Tag: american band

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Plain White T’s – Let Me Take You There

If you know only one song from Plain White T’s, it’s likely to be Hey There Delilah. By far, the band’s most successful single and a beautiful song indeed. That track was part of their fourth studio album, 2007’s Every Second Counts, which also featured a tune that I really loved back then called Let Me Take You There. I hadn’t listened to it in years until I stumbled upon it again earlier this week. It’s a gorgeous song that got overlooked due to the incredible success of that other song mentioned above. I hope you can enjoy this gem as this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Crash Cathedral – MoodRing

Crash Cathedral is a new alternative pop band from Philadelphia with an experimental side. While their music is radio friendly, the background the band’s members have is actually in metal, hardcore and industrial rock, which offers a unique twist to what they do, resulting in a darker-than-usual style of alt-pop. However, I’d like to make it clear that this is not a case of artists making music they hate just because it’s popular. Instead, it is an example of musicians finding the middle ground across the multiple and sometimes dissimilar styles that they enjoy.

Back in October, Crash Cathedral released their debut single, MoodRing, which centers around relationships with people who are not what you thought they were. Musically, it draws influence from ’80s new wave while still sounding modern. What sets this tune apart is its extremely catchy chorus. You will want to put it on repeat. If this is what their debut single sounds like, I can’t imagine how great their songs are going to be once they have more time working together.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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Bleachers ft. Bruce Springsteen – chinatown

Jack Antonoff is behind a huge number of hit songs today but casual listeners might not recognize him by name. He is a guitarist and drummer on the band Fun., which went on a hiatus in 2014 so that its members could focus on other projects for a while. Jack went on and created Bleachers, an indie pop band that hit it big with its debut album Strange Desire (2015), to the point that it made Jack one of the most sough-after songwriters and record producers in business today. He has written/produced songs for the likes of Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey, just to name a few.

When I saw that Bleachers had a new song featuring fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, let’s just say that it really caught my attention. I’m happy to report that the track is as good as expected. It really sounds as if Bruce were singing a Bleachers song or vice versa. It sounds classic and modern at the same time and from the moment I listened to this gem for the first time, I knew I had to feature it here. Enjoy this instant classic below and good luck getting that chorus out of your head!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Stumble Steady – Coming To An End

Stumble Steady

Garrett Kealer got OCD and does not try to hide it. Instead, he write songs from the unusual perspective of somebody living with that mental condition. Under the moniker Stumble Steady, Garrett wants to tear down untrue stereotypes usually associated to OCD while also creating upbeat music that people can relate to. His music is pretty contagious indie pop that might remind you of the likes of The 1975 and Grouplove.

Stumble Steady‘s latest single, Coming To An End, is a perfect example of all of the upbeat. A really infectious song with colorful soundscapes that deals with the subject of ending a relationship through the lens of a person with OCD. In particular, the thought patterns someone like Garrett experiences in that situation, from thinking about everything that led to the breakup to worrying about what friends will say, often at the expense of his own feelings. Without a doubt, this is a catchy and interesting tune. Definitely check it out below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Indie
  • Pop

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Pulley – Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US, which is why I thought it appropriate to feature a little known gem called Thanks as this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry. This concise but sweet song is just 74 seconds long and was the last track on the fifth studio album, Matters (2004) of California-based punk rock band: Pulley. This band released 5 albums between 1996 and 2004 and only one since then until now, and whereas they never reached the popularity of other punk rock bands from that time, they garnered a loyal following. Something curious about them is that Pulley‘s lead singer, Scott Radinsky, was a major league pitcher and a pitching coach after he retired.

Most punk-rock albums feature one or two acoustic tracks and Thanks was that song on Matters. It is a tune to reminisce about the past and appreciating your old friends.

