Best Songs of 2012

Hey,
It's almost 2013! Seriously, I cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by. As quickly as it has gone, we've had some incredible music come out this year. At the risk of sounding cheeky, can I say it may have been one of alternative music's best years? Granted, the crap on the radio was still crap ("Whistle", anyone?) but I think the alternative scene is improving and spreading into popular culture, maybe even just a little bit. I think fun. wins the award for best out-of-nowhere hit single and follow-up single with "We Are Young" and "Some Nights." I love seeing bands getting some validation, even it means I have to put up with obnoxious 12 year olds tweeting "OMG!!!! We R Young!" Yes, you are. You're 12.
Anyways, my intent was to do a 12 best songs of 2012 list, but there's just too many good ones, so I'm doing 15 best songs; I couldn't narrow it down!
Here is my list of the 15 Best Songs of 2012:

15."Relax My Beloved" by Alex Clare
14. "All Alone" by fun.
13. "Little Black Submarines" by The Black Keys
12. "Empty Party Rooms" by Minus the Bear
11. "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid
10."No Diggity" by Chet Faker
9."Body Electric" by Lana Del Rey
8. "Speak Up" by POP ETC.
7."Before the Dive" by St. Lucia
6."Holiday" by Electric Guest
5."Because I Know That I Can" by Andy Burrows
4."Demons" by Imagine Dragons
3."American Daydream" by Electric Guest
2."Handshake" by Two Door Cinema Club
1. "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

15. "Relax My Beloved" by Alex Clare. Alex Clare gained notoriety for his song "Too Close," which blended blues and dub step seamlessly. However, I think it's safe to say that "Relax My Beloved" is a million times better. It combines his soulful vocals with that Sonny Moore-influenced sound in the background and sounds absolutely beautiful and almost raw in a strange way. The lyrics have captured my heart with such lines as "then maybe again/ we will weep like we've done a thousand time before," and many others. Great song.

14. "All Alone" by fun. I reviewed fun.'s album a while back, and I still am in love with "All Alone." Between the gentle instrumental intro, that ridiculously creative percussion line, one of the best lines of the year: "how do you cry/ with inanimate eyes," and Nate's powerful vocals, this remains one of the best songs off their album and another reason why I am proud to support these guys! They're awesome! :)

13. "Little Black Submarines" by the Black Keys. Ah, the Black Keys. I was angry with them at first for not putting their newest album on Spotify, but after actually listening to it; I understand why. It's too good to put on Spotify. I realize how pretentious that sounds, but seriously, listen to it and you'll see why. The Black Keys specialize in polished blues/ R&B and that perfectly describes track 13 on my list. "Little Black Submarines" showcases their dirty guitar licks, gravely vocals, and their talent of reviving music of the past (and doing an excellent job, if I say so myself).

12. "Empty Party Rooms" by Minus The Bear. I first listened to this band a few years ago when their label, Dangerbird, offered a free sampler off Amazon.com. The song was amazing and I keep coming back for more. And this band never disappoints. "Empty Party Rooms" has a very mellow tinge to it. Certainly, it is more laid-back than most of their usual stuff and I like it for that very reason. Critics tend to criticize (hence their title "critic") bands for experimenting and trying new stuff. I call bull. This song belongs on the album as much as the others and I love the chill sound. Still, it is a very complex song with beautiful guitar lines, heavenly background vocals, and Jake's capable voice carrying the song.

11. "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid. Woodkid is the musical alias of Yoann Lemoine, a French director. This is definitely a different track; I like different. :)  I like the strong lyrics, beautiful vocals, manic percussion, and the string section.

10. "No Diggity" by Chet Faker. "No Diggity" was super big back in the 1990's and Chet Faker put a really cool, grungy, emotional spin on it. Where the original feels sexy and all like "make it rain," this rendition is more vulnerable and honestly, more convincing. I believe him when he says he likes the way I "work it." Whatever that means. Additionally, his raspy, convincing vocals have won me over.

9. "Body Electric" by Lana Del Rey. I realize Lana is a slightly controversial choice, considering she is somewhat mainstream, but I think she is still holding onto her indie roots. This song is too intricate to get played on the radio and the lyrics area sickeningly deep, which means the song would get pushed aside so Lil Wayne and every other pop princess can sing about how much they like butts and sex. Mini rant aside, this song builds and climaxes perfectly, and Lana Del Rey's vocals are absolutely electric.

8. "Speak Up" by POP ETC. Formerly known as the Morning Benders, POP ETC is what would result if The Ready Set and Panic! At the Disco had a lovechild together. And a beautiful lovechild it is. I love the dreamy string section, slightly distorted vocals, and floating sensation of the verses that directly contrasts with the steadier bridge into the chorus. Very cool song.

