Beach House Re-evaluation

For as long as I can remember, or at least as long as I have been into Indie music, I was always told that I would love the Baltimore, Maryland formed dream pop duo Beach House. Not only had my friends told me how awesome they were, even my PandoraAmazonItunes, and my other online music accounts kept shoving them in my face, and I thought they were terrible! BUT thankfully my new favorite movie “Daydream Nation” stuck it right back in my face but in a “you have no idea who sings this song but it’s so perfect for this scene, and beautiful, and you LOVE it!”….Daydream Nation was so totally right! During a scene in the beginning where Thurston, gets really high and flies above all the students in the hallway, Beach House’s “Walk in the Park” plays in the background, and they couldn’t have picked a better song. I was shocked when I Shazamed the scene and saw it was Beach House! I have decided to re-evaluate my opinion and give them another chance. Isn’t it weird how at one point in our lives we HATE a certain music sound, and years later we completely LOVE it?! What is with that? It’s not just me is it? lol. Anyways… if you ever, like me, heard some Beach House and thought ” ugh, this sucks” you may want to give it another try down the road. I’ve found that happens to me on pretty much a weekly basis with music..it finds a way to grow on me. As for Beach House, last night I bought the “Teen Dream” vinyl set since that is the album that has “Walk in the Park” on it, along with the Daydream Nation DVD (seriously, check that movie out, it’s wonderful!). Be sure to give Beach House a listen right heyah :p. Happy listening guys! ALWAYS try to re-evaluate music you aren’t particularly into, there may be something in there worth listening to.

YouTube Covers Week: Kiersten Holine

OK guys, if you do not already know about this super talented YouTube-er then I hereby introduce you the owner of one of the most beautiful female singing voices I have ever come across (and that includes famous artists too!). Not only is she beautiful but mannn that voice! I love when I come across a female voice that I actually like because most of the time I tend to gravitate towards male indie bands and singers. There is a huge range to the songs she covers, some are oldies like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Neil Young…some are older oldies like Etta James, and Nat King Cole. And then she covers some of the best current indie bands out there like Bon Iver, Cat Power (who I think she sounds a lot like), Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Wilco, She & Him, and the list goes on! I actually find that a lot of the covers she does I end up liking her versions better then the originals, like “At Last” by Etta James and Modest Mouse’s “World at Large” and she REALLY improved on “These Days” by Jackson Browne.  Seriously though,  I challenge any of you to listen to her and NOT fall in love :p! She also put out an album called “Ignoble” which I definitely plan to purchase and you should to0..righttttt here! Now it’s time to share with you my favorite covers she has done because it’s (DUH) “YouTube Covers Week”. So yeah check em out and be sure to head to her YouTube Channel to check out the rest!

Kiersten’s YouTube Channel

Kiersten’s Blog

Kiersten’s Band Camp Site

Artist to Check Out – Hoodie Allen

Ok guys, this Jewish rapper from New York, New York rocks my socks and I am hoping he will rock yours too! He is 23 and has been on the scene since 2009. He reminds me a lot of Chiddy Bang and Asher Roth..except he raps solo. From what I have heard so far I think I may like him even better. Just the fact that he remixed a very indie song (I Am Not A Robot by Marina and the Diamonds) sets him apart (Fun Fact: Marina and the Diamonds are signed under the Chop Shop Record Label created by my all time inspiration Alexandra Patsavas!). He said in an interview that “artists like Florence and The Machine, Marina & The Diamonds, Beach House and Yeasayer speak more to me than some more traditional R&B and soul acts”. How awesome! A rapper who prefers Indie Music over Rap and R&B! AND not to mention he has a song named after my favorite stoner actor, James Franco (how great is that?!?) not to be confused with my all time favorite actor Ryan Gosling (swoooooon!). Back to Hoodie Allen, how great is that name btw?!? He has one EP “The Bagels & Beats” and three mixtapes “Making Waves (2009)” “Pep Rally (2010)” and his newest “Leap Year (2011)”. So far I have listened to a little bit of “Leap Year” and most of “Pep Rally”. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I think “Pep Rally” is my favorite…wanna know why?!? Because of all the indie music on it such as: the Black Keys, Death Cab (Eek!), Two Door Cinema Club, Ingrid Michaelson, and Marina & the Diamonds! You crazzzy if you don’t go listen to all of his music right this instant! (posted Pep Rally below). Also click here to head to his site.