Bully

I heard "You Could Be Wrong" by Bully while I was jamming to the Iowa Public Radio. I know, I'm super cool. So but anyway, good job IPR. I now love this band!

I just ordered their new album "Losing" the other day, so psyched for it to arrive. I haven't spent an immense amount of time looking into them, but they appear to have formed in Tennessee in 2013. Although the lead singer, Alicia Bognanno, is a Minnesota native. They are currently touring, so if you happen to live near any gigs, you should check them out. Sadly, the closest they came to my locale was 4 hours away.

These are some of my current faves, based on multiple YouTube listens:

Couldn't Get It Right - Climax Blues Band

"I kept on looking for a sign in the middle of the night, but I couldn't see the light, no I couldn't see the light."

I was just coming home from shopping the other day, turned on the radio and there is was. I fell in love for some reason. I'm thinking it has to be the cowbell and the disco theme they apparently weren't immune to. Seems weird that I don't recall ever hearing this song, considering how old it is.  The Climax Blues Band formed in 1968, and is apparently still touring (sans any original members?).

I really like "And Lonely" as well, though it is much slower and longer.

After further research, okay, I have heard songs of theirs. Namely, "I Love You" in countless films. I just never knew who they were.

Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric

On my way to see Cherry Glazerr in Des Moines, this song came on the radio and I knew the chorus, but couldn't remember why. Drew a complete blank. But re-loved it instantly. And then it hit me, this scene from Stranger Than Fiction:

It is a truly awesome, old school, punk love song. I'm just not sure if I love it purely for the song, or because of the Stranger Than Fiction scene. I have found that many songs are enhanced for me in this way. Which I suppose is the whole point of music videos...but its different from that also. I cannot now separate the song from the feeling the scene gave me, and vice versa.



PRO TIP: For any weirdo out there that wants in my pants...just sing me this song and I'm probably yours. XOXO.

Hot - The Regrettes

This song is just brilliantly brutal, reminds me a lot of that one Distillers song. You know the one. Anyway, The Regrettes are a punk band with that riot grrrl flavor I've been craving lately. Like I just can't get enough of these strong, loud, angry females. We're in it to win it!

They are touring currently, which would have been great for me if I'd actually been able to go to Riot Fest this year. Sadly, I could not. Hope everyone there enjoys this great band!



*grumbles on my way to bed, instead of awesome rock festival*

Ain't Done With You - Erick Hovey

I adore Erick Hovey so much, in particular Ain't Done With You from his Recycled Souls album. I've listened to it almost everyday for about a month now. It's just so freakin' mellow and pretty and it makes me go "Awww, wish someone wasn't done with me." I may be biased because I've known him personally for quite awhile now...but I don't think so. Although, listening to his music is almost the same vibe as hanging out with him - chill, fun, and low key impressive.

I would categorize Recycled Souls as the perfect album to just chill to, preferably outside with a cold beer. I mean, I mostly just lie down and stare at the ceiling and contemplate life while it's playing, but ya know, you do you.

My second favorite song on Recycled Souls is Thousand Times:

And my third favorite, Here Again:

Seriously, he's great. Go to CD Baby to purchase Recycled Souls and/or his other three albums. Hopefully, someday he will finally release another one! hint hint.

White's Not My Color This Evening - Cherry Glazerr

Everything about this is just hella dope. Love how Clementine Creevy's voice is sweet and harsh. Love how garage band punk the sound is. Love the music video of the menstruating girl kicking the crap out of some asshole sk8r boi for laughing at her. And love the shoes she wears. Too bad that video is not available on here for some reason. So here's a live version.

 I was looking for some punk/alternative rock with female vocals and Cherry Glazerr is what I was drawn to. I will always be drawn to this kind of sound. It's so great. Sadly, I don't know much else about the band except they just came out with a new album, Apocalipstick.

They appear to be touring quite a bit this year, even making an appearance in dear old Des Moines, IA 9/13/17 at the Vaudeville Mews! I might have to go if I can get my shit together and remember to do so.


UPDATE 9/16/17:

I did end up going to the concert in Des Moines with my friend Cody. It was pretty rad. Also, the Vaudeville Mews as a venue was much smaller, and also much larger than I pictured. I basically stood next to the wall the whole time trying to see between the heads of tall blonde girls. Even in my favorite platform sandals, I was still too short. My only critique would be that the vocals were not coming in as clearly as they could've, but that could have been anyone's fault, not necessarily the band's. They still sounded great!

