Amos Lee, Carolina Liar, & The Airborne Toxic Event

Wow. It's been over a MONTH since I last posted! I apologize. It's been a pretty crazy few weeks! :) I did go to a concert a couple weeks ago though. State Radio. They're not INCREDIBLY famous, so you may not have heard of them. But I would venture to guess you've heard of the band Dispatch? Well Chad Urmston from Dispatch does lead vocals and guitar for State Radio, and they have a pretty similar sound to Dispatch, but a little more mainstream (in my opinion). Aside from it being freezing and rainy, it was a really great show. :) So...check them out!!


Old: Amos Lee--"Listen"
When I think of singers with beautiful voices, Amos Lee is definitely one of the first ones that comes to mind. I would venture to say, in my mind, there are few singers who really exude genuine passion in their music. Ya know...singers that are singing because they love it. People for whom it isn't about the money. With his roots on the East coast, specifically in Philly, I find his musical beginnings to be really interesting. He didn't even start playing the guitar until he was in college! I guess it just goes to show you some people have this kind of talent inside them, and eventually they just find it! :) His music is considered a mix of a folk and R&B sound. I have to say, there is not one song he sings that I don't love. He has one of those voices...that just makes you melt. For me, others in this category include John Mayer and Jack Johnson. There's just something about their voices...and their music...that makes you fall in love with them. :)So...check him out. Let me know what ya think!

Other songs to check out: "I'm Not Myself" and "Southern Girl" (and really anything else...haha)


New: Carolina Liar--"Simple Life"
Although these guys hail from the LA area, the majority of the band is from Sweden. They have a sort of the Killers/Cake kind of sound, mixed with their own flair. I really love the lyrics to their songs. Focusing on the song "Simple Life", which happens to be my current favorite, I really love the line in the chorus:
"Don't you wanna live a simple life
You pray for change before you turn out the light."
It's totally relatable I think. One of these feelings everybody feels. A lot of their songs have that kind of...searching for yourself theme. Overall, just a really great band. Not much else to say. The music speaks for itself. :)

Other songs to check out: "Beautiful World" and "Show Me What I'm Looking For"


New: The Airborne Toxic Event--"Sometime Around Midnite"
So...I'm giving you TWO new ones in an attempt to make up for my absence. :) This American rock band consists of your typical rock line-up (guitar, drums, bass) but also incorporates some strings and some keyboard, which I really love. Considered part of the post-punk genre, their music ranges from really "perky dance-rock" to more "solemn" songs. An interesting aspect of Mikel Jollett's writing (the member that formed the band) is what led him to form the band in the first place. His mother was diagnosed with cancer, and then he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. In interviews he has expressed how he was overcome with the concept of life's fragility. "It just felt like everyone around me was dying,” Jollett says. “That’s a moment in your life that changes you. You realize that life is finite and you only have so much time." Although his illness does not have a huge impact on his music, I find it interesting to think about when listening to the lyrics and ATE's music as a whole.

Other songs to check out: "Wishing Well" and "Gasoline"


I promise to try and keep up now. :)
Peace, Love, & RockNRoll
--A