SUMMER SOUNDTRACK 2013

-WARNING, THIS IS A LONG POST! ( But it's interactive now, so I think that makes up for it)-

Hola my lovelies.

 I'm back, having indulged in a cute little two week break (finally) that has temporarily satisfied 

my need for travel, sun, hot weather, swimming pools and complete and utter relaxation.

Needless to say, I only got back on Saturday and I'm already craving a holiday

(preferably the beautiful Barcelona or basically anywhere in Europe will do just fine).

But never the less, I'm thankful I got the chance to go and now my fun is over,

the hard work shall begin...

So today's post is aptly called 'SUMMER SOUNDTRACK 2013' and it's basically

my ideal soundtrack for this summer, which I would like to share with you.

And don't you worry, the idea for this post was not conceived on a dull, oppressive, thunderous day 

up/down (depends where you live) here in the land locked confines of Derby.

No, no, the idea came about whilst cruising down a gorgeous tree lined road

on a bright, sun streamed, summers day in Devon, on route to the beach.

Perfect.

So with that inspiration in mind, let the soundtrack begin...

1) ARCADE FIRE

So first up is Arcade Fire, who I've been listening to a lot lately and as with the Arctic Monkeys, I've found myself jumping on the bandwagon five years after  it's left the station.

But oh well, who cares, they're great, and the euphoric essence of three key tracks led me to purchase

2011's 'The Suburbs' within the week, which is very unlike me.

I can't tell you how impressed  I am by this band, and I can't deny that a secret part of me wishes I was a part of it all, the eighth member.

Their music is perfect all year round of course, but I've found that summer especially suits their energetic, powerful, hypnotic, beautiful sound, especially when you're jetting down the road with the sun in the sky or soaring across the world in an aeroplane. 

Get Arcade Fire blasting out your speakers, it's what their music was made for.

My three key tracks are:

1) READY TO START

2) REBELLION

 

3) WAKE UP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zdNdjF-htY

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2) VAMPIRE WEEKEND

Next is NYC's own Vampire Weekend, a band whose music could quite possibly be the audio representation of summer. If you're in the mood for indulging in music that seems to have been dipped into a pot full of summer, Vampire Weekend are your go to band.
Recent release 'Modern Vampire of The City' is jam packed full of summery tunes that will take you from the early surf mornings when the sun is beginning to rise to nights spent parting on the beach below the moonlight.
Of course 2010's 'Contra' is also full of some true classics, so for ultimate Vampire Weekend appreciation, make sure both these albums are prominent features in your music collection this summer.

My five key tracks are:

1) DIANE YOUNG

2) COUSINS

3) UNBELIEVERS

4) WHITE SKY

5) STEP

__________________________________________________________________

3) THE BEACH BOYS

These cheeky American chappies make up one of the most universally known and adored quintets, 

enjoying years of success due to their effortless harmonizing striking a chord amongst millions worldwide.

Of course one of the major reasons behind their success is the fact that these guys,

 as the name suggests, literally promote summer. No forget that, they are summer.

Mention The Beach Boys and you instantly think of sunshine, ice cream, surfboards and of course,

the beach. And who doesn't want to think of all those things.

So to inject a dash of old school summers and the nostalgia it brings with it, make sure to

get some Beach Boys classics.

My four key tracks are:

1) SURFIN' USA

2) CALIFORNIA GIRLS

3) GOOD VIBRATIONS 

4) I GET AROUND

__________________________________________________________________

4) BEN HOWARD

If you're in the mood for a summe sound that is quintessentially English and has the connotations of a quintessentially English summer, Ben Howard is your man. Hailing from the south west shores of Devon, Ben's folk-esque, laid back beauties are what you want to be listening to, especially if you're

spending your summer upon UK soil. This winner of two BRIT awards is a musician you can put your trust into- he knows what he is doing, and if you haven't been able to escape to the sea, Ben's music will bring the beauty and freedom of Devonshire beaches and seas to you. 

My three key tracks are:

1) OLD PINE

2) ONLY LOVE

3) THE WOLVES

__________________________________________________________________

5) KINGS OF LEON

The American quartet are hot on the heels of a new album release, 'Mechanical Bull', and although they may not be an obvious band to relate to summer, these guys do have a knack at producing and crafting classic, summer infused anthemic records that have been defining summer for millions for at least the last five years.