To those of you celebrating it today, Happy Thanksgiving!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Jimkata – Bonfires

I didn’t know this but there is a martial arts film from 1985 called Gymkata that became one of those movies that is so bad that becomes good, or -at the very least–, a cult film. The band Jimkata, a three-piece act from California and Ithaca, was named after such a great example of the seventh art and that should give you a hint of the fact that they just want to have fun. Self-described as an anthemic, synth-washed, electro-rock band; Jimkata‘s songs are hook-ridden and colorful.

Bonfires, which was released recently but will be part of Jimkata‘s anticipated new album of the same name, set for release early next year, is just exhibit A of what I said above. A song about feeling vulnerable in uncertain times, this tune will manage to make you

feel comfortable anyway. It’s the musical equivalent of a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly night. Simply enjoy it!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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Dreddbeat – In The Name Of Love

Remember Toys In The Attic? I really loved that moniker but, unfortunately, due to legal reasons, Alexander Borczynski had to change his stage name. He chose Dreddbeat, which is a cool name too, and released a brand new EP, which he named Toy Box (perhaps as a homage to his old moniker). Style-wise, it’s really close to mainstream pop/hip-hop, and honestly in terms of production quality, you wouldn’t be able to spot the difference with any of the songs currently featured on any top 10 most popular hits. Alexander really knows what he’s doing.

Granted, the EP’s main genres are not really my cup of tea but that does not mean it doesn’t have songs we could all enjoy over here. One example of that is the opener, In The Name of Love, which has an insanely good hook that stays on your mind long after the song has ended. It showcases Dreddbeat‘s skills as an artist and music producer

Overall, I think this is a nice addition to the Electronic Mixtape and a perfect song for a Saturday evening. Hope you enjoy it!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Electronic

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Counting Crows – Mr. Jones

Musical taste is totally subjective and the process of coming up with favorite songs even more so. It’s not just about the quality of the tune because not all great songs will become special to you. There’s a bit of randomness or luck involved. Listening to a song for the first time at the right time and place in your life will play a huge factor because then it will be forever linked to a certain moment or phase in your life. Mr. Jones by Counting Crows is definitely in my top 5 and a big reason behind that is that the first time I heard it (a few years after its release), I had just finished high school. It is an incredible track, for sure, but I know that I love it that much because it can transport me back to that point my life. Which song has the same effect on you?

Anyway, here’s this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry. Enjoy this #musicalcrush of mine.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Grouplove – Deleter

Grouplove - Deleter

Deleter was released early this year but it is so good and fun that I had to find a way to squeeze it here. At the time, it was Grouplove‘s first single since 2016 and expectations were pretty high. I think it’s safe to say that Deleter didn’t disappoint the band’s fans. With hooks all over the place, you’ll find the song’s energy to be highly infectious. It is impossible to remain quiet while this great track is playing.

In case you hadn’t heard about Grouplove before, this band was formed in 2009 in California. They’ve had a number of hits since then, with the most popular one being the outstanding Tongue Tied. They don’t seem to be tormented artists trying to leave a mark in the world. Instead, they seem to be a group of friends enjoying what they do and having fun. That’s precisely what you’ll get from them. Isn’t that perfect for a Friday night?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia

Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia

I think the universe wants me to write about Bruce Springsteen. Not only was he mentioned in a recent entry, but I also watched a decent movie last week called Blinded By The Light that is basically a homage to The Boss. To top it all, he just released a brand new album accompanied by a documentary on Apple TV+: Letters To You. I don’t think there is much I can say about this legendary artist from New Jersey that is not widely known by now, so I’ll just go straight to the point here. Springsteen got many great songs and the film I mentioned made me appreciate the lyrics from Dancing In The Dark even more (seriously, amazing lyrics), yet my favorite song from The Boss remains Streets Of Philadelphia.

This Oscar winning gem was written and performed for the film Philadelphia (great film, by the way) in 1993. Some people consider it the best movie song of all time. It’s certainly in the running. It got one of the greatest intros as well. Who can forget that drum beat? Enjoy this great tune as this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative