New Music Monday

Or New (To Me) Music, because this is a learning experience.

  Japandroids – Celebration Rock (2012)

I think I found out about Japandroids one afternoon going through the “related artists” on Spotify, also known as definitely the best feature about Spotify. I can’t remember why I decided to listen to them, although I have no doubt it had something to do with their name. This Canadian band is the kind of rock I can always listen to, where the music doesn’t drown out the singing but is still infectious and memorable, and the vocals are understandable and pleasing to the ear. Several songs sound like montage music from some inspirational movie that involves a lot of running. This isn’t actually a bad thing. I picture myself dancing to Celebration Rock by throwing my fists and knees up in the air like a deranged marching band leader.  

The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound (2008)

This is 100% my brother’s fault. This is one of those bands he recommended to me a million times and I listened to them while doing other stuff and when I listen to music while doing other things like working or reading, I only really pay attention if it’s godawful. The Gaslight Anthem is not godawful. But I didn’t really start paying attention until he played them on the way back from Orlando a couple weeks ago because he is a control freak when it comes to car music. It was the middle of the night and I had nothing else to focus on apart from the beautiful lyrics, the soft singing, and the punk-blues-rough music. They’ve been around since 2007, but this album will definitely always remind me of 2012-2013 Winter Break, blaring it in my mother’s beat up Lexus with the windows down because it’s 85 degrees out and the air conditioning is broken, and it’s not a bad time to be reminded of.


Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)

good kid, m.A.A.d city was on almost every Best Album of 2012 list I’ve read, with good reason. This is one of those albums that make me want to learn everything there is to know about hip hop. Occasionally that mood strikes me when I listen to something really good, I just want it to take over me. Lamar combines rap and R&B beautifully, interweaves different music genres so that no two songs sound the same. Listening to this album, you really get the feeling that every song is something Lamar needs to say, and it’s not hard at all to stop and listen.