I Cannot Sleep Without The Radio On.

Circa Survive captivates me.  Circa Survive should not captivate me.

 

I am trained in my snobby musical ways to hate bands like Circa Survive.  Their guitar parts are cheesy and Satriani/Steve Vai-ish and song after song everyone’s tone doesn’t change on on any intstrument.  Vocally, Anthony Green sings every song the same way he sang the last one, pushing his vocals higher and higher, Mars Volta style.  So why do I like this band?

• Deep lyrics that make me ponder
• Catchy, pockety drumming
• Fun, predictable, technical guitar playing
• Satisfying melodies
• I loved seeing them live even before I heard their recorded music

 

There it is.  Say what you will about them, Circa Survive is in my brain and in my earbuds as I cram for my final tomorrow.

Winter Albums Are For You.

Every year I get locked in a groove of winter music.  Not Christmas music, that has it’s place, but “Winter” music.  Songs that make me think of walking under frosty trees in the oval (pictured above) coming home from class, or driving in a warm car as the world around me claws the hard-packed snowy road for traction.  Songs of joy or songs of contemplation.  Albums that seamlessly convey hopeful or thoughtful themes.  Winter music.  A wonderful part of the season.  So here’s my list of winter albums your season will be incomplete without, in no particular order:

• “Into the Blue Again” by The Album Leaf
• “As Tall As Lions” by As Tall As Lions
• “3 Rounds and a Sound” by Blind Pilot
• “Letters” by Butch Walker
• “Brothers and Sisters” by Coldplay (specifically the song “Easy to Please”, probably my all-time favorite Coldplay song)
• “Eat, Sleep, Repeat” by Copeland
• “You Are My Sunshine” by Copeland (a new addition to the list)
• “O” by Damien Rice
• “The Photo Album” by Death Cab For Cutie
• “The Last Broadcast” by Doves
• “Marvelous Things” by Eisley (no longer on iTunes apparently)
• “Fleet Foxes” by Fleet Foxes
• “Now That I’ve Found You” by Alsion Krauss
• “The Moon Is Down” by Further Seems Forever
• “The Eleventh Hour” by Jars Of Clay
• “Winter” by Jon Foreman (crazy, right?)
• “Catch For Us The Foxes” by mewithoutYou (actually perfect for all seasons)
• “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones
• “Distorted Lullabies” by Ours (best blizzard driving music)
• “( )” by  Sigur Ros (life changing record)
• “The Eraser” by Thom Yorke of Radiohead
• “Set Yourself on Fire” by Stars
• “Sky Blue Sky” by Wilco

I guess that order turned out kind of alphabetical.  Don’t be overwhelmed if you don’t own every album listed above.  But definitely talk to me if you want a few of them, I would LOVE to hook you up.  A great place to start is “Eat, Sleep, Repeat” by Copeland.  If you don’t have that album don’t go any further till you do.  Amazing music.  Some of my favorite.

 

Seasons have a sound.  Summer sounds like Bleach.  Fall sounds like Augustana.  Spring sounds like old Mae.  But Winter cannot be named in a single band no matter how hard you try.  That’s what I think.

 

What are your favorite winter albums? Comment and tell me!