Top 20 of 2009!

1. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix- Phoenix

2. The Satanic Satanist- Portugal. The Man

3. Grand- Matt and Kim

4. Blood Bank EP- Bon Iver

5. Manners- Passion Pit

6. Time to Die- The Dodos

7. Walking on a Dream- Empire of the Sun

8. Veckatimest- Grizzly Bear

9. Bitte Occra- Dirty Projectors

10. These Waters EP- Ben Howard

11. 3 Rounds and a Sound- Blind Pilot

12. Gorilla Manor- Local Natives

13. Davy- Coconut Records

14. Man on the Moon- Kid Cudi

15. Embryonic- The Flaming Lips

16. A New Tide- Gomez

17. Everybody- Ingrid Michaelson

18. The Boy Who Knew Too Much- Mika

19. Up From Below- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

20. Cage the Elephant- Cage the Elephant

2009 Grammy Nominees(The Notable Ones)

1)Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix-Best Alternative Album

2)MGMT- Best New Artist, Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

3)Yeah Yeah Yeahs' It's Blitz!- Best Alternative Album

mtvU Woodie Awards

Matt and Kim and Passion Pit had amazing performances! Go check them out on demand on mtv.com

note: i do not take credit for the image.

New Flaming Lips Video

This is the strangest VIDEO I've ever seen. Watch at your own risk. It consists of a bunch of naked people running around.

The song is "Watching the Planets" from their recently released album Embryonic.

Free Ben Howard Download

Ben Howard's myspace has a banner with a link to a free download of a new song! Check it out while you can!

Vampire Weekend cannot disappoint!

Check out the newly released video: "Cousins" by Vampire Weekend.

Judging by the two new songs, "Horchata" and "Cousins", their new album, Contra, is going to live up to my expectations!

Local Natives=Genius

Local Natives is my new favorite band. Their debut album, "Gorilla Manor" is expected to release early November. I've already pre-ordered mine.

Song to listen to: Airplanes

Check them out on daytrotter for exclusive live recordings that are free downloads.

UPDATE: Local Natives are scheduled to play at Bonnaroo 2010!

New Vampire Weekend!

A single from Vampire Weekend's new album has just been released for FREE DOWNLOAD on their website. It is called "Horchata". The single lives up to my expectations of being amazing. But, you can decide what you think of it yourself.

go to www.vampireweekend.com to download!

New interest: The Dodos

The Dodos, originally called the Dodo Birds, is an indie rock band from California. Their music is very folk. My favorite song, form the album Beware of the Maniacs (2006), is titled: "Horny Hippies".

New Britney Spears!

She's got another club hit on her hands!

Kanye, what were you thinking?

This was not a smart career move. If you missed it, Kanye dissed Taylor Swift on the VMAS tonight. Poor Taylor. Check it out below.

Attention all listeners of The Shins

You need to check out Fruit Bats. Eric Johnson, from the Shins, is in the band and the music is very similar. They have recently released a new album titled The Ruminant Band. Check them out!

listen to their song "Canyon Girl" from the album Spelled in Bones:

Currently Listening To:

"Washed By the Water" by Needtobreathe.

All I can say is what an amazing song. It is songs like these that help me get through hard days. If you have never heard it, check it out here.

Viv Peyrat now on iTunes!

Viv Peyrat's Aces High EP is now available on iTunes! Support Viv and download!

Track List:

1. "Aces High"

2. "So James Dean"

3. "Nikki"

4. "Crazy"

Kings of?

No not Leon....Kings of Convenience.  They are an indie-folk band from Norway. 

Check out one of my favorite songs by them: Misread

How did I not find out about this band until now??

Awesome Mix

This is a fabulous mix I just made, and I think you will enjoy it.

1. Ghost Under Rocks- Ra Ra Riot

2. Fight Test- Flaming Lips

3. Stacks- Bon Iver

4. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi- Radiohead

5. Go it Alone- Beck

6. Oh, La- Ra Ra Riot

7. E-Pro- Beck

8. Two Weeks- Grizzly Bear

9. The Boy With the Arab Strap- Belle & Sebastion

10. Shout Me Out- TV on the Radio

11. Do You Realize?- The Flaming Lips

12. Sweet Disposition- The Temper Trap

13. Walls- Beck

14. Crying- TV on the Radio

15. House of Cards- Radiohead

16. How We Operate- Gomez

17. Scarecrow- Beck

All of the songs flow really well. I suggest downloading all of these songs.

