Playlist: Lazy Day, It's Raining Outside

This blog has been awfully quiet for a month but it's back with a few whimsical songs gathered together.  I guess rainy days make you listen to music even more than any ordinary day. Look out the window, play these songs and later go back on this blog and tell me what you think.

Kids - MGMT
What I like about MGMT is they are one of the few psychedelic bands that has really good vocals.  "Kids" is perhaps one of the fan favorite and overplayed MGMT songs. Described as "noisy, New Order-style synth jam", this song is incredibly catchy and will definitely cheer you up.


Percussion Gun - White Rabbit

Back story: I discovered this song while I was looking Frightened Rabbit songs.  I accidentally clicked this song in the search results. And I was like, "not bad".

Dominated by drum beats this song transitions from single instrument to another. It is fun guessing what instrument the band will use on the next lines.  For the most part it is a upbeat.  The vocals is not much to be noted of but the whole song is worth the discovery.  It will definitely give you a Eureka moment as a music fan.


Little Secret - Passion Pit

If you can't go out because of the weather outside, play a Passion Pit song and dance along to it.  "Little Secret" is sprinkled with the same electro warbles that brings a signature whimsy to most of Passion Pit songs.  Frontman Michael Angelakos at some point of confidently screams and it's very contagious.


Cold Wind - Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire is Arcade Fire.  If the rainy day is perfect to listen to indie songs, they're the perfect band to listen to on rainy days, and on other days too.  Although this song for the most part is mournful, it still managed to sound a little bit pop which makes if easy to listen.  Arcade Fire is brilliant.


Epilogue - The Antlers

"Epilogue" sounds like it is being sung inside a quiet bedroom which fits the mood of the theme and setting of the song.  Though it comes off a very sad song, it has the air of sincerity in its entirety and even almost crying at some point.  This seems like a two part song with it's first part being the minimal instrumentation along with the whole desperate pleading. The song strangely ends with a short positive whimsical notes.


Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect - The Decemberists

Off of their 2002 album Castaways and Cutouts, "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" is a lyrical gem.  Colin Meloy's vocals is meant to tell the tale of a castaway lover.  The song creates interesting imagery with its stories complete with glorious characters and settings accompanied by swirling guitars. This song is a great indie folk song from a great band. Listen to this on a rainy day while looking out the window and you will feel you are inside the song.

Also, props if you've heard this song on How I Met Your Mother.


In The Cold I'm Standing - m83

This song starts out almost like a John William piece. When this song comes up in your playlist it will make you go "what is this song?".  M83's music is almost theatrical but still manage to lay in the pop border.  Add this song on your playlist for a little surprise.


Sunday - Yuck

I personally love Yuck and how I think their music is a bubbly kind of folk.  They have been criticized as unoriginal but judging on how fresh they sound to  my ears, they are one of the most unique bands right now.  If you love Bob Dylan, you must love Yuck, not just because vocalist Daniel Blumberg looks like the young Bob Dylan but because if Bob Dylan's music has a grandson it would be Yuck's music.

Sunday is from their demo so it sounds raw as it gets.  With the jingly jangly  instrumentation and the unassuming vocals, Sunday is a song to hang out with while sipping a cup of tea and just lazing out not just on a Sunday but any other day.


This Modern Love - Bloc Party
With quick drums and minimal vocals, this song will make you listen to more Bloc Party songs. This Modern Love came from one of their best albums so far, Silent Alarm. It has the right amount of snappiness that most Franz Ferdinand songs have and the vocals that most indie songs have.  You will find yourself having visuals of a neon lighted streets and people walking fast then you open your eyes and caught yourself tapping your toes along to it.

How bout you? What are your rainy day songs?

PS: This playlist is especially dedicated to my friend James, who is every day asking me for song recommendations, which I gladly obliged.

Pop Rocks and A Playlist

Props if you get the Green Day reference.   That one was an obvious give away.  But no there isn't any Green Day song here.

Anywho, to keep this blog alive, let us pour some sugar on it, err music on it.  Remember I was trying to recommend music to people who actually stumbles upon my blog?

I’m not a musician.  I am trying to critic music as far as my Lester Bangs obsession goes.  I am mere fan trying to show the world how the magic of music struck a chord in my life.  And stuff.

So with all the drama being dropped to the ground, here’s me again telling you what music to listen to.  And hopefully you, out there would listen to them as passionately as I do.

Yeah, whatever, here’s this week’s “playlist”:

Quiet Nights in Noisy Neighborhoods –  Ancient History

I don’t get to sleep easy and I often need a soundtrack to lull me to sleep.  That is how I encountered this indie music.  It has the right rhythm and soft beats that you could focus on and sort of brings you to a meditative state.  Listen to this song and you’ll find your eyelids closing as early as its first one minute.  Never mind the cold vocals or the lyrics, this song is the kind of song you listen to not understand or contemplate over.

City of Ice – Br’er

Now if you are looking for a song that has soothing chords but sad vocals, this one’s ideal during those solitary moments.  This is one of those indie songs with choking, raw loneliness that it is almost comforting.  What’s great about this song is the poetry of its lyrics and somehow its music.  I personally like songs that are both lyrical and ‘musical’.   In summation, this song will oddly make you think about a city of  ice.

Heaven’s on Fire – Radio Dept.

“People see rock and roll as, as youth culture, and when youth culture becomes monopolised by big business, what are the youth to do? Do you, do you have any idea?

