A New Favorite? Definitely!

Last year I went to the Taylor Swift concert when she came to Austin on her tour. My friends and I got there in time to see her opening act NEEDTOBREATHE. This was the first time I had heard them and I liked them but I didn’t really focus on their music because I was so excited to see Taylor in concert. Well this week my friend showed me one of their songs and I absolutely fell in love with it. I’m not sure why I didn’t love it then but I love it now. It’s a great song and when I looked them up on Spotify I found more of their songs which are just as good. Their talent really shows through their music and thanks to my friend I now have a new favorite band! The music style changes with every song which keeps my ears open and focused on what I’m listening to. Another thing I like about them and their music is that their songs aren’t just pointless songs, they have true meaning behind their lyrics and that’s something that I as a listener enjoy. If you’ve been following my blog, you know how picky I can be when it comes to music. If I don’t like it at first then I probably won’t ever like it. However, this band is now one of my favorites and I’m glad that I now have them in my play list. Everything I find usually has some reason behind it and for this band I would say that the reasons are the meaningful lyrics and their unique style and personality shown through their music. Keep up the great work guys and you’ll go far and attract more listeners just like you attracted me!

Songs I liked the most (notice how there’s a bunch J and for the record most of them are from their album The Outsiders: Washed By The Water (both regular and acoustic version), Something Beautiful, Second Chances, The Outsiders, Shine On, We Could Run Away, These Hard Times, Hurricane, Won’t Turn Back, What You’ve Done To Me, Let Us Love, and Lay ‘Em Down.

If you’ve never heard of this band I recommend you go look them up. I dare you! Definitely worth your time!! 

- Caroline 

Washed By The Water

Washed By The Water- Acoustic 

Something Beautiful

Second Chances

The Outsiders

Shine On

We Could Run Away

These Hard Times

Hurricane

Won't Turn Back

What You've Done To Me

Let Us Love

Lay 'Em Down 

not just any band... THE BAND!

In the two days we had the class this week, we listened to a band that I've never heard of or listened to before. When I heard the music from this band, both my focus and attention were completely sealed with the music and I was in awe. The music group that I was so amazed with is called The Band, composed of five members originally. The Band was active from 1964 to 1977 and again from 1983 to 1999. I'm not sure if it was the style of their music or the sound of their voices that I fell for but one thing I know for sure is that their songs defiantly caught my attention. The three songs I liked the most that we've listened to so far are The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up On Cripple Creek and The Weight. All three of these songs in my eyes are incredible and are now on my Spotify play list ;). In my class we listen to a variety of music and artists; some I like and some I don't care for. However, this band is one I can stand and perfectly represents my definition of great music.

- Caroline

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down From The Last Waltz

 

Up On Cripple Creek

The Weight

The Weight feat. The Staples

Music Without Judgement!

Before I share with you what song I found for this week, I must ask that you please not judge me. This song really helped me this week and the message really got to me. With everything I've been through, especially this week, this song really showed me that there's always going to be hard times but if you try you'll make it through. It's a new song that I heard on the radio. If you've heard it then maybe you agree with me in the sense that the message is very insightful! Have you heard Try by Pink? Because that's the song I'm talking about. For once I'm not going to explain how it meets my standards by the musical element of it or compare it to other things I've listened to. This time it's all about the message and the impact it had on me this week. With all the personal hardships I've dealt with this week, it helps to have some mental support and that's exactly what I found in this song. I never thought a Pink song could help me cope with what I'm going through but by a surprise that's what this song did for me and I think there's a reason why I heard it this week instead of another week. Overall, it truly did help me pull myself together to get through this week and if it wasn't for the message then I don't think I would have gotten through these days so easily. This week has definitely hurt me mentally but thanks to this song I know that there's always going to be light at the end of the tunnel. All you have to do is pull yourself to the end and this song helped me to do that. It helped to show me the positive side and that's why I'm sharing it with you. Whenever you have a bad week find something to help you just like this song helped me! Meaningful music, like this song, truly inspires me to hang on and to patiently wait for things to get better.

- Caroline

Ever wonder about what he's doing
How it all turned to lies
Sometimes I think that it's better to never ask why

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try

Eh, eh, eh

Funny how the heart can be deceiving
More than just a couple times
Why do we fall in love so easy
Even when it's not right

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try

Ever worried that it might be ruined
And does it make you wanna cry?
When you're out there doing what you're doing
Are you just getting by?
Tell me are you just getting by by by

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try

You gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try

Try- My inspirational song for this week

The Beatles... wearing me out...

I enjoy listening to the Beatles, I really do. But the album that we listened to today was very interesting and to me sounded like it was falling apart. The Beatles just didn't sound like they had any energy left in them and that the album wasn't organized when they planned out and wrote the songs. To be completely honest and I hate to say this but I truly did not enjoy this as much as the other albums of theirs that we've listened to. The album with a few exceptions just didn't meet my standards. Even though I didn't like it overall, there were a few tracks that I did find acceptable. Those tracks are Long Long Long, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and Good Night. These songs are some of the only ones on this album that are manageable to listen to. The Beatles used to be a favorite but as we keep listening to them my opinion keeps changing. They used to be at the top of my list but now unfortunately they are creeping to the bottom.

- Caroline

Long Long Long from their "White Album"

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Good Night

Ho Hey by the Lumineers

This week on Spotify I starred a new selection that is now a favorite of mine. Most of you I'm sure have heard of them but just in case I'll upload some songs at the end of the blog. The Lumineers are an American folk rock band based in Denver, Colorado who came together as a band in 2005. The main band consists of Wesley Schultz, Jeremiah Fraites and Neyla Pekarek with added musicians for tours. The first time I heard of this band was probably this year at ACL when they were one of the many musical guests. After the festival, I listened to their song Ho Hey and realized I had heard it before. Anyways, Ho Hey is an amazing song that truly shows their American fold-rock style that I really enjoy listening to. Fun fact for you is that in October 2012, Spotify named Ho Hey as the most shared song in Manhattan, and 3rd most shared in Brooklyn. I thought that was interesting and even if that fact doesn't appeal to you I still highly recommend listening to not only just this song but the whole band. Maybe you'll find other songs that interest you! Enjoy!

- Caroline

Official Video- Ho Hey

Ho Hey with lyrics

More of the Beatles

The first time I listened to The Beatles I absolutely fell in love with their music and their creative style. Their first album was a hit, especially in my mind and I really enjoyed listening to Ringo, John, Paul, and George. What we've been listening to recently in class are their songs from the album The Beatles 1967-1970, widely known as The Blue Album. I will be honest and say I didn't like all the songs but there were a few that I did in fact enjoy. Overall, I don't like the album as much as the first one I listened to, but this album isn't the worst I've heard so it's still acceptable in my opinion. My favorites from this album include I Am The Walrus, Hello, Goodbye, and Hey Jude. I like the style of these songs and these tracks are probably the reason why I like the album. I still stand by my opinion that this isn't my favorite Beatles album but it's not the worst either.

-Caroline

Cover image for the album 

I Am The Walrus

Hello, Goodbye

Hey Jude 

Timeflies When You Listen to Great Music! (see what I did there.. the band is called timeflies;) )

I love finding new music especially when someone shows it to me. It shows that there are other people out there that like the same music as I do. Well this week, one of my closest friends showed me this band and each time I listen to their music, I enjoy it more and more. This weeks find is the band Timeflies and the songs that I really enjoy by them (most of there songs) are Turn It Up, For You, Everything I Do, Shades of Grey, Detonate, Stunner, Fade and Interlude. All these songs are different and represent the unique style of this band. These songs are so good and shows how talented this band truly is. The music and style changes for each song, from slow to rap to somewhat techno and dubsteppy. I really enjoy this band and I hope you listen to them. I'm so glad my friend told me about this band because they're a great find! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and maybe I just discovered a new find for you like my friend did for me!

- Caroline

Turn It Up

For You

Everything I Do

Shades of Grey

Detonate

Stunner

Fade

Interlude

When You're Going Through a Hard Time, Just Keep Listening!

When you're struggling who do you talk to? Or what do you turn to? Great music! I'm not going to lie about the fact that I've had a pretty tough week. Some are better than others but this week was especially difficult. I don't want to get into all the details but just take my word and believe me when I say that I struggled this week to keep a smile on my face. In order to get through these tough times, I usually find a song or a couple of songs that can relate to my problems. For some reason, when I feel sad I usually listen to sad songs just because they're the best ones to help me describe how I'm feeling. An artist that helps me get through these rough spots in my life is James Morrison. His voice is so comforting and the lyrics to his songs really mean something to me. Some songs that I really like of his are Broken Strings, I Won't Let You Go, You Give Me Something, and  Please Don't Stop The Rain (my favorite right now). Not only do his songs relate to what's going on in my life's story but they help me get through the really tough days. Like I said the lyrics are incredibly powerful and meaningful especially to me. I will never get tired of his calming voice and his unique style that he illustrates through his music and gift of pure talent. So what do you do when you feel depressed and you just need to get away? If I were you, I'd turn to James Morrison. He will defiantly turn your frown upside down and get you through it! :) Stay strong!

- Caroline

Broken Strings- Feat. Nelly Furtado

I Won't Let You Go

You Give Me Something

Please Don't Stop The Rain

Original or Cover??

So this week in class we were given the opportunity to listen to Jimi Hendrix and  one of the songs that really stood out to me that he performed was Fire. I really really like the drum and guitar part that starts the song. The song was even good enough for me to Shazam ;) Anyways, for not listening to that kind of music on a daily basis, I really enjoyed listening to it. The song defiantly changed my perspective towards his music. To me his voice is unique and that's why I like it. Not one you could easily forget! Another song that we listened to was the cover of Fire by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. We compared these two in class and if I had to pick which one I like better, I think I'd have to go with the Jimi Hendrix one. Not because I'm not a huge fan of the Chili Peppers, it's just that the version by Hendrix stood out to me more and it was easier to listen to and digest. Don't get me wrong, the other one is pretty cool, but in my point of view, I was defiantly more impressed with the version done by Jimi Hendrix.

- Caroline

Jimi Hendrix- Fire

Cover of Fire by the Red Hot Chili Peppers