My Band Crushes of 2010

2010 was a fun year of blogging! Almost everyday on my email, I have new music from bands that are worth sharing to other people. I'm very honored to be a platform of interesting music that people don't usually get to hear on the radio or on MTV. So here are my band crushes that made me wet through out 2010.

DOM
Perky chill-wavers from Massachusetts

Braids
A sugar rushed Animal Collective

Doldrums
Their sound is a fusion of electro, art-rock, drum n' bass and everything. It's hard to pin down which genre they fall in to but whatever that is, they own the category.

Jamaica
Parisian duo that aren't short but definitely entertaining.

Minks
Their sound is a mixture of everything shoegaze, dark wave, eerie synth and all but they aren't afraid to put a little bit of spring time in their gloominess.

Quiet Lights
Brooklyn-based band with mesmerizing sound that takes their name literally. 

Housse de Racket
The band you would like to Voulez-vous coucher avec moi with.

Youth Sounds
Their music is moody and dreamlike but never loses a punch of edginess.

The Technicolors
Sweet serenaders that will punch your heart with painful lyrics and melodic tunes.

My Parasol
A Filipino-Korean love affair with electro indie-pop as the soundtrack to their telenovela.

Knodazzi
'That's so 90's' is a complement phrase for this LA-based duo which is heavily influenced by that era's 'alternativity.'

Chasing Pluto
Epic Pop defined.

Turbo Goth

An electro pop act that dances crazily, wears stylish clothes and plays music that's glowsticks wave-worthy.

The Gentle Isolation

Bulacan's newest sweet sensation with indie-pop sensibilities.

Your Imaginary Friend

Melodic noise-pop with sugar coatings on top.

MUST LISTEN: Hiwaga (Stripped-Down Version) by Up dharma Down

Check out this stripped-down version of Up dharma Down's Christmas single Hiwaga which was part of an indie film called Mayohan. I wasn't able to watch that movie but this version of Hiwaga is superb. The original version is part of UdD's debut album Fragmented. You can download the track here legally as a Christmas gift from the band.



Here's the video of the album version of Hiwaga

BAND CRUSH: Chasing Pluto

Meet these East Londoners Jamal Hadaway and Corinne Shields whose brand of pop is in epic proportion. Chasing Pluto came from a basement act to a buzz worthy talents making the whole bloggersphere rave about their music. "Their eclectic tastes, bittersweet lyrical content and beats influenced by a myriad of genres; from dubstep, to electronic and 80s new wave, has given life to a new breed of Epic Pop music." No information about their future album yet but I am pretty sure that 2011 will be their year. Check out the tracks below and tell me which track is your fave.I also posted their new music video for the song Hold On. Merry Christmas!



 

Simian Mobile Disco to Produce Beth Ditto's Solo Album

It seems that Beth Ditto (Gossip) enjoyed her collaboration with Simian Mobile Disco early this year with the track Cruel Intentions that she asked the synth-pop duo to produce her 4-track EP to be released next year. I managed to find a streaming of the preview of the EP so feel free to listen. I also posted the SMD x Beth Ditto  song below.

Tracks:
0:00 - “Goodnight Good Morning”
0:28 - “Do You Need Someone”
0:58 - “I Wrote The Book”
1:30 - “Open Heart Surgery”

MIXTAPE THURSDAY: Oh Well It's Christmas

If you're sick of Jose Mari Chan's Let's sing merry Christmas and a happy holiday song, I've complied some unconventional Christmas tunes perfect for your Noche Buena soundtrack. 

Tracklist:

You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch - Sixpence None The Richer

Holiday Face - Dent May

Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Death Cab for Cutie

It's Christmas Time - Yo La Tengo

The Blizzard - Camera Obscura

I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas

Listen The Snow Is Falling - Galaxie 500

The Opposite Of Hallelujah - Jens Lekman

White Christams - Banjo or Freakout

The Woods - Stars

It's Christmas - Coconut Records

Alone This Holiday - The Used

Boots - The Killers

Christmas Is Going To The Dogs - Eels

Space Christmas - Shonen Knife

In This Home on Ice - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Carol of the Bells - The Bird and the Bee

Ghost of Christmas - Manic Street Preachers

holiday mood - The Apples In Stereo

The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Bright Eyes

I Hate December - Ivy

All That I Want - The Weepies

Christmas Cake - Rilo Kiley

Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto - Belle and Sebastian

Hiwaga - Up Dharma Down

The First Song - Band of Horses

Star of Wonder - Sufjan Stevens

Believe In Me - Fun

Lo, how a rose e'er blooming - Feist

25th December - Everything But The Girl

Fallen Snow (Teenagers Remix) - Au Revoir Simone

Christmas Reindeer - The Knife

Come On Christmas - MGMT

Every Day Should Be a Holiday - The Dandy Warhols

2000 Miles - Coldplay

image via http://marketzero.tumblr.com/

MUST LISTEN: Siberian Breaks (Ed Banger All Stars Remix) by MGMT

I'm not really sure if Siberian Breaks is MGMT's newest single from their sophomore album Congratulations but one thing's certain, this SO ME, Breakbot and Busy P remix is way better than the original version.I also posted the album version below so you can compare both tracks.

Siberian Breaks (Album Version)


Siberian Breaks (Ed Banger All Stars Remix)
 

POP-UP THE VOLUME: My Favorite Pop Songs of 2010

I enjoyed the pop scene of 2010. It's like 1997 again when I loved most of the songs playing on the radio. Although most of the songs that I post on my blog are from "indie" bands/artists, it doesn't mean that I don't listen to pop/mainstream/top 40 songs. I am not one of those people who think that it will make them less cooler if they listen to Katy Perry or Lady Gaga. One of the goals of this blog is to recommend songs that people don't usually hear on the radio and not to brag or show to the world that I am superior or has THE taste to discriminate other people's preferences. Sabi nga ni Zenaida Seva, "Hindi hawak ng mga bituin ang kapalaran natin, gabay lamang sila. Mayroon tayong free will, gamitin natin ito."

Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
Straight up pop song with universal appeal.


DJ Got Us Falling In Love Again by Usher
One of the songs that got me dancing at Republiq. Yeah!



Like a G6 by Far East Movement feat Cataracs and DEV
I just love it


Please Don't Go by Mike Posner
The Male Pop Act of the year


Dancing on My Own by Robyn
A complete package pop song. It has the beat, the catchy melody and sad lyrics.


Telephone by Lady Gaga feat Beyonce
Mga nakawalang gagas!


California Girls by Katy Perry
Fine, fresh, fierce!


Cooler Than Me by Mike Posner
You can sing this to me. I don't care.


Mahal Kita (Di Mo Pansin) by Kyla
The only OPM pop song that I love this year! Way to go Kyla!


Your Love is My Drug by Ke$ha
Her most decent song to date.


Forget You by Cee Lo
This one's for you!


Starry Eyed by Ellie Goulding 
Oh yes, she's a pop star

Hang With Me(single mix) by Robyn
She knows what she wants.

MUST LISTEN: Mahal Kita (Di Mo Pansin) by Kyla

I must admit it, I was one of Kyla's first few fans when she was starting to breakout in the music scene. Why? Because she's the only local singer that can pull-off an R&B sound without any pretense especially when it's an original track. Her debut album, Way To Your Heart, was the only non rock/alternative OPM album that I enjoyed listening. It's straight up soul and R&B with Filipino flavor which Kyla should do more often instead of covering covers that's been covered by several local 'cover' singers.

What led me to do this post is Kyla's new song Mahal Kita (Di Mo Pansin). I first heard this in a taxi ride and liked it from then on. I don't know what's the musical direction of her new album Private Affair. But judging the sound of her new track, it seems that she's going vintage. It has that retro, Motown feel which can be liken to what Alicia Keys is doing. Well, this song REALLY sounds like Alicia Keys. Mahal Kita also shows Kyla's vocal maturity from being almost unheard to a screaming siren. Yes, she's screaming in this song. Maybe she did it intentionally because she's singing about a suppressed feeling for someone and she finally has the guts to scream it to his ears...literally. (He heard you Kyla. The whole world heard you). I don't know if this album is already out or when is it going to be available. Just enjoy this song and I am sure a lot of you can relate to her. Just don't scream too much ;)

NEW MUSIC: Are We Lovers or Are We Friends? by Acid House Kings

Acid House Kings is back with a new track and they wrote it exactly for me! haha Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends? will be part of their upcoming album Music Sounds Better With You out on March 2011.