Their music really does seem to go hand in hand with summer. 

It's like a musical memory card, with people attaching Kings of Leon songs to key summer moments in an attempt to remember them in a deserving and nostalgic way. A way that will generate and match the memory and the feelings that go along with it. 

So with that being said, here are some suggestions...

My five key tracks are:

1) SEX IS ON FIRE

2) RADIOACTIVE

3) SUPERSOAKER

4) BACK DOWN SOUTH

5) FANS 

____________________________________________________________

6) JACK JOHNSON

Jack Johnson is a man who seems to live and breathe summer. 

A talented surfer (of course) and Hawaii born, his idyllic beach dwellings seem to have proved very inspirational in terms of his music making, and his gentle, relaxed yet upbeat tunes

 are more than essential in any summer soundtrack. Although less active in the music scene over the latter years, Jack has made some real summer gems that will go down as classics for years to come.

My four key tracks are:

1) UPSIDE DOWN

2) BETTER TOGETHER

3) YOU AND YOUR HEART

4) YOU AND YOUR HEART

__________________________________________________________________

OTHER ARTISTS

And now for a few other key artists & tracks...

7) DOG IS DEAD

(AKA. Nottingham'a finest, along with the mighty Mister Bugg) 

1) TALK THROUGH THE NIGHT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZTLJP74bLg

2) TEENAGE DAUGHTER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0hR70lBNgw

3) GLOCKENSPIEL SONG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqhLynJBw20

__________________________________________________________________

8) THEME PARK

(a trio typically found dressed in Hawaiian shirts)

1) MILK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M3LUhnj0AE

2) JAMAICA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjoCAu8HPMw

3) TONIGHT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YlBwcLJnAE

__________________________________________________________________

9) PALMA VIOLETS

(Indie-Roc's newest bad boys)

1) BEST OF FRIENDS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjit0AuZNiE

2) WE FOUND LOVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co5XsEmo2ug

3) STEP UP FOR THE COOL KIDS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLNekdqdEgw

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10) THE VACCINES

(Fuelling summers since 2010)

1) TEENAGE ICON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEgVwKkU3R0&list=TLjoQlPNHj0MM

2) IF YOU WANNA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJI90478MTE&list=TLhGw-Yp0XY_g

3) WETSUIT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY4J3sVMmN0

4) I ALWAYS KNEW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84no_HITKFo&list=TL36gPJAdjHMA

5) NO HOPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_3eEPpmKwE&list=TLfE_aiQnOo08

__________________________________________________________________

And that's that for now.

Of course there are many, many more artists and songs that can be added to this soundtrack,

many more, but these are 10 key ones to get you going and 10 that have featured prominently in my summer so far.

I hope you enjoy and MAKE SUMMER 2013 A GOOD'UN alright?

(and remember, as Baz Luhrmann once said, always wear suncream)

GET LISTENING JUNE 2013

Sorry I haven't written in a while... in all honesty I've been lacking inspiration lately, but today I have a list of some good songs that will get you through this week very nicely indeed.

To make up for my absence I have also included paragraphs, not just sentences- I'm flexing my musical fingers and joints especially for you alright?

Now like always, it is quite a mix up of songs to say the least, but I hope you like the contrasts because after all, contrast is what makes life curiously interesting and anyway, who doesn't like to see hip hop and rock alongside each other every once in a while? 

So with the waffling done, I'll get you started on some seriously fab tunes...

1) STICKS AND STONES BY JAMIE T 

'This is one of those incredibly good yet underrated classics, simply a fantastically made song.

Although little has been released mainstream from Jamie, since 'Sticks & Stones' was released in 2009, he is still making music and hats off to Jamie because this is easily one of the best songs of the last decade.