Halsey

I'm not entirely sure where I first heard about Halsey, but I think I just ran across her lyrics on Pinterest. Yes, I'm a pretty hardcore "Pinner" and I love lyrics. Anyway, her music gave me something that was missing from my life. Some pop feeling from my childhood, mixed with my adult-ish love of cursing and frankness.

Strange Love was the song that really introduced me to this singer, the one that got me hooked. I mean, how could it not when it starts with "Everybody wants to know if we fucked on the bathroom sink"? But the chorus is the real sweet spot with "They think I'm insane, they think my lover is strange but I don't have to fucking tell them anything."

The one I've listened to about 80 times, is Hold Me Down.

And my current favorite is Control. "I'm bigger than this body. I'm colder than this home. I'm meaner than my demons. I'm bigger than these bones."

Slothrust

I'm pretty sure every new artist/song I come to love lately comes from a TV show I watch. That being said, I was introduced to Slothrust through this show, You're The Worst. 7:30am is the freaking theme song and I fell in love with it immediately.

This band doesn't have a fucking Wiki, so I'm not entirely sure they even exist...but since I just bought their album, Of Course You Do...of course they do. One song I'm sad isn't on that album, because it's fabulous, is In A Sexual Way. There's something so appealing to me about Leah Wellbaum's low honest voice mixed with that grungy bluesy sound...because it deeply reminds me of the Pixies. It's hard for me to explain how fruitless my struggle to find music like this usually ends up anymore. It just hasn't been existing since the 90's. So, shout-out to anyone who, like me, has a deep aching need for that 90's sound but isn't actually the same stuff you've been hearing the last 20 years...look up these motherfuckers and get hooked!

Oh Land

I have recently become crazy into this Danish show, Rita. The theme song, Speak Out Now by Oh Land, is wonderful. I can barely understand it, but it's awesome. Oh Land was a surprisingly neat find and I might have to check out some more Danish music. I'm also pretty fond of Renaissance Girls right now.

Change Is Hard - She & Him

"I listened when they told me, 'If he burns you let him go,' but change is hard, I should know...I should know."

Maps - Maroon 5

Another great song by Maroon 5. I swear I'm not sure why I used to hate them so much in high school. Possibly because Adam Levine wasn't super hot just yet. Anyway, the video for this song is a little bit more intense than theirs normally are, and it has an Irreversible theme to it. All it needed was a rape scene and a pregnancy test to psychologically scar millions of fans.

May induce psychological scarring.

As I understand the lyrics, this is about two people in a relationship, but one is sort of never there for the other. But the other keeps going back to them. Because...fate? Lack of self-respect? Dat ass? Who can say. If Kelly Clarkson were singing this, it would definitely end with an inspirational "I'm better off without you". And of course Carrie Underwood would kick the shit out of his car. But Adam Levine is just like, "Ain't nothin' I can do!" Why are the pretty ones so dumb? So yeah, the song is actually much more uplifting while accompanied by the video.

And then there's that part that reminds me of Leslie Knope..."But on that road I took a fall, oh baby why did you run away?" Hahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa......I've been watching too much Parks & Rec.

Closer - Tegan and Sara

I am oh so obsessing over this song right now. I was binge-watching BoJack Horseman on Netflix and the last episode ended with this song. I'm like, "Is that Tegan & Sara?" One Google search later and yes, yes it is. I love Tegan and Sara, this song came out in 2012, how have I not heard this song before? In any case, I love the 80's feel, the "typical" but perfect harmonies, and of course the lyrics. It's so bubbly I could hate it, but I totally do not.

a single from the album "Heartthrob"

Girls and Boys

I have had two songs stuck on me this week with similar (ish) themes. Where love is concerned, we all the same, because love is not a choice.

1. Girls/Girls/Boys - Panic! At The Disco

Apparently an homage to D'Angelo's "How Does It Feel." While I've never heard of D'Angelo before today, all I can say is thanks for ripping him off, Brendon Urie. I really, really like my skinny white boys/girls. Ha. Anyway, this song seems to be about a guy liking a girl who hasn't made up her mind whether she wants him or a girl. Who doesn't love a bi girl? Indecisive. I love it! Love is not a choice...!

Definitely going in my "maybe" list of songs I might sing.