 

The Most Annoying Songs of 2010

I dont wanna be accused of being a music snob. That's why instead of making a list of the worst songs of 2010, I decided to just list down the songs that gets into my nerves every time I hear them. So, if you're planning to annoy me to hell, you can just send me a mixtape of this list and I will hate you for the rest your life.

Only Girl (in the world) by Rihanna
The song is pretty decent until the chorus part. I am annoyed with the over looped melody of the chorus and how Rihanna sounded like a menopausal woman at the earlier stage.
 

Dynamite by Taio Cruz
I dont know where to start! 
 

Club Can't Handle Me by Flo Rida
Anything Flo Rida is annoying!
 

The Time by Black Eyed Peas
By just merely using the Time of Your Life song from film Dirty Dancing is already annoying. 
 

Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
It's annoying...just the way it is.
 

Eenie Meenie by Justin Bieber & Sean Kingston
Do I have to explain why?
 

Check It Out by Will.i.am feat Nicki Minaj
NICKI MINAJ
 

Billionaire Travie McCoy feat Bruno Mars
Because i didnt win the mega lotto!!!
 

Blah Blah Blah by Ke$ha feat 3oh3
Whoever wrote this song must be the same guy who wrote blah blah black sheep. MEH!
 

Hey Soul Sister by Train
I wanna be a billionaire hey soul sister
 

Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz
nakakadalawa ka na ha!
 

Rude Boy by Rihanna
I just couldn't understand what she's saying.
 

Naturally by Selena Gomez
The music video is a major rip-off of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army.
 

Animal by Neon Trees
Just because...
 

Too Much Love Can Kill You by Jovit Something
watch the video
 

The Jejemon Song
It so annoying that I dont wanna post the video on my blog!!

That's it! looking forward for more annoying songs next year!

MUST LISTEN: Rainy Day by Daley

I was looking for a perfect 'I miss you' song for weeks now until this one showed up on my email. Very random but I must say, it has all things I was looking for. Rainy Day is the first single from an up and coming UK artist Daley which is part of BBC's Sound of 2011 list. It has that neo-soul feel which made it sexy and sensual. Daley's smooth vocals is perfect. They way he inflects every word of the song is like he's making love with your ears. I dont know if that's anatomically possible but you know what I mean.

 

MUST WATCH: Björk x Alexander McQueen Tribute Short Film

Here's a haunting previously unreleased song by Björk for a "fashion film" that pays tribute to the great British fashion designer Alexander McQueen. The 3-minute short To Lee, With Love, Nick was directed by Nick Knight which shows McQueen's iconic creations in an eerie imagery with Björk's new song in the background.
 
The whole fashion industry was shattered when the news broke out that Alexander McQueen committed suicide early this year.

MUST WATCH: Spacetalk(live) by My Parasol

I blogged about My Parasol months ago and since then, they became one of my favorite discoveries this year thanks to their song Spacetalk. Check out this live video of Spacetalk where you can find Mark and Susan performing in the middle of the woods. They changed the arrangements of the song which gives a different spin from the original version. Watch the video and tell me which version do you like the most.

P.S. I love Susan's booties ;p



You can download their music here

WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND?

   The Ronac Art Center invites you to the grand opening of all their retail stores with performances by Up Dharma Down and other Terno Records artists, and Dj's. Let's go!

Indie-poppers from Bulacan, The Camerawalls is back with a new EP called Bread and Circuses and they are launching it this Saturday at the Ayala Museum along with other guests. Listen to their first single Bread and Circuses here.



Music continues the following day with RockEd's annual Rock The Riles! Click here for the complete band lineup