Take a break from holiday music

Needless to say I have been a major slacker at updating this blog. Nevertheless, I have a new favorite song I want everyone to put on their latest Spotify Playlist or what have you. It's called "No Sleep No Dream" by seventeen year old Arizona native, Zella Day.

Zella Day's voice sounds very soft and innocent in the song; however, the instruments keep it upbeat, making me want to listen to it over and over again. She's a singer/songwriter, reminding me of an artist like Sarah Jaffe, whom you should also check out if you haven't already!

Another song of Zella Day's to check out is her version of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army". Rather than the fun rock version I am accustomed to, Zella Day gives the song a touch of folk rock with an acoustic guitar. Check out her official video here or watch below!

One more thing, while writing this entry, I learned that you can purchase Zella Day's EP "Cynics vs. Dreamers" on iTunes. Enjoy!

A new band to check out

Milo Greene just released their debut self-titled album last month. This pop-folk band delivers harmonious tracks that I love to listen to over and over again. If you like bands like Fleet Foxes, The Head and the Heart, or Delta Spirit, then you can't miss out on this LA-based band!

You should definitely listen to the entire album but the songs you can't miss are: "1957," "Don't Give Up on Me," and "What's the Matter."

I would love to see them in a chill setting—at an outdoors venue or music festival. I am very disappointed because I just found out that they will be at Stubbs (Outdoors) on Oct. 13th (ACL Saturday) with Civil Wars and there is no way I will make an ACL Aftershow, seriously, it's impossible. I don't know how people do it.... maybe they will see how awesome Stubbs is and come back to Austin on a headlining tour! A girl can only dream.

I LOVE IT

Icona Pop's single "I LOVE IT" is my new favorite song to listen to when I'm in the mood to get pumped up or party. It's been on my radar for about 2 months now, thanks to Sirius XMU, but I finally found it on Spotify and therefore listen to it all of the time! 

My favorite line: "You're from the 70's but I'm a 90's bitch! I don't care. I love it!" - I love it!

This band is just another reason why I love what Scandinavia has produced (music-wise) — i.e., Lykke Li, Of Monsters & Men, ROBYN, Peter Bjorn & John, Royksopp, Bjork, Ace of Bass ;)

If you haven't checked out some of those bands before, they're definitely worth your time! Royksopp and Bjork are a little out there but most of the others have some mainstream songs that most people can enjoy. 

I'm leaving you with a classic for all of you "90's bitches" — Ace of Base "The Sign."

You are welcome.

2012 ACL Lineup Release

The 2012 ACL Lineup was announced today, and while I have seen many of these bands in the past year, I'm still very excited that I went ahead and purchased my early bird pass! 

My must see bands so far (before checking out any that I do not recognize) are—

The Black Keys

Florence + the Machine

AVICII - I'm just excited to see everyone rage at this show

The Shins - They released an amazing album this year "Port of Morrow"

Gotye - What's that one song he sings again?? ;)

M83 - Saw them at Stubbs last week, I loved them!! I know you've heard "Midnight City"

Thievery Corporation - A fun hippie band to check out

Crystal Castles - Another dance party to attend

Andrew Bird - Although I haven't really heard any of his new music

Metric

Band of Skulls

Alabama Shakes - They were amazing at SXSW

Delta Spirit - They put on a great show at Emo's East last month

M. Ward

The War on Drugs - I was sad I missed them at SXSW

Bombay Bicycle Club - "Shuffle" has been one of my favorite songs this year

Oberhofer

POLICA

Tennis - Another band I unfortunately missed at SXSW

Zola Jesus

Los Campesinos!

Freelance Whales - Maybe his brother who's on Glee will show up?? Celeb-spotting?? Probably not.

The Lumineers - I really love their song "Ho Hey"

First Aid Kit - Love this folk music sister duo

Caveman

Also, A-Trak and Kimbra will be there, I wonder if they will play their new hit "Warrior"  that they did with Mark Foster (Foster the People).... I would love to see that performance! (fun fact: you can get this song for free here)

Fun Summer Music

My summer has been full of long drives and traveling in which a great playlist is key. I've got my Indie Mix with songs from the excellent new Bon Iver Album, "Bon Iver", songs from Foster The People whose hit "Pumped Up Kicks" was named Stereogum's Song Of The Summer and many more new singles I found on RCRD LBL and MySpoonful. But the playlist I'm mostly pumped about is my pop/hip-hop mix. 

Not only is this playlist great for boring car rides to Fort Worth/Dallas and Canyon Lake, but it has been great for workouts! A lot of these songs are probably a little old to be considered "summer" songs but they haven't quite gotten old to me yet. So here they are:

Blow - Ke$ha

Just Can't Get Enough - Black Eyed Peas

Down On Me (Feat. 50 Cent) - Jeremih

Barbara Streisand - Duck Sauce

Dynamite - Taio Cruz

Give Me Everything - Pitbull

Last Friday Night - Katy Perry 

I Wanna Go - Britney Spears

Don't Wanna Go Home - Jason Derulo

Written In The Stars - Tinie Tempah

E.T. (feat. Kanye West) - Katy Perry

Where Dem Girls At - David Guetta

Dirty Dancer (Feat. Usher) - Enrique Iglesias

I'm On One - DJ Khaled

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO

Super Bass - Nicki Minaj

We R Who We R - Ke$ha

Till The World Ends - Britney Spears

Party On!

Free downloads are cluttering my iTunes

So needless to say I haven't updated the blog in quite some time...this is due to the fact that I have been downloading so many free songs lately from mySpoonful and RCRD LBL that I haven't been able to listen to any of it in depth. But, I've finally decided whom I will write about! 

The new band I like is "Cults." I first heard them when I downloaded a lot of free songs by bands at SXSW provided by SPIN and iTunes. There were many great artists in these playlists but Cults has been getting a lot of buzz lately so I picked them! The only problem is that iTunes only offers one of their songs, "Go Outside," which I like but I know there's got to be so many good ones out there that I don't even know about! 

My personal favorite is "Most Wanted," which is the track that I downloaded from Spin's "AUSTIN POWER: Best Bands SXSW 2011." And then I heard it at the end of a Weeds episode, which made me love it even more! The song talks about how what you want the most isn't good for you, who can't relate to that?? 

Cults just released a new track "Abducted." You can listen to their new release here on NPR. 

Girl Power

Today I decided to blog about some great girl singers that I have been listening to lately. First off is the Swedish indie pop artist, Lykke Li. Her new album "Wounded Rhymes" is amazing! I am obsessed with "Love Out of Lust" and "I Know Places," both are slow tracks that I like to listen to when I am reading or doing homework.  

If you haven't already heard of Lykke Li, then you have to also check out her first album, "Youth Novels." Every song on the album is excellent, it's hard to pick a favorite. "Time Flies" is a great slow song and "Breaking It Up" is a good upbeat song.  

My new favorite girl artist is Jessica Lea Mayfield. If the Black Keys support this singer/songwriter then so do I! I first heard about her from the Spin SXSW artists article and then literally a week later she was the free song of the week on iTunes, which was frustrating because I had just purchased the same song! Anyways, she just released a new album, "Tell Me." I love the songs "Kiss Me Again," "Call Me," and "Our Heart Our Wrong." 

Definitely check out Jessica's new album. She is also featured on the Black Keys' song "Things Ain't Like They Used To Be."