All posts in: Music Spotlight

26 May 2011

Bryce Avary, His Instruments And Your Voices

It’s not “Study Music Sunday” yet, but let’s be real – I know I won’t be studying this Sunday. Since it is a long weekend, I thought I would give you all a little treat sure to last you the four days. Earlier this week, one of my favorite singers – Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer released a new CD called His Instruments And Your Voices. The CD is a compilation of songs that Avary recorded while he was on the “His Instruments And Your Voice” tour this past fall and includes his fans’ favorite songs and them singing along with him.

I actually attended one of his shows in Seattle back in November after waiting five years to see him and it is probably included on my list of top five favorite concerts ever. You can read all about my fan girl night here.

Since this is gift from Avary to all of his fans, the CD is completely free! So kick off your wonderful Memorial Day weekend by downloading the CD here.

22 May 2011

Song of the Day

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjoA4nYBD5U]

The Head and the Heart – Lost in My Mind

Two music tip posts in one day? Must be your lucky Sunday! I’ve actually been meaning to write this post for sometime now because I absolutely love this local band – The Head and the Heart. The name has been thrown around a lot within the past year and I just recently had the time to listen through their whole album. It also helped that I was reminded of them when I caught the band on Jimmy Fallon the other night. I cannot wait to see this band around Seattle this summer. Here’s hoping for a spot on the lineup of Capitol Hill Block Party and Bumbershoot!

22 May 2011

Sunday Study Music

I don’t know about you guys, but I cannot study or do homework without listening to music at all. My level of productivity decreases and television is no substitute. Even though Foster the People’s new album “Torches” will be released tomorrow, I had a feeling that all of you might need something for a little study sesh today so click here to stream the entire album fo’ free before it comes out tomorrow! Not only is this perfect for my Sunday, but it is about to define my Summer 2011. Enjoy!

Favorite Tracks:

  • Helena Beat
  • Pumped Up Kicks
  • Call It What You Want
  • Houdini
  • Life On the Nickel
  • Warrant
13 May 2011

It’s a Death Cab Post

Just because I wake up before nine in the morning doesn’t mean that I am able to fully comprehend any type of news or announcement until at least ten. It had to have been around 8:00 AM that morning when I received the news from my best friend that she had managed to snag a ticket to the secret Death Cab For Cutie show for the following Wednesday evening. Surprised to find that I wasn’t informed of this earlier, I googled the poo out of this news only to find out that at that second (well within minutes) the tickets had just gone on sale. I found myself on Ticketmaster debating with my best friend whether or not I would go for the next five minutes. As I tried to piece out my schedule, I came to the conclusion that I just couldn’t sacrifice an evening for this. Within that hour, tickets had sold out.

So I either made a really bad decision or… but there was no good alternative for me. I most likely had missed out on a fantastic show – the first show in Seattle from Death Cab in two years, the most anticipated show in the entire city, a secret show that I have always wanted to be a part of.

I can’t exactly describe what my relationship to Death Cab is like or explain to anyone why I like them so much. I have not been a fan of them since the beginning. I don’t even own their first album. Just because I haven’t been there from the start doesn’t mean that I have to like them any less. I discovered the band through the boyishly handsome Seth Cohen after he announced that they were his favorite band on the OC and when they later appeared on an episode to perform “A Movie Script Ending.” I didn’t attend their first show nor did I see the photos from it. They did, however, play their very first show at the venue that I used to work at – the venue that I considered a home. They built themselves up from a little known band to a band that can sell out a show in less than an hour. It’s been a long time coming for them, but they make me so proud to say that I am from Seattle. Over the years, they have been THE band for me and I’m not exactly sure what that means, but they are more than just the soundtrack to my homework and study seshes. Their performance three years ago moved me  to tears with my best friend and it’s not just because we were forced to crowd surf  from the first row at Bumbershoot right before the performance started. It’s an indescribable feeling and emotion and one that I cannot describe in words that are more honest and true than Stranger writer Megan Seling. So with that, I’m going to direct you to her review, which embodies everything that I am feeling.

Not gonna lie…I’m totally listening to all of the Death Cab For Cutie songs in setlist order straight from Wednesday night. [Source]

22 Apr 2011

I Scratch Your Back, You Scratch Mine?

Hi readers!

