Dance Party, Pants Party

Halfway through the weekend. Time for an update (I don't know what being halfway through the weekend has to do with anything...I just write when I get bored or find some new music that I like). We'll start off with a little Bruno Mars; I've already explained that I like his sound and can't wait for his album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (AWESOME name!) to come out on October 5th. His new single, Just the Way You Are isn't exactly "Dance Party, Pants Party" type music, but to all the guys out there....it'll get you laid. Don't believe me? Try it. Prove me wrong.

On to some more upbeat stuff; unless you actually believe that the world is going to end in 2012. If this includes you, you may be better off skipping this song. Jay Sean ft. Nicki Minaj. I have always been a little iffy on Nicki Minaj's voice, but there's no doubt that her lyrics are some of the best/most original out right now. This should have been the theme song to the movie 2012...although somehow, I don't think it would fit in.

While we're talking about Nicki Minaj, we'll throw in a little more from her. At first, I didn't think I liked this song, but it's definitely grown on me. Bottoms Up by Trey Songz and Nicki Minaj. It's starting to seem like Nicki Minaj just likes to be featured on other peoples songs instead of doing her own stuff (I know, she has some of her own songs out...but they aren't too great).

Unless you went to Warped Tour this year, you probably haven't heard much of the band Hey Monday. The West Palm, Florida based band kinda has a Kelly Clarkson sound...but better. I think I heard I Don't Wanna Dance on the radio recently, so I've decided to pass it on to you. Enjoy.

Finally, since we like to pretend that everyone loves Katy Perry as much as we do, I'm gonna stick another song from her on here. It's actually appropriate for today...Last Friday Night(TGIF). What happened to you last Friday night?

Remember High School?

   So Spinner.com just released a list of the "Top 10 High School Music Videos" ever...
10: Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
9: Diamond Rings (Who is that!?) - Show Me Your Stuff
8: Nada Surf - Popular
7: Pearl Jam - Jeremy
6: She and Him - In the Sun
5: Chiddy Bang - Opposite of Adults
4: Missy Elliot: Gossip Folks
3: Free Energy: Bang Pop
2: Van Halen - Hot for Teacher
1: Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Here's the list on their page
[Img via nickydigital.com - from the Bang Pop video]

Really? Well, I don't think I agree with this list very much. Maybe if you're judging purely on high school content in the videos but Nirvana at #1? Listen, just because high school has become an excuse to freak out your parents by dressing in plaid, talking about the 90s, and painting your nails black doesn't mean everyone loves Nirvana. Or does it?

Anyway in FAR more interesting news: Jimmy Eat World's new record drops September 28th and you can head over to Antiquiet.com to hear their new single My Best Theory (Which is great). Hear the song here

La Musica

Today's special; Teeny Boppers! We'll start off with Selena Gomez. The Disney star made it big with her show The Wizards of Waverly Place, then did some cheesy made-for-tv movies. Well now she decided to try her hand at music...and seems to be doing a pretty good job of it. Round and Round is her latest single out.

NEXT UP! Miranda Cosgrove, another child actress-turned-musician. This one started out on Nickelodeon with a few supporting roles and then her lead role in iCarly....don't ask me how I know this. She decided to try her luck at music, and it seems to be working out pretty well for her as well.

This next one isn't actually a Teeny Bopper. She's actually my future wife. Don't worry, she'll know when the time comes. Taylor Swift is coming out with a new album, scheduled for October 25th, called Speak Now. I don't see how it's physically possible for anyone (other than Kanye) to dislike Taylor. Her new single, Mine came on the radio recently and I immediately LOVED it.

Taylor Swift - Mine

The next two songs don't really fit in the original category, but oh well. Just listen to the music. If you're in college (Freshmen, welcome), and you've attended at least one party recently, you've heard this song. Ke$ha is the trashy, but in a hot way, type of girl that you want to keep around, but not really take home to mommy and daddy. And for that, I love her. I have a feeling that this song is going to lead to a lot of people getting naked.

Finally, this song isn't exactly mainstream. Lead to Gold is a relatively little-known band based out of Gainesville, FL. I heard this song from a friend and immediately loved it; hopefully this will help get their name out there a bit more!

(Look, they have a Myspace.)

Slipping The Cracks

   How did I forget to post this? In keeping with our constant Katy Perry stream, here is her new video for Teenage Dream. I talked with a few people the other day about the video and we were all wondering - why not just put Russell Brand in the video as the guy? Maybe because he's not the gristle looking dude here but hey not my video, right? (PS, this is that dumb MTV embed so just struggle through their commercial).

Katy Perry - New Music - More Music Videos

 Is there anything better than Katy Perry and old cars? Geez.

