I wouldn't like death if death were good, not even if death were good.

[urgencytobleed]

I know I haven't been posting very often lately - at least not very often by my standards, anyway. I guess I just haven't had much to talk about recently. The albums I'm still most anticipating this year have yet to come out and I haven't been making very many notable new discoveries. However, here are some songs that have caught my ear lately, some from new releases, some older. Enjoy. :)

• Brighten - Treasure Island

There's not much I can say about this except: you know that word "catchy" that I tend to overuse a lot? Yeah, it's songs like this for which it was made to describe. Catchy, catchy, catchy. One more time? Catchy. Do you get it? This song is insanely catchy!

• Conor Oberst - I Don't Want to Die (In a Hospital)

I think I'm a bit over Conor/Bright Eyes in general, but there are a few songs I enjoy on his latest self-titled endeavor and it's at least way better than Cassadaga, in my opinion. This is one of the best songs, I think. There seems to be the group of people who enjoy mellow Conor and are annoyed by angsty emo Conor and another group of people who think the opposite. I think I fall into the second category because I like him the most when he gets aggressive and intense and that's something that has been lacking in his music lately - it all just sounds so sterile to me. Anyway, this song is more aggressive which means, yes, I like it.

• The Grates - Not Today

I need to listen to their new album more before forming any final opinions, but so far, it seems kind of disappointing to me. Maybe I just need to let it grow on me or something. Most of the songs just kind of blend together and don't stand out at all for me. But this song I love a whole lot. I'm not sure why... maybe it's the girl/guy vocals thing, but I think, for once, that actually isn't the reason. It's kind of mellow but still intense, if you get what I mean. And maybe the generous sprinkling of expletives helps, too.

• Ra Ra Riot - Dying Is Fine
• Ra Ra Riot - Suspended In Gaffa

The best kinds of discoveries are those that happen totally randomly - at least in my opinion - and this is another case of that. "Dying Is Fine" was my introduction to this band and it gets even better with every listen. Not only is it terribly catchy but they also know how to utilize the violin and cello extremely well and, if you haven't heard, rock bands with permanent strings players make me very happy. "Suspended In Gaffa" is a brilliant Kate Bush song and, while their cover doesn't touch the original, it's a rather adept modern update. And what do you know - the melody turns out to be perfectly suited for more strings.

• Rilo Kiley - Patiently

I often think that I might be over Rilo Kiley - at least not as in love with them as I used to be - but then I hear some random song and it all comes rushing back. This is one of my favorite of their non-album songs. (But what am I talking about? I love nearly all of them.) I'm very much of the opinion that Blake and Jenny should sing together more often, so that's one of the biggest reasons why I love this. Also, it has some deliciously cruel lines - "I want you dead; I'm not you yet", "You just talk but you don't stop" - that rank among my favorite Rilo one-liners.

• Vedera - Trade This Fear
• Vedera - Desire on Repeat

This band is really good and Kristen has an amazing voice. They kind of bring to mind for me a more rock-oriented, aggressive Eisley. Most of their album that was released a few years ago, The Weight of an Empty Room, is extremely awesome. Unfortunately, from what I've heard of their more recent material, it seems they've watered down their sound a bit and gone in a more poppy direction. In fact, one of their newer songs, "Satisfy", steals the chorus from the much more memorable "Desire on Repeat". Hopefully, when they actually get out their next full-length, it won't be completely generic-sounding, but at least there's this album to come back to.

Comments

[msmoocow.livejournal.com]

Thanks for Ra Ra Riot--I really like those songs!

And as for a little boy/girl vocal update (heehee)...have you listened to Archie Star? Lead vocals are Pat D'Andrea (of the now defunct pop-rock band October Fall) and his sister Ria, and omg I am in love. Most of the boy/girl bands I come across make really "indie" music, which is lovely, but it's nice to see bands that mix interesting lyrics with a mainstream pop sensibility now and then. Only probem is, a lot of Pat's lyrics are angstfests about his lovers, and while it makes for great songs, I feel creeped out when I think about how the dual vocalists are related, haha. I didn't think about it as much with Straylight. myspace.com/archiestar, and listen to "Pull Down the Moon" and omg, "What You Want to Be" is my favorite)

Also, The Narrative, which fuses the pop of Straylight Run with the mellow ambiance of Lydia. "Waiting Room" is my favorite. :) myspace.com/thenarrative

[urgencytobleed.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard either of those, but they sound really promising! I will give them a listen. Thanks. :D

[(Anonymous)]

great post! i really enjoy ra ra riot. they're great in concert. i'd like to make a couple of music recommendations i think you'd like -- 1) lykke li - a swedish pop artist who's just amazing, and 2) thao nguyen who's equally fabulous. both write really catchy hooks but in very different ways. hope you enjoy!

-Suzy