Music Monday: Bombay Bicycle Club

When Matt and I were in London, I kinda loved it.  The weather is my cup of tea.  And speaking of cup of tea ... I love tea.  My grandparents were English Canadian and man could they make a mean cup of tea (if ever you can refer to tea as mean ... but I trust you know what I mean. I'm stopping now).  All of this circles me back here.

The Bombay Bicycle Club.

Yes, this is how my mind works. You should be afraid.

The Bombay Bicycle Club is an English Indie band (I'm uncertain as to whether they like tea) that I enjoy listening to on "Reagan days."  Reagan days are those cool, foggy, not exactly raining but dark days where there is so much moisture in the air you can practically drink it.  Yep, this band is good on Reagan Days.

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that my first attraction to this band came from one of the Twilight soundtracks, but it's true so there you go.

Anyhow, as I wait (impatiently) for the summer weather to give an inch and offer up more Reagan Days, I invite you to listen to The Bombay Bicycle Club and see if they deserve a spot on your iPod.


SHUFFLE



ALWAYS LIKE THIS



HOW CAN YOU SWALLOW SO MUCH SLEEP (where the obsession began and still my fave)



So, whose ready for some days that aren't 80 and sunny?

Music Monday: Aerosmith

Well this band needs no introduction.  They have an epic legacy that speaks of their awesomeness.  So why am I highlighting a band that is probably the best American rock band ever (aside from the Eagles ... my husband and I debate this.  I'm on team Eagles)?  Simple.  I'm going to an Aerosmith concert on Wednesday night.

And I have floor seats.

In the 7th row.

I'm probably going to die from excitement.

If I'm not back blogging next week, you understand what happened.

Anyhow, here's a shout out to one of the best American rock bands (and a few songs I hope I hear!).


CRAZY



JANIE'S GOT A GUN (Gosh this gives me memories of a car ride home from Sheridan!)



CRYIN' (My Matt's favorite but not because I'm psycho. He liked it before me).


AMAZIN' (My favorite)



Goodness ... there are so many more I want to high light! Dream On. Sweet Emotion. Love in an Elevator.

What's your fave Aerosmith song?

Music Monday: Pop Evil

Pop is evil.  But it is pop--not soda.  It is never soda and I don't care what Little Miss Damn Good Food says about that!

Ramble, much?

While I actually abstain from the drinking of pop, I do partake of listening to Pop Evil, an American rock band from Michigan.  They've been around for a decade or so and I just dig their sound (and they've done some band member shifting).  I love their simple lyrics that cut straight to the heart. Plus, I like dark rock.


Monster You Made



Hero



Purple--My fave!

Things I Love: That Summer Song

I'm a music lover.

Shocking, I know.

There are many things I love about music but one thing I've always loved is the way a good song can just transport you to another time.  The way it can dredge up memories and feelings--how it can make hearts glow or tears flow.

For me there is one and only one ultimate summer song.

On Monday I was driving back from visiting a friend at the hospital when my summer song came on.  

I got this euphoric feeling where I was whisked back to a hot summer of tubing behind the Jus-T-Nuf on lake Michigan ... to early morning croquet matches with John and Martin ... to walking the long, long way to Lauren's house, past Jason Polano's house, just to see if he was outside ... to watching Father of the Bride over and over when the late afternoon sun made outside unbearable ... to changing the words of the song to tease my cousin.

My cousin.  

Jenny.

That euphoria vanished and I was overcome with this heartache that these memories were 19 years old ... and she's been gone for 15 of those years.

That summer song--it sends me soaring on the clouds of happy memories and keeps me grounded in reality that these days ... these summer days are like life ... too short to not enjoy.

That's why I love music ... especially this song.  My summer song.

And in honor of Jenny ... Jeeennnny, Jenny baby ... Jeeennny can you come out tonight?

