

Andy Stott - Numb Taken From Luxury Problems

Chromatics - Bird Of Paradise Taken From Kill For Love

The Twilight Sad - Another Bed Taken From No One Can Ever Know

Black Marble - Static Taken From A Different Arrangement