2. Girls Chase Boys - Ingrid Michelson

Also an homage, this time to Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible". I like Ingrid's version about 20 million times more, mostly because I actually like her song, and also because her dancers are hotter. The comments section for this video is also hilarious because just about everyone is like "Boys are in make-up, I don't understand. It makes me feel gross." I happen to like boys in make-up, so I don't really understand what their deal is, but whatever. The point of the song is that we are all the same when it comes to love.

Chandelier - Sia

No one seems to understand how obsessed I am with this song. It has been stuck in my head for about 3 days now, with no sign of unsticking. I have loved Sia since I first heard I Go To Sleep on an episode of Dollhouse, and while Chandelier is very different in both tone and style, it does have a similar effect on my mind. That is to say, I can't get it out. And I love the lyrics, with a dash of narcissism, because they are very much like something I would write. But better.

Party girls don't get hurt

Can't feel anything, when will I learn

I push it down, push it down

I'm the one for a good time call

Phone's blowing up, they're ringing my doorbell

I feel the love, I feel the love

1,2,3 1,2,3 Drink

1,2,3 1,2,3 Drink

1,2,3 1,2,3 Drink

Throw 'em back til I lose count

I'm gonna swing from the chandelier 

From the chandelier

I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist 

Like it doesn't exist

I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night

Feel my tears as they dry

I'm gonna swing from the chandelier

From the chandelier

And I'm holding on for dear life

Won't look down, won't open my eyes

Keep my glass full until morning light

Cuz I'm just holding on for tonight

Help me, I'm holding on for dear life

Won't look down, won't open my eyes

Keep my glass full until morning light

Cuz I'm just holding on for tonight

Sun is up, I'm a mess

Gotta get out now, gotta run from this

Here comes the shame, here comes the shame

And then there's this:

Rude - Magic!

Can't get enough of this song today. Even though I find the act of asking someone's father for their "hand" sort of offensive, like a woman is just property transferred from one man to another. Like a woman couldn't give permission for herself. But, you know, whatever, it's super catchy.

Heavy Bells - J. Roddy Walston and the Business

I had never heard of J. Roddy Walston and the Business before making my Lazerfest Mix 2014, but dayumn! Glad I finally did. I've had this song stuck in my head all weekend now and I'm loving it. I want to get every one of their songs stuck in my head as well. I'm super excited to see them at Lazerfest and hope their live show is as good as everyone says. 

Here's them on Letterman!

Fortune Teller - Maroon 5

So, I borrowed this Maroon 5 CD from the library and mainly listened to it in the shower. I was pleasantly surprised by this song in particular. I think because it is so repetitive, but with sweet piano notes over this techno oomph thing. For some reason, I like techno if it also has sweetness. Anyway, I'm pretty addicted to not only the sound, but the lyrics. To me, this is the story of a boy living and loving the moment and not understanding why his girl needs to have answers about their future together. Which, I can tell you is pretty common with some of my friends, I just so happen to be on his side at this moment. How can you know you'll always feel a certain way or just what the future holds?

I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller.

Rhiannon - Stevie Nicks

I don't know why. Because...Stevie Nicks? But really, I suppose I was watching American Horror Story and that one crazy backwoods witch was obsessed with her songs, which sort of put me in the mood. And Rhiannon is just a good song that kind of takes you for a ride into...hippyville? I don't know. Somewhere nice and mellow and maybe a little magical.

Side note: I know a couple girls named Rhiannon and I thought to myself that they must always have people singing this song to them. And how awesome is that? The only song that I know my name's in is Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah) which is basically about this wicked cold bitch.

I guess that fits..."the meanest gal in town." But no one ever knows it because it was made in 1956 and apparently, normal people don't listen to music from 30 years before their birth. Woe is me.

ps. I guess there is Hannah by Ray Lamontagne (whose voice I hate) and Hannah by Freelance Whales (which I don't relate to at all...I do not take the stairs if there is an elevator). But I had to do a Google search for this information.

pps. Oh, also Hannah by Robert Downy Jr. ? Whaaaat?

New - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney's new song is a happy little love song that feels a lot like The Beatle's pop-ier era. It gives me a big dose of the "Oooo's" and sates my romantic soul. 

Just What I Needed - The Cars

Thank you, The Cars, this song is just what I needed. I find this one of the most random songs I've ever had chance to fixate on, but it's a good one, so whatever. For me, this song is about finding a person that perfectly suits your momentary needs (e.g. feed/bleed). Which I guess is kinda where I'm at right now.