♪ mn music wonderland

Snow Patrol - This Isn’t Everything You Are

Grand and moving, I’m always touched by their unique emotional expressions. This may not be their highest, but it’s good enough for me. A romantic rock song I would recommend for Valentine. I don’t know what’s the song’s about but it just feels romantic. 

rating: 4/5 stars
genre: alternative rock

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - AKA… What A Life!

He’s hit the jackpot this time, also three in a row here. I like this one’s a little bit dancey after a laid back one and a ballad-y one. Great variations. 

genre: alternative rock, dance-rock
rating: 4/5 stars

 

Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie

They didn’t disappoint, but they didn’t surprise me either. This is quite typical RHCP for me, I enjoy it, I like that it’s a little bit dancey, funky as usual, that’s all I have to say~

genre: funk rock, alternative rock
rating: 3.5/5 stars

6 songs from 3 rock bands, kind of similar but also kind of different, all fantastic:

Incubus - Adolescents, Promises Promises

They are cool. It’s kind of dark, but very captivating. “Adolescents” is fast paced and impressive; “Promises Promises” is a rock ballad, in the same league but soothing you out, after the attack, lol. And it has kept growing and growing since my first listen. Give it a try.

genre: alternative rock
ratings: A: 4/5 stars; PP: 4/5 stars 

Hard-Fi - Good for Nothing, Fire in the House

I’ve been a fan for quite some time, their dance rock is just so attractive for me. “Cash Machine”, “Suburban Knights” and “Tied up too Tight” are all huge for me. “Good for Nothing” is a very impressive comeback single. It’s kind of groovy and infectious. It feels like they’ve matured a lot through this new direction. It feels quite new but not losing their root, great track. “Fire in the House” is more relaxed and dancey but still tight and sophisticated, I like it a lot. It’s a great comeback for me!!

genre: indie rock, alternative rock, dance rock
ratings: GFN: 4/5 stars;  FITH: 4/5 stars 

Kasabian - Switchblade Smiles, Days Are Forgotten

They didn’t disappoint! These two comeback singles are superb! “Switchblade Smiles” is kind of aggressive, it just want to rock you deep inside with angry vocals and fast pace vigorous arrangments. I think it succeeded, it’s left a deep impression on me, it’s dark but artistic, it’s simply awesome. “Days are Forgotten” is HUGE. It’s ace, hands down. An epic Kasabian rock ballad you don’t wanna miss. I love the “ah” verse, I love the super sweet chorus, I love the flow, the energy, I love the whole song from start to finish, brilliantly ace, period. Welcome back, welcome back!!! I’m ecstatic!! :DD

genre: indie rock, neo-psychedelia, space rock, electronic rock
ratings: SS: 4/5 stars; DAF: 4.5/5 stars

Ok, stumbling into these 2 songs from these 2 bands has just renewed my love for Britpop/ British band sounds. One old, one new; one moody/sad, one happy, both nice, both brilliant:

Athlete - The Outsiders (2007-album/2008-ep) 

I’m down, I’m sad and I make this my accompanying sound. However this is smooth, this is inwards, this is superb, and somehow this soothes my mind a little bit..

genre: indie rock, alternative rock, post-britpop, electronic rock 
rating: 4/5 stars 

The Feeling - Set My World on Fire

I love “Sewn” and this renewed my love for their sound. And this is so happy, so if it is time to celebrate, celebrate with this song, ‘cos it seems nothing sounds happier than it recently… It’s like MEGA happy and it gives you strength. And… cheesy, oh yeah, I know why I’m so quickly in love with it now… lol

genre: pop rock, pop
rating: 4/5 stars

Boy & Bear - Feeding Line

This is subline. I mean, the flow of this song is so good, so catchy yet so organic. Oh and I love those whistles, they are just the right touches, SUPERB. Definitely one of my big recent recommendations, I think you can listen to this over and over again AND again. 

genre: indie, alternative rock
rating: 4.5/5 stars

Radiohead - Lotus Flower

This is just another of their songs, but I love it anyway, I just love, period. And, surely, he loves hats…

genre: alternative rock, electronic
rating: 4/5 stars

PJ Harvey - The Words that Maketh Murder

Oh yeah, another quirky artist. I absolutely love that male chorus which comes in all of sudden, like from no where, very surprising and insteresting. Unusual but amazing, smooth progress arrangement. Solid yet surprising, weird but upbeat, along with her quirky lovely vocal, this is a wonderful piece of work!!

genre: experimental rock, alternative rock, folk
rating: 4/5 stars

Favourite pop tune of the moment? It must be song “Ambitions”!!! Let’s break it into 2 parts…

Donkeyboy - Ambitions

This is the original. It’s a late discovery I have to say ‘cos it was released last year, however, it still sounds so fresh even at this moment. Like a ray of morning light with some funny elements flying inside? Wow, that’s the feel the song gives me and that’s wierd yet it feels so good. I don’t know, it’s soooooo inspiring for me, so fresh. so refreshing. so fulfilling. so satisfying. so good. so great…… ahh… it definitely has to be one of my songs of the year!!!!!!- period. (:

genre: indie pop, pop, alternative rock
rating: 4.5/5 stars

Joe McElderry - Ambitions

So Joe did a cover of this song as his debut single. At first, I thought it was very similar to the original, but then, after a while, I started to think, yes, Joe did make it his own, by just a few twists: the major difference is the original is more rock/pop orientated and this one’s more dance-pop, but what’s more interesting to me is the slight change of the chorus which makes it more mainstream which is understanded, and charming in it’s own way. I love both versions, but then, this is clever, which deserve some applause. I think this cover is great - though I have to say my preference is still on the original. A good effort anyway and a good start, congratulations!

genre: dance-pop
rating: 4/5 stars 

The Temper Trap - Love Lost

I’m loving this more and more. The vocal reminds me of Mika but the music is totally different. There’s only one climax but somehow it is very satisfying. :) Yes, that’s enough, we should be satisfied!! Lol.. :) :)

genre: alternative rock, post-punk revival
rating: 4/5 stars