7. "Before the Dive" by St Lucia. I remember highlighting this song about a month ago and I've yet to get it out of my head. Which, in my book, is the mark of a good song. St. Lucia's incredible talent really shines through the track, boasting a stunning orchestral section, a dangerously catchy intro, and poetic lyrics. Love it.

6."Holiday" by Electric Guest. The introduction of the song alone warrants getting placed on the list, but because of the creative guitars in the background and the line "she's a painted face," they earned spot number six. :)

5."Because I Know That I Can" by Andy Burrows- I love Andy Burrows.Based on how often I've reviewed him, I suppose that's fairly obvious. :) He has a convincing voice and is a talented songwriter. This song has a very "Condor El Pasa" by Simon and Garfunkel vibe and paired with Andy's voice it has won me over.

4."Demons" by Imagine Dragons. This song begins slowly and about 45 seconds into it, it just all goes "KAPOOOF!" I don't think that's a word. Regardless, the track is a beautiful concoction of forbidden love and the best use of a bass drum I've heard for quite some time.

3 ."American Daydream" by Electric Guest. I know this is the second song by the same band, but it's so good I felt like I had to highlight this one as well. The percussion gives the song a sort of monotonous feeling which enforces the lyrics "we keep going/don't stop running" and the distortion on Asas vocals also increases the dragging feeling. Still, I think it's one of the best songs on the album, simply because they dared to be different.

2."Handshake" by Two Door Cinema Club. I love these British bands. They bring something interesting to the music scene, not that American/European bands don't. Don't get me wrong. But, like a lot of other British bands, TDCC fits into their own little genre. They're not quite solid Alt rock, nor are they pop, but a strangely delicious blend of the two. As well, TDCC writes some of the best lyrics: "She said the devil will want you back/ And you'll never find love in an open hand/ Shut your eyes, so you see I'm there/ And know you'll always have this if you stay this mad." So good.

1. "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest- Yes, another Electric Guest song. They are one of my favorite bands and their album Mondo maybe one of the best debut albums ever. This song earns the number one spot for five reasons 1) Asa's falsetto is incredible the way it soars and makes the song really distinct, 2) That drum line at the beginning...that's the kind of stuff that made Darren King, the drummer of MuteMath, a legend, 3) the keyboard the complements the other instrumentation,4) the infectious melody, and 5) The lyrics! The lyrics make the song. A truly fantastic track.

Thank you for reading this and every other post. You guys rock and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Until then,
Bella

A Little Alternative Christmas

Hey,

As I’m sure you guys are aware, we have four days until Christmas. At this point, I’m sure we’re all pretty tired of hearing “Jingle Bells” and that screechy Mariah Carey song every radio station seems to over-play. Since I strive to be your musical savior, this week I am highlighting five good renditions of these Christmas songs performed by alternative/indie acts.

Here we go…

5. Auld Lange Syne by Andrew Bird- Granted, this song relates more to New Year, but I’m including it because it’s in the same season and a solid song. Andrew brings a barebones feel to this typically flowing, heavily orchestrated song. I love that violin after the introduction and the light-hearted feel his vocals give the song.

4. Little Saint Nick by She and Him- It wouldn’t really be a Christmas post if I did not highlight these indie darlings who released a fantastic Christmas album last year. Typically, this song gives me a headache, partially due to the fact that this song has absolutely nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas and partially because the original arrangement is obnoxious and tries too hard to be cute. She and Him specialize in cute, so it works. Zooey’s vocals complement the twinkling strings section in the background and the harmonies are perfect.

3. O Come O Come Emanuel by Surfjan Stevens- Absolutely beautiful interpretation. Between the woodwinds, varying instrumentation, and his gravelly yet smooth vocals, I’m sold. He took a slightly boring Christmas carol and brought some depth and splendor back to it. Amazing.

2. Tonight It’s Christmas by Hey Ocean!- One of the few Christmas songs I can listen to all year. I love the strong, alternating vocals, different percussion lines, and surprising horn lines. Take out the Christmas lyrics and it sounds like your everyday Alternative hit. Love it.

