You Need to Listen to Sick Puppies

Yeah, yeah. I’ve talked about this band in several other posts already. But. I’m choosing to feature them because they fit the unofficial criteria. Awesome. Bingeworthy. And tragically, unknown to many.

My Sick Puppies origin story is a simple one. No need for popcorn or anything. That awesome sauce local radio station–you know, the one they killed to make yet another oldies station–played Sick Puppies’ current, at the time, single, “There’s No Going Back.”  And what an appropriate title. A YouTube binge and Pandora playlist later, I was hooked.

Not so much to buy any of their albums, but anyway. The lead singer has left the band; I went with him. I don’t know what they’re up to now, but Shim’s voice is what I liked most. So…sorry, other puppies.

So here are my favorite tracks from Sick Puppies:

There’s No Going Back

This song is five years old. No way. These lyrics are everything.

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All the Same

My favorite. By a gazillion and four.

This is the song on my novel playlist–because it’s freaking perfect for my characters/situation. I became obsessed with this song. Repeat, repeat, repeat. If I ever make a “My Favorite Songs Ever” list, this will be pretty high on the list.

I’ll post my favorite acoustic, live, etc. versions at the end. 🙂

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Maybe

Summer of 2016. This was my jam. In case you were wondering, that’s when I quit my soul-sucking, rage-inducing, Lord-help-me middle school teaching job. This track was therapeutic. And motivating. And all-around awesome sauce. 

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You Need to Listen to Josh Radin

Chances are you have no idea who this guy is. Well, good. I like introducing people to new music.

If you prefer your singers to pretty much whisper to you, Josh is your man.

I first heard Josh Radin’s music in the film Adam, a super awesome movie you should check out. (I’ll stick the trailer at the bottom of this post.) There were two songs in the movie, I think. A trip down the YouTube black hole, and I’d discovered more songs–all of which, equally awesome. That’s when I discovered some of his music has been used in other movies and shows.

I don’t listen to Josh Radin often, and until today, I can’t actually remember the last time I did. I do own one of this albums though. So you may be wondering why I chose him.

So am I. Well…for one thing, his voice is pleasant. It’s soothingly comforting. Is that a thing?

Plus, I guess I’m trying to feature bands/artists who aren’t in the mainstream, someone I think should have some recognition, even if it’s only this blog.

Here are my favorites. Enjoy. 🙂

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Someone Else’s Life

First song of his I ever heard.

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What If You

This song gives me the feels for no reason whatsoever.

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Today

Ellen and Portia’s wedding song. I’d imagine many people were introduced to his music because of it.

You Need to Listen to Savage Garden

Happy Music Monday! I’m going back in time again this week to focus on my favorite band from middle school and freshman year, thereabouts. Savage Garden!

Of course I’ve featured this band in a previous post of two, but I figured they deserved their own post. I revisited their second album a few months ago. Instant time machine.

Darren Hayes’ voice is heaven.

So here are some of my favorite Savage Garden tracks to bring a little late 90s to your day. Enjoy!

To the Moon and Back

My favorite! 🙂 This is so nostalgic.

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Two Beds and Coffee Machine

So, so good.

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Lover After Me

Such a radio-friendly song. Come to think of it, this was a single. Go figure.

You Need to Listen to Something Corporate

I’m going back a ways for this Music Monday installment. This is what I was listening to in college. Well, lots of music, but this was a major band for me at that time. Jack’s Mannequin’s first album as well, Everything in Transit.

They don’t have a song I don’t like, but here are some of my favorites:

Me and the Moon

*probably my favorite SC song

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Cavanaugh Park

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Hurricane

You Need to Listen to Elliott Smith

These Music Monday posts would be so much easier if my old computer hadn’t died. I had something like three days worth of music on that thing. However, I’m 98% sure Elliott Smith was my #1 most played on iTunes. “Waltz #2” to be precise. So I thought I’d devote a post to Elliott. I’ve also decided to skip the commentary and let him speak for himself. Enjoy these tracks, posted in order of awesomeness, fyi.

