Random Songs of Awesomeness

Part One

Why say awesome songs when you can say songs of awesomeness? Exactly.

So I’m starting a new series, and for this one, I’m trying to broaden the genre. If possible. I do tend to listen to a lot of a similar sound these days. But I love so many random songs that I have yet to feature on my blog. Some are repeats from before because their awesomeness cannot be contained to one post.

Or I’ve forgotten I already posted it.

Assuming I stick with this series, expect a lot of songs. It’s a deep well of tunes in my brain. The order is also random, in the spirit of the theme. Enjoy!

---

“Dance with the Devil” Breaking Benjamin

Yes, the order is random, but I have to start with my man, Ben Burnley. Love the whisper at the end. Stop it.

---

“The Pot” Tool

I don’t know what it is about this song. I do not listen to any other Tool song. But I love this one. That. bass. line.

---

“Stranger” Katie Costello

“Switched at Birth” brought me here. One of the few songs with a female vocalist that you’ll ever see on this blog.

Advertisements

My Currents: January 2019

Friday Feelings: Not sure if I’ll keep up with this or not, but I figured on Fridays I’d post some thoughts. About whatever. And of course, there are gifs. So this is Friday Feelings #1

A List of Currents and Lasts

Current Album in My Car

Ember Breaking Benjamin

---

Current Album in My Stereo

Purple Stone Temple Pilots

---

Last Song Played on Spotify

“Mind Eraser” Black Keys

---

Current Netflix Binge

You

(I finished this binge today, and I may do a review, but for now, I’ll just say, OMG loved it.)

---

Current YouTube Obsession

UNHhhhh

Love these queens!

---

Last Movie Watched

Birdbox

---

Current Read

All We Ever Wanted Emily Giffin

---

Thanks for spending some time here! Have a great weekend! 😀

 

Here’s To the Songs That Helped Me Survive Teaching Middle School

Are you new here? This is all you need to know:

1. Music is life.
2. Teaching middle school was…well…it was like being underwater. And still being expected to do everything someone with air can do. Good times.

These songs were in heavy rotation while I found my way to higher ground. It’s pretty much a mixture of “I’m angry” and “I’m hopeful.”

Perhaps these can help you too?

Enjoy. 🙂

---

---

---

I’m not convinced this wasn’t written by a middle school teacher.

Music Channels Worth Watching: Lost in Vegas

It’s Music Monday again, and I’m back with another YouTube channel you should check out.

This week: Lost in Vegas.

There are so many reaction channels. Too many. But there’s something about these two guys that seems genuine. Most reaction channels are pretty much over-reaction channels. They dramatize so much that they just come across as fake.

I like these guys, and I wanted to share them with you. Here are a few of their videos:

Music Channels Worth Watching: Rick Beato

Happy October!

Last month, I highlighted some bands/artists I think everyone should hear. For October, I’m posting some music related YouTube channels worth a look. Up first, Rick Beato.

I love people who love music. And this guy loves music.

The cool part about his video series (“What Makes This Song Great?”) is how he isolates different tracks, so you can hear each part. This is what I love about music, how all the parts fit together. That’s why I love listening to instrumentals. And isolated tracks too, when I can find them. I used to watch that show, Behind the Music. It was awesome when they’d play just the bass, or just the drums, or drums and vocals together. I always thought that would be a cool job. A record producer. Or as I used to call it, “the guys who moves the knobs.”

It’s amazing to hear something you’ve never noticed in a song you’ve heard a million times. Take “Everlong” for instance. Did you know there’s a female vocalist doing harmonies??? Yeah, me either.

I’ve already binged a lot of his videos. He knows all my favorite songs. It’s pretty weird. I’ll post a few here.

I’ll be honest. Most of the time, I don’t know what he’s talking about. When he starts getting into chord names, and he’s throwing out words like “sus,” he’s over my head. But it’s still fascinating.

Go check out his channel: Rick Beato

“Everlong” Foo Fighters

---

“Been Caught Stealing” Jane’s Addiction

---

“Paranoid Android” Radiohead

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.

---

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. 🙂

---

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. 

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. 🙂

---

Someone Else’s Life

First song of his I ever heard.

---

What If You

This song gives me the feels for no reason whatsoever.

---

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.

---

Two Beds and Coffee Machine

So, so good.

---

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

---

Cavanaugh Park

---

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.

---

---