Doors, in an attempt to switch things up a little and bring you all together in a sweet sweet musical harmony (you can go ahead and refer to it as "music sex"), has decided to have a certain 'themed' post for each day of the week to give you all something to expect and hopefully look forward to. We totally forgot yesterday, whoops! You'll have to wait till next week for that one. As for Tuesdays... drumroll please. Top 100 Tuesday.
We know some of you dont like seeing all these bands you have never heard of, so on Tuesday we are going to write about some people you DO know, and then maybe we can give you a few indie suggestions to go along with them. Since Adele and Mumford are the top 2 albums on itunes, I refuse to go in order because you've all heard them a million times and we already have 80 Mumford comparisons in our tag section if you are interested. Nobody sounds like Adele so stop looking.
Your Top 100 picks this Tuesday.......
1. Lupe Fiasco - Lasers - Released March 04, #47 on iTunes top 100 albums
Lupe, gotta love him. What with the whole
Kid Cudi/Kanye obsession running rampant these days, little ol' Lupe really got left in the dust. Well his new(ish) album
Lasers was released in March and by now you have all probably heard the single "The Show Goes On". Its juuuust not doing it for me. Seems like kind of a lame excuse for a bar/club song, and has nothing of the originality from his previous singles like "Kick Push" or even the crowd pleasing "Superstar". The album isn't all bad, and it does get a little spark from its collaborations. I still can't help feeling like he's trying to be a little bit too much like his competition, when what made him so amazing was, well, him. Had this been his debut album he would have gotten a lot less flack, but its just nothing compared to the Lupe we all fell in love with.
Download: "Out of My Head (feat. Trey Songz)" if you're looking for one of those getting ready to go out songs
Also check out: The Roots most recent album
How I Got Over (released last June), if you want a better version of what Lupe was attempting.
Lupe Fiasco - Out Of My Head
The Roots feat. John Legend - The Fire
2. Ellie Goulding - Lights - Released March 08, #39 on iTunes
Ms. Goulding has been popping up all over the place lately, especially with her recent appearance as SXSW and Coachella (which apparently she rocked at). She's got a folky electro sort of sound that reminds me a bit of Natasha Bedingfield, or at least the 3 Natasha Bedingfield songs that I know, or maybe its just the british thing. Whatever. The album is one of those that gets better as you listen to it. It's a little middle of the road, not really reaching too far into the folk or pop side, but like Foo Fighter fans might feel about my album review below, I think Ellie's getting a little too much flack for a valiant and fun if slightly mild debut album. If you're into European chicks with pretty voices and a slightly dancy feel, check this out, because I have nothing else to say about it.
Sounds like: Feist, Natasha Bedingfield, Kylie Minogue, if Sia sang for Chromeo
If you dig, check out: Marina and The Diamonds, The Knife (who's song "Heartbeats" has been covered by both José Gonzalez and Ellie herself) and Dragonette.
Ellie Goulding - Lights
3. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light - Released April 08, #25 on iTunes
I can't think of Foo Fighters without flashing back to driving around in high school and listening to "Learn to Fly" or playing "Everlong" on Guitar Hero. Surprise surprise, I actually LOVE Foo Fighters. They're such an interesting blend of 90's sort of "grunge-rock" and the mainstream anthem. They are beloved by all, or at least by all in my shop class. So unlike my usual cynical approach to all things that might be talked about by Ryan Seacrest one day, I was actually kind of amped to see that the Fighters had a new album out. Oh 90s, how I miss you so.
I just can't take this album. It has none of the roadtrip crescendo of their previous albums, instead choosing to mellow into one long uninteresting guitar riff that makes all the songs blend together. It makes me feel like i'm in a coma and someone keeps playing this album to wake me up but it's so confusing that I just CANT FIND MY WAY BACK. I got anxiety thinking about that, that's how much I don't like this album.
BUT, do not despair. The iTunes ratings from die hard Foo-Fans are all around the 4-5 star range, so there is still a chance that you will like it, and I'm the Roger Ebert of iTunes, just hatin' on some harmless fun. Don't expect anything life changing though kiddies. This is background soundtrack shiz.
download: Tracks 7&8, "Back and Forth" and "A Matter of Time" respectively, for the most old school Foo Fighters sound. "I Should Have Known" also isn't bad, throwing out more of a rockabilly Black Keys feel.
if you like Foo Fighters (like actually good FF), check out: The Sunshine Underground, Surfer Blood and Delta Spirit.
Foo Fighters - Back And Forth
Delta Spirit - Bushwick Blues
Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes
