Currently Listening: The Great Gatsby Soundtrack

 

Even though I haven't seen the movie yet (I know, what am I waiting for?!), I've been playing the soundtrack for The Great Gatsby on loop the past few days. Baz Luhrman and Anton Monsted, with the help of Jay-Z, put together an amazing collection of songs that feel like they were made just for the film (and in some cases they actually were!). They've said that they wanted to utilize hip-hop to give the jazz of the 20's an updated feel that would still reflect the opulence and extravagance of the film. I would say they hit the nail on the head. Each track is great on it's own, but when you listen to them together you can really get a sense of the themes in the film. I cannot wait to see this movie, but the soundtrack is doing a good job of holding me over in the mean time. Let me know what you think of the album and the movie if you've already seen it!

 

Playlist Here

Currently Listening: Lorde

Before adopting the stage name Lorde, this 16 year-old singer/songwriter was born Ella Yelich-O'Connor in Auckland, New Zealand. Her EP Love Club was released in 2012 with a modest five tracks, including the future #1 hit "Royals." Lorde may be young and new to the music scene, but with her incredible voice and down-to-earth lyrics, she could (and should) have a fantastic career to look forward to. Check out her single "Royals" below and let me know what you think!

Currently Listening: May Playlist

Although I still love Pandora and Songza for my music needs, I've been on a Grooveshark kick as of late. It started last week when I wanted to make a playlist of all the bands that will be at Made in America this year, and you know how it goes. One song reminds you of another, your favorite bands release new albums, before you know it your simple playlist has grown to 400 songs in 4 days (oops!). Don't worry, I've severely edited said playlist down for your listening pleasure! Take a listen below (or click here) and let me know what you think, and if you have any song suggestions for me, let me know! I love adding new music... clearly :)

Currently Listening: Sleigh Bells

I started listening to Sleigh Bells two years ago when my friend Lindsay introduced the Brooklyn noise pop duo to me, but I admit that I haven't had a listen in a while. That's why I think it was fate that as I was chatting with Lindsay the other day, this song popped up on my Pandora. Yup, definitely fate. Sleigh Bells have put out two studio albums, Treats in 2010 and Reign of Terror in 2012, with Treats remaining my pick of the two. Their music hits hard, it just feels louder and bigger than other songs in your playist. But this juxtaposes beautifully with Alexis Krauss' demure vocals. Give a listen to the treack "Rill, Rill" from Treats below and let me know what you think! 

Currently Listening: Social Studies

While I'm away on vacation, I've scheduled some posts to 

publish automatically. See you all soon!

Another new addition to my collection has been the album Developer from the band Social Studies. Although new to me, Social Studies' Developer is the band's sophomore LP and, from what I've read in reviews, it is a huge advancement over their debut effort. Reminiscent of Florence Welch, front woman Natalia Rogovin's vocals are deep, moody, and slightly haunting. She is backed by strong guitar riffs, subtle synth and beats, and keys that combine in concise arrangements. My top picks from the album are "Terracur" and "Away for the Weekend" (below).

 

Currently Listening: The Orwells

I have a small case of musical ADD, which means I'm constantly on the hunt for new artists to add to my playlists. Lately I've been browsing the 2013 SXSW line-up, looking for new names and giving them a listen. This is how I stumbled upon The Orwells. Although this bluesy, garage-rock band is made up of five teens fresh out of high-school, their sound is far from amateur. The may be singing about school suspension and what it's like to be young, but the production level on their debut album Remember When is incredible and the vocals are raw and honest. Give them a listen below, and don't blame me if you find yourself hitting repeat over and over.

Currently Listening

I don't know how many people have discovered Songza yet, but this site is amazing! Although similar to Pandora and 8tracks, Songza features a unique "music conceirge" that finds the perfect playlist for you based on the time of day, what you're doing, your mood, and your genre preference. Plus, no audio ads!

Nothing gets me through the work morning like familiar and laid-back tunes I can hum along to; cue the Female Indie Pop Singers playlist. It features some of my favorites like Kate Nash, Marina and the Diamonds, and Florence and the Machine, but it has plenty of new stuff I haven't heard yet to spice things up. Perfect!

If you haven't already you should definitely check out this site. They even have awesome workout playlists that you can bring with you via their smart phone app. I'm personally a fan of the Mambo workout selections :) Hope you enjoy!