Lucius

I've been getting whispers about this band Lucius in my earholes for a while now. That makes me happy because my friend is one of the singers in the band, and she's amazing. This one time, when I was turning 16 I think, she serenaded me with Etta James's At Last. It was pretty sweet, especially considering how amazing her voice is. And then this other time, years and years later, I saw her on American Idol (which I watch obsessively. Guilty Pleasure. Don't judge me. Or do, it's cool. I'm gonna keep watching anyway). I don't know how she didn't win, considering she is actually probably the best singer I know. I guess she was just too awesome for the show.

Anyway, they've released a self-titled EP which is only 4 tracks but worth every penny. Especially the first track, Don't Just Sit There, which I've been listening to on repeat. Gives me chills every time. Go purchase it. Then if you're in or near New York, go and see them, and tell Jess I say hello. I hear they've been touring with Freelance Whales, which is an added bonus, though that may have ended...? Anyway, go see them. And enjoy this track.
 

Maps & Atlases

Here's a travel tip: Don't go to Senegal.

Now here's a music tip: Listen to Maps & Atlases. Apparently they have like 3 albums. I just got their newest album, Beware and Be Grateful, and it just keeps on growing and growing on me. It's like 7 parts TV on the Radio and 3 parts Dirty Projectors. Maybe 5:2, and then 3 of whatever other magic they sprinkle in there.

First two tracks are great, and I always love when the first track on an album is one of my favorites. Old & Gray doesn't disappoint, especially once it gets to the end and gets all nasally and weird. Those probably aren't adjectives that you'd think would describe the best part of a song, but just trust me on this one.

And then it moves right into track 2, Fever, which is even better! The songs meld together nicely on the album, and I think thematically, too. Also, my first time embedding from Soundcloud. How exciting!

Chairlift

I travel a lot for work to all kinds of fun places. Planes make a great time to listen to music. But I also get to see some fun things, which I should probably share. Generally, I spend most of my time in offices and hotel rooms, but fun facts abound.

For example, I was in Uganda for a day last week. As usual I didn't see much, but Uganda is very green. Or Kampala is anyway. And there are lots of Indians and the water in the taps smells like dirt. I stayed at a hotel that looked like a castle and was called the Golf Course Hotel. Supposedly there was a golf course somewhere, but becuase it was shaped like a castle I could only think of mini golf. Sadly there was no mini golf course.

And then, driving back to the airport, we were listening to a country music station. In Kampala. Apparently country music is popular among "executives" and "high class" citizens. Interesting....

Anyway, on to the music. This time it's Chairlift. They released their sophomore album, Something, in January this year and I love it. Much better than their first album from a few years back. There were good songs on the last album, but the only really good one was a cute little track called Bruises, which I think was in someway inspired by anal sex, though you'd probably never guess it listening to the song.

The new album is full of great tracks, like I Belong In Your Arms.

This album is generally a lot more upbeat than the last one. And better. Which contradicts my theory about the first three albums my most artists, which says the first one is great, the second one sucks, and the third one is the best. Although I guess you have to start with a great first album for that to work. Sorry, Chairlift, but at least your second one is great!

Met Before is another of my favorites. Again, fun and upbeat. Yay!

Yuna

I've been waiting for Yuna's album since I first heard Live Your Life, the first single off her self-titled debut US album, and became obsessed. I didn't actually get her album till about a month after it came out, but I've been listening to the same three tracks on repeat since I have.

Apparently she's been pretty big in Malaysia, her home country, for a few years. And now that Pharrel Williams has taken notice of her and started producing some of her tracks, most noticeably Live Your Life, hopefully she'll find success in the States, too.

Her sound reminds me a lot of Utada Hikaru, who, despite her massive succes in Japan and her production by Timabaland when she released an album in the US, never managed to gain popularity in the US.

First track off Yuna's album, Lullabies, is one of my favorites.

In general, the album is decent, but a few stand-out tracks make me keep coming back to it. Live Your Life, which I still can't stop listening to, is one of those. The song sounds better with headphones.

Apparently she's touring the US with Grafitti6, who I also love, this summer. These are the reasons why I hate not living at home.

A fun fact

Sometimes on blogs people share things about themselves. Here's something about me, as told through two songs I love.

Sometimes, I think this is how I should be:

But instead I'm usually like this:

Here's another fun fact: I used to have long hair like Jason Mraz in that video. I'm sure you can find pics on Facebook. Not such a good look.