This isn't the first time we've featured an Edward Sharpe song from the band's album, Up From Below. This time, we have '40 Day Dream,' a song that summons the tenderness of Journey's 'Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'.'
In our last post about the band, reader "Sean" mentioned that Edward Sharpe put on a great live show, so what better way to demonstrate '40 Day Dream' than to feature one the band's live performances? In fact, this live performance contains the same dynamism as the studio cut does.
Yes, this is the same band that sang 'Hey There Delilah.'
Plain White T's are back with a track that is more sophisticated, more nuanced, and more mature than their original single that first put them on the pop music map.
Young the Giant has released an infectious, anthem-ready track in 'My Body.' The song is a romp-stomp of a rock single that entices even the most bashful to start nodding their heads and to pump their fists.
In 1990, Bauhaus lead singer, Peter Murphy, released his third solo disc, Deep. Unlike his previous two solo albums, Deep was thrust into the Billboard charts due to the surprise success of its key single, 'Cuts You Up.' Indeed, 'Cuts You Up' spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard modern rock charts in America.
'Cuts You Up' is one of my favorite alt rock tracks from the nineties. It is a strategic pairing of R.E.M.-jangle pop with the glam antics of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust.
Watch the video for 'Cuts You Up' below:
(As an added bonus, check out the video at the 1:09 mark. Gotta love the deliberate head shake from shadow to light).
Electro-pop duo, Bag Raiders, released single 'Way Back Home' a few months ago here in the States. The group's sound bears resemblances to Peter Murphy of Bauhaus, as the chorus of 'Way Back Home' presents a softer goth appeal.
Kent may have formed in Sweden more than two decades ago, but I must concede that it wasn't until today that I really knew much about them.
Indie-pop heroes in their native Scandinavia, Kent never caught on as much in the United States, and were often dismissed as sappy Radiohead copycats.
In 2000, the band released the much more critically-acclaimed Hagnesta Hill, which featured the lead-off track, "Kungen Är Död" - Swedish for "The King is Dead."
The song starts with trademark '90s alternative guitar and builds into sinuous waves of fuzz. In particular, the distorted riffs behind the melodic chorus make for a standout track on "The King is Dead."
You can stream the song below:
To hear the original Swedish version of "Kungen Är Död", click here.
I randomly heard 'The Saddest Thing I Know' on the Music Choice alternative music station the other day, and I was instantly hooked.
Penned by Australian group Birds of Tokyo, 'The Saddest Thing I Know' takes a little while to build up to its rockin' parts, but once it does, the chorus hits the listener with a wallop of energy and a bangin' anthem.
Several years ago, Lostprophets was one of my favorite bands on the move. Then, suddenly, the group seemed to disappear from my radar.
Unbeknownst to me until now, Lostprophets released a new album in March of this year. One of the singles from the album is cleverly titled, 'For He's a Jolly Good Felon.' The tune is really not too bad, and it's a shame the song hasn't received more exposure.
Watch the video for 'For He's a Jolly Good Felon' below:
David Byrne's influence bleeds through on Foals' 'Total Life Forever.' It's slightly disjointed, features prominent variation in volume, and carries itself forward with a strong sense of vocals.
Despite the band's namesake, Dead Confederate's 'Giving It All Away' has very little to do with Southern Rock. Instead, it harnesses the languid notes of nineties alternative rock, culminating in a fluid, audible concoction.
Watch the intriguing video for 'Giving It All Away' below:
Fences is the moniker for artist Chris Mansfield. Discovered in Seattle by Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara, Mansfield was convinced by Quin to record his studio debut in her Vancouver studio.
Watch the video for the first single from Fences, 'Girls with Accents,' below:
Sometimes a more palatable version of Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot doesn't insert quite as much quirk or sonic aberration in its recordings as the former tends to.
'Boy' fits within this framework and ends up being a quite likable song.
The Waterboys are a long-standing British band that gained a foothold in the early '80s with their melodic rock and philosophical, literary knowledge.
Released on the band's 1985 album, This is the Sea, "The Pan Within" is an alternative rock epic full of piano, violin and (what I assume to be) a pan flute.
A couple listens to this song may find you wanting to run dramatically through the fields and become one with nature.
This is fitting, because Pan was known in Greek mythology as the goat-legged god of the pasture - shepherds, flocks, wild nature, rustic music, sexual prowess - you name it.
Sound appealing? Listen below to release your inner Pan.
