I was blind, but now I see

This is by far my favorite version of this song of all the ones I’ve heard. Probably the first times you heard this song it lasted a little over 10 minutes due to singers improvisations, unnecessary additions, and praise jesus-zisations(!).

But what virtuoso singers must not realize is that simplicity is key. As we’ve all realized with the recent rise in Apple computers vs. Microsoft OS running ones, Pancakes vs. Waffles, cubes vs. Tesseracts and other forms of minimalism over the complex; simplicity IS KEY! 

Ray Charles does not run around the notes or hold them longer than they need to be held, Ray keeps his eyes on the prize, no pun intended, and makes his wonderful scratchy voice work with the music. So enjoi the violins, the cellos, and the timpanis, take it all in one note at a time.

And try to picture Ray without his mouth wide open, smiling! It’s impossible!

Ray Charles - Amazing Grace (cover)

BonusVid: Ray Charles - A Song for You (cover)

Frank

so check it, im sitting here after getting scolded by my cousin.. my little little cousin.. and thinking about what not to write, and what to write.

i quit.

and im also listening to this song.. again. over and over again. 

i heard this group by chance, i was just walking by some venue and they happened to be playing inside, nothing big. paid for a ticket,
walked in, and to my surprise, i fell in love.
 
my ears had just gotten laid and orgasmed a million times. what was i listening to?

Envy On The Coast - ”…Because All Suffering Is Sweet To Me”

Alan

In the world of happy electro music exists one superhero. His name is Paste. Evil do-ers beware, his hypno electro-happy sound beams will have criminals boucing up and down from sun up to sun down, except on Hanukkah and American general elections, because he’s Jewish.

Paste is not a real crime fighting Superhero, but Cut Copy’s music is. It is electrifying, energetic and essential in every music library, or hypno-sound beam shooter. The Aussie electro band first came together in 2003; before that, Cut Copy existed as singular DJ Dan Whitford’s musical project. Both their albums, Bright Like Neon Love and their newer album In Ghost Colours, are must-haves for any person who enjoys bopping around like a crazed lunatic. So enjoi this, or go f*ck a gator mate!

Cut Copy - Feel the Love

BonusVid: Cut Copy - Light & Music

Frank

“Put yourself through the scariest of scenarios
Enter experiences you normally wouldn’t dare to go
It’s all for the character and the arrogant afterglow
Of knowing it’s appearance according to your patterns of growth
And what your parents handed down to you to handle
Make sure you carry torches when they’re puttin out your candles
Predictions can be unkind but unwind them still
Don’t erase the part of you that’s responsible for your will”

Talk about some sick lyrics.

Many people would rather skip all their problems in life and go around them, instead of plowing through them and learning from them. 

“Dont make the same mistakes I made son!” - says the father. 
“How do you intend for me to lead such a perfect life if I know nothing of how to avoid the bad that i’ve already dealt with in the past?” says the wise son.

Time and Time Again is a well done poppunk/alternative/hiphop song. The lyrics make it so much more.

What a chronic future we have to look forward to.

Alan

Life is not always a bed of roses under a cloudless sky. In fact, life is usually a bitch. No matter whom you are, how much money you have, how fantastic your sex life is, the grass is always greener. We all feel our highs, but for the most part, life is a bitch. So how do you deal with her when she has an attitude? Tune in to “All About U” by Classified, featuring Chad Hatcher on the chorus.

“Realized that life’s a bitch, and shit you gotta be able to stand it.
And you gotta be able to handle it, the stress and the pressure you channel it.
And you learn to cope at the end of your rope, anyway that you can with liquor or dope.
Or work hard raise your kids, strip clubs what ever it is.
Smoke weed, shoot hoops. What ever you find your happiness through.”

The entire song is full of powerful messages. What you get out of it will be different from the next listener. The combination of Chad Hatcher and his guitar with Classified and his style of lyrics make it a beautiful listen and a source of inspiration.

Jim

This song will remind you of at least one person in your life.* That one person whose crap you put up with more than any other’s; who you can listen to (or pretend to listen to) day and night. Things aren’t perfect between you two and they probably never will be (but you both probably already know this). This song is for them, or for you. 

Rollingstone calls him a = Dave Matthews - Frog in the Throat + Jack Johnson. He has toured extensively with his band and with guitar greats like John Mayer and Roberto y Gabriela. His music has been included on the Tonight Show, Scrubs, House and Grey’s Anatomy. He has also worked with The Mosaic Project, a nonprofit striving for diversity through the unity of young children.

