My iPod has nearly 11,000 songs on it, most these come from friends’ iTunes libraries. I think it’s fair to say that I don’t know what three-quarters of my music is. Since listening to the same hundred songs can get boring, its time to rediscover the music I have accumulated over the past six years.
Enter the shuffle feature. The following list is composed of songs that I randomly discovered from using that handy little button.
“BOTE,” Menomena, Mines
No band features the bass like Menomena. With a fast-paced bass line that nearly overpowers the melody, any bass-lover is in heaven while listening to “BOTE.” The passion behind the lead vocals lends more meaning to the allegorical lyrics. Are you fighting a losing battle? The men in Menomena know the feeling. “BOTE” is that emotion bottled up in a song.
“Bird Sings Why the Caged I Knows,” Atmosphere, Seven’s Travels
Laced with sample tracks and a Maya Angelou references, “Bird Sings” embodies the feelings of entrapment in modern life and jealousy of those who can get above everyday suffering. The song articulately portrays anger, which is far more engaging than the typical rap mentality. The groove of the strong bass line makes “Bird Sings” a great background song for hanging out.
“Don’t Weigh Me Down,” Broadcast 2000, Building Blocks
Broadcast 2000 juxtaposes peppy stringed instrumentation with bittersweet lyrics in “Don’t Weigh Me Down.” There’s something about simple guitar riffs and three-part harmonies that makes standoffish lyrics seem pleasant. This musical trifecta makes “Don’t Weigh Me Down” the perfect song to help fight off those post midterm blues.
“Empathy for the Devil,” Share
Share combines ukulele, cello, and minimal guitar to accompany powerful lyrics about a “sicko” being run out of town. With captivating vocal harmonies, it’s hard not to pity the proverbial devil. Lyrics aside, the instrumental complexities of the song consistently give chills. If you need to chill out after a long day, Share is your band.
“Fine and Mellow,” Billie Holiday, Sound of Jazz
This song is by far one of Holiday’s best. The simple jazz piano and brass highlight Holiday’s emotion-filled vocals, which in turn bring more meaning to the lyrics about a neglectful love. Pain and sadness ooze from Holiday’s soul; yet her tone is so pure, all you can hear is the beauty in her pain. If I ever had to defend Holiday’s title as Queen of Jazz, “Fine and Mellow” would be all I needed to prove it.
“Gray or Blue,” Jaymay, Autumn Fallin’
Jaymay is the antithesis of a high-pitched pop princess. Rather than use her sexuality to express her feelings about her love, she exposes her more complicated feelings, leaving her vulnerable. This vulnerability makes Jaymay all the more endearing. Backed by guitar and xylophone, Jaymay’s soft and sweet vocals are the perfect soundtrack for relaxing.
“I Who Have Nothing,” Jedi Mind Tricks, The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness
“I Who Have Nothing” reps old-school hip-hop with its use of orchestral and jazz samples and basic drum beats. Vinnie Paz cleverly manipulates rhythms to fit in his rhymes. The even beat and flow create a nice groove; it’s hard to not move to this song. Nothing is more “G” than cruising at night and bumping this track.
“Nourishment Nation,” Rogue Wave, Out of the Shadow
I don’t know what it is about simple guitar chords, repetitive melodies and abstract lyrics, but indie musicians always manage to turn this modest combination into something beautiful. Rogue Wave is no exception to this rule. With atypical instrumentation like chimes underneath the basic guitar and drum lines, “Nourishment Nation” provides the cure for the common acoustic guitar line. The perfect addition to an afternoon playlist, “Nourishment Nation” is uplifting without being poppy.
“Reckless,” Crystal Castles, Crystal Castles
I’m going to go ahead and say it. “Reckless” is the most infectious dance song in existence. Whenever I listen to it, I have to do everything in my power to resist breaking out dancing. There’s no stopping it. The upbeat tempo and repetitious rhythms make
(Photo courtesy of Find Icons)
“Reckless” the ideal pump-up song for a night out. Just make sure someone else is driving the car when it comes on.
“You Know What I Mean,” Cults, Cults
The beginning of “You Know What I Mean” sounds like a 60s love ballad sung by a young Dusty Springfield. But that isn’t the best thing about this song. What makes this song great is that the chorus mixes in a more modern sound with cymbal crashes and male background vocals. Mixing poppy lead vocals with rock percussion gives Cults an edge over other female-fronted indie bands.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Avalon Jacka at Avalon.jacka@colorado.edu.