1. Sleigh Ride by fun.- One of my favorite indie-now-gone-mainstream-bands. I hate to be a jerk, but I like to remind everyone when I bring fun. up that I knew “We Are Young” a year before it got big. Alright, hipster antics out of the way, this is probably the best cover I’ve ever heard of this lackluster Christmas song. It opens with a gentle, swaying orchestra section, in a typical fun. fashion, adds in distinctive percussion, sound effects, and eventually adds in Nate’s distinctive voice. This song is always stuck in my head, which means if you listen to it, it will be too. J

Next week, the 28^th, will be the last Friday of 2012, which means it’s time to do a review of my favorite songs from 2012. I could pick the worst songs of the year, but my goal with this blog is to bring some positivity to the music industry, not add more negativity. Yes, I do like to highlight the flaws in the music industry, but my job is not to solely critique. So, that’s why I’m going to do a “best of” list, rather than a “worst of.” If you’re looking for a worst of 2012, click here to listen to one of my favorite guys on YouTube.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

Bella

2012 Has Been Amazing!

Hey,

I cannot believe just how incredible this last year has been. One year ago today, I wrote my first blog post, a brief introduction to myself and posted a Saturday Night Live sketch that made me laugh. My intentions were to simply review music, hopefully find some fellow music lovers, and create an outlet for my music-related thoughts. And it has been all I wished for and more! I never expected to have over 1900 views in one year; 1,000 was my two year goal. The highest amount of views I've had on a blog post is 112! 112, guys! It may not seem like much, but to me, that's crazy. And I am so thankful for every single one of those views. Some of my favorite moments from this year came from reviewing amazing bands, such as Beecher's Fault and Get Cubs.

Thank you so much for reading my posts each week, tweeting about them, posting them on facebook, e-mailing me with new ideas, and making my blog a part of your lives. It means so much to me and I can't wait to see what this next year will bring!

So, at this one year point, I thought I would take a minute and introduce myself a little further.

I've signed all of my blogposts as Bella, though I went anonymous for a while, and my full name is indeed Isabella. :) I am, as you might have guessed, a Twilight fan--more Twilight soundtrack reviews coming in the following weeks--though I'm not nearly as whiny as my namesake, nor am I in a love triangle with a vampire and a werewolf. :) I'm 16 and I live in central Iowa, which is a pretty nice place and boasts some incredible concert venues that I like to take advantage of when a good band comes.


So, on Friday, expect a typical blog post from me. I just wanted to take some time and thank every single one of my readers. You guys are the best!

Please e-mail me, tweet at me, and/or comment with your favorite blog post from this year and any suggestions you have for the next year, whether it's a band you want me to review, suggestions for the website itself, or anything along those lines!

Until Friday,
Bella

Imagine Dragons "Night Visions" Review

Hey,

This week, Night visions by one of my new favorite bands Imagine Dragons came out. You’ve probably heard their song “It’sTime” and I’ve highlighted “Radioactive on this blog, but their other stuff—that hasn’t received much attention—is absolutely brilliant. I can honestly say, right next to MuteMath’s “Odd Soul” and Fun’s “Some Nights” this is one of the best albums of 2012. Great stuff. So, this week, I am picking my five favorite songs from Night Visions.

As always, in no particular order:

Demons by Imagine Dragons- Absolutely stunning. Dan’s vocals remind me of a band I used to frequently listen to, Seabird, with a little more emotion. This is, without a doubt, the best song on the album. It features very dominant lyrics, a memorable chorus, and strong vocals. Demons is everything I love about this band. I can visualize exactly what they’re trying to say, almost in music video form. Every time that I listen to this song, I get goosebumps. That, I believe, is what music was intended to be.

Tiptoe by Imagine Dragons- Each song’s lyrics just keep getting better and better. I read a review on Amazon the other day that said exactly what I was thinking. None of the songs on here are “filler tracks,” in that, each one has a weighty message and beautiful symbolism woven throughout And this song is a true example of that statement. I love the very 1980’s synth lines, the melodic chorus, and the bass. “Nobody else can take me higher,” than these lyrics. J

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons- I’ve talked about this song before, but I felt it was a sin ( but not a tragedy…PATD reference) to talk about it again. From the haunting vocals, in-your-face beat, post-Apoctalyptic lyrics, to Dan’s strong vocals, practically hollering the chorus, this song is the reason I started listening to the rest of Imagine Dragon’s other music—thank goodness for the Electric Guest radio station on Pandora! I can honestly say I feel it in my bones, too. J

Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons- The title sounds like a typical Friday night for emo kids, but the lyrics are incredibly deep. They use power visual imagery to convey their emotions as well as letting the music express the pain of, I assume, a broken heart, with the background vocals, heavy beats, and an integral synthesizer line. A very moving song.

Amsterdam by Imagine Dragons- I love the soft, swelling instrumentation at the beginning, Dan’s initially calm vocals, and the beautiful lyrics. This track cements the band as an important facet of alternative rock. Breathtaking.

 So, that’s it for this week. Make sure to support this great group of guys by buying their music. They truly deserve it.

Until next week,

Bella