Best of 2012: Beautiful Girls edition

City and Colour - The Girl

I found myself listening to a lot of older songs in July, returning to some tried and true favorites.  So you don't get a July this year. Sorry. On the bright side, we can all musically block out a miserably hot and sweaty month.  Instead, here are a few songs that I found myself listening to on repeat play around the beginning of August, and they all have something in common.  Just listen to the toothachingly sweet lyrics from City and Colour: "You sacrifice so much of your life in order for this to work. While I'm off chasing my own dreams, sailing around the world, know that I'm yours to keep, my beautiful girl." The Canadian band, City and Colour, is fronted by Dallas Green (get it?).



Sara Bareilles - Beautiful Girl

Have you ever noticed how much I love Sara Bareilles? She makes perfect music.  This is a song she, according to concert banter, wrote for her younger, adolescent sister. Sara sometimes plays this song at concerts, but it's never been released on an album.



Missy Higgins - Everyone's Waiting

Just watch. You'll get the connection.

Best of 2012: Songs from June (Part 2)

Birdy - "1901"




The Lumineers - "Ho Hey"




Snow Patrol - "New York"




Milo Greene - "Silent Way"

Best of 2012: Songs from June (Part 1)

Wild Ones - Flo Rida and Sia

Three confessions: One: I freakin' love Flo Rida. Since I'm usually listening to, shall we say, softer music, some people are surprised by my undying love for Flo Rida. I bet you're less surprised that I'm a big Sia fan.  Two: Every time I write the word "wild," I write the word "Wilde" first. Three: For years, "Low" was the ringtone for when my mom called.

June already has a long songlist, and it's pretty eclectic, so the rest of it will be given in the order in which the songs were received.



Such Great Heights - The Section Quartet

This is a cover of a song by The Postal Service. Even if you're not a fan of the original (I am), you might still enjoy this version.  TSQ also does great covers of "Black Hole Sun" and Muse's "Time is Running Out."



Bad Romance - Vitamin String Quartet

If you like TSQ, you might also enjoy Vitamin String Quartet. Besides an entire album of Lady Gaga covers, VSQ also does covers of Viva La Vida, Bittersweet Symphony, Kids by MGMT.



More - Usher

I'm also an Usher fan...

Ljósið -  Ólafur Arnalds

Yeah, I don't know how you pronounce it either, but Arnalds is a pretty impressive 25 year old multi-instrumentalist from Iceland. 

 I Don't Love You Anymore, but I Don't Love You Any Less - Hungry Ghosts

This song reminds me of Miss Marple. I'm pretty sure I've seen it on a BBC mystery at some point.

Landline - Greg Laswell and Ingrid Michaelson

And then I finally got Greg Laswell's new album, which features this song with his wife, Ingrid Michaelson. You may remember I already posted videos of "Come Back Down" and "Back to You" in March when they were first released. But the whole album is fantastic and well worth the $7.99 on iTunes.

Here's another: 

Another Life to Lose

and...

New Years' Eves

And just to wrap things up nicely...Good Feeling - Flo Rida ft. Etta James

Because I like to dance.

Best of 2012: Songs From May (and mostly Sara Bareilles)

Stay



Once Upon Another Time - Sara Bareilles

Since Sara Bareilles's new EP Once Upon Another Time came out on May 22nd, I've really listened to nothing else. With lines like "Highway curve/ The sun sank low/ Buckley on the radio," the title track is a perfect blend of poetic lyricism and MGM musical.



Bright Lights and Cityscapes - Sara Barielles

Does the US have a Songwriter Laureate?
"I'm the paper and you're the pen/ You fill me in/ You are permanent/ And you leave me to dry..."
"She will falter and gift her blame. And it starts all over again again again."
"She is bright lights and cityscapes./ And white lies and cavalcades."
"She'll take all you ever have, but I'm gonna love you. You say maybe it will last this time. But I'm gonna love you. Till You start looking back, I'm gonna love you. I wouldn't need a second chance."



Lie to Me - Sara Bareilles

And then things get edgy. "I wish the air would color red when you're breathing in, so I could've seen it coming."



In My Veins - Andrew Belle (w/ Erin McCarley)
Fine, here's a song that isn't from Sara Bareilles's new EP. Happy now? Try listening to this super depressing song. But it's also gorgeous.



That Wasn't Me - Brandi Carlile

This is the first single off her new album Bear Creek, and the video stars country legend Kris Kristofferson.

Every Inch She's Royal Purple Pigment

NB: This is from 2007, I believe.

The Queen's Birthday Parade.

I have got to get a hat like Prince Philip's. Not only would it be fun for singing "Down at Fraggle Rock," but it would be so useful for dusting in those pesky, hard to reach corners.










Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and the daughters of Andrew and Fergie


Horse Guards





All the Royal Family, except for William, who "couldn't" get leave.

Best of 2012: Songs from April

Drive Darling - BOY
The song, the artists, the video. I love it all. On a recent 4 hour drive up to Philly, I listened to this song a billion times. Add it to your road trip mix.



Youth - Daughter
Just listen. You'll get it by the time the drums roll in. Here's a bonus: Landfill.




Coming Down - Dum Dum Girls
I posted their song "Bedroom Eyes" back in October, but this song is a bit edgier.






New Ceremony - Dry the River
I want to cut their hair. But the song is fantastic.



Am I That Lonely Tonight and Unfortunately, Anna - Justin Townes Earle
It's kinda impossible to listen to "Am I That Lonely Tonight" without imagining yourself driving alone across the country in the middle of the night. Justin Townes Earle, who incidentally is named after Townes Van Zandt, has been around for years, but much more in the country arena.  These songs have just enough whiskey and twang in them to make me fall in love with JTE. Unfortunately, Anna is the other one on non-stop loop.



The River - Thomas J. Speight and Allie Moss
A really simple, beautiful love song.



Our Hearts Were on Fire - Firehorse
Weird ass video, but this is just a great indie song with a lot of interesting sounds in it...but in a good way.



Can't Stop - MoZella
The Detroit-based singer-songwriter that shares a name with a search engine is a favorite on TV shows and commercials. You've probably heard her song Magic on a Droid commercial. Most of her songs are too cheerfully poppy or snoozy for my ears, but Can't Stop is her best bluesy Goldilocks track.

Songs of March: Best of 2012 (Part 2)

The Song Most Likely to Say "Get Over Yourself." is... "Come Back Down" by Greg Laswell and Sara Bareilles

Just listen to it; you'll see what I mean.  The video is visual overload, but the harmonies will get you.  This is a track from Greg's new album Landlines, which will be out April 24th.  This has been my work song, my work out song, my cooking song, whatever.  And, when the world gets too much, just remember, all of your wallowing is unbecoming.

Here's another great song from the new album: Back to You, with Elizabeth from & the Catapult fame.  It's pretty great, and Greg made the video himself.





Song/Video Most Likely to Charm Your Socks Off - "Love Lost" by The Temper Trap


You know that these freckled, pasty boys are the most popular kids in school now. This is also a great song to run to. You just have to remember NOT TO DO THE DANCE.



Songs Most Likely to Sound Familiar - "Big Jet Plane" by Angus and Julia Stone, and...




"Take You Higher" by Goodwill & Hook N Sling


Yeah, so this is more of a remix, but with a brand new title too.  So which one do you like?

Honorable Mention for Familiar Song goes to...




"Can You Tell" by Ra Ra Riot, and...




"Can You Tell" by Rachael Cantu