I’ve got one special request for all of you today and throughout this weekend. I don’t usually ask for too much, but I am looking for an influx of new music. I want to know what YOU are listening to and I want to hear what up and coming bands and musicians you think I should be listening to. The last time I requested this, you all were kind of shy on your responses, so I’m going to help you along by sharing with you what music I am currently listening to. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to help me out.

Thanks!

Eliza Doolittle

I first heard of Eliza Doolittle a few weeks ago after watching her perform on Jay Leno. Her sound is reminiscent of a decade that reminds me of the 80’s, but I could totally be wrong. The girl is cheeky and sassy and her personality is clearly represented in her music. Almost immediately after I watched her perform, I downloaded her self-titled album.

Sounds like? Lily Allen

Favorite Tracks:

  • Pack Up
  • Roller Blades
  • Missing
  • Skinny Genes
  • So High
  • Back to Front

Foster the People

Okay, so I finally discovered Foster the People last night on The Vampire Diaries, but this was not my first time listening to them. This morning, I not only heard them on the radio, but found out that the band will actually be playing at Sasquatch next month as well.  You kind of know that something is up with a band when you are hearing about them a number of times within 24 hours from various outlets. Currently, they have only three songs on their EP, but that’s basically all you need to know about the band.

Sounds like? Empire of the Sun, MGMT?

Favorite Tracks:

  • Houdini
  • Helena Beat
  • Pumped Up Kicks

White China Gold

Thomas Hunter is truly a man of many talents. He is the guitarist of Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and Wild Orchid Children and now he is debuting his first solo project White China Gold. I’m convinced that there is no one in the Seattle area right now that is as versatile as he is. His new album is absolutely beautiful and manages to capture the city’s essence perfectly in this new jazzy and serene sound. I cannot wait to see this man live on a stage someday soon because he is easily one of the best guitarists in Seattle.

Sounds like? Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and Thomas Hunter

Favorite Tracks?

  • One-Footed Bastard
  • Window Mouth
  • White China March
  • Strange Sad Magic

Lenka

I have said everything I could ever say about Lenka and still after nearly three weeks of having her latest album entitled “Two” I have been unable to stop listening to it. Usually, it is at this point that I’ve exhausted the entire thing, but not this one.

Sounds like? Feist, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson

Favorite Tracks?

  • Sad Song
  • Roll With the Punches
  • Heart Skips a Beat
  • The End of the World
  • Everything’s OK
  • Shock Me Into Love
  • You Will Be Mine
  • Here to Stay

The Dodos

Listening to the Dodos’ new album “No Color” can seriously make my day so much brighter. It is an incredible album to listen to from my study playlist, but also one that I can enjoy just about anytime anywhere. The band has been around for awhile so they are nothing new, but this album kind of is – therefore it is very relevant to this post. It’s as if every album they put out keeps getting exponentially better.

Sounds like? Fleet Foxes and The Shins

Favorite tracks?

  • Don’t Try and Hide It
  • Sleep
  • Black Night
  • Companions
  • Don’t Stop
  • Going Under
  • Good
  • Hunting Season
  • When Will You Go?

Oh look, that’s the whole album track listing right there, what do you know? 🙂

29 Mar 2011

It’s Britney Spears Day!

If it’s not officially, it should be. Britney Spears has officially released her new album Femme Fatale and …it’s actually pretty good! I can’t deny it. I went into previewing the album with a somewhat open mind, but only because I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Femme Fatale is a pop album and nothing more. I do, however, appreciate the electronic beats (is that a little dub step I hear?) every now and then. The lyrics are the epitome of any pop song sung by Britney Spears. They typically involve guys, lust, seduction, etc. which is no surprise to us, but it is so damn catchy that you kind of fall in love with it. I don’t feel all that embarrassed singing along to it the way I do when I sing Katy Perry’s “Firework” out loud.

Tomorrow morning, we will see a slough of “live” performances by Britney Spears on Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel. It’s been a tough journey for Britney, but it’s nice to see that things are starting to turn around for her. Summer tour, here we come!

I predict that I will be listening to this CD on repeat for at least a week. There are definitely way more songs that I love more than I hate from this album.