Brett Dennen is not Superman, but he really is an up and coming to watch for. The redheaded singer songwriter does more than just work hard, he manages to bop heads with his sunny voice, enjoyable lyrics and bouncy guitar playing. Listen for yourself and enjoi.

*If you don’t have one, please devote to a celestial being for similar effect.

Brett Dennen - The One Who Loves You The Most

Bonus: Brett Dennen - When I Go
 

Frank

‘It doesn’t make sense’ is what some of you might think while listening to this song. ‘There’s no point to listening to this, it’s not saying anything,’ ‘It’s not much at all.’ 

But it is. With the absence of the basic instrumental structure (i.e. Lyrics, Instrument, Drums) and song structure [intro, [verse+chorus]x2, outro] our world is sent into mass turmoil. The only way a band can be held credible by the masses is by following that basic pattern. This in turn leaves no room for the creation of the novel and truly original.

M83 owes it’s name to an entire galaxy, almost as a metaphor to the limitless feeling created by the layers of sound in every single track.

Bringing together their creation of music and creationism, “In Church” results. It is a god-fearing, four-minute rendition of your captivation with mass. If attend church, you’ll know, If you don’t, play the song, close your eyes and enjoi. I know you still haven’t closed your eyes.

M83 - In Church

Bonus: M83 - Up!

Frank

Life is but a series of addictions. We all need our highs, in order to make up for our lows. Drugs, alcohol, abuse, food, sex, love, control, conformity, nonconformity, feelings of victimization, feelings of empowerment, pride, anything can be made an addiction. Our mentalities are the cause of our addictions. Our need to feel comfortable (free from fear or stress). These needs plague everyone, we just don’t know it until we find ourselves in the same rat-hole crying, kicking, yelling, hurting, over and over and over again.

Mos Def knows, just listen closely, this incredible song speaks for itself.

This is life; our lives are the consequence of the choices we, and everyone around us make. Knowing how much our choices impact others (our family, friends, strangers, communities, even children in Africa) would we still honor our addictions and make the same decisions again and again? Even knowing you’re hurting people who care about you? Make what you feel is the right decision.

“Did he hope, that we would realize
that we the first, son of earth
the moon and stars, the great beyond
we black and proud, we brave and strong
we raise it up, we quiet storm, forever fresh
and keep it on”

Modern Marvel - Mos Def

Frank

Face it. You’re itunes collection is missing something. Something that tells women “I know you want to sing along to this *wink” or better, “I enjoy getting giddy like a school girl, on occasion.” 

This is where the Jackson 5 steps in. In case you’ve been hiding out on Antartica your entire life, The Jackson 5 is the band that introduced Michael Jackson, the black one. Back before classics like Thriller, a young Michael Jackson played lead vocals for the “bubblegum soul” group with older brothers Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, (*Randy live on congas), and Jermaine LaJuane, all as back vocals and instrumentals.

Their popularity soared at the end of the Civil rights era when they became the first black teen idols to appeal equally to white audiences. A sign of the power of the unity music creates. “I Want You Back” was written by Motown record’s specialized ghost writers, The Corporation, and was performed by the Jackson 5. It remains as probably their most popular song. “Life of the Party” is a funky word to the wise you can use every now and then, to show off your amazing break-dancing moves. So here’s what your Itunes has been missing, now feel free to close your bedroom door and DANCE.

Jackson 5 - I Want You Back

Bonus: Jackson 5 - The Life of the Party

Frank

‘Cool sunny day, surf is good, life is good,’ is what “Divino Maravilhoso” sounds like, although life in the singer’s time was quite the opposite. Gal Costa was the leading female singer in the Tropicalia movement. Standing besides greats like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, both founders of the movement, Costa sang her way through difficult times with unconventional musical styles and lyrics. 

Tropicalia is not just a song by Beck; it was a late 1960’s Brazilian art movement which heavily criticized sociopolitical problems and the Brazilian military government through poetry, paintings and music. Tropicalia music, mostly a mix of bossa nova, hippie rock & roll and few others, was what Costa called ”a reaction against the dictatorship and the politics of the era… not a political movement.” Themorningnews.org calls ‘Divino Maravilhoso’ a “catchy pop song that vividly describes the violent measures of the Brazilian government and warns listeners to beware of complacency.” Knowing that enjoi.
 

Gal Costa - Divino Maravilhoso

Bonus: Gal Costa - Baby

Frank