Craidio Hot Music Picks for Winter’s Last Cold Stretch
With Winter: The Sequel hitting for what hopefully is its last gasp before Spring arrives (please) next month, here are the tunes (new and not-so new) that I have been spinning. Or whatever an iPod does…I guess electricking?
Alkaline Trio – This Addiction (* * * out of four stars)
While not a fan necessarily, I enjoyed their older single “Time to Waste.” Their new release is more straight-up pop/rock and nothing too unique, but it is a bright jam compared to the more Top 40 pop/rock that’s out now.
Phoenix
I had previously reviewed their single “1901″ at first as typical American Eagle background music (which it probably is) but as I’ve continued to listen this and more of their songs have become my favorite so far this year.They mix up the smooth and peppy quite well, and are barely unique..but just unique enough that they won’t sound just like anything else you’ve got.
1901 – (updated review) (* * * 1/2 out of four stars)
Lizstomania (* * * out of four stars)
Girlfriend (* * 1/2 out of four stars)
Four Year Strong – Wasting Time (Eternal Summer) (* * * 1/2 out of 4 stars)
It’s been a long time since I really liked this type of music (makes you want to drive fast, tap the table, air guitar, and beat someone up), but since my tastes were once “what goes best with the weather” it hits the spot. Ironically with “Summer” part of the title, it’ll probably get me through winter, into spring, and I’ll stop listening to it right before summer.
John Mayer – Heartbreak Warfare (* * * out of 4 stars)
Shutup. It’s not bad.
The Soft Pack – C’mon (* * out of 4 stars)
I bought it based on the chipper, breezy 60′s beach boys beat in the preview. It went on sale for “free” one week later. Which is about 25 cents less than I should’ve paid for it. This story is getting dumb.
Passion Pit – Little Secrets (* * 1/2 out of 4 stars)
Sometimes it sounds like the Jackson 5. Sometimes it sounds like a song from 1988 produced by Paula Abdul. It has clapping, kids singing, an electronic background, and I’m not sure why I downloaded it. Listen to the preview and you’ll probably be wondering as well while you download it.
The Rural Alberta Advantage – Drain the Blood (* * * out of 4 stars)
A bright, untampered with, sound in the mix lineup..the song builds from a very straight forward beat to a blast of intensity in the home stretch. Real guitars, real drums, unrefined. Nothing too indie, but something that sounds good on the iPod, and would love to hear it live.
Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright – Set the Fire to the Third Bar (* * * out of 4 stars)
Even though I owned the album a few years back with this song on it, I never got into it enough to remember it. Apparently it was in the trailer for the movie Dear John and jumped the charts, finding me once again. I’m not sure if it is about something depressing, but don’t listen to it while you’re driving. Somewhat haunting and dream-inducing from the eerie combination of Snow Patrol’s monotone singing and Wainwright’s intricate tuning.
Timbaland (feat. Justin Timberlake) (* * out of 4 stars)
Big disappointment from their previous efforts together, otherwise a standard tune aimed straight at the 2am dance floor, but nowhere else.
Number One Gun – The Victory (* * 1/2 out of 4 stars)
Has a very good beginning and builds slowly to…nothing really. It’s almost like they had a good idea, just didn’t quite have a chorus that worked. After 3 years of trying they just decided to record what they had. Pretty good listen otherwise.
Ke$ha (yes, with a dollar sign. I’m legit.)
As with some pop music, there’s a weird vein of genius in her act. The lyrics are pretty bad (put a little love in my glovebox) and the singing is just “ok.” But she’s playing a character, that if you listen, sings ever so slightly off rhythm and stretches each line a nano-second too long as if she’s a little “tipsy.” Eh, nevermind, not going to try to rationalize it anymore. It’s dumb, annoying, and it sounds good with the bass turned up.
Blah Blah Blah (feat. 3OH!3) (* * * out of 4 stars)
Your Love is My Drug (* * 1/2 out of 4 stars)
Tik Tok (* * * out of 4 stars)
Craidio Music Wintry Mix + Workout Ratings
Updated: Workout ratings based on if the song’s worth putting on your power mix at the gym. Based on rhythm not necessarily speed.
As the twice in a lifetime freeze sets in…. we’ve all wanted to bundle up with some music and movies. Unfortunately, nothing too hot is spinning right now on the record player, but I found a few decent tunes to at least get me through until February. If you’re looking for music in all the wrong places…this is probably one of them as well..but give them a shot.