If you didn't catch this number back in the day, I assure you that once you cross paths with it you will love it forever. Trust me. '

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9APEZMeH0o

2) PARTY ON FIFTH AVE BY MAC MILLER

'Already big in America, Mac is only just making his transatlantic debut with his appearance on the soon to be released 'The Way' by Ariana Grande. So if you want a good taster of what he's about and the music he makes, 'Party on Fifth Ave' is a brilliant introduction to Mac's refreshing style of hip hop. Whack it on at a party and you will probably gain a new found appreciation from all your fellow party-goers.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3GGN51_pjE

3) LIGHTHOUSE BY LUCY SPRAGGAN

'Although you would be in your right to snub Lucy for her tainted X Factor history and beginnings, I would advise you not to because you would be missing out on a seriously talented songstress and her witty, unique and refreshing approach to music. The writer of the perfectly true 'Beer Fear', which gives an unedited insight into the realities of getting wasted, Lucy is extremely talented in her ability to write truthful, catchy and engaging songs, and new tune 'Lighthouse' is no exception. It's a beautiful little song and definitley worth four minutes of your time (at the very least)'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9FCIyDh6_o

4) HERE'S TO NEVER GROWING UP BY AVRIL LAVIGNE

'I really didn't want to like this but I do! I can't fight it any longer. Although Avril will probably never regain the incredibly popularity that tracks like 'Skater Boy' and 'Girlfriend' brought her, with more recent tracks such as 'What The Hell' and newbie 'Here's To Never Growing Up', she's certainly heading in the right direction and there's no denying that Miss Lavigne can make damn good pop music.

This isn't an incredible song, but it's catchy, relatable, fresh and has the ability to go down as the official ode for teenagers everywhere.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXd2WxoOP5g

5) EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED BY TAYLOR SWIFT FT ED SHEERAN

'This is one of my favourite  tracks off Taylor's 2012 release 'Red'. Ed and Taylor's voice meld wonderfully together and their brilliant songwriting abilities combined  makes for a truly beautiful and sweet little number that is sure to do well worldwide. Both are hugely respected and adored artists who write songs that resonate with millions of people and both have the ability to address numerous issues in honest, beautiful and unique ways. 'Everything Has Changed' is simply adorable in every sense and if that wasn't enough, the music video is easily the cutest thing I have ever seen in my whole life.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1oM3kQpXRo

6) THE OTHER SIDE BY JASON DERULO

'Normally, I find Jason's music to be the perfect accompaniment to a party and whilst I believe he is a great singer, I find his music to be good but mostly for a dance and a nice old sing along. 

Now I honestly do not know why, but 'The Other Side' is the one exception for me. It has somehow found it's way on to my i-pod and that never happens. But it has, and I'm not ashamed either, because this is a great comeback and it's definitely one of Jason's best tunes. I hope you can avoid the self provoked shame (because I'm not judging if you're not!) and listen, maybe dance, to this cracking party tune.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byp94CCWKSI

7) TURN TO STONE BY ELO

'I know this one in particular is completely unexpected, and I'll be first to admit that although my playlists can be rather quirky and mismatched, this is pushing the boat out a bit for me. 

But before you throw your hands up in a 'quel suprise!' fashion, trust me alright? ELO are ruddy fantastic and that's musically proven because they are the masters that made the legend that is, 'Mr Blue Sky', and you just cannot argue with that. 

Aside from 'Mr Blue Sky', which I adore, 'Turn To Stone' is another of my all time favourites and you need to believe me when I say that ELO's music is literally out of this world. It's just amazing and  I thoroughly urge you to listen to them.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFljpJdYRKM

8) MURDA BIZNESS BY IGGY AZALEA FT T.I

'Ay, ay, ay, can Iggy do no wrong? This girl is simply perfection. With monster tunes like 'Work' and 'Bounce', Iggy's already demonstrated that she is certainly not 'the white Nicki Minaj', no sir, this girl has her own brand of music. Althought there are comparions between Iggy and Nicki, Iggy's music certainly has a life of it's own and she's got some talent when it comes to melding beats, raps and melodies together. 

'Murda Bizness' is an example of that. Insanely catchy, it will make you feel so bad ass you might actually consider swagging around town with a fake gold tooth and luxuriously grand gold chain around your neck.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzI9VQUHJkU

9) TALK THROUGH THE NIGHT BY DOG IS DEAD

'I know I've mentioned Dog Is Dead and quite possibly this song before, but recently I've been listening to a lot of their music again and that my friend, is because it is magically wonderful and simply stunning.