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Another 18 Random Songs I Forgot Were Awesome

On this Music Monday, I bring you eighteen more songs I forgot about. That may be a stretch. It’s not that I forgot about these songs, but it’s more like, I used to listen to them constantly, only to replace them with other songs. So I try to think about songs I used to be obsessed with that I haven’t listened to lately.

In case you were wondering the criteria for this list. As I’m sure you were.

This list is a bit more random than the last. The previous, while still random, consisted of a particular sound. As in, the same radio station would play all of them. This list…eh, not so much.

In the order I thought of them, and without further ado, enjoy.

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“Dashboard” Modest Mouse

I have no idea what this song is about. About five years ago, I had “Dashboard” on my novel soundtrack, but only because I was obsessed with it at the time. So catchy. Weird. But catchy.

My favorite line: We talked about nothing, which is more than I wanted you to know. Love.

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“The Widow” Mars Volta

Uh, yeah. I know nothing about this band. All I know is this song is on fire. What are these vocals?! Seriously. While not my go-to genre (what is this genre?), this track packs a punch and sometimes you just need hit in the face. Know what I mean?

18 Random Songs I Forgot Were Awesome

Are awesome? Hmm.

Here’s a list of some songs I found in my laptop’s music folder. I’ve been using Spotify lately, so I haven’t opened this folder in a while. I was introduced to most of these songs from a local radio that no longer exists. These songs were on heavy, heavy rotation about three or four years ago. Blah, blah, get to the tunes.

In alphabetical order for bonus points!

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Bush – “The Only Way Out”

Yes! One of my favorite quotes makes a pretty good song. I don’t think this song made it big. Perhaps it wasn’t grungy enough for Bush fans? Beats me. I love it.

Music Monday: From One Ben to the Next

I’ve been obsessed with Breaking Benjamin for the past few months, which you may recall if you’ve spent any time around this blog, but I recently went to see Ben in concert. It wasn’t Ben Burnley though. It was one of my other favorite Bens:

Ben Freaking Folds!

Here’s what’s important: Ben Folds is awesome. I love him. He is crazy talented. And that’s all there is to say.

This was my second time seeing Ben Folds in concert. Both times, he performed with a symphony. Classy.

I’m not doing a concert review or summary or anything like that, because, frankly, it would be just a lot of me raving about how insanely amazingly (double adverbs?!?) awesome Ben Folds truly is. 😀

Instead, I’ve decided to highlight a few of my favorite Ben songs. Perhaps if you are new to Ben, this may serve as your intro. Enjoy.

Breaking Benjamin’s Ember: An Album Review

Happy Music Monday! I know you’ve been anxiously awaiting this post. My apologies for taking my sweet time.

Part of it is my clinical procrastination issues, but mostly I’ve put this off because I wanted to listen to the album a few more times before trying to write about it.

Had you asked me after my second listen, I would’ve said it was fine. Just fine. Just OK. All the songs sorta blend together. But it’s still Breaking Benjamin, so I’m on board.

But now? I love this album. I just really love this album. Ben and Co. have done it again. Let’s break this thing down track by track. I haven’t read or listened to a single review, so this is my 100% unbiased opinion as a total fan.

I feel compelled to add: the review that follows is my opinion. You might not agree. You might be wondering if I’m even referring to the right album. Or that I need to get my ears checked. You might not like Breaking Benjamin at all; what are you doing here then? Anyway, this is my take on things. Take from it what you will.

Writing Exercise – Character Playlist #6: Mark

My last playlist. And the hardest to compile. Out of everyone, Mark’s list has had the most changes. I started with strictly romantic type songs. But he’s not a total sap. So this is a mix of 90s/2000s alternative, radio-friendly, pop…stuff. With a touch of sap.

For what it’s worth, Mark’s favorite music is jazz. But I was not about to attempt such a playlist. It would just be Dizzie Gillespie, because that’s the only jazz artist I know. 🙂

      

Mark’s Playlist

“The Alt-Rock Top 40er”

1) “Wonderwall” Oasis

2) “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” U2

3) “Do I Wanna Know?” Arctic Monkeys

4)