Tunes

First, if you are lurking behind Google Reader's boring veil come out and see the real world of blogging for a sec. I gave my blog it's bi-monthly facelift this weekend and I'm digging the new colors.

This post is all about tunes. Because this was the first weekend in seven weeks that one of us was not traveling, running a marathon, nor working. Two days in a row of pure, unplanned bliss means lots of time to study [for Nate] and working on the computer [for yours truly]. When I plant myself in front of this glorious screen, I need my tunes to help the creative process. Usually good music pared with either black coffee or red wine [depending on the time of day, of course] does the trick for me. So now I will share a few of my gems with you in hopes that you can give me new prospects, too.

I recently purchased Jason Mraz's newest album called "We sing. We dance. We steal things." I've always like Mr. A-Z and this album does not disappoint. I'm sure most of you have heard his single "I'm Yours" played non-stop on the radio, but I promise that is not the best song on the album. Great buy.


This summer I also bought Paramore's album "Riot." They are labeled as alternative but I really think they are more rock, and totally hard core if you ask me. I love it because it's classic girl power music with a little more edge. You've probably heard "Misery's Business" and "Crushcrushcrush" which I adore, but there are some other goodies there, too.

I pounced on Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" the day it came out. Swoon. I love them so much. I think I added about three of these songs to my website which shows my intense amount of love, right?

Also this summer I bought Death Cab for Cutie's new album "Narrow Stairs." Besides Coldplay's new album this might be one of my newest all-time faves. In the history of the world. It's THAT good, folks. I must thank my brother-in-law, Jon, for this new love of mine. But more on him later.

I broke down and bought Katy Perry's album "One of the Boys" because I'll admit it, I love her song "I Kissed a Girl." Too bad that song isn't on the album, but a bunch of other girl power songs are there. This is a perfect sing-so-loud-in-the-car-that-a-stranger-stares type of album.

Also, I bought M.I.A's single "Paper Planes" just because I'm a gangsta and love the gun shots in this tune. Seriously. It's a far cry from some of the others but I likey. So back to my brother-in-law, Jon. He is the epitome of a music snob, but in a good way of course:) To sum him up, he despises everything corporate and mainstream. He will not drink a Starbucks coffee but the locally owned coffee shop will get his praises instead. He hates most brand name clothes and prefers to shop at Goodwill for vintage tee shirts. He probably has no clue who Paris Hilton, Lauren Conrad, or Kevin Federline are...but he can list about a million Indie-rock bands that are virtual unknowns to the rest of America.

So when Jon caught a glimpse of our iTunes playlist he almost vomited in his mouth a little bit. Techno?? Top 40 hits?? BRITNEY SPEARS?!?! The horror.

He took it upon himself to make me a 'cool' music list to inspire my inner granola. And I will admit, there are some awesome non-mainstream bands out there.


For instance, The Weepies. I love their songs, "Gotta Have You" and "Take It From Me." Go look them up on iTunes right now and try not to buy them.


Then there's Silversun Pickups, whose most popular song is probably "Lazy Eye". You know the song that goes, "I've been waiting for this moment, for all my life." That's them. But their best song I've found is "Three Seed." Obsessed with it, blare it daily, and have no shame replaying it multiple times until Nate begs me to stop. Listen and you will see.

But that song is tied for first place in the "New Alternative/Indie Awards" according to me. It's tied with Badly Drawn Boy's song called "Once Around the Block." I could listen to this one constantly and apparently Jon likes it, too: the play count on it is 237! That is about 200 more than any other song I own.

So maybe that will give you about three more songs to download if you dare. Have you heard of these groups before? Cause I definitely hadn't before Jon.

I emailed Jon tonight to ask his opinion of the new Keane and new Snow Patrol albums. He got me hooked on these bands, too, but now I think Snow Patrol has gotten way too mainstream for Jon anymore. I just listened to a few of the songs on iTunes and I think I might take the plunge.

Did anyone get these yet?

Or any other recommendations for me? I love new music and apparently I'm moving away from the Top 40 in my maturity. But all types of music welcome.