Happy Monday, you guys! Hope you're as excited as I am for this week's edition of FVM. Starting off with the latest from Bwana, can't believe it's been years since his last release, but the wait has been worth it. It was only right for it to fall into the next track which is one of my favorites by Milosh (aka Michael Milosh of Rhye) that's too mesmerizing for words. I recently stumbled across an artist by the name of Jack Garratt who easily won my ears over with "The Love You're Given." Good luck getting that one out of your head.
Also, TUCH was last week's Friday Fascination, if you might have missed it - no worries, click here. In the midst of Johnny Jewel (of CHROMATICS) releasing tracks on his SoundCloud page, a new one popped up called "White Light" that has me wondering if a new album might be surfacing soon. *crosses fingers* So as you can see, I can easily go on & on about each of the tracks I've selected - but I'll let you be the judge.
Any new discoveries lately?
P.S. BeyoncéPlatinum edition is out now, and if you aren't one of the 20 million who've already watched the video for "7/11", I'm just going to leave this here.
It's been a looooong time since I last devoted a post to some of my favorite covers, so here they are (all 15 of them!) Some new, some old, and some that I'd never imagine to exist until now.
P.S. Less than a week until SXSW takes place in ATX, stay tuned for my list of artists/bands I'd want to see (if I were going to be there all week.)
Here is everything I've been listening to for the past couple of days! If you couldn't tell already - the theme of this post is "no words just music." ;)
It wasn't until recently (aka today) that I found out about Spotify's "Year in Review." I was curious to find out what mine entailed when a good friend told me about hers. If you're an avid Spotify user like yours truly, you can visit spotify.com/2013 and once your logged-in Spotify will generate a "year in review for you." This is after they share multiple facts about their year, which varies on the country you live in.
I will admit it was no surprise when HAIM appeared as the "Top Artist" on my personal Spotify stream. Despite what everyone says, these girls dominate when it comes to delivering material that's genuine & appealing. "Forever" was originally released last year as apart of HAIM's debut EP, and you can find it also on this year's stellar full-length Days Are Gone. The Top 10 tracks are definitely apart of a playlist I curated just for my morning commute, it does the trick if you are in need of a musical pick-me-up. You will find a handful of them on my list of Top Songs of 2013 featured below.
I definitely scratched my head over this, a lot.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Even if I made a Top 300 list, I think I would still find myself in a predicament. Anyways, moving on...
"Winter" by Daughter is without a doubt my song of the year, and is a breathtaking introduction to their debut release If You Leave.
What better way to introduce my top songs by featuring it at number 1, so If you haven't already - grab a pair of headphones and let the music take over for the next two solid hours. Feel free to let me know what you thought about the list by leaving a comment below - it's always nice to hear from you guys. :)
So, was Hummingbird actually my top album of 2013 as Spotify mentioned?
Stay tuned for the *Albums Edition* of Sweet Treats of 2013. You might be surprised with what's in store. If these 30 songs didn't do the trick, have no fear! You can check out a compilation I made starting from January 1st by clicking here!
So I'm a little slow at this whole "blog" thing, and recently found out what ICYMI meant, very clever guys... so here's my edition of ICYSU - In Case You're Still Up ;) You heard it here first (hopefully.) el oh elz
Here's a few gems that I'm currently digging on at the moment & felt like sharing with y'all!
P.S. We're almost at 500 Likes over on Facebook, please feel free to keep spreading the word about Let Your Ears Decide. It means a lot!
I know, I know... I've already posted about this magnificent song, but I have a good reason as to why I'm talking about it ... again. Today we were graced with the official music video for "Home", the first single off Austra's sophomore release Olympia, and boy was it a good one. Not only does the video feature EVERY member of the band, but timed in a manner that when each member appeared in the video, their instrumental (or lyrical) contribution to the song started.....yes, I went there in the realm of nerding out on a music video. Yesterday via Austra's Facebook page we were given a fair warning that the video would be released today, as well as "A simple and intimate concept, we hoped to capture the sadness and longing of the track in one take through a two-way mirror." Simple & intimate indeed. You can pre-order Olympia now on iTunes, Domino Records, or over at Paper Bag Records!
Right before these two head on tour together, Marina (of Marina and the Diamonds) & Charli XCX released "Just Desserts"earlier today. Tomorrow night (May 2nd) they play in Seattle, Washington & if you're curious to see if they're coming your way - here ya go!
They're both experts in making pop music & writing about the ultimate heartbreak in their own unique way.. but to have both of them on a single track is every girl (or guys) dream. Also, Charli XCX's debut album True Romance was released this past month and take my word for it - for a debut album it's pretty solid from beginning to end.. listen to it on Spotify now!
P.S. You can download "Just Desserts" for free here!
Through an exchange of e-mails with a friend a few weeks ago, it was brought to my attention that I needed to check out Young Galaxy & i'm glad that I did. I'm a huge fan of their latest studio release Ultramarine that dropped just last week via Paper Bag Records! This is album number 4 for the Montreal 5-piece, and after you listen to it (featured below) I highly recommend checking out their previous albums!
