Lucid Tribes

Over the past days I have felt that I’m losing myself lately.  As of lately, I feel as though I am not satisfied with anything I do.  No matter what there seems to be something weighing.  This is no way to live.  So I opened my copy of this months Nylon and started looking at different bands.  After some time searching around on youtube, I found this awesome rock band, Tribes.  Maybe it’s the dreamy voice of the lead singer or the mellow guitar strings, but tonight’s band hits a cord for any free spirits out there.

The band is composed of four members, Johnny Lloyd, Jim Cratchley, Dan White and Miguel Demelo.  How the band originally came together is unknown, but they all originated from London.  They released their first EP, We Were Children, in April 2011.  Their popularity grew within the United Kingdom, earning them “the Hottest Record in the World” by BBC Radio 1.  They have released one album, two EPs, and three singles.  They are currently recording their second album in LA.

After listening to a lot of music over my break, I think Tribes’ sound is unique compared to many rock bands.  Much of their music is classified as chill and indy-rock.  This might be due to their influences of Nirvana, R.E.M., The Pixies and The Pavement.  My favorite song by them is Coming of Age.  Some of the lyrics are cliché  but sometimes it just the words you need to hear.  The guitar is smooth but somehow raw enough to make stop and listen.  That seems to be the trend, the band is sensitive but still has the rawness of any great rock band.

Coming of Age- Tribes

Alone of With Friends- Tribes

When Life Gets Tricky… We Pump the Music Up

It has been too long since I last posted, and let me tell you a lot has happened.  I now entering the stressful first semester of seniordom(technically not a word).  But let me sum it up for you:

Books:

Born To Run by Christopher McDougall

Movies:

Pitch Perfect

Cloud Atlas

Sanity:

Oh right I lost it :p

So now that we are totally caught up, here comes the music.  So tonight’s band is Australian electro-pop.  If you haven’t heard of them, their name is Strange Talk.  The band consists of four members, Stephen Docker,Gerard Sidhu,Travis Constable and Gillan Gregory.  They were originally formed in 2010 by Gerard and Stephan.  Their first EP was released through Neon Golden Records and Fine TIme Records.  Some of the songs featured on it was Climbing Walls and Eskimo Boy.  Recently they have put out their newest single Cast Away.  If you are a fan of Passion Pit or Phoenix than this is a great new band to check out!

Eskimo Boy by Strange Talk

Cast Away by Strange Talk

Of Monsters and Men refreshing my earbuds

So tonight’s band is pretty unique.  I was getting really bored of writing my research paper and decided to explore Itunes a little.  I was kind of interested to see this new band that was on the recommended music they always have.  So as I was looking I saw this cool sounding band named Of Monsters and Men.  Instead of doing my homework I actually ended up buying half their album and putting it on repeat.

So this band is not only really cool because they are a six piece indy folk band but because they also are from Finland.  These guys actually sprung from to solo band projects that ultimatley merged with one another.  They were originally founded in 2009 and kept adding members till they had six band members.  The members are Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir(vocals, guitar), Raggi þórhallsson (vocals, guitar, melodica, glockenspiel), Brynjar Leifsson (guitar, melodica), and Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson (drums, percussion, melodica, glockenspiel, vocals), Árni Guðjónsson(accordion/keys) and Kristján Páll Kristjánsson (bass).

The album that was released in the United States was their debut album My Head is an Animal.    They music is nothing like I have ever heard before.   Most of the songs have an indie/folkie song quality.  I especially like the use of different instruments A.K.A glockenspiel.  Nanna’s voice reminds me of why I fell in love with music.  Personally this music makes me want to sit in a grassy field and feel the wind on my skin.  I know thats kind of weird, but of late their music had really helped me get through the week.    My two favorite songs so far are King and Lionheart and Dirty PawsIf any of you guys are lovers of indy or of folk or just interested in hearing new music, I highly recommend this song to anyone! So I hope you guys like these guys and buy their songs on youtube!

Of Monsters and Men- King and Lionheart:

Of Monsters and Men: Dirty Paws

Arkells bringing in a relaxed weekend

This week had been absolutely crazy.  On top of ridiculously long history assignments I’m completely totaled.  So natural I’m looking forward to an calming weekend (not likely).  And to help me bring in the weekend is today’s band Arkells.  A few weeks I found a acoustic version of one of their songs and was to lazy to look them up. But, as I was browsing through Nylon blogs I saw that they also liked some of their songs which finally pushed me to write this.

So who are the Arkells?  Well they are a Canadian rock band originally from Ontario.  The consist of five (all original band members) Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis, Anthony Carone,Nick Dika and Tim Oxford. In 2006 Dine Alone Records.  In 2009 the band also won CASBY award for best new artist.  Since then they have been raising their profile and touring with other bands.

I cannot tell you how much I needed a band like this.    Their song Bookclub is refreshing.  Whenever I listen to it I feel as though I am jumping through an ice cold swimming pool on a hot summer day.  I know it’s cheasy but it’s totally true.  The guitar and drums is so smooth and oddly calming.  Not to mention the lead singers voice goes perfectly with the sound.  Of course the occasional obvious accent can also be added as plus.  This song is perfect for anyone looking for a smooth rock sound with out being bored.  So here is the aucoustic version and the rock version of the Arkell’s Bookclub:

It’ no ordinary winter its Zulu’s Winter

After a long two nights of hanging with friends a going to sleep way to late I finally found a song that I wanted to blog about.   I thought this song would be perfect due because it’s been somewhat of a weird winter.  By weird winter I mean the spring like weather and the very little snow we have gotten .  So the best band that was fitting my mood was a indy british band Zulu Winter.

