I got ice in my veins, blood in my eyes, hate in my heart, love in my mind.

Lil Wayne feat. Eminem - Drop The World

Are you feeling angry? This song works best when you're angry. I believe that it's always a good idea to find a way to calm your anger and avoid saying or doing something you might regret. This track on repeat tends to melt away my anger. The chorus is harsh but highly entertaining, and a little poetic I must say. Just sit back and take it in, or rap along to the lyrics if that works for you. It's a good time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErCAOMi5EGM&ob=av2e

I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day. Take me to the play I love, take me all the way.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge

Can't go wrong with classic Red Hot Chili Peppers. Under The Bridge is the first song I heard by this band; the band that made me start expanding my music taste. I remember being in high school and only listening to hip hop music. Once I got familiar with the RHCP Greatest Hits album that they had just released, everything changed. I had heard and liked some of their famous singles before, but never really appreciated them. That particular album made me realize how great of a band they are. Timeless songs and style. Whenever I'm bored of my current playlists, I can always fall back on RHCP and they never disappoint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLvohMXgcBo&ob=av2e

It seems I've stepped over lines you've drawn again and again, but if the ecstasy's in, the wit is definitely out.

Snow Patrol - How To Be Dead

Since I'm stuck doing work all day, I might as well be listening to music that takes me back to my university days of studying in the library until the wee hours of the morning. I remember listening to this song on repeat during an all-night essay-writing extravaganza. Even though that was not such a fun time, I don't associate this song with the stress of writing that paper; I associate it with the calmness it brought to the night. It's about a couple arguing, yet it has a nice lullaby feel to it. Maybe save it for when you're ready to sleep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNSGCVPPXvk

You know it's funny how freedom can make us feel contained

Foster The People - Waste

Today was a good day. And it started with Foster The People. This is a catchy song with cute lyrics. What more can you ask for? Although pretty much all the songs on Torches are good, this is my favourite of the unreleased ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbEVzpdOlVg

Ignorance is golden when your back's against the wall

Bed Of Stars - Nothing Left To Lose

A great pick-me-up kind of song. Upbeat and free-spirited, perfect to listen to if you're feeling kind of hopeless. Bed Of Stars is featured in the new Neverending White Lights album (will share my thoughts on that once I've listened to it), so I decided to look them up. Can't say I'm disappointed! Enjoy...


http://bedofstars.bandcamp.com/track/nothing-left-to-lose

There was a point when I felt that something's gotta fall in my lap, like a sign from an angel that tells me where to go and what to know.

Neverending White Lights feat. Hot Hot Heat - Ghost Ship

Heard this track on the radio the other day and thought it was a cool collaboration. I haven't heard much of either band's music, but I have liked whatever I have heard. In fact, one of my favourite songs, which I'll post soon, is by Neverending White Lights.
Steve Bays from Hot Hot Heat has a very distinct voice. It's funny how hearing his voice makes me feel lazy. So having him singing along to the melancholic sound of Neverending White Lights makes for a nice combination. This song has made me want to hear more music by Neverending White Lights. I recently learned that this band is actually one person, Daniel Victor, playing all of the instruments and that most of his songs feature guest singers. I'm not sure if this was common knowledge and I'm just delayed, but either way, I am excited to check out more of his material. If I like it, and I have a feeling I will, you'll hear about it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IKxZm7FiQU

Hey, last word, don't let me down. You're just another unfinished story now.

The Joy Formidable - Austere

How To Make It In America has an excellent soundtrack. Always playing the right songs at the right time. This song played during the credits at the end of a recent episode and I liked it right off the bat. A large portion of the song is music without lyrics. For this genre, I think it's rare for a band to be able to play without vocals for half the song and not sound too noisy or overwhelming. The Joy Formidable is able to do that with Austere. The solid indie rock beat and the female vocals, paired with a reminder of an awesome TV show, makes this a go-to song anytime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTx3rYj_5FU

The map of my world gets smaller as I sit here, pulling at the loose threads now

Keane - Spiralling

So this song totally just popped in my head when I sat in the car to head home today. It's funny how that happens. I remember listening to this song on repeat a few years ago when it first came out. Although it's pretty different from the unique piano rock sound that was Keane, its energy is contagious.
I often like to think that lyrics can be interpreted subjectively, especially when I don't really understand them. I think these lyrics have something to do with dreams and what happens when we build them up but nothing comes of them. It describes how unfulfilled dreams can almost seem as though they are mocking you in all their magnificence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG72J2ylUGE&ob=av2n

