Silversun Pickups

Hey! I am sure you have heard of this weeks artist but their talent should never be overlooked, Silversun Pickups. Genre-Alternative Rock/Indie Rock. The four-member band from Los Angeles are in fact friends. The band originally was going to be called A Couple of Couples, however, decided on Silversun Pickups, the name of a liquor store in the city where they began playing. They got their following from playing in popular L.A. clubs and have been a hit ever since. This song I am sharing today, "Growing Old is Getting Old" comes from their album Swoon. 


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I first heard this song on MTV Unplugged, I liked this song because of the passion he had when singing his lyrics. I think there could be many different interpretations of this song, however, the most interesting one I found said that this song is about the fear of getting old and not knowing what is beyond death. The way to get past this fear is to live in a state of a mind that is free from free so that one can live fully. I choose to share the live version because the variation in his pitch and tempo help create that sense of fear.

I would recommend listening to some more of their songs including, "Lazy Eye," "Panic Switch" and "Substitution."

Similar Artists: The Smashing Pumpkins, The Airborne Toxic Event, Metric

Until next time

Jeff Buckley

Hey guys! I am definitely anxious to share the artist of the week, Jeff Buckley. This week is somewhat different because the song I am sharing is actually a cover that he did originally performed by The Smiths.   Genre- Alternative Rock/ Folk Rock. The native Californian is the son of musicians Mary Guibert and Tim Buckley. This singer-songwriter and guitarist made his first big appearance at a tribute concert to his father. He started to perform in cafes and clubs and got a following, eventually signing with Columbia Records. However, sadly on May 29th 1997, Buckley died in a tragic drowning accident at the young age of 31. The cover I am sharing today is "I Know It's Over."

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I first heard this song on "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 8 and fell in love with it. I really liked this song because the dancers who performed to it were very expressive with their emotions, I could feel their pain. After listening to the song many times and researching, I think this song is about feeling like you're being drowned in sorrow almost to the point of death because of the end of a relationship whether it be romantic or non-romantic. The line, "Oh Mother I can feel the sorrow falling over my head," really grabs me and the way he sings it is just so beautiful and raw.

I would definitely suggest listening to some more of his covers or even his own work including the album Grace. But another great cover by Buckley is "Hallelujah."

Similar Artists: Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, Ours

With peace

Sia

Hi there! I am super excited to introduce the artist of the week, Sia. Genre-Pop/Jazz/Downtempo. The singer-songwriter is originally from Adelaide, Australia born into a family of musicians. At the young age of fourteen she traveled to Italy and was discovered in a karaoke bar by a local DJ. By 2000, she signed a recording contract with Sony Music and she started to gain more fans. "I'm in Here," is the song I am sharing with you guys this week.

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Her voice is so magnificent that it was a no-brainer that I would share the vocal version of this song also because it draws on the isolation she feels making it all the more powerful. I first found this song on the show Gossip Girl during Season 4, episode 2. The song fit perfectly in that scene and definitely drew on my emotions. I really like this song because it is so personal, I am sure we have all felt lonely at times and whether she is talking about depression or just a brief time of loneliness it is still relatable. Throughout the song she is calling out for help as if she is behind these strong walls that are separating her from others that she cannot reach out to but is hoping to be saved which is very powerful imagery.

 I would highly reccommend listening to some of her other songs including: "Clap your Hands," "Breathe Me" and "Wild Ones."

Similar Artists: Zero 7, Oh Land, Kate Havnevik

With love

Bon Iver

Hey! I am happy to share with you the artist of the week, Bon Iver. Genre-Indie (Folk/Rock). The band is  led by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, however, Sean Carey, Michael Noyce and Matthew McCaughan are also apart of the band. Similarly to Henry David Thoreau's experience written in his book Walden, Vernon spent four months isolated in a cabin located in Wisconsin built by his father just hanging out and writing music. Although Vernon did not plan to write an album's worth of songs, he did. He later said that  his time spent in that cabin helped him out tremendously emotionally and mentally. His career took off from there. The song I am talking about this week is "Skinny Love."

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I discovered Bon Iver through my City & Colour Pandora station. I really enjoy this song because it is so vulnerable and honest. At first, I was drawn into this song by the title, "Skinny Love," because it left me guessing. After researching, I found that this song is about a love that has gone sour. The guy goes through a series of emotional stages-at first wanting to get back together then wanting to separate with her and eventually telling her that she will have a hard time finding someone that can please her.

A very interesting fact about Bon Iver is that he won his first Grammys this year for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. Bon Iver has a total of 3 albums: For Emma, Forever Ago, Blood Bank and Bon Iver.

Some other songs I would suggest listening to are: "Blood Bank," "Calgary," and "Holocene."

Similar artists: City & Colour, Blind Pilot, Band of Horses

Until next time