Top 12 of 2012!

Welcome back, Terriers. I hope you had a wonderful break, just as I did. Let me tell you, I downloaded a large amount of music so I can make some great posts this semester. However, seeing as we have passed into a new year, a new semester, and a new blog post, I would bring together a list of my top 12 favorite tracks from 2012. Some may have shown up on my posts before–which is a good thing, since, you know, I “approve” or whatever–and some are from artists that I didn’t even know I liked. Not all of them were produced (if any) in 2012, but I came across them in the past 12 months. Enjoy the count down, some great music, and a brand new semester for brand new things.

12. Addicted by Amy Winehouse, Back to Black

Amy Winehouse is great. Of course, she was notorious, infamous even, for her drug use and “fuck-it-all” attitude. And that is all fine and good, except her music… is excellent. I love Amy Winehouse more than many other artists because she lived. She did what she wanted to, made the music she wanted to, and lived a (relatively) happy life. This is really superficial and a terrible explanation. This song is great because it may or may not be about weed.

11. Always On Time (Ja Rule & Ashanti Cover) by Town Hall, Town Hall Plays the Hits 

This is a cover, obviously, but it is by this awesome band called Town Hall. They are pretty flippin’ great–I mean listen to their voices and the harmonies and the aaaaaaaaaaah. It’s great! When I first heard the song, I quickly listened to the original and picked my favorite (as you can see, Town Hall won.) The way they move the lyrics to their own melody is pretty spectacular, and see how the artists spit raps back at us!

10. Big Machine by Mark Duplass, Safety Not Guaranteed

I’ve posted about Mark Duplass before here. There isn’t much to say, other than sometimes you get unexpected sounds from unexpected people.

9. Halcyon by Ellie Goulding, Halcyon

Sick.

8. Come Into My Head by Kimbra, Vows

Read more about Kimbra here.

7. Turn It Around by Lucius, Lucius EP

Lucius is so good, it is on this list twice. Turn It Around confirmed my admiration for this girl duo and boy band after seeing them at the Middle East a few weeks ago in Cambridge. They were awesome live, and it turns out, comparably amazing recorded.

6. Happiest Times by Little Big Adventure, The Hateful Eye

This track lurked in my library for some time before I actually listened to it. As soon as I did, I felt calm, collected, and inspired.

5. Shake Hands by Birthmark, Shaking Hands

Much like Happiest Times, this kicked around in my iTunes after countless skips because I simply never took the time to listen to it. Eventually, I did, and as you can see it is pretty high on this list. It is a great track by a great band.

4. 2nd Gun by Volcano, I’m Still Excited!, Volcano, I’m Still Excited!

Read more about Volcano, I’m Still Excited! here.

3. Seven Swans by Sufjan Stevens, Seven Swans

Sufjan always has a special place in my heart. Always.

2. Shenandoah by Lucius, Songs From the Bromley House

Lucius came out with a (hard to locate) album before their EP, which brings us to number 2 with Shenandoah. Amazing.

1. 40k by Pearl and the Beard, Killing the Darlings

Read more about Pearl and the Beard here. Pearl and the Beard will always be number one in my heart, though 40k definitely deserves this spot on our top 12.

Volcano, I’m Still Excited!!

Since coming to Boston University, I’ve been focused on school work and not much of anything else. And by school work, I mean Netflix. So, I had a few movies I knew I wanted to watch over the break since I would have more time to focus, relax, and enjoy. One of the first movies I watched (which actually came from Redbox, which is a thing I guess,) was Safety Not Guaranteed. This indie flick was actually… pretty great. Sure, there were audio deficiencies in some places and the cinematography wasn’t perfect, but the actors Mark Duplass (The League, Hump Day) and Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) had real character. Anyway, this post isn’t about a movie review. While it was good (and you should go see it,) the main point is that I discovered Mark Duplass’ music talent. The first song I heard was directly from the movie.

Big Machine by Mark Duplass
He calls it a zither, but it is actually a dulcimer. I want a dulcimer.

Pretty great, right? He has too great of a voice to be wasted! He must have other projects. Well, yes, he does. He has a solo project. It is awesome. But what else? Oh, a band? Yes, a band. Volcano, I’m Still Excited!! is the name and awesome music is the game. While the band is not extinct, they are on a break due to Mark hurting his voice on tour. But hey, Craig Montoro, the guitarist, plays for Sufjan Stevens, so that’s something.

My description sucks. Here is one that doesn’t:

Through the use of a keyboard, a guitar, and a double bass drum (but no bass), the three members of Volcano, I’m Still Excited!! deftly compose unconventional, yet catchy pop songs–throw in a dash of Elvis Costello, Jonathon Richman, and a mix of Spoon and you’ll begin to get the idea. Their must-see live performances include songs in rounds, sweatbands, aerobic workouts, and any other impromptu device that further draws the crowd into their performances. And the name? Some say it’s a tribute to Tom Hanks’ Joe Versus the Volcano, others say it’s some sort of bizarre mantra/rallying cry, others say it’s a merely a random stream of consciousness phrase. Either way, Volcano, I’m Still Excited!!’s style is all their own and their rise to existence is as unusual as their non-sequitur name.

Enjoy the soothing sounds of Mark Duplass and the band Volcano, I’m Still Excited!!.

Trunk of my Car by Volcano, I’m Still Excited!!

In Green by Volcano, I’m Still Excited.