Music this week: lots of new albums for me

This month I'm still bingeing on a lot of new music.  In addition to having a Muse and Mumford & Sons revival, here are some of the other songs and artists I've been listening to on repeat.

1. 'I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)' - Josh Groban

So I think I mentioned that I was getting Josh's new album.  Unfortunately, this is probably my least favorite of his albums so far.  I found a couple of the songs just a little disappointing.  But that said, there are a couple songs that I really love.  I definitely listened to this one a lot (also Changing Colors and Play Me from the bonus tracks).  I can totally see this song being used at the end wedding-scene of some super-feel-good romantic movie .  .  .  and then fade to credits.

2. 'Radioactive' - Imagine Dragons


I went to see Beautiful Creatures and this song was in one of the terrible trailers I had to watch.  But I'm glad I got to hear it because I got the full album and I really like it.  My other favorite right now is 'On Top of the World.'

3.  'Your Bones' - Of Monsters and Men


I finally got my hands of the Of Monsters and Men album and I was immediately distracted and moved by 'Your Bones.'  It has such a haunting sound and made me really really emotional the first couple times I listened.

4. 'Stronger than Me' - Nashville  [DON'T WATCH VIDEO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE SPOILERS]


And speaking of haunting songs, this song really stuck with me too.  I know I said I would stop posting about Nashville, but this song is so powerfully sad, and mesmerizing.  I had it in the back of my head for days after I watched the episode. (Not really a song I'd want sung to me on my birthday though, poor Deacon.)

5.  'Kiss Me Goodbye' - Nick Urata and the Candelabras

I heard this song after watching the independent film Virginia starring Jennifer Connelly.  It was an interesting, sometimes funny, movingly sad movie.  This song captures the weird mix of cheerfulness, nostalgia, and bittersweetness.

6. 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' - from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel soundtrack, Thomas Newman


I distinctly found parts of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel very relaxing and beautiful, especially because of the music.  I got the soundtrack and it is great for calming down, concentrating and finding that inner peace.

7. 'Shake it Out' - Florence + the Machine (Benny Benassi Remix)


I was discussing F+tM remixes with my sister.  And while I don't really care for the Calvin Harris remix of 'Spectrum,' this is one of the other remixes floating around out there that I enjoy.  This version is also pretty wonderful.

Of course, I always prefer the originals.

8. 'Terrible Love' - Birdy


I forget where, but I heard her cover of People Help the People and got the album on a bit of a whim.  I'm really glad I did because I really like the whole album.  She has a great and strong voice, and the album as a whole has a sleepy and reflective vibe.  I'm really looking forward to what she does next.

Music this week: Muse, She & Him, and a bunch of British chicks

Been listening to a lot of tunes lately!  I guess I've really needed to be in the groove/needed a pick-me-up!

1. 'Never Forget You' - The Noisettes

Love her smooth voice and the retro vibe of the song!

2. 'Obsessions' - Marina and the Diamonds

Not from her most recent album but such a good song!  Been listening to it 3-4 times a day randomly!  Also, been listening to 'Numb.' 

3. 'Boy' - Nina Nesbitt

Just stumbled upon this one and been listening to it non-stop.

4. 'Dig Me A River' - Gemma Ray

I wanted to post 'No Water' but I couldn't find a video.  I've had a bit of a Gemma Ray revival of late and have been listening to her Lights Out on Zoltar again.  'No Water,' 'Dig Me a River,' and "You Got Me In a Death Roll" have got the highest play count so far.

5. 'Only You' - Alison Moyet

It's a old one, but it was on Fringe a few weeks back which got me hooked all over again.  'I Go Weak in the Presence of Beauty' is another favorite of mine.

6. 'Madness' - Muse

I finally broke down and got the new album this weekend.  Loving most of it (two of the songs I don't like).  Digging this one the most right now.

7. 'Thieves' - She & Him

I dunno why this one just randomly popped up on my itnues and it's perfect.


8.  'Tightrope' - Walk the Moon

Another one that I'm not sure how it made it's way into my itunes library but I'm ok with it.

9.  'Breath of Life' - Florence + the Machine

Yes, again!  It's soooooo good!

Other goodies: 
Of course I've was on an all Mumford & Sons diet for a little while there.  Still listening to 'I Will Wait' and 'Below My Feet.'  Their 'Ghost that We Knew' makes me cry, so I don't listen too it as much but love it too.  Been really digging 'For Those Below' lately.

Calvin Harris/Florence's 'Sweet Nothing,' of course.  Kinda bummed that the music video is so lame though.

Guilty pleasure: Cher Lloyd.

Music this week: Mumford & Sons & Paul Simon, Girl Power music

I've been getting really excited about all the concerts I'm going to be going to this summer.  I'm going to see my idol (goddess?) Florence Welch perform with Florence + the Machine at the end of the month in Cleveland.  She just posted on her Facebook page that she has sustained a vocal injury; let's pray that she heals beautifully and speedily!

I was going to see Mumford & Sons in Hoboken, but the tickets sold out.  I've been wanting to see them live ever since I heard their album, but it's probably just as well.  Their show was in the middle of the week, and the tickets were a bit steep.  I also almost went to see fun. in June, but I had a change of plans and couldn't make it.  Good thing I'd already seen them live before!

But next, I'm going to see Marina and the Diamonds in mid-August in NYC with some groovy friends. I'm psyched; it will probably be a pretty spirited and fun event!

Then in September I'm going to see Florence again! Woo!   She was coming to Camden (only 45 min from me), so I had no excuse not to get tickets!

Anyways, with all of this music excitement--- plus the news about Greenday's new albums and Pink's new song & album announcement--- I've been in a real musicy frame of mind lately.

So what have I been listening to?

1.  Paul Simon - So Beautiful or So What (the whole album)

My disappointment with not getting Mumford & Sons tickets sent me off on a wild Paul Simon binge for some reason.  I'd recently bought my dad the new album for Father's Day; so I stole it from him and it's been my work soundtrack for the past several days.

My favorites are Dazzling Blue, Rewrite, and Love is an Eternal Sacred Light.

Dazzling Blue
Favorite line: "roses red, fine white linen, to make a marriage bed."  I don't know why, but I always seem to tune in especially for that line.

Rewrite
Favorite line: "when I said help me help me help me help me, woah, thank you, for list'nin' to my prayer"

Love is an Eternal Sacred Light
Favorite line: "Big Bang/ That's a joke that I made up/ Once when I had eons to kill"

2.  Jerry Hall feat. Mumford & Sons - The Boxer (by Paul Simon)

And given my Mumford & Sons-inspired Paul Simon binge, I was ecstatic to discover this gem:

Favorite line: "Lie lie lie, Lie lie lie lie lie lie lie"


3.  The Lumineers - The Lumineers (new album)

In the same folky, Americana genre, I found out that The Lumineers now have an album.  It includes their popular song Hey Ho, and I've only listened to a couple of the tracks, but so far I'm digging Submarines:

Favorite line: "I did spy periscopes"  --- how often do you get to sing that?

4.  Girls Aloud - Theme from St. Trinian's

One the COMPLETELY OPPOSITE end of the spectrum, my iTunes shuffled me to one of my favorite loud, raucous, girl power songs: the theme song from St.Trinian's.  And I promptly listened to it over and over and over again, just as I did when I first saw St. Trinian's--- a campy, teen pop British movie that is really hard to explain, it's about a private school for crazy, mischievous girls and their hilarious hijinks (involving Colin Firth).  But this song can be sung, screamed and unceremoniously howled by girls everywhere (and includes some less-known british slang, for those interested).

Favorite lines: "Feel the fear, we're MANIACS, saaaaaaiiint Trinians" and basically the whole chorus, especially, "Check out our BATTLE CRY/ a song to TERRIFY/ no one can stand in our waaaaayyy."

5. Marina and the Diamonds - Electra Heart (new album)

I've been pumped about this album for two months now. It is finally here.  Or almost here.  Mine probably won't arrive until next week, but I've been listening to a lot of the songs online.

My current selection is Power & Control (so radio-worthy! I hope to hear it on the dials soon!)

Favorite line: "Yeah, you may be good-looking but you're not a piece of art."

 Bubblegum Bitch was a close second.

6.  Florence + the Machine - Shake it Out

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE remixing their own song.

Favorite line: **all of it**

Their whole concert is also on youtube, woo!

The more embarrassing tunes:
Give Your Heart a Break by Demi Lovato (yes, i know . . . dangerously close to me liking a Taylor Swift song)
Payphone by Maroon 5
Wild One by Flo Rida
One Thing by One Direction (or is it just prep-school NSYNC? hahaha)
Scream by Usher (so much dance dance energy!)

Stuff I keep forgetting to check out:
First Aid Kit (I've got one of their songs, but never investigated further)
the new (well, 2011) Blondie album
Coldplay's 2011 album (I know people seem to hate Coldplay, but I think I've heard some of their stuff recently and liked it.)
Fiona Apple???  Is she good?  All of a sudden everyone seems to be worshipping her.