Winter 2009/2010 Music Wintry Mix
30 Second to Mars – This is War (* 1/2 out of 4 stars)
Used to be a big fan of 30 Seconds to Mars, but this latest release just isn’t doing it for me. Less and less edgy each album, and just sort of whiny now.
Workout Rating: * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Coldplay – Lost! (* * * out of 4 stars)
Classic Coldplay sound…smooth and moving. Not worse or better than their previous efforts. A good thing.
Workout Rating: * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Laura Veirs – July Flame (* * * out of 4 stars)
Not quite haunting enough to make you crash your car as you stare out the window, but will make you begin to relax and enjoy a calm world around you for a few fleeting minutes. Unfortunately the song offers no payoff and meanders a bit.
Workout Rating: * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Dead By Sunrise – Let Down (* * 1/2 out of 4 stars)
If you could picture a Linkin Park song without the supporting band driven by only the lead singer..it’s just like that. It is also his side band, so to be expected. Not bad.
Workout Rating: * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
The Avett Brothers – Die Die Die (* * * 1/2 out of 4 stars) and I and Love and You (* * * out of 4 stars)
Apparently I’m late on the Avett Brothers bandwagon…but their folk/rock melodies are very addictive. Not for your workout, or if you’re having a bad day (it will make it worse) but truly quality music and deep lyrics. These two songs above are from their newest and previous album.
Workout Rating: * 1/2 out of 4 stars
The Veils – Sit Down by the Fire (* * * out of 4 stars)
Very slow, lots of piano, sounds european. I likes. Great vocals, a building rhythm, and an easy listen for the winter days you’re staring out the window looking for Spring.
Workout Rating: * * * out of 4 stars
Metric – Gold Guns Girls (* * 1/2 out of 4 stars)
If you like women-singing, electric inspired rock with a buzzing beat, Metric always comes through. A stellar effort, though not their best.
Workout Rating: * * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Lady GaGa – Bad Romance (* * * out of 4 stars)
I wish I wasn’t entranced by Lady GaGa…but her songs grow on me…and this one has oddly interesting lyrics and a multi-dimensional beat mixing strange pop singing with great melody singing. I don’t like Madonna, but Lady GaGa is probably the new Madonna.
Workout Rating: * * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Phoenix – 1901 (* * * out of 4 stars)
You’ll feel like you’re in American Eagle looking at jeans as the store station is blasting. I’m pretty sure this is on their regular rotation. Straight up alternative rock, pretty decent but nothing special.
Workout Rating: * * * * out of 4 stars
Transmit Now – Tarantism (Let’s Go Out Tonight) / (* * 1/2 out of four stars)
Standard pop/rock. Decent singing. Somewhat substandard lyrics.
Workout Rating: * * * out of 4 stars
>> To see Fall 2009 mix with updated workout ratings, click here.
Apple Goes Lala All The Way to the Bizank
Though somewhat of an abrupt and seemingly normal announcement, Apple’s purchase of the genius online streaming service Lala will take us into the next generation of music (well the next generation of legal music) just as iTunes once did. (Note this is somewhat speculation on what Apple will do with Lala, but it’s pretty clear).
The iTunes model and software are quickly showing their age, and as Apple tends to do (iTunes was originally software from a company Apple up and bought the whole thing) they’re gearing up in advance for the next generation. By stealing the idea of some small dude who already thought of it.
For those of us in the age of Pandora..who no longer buy CDs but singles, who only use media to play our music about half the time (as opposed to streaming), this is a big announcement that I look forward to seeing how it plays out.
I first heard of LaLa just days before this announcement, and I was really interested in their model of looking at music in the cloud, and having a price structure that matches your use. What it will mean is much more music, much more options, less cost, and the bands should still be able to make some money. Far superior to filesharing (great for us, bad for bands), hard CDs, and iTunes as it exists now.
The future of music looks bright once again. Now I’m going to go download a 1.29 song that I will only listen to once.
Here’s what Lala’s all about (from Gizmodo)
It’s three things, really: A CD trading site (its original emphasis), a streaming site, where you can “upload” your own music and stream it anywhere (your collection is matched with what Lala’s got, and anything they don’t have is actually uploaded); and a streaming site that’ll let you stream a song once for free, or pay 10 cents to stream it an unlimited number of times. In other words, It’s a music service that’s all about streaming and the cloud, both for the music you already own, and for finding and playing new music.
