Alternative Times

An Alternative Music Magazine for the 21st Century

[alternativetimes-blog]

B’s Bops - September 24, 2018

False Confidence – Noah Kahan

False Confidence is single number bagillion from Noah Kahan. Noah has been dropping bop after bop since 2017 and I have been waiting for him to finally release an LP that never seems to be coming. False confidence is a motivational but sad song to an upbeat tune about putting himself back together after a breakup. Hopefully this song motivates you to put yourself back together after a rough weekend.

Grace – Lewis Capaldi

Lewis Capaldi is everyone’s favourite potato head. He may look like a potato, but he has the voice of an angel. He hasn’t dropped a bad song his entire career, but I guess that makes sense because with his voice he could sing over a garbage compactor and it would be a bop. His newest single, Grace, is no exception. In this song Mr. Potato Head sticks to what he knows best, his emotions, and busts out a banger about getting close to someone then being scared of how much you depend on them.

I Feel Like I’m Drowning – Two Feet

I Shazammed this song from the Netflix show Good Girls. From the first two guitar chords I knew I was into it. Then the bass dropped on it, mixed with Two Feet’s mysterious and melodic voice, it was an instant mood. I still don’t know what Two Feet is talking about in this song, but it’s the kind of beat that puts you in a trance and you can’t help but nod your head along to the music.

Guiding Light – Mumford & Sons

Marcus and the boys are back. After dropping that Coldplay wannabe album they decided to tone down their Chris Martin and found a happy medium between their roots and the synths. They keep the folky sounding guitar but add synths and a rock drum beat. It works, and I’ll always be a fan of Marcus Mumford’s voice, no matter the style he is singing.

You Came to Party (Feat. Too $hort) – Meter Mobb

Not the usual song that I would listen to, but this summer when I was in Jasper this song had taken over the town. We were at a local house party, in the middle of a flip cup game and this song came on. Everybody stopped what they were doing and looked at each other with dumb grins on. As the beat hit they all started doing what I can best describe as the pterodactyl: arms spread out not moving, chest gyrating and head bopping to the beat. Any time I play this song for someone, even if they’ve never heard it they automatically start pterodactyling. That, along with its humorous lyrics makes it a great song to get completely dino’d to on a Friday night.

[alternativetimes-blog]