11 Jan 2011

Music Spotlight: Philina

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-KvHQkCQ6Y]

Usually when I choose the music spotlight it is because an EP somehow fell into my hands or I decided to further research a group after hearing one single. It’s unusual for me to choose a music spotlight from several YouTube videos, but this is somewhat of a special case. What I love about writing for Yow Yow! is that I have the opportunity to learn more about what some of my friends are doing. I’ve been able to promote my friends’ music. I’ve introduced you all to my friend Eric’s project Silver & Spoon and my friend Kiku’s educational book “Mommy, Are We Hipsters?

I’ve known Philina for three years now and she is an absolute darling. She never ceases to amaze me with her beauty and talent and I just learned last night that she had a small YouTube channel. After listening to her original song, “Slow” I kind of got a little smitten with it, but I was also so proud of her. I’d like to invite you all to listen to her song above and check out the rest of her videos here. I think we could make her a YouTube star, don’t you think?

18 Dec 2010

Song of the Day // Music Spotlight

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfkvqrpuFt0]

The Scene Aesthetic – Landon’s Summer Diary

In the spirit of Christmas, my friend Eric gifted me with his band’s latest CD “Brother.” I have been so excited to give it a listen since it came out last month! Eric and Andrew never cease to amaze me. They had been working incredibly hard on this album and I am so proud of them. While I have discovered many favorite tracks on the album, I think I may have a soft spot for “Landon’s Summer Diary.”

The first band from Seattle that I had ever listened to was The Scene Aesthetic and they have truly come a long way since I watched them perform live for the first time five years ago. When a band from Seattle succeeds, friends and fans are affected because we have been there to watch their journey. That sounds like the corniest thing that I have ever written, but like other communities, the Seattle music scene is also a  community. Both Eric and Andrew have always been kind to their fans and with each album they are giving back to those who have stuck by them on this ride. It is amazing to see how much their sound has developed over the years. When the two of them first started out, they were purely acoustic. Today, they have produced an album with a full band and are touring with them also! That doesn’t mean that they have abandoned that type of style completely, but they are trying new things and growing up.

Brother” is beautiful and here are my favorite songs:

  • Lonely Girl
  • Beauty in the Breakdown [new version]
  • Walk This Town
  • If You’re A Bird
  • Landon’s Summer Diary
17 Dec 2010

Beach House – Teen Dream

As the year comes to an end, blogs and various publications are releasing their top 50, top 20, top 10 albums of the year. On every list that I have come across, Beach House’s Teen Dream has always made the cut. Since I did not have the album yet, I figured if it was consistently named a great album that I needed to check it out for myself ASAP. I listened to the entire album yesterday and found myself in agreement.

Earlier this year, I was obsessed with their single “Norway” and ended up listening to the track every single day for what seemed like two months straight. I figured if I loved one single out of an entire album that much, then that album must be good. Teen Dream is an indie album that provides easy listening for a wide variety of audiences. Despite what some may say about indie music being borderline emo or too slow, Beach House has done quite the opposite. I love the constant slow-beat of the drum, the persistent yet steady beats, and the dynamic and powerful build-ups. Having never listened to any of their previous albums, they managed to make a fantastic first impression. I’ve also found this album to be perfect for the winter.

Lesson learned: Always trust the top album lists.

13 Dec 2010

Music Spotlight: The Pierces

There are only 21 more days until the return of Pretty Little Liars! To get you all in the mood for the mid-season premiere I thought I would introduce you to The Pierces who sing the catchy opening to the series, “Secret.”

Their new album “You and I” will be dropping on March 14th, 2011. For this album, sisters Catherine and Allison Pierce worked with members of Coldplay, The Strokes, Howling Bells, and Little Joy.

The music video below is for their most recent single “Love You More” off of their new album so hopefully this will give you a little taste of what’s to come.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viACqjxMRrs]

“The new songs are classy and atmospheric, a bit country, a bit Stevie Nicks, laden with blissful harmonies and a classic feel.”

-London Evening Standard

JANUARY TOUR DATES:
1/13  NYC @ The Mercury (TICKETS: http://www.mercuryloungenyc.com/event/5674)
1/15  Los Angeles @ The Music Box
1/17  Los Angeles @ Bardot
1/18  Los Angeles @ Hotel Cafe (TICKETS: https://www.hotelcafe.com/tickets/?s=events_view&id=722)