I think we should destroy the bogus capitalist process that is destroying youth culture.”

When a song opens that way, it wont fail to heighten your eagerness to what extent of rebellion the song will stretch.  This Swedish fuzz-pop musicians have the headstrong idealism of punk, only they sing it less angry.  Not even a whine.  This song is almost not a protest song, just a subtle amount of complaining along with a catchy pop background.

Stranger – Noah and The Whale

Okay, so this song is about a one night stand just to get over an ex.  Powerful story.  It starts off as a sad pop song and ends in a positive “knowing you I’m gonna be happy” tone.   The lyrics is just so intense against a mix sound of melancholy and promise of vindication.

This Must Be Where It Ends – Brett Anderson

What’s with indie rock songs that brings you nostalgia?  This song is just dynamic like an indie song but has the noise of an alternative rock song.

Fuck This Place – A Frightened Rabbit

There is a good story from Scott Hutchinson’s blog about the creative process where this song spawned from:

“This is going to sound like total bullshit, but please don’t exhale a ‘pfft’ and stop reading when I say, this song started off as a dream. I honestly dreamt that i did a duet with a mystery female vocal on it and the ‘I don’t know these buildings’ line was definitely in that dream.

So when it came to the writing, I had two parts in my head all along. I have been a big Camera Obscura fan for a long time and when Tracyanne said she’d be up for this, I was incredibly chuffed and her vocal is just beautiful. It’s fairly obvious what it’s about, though I don’t think it’s necessarily a love story.”

When I saw this song’s title, I’m already sold.  But when I started to listen to it, I surprisingly liked the indie folk melody and the relatable lyrics.  Just like what Scott had experience, its like being lost in a familiar dream, that is what this song makes you feel.

And you can download the whole EP for free here.  Actually, sign up to their mailing list to get it. 

Soothe Me – Yuck

There was a sort of online hype when Yuck previewed this track on their blog.   But sure when there’s a hype there is really something worth buzzing over at.  The song is a beauty with its downbeat slo-mo, almost mellow melody as guitars intertwine over an English accent, choral falsetto.   It just makes you feel what the title says.  If you’re into the indiest indie, well maybe you’ve heard about this song already.

After The Gold Rush – Thom Yorke (Neil Young Cover)

I fortunately came across Sterogum’s list of Radiohead covers and man was I  glad I have drifted into them on the web.  it contains this amazingly delivered  classic.   You know how Thom Yorke’s voice just pierces your soul and it makes you feel bad and good altogether.  His voice gave this song another imagery so vivid that the lyrics just unfolds in front of you when you close your eyes.  Its a different sort of high and nostalgia than the Neil Young version.  This song has a hard theme to interpret tho, but anyhow for sure you’ll find yourself reminiscing and dreaming to this song, on repeat.

Summertime Booze – Turf War

Do you want your own summertime song?  Get ready to loose to this song.  Okay that was lyrics references, no need to call me cheesy and stuff.  This song will actually give you a shot of summer.  With their Tom Pettyish sound and story telling  they are not your average garage punk band.  So, if you love to just drink booze till you drop, then Turf War got you your anthem.

Last Confession – Godchild

Godchild is a chill type of alternative band with John Mayer influences.  If you can’t imagine how it would sound, just click play.   Its an easy to listen and to sing along kind of song making it an lss potential.

So those are the ten songs I have on constant repeat the whole week.   Hopefully I get to share good stuff.

Also, why pop rock and coke?  You might’ve figured it out already.   I’ve been hooked to the cokish goodness of indie- pop that borders to rock.  Or you could have it as pop rocks and coke, but the explosion’s not in your stomach but in your ears.  Yes.

Valentines Day Mix : Where Did All The Love Go?

Four more nights till Valentines Day and here's a mix about love. All kinds of love. We look for it. We find it. We let it go. And then we're back to the beginning.

Where Did All The Love Go? - Kasabian

The song gives its title to this mix. Only because we often find ourselves asking the same question. And besides it is a great song.

Inside of Love - Nada Surf
Nada Surf gives us glimpse of what it feels like to want to be in the inside of love. This song is a lot like love, it tickles your ear like love tickles your heart.

Fin - Pupil
Fin is a short song that is full emotion It is about finding the missing piece of you.

Nobody Does It Better – Radiohead
This Carly Simon cover makes you want bathe in Thom Yorkes voice. Nobody does it better than him.

At Least It Was Here - The 88
The 88 gives a bittersweet tune to our hearts doubts.

Wax and Wire - Loch Lomond
This painful song is quite symbolic and almost cryptic but this song talks about death. It can be a death of love and not being able to revive it.

Different – Acceptance
Different is an alternative song which is quite different from all the songs in this mix. Because sometimes when we love, we want to see something that's different.

Dead Ends – Canines
And at the end, we get tired of love. We get lost finding it. Then we wait for it to come again.


How bout you, what are the songs on your Valentines Day playlist? Do you have any plans? Cause if you don't have any, you can email me.

Zac Merrick's Playlist for Less Than Jake Tour

All Time Low is every pop punk's guilty pleasure.  Admit it, their songs are catchy.  They might not make music that make critics wow but they can bring you music from other artists that can make you wow.  Proof is the playlist form Zac Merrick's Friends or Enemies blog.

Listen to full playlist here.