music, shmusic

A Minor Bird by Sucré
Single: 'When We Were Young'

If I ever were to fall in love Sucré is exactly what I hope it would sound like. Stacy King, Darren King and Jeremy Larson are Sucré and these three combined have created something that definitely lives up to their name.
The single released a little over a month ago and I did include it in a past tuesday-post. So regular readers may feel like this is a repeat, I'll try to make it fresh. [; The single, 'When We Were Young', blew me away a month ago and I'm still listening to it on repeat. Since then 'Hiding Out' was released as a free download and today the album is finally here! Yesterday HelloGiggles featured the entire album on their site: here. Why you'd be reluctant to buy the album I don't know, but if you are, listen to it there and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your thoughts. I've been waiting on this album for so long i feel like i'm a bit biased. (I'm not the best critic if you haven't noticed already. I LOVE MUSIC!) 

The album starts off with 'Hiding Out' which I will say is not my favorite track, but it does set the perfect tone for the rest of the album. The entire album could probably be a movie soundtrack. 'Chemical Reaction' is the track that has made the biggest impression on me. The layers of instruments and the movement of the song is great. "No Return" belongs in an Audrey Hepburn flick; i pictured a walk through the streets of Paris. The album is dreamy, bright and so romantic. There's so much imagery in every song... my mind has been blooming with inspiration and ideas since yesterday when I first listened through it entirely. The album is very cohesive and strong; the 'dreamyness' in no way makes it shallow. Jeremy Larson is an incredible musician and 'A Minor Bird' is evidence of that. I know I've used the word 'layer' to describe it which might not be the correct terminology. I use that word to better describe the amount of instruments that will flood your ears during each track and it's done in such a complimentary way. Stacy King's voice is an instrument unto it's own; rising and falling in perfect unison with each instrument. Her voice is just so smooth. Darren King is best on 'Troubled Waters' and 'Say Something' giving you just a peak into what this guy is capable of on the drums (If you don't know his band MuteMath, look them up on Youtube and you'll see what I mean).

Obviously I'm already in love with this album and I hope you will be too. I think this will end up being one of the best albums of the year; it's what dreams are made out of; sweet, uninterrupted, fairytale dreams.

Some Nights by Fun.

Single: 'We Are Young'

I think everyone knows who Fun. is by now. Over the last couple months 'We Are Young' grew wings and took off. I hear it at least twice during the radio show i listen to every morning; it's just such a feel good song. Who doesn't want to be young and crazy? Then add in a little Janelle Monáe and this song will make you feel like you can conquer the world.

Last week one of my friends tweeted, "Finally realized why We Are Young reminds me of The Format." (@lindsmott). We chatted back and forth and she mentioned she hadn't listened to the rest of 'Some Nights' and I told her i'd include it in next weeks tunes-day post for her. This is all for you Lindsey! [:  First i'm going to go back up a couple years. Nate Ruess is the lead singer of Fun., and before his Fun. days (unintentional double meaning because i'm willing to bet he's having a pretty good time with how well this album is doing) he was the lead singer of The Format with Same Means, Mike Schey, Mark Buzard, and Don Raymond to complete the group; they were together roughly from 2001 till early 2008. The Format is a band I was very attached to and when they announced the end in 2008 i was crushed; that one took a while to get over. 
'Interventions & Lullabies' (2003) is one of those albums so ingrained in my memories and emotions that it will never get old. Memories don't get boring or repetitive, if anything they get better with time. That's how i feel about their albums; about this band. They gave me words and melodies to moments in my life i wouldn't otherwise have known how to describe or reflect on. (I get really dramatic about music sometimes.) I know i'm not the only one that holds this band so dear. I know quite a few people that feel attached to them in a very similar way; they are one of the greats in the alternative/non-radio music world. If you have the time to go back a few years check out their albums. Even thought they are no longer a band it really would be worth your time. 

That was longer than it probably should be, oh well. 'Some Nights' is a good album, it's fun (ha), upbeat and honest. I've talked to a couple friends about it since it came out in February and one of the only complaints i've heard is over the amount of synthesizer and autotune used throughout the album. I agree and disagree with the opinion that these two things make the album less than it could be without them. 'Some Nights' was preceded by a very 70's driven album, Aim and Ignite (2010) was layered with various instruments and lost of harmonies; very little sounded processed. I think for some it's hard to swallow the difference in the albums; i can hear the screams, "SELL OUT!" For me this just boils down to personal preference and it does not reflect on the quality of the album so much. A couple things that did carry over from the first album is the energy and drama as well as the use of so many different instruments. Both albums are wonderfully big and cinematic.
'Some Nights' kicks off with an intro to the title track, 'Some Nights - Intro'. When i first heard it i thought that they must have been listening to Queen when writing it. The title track is my favorite on the album, it has such a catchy beat and energy i practically scream the song as i'm driving down the road; i can usually feel the drums in my toes. [: It's my favorite 'pump-you-up' song right now. 'Carry On' and 'All Alone' are two of my other favorites.

'Stars' is my favorite track lyrically. It's nearly 7:00 minutes long and it probably has the most autotune out of all the tracks. If you hate autotune then you probably won't like this one very much. There's a prominent string set that plays through most of the song and combined with the autotune it gives the song a very dreamy quality that i'm in love with. Ruess references the previous album during the song; which i thought was cool, but it makes sense considering the rest of the song is so reflective. He sings about someone that he obviously no longer has and whether this someone is fictional or not i don't know. He conveys the sense of sadness over the loss very well vocally and lyrically. "This growing old is getting old, I often find myself here thinking about the birds, the boats, and past loves that flew away or started sinking." This song is a good closer to the album.
There is a bit of language, I don't know if I have any young readers, but just an fyi. [; As a whole it's a solid album definitely worth listening to.

Boys & Girls by Alabama Shakes

Single: 'Hold On' 

I found these guys last night; really. [: This video came through my news feed on Facebook last night and it just gives me one more reason to love social networking; specifically in the area of sharing music. I have a feeling this band would have presented themselves to me eventually because this song is great and it's not going to remain 'unknown' for long. They've already had a bit of late night show exposure and they've racked up quite a few views with the video below; as they should cause this song is worth a lot of listening. I've already pressed repeat 4 times. Check out the video, I promise you won't regret it. The debut album, 'Boys & Girls' actually came out last Tuesday (sometimes a girl's just late to the party, ya know?) and it's $7.99 on iTunes.
Now i'm going to put this album on, sit on my back porch, smoke a cigar and reminisce 'bout the good ol' days.

Top 40 Obsession:

 'Young, Wild & Free' by Wiz Khalifa - Can't stop jamming this song!




What are you listening to today?
Anything come out today you're stoked about? Let me know!


Xx christine