Gearing up for the release of their sophomore EP Show Your Bones, Young Wonder was nice enough to let us in on another new song called "Electrified". It's been a solid year since the release of their self-titled debut EP & in less than a week Show Your Bones will be officially here (May 6th) via Feel Good Lost Records! In case you missed it (or are not familiar with LYED on Facebook) YW released a stellar music video for the first single off SYB called "Time". It's without a doubt one of the best & most impressive music videos (along with "Home" by Austra) released this year, check it out here!
This was my first South By Southwest (SXSW) experience, and definitely not my last.I'm just going to throw this out there: SXSW is a music aficionado's version of Disneyland. Why did I come up with that idea? Well, there's overpriced greasy food, fearless fans snapping pictures with musicians/celebrities left and right - & WHO COULD FORGET ABOUT THE LINES to get into the venues? This brings me to my first bit of advice, INVEST IN A SXSW WRISTBAND. Also, the later you arrive to SXSW, the more people you have to deal with fyi (so, come early.) It felt like there was a showcase taking place at every corner, bar, church, parking lot, and that is because there seriously was. What takes place in Austin during the music portion of SXSW is so far from reality that it's practically perfect. SXSW isn't just a festival, it's a dreamworld.
Let me repeat myself, there's some form of live music everywhere you go. DAY 1 (Wednesday)
I had a bit of a late start on Wednesday, but that didn't stop me from catching a bit of Antwon, Charli XCX, and most of the Brainfeeder showcase where PBDY, Azizi Gibson, and The Gaslamp Killer (featured below) were at.
The Neighbourhood put on a great show over at Club de Ville and even performed a few new tracks from their forthcoming debut I Love You (release date: April 23rd!) Afterwards, Charli XCX hopped on stage to deliver an energetic performance at 1:30 in the morning. Homegirl's level of energy is honestly unreal.
DAY 2 (Thursday)
Started off at Hype Hotel where I caught St. Lucia ending their set with one of my favorites "September."
Next up was FLUME aka Harley Streten. He's a 21 year old electronic music producer from Australia. I've been listening to his debut album on a daily basis, and to finally see the man behind it all was incredible. It was awesome to hear chatter amongst the crowd about the album as well (seriously you guys, give it a listen.) As Streten brushed the surface of his original work including "Sleepless" and a few remixes I noticed more of a groove in his presence. Streten appeared to be pretty shy on stage but very appreciative as he often smiled when looking out into crowd. BIG things are coming his way, I can feel it.
After Flume ended, it was time for CHVRCHES!
What a surreal moment it was to see this trio from Glasgow in person after being exposed to them through a computer screen for several months. They started off with the powerful "Lies" (my favorite) & played a handful of new songs as well as "The Mother We Share" & their latest "Recover." CHVRCHES recently announced a tour through the US this spring and you can click here to check if they're coming to your neck of the woods. P.S. Tickets go on sale tomorrow Friday March 29th!
AUSTRA was next, and I was very excited that the team was there 100%. I had heard from a friend who saw them recently in Dallas when they opened for The XX that the Lightman twins (who provide backing vocals for Austra) were absent and believe me if you've seen any live videos of them... they are an asset to the performance!
The first song of the set was the newly released "HOME", which is one of the best songs that Katie Stelmanis has written in my opinion. I was very pleased when Stelmanis had mentioned that they wanted to play as much of the new album as possible, but unfortunately was cut short due to set times. This didn't keep them from playing "Beat and the Pulse" & "Lose It" which are both crowd favorites from Austra's debut album Feel It Break. I'm crossing my fingers that they headline a tour through the US soon, because 40 minutes was not nearly enough (but beggars can't be choosers right?)
I quickly peddled out of the Hype Hotel and over to mtvU Woodies just in time for HAIM (another band that was a must-see on my bucket list.) Words can't explain how much admiration I have for these three girls from California. Not only are they extremely talented, but there were moments in the set where it was only Este or Alana singing & boy was I mesmerized by their vocal capability. From what I've listened/watched of HAIM before SXSW, I've only witnessed Danielle on lead vocals. Right in the middle of the set Este shouted on the mic something along the lines of "I think this is the part of the set where we jam?" From that point on - my mind was floored as they jumped into one hell of a jam session that centered around Alana's sultry vocals. It also happened to be Este's birthday, and it wasn't long before the entire crowd was singing Happy Birthday to the oldest member of HAIM. It was an unforgettable set by far.
Later that night I found myself over at Holy Mountain to catch a short but sweet set by Baths aka Will Wiesenfeld, and I must admit I was on cloud nine when he played his latest track "Miasma Sky." Hey Will, even though you continued to apologize for being a bit under the weather throughout the set, you sounded GREAT.