Music Monday: Motion City Soundtrack

Motion City Soundtrack has been around since 1997 but I'm only now getting slightly addicted to their rock sound.  On certain radio stations (you know, the awesome kind that don't play Call Me, Maybe) songs from their new album, Go, are getting serious airtime.

Give a listen and find out why.

The Future Freaks Me Out




True Romance



Broken Heart



These songs aren't all on the same album but if you like this sound, check out Motion City Soundtrack's new album, GO.

Music Monday: Alex Clare

Have you met Alex yet?  No? Well then, let me introduce you.

Where is the ME in Mommy? reader, Alex Clare.

Now those awkward introductions are finished you can move right into awkward, forced conversation.

"So Alex, what do you do?"

I'm a singer and songwriter.

"Oh ya, and where are you from?"

London.

"Goodness, I love London.  Except for the hotel rooms.  What's up with the twin beds?"

I hardly know.

"So, what kind of music do you write/sing?"

Soul, dubstep, a bit of electronica.  You know, all sounds awesome.  Why don't you just give me a listen?


(P.S.  I totally took creative license with Alex's role. I don't really know him or what he'd have to say but I'm certain he'd love me.  And you.  But mostly me.)


Too Close (my fave!)



Up All Night (don't blame me if you're up all night listening to this one!)




"Geez, that was so great.  Where can I learn more?"

You can check out my webpage 

Music Monday: Margot and the Nuclear So and So's

Seriously.  I love that name.

It reminds me of my friend Jenny who can't stand it when people mispronounce nuclear.  I'm not sure how it is mispronounced which means I'm sure I'm one of the offenders.

Anyhow, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's have been around a while.  They are from Indiana and they have a melodic instrument-heavy sound.  Know what that means?  It means they are a serious treat for the ears for "random" music novices and musical geniuses alike. If you can't pronounce nuclear correctly, I bet you will like them.
Give 'em a listen.

Broadripple is Burning



Jen Is Bringing the Drugs (For Jenny who never brings drugs. Oh, and this one has an F Bomb).


Dress Me Like a Clown


I obviously didn't post it here but you should know that Margot and the Nuclear So and So's totally have a song called Hello Vagina.

Music Monday: Dirty Heads

Dirty Heads.  I hear that name and it kind of makes me itch a little.  Or a lot.  Funny how linguistics can affect us physically, right?

Itch.  Itch.  Scratch.

Back to typing.

The Dirty Heads have an eclectic sound.  A tablespoon of reggae, a dash of hip hop, and a pinch of punk is their recipe.  And while you might be shocked (since I'm not a huge hip hop fan) that I'm featuring this band, you should know that this musical recipe just works.

I don't know how it works; I just know it does.  Kind of like chicken schwarma.  I mean, who would think marinating greasy chicken in cloves, oregano, yogurt, and lemon would be so amazing.  But it is.

Schwarma and reggae.  Apparently I shouldn't blog today.  Sorry. I'm spread way too thin.  Lucky for you, that feeling ties right into the first song.  Magical, huh?  I mean, it's almost like I planned that ...

Spread Too Thin

Like it? Were you thinking, "gosh, they have a Sublime sound?" Well, then, feast your ears on this candy! Lay Me Down (with Sublime)

Music Monday: The Used

Enough with this folksy, Indie crap.

Okay, not really but this week I'm hitting up some hard core metal.

The Used can't really be classified.  Emo. Punk. Metal. Screamo.  They can pretty much do it all.  If you aren't into this "sound" because you don't like "hard" sounds, expand your mind a little.  This band is legit. You might just thank me.

Oh, and their new album is sweeeeet!

Here are my two faves--one old and one new!

I Come Alive




 Smother Me (like a hair band ballad from the 80s--no one does love songs like these guys!)


 


 Other songs I recommend based on lyrics that will pierce your soul: I Caught Fire ("I'm melting in your eyes"--gotta love lyrics like that) and All That I've Got (I'll be just fine, pretending I'm not. I'm far from lonely and that's all I've got).