J’s Jams - September 17, 2018

This week I’m listening to new tunes from The Marias, Isaac Lewis, Mellow Fellow & Ruru, Beach Goons, and HOAX

~~~

Clueless - The Marias

Yes I know it’s another Marias song... They’re just so good, they’re definitely one of my go to bands right now, and they should be one of yours too. But back to the song... Clueless, that’s me on Mondays, “I can’t take this shit no more baby” - also me on Mondays, and the first line of the song. This is the Monday song, it’s very chill, it’s jazzy, it’s a good way to start the week. Give it a listen.

It’s Okay to Dream - Mellow Fellow & Ruru

What’s a more mellow name, Mellow Fellow or Ruru? 

That’s the song right there, its floooooowin, its like floating on a lazy river on a summer night with an aurora borealis over head. check it out, tell me I’m wrong, I dare you

Easy Minded - Isaac Lewis

Explicit auto-tune, in an alternative rock song, is that allowed? Apparently so. This song fucking rocks. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s officially allowed now. Isaac Lewis, man, breaking down barriers. Besides, the auto-tune only makes a very brief appearance at the end of the song.

This is my favorite song right now, if you listen to any song from this list make it this one. Lewis’s deep, calm, voice is the perfect contrast to the relatively fast paced drum beat. Besides the autotune he also has a great range, hitting the high notes when he needs to. There’s also a shredtastic guitar solo that isn’t annoyingly long. This song honestly has it all.

Wondering - Arlie

This song is addressing someone who has lost access to their cell phone, it’s pretty condescending but alas, it’s catchy. Arlie are certainly a band to watch right now, they did Bonnaroo for the first time this past June, and they’re currently doing a tour through the United States, even appearing with Mt. Joy for a few shows between September 25 and October 4.

Moon Moon Baby - HOAX

If Harry Styles ever did a bunch of ecstasy and decided to make an alternative rock song it would sound like this. 

It definitely depends on your mood with song because it is extremely upbeat, and the lyrics kind of suck, but if you’re in a good mood this song is perfect. Listen to this on Friday after you finish your last class or get off work, it makes me feel good, i think you’ll feel the same way.

[alternativetimes-blog]

Is this the most generically 90s video in existence? Maybe.

It’s even kind of the most generically 90s alternative rock sound, but in the best way. Released in 1995, “Santa Monica”, the second single from Everclear’s first album, Sparkle and Fade, comes at the perfect time to sum up the grunge/alternative sound. Subsequently the album would go on to be certified platinum.

Santa Monica - Everclear

tbt

[alternativetimes-blog]

B’s Bops - September 10, 2018

An Evening I Will Not Forget/Furthest Thing - Dermot Kennedy

Dermot Kennedy is one of the best lyricists I have heard. He has been writing songs since he was seventeen and it shows. An Evening I Will Not Forget/Furthest Thing is one of the saddest songs I have ever heard. Paired with the raw emotion in Dermot’s voice, which has been compared to an angry Marcus Mumford, this song is guaranteed to help you cry away your Monday blues.

Purge - Bas

Bas, one of J. Cole’s protege’s from his label Dreamville, just released his sophomore album Milky Way. One of the most under-rated songs on the album is Purge. It is probably overlooked because it isn’t like pop culture rap where they fuck bitches, get money, and do drugs. Bas takes a more lyrical approach to the song which outlines how he is up and coming but then takes a dark turn in the chorus which shows the depression that can come with making it big and leaving people behind.

Laps Around the Sun - Ziggy Alberts

Full-time surfer, part-time singer/songwriter Ziggy Alberts is dropping his third studio album in November. Laps Around the Sun is the first single, and title track, to be released. Laps Around the Sun is classic Ziggy: calm, catchy, surfer beach-folk music with a lyrical twist. You won’t be able to stop yourself from tapping your foot and singing along while imagining yourself around a beach fire watching the sunset.

Dr. Whoever - Amine

Dr. Whoever is the intro song to Amine’s second studio album ONEPOINTFIVE. The name makes it sound like its only half a studio album though, not a full one? However, Dr. Whoever is definitely a full song. In the song Amine says that “these intros aren’t meant to be bangers” but Amine couldn’t have been more wrong. Dr. Whoever is, in fact a banger; especially when he changes the beat up near the end of the song and puts it all on the verse.

Freak - Jeremy Loops

Freak is the lead single off of Jeremy Loops’ second studio album, Critical as Water, which he released this year. Loops is a South African alternative/folk singer so all of his songs, even the sad ones, have an upbeat vibe that you could dance to. Freak has a very groovy beat and he incorporates brass instruments and harmonicas to create a unique sound that will help you get freaky on a Friday.

[alternativetimes-blog]

The Office Fire Drill - Michael Scott OH MY GOD

New Hozier EP drops today..

[alternativetimes-blog]

It’s Thursday you know what that means..

Tbt to this iconic video and song. Summer may be over, but at least we get to see some of the friends we missed over the summer now. This video evokes so many memories, and I think speaks to a kind of youthful ideal a lot of people can relate to. It’s beautiful and melancholic at the same time, and rightfully won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video in 1996. 

1979 - The Smashing Pumpkins

Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

[alternativetimes-blog]

J’s Jams - September 3, 2018

This week I’m listening to new tunes from The Marías, Almond Soy, Black Pool, Faze Wave, and Ten Tonnes.

~~~

Cariño - The Maria’s

This groovy and soothing love song from LA based The Marías is just what you need to recover from the weekend and make it through your Monday.

Feels - Black Pool

This song is probably one of my favourites right now. Black Pool’s crooning indie rock sound is perfect for the ever approaching autumn. Give it a listen.

Silhouette - Almond Soy

A little electric, this tune from Perth band Almond Soy serves a catchy hook and has the perfect kind of ‘get it done’ energy to carry you through the week.

You Need Space - Faze Wave

With a punk attitude, this still very groovy alternative jam from Jacksonville based band Faze Wave, has a kind of authenticity in its lyrics and instrumentation that you can’t ignore.

G.I.V.E. - Ten Tonnes

This new one from Hertford singer/songwriter Ten Tonnes is the uplifting Friday song. The week is over at last, get your drank on. Listen to this on your way home from work or school to have you feeling exactly where you want to be.

Does Ten Tonnes voice sound familiar? It might, his brother is George Ezra!

Have good week guys