It was midnight & at this point I was borderline exhausted, but making the trek back out to Hotel Vegas was a great decision to catch this psychedelic/indie rock four-piece from the UK. Since I've been home I can't seem to get myself away from their self-titled debut album released last September. Take my advice and grab their self-titled album here on iTunes.
DAY 3 (Friday)
ON AN ON exceeded my expectations.. I mean honestly, this four-piece isn't even a year old and I would have never assumed that by their performance that day. These guys are going to go very far & if you haven't purchased/listened to their debut album Give In ... WELL WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Be sure to check out Give In on their website or over on iTunes ASAP!
I must admit... while navigating through Hotel Vegas once again to checkout The Mallard, I had no idea there were three different stages at this location. While my friend and I wandered the premise we stumbled into a crowded room to find Dent May in the middle of his set. Minutes after stumbling into the room, "Best Friend" started to play, can you say perfect timing? Definitely.
This was the finale for my SXSW adventure, and it couldn't have ended any better. Believe me when I say that these boys from Chicago tore Republic Live down. When they dropped "Flexin & Finessin" a track they produced for Iggy Azalea ft. Juicy J - it was game over for me. Now that I've been to Austin, I understand the hype about this amazing city in Texas. My experience was a great one, and if you haven't made your way here... definitely make plans to attend next year. Hope you guys enjoyed this lengthy post, and in case you didn't know - LET YOUR EARS DECIDE TURNED A YEAR OLD LAST WEEK! Thanks for the love and support on here & also on the Facebook page! XX SXSW 2013: I came. I drank. I discovered. I left. P.S. Special thanks to SideCar for hooking up everyone in ATX with free rides all week!
There's several reasons to love today. If you find yourself struggling to agree, here's some tunes to change your mind. :) P.S. Had an amazing time at the Washed Out show on Saturday. It was my first time attending a show at the Music Box in Hollywood, and definitely will not be the last. Unfortunately I missed out on Memoryhouse, the openers but Ernest Greene put on one hell of a set with his band (including his wife Blair Sexton, who's on the cover of the Life of Leisure EP). The crowd was great, and Ernest couldn't stop smiling throughout the whole set. It truly makes all of the money spent on the ticket(s), gas, beer(s), etc WORTH IT when you experience an artist giving off such positive energy as he did while performing. Time flew by as they performed tracks from both Life of Leisure (EP) & their first full-length album Within & Without.
Guess i'll shut up now. ENJOY THE MUSIC! :)
PASSION PIT - TAKE A WALK
The wait is over. On July 24th, Passion Pit will release their second full-length LP Gossamer. In addition to releasing the single, today Michael Angelakos tweeted,
"Hi. Hope everyone is enjoying the single. FYI it's not political-commentary. It's just a few characters from my family and their gripes. Thx"
"Take a Walk" is an addictive track if you're familiar with previous work from PP (Manners, Chunk of Change). It's a bit of a new sound with the same melancholic vibe that the lyrics produce. Passion Pit will be touring later this year, and luckily they will be playing at this year's Outside Lands Music Festival held at Golden Gate Park!
CHARLI XCX - I'LL NEVER KNOW
Charli XCX is addicting. If this face is new to you, be sure to check out Nuclear Season & Stay Away: two tracks that you'll be obsessing over shortly.
THE MACCABEES - CHILD
Even though this was recorded at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge in December of last year, The Maccabees' third studio album Given to the Wild wasn't released in America until recently (April 25th)! Definitely give the album a listen if you have time. Just found out they'll be opening for Florence + the Machine on tour this year (& if you live in the Los Angeles area, they're coming to the Hollywood Bowl on October 7th with an additional opener: The Weeknd). Yeah, i almost fell out of my seat when I read that too.
TWIN SHADOW - FIVE SECONDS
Released last week as a single, expect Twin Shadow will always be a favorite of mine, as I first heard when I started working at Urban Outfitters almost two years ago. His music always gives off an 80's vibe that will keep your foot tapping yet suck you in with the lyrics. It's a little romantic. It's a little dark. It's something to turn on first thing in the morning, trust me.
THE RAPTURE - ECHOES
I'm finding it hard to shut up about these guys after their amazing performance at Coachella this year. The Rapture literally brought Dance & Rock together perfectly, and unfortunately the crowd in this video isn't as crazy as what I experienced recently. It's funky, yet freakishly awesome how it much it sounds just like it did on their 2003 album also titled Echoes. 9 years later, still knocking shoes off.
LYKKE LI - COME NEAR It will surprise you. I had the urge to turn on Fever Ray immediately following the first time I heard this track......and buy face paint.
FYI:
upcoming & recent album release dates:
Bloom - Beach House - May 15th
Neck of the Woods - Silversun Pickups - May 8th
Electra Heart - Marina and the Diamonds - OUT NOW!
Given to the Wild - The Maccabees - OUT NOW!
Body Faucet - Reptar - OUT NOW!
Master of My Make Believe - Santigold - OUT NOW!
Anxiety - Ladyhawke - May 29th
There's No Leaving Now - The Tallest Man on Earth - June 12th