These guys are going to be so good when they hit all the festivals this summer, because their music catalogue contains all the right records to get the crowd feeling alive, enamored, united.

 'Talk Through The Night' is just one of Dog Is Dead's fabulous creations along with others such as 'Glockenspiel Song' and 'Teenage Daughter', and you really don't want to miss out on these guys because they're just too good to miss. Go listen!'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZTLJP74bLg

10) FAT BOTTOMED GIRLS BY QUEEN

'Now just to mix things up even more, if that was possible, my last selection is the infamous and spectacularly good Queen tune, 'Fat Bottomed Girls'. Practically everyone knows this song, in fact, it could probably be our nations' anthem, instead of 'God Save The Queen', it's that well known.

And stumbling across this beauty the other day reminded me just how good the song is, how amazing Queen were and how great music is supposed to sound. 

This is an epic song in every sense.

 The way the drum beats instill a thumping through your veins and your body, the way Freddie's voice soars and dances as it guides the song and not to forget the hilarious yet touching lyrics. You need to remember how incredible this song really is, and when better than right now?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMnjF1O4eH0

I hope you've enjoy the eclectic playlist I've composed for you today.

I want you to be off checking out some amazing new tunes whilst simultaneously shaking your bootie and dancing round the room to some fabulous old classics. 

Enjoy my lovelies. 

OH IS FOR OCTOBER...

NEW MUSIC ALERT! Oh yes, October has rolled around and has brought with it new music that is quickly finding its way onto my I Pod and being played like it's some sort of holy offering. Therefore I wanted to give you an insight into what I'm loving and what I think you just might love too....

1) CLIQUE- KANYE WEST, JAY-Z & BIG SEAN
What a bass line, what a hook line, what a beat! I defy anyone to listen to this and not like it. It really is that good. Off the upcoming 'Cruel Summer' album by Kanye West, 'Clique' combines the vocals of Big Sean, Jay-Z and of course Kanye in a song that stamps its foot loudly and proudly on the hip-hop scene.

Oozing with swag and confidence, you can't listen to 'Clique' and not feel like you too are up there with these big name rappers, owning your neighbourhood, exuding such swag and firing your beats into the lime light. You can feel the beats of this song throughout your body, they take control of you and it's impossible to sit still- trust me, I have tried, but my urge to move with the music is too strong to deny.

'Clique' has the perfect balance of verse and chorus, the raps aren't elongated to unnecessary lengths, the chorus actually compliments, fits in and links the verses instead of being a random addition of powerhouse vocal that is completely unrelated to the rap. I can't describe to you how good this song is; the producing by Hit-Boy is magnificent, the rappers together make a combination you never knew sounded so right, the beats and the bass line are immense, this song is just wow. You need to listen to it yourself because once you hear this monster of song, you will want to click, click, click that download button at the speed of Nicki Minaj when she's off rapping about starship and what not ...
HEAR THE SONG: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOrLNHbEzMg

2) TWO FINGERS- JAKE BUGG
Just going to show how diverse my music taste is, this next section is about Jake Bugg, an 18 year old guy from Nottingham who just happens to be mates and touring with Noel Gallagher of Oasis superstardom. Pretty cool huh? Well I believe that Mr Bugg is going to be big when his time comes around.

The reason for this is he is different, he is unique, he is talented and that is why the likes of Noel, NME Magazine and Zane Lowe are hailing him as one to watch and making sure they get their claim on him before his juggernaut to success arrives. Jake makes music reminiscent of The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, all of which despite being absolute legends, don't seem to have created a new generation of artists who fully embrace and aspire to create their style and genre of music. Somewhere along the line, it's been forgotten and buried under the dance, disco, soul, R&B, pop and hip hop that emerged decades after.

