Songs I've Been Listening To #15

I've lived a lot of life since the last time I posted in January. I became the king of procrastination (and wishful thinking). One of my favorite things in the whole world, is discovering new music. When you hear something you like for the first time, it's like falling in love. Sometimes it's fast, and sometimes it takes time, but at the end of the day you've got a smile on your face. If a song gets overplayed on the radio, you just want to see other music (no it's not you Kings of Leon, it's me. I just need some time to think).

Here are some songs that I have started a love affair with. Enjoy.

1.) Falling Into You - Mae // Album: (a)fternoon (2010)
- I remember hearing Mae for the first time in the Summer of 2004. I had really only begun to get into alternative music a couple years before, and the next Summer I went to my first Vans Warped Tour. At the time I was listening to their album "Destination: Anywhere," which had some good hits like "Summertime" and "Giving It Away." This song is an instrumental acoustic one, and it makes you feel good listening to it. This is what falling in love sounds like.

2.) Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event // Album: Calendar Days (2009)
- I think we've all been there a time or two. I love the story telling.

3.) Mother Maria (feat. Beth Hart) - Slash // Album: Slash and Friends (2010)
- The vocals are haunting. I'm not really familiar with Beth Hart, but she fits the song. I can totally see this song being on Guns N' Roses "Chinese Democracy" had Slash stayed after 1994's "The Spaghetti Incident." Just imagine Axl Rose singing this one, I know I can.

4.) Breakeven (Falling to Pieces) - The Script // Album: The Script (2008)
- These guys can write a song, that's for sure. I love songs that anyone can relate to, and this one is not any different. "When the heart breaks, it don't break even." Very true. The Script also co-wrote the majority of American Idol winner Kris Allen's debut album. His his hit single "Live Like We're Dying" was actually written and recorded by The Script before anyone even knew who Kris Allen was.

5.) Let's Groove - Earth, Wind and Fire // Album: Raise! (1981)
- You're an asshole if you don't like this song haha :)

Songs I've Been Listening To #14

Some songs...

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1.) Familiar Realm - CKY (Camp Kill Yourself) // Album: An Answer Can Be Found (2005)

I remember riding in my car listening to 88.9 The Alter-Nation sometime in 2005, hearing this song, and loving it ever since. I haven't been a huge fan of CKY over the years, but I always liked this one.

2.) Crazy For This Girl - Evan & Jaron // Album: Evan & Jaron (2000)

Twin brothers Evan and Jaron had this one hit back in 2000, and it's still a solid song all these years later. I wonder what ever happened to those guys. It's sad, because the style reminds me a lot of the 90's.

3.) Brand New Day - Fireflight // Album: Unbreakable (2008)

I heard this song just recently, on a local Christian music radio station. Occasionally some good tunes find themselves on there. It kind of sucks that some phenomenal Christian rock songs have 1-dimensional lyrics to accompany them, because the structure, melody, and instrumentals are awesome. You can only hear "holy" so many times.

4.) You Can Always Come Home (feat. Serena Ryder) - Jason Castro // Album: The Love Uncomprimised EP (2010)

After being mildly successful on American Idol, Jason went on to create some great music. Just to jog your memory, this is the guy with the metrosexual dreadlocks from last year.

5.) Alison (Live) - Elvis Costello // Album: Woodstock '99 (1999)

What a special moment. I can't imagine being there to hear this, let alone be Elvis Costello performing this. Having 500,000 people sing along to one of your songs must be overwhelming. A bright moment, in an otherwise horrible Woodstock. Limp Bizkit? Really? That has "Peace" written all over it.

Enjoy.

Songs I've Been Listening To #13

Some songs...

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1.) The Hardest Thing - Tyler Ward // Album: The Show (2009)

He became known through Youtube for his acoustic covers of well known songs, including The Fray, Goo Goo Dolls, and Taylor Swift. This is a great pop song.

2.) All This Time - OneRepublic // Album: Waking Up (2009)

A nice slow song, but with a great melody. Ryan Tedder is a great songwriter.

3.) Help I'm Alive - Metric // Album: Fantasies (2009)

This is a really cool alt rock song. It has parts that build up, "Beating Like A Hammer," which ends with the chorus. The song sounds like it belongs on a zombie movie soundtrack.

4.) Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down - Alicia Keys // Album: The Element of Freedom (2009)

This is a calming piano version of Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind," which AK was featured on. I like this version better.

5.) Death - White Lies // Album: To Lose My Life (2009)

This song is pretty epic. It starts off with just the singer and the bass, and in 5 minutes erupts into pure musical inspiration. It makes you want to get off your ass and doing something special.