My Favorite Cover EVER

This is a cover of Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal" by Kina Grannis. It is truly amazing and the music video looks professionally done. Kina has a ton of covers that are extremely impressive. She even has a couple of albums out on iTunes!

The Dirty Head's cover of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida"

The Dirty Heads are a reggae/hip hop group from California. They put a reggae spin in the hit song "Viva La Vida" and totally pull it off.

Check it out:

A music video from JB Barnett!

Here is a video of JB Barnett and his song 'The Getaway". He is a very talented musician from Australia. His acoustic music is very catchy and his lyrics go perfectly with the music. "Not About A Girl" was the first song I heard and I immediately fell in love with it. His EP "The Getaway EP" is available on Amazon and iTunes now. Also, to listen to his music and keep up with JB, visit his myspace

For listeners of: Howie Day and Jack Johnson.

Ben Howard news...again

Ben Howard's new EP should be on itunes sometime very soon. I cannot wait!

Some Notable Albums

Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest

Track to check out: Two Weeks

Coconut Records: Davy

Track to check out: The Summer

Portugal. The Man: Satanic Satanist

Track to check out: People Say

Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca

Track to check out: No Intention

NEW BEN HOWARD

Ben Howard has a new song on his myspace titled, "The Wolves". It is an amazing song. Also, if you buy a ticket to his show in London, you get a free mp3 download on a song in his new EP.

New Favorite Song

The song I cannot stop listening to is The Sea and Cake's remake of David Bowies' "Sound and Vision".

Remake (The Sea and Cake):


Original (David Bowie):


which one do you prefer?

New Viv Peyrat Videos!

Check out Viv Peyrat's new videos on his myspace. You can see him perform his new songs and he does a Jimi Hendrix cover.

I Gotta Feeling Black Eyed Peas are #1

Not ONE but TWO of the Black Eyed Peas' new songs from their album, "The E.N.D" are on the iTunes top 10 list. They are currently in the top two positions. "I Gotta Feeling" being number one. 

We couldn't expect more from the Black Eyed Peas. This album is everything that the Peas are and more.

Song of the Week

The song this week that I cannot stop listening to is "Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit. This song has been in my iTunes for a while, and I finally got into it. It takes a little while to get used to, but once you start listening, its hard to stop! 

Oh, and the video is beyond awesome.

Yes, I know, this song is old. But if you are into the new stuff only, they have a new album titled, "Manners" which features the song "Little Secrets" which is really good as well.

New MGMT music video!

It is definitely up to par with their other music videos. Their past videos have been just as bizarre as this one.

For example: Remember "Time to Pretend"? If not, go look it up on YouTube.

Wolfgang Amadeus: Phoenix

Phoenix's new album Wolfgang Amadeus is my favorite album of the month. Top songs from the album are "1901", "Girlfriend", and my favorite, "Lisztomania".  This French indie rock band is going to take over the indie music scene. Their sound is unique and their songs are catchy. All they need is one hit song to get them into the US music scene, and I think they have it with "1901". Just wait, you'll see.

Free Ben Howard Download

Ben Howard's newest song: Tearaway Kids is up for grabs on dontpressstop.com.

 Get it while you can, it's amazing.

(click on get it to go to website, you can also listen to two other Ben Howard songs there)

fan of DMB?

Attention all fans of Dave Matthew's Band:

If you like DMB, you will love the band Soul of the River from California. To check out their music you can (a) visit their myspace or (b) join their mailing list and receive a free cd in the mail or (c) download their songs from www.soundclick.com/souloftheriver. I received my free cd in the mail today and I love it!

To make myself clear, this band has nothing to do with DMB, the overall feel of the music is similar, but the music is different. The songs have energy and are relaxing at the same time. 

DYNAMIC DUO: MATT AND KIM

I can say, with confidence, that Matt and Kim are the best duo in the music industry. They have the best music, they are awesome performers, and they have cool music videos. Also, they actually look like they genuinely LOVE the music. That's what music is all about, just loving the music. I was so happy when I came across this band the other day, the music just made me smile. Also, their song "Daylight" is featured in the new Bacardi commercial. Look out for it!

Check out their racy music video for their song, "Lessons Learned"

Also, if you are looking for a less racy video to watch that will still make you smile and get up and dance, check out "Yea Yeah".

New Phoenix Album

PHOENIX, an indie band from France, has a new album coming out on May 26 (already out on iTunes). There has already been a song from this new album released titled "Lisztomania". If the entire album reflects this song, it's going to be a hit. If you are not familiar with the band, they are similar to Ra Ra Riot and Vampire Weekend. 