Listen to the music of the moment people, dance and sing

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

I was in Boston this past weekend, and we were walking down Newbury street - a pretty fancy schmancy area if you ask me. I could hear this song in the distance and thought maybe it was coming from one of the stores. As we continued walking and got closer to the source, I realized there was a young guy with a guitar standing on the sidewalk and singing it live. Imagine just stopping in the middle of a sidewalk performing a song for passersby. There was a small crowd forming around him. He had such a beautiful and sweet voice and it suited the song perfectly. Things like that just make my day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A&ob=av2e

I think I need a sunrise, I'm tired of the sunset

Augustana - Boston

I think this is a song that everyone can relate to at some point. Sometimes the life we live everyday just loses its appeal and escaping to a new life, in a new place, with new people and new opportunities would just make everything easier. It's not always possible to just pick up and leave and not all of us have the means and courage to do so; then again, it's not always necessary. Either way, it's nice to think about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ASJBXu8tNo&ob=av2e

P.s. For all you Big Bang Theory fans, here is a clip of Leonard is singing this song when he's upset about Penny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAelSfdeTlw

I know things get hard, but girl you got it, girl you got it, there you go

Drake feat. Nicki Minaj - Make Me Proud

I'll be honest, I love trying to learn Drake lyrics; I think it's slowly becoming a hobby of mine. I spent my drive home today learning Drake's part to this song (yes, it took me a while and I still struggle). Laugh if you'd like, but it was a good time. I'm not even going to try learning Nicki's part...well maybe one day I'll do it. Anyway, his new album was leaked today. Maybe that's why this song was in my head all day. I'm pretty excited to listen to it. Although I'm not a huge hip-hop fanatic and only consistently listen to select artists of the genre, Drizzy always makes the cut. Maybe I'm slightly biased because he reps Toronto, but I really like the way he raps and he has a pleasant singing voice too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPD5R0KZnww

Slip and fall, I'm dodging calls, hug the prison I've been living in.

Foster The People - Helena Beat

Here's a great upbeat song for a sunny day like today. Indietronica at its best. I've actually been saving it for a while, but I think a happy Saturday is a good time to post it. This was hands down my song of the summer. I love everything about it and I love Foster the People. Every song of theirs is unique, and their album is always a treat to go back to when I'm sick of listening to everything else. My favourite part is the synthesizer in the intro at 0:43 --pretty badass if you ask me. For the longest time I didn't even know it was a synthesizer; I thought it was a guitar, which was more badass, but that's okay. The music video is also pretty ridiculous and strangely awesome. I hope you enjoy Helena Beat as much as I do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABzh6hTYpb8&ob=av2n

The city is my church, it wraps me in the sparkling twilight

M83 - Midnight City


It's pretty easy to get lost in this song. It has a cool 80's pop/rock vibe to it; almost like Depeche Mode mixed with MGMT? Something like that. I like how the lyrics blend into the music, almost as an additional instrument in the band. The unique sound made me research M83 a bit, and I've learned that the band is influenced by what's called the shoegazing genre, famous in the 80's and early 90's. Wikipedia: The shoegazing sound is typified by significant use of guitar effects, and indistinguishable vocal melodies that blended into the creative noise of the guitars. Indistinguishable is right. I had no idea what was being sung until I looked it up. However, the song sounds really cool and makes me want to float away back into the 80's for a night.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3k_QDnzHE

I could've been a princess, you'd be a king.

Coldplay feat. Rihanna - Princess Of China

I had a few songs in mind for today's song of the day, but I chose this one because of its element of surprise. I was listening to the new Coldplay album on my way home today for the first time. When this song started, I was so surprised to hear female vocals. The more I heard, the more I realized how familiar the female voice was. By the chorus, I was sure it was Rihanna. This song is one of a kind because Coldplay has never done a duet before and apparently this is the only one they wanted to do. That makes Rihanna very special. Her voice sounds amazing in collaboration with Chris Martin and it brings some edge to Coldplay's signature musical style. I haven't heard the whole album yet, but I'm sure this will be in my top three.

The links on YouTube are all altered to avoid copyright issues, and this is the only site where I found the real sound of the song. Just scroll down a bit and you'll see the track. Enjoy! http://celebrity-gossip.net/coldplay/coldplay-rihannas-princess-china-listen-now-553158