T.G.I.F.

According to Rebecca Black, you gotta get down on Friday.  Here are some tracks to aid you in those weekend festivities.

Walking On a Dream - Empire of the Sun

Empire of the Sun is an Australian duo consisting of Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore.  The two create music that combines alternative rock and electronic sounds.  Their award-winning, 2008 debut album Walking on a Dream, has been certified double platinum in Australia and gold in the UK.  I think that this song perfectly encapsulates that sweet buzz of adrenaline and confusion that occurs when you're starting to crush on somebody.

15 Step - Radiohead

If you don't know who Radiohead is, then you need to be educated.  Radiohead is a British rock band that's been around since 1985.  They're the one's that wrote the famed "Creep" and have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.  That, and the fact that they've been able to stay afloat in the music industry and are still releasing good stuff today, is super impressive.  The subject of "15 Step" is mostly confusion about why things are falling apart in a relationship.  A little melancholy, but hey, it's got awesome rhythm.

Questions/Comments/Suggestions?  Leave me one!

Eclectic & Electric

Switch up your conventional tunes with these electronic sounds.

Mornin' - Star Slinger

Born "Darren Williams", Star Slinger is a producer and DJ based in Manchester, UK.  Williams studied music technology at Leeds Metropolitan University.  Star Slinger was named in the UK's New Music Express Top 50 Bands of 2011.  Pitchfork writer, Nick Neyland, puts this song into words perfectly: "This is the sound of the morning after, where befuddled notions of time and place slowly creep back into focus as you stumble out of bed on jellied legs."

Before the Light Takes Us - Darkness Falls

Darkness Falls is a rock duo that formed in 2009, with Josephine Philip on vocals and keyboard and Ina Lindgreen on base and guitar.  Darkness Falls combines distorted twang guitars, haunting synths, gritty drums and striking vocals, creating a very unique sound.  I acquired this song as iTunes' freebie of the week back in December of 2011 and instantly loved how different it is.  It's dark-sounding, in a "it feels good to be bad" kind of way.

Continue your electronic education & turn up your volume:

Trying to find yourself from Trevor_Deuel on 8tracks.

Questions? Suggestions? Leave a comment! :)

Light Listening

Andrew Bird's soft, pretty tunes are perfect for unwinding.  I love to listen to him when I'm studying or sitting outside on a sunny day.  He has a light and effortless sound that can be entrancing.

Andrew Bird - Tenuousness

Originally from Chicago, Andrew Bird is an incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist.  Listening to his music, you would think there are multiple musicians playing.  In actuality, Bird's playing solo.  He alternates between vocals, violin, guitar and glockenspiel - with whistling and live violin loops thrown in as well.  Having learned to play the violin at a young age, Bird graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in violin performance in 1996.  He grew up surrounded by classical music, taking an early interest in Irish tunes and bluegrass.  Bird will be performing in Richmond, VA on July 11 at The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.  As he is known for his jaw-dropping shows, you better catch him while he's in town!

Andrew Bird - So Much Wine