New Obsession: Aussie Style

Xavier Rudd is a musician from Australia with a similar style to Ben Harper. His songs like "Better People" and "White Moth" are particularly catchy. He plays a peculiar instrument, which I believe is called a Weissenborn slide guitar. Ben Harper and John Butler also play this instrument. He also plays the Australian instrument, the Didgeridoo. 

Remembering:

My Doorbell by the White Stripes. I didn't realize it at the time, but it is truly a great song. It has energy and a great beat. It is from the album "Get Behind Me Satan" which was released in 2005. If you don't remember the popular song, check the music video out here:

New Viv Peyrat!

Viv Peyrat, the new Jason Mraz, has new songs up on his myspace! They are so catchy and will keep you wanting more. You can buy his EP on paypal, but there is no way to download these new songs yet. 

They are titled: "Aces High", "So James Dean", "Nikki", and "Crazy".

"Aces High" has more rock in it, and its very catchy!

Go to his myspace here!

Ingrid Michaelson does Bon Iver!

Our two favorite things- Ingrid Michaelson and the song Skinny Love. Apparently, Ingrid is a big fan of the song as well, because she decided to cover it. Check it out, it's brilliant:

The Hanson Brothers + A couple of electric guitars

Remember how cute the Hanson Brothers were? They had those catchy beats and the long hair? Well the band Ice Cold Idiots are the Hanson Brothers without the girly pop sound.  The Ice Cold Idiots consist of three friends that all live in the UK. They are a rock band, that actually has some interesting sound to it. The lyrics of their song, "Fighting for Freedom" lack creativity, but hey, how much can you expect from a 10 year old? But besides that minor setback, these boys make some pretty good music. They are each good at the instrument they play. Kudos to the singer who has a really cool voice.

Check out their single here:

Check out their myspace here

Aquarium, what?

Aquarium Rocks is an "indie post modern pop rock" band with a lot of potential. They are close to resembling the sound of the Strokes, but with a twist. They define themselves as a "genre crossing three piece". This is different and intriguing. I hope they succeed!! Their first and only EP is titled, "The $250 Live Recording Session So Please Turn Your Volume All the Way Up Thank You EP". Long name, good music.

Check out their website at: www.smellslikeaquariumrocks.com

Myspace: www.myspace.com/aquariumrocks 

A Must Listen:

I recently came across Ben Howard on myspace. Turns out, his music has a very unique element about it. He plays guitar like in August Rush, and his voice is very soothing. His song "London" is beyond amazing. He is currently unsigned, but I bet that will change soon. Howard has a lot of talent, and he sure does a great job making music. 

more songs on his myspace

Who knew MTV could actually still do some good?

MTV's own Jay Lyon from "the City" is in a band called Tamarama from Australia. Turns out, the band is actually fairly decent. The music is catchy, but almost a little too similar to Jack Johnson. It's the definition of surf music. But hey, most people like Jack Johnson, so they will probably like Tamarama. Go check out the song, "Everything to Me".

Steve Means covers Lady GaGa!

Check out Steve Means' cover of "Just Dance" by Lady GaGa! It's really good! If you like this you should also check out his other covers of the Fray's "You Found Me" and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida". He also has an ENTIRE album as a free download on his myspace! This is only for a limited time though, so go download! 

Go to his Myspace!

Fan of Jason Mraz?

New artist on the rise: Viv Peyrat

He has a similar sound to Jason Mraz, but at the same time is unique. His songs are extremely catchy, and the lyrics match perfectly with the sound. His songs will be hits! I know it!

Check out his music video titled "In My Way":

myspace: www.myspace.com/vivpeyrat

Movie Soundtrack of the Year

The Slumdog Millionaire Official Movie Soundtrack is hands down the most innovative of the year. The culture of India is brought into the music in the lyrics and sound, making it one of a kind. A.R Rahman is the genius behind the music, and is being awarded appropriately, already winning a number of Oscars for the music and the movie itself. It also features songs by M.I.A, the artist behind the hit, Paper Planes. It is selling very well on iTunes, which is surprising since the music is so different than what Americans typically listen to. 

Go download it and support this amazing soundtrack!

New Genre of Interest: Reggae

I've been trying to branch out lately and developed a new interest in reggae music. Some artists/bands I've come across are: Pepper and Rebelution. And of course, the most well known: Bob Marley,Sublime, and Slightly Stoopid. 