Music Monday: Thriving Ivory

I went through a music phase where I loved Indie Rock. Oh wait, I'm still going through that phase.

I know I've spent the last three weeks highlighting Indie Folk and while I dig that sound, Indie rock will always have my heart. Well, at least through my thirties.

Anyhow, Thriving Ivory is one of those great Indie Rock bands that doesn't get the attention it should because mainstream music listeners have been deluded into believing Beyonce and Justin Bieber are as good as music gets.

That caustic digression aside, this band is soooo good but my love affair with The Airborne Toxic Event kind of made me overlook them for a while. However, a few weeks ago my friend Sarah M. reminded me about Thriving Ivory. So I cued up the iPod and put my musical soul at ease to a few of their songs.

Angels on the Moon (an oldie but a goodie)

 Where We Belong

 Hey Lady

 

Music Monday: Churchill

Acoustic indie rock.

 Uh-huh.

I say those three little words and you know it's gonna be good. And it is.

It. is.

Churchill is a young band getting big attention because, well, they have a great sound. And while I love their sound, I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that they are from Denver. Whoop Whoop!

If you read their blog (which some of us nerdy mom bloggers tend to do) then you'll learn one thing about the band members: they like cheese. Just one more reason I'm digging this band!


 Change (I was so excited the first time I heard this on 93.3!)

 

Burn it Down (I want to hold Matt's hand on a rainy day and have this song magically start playing. If someone could make that happen, put me on your schedule).

 

 The Only One (because anything with an accordion has to be amazing)

 

Music Monday: Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men is an Icelandic Indie folk/pop band.  Honestly, in terms of bands, this is a baby band that is meeting pretty huge success.

The first time I heard their song Little Talks I was convinced that Florence and the Machine had teamed up with Mumford and Sons to create some serious aweseomeness.  I was wrong about the singers but not about the awesomeness.

Little Talks (so hot right now!)


  Yellow Light

 

 Slow and Steady


 

Music Monday: The Lumineers

The Lumineers are a root revival band based out of Denver, Colorado whose music has been described as "heart-swelling stomp-and-clap acoustic rock, classic pop, and front-porch folk."   Of course that's just artsy fartsy talk for awesome.

The Lumineers have been likened to Mumford and Sons and The Avett Brothers and indeed, if you love those bands then the soulful and raw sounds of The Lumineers will steal your heart.

The Dead Sea

Stubborn Love


 

 Ho Hey (This is the song that's currently putting The Lumineers on the map)

 

Music Monday: Neon Trees

What I love most about Neon Trees is their late-80s electronica pop sound.  What I like least about Neon Trees is ... um.  Well, I haven't decided.

Their new album comes out today and I'm excited to give it a listen.  I've already purchased Everyone Talks and it's awesomeness.

Animal--Probably their most famous tune





 Everybody Talks (this video cracks me up!)


 



 Sins of My Youth

 

Music Monday: FML

If you came here this morning expecting yet another post introducing you to some awesome band you've never heard of, I'm sorry. I'll return to my regular scheduled posts next week.

Right now I'm having an FML time of life. You know what that means, I presume. That means last week: I put my cat of 17 years to sleep and found out my dad's cancer is back. Not exactly the best time of life right now. 

So anyhow, enjoy some old music posts.


 Avett Brothers So first up, I and Love and You. A classic. I love it. Makes me happy.



Band of Horses

 


 The Epilogues Hunting Season



Barring any deals, hideous diseases, car accidents, or natural disasters, I'll be back next week.

Music Monday: The xx

English Indie Pop.

Seriously, that's all I should have to say and you should be all, "ohh, fun."

The xx is actually an older band (from clear back in 2005!) and if you listen to Rihanna (like my husband does.  Vomit), then you've probably heard some of their music playing in the background.  I've had The xx album on our iTunes for over a year but somehow Matt just heard it.  He thinks the sound is perfect for massage/sexy time.  He's wondering where this band has been all his life.  Well, maybe not but he does like them.

