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.