This five piece indy band is the british version of Vampire Weekend.  The band has five members, Will Daunt (vocals & guitar), Iain Lock (bass), Dom Millard (keyboards), Henry Walton (guitar) and Guy Henderson (drums).  In 2011 after playing their first single “Never Leave” of BBC radio, their popularity sky rocketed.  Their newest single “We Should Be  Swimming” is now Zane Lowes Hottest Record in the World on BBC.  They have also had mentions in magazines such as Q and Guardian.com.

Like I said before these guys sound like the British version of Vampire Weekend.  But, unlike the Vampire Weekend, their sound is al little more edgy and a tad darker.   The guitars in most of their songs blend amazingly well with the keyboards.  Though i am not a huge fan of the guitar, I feel the clean drum beat and Will Daunt’s voice adds more character to the band.  But like most indy bands they have a roughness to them which I kind of like. All in all Zulu winter is the anthem to slow paced winters (aka this winter).   To show you what I mean, here are some music video’s by them:

Lets Move back to front: Zulu Winter

We Should be swimming: Zulu Winter

Mar making chill weekend sounds

So after a crazy week most people just want to chill.  So if your planning to have a an uber relaxing Saturday or Sunday here is a band you should listen to.  Tonight’s band is Mar.  So if any of you like ambient music then this is perfect.  For some reason this band is so unknown that you can find very little information on the internet.  But, from what I do know they are located in Missouri and they have a single album called The Sound.

This band is great if you’re looking for a chill weekend and a hipster band to show your friends. My friend pointed me to one of there songs that is really good, its called The Atheist.  The beginning is quite slow but three measures in it gains and interesting beat to it.  Then a male’s voice comes in and creates an even more soothing atmosphere.   If any of you are fans of Postal Service and Sigur Rós then you will like this band.  Hope you guys are having a wonderful Friday!

 

Teens will just be teens

So I’m writing this post for any teenager out there. See a a junior in high school I’ve sacrificed a lot of time spending time on studying. As the end of the term came to pass I realized that I just wanted to be a kid again. In doing so I found some great music to help me release my inner partier. Because I have been so bad about blogging lately(probably tired of hearing my excuses), I’m going to make it up. So for the entire week I am a song a day/Barron’s info you want to know, that make you wanna rock out and just have some careless fun. This playlist is dedicated to those who spend some time of their lives acting, dancing, or whatever being a child.
1. Teenagers-feeling better
the teenagers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckaBdIHlIq
The first song is is a French synths pop band. They were originally founded as a joke. But after their first song homecoming they reached a different kind of popularity. A lot of their songs have some good guitar set against some awesome synths. I specifically chose this song for a reason. I have to say whenever I listen to it I want to find an old abandoned house somewhere and throw a really big party. Not only is the music great but the weird lyrics and the odd vocals make any lonesome/outsider teen feel as thou they are going to have s rocking, cause who there for you were your cold and alone. The Teenagers!!! So download this song call up some friends and forget your problems.

Islands coming to pick your spirits

 

 

 

I have to say I sad, like everyone else, to see the holidays gone.  No longer can I sleep in late/be completely lazy.  But no fears because Teenage Wasteland is back in business.  And I’ve got tons of new music/bands that you can rock out to this year!  So to start off the new year (a little late) I am starting on a happy tone.

Enough with my babbling and the first band of 2012 is (drum roll please) Islands.  This awesome band was found in Montreal, Canada.  The band first released their first album, Return to the sea, in mid-2005 and released in 2006.  After that they became quite popular and were touring throughout 2005.  The have also opened for Metric.  In 2006 one band member, Jamie Thompson left the band to pursue a solo career.  The band now consists of four members, Nicholas Thorburn,Evan Gordon,Geordie Gordon and Aaron Harris.

If your feeling blue and need a good pick me up here are two songs from this band.  I first heard their song No you Don’t.  Its really weird but I have this strange liking to it.  The guitar and the weird xylophone is somewhat interesting.  Not to mention the music video has Michael Cera. Don’t believe me check it out for yourself:

No you Don’t- Islands:

P.S.  Could not find a picture for the band so I decided to post a picture I took myself.  Hope you like it!

 

 

Black Keys coming back ’round

I felt some what bad cause I haven’t been music blogging lately.  So I choose this song for a re energized come back.  Today’s song is by a rock band called The Black Keys.  Unlike most rock bands this group is a duo.   Dan Auerbach(vocalist/guitarist) and Patrick Carney(drummer/producer).  They were formed in 2001 in Ohio.  They classify themselves under blue rock, rock, and indy rock.  They have seven recorded albums.  The song I chose today is Run right back.

The song starts off with a great guitar solo followed by some great drumming.  Dan’s voice is the cherry on top of this song.  Although I am not a huge fan of rock their sound is somewhat new to the scene.  The use of the guitar is complete genius and the energy it gives off makes you want head bang.  I general its ipod repeat worthy.  In this video they are preforming live and they also sound just amazing check it out:

Run Right Back: The Black Keys

Bear & Boy are at the feeding line

  Today’s band is originally from down under Sydney, Australia.  Boy & Bear was originally create a solo gig for muscian  Dave Hosking.  As other members( Jake Tarasenko, Killian Gavin and Tim Hart) started to join they formed an interesting indy band. Together this band have made two albums and their song  Feeding Line has come to America!

I am truly in love with Feeding Line.  From the great bass line to the rough edge voice to the haunting lyrics.  Everything thing you might have had some fear of is suggested in this song.  I could tell you my favorite lyrics but I just love them all.   Their lyrics are somewhat difficult to understand and leave a lot to interpretation.  Kind of gets you thinking…

If your having a hard time in life listen to this song and maybe it will give you guidance.  This is a truly brilliant song.  Here is the music video enjoy!

Feeding Line: Boy & Bear