Video

   Remember Of Montreal's new song Coquet Coquette? Well here's the video for it. This shit is weird. This band is weird. I'm sure it's some artsy thing I don't understand:

Conan O'Brien

   Check out a preview of Conan O'Brien's collaboration with Jack White on Pitchfork.com: Go here!

http://pitchfork.com/news/39836-listen-conans-spoken-word-single/

   The preview is only up for 24 hours apparently so get in on it. It's him speaking like Dr. Frankenstein; it's interesting.
[Image and article via Pitchfork]

A Couple Videos

   Alright so here is a good example of me slacking off the past couple weeks. With the last year of school starting and all, I've been a tiny bit busy and sadly the fun of listening to music falls to the wayside far too often! Anyway, I have been getting some songs for you to hear. The first is a crazy Katy Perry and Phil Collins mashup that hit the internet sometime last week. It's pretty well done - check it out:

   The next thing I have for you is this crazy new video from Yeasayer for their song Madder Red. A lot of people are talking about how weird this video is with the Kristen Bell/weirdo monster thing. I think the song is great, if not a little sad, and I heard some REO Speedwagon today and (never thought I'd say this) it reminded me of the song.

   Finally, The Ting Tings have new music. I'm actually pretty excited about that - even as repetitive as they can be, those two rock, in my opinion. So for that, here's Hands, which was one of the top downloaded songs this week, from their upcoming album. Here's an embed from Some Kind of Awesome
  The Ting Tings - "Hands" by Some Kind of Awesome
   "Clap your hands if you're working too hard" - this is me clapping my hands.

   BONUS: Just found this song, which, people are saying, would have been the summer smash hit if it dropped a month ago or so - but it didn't, so this is Cee-Lo Green's F*ck You. It's got a definite summer groove, an odd bridge, but I could definitely see it catching on in a very similar way that "mambo number 5" did. Anyway:

Thursday

   Ok so today was an interesting day. Despite my attempts to make it a happy day, at first, the day began pretty shitty. So, as I was miserably driving around today a couple bands I'd never heard of graced my ears. Good music always turns my days around.

   Port O'Brien is a folky indie group out of California that has a really great sound. The band has toured with the likes of Nada Surf, Modest Mouse, and more - which surprises me that they haven't become more known. M. Ward, the Him side of he and Zooey Deschanel's She and Him rated Port O'Brien as his favorite new band in 2008. The band's newest album is called Threadbare. go pick it up! (if you aren't immediately in love, keep listening...I think you will be).
Here's the single that caught me onto the band I Woke Up Today

And here's is the band's video for their newest single My Will is Good:


Next we have a band that actually scares me a little bit.

   Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti is a freak-folk band from, I think, L.A. and they're quite interesting. I'll admit, usually I'm biased and when I see a long named band I sometimes get leery. Especially when it sounds weird. And APHG is definitely weird...I'm afraid I may dream of carousels tonight, but hey, check this out and give it a chance.
Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round

   The other two bands I wanted to write about tonight, I've decided not to; so I'll say this: I heard a live performance the other day called "Matt Morris/Mighty Kate". There was no description other than that, they had pretty great vocals, and an intense, great drummer - it got me interested. So I've been researching and they're two separate bands. Both are good, neither are really completely my taste, but it's nothing I'd flick the channel from. So with that said I say go check out Matt Morris:

http://www.myspace.com/mattmorris

and also check out Katy Pffafl, or Mighty Kate:

http://www.myspace.com/mightykatemusic

Mighty Kate's page looks like it could use some traffic, so, uh, get on that, wouldja?

A Quicky

Not gonna be much writing in this post, just a ton of videos...which is the point of this blog, is it not?

Mike Posner's first big album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff just dropped on the 10th; I've listened to a few songs and really like it so far. If you like his first single, Cooler Than Me, you'll like the rest. Here's his next single, Please Don't Go.

Ke$ha also has a new single out. Here's Take it Off. God I love this girl.

I don't think I should like this song, but it really grew on me. New Boyz ft. Iyaz with Break My Bank.

Finally, Jack and his love for Katy Perry will like this one. This is her new single, Teenage Dream. It's not going to be as huge as California Gurls was and it's a little less upbeat, but you can't really go wrong with Katy Perry.

 Four Years Strong debuted their video for Tonight We Feel Alive (On a Saturday) the other day and here it is:
For a great HD version check our PureVolume:
http://www.purevolume.com/fouryearstrong/videos/133299/Tonight+We+Feel+Alive+On+A+Saturday%29

   I just ran into this video by..some daughter of some hedgefund billion/millionaire friend of Bill Clinton's. I don't know anything about it - I don't want to know anything about it, but pretty much I've decided my life has been a lie up until seeing this video. Now everything just feels...better. Music can stop trying now because this girl has won. She's won music. Yup. Someone give this girl a trophy, like one of those "triumphant boy on top on soccer ball" trophies, except it will be her conquering a music note. Geez.

   In other news, I'm still acting like I'm incapacitated from losing my wisdom teeth/moving into a new house. Expect real updates sometime within next week.

New Project!

   Ok, Updates soon to come..had some dental work and I've been recovering. In the meantime...check out the new project..it's a work in progress, but it's going to be great! http://twitter.com/HipManFacts