1. "Mykonos" - Fleet Foxes
How do I describe Fleet Foxes? Borque/pop? Indie/folk? Perhaps no description is necessary, because about 10 seconds into "Mykonos" the question you'll find yourself asking isn't "What is this?" it's "Why am I only hearing this now?" Get on the ground floor before everyone including your bratty 12 year old neighbour is talking about Fleet Foxes, wearing their shirts...
2. "Hail To The King" - Avenged Sevenfold
Guess who's back? Avenged Sevenfold, or AVX7 as they're sometimes referred to online, have had a rough go of sorts. After playing on the Warped Tour in 2003 vocalist M. Shadows underwent throat surgery which many fans felt affected his ability to scream in the metalcore style that they were accustomed to. Though Shadows denied this, stating it was a conscious effort to sing more melodies, a large portion of their fanbase lost interest. Then at the end of 2009 their drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan was found dead of an overdose. Hearing a song like "Hail To The King" on the radio brought a smile to my face. The band hasn't caved or given in....and it sounds like they're having just as much fun as ever
3. "Cities In Dust" - Siouxsie & The Banshees
Siouxsie & The Banshees were one of the fore runners of the goth-punk scene in the 70's. They rose out of the London punk scene and became fast allies with groups like The Sex Pistols and The Misfits. "Cities in Dust" is off their 1985 album Tinderbox. By then they had already garnered a world wide following and reputation. Even to this Siouxsie & The Banshees are still known among music circles...all without mainstream attention. Heck, one of my cars is named after them.
4. "Royals" - Lorde
Lorde is the stage name of New Zealander Ella O'Connor. This another song that has taken off this year. It may be easy to breeze by on first listening but it eventually sticks in your head. It's almost like a hip-hop song slowed down to a crawl. There's something about her voice though that makes you want more...
5. "Easy To Tame" - Kim Mitchell
We're really going all over the place now, but if you've read these lists before...you cannot be questioning it. Lately my fellow countryman Kim Mitchell has been living on the airwaves of a radio station in downton Toronto, as an afternoon host. There was a time when he was one of our brightest stars. I was not fully aware at the time, but in my later years people would talk about Kim Mitchell "How can anyone not like him?" they'd say "He wrote 'Patio Lanterns'" "Yes" i'd reply "But he also wrote "Might As Well Go For A Soda'" and there the conversation would stalemate...if my opponent had at the time brought up "Easy To Tame" I would have gladly conceded the battle. Never mind the video......the 80's...
6. "Escape Artist" - Sage Francis
Sage Francis is a hip-hop artist/rapper/slam poet who I just cannot get enough of. I close my eyes and point to any song in his library and put it on. Turns out...it's amazing! Such is the story of how I discovered "Escape Artist". Enjoy
7. "Sex" - The 1975
If you've been to YouTube at all lately you may have noticed a pop up ad promoting a new single by a band called The 1975. Unless you use adBlock, in which case here is your heads up that this song is great. Their a young band out of England and i'm pretty sure they weren't alive in 1985...let alone 1975...so their name may be a tinge perplexing, but if they keep pumping out rock like this....i'll forgive them.
8. "Shout Me Out" - TV On The Radio
TV On The Radio are a great band from Brooklyn, one of my favourites. They always have high and energy and bring a new sound to the table with every album. "Shout Me Out" is off their 2008 release Dear Science which landed near the top of almost every top ten list that was created that year. They last released an album in 2011 shortly before the death of their bassist/pianist Gerard Smith. They currently have no plans for a 5th album.
9. "Mister Vesselin" - Krisko
Was recently overseas and during my time in Bulgaria there was this catchy track being played on the radio, and every niteclub and pub played it at least once a night. Through crude hand signals and dispersing what little Bulgarian I learned I was able to get a waitress to tell me the artist's name. She scribbled some letters from her alphabet on a cocktail napkin along with six letters that I recognized from mine: "Krisko".
10. "A Bar In Amsterdam" - Katzenjammer
Here's another band from Europe. Formed in Oslo, Norway Katzenjammer sing in English, so their music is more accessible to Western audiences. "A Bar in Amsterdam" actually comes off their 2008 debut Le Pop. It's a fun little drinking tune with lightning quick trumpets and a very sing-a-long-able chorus.
There ya go. You may not have enjoyed all of them, but I hope you found a new band to check out.
What song are you jamming to right now? Drop me a line, let me know
Cheers permanently!
JZ
@jonnyzhivago
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