Do you?

Heart Skipped a Beat (my fave!)





 Crystalized (probably their most famous)

 


 Islands (fun and poppy and hey, I want to be on an island)

 

Music Monday: Bad Books

In general, I really hate bad books.  The Scarlet Letter?  Vomit.  The Red Badge of Courage? Skip it.  Moby Dick?  I don't care how many people call it a classic, I still think it sucks *bleeeeeep*.

Lucky for you, I'm not asking your to reminisce the horrible books you've read.  Where bad books, literature wise, are frustrating, The Bad Books-musically speaking--are an incredible American Indie band formed in 2010.  This band has a similar sound to Manchester Orchestra (have I introduced them to you yet?  Hmmm.... anyhoo, the lead of Manchester Orchestra is in Bad Books so it makes sense that the style is similar), Bon Iver, and The Airborne Toxic Event.  Really their music is Folk/Americana/Melodramatic.

If you want to check out some free music, head to The Bad Books' MySpace page (because MySpace still exists ...).

Or hear them here (and if you like them, go buy their tunes on iTunes).

You Wouldn't Have to Ask




 I Begged You Everything

 

I'm Not Ready to Forgive You

 

Music Monday: Hunger Games Soundtrack

So, who went to the Hunger Games?

Did you like?  Did you hate?

The hubs and I went to the show we several other couples and afterwards, the ladies went for drinks and chick-chat.  The overwhelming movie review was that we liked it.  Katniss was a good cast.  Peeta's character was more meek and mousey than in the book.  And the cave scene was too short.

But since no film adaptation can ever capture the goodness that are books (which is why you should ALWAYS read the book), I'm willing to overlook Madge getting slighted and Haymitch not being as drunk as often.

I'd recommend watching it if you haven't already.

I tend to be a big fan of movie soundtracks and the Hunger Game soundtrack was no exception.  To be honest, when my friend Sarah told me Taylor Swift had two songs on it, I threw up a little.  Then I had to eat crow because I listened to the songs and it turns out, they are pretty darn good.  {Check outside--there must be pigs flying}.

Another friend gave me the whole soundtrack and it is an eclectic mix of the mournful bluegrass of Civil war and alt-indie sounds of Arcade Fire and The Decemberists.  I'm pretty happy about the whole thing.

Give it a listen!




Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift (This song reminds me of a foggy, rainy morning).


 Lover is Childlike by Low Anthem



  


 Tomorrow will be Kinder By the Secret Sisters (hello, blue grass)

Music Monday: Goyte

It doesn't happen very often that I get on to regular radio stations and hear a song I like (or one that is also played on stations I like). The last time this happened it was with Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People.

 Now Goyte has been around for a long time (like since 2000) but his music is just now hitting that mainstream popularity coveted by musicians. I'm pretty happy about it :)

 So Goyte. If you think this is pronounced similarly to Boy-Tea, you are wrong. Goyte is actually prounced Gore-Tee-Yeah. Weird I know but Goyte means "Walter" and since Goyte's nickname (not stage name) is Walter, I guess it all makes sense. It a weird, "only a musician would think of this" kind of way.

 Goyte's voice is really unique and rich--kinda like the Peter Gabriel of 2000!

 Someone that I used to Know (this song is SUPER hot right now!) Heart's A Mess Thanks For Your Time

Music Monday: Fun.

Remember my whole sob story about missing Panic! at the Disco?  Ya well it gets significantly worse.  Fun. (yep, their name is stylized with a period.  I'm not making that up) opened for Panic that night and since I missed Panic! I also missed Fun.  It sucks to miss out on the Fun.

It's also kinda fun to say Fun.  Fun.

Fun is really gaining popularity (since their music was featured in a Super Bowl ad) which makes perfect sense because they are, well, fun.  American Indie pop is pretty sweet.

Give 'em a listen.

We Are Young

 


All the Pretty Girls
 


 Walking the Dog