Here are some of my recent folky/punky/rocky music discoveries and obsessions:
Clem snide - Wendy
Gotta give my thanks to Scott Avett, who recommended not only this song, but all of Clem Snide's discography. Lead singer Eef Barzelay's songwriting and vocals actually remind me of Scott, so that's cool. He has other songs with female names as the title, but I think this one is the prettiest. I also like "No One's More Happy Than You", "Moment in the Sun", and his cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing".
When the light hit your eye, so divine, I knew you'd forever be mine | |
langhorne slim - land of dreams
I don't really listen to Langhorne much, but his voice is very distinctive, which is a quality I love in a musician. A few weeks ago I heard this song on a commercial and immediately knew it was him and looked it up. I also like his song "Mary", which Seth Avett covered beautifully in 2008.
Everyone wants to see what they've never seen | |
father john misty - chateau lobby #4 (in c for two virgins)
This song is about Joshua Tillman and his wife, Emma, and it's pretty much a true story. After meeting Emma, Josh realized that he had never felt the same way about others as he did her and knew he wanted to marry her. Sweet. And yes, she really did leave him a note in her perfect script. I'm also obsessed with "Only Son of the Ladiesman", "I'm Writing a Novel", and "Everyman Needs a Companion" (basically anything from Fear Fun). And his newest single "Real Love Baby". He's an incredibly interesting person and songwriter overall.
People are boring, but you're something else completely | |
funeral suits - we only attack ourselves
I've seen another song by this band in the side recommendations on YouTube before and listened to it a few years ago, but I only just came across this recently. The video is the story of how this guy became a robot-being and it's incredibly powerful and sad and I can't watch this (especially the end) without crying. I don't know what makes me cry more, the lyrics or the music video. They're both so stirring and cohesive and just wow. I think it's hauntingly beautiful.
How come the sun don't shine on me anymore? | |
white lies - death
A few months ago while my dad was watching a movie called A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), I heard this song from another room and ran to him asking what the heck it was because I loved it. Here's the scene from the film (which is really cool because the song is playing through her record player as part of the scene):
I love the feeling when we lift off | |
joshua powell & the great train robbery - walt whitman
I have a playlist on Spotify for new finds so I don't lose them and these guys just got added about three weeks ago. I don't really know much about them because they're more obscure but No Depression described their music as "a crossroads of revival-in-the-river folk mysticism and barroom-ready guitar-driven rock with conscience and existential wonder". I like that. As far as I've seen, this band is also very literature-driven, with an album inspired by classic Russian literature as well as song titles like "Ernest Hemingway", "Jack Kerouac", and "Leo Tolstoy".
All comes to pass | |
the brobecks - Love at first sight
If you like Panic! At the Disco, you may like this because it happens to be from bassist Dallon Weekes's own band's only full-length album (formed in 2002 before he joined Panic! in 2009). He posted something on Instagram about its anniversary a while back and how proud he was about it and I didn't even know what is was, so naturally I found it and listened to the whole wonderful thing. I already loved his voice from hearing him sing for Panic!, but he also happens to be a pretty good songwriter. He joked that this song is his "Hey There Delilah". It's sweet.
All of these are the prettiest things when I'm in love | |
the oh hellos - eat you alive
Okay so I've listened to this song at least once a day on my way to/from class for the past two weeks. This band is amazing and I love them. I also recommend "I Was Wrong", "The Truth is a Cave", and "Second Child, Restless Child".
There is no courage in flirting with fear to prove you're alive | |
Radiator Hospital - fireworks (reprise)
This is a reprise because there are two perspectives--male and female. They both sing similarly about feeling a connection and missing the other person and it's incredibly sweet. I'd love to hear the two songs back-to-back/morphed into one if I ever see this band live. The songwriting is simple yet alluring. The first time I heard this one, I played it on repeat at least 10 times and cried because it's just that great. "Sometimes", "I'm All Right", and "Sleeping House" are also beautifully written. I need to thank my good friend Dylan for directing me to this great band.
You looked at me like I was your way out | |
the front bottoms - jim bogart
I also have Dylan to thank for my most recent obsession with the Front Bottoms. We went to the Weezer summer tour and they were on our playlist while traveling to the show. I liked them and thought I'd probably give them a few listens later. Lemme tell ya a few turned into way more. The lead guy's voice is really unique and I love his lyrics. The only thing I'm not crazy about in this particular song is the female's voice, but I love everything else. Brian Sella's songwriting is just so random and different but meaningful and relatable at the same time. I also like "Ginger", "Mountain", "Twin Size Mattress", and "Funny You Should Ask".
I would play more than just four chords if it's a song that you might like | |
I really tried to limit it to ten songs (HAHA), but I know I suggested about a million others within my choices. And here I go again. Some honorable mentions for more great bands/artists that I'm listening to right now include Grouplove (who just released a new album and I'm obsessed with "Do You Love Someone"), Manchester Orchestra, and Julien Baker (I plan to write about the last two in more detail later). Check them out too if you have the time or motivation.
As you can tell by this list, I have a pretty wide range in genre taste and a gosh diddly darn dang amazing music taste in general. Let me know if you liked this and would like to see more of my current obsessions over time. I love talking about my new finds and suggesting awesome music for people to get into.
Thanks for reading and I hope you found something new to listen to! :)
~Say Love <3
As you can tell by this list, I have a pretty wide range in genre taste and a gosh diddly darn dang amazing music taste in general. Let me know if you liked this and would like to see more of my current obsessions over time. I love talking about my new finds and suggesting awesome music for people to get into.
Thanks for reading and I hope you found something new to listen to! :)
~Say Love <3