Reggae music actually changes my mood. I actually want to listen to the words and think about what is said, other than just listen to the music itself. It's actually quite intriguing. 

Any suggestions? I'd like to explore more.

Until Next Time.

Abbey

The Fray takes on a Kanye Song

The Fray covered Kanye West's Heartless and put their own twist on it. It's really great! check it out! One of the best covers I've ever heard. The Fray is on the roll, check out their new album as well titled, "The Fray". 

Portugal. The Man

Artist to watch: Portugal. The Man.

Indie rock band with a really cool sound. The music is energetic and the singer's voice is a little similar to the lead singer of the Cold War Kids.

Recommended to listeners of: MGMT, Cold War Kids, Vampire Weekend, Weezer.

check out my favorite songs: "My Mind" and "Lay Me Back Down".

Click Here for official myspace

Albums are also on iTunes.

Ingrid Michaelson sings "Cant Help Falling in Love"

Ingrid Michaelson just released her own version of the classic "Can't Help Falling in Love" for upcoming Valentines Day! Who better to sing a classic love song?

check it out exclusively on imeem:

What's My Name Again? Oh yeah, BLINK 182

BLINK -182 is BACK

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand's new album, Tonight:Franz Ferdinand, is really good. check it out. Review will be up soon.

My current favorite is "No You Girls". It's very catchy and is similar to his old hits "Take Me Out" and "Do You Want To".

The future of music

This is a prediction:

Indie rock/electronic is the music of the future.

Cold War Kids are rising very quickly. Their songs are featured on popular TV shows like the CW's Gossip Girl.

Also, MGMT's Time To Pretend was used on the CW's 90210.

People are eating this indie music up. It's catchy, energetic, and best of all- different. Watch out.

Awesome Beatles Cover by Chris Townsend

This is Chris Townsend playing the Beatles' Across the Universe

Chris also has an album out on sale on iTunes titled, "Copenhagen".

artist to watch

BRETT DENNEN.

This folk artist most known song is "Ain't No Reason". Which is a very meaningful song about how we are unaware of everything going on in the world around us. It's a very touchy song, I really recommend it. His other music is really good as well. He is named one of the top 10 artists to watch by Rolling Stone.

myspace.com/brettdennen

New Hoobastank Album out the 27th!

The album is titled, For(n)ever

Inside look at the new album below!

One of my personal favorite songs on the album is #6, Tears of Yesterday

 

What do you think?

NEW FAVORITE SONG

BON IVER'S Skinny Love

myspace

live:

or listen to the record version:

Skinny Love - Bon Iver

Band to watch: Vampire Weekend

So, I've been following this band for quite sometime, and a lot of their songs are quite impressive. Their sound is pretty unique. Isn't indie music great?

check out my current favorite songs of theirs:

1-Walcott 2-Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

MGMT sound

Cuban Cigar Crisis' Love Between the Sheets

The video says it's by MGMT, but that is a frequent mistake made by ignorant people.

Take that

I found a new song today, I think it's popular in Europe

The Greatest Day by Take That. They sound a little like Snow Patrol, and the lyrics are really moving

Greatest Day - Take That

THE VIDEO- MUST WATCH

RST NEWS

Right Side of the Tree's album "The Novo Project" is NOW ON iTUNES!

Hall of Fame: YouTube Cover Artists

1. Chris Cornell

2. Boyce Avenue

3. Marie Digby- now has her own singles

4. AFrame

more to come.

music of the future: electronic

Face it, electronic/dance music is rising everywhere. Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" is #1 on the iTunes charts. Following close behind are the rising artists MGMT with their song "Time To Pretend" featured on the hit TV show 90210. And who can forget M.I.A's "Paper Planes"? And following in M.I.A's footsteps is Santogold who is a rising star with her song "Creator". There are many more but these are the first that come to mind when I think electronic. Watch, in the next 5 or so years all that will be on the radio is dance music. This could be good, but also very bad. 

What do you think?

J Minus music video!

J Minus has done their first music video to the song, "Someone for Everyone" which is on their new album "Mr Robotron On the Byway". This video came out a while ago, but i just recently cam across it on Youtube.

Check this single out

Hey guys sorry I was MIA for a week or two, but I'm back and found a couple new artists on the rise.

One of those is Derek Jordan with his single, Goodbye Jupiter. 

Derek Jordan is an artist on the rise with Goodbye Jupiter possessing all of the right qualities of a hit single. It is catchy, upbeat, and sounds unique.

Check it out on his myspace.