But Jake is bringing it back to life. The sound of the 60's has found a new spokesperson and I for one am thrilled and relieved that someone who embraces it perfectly is finally stepping out onto the music scene. He's taking the baton from the likes of Miles Kane, who was up there championing the new age of the sixties sound, and taking it further than ever before. So if you like 'Two Fingers', which is a relaxed, catchy affair so very reminiscent of the early Beatles sound, then you will really like Jake Bugg. Trust me, I can taste it... (another bad pun right there)
LISTEN TO IT NOW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9XwFecNXyU

HOMEPAGE: http://jakebugg.com/

3) ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN- ELLIE GOULDING
For me, Ellie has always been one of those artists that I know of because their songs are always on the radio or in the charts and everyone raves about them like their a God send but I can never understand why. I liked all the songs I heard off her last album 'Lights', but I didn't love them. I respected her as an artist, I respected her talent, but I didn't see what all the fuss was about.
Then I heard this song.

'Anything Could Happen' is the first release off Ellie's upcoming album 'Halcyon', released on the 5th of October, and it is the first Ellie Goulding song that I love. It is the first song of hers that makes me see exactly what it is that makes her so talented and why she won that Brit Award in 2010. 'Anything Could Happen' is a brilliant song; it's haunting and dreamy, powered by synthesizers and a solid beat and the mix up of electro, pop and folk works incredibly well. I suspect their are other artists working in the same vein as Ellie, combining such genres in their music to equally good levels, but Ellie is the most main steam and her foray into such genres seems to have done her wonders because when you hear this song, you can't help but feel that Ellie has found the style she does best.

'Anything Could Happen' deserves to be recognized and appreciated and I hope her new album is full of this new sound because I for one think it's fantastic and I'm so glad that Ellie has found a style to call her own.
TAKE A LISTEN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hzgS9s-tE8

4) TALK THROUGH THE NIGHT- DOG IS DEAD
Proving that Nottingham is producing a new wave of brilliant, fresh and original talent, Dog Is Dead, who are natives of the city, are also making their way onto the music scene. NME has hailed them as 'main stage stars in waiting' and once you hear a song by them, you can see why. These songs are going to be sung by thousands of people in muddy festival fields and blasted out of cars on beautiful summer nights.

Dog Is Dead, who are reminiscent of Bombay Bicycle Club, make music that is destined to bring people together and make those people smile, forget their worries and just have a good time. It's carefree, optimistic, youthful and fun, it's the kind of music that makes you want to live your life, make some memories and have a ball. This band are really on to something.

'Talk Through The Night' is their newest offering and believe it or not, was Radio One DJ Annie Mac's Big Thing last week and is currently gracing Radio One's 'In New Music We Trust' list, so you can expect to hear more of Dog Is Dead on the airwaves soon. 'Talk Through The Night' is simple, youthful and well made and although not a complete stand out, it's certainly very, very promising and as Dog Is Dead master their style and perfect it even more, I believe they will soon be producing monster records that leave you speechless and covered in goosebumps, hungry for more.
HEAR THE SONG: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZTLJP74bLg
HOMEPAGE: http://dogisdead.co.uk/

5) RED- TAYLOR SWIFT
Oh now this is good. I respect that Taylor Swift isn't everyone's cup of tea, but oh my, this record is quite something. Upon hearing it for the first time yesterday, I was covered in goosebumps and smiling with relief that her new album, out 22nd October, is not going to be a 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' pop affair.

In the run up to her album release, Taylor has been releasing a new song every week, and last week's 'Begin Again' saw her return to her country roots and produce a sound consisting of soft sorrow and beautiful vocals, nothing like the catchy pop heard on the 'We Are....' record.

So this week, the title record came out and this record really is wow. The sheer power of this song is so full on and exuberant that it seems to hit you like a high speed train and doesn't loosen it's grasp until the ending note plays out. The tempo is upbeat, the vocals are powerful and emotional and strong, and the songwriting is particularly commendable. I don't know how she writes lyrics like that, but there is no denying that this girl is so very talented at piecing words together so beautifully.

I don't know if 'Red' will be released as an official single or not, but I hope it is purely so that people can see that there is more to Taylor then first meets the eye. Despite being a huge fan of hers for over three years now, this song really blew me off my feet as I have never heard her produce something as bold and strong as 'Red'. Despite knowing how talented she is, 'Red' made my mouth drop in amazement and I hope it does the same for you. If you want to see why she has done so well in the music industry, listen to this record and you'll probably see why...
LISTEN TO IT NOW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZW8QNIiu1A