Music Monday: One of those days...

UGH. It's Monday ALREADY?  I loathe monday's...6 am comes way too quickly. I hit snooze like 4 times this morning.  Anyway, this song seems appropriate, no?

I mean seriously, who doesn't love the Bangles??  In all their 80s rocker chic glory??  Oh you?  Okay, well if that's not your cup of tea.  Then how about this....

Now, if you're about to tell me you don't like Florence + the Machine either...then don't.  It's monday afterall.  I find Florence equally strange and entertaining.  I've seen her preform (through the tv on some show, ha) and yea, she's off beat (in my opinion), but I think that's why I like her.  Plus she's a ginger. :)

Happy Monday! Ha!

xo, kass

Music Monday: The Toadies

I have to start out this post saying...I thought this band was broken up (the were for awhile), but apparently they got back together in 2006/2007 - well not all the original members, but still.  I literally JUST found this out.  Where the hell have I been?  I LOVED this band back in the day and still do.  Well, love their old music...I haven't listened to the new stuff, but you bet your ass I'm gonna!

Anyway, the lead singer, Todd Lewis, has a fantastically unique voice and I just love it.  If you've ever heard of the Toadies then you've probably heard the song Possum Kingdom, which yes is great, but I really love the song Tyler.  Now I won't lie to you and say the song isn't a little weird...people always ponder on what it's really about, but after some research I'm fairly certain it's about this window peeper/stalker that was in Tyler, Texas (which is near where the band is from).  Regardless, I still like this song.  The music is great and the lyrics make you think...and are kind of eerie.

Disclaimer:  I do not like this video.  The dude running around is hella distracting - and it's stupid.  BUT again, the song itself is great, so hit play and open facebook in another tab. :) 

{website/wiki/facebook}

Music Monday: Chantal Claret

**UPDATE** I was contacted by Chantal Claret's rep who provided me with some more current and correct information (as well as the photo below).  In light of that, I decided to update this post! :)

As I was listening to Slacker last week, I came across a great new artist (well new to me), Chantal Claret. 

She is the former frontwoman for a band called Morningwood  (the 13 year old in me thinks that’s hilariously awesome!...okay, the 27 year old me chuckles too.), and now is branching out on her own. Chantel's rep sent me a bio that had lots of direct quotes from her...and I gotta say, she seems pretty awesome!

Her debut album The One, The Only... is set to be out June 19th, and you can hear the single "Bite Your Tongue" here. (which is apparently written about "an utter piece of shit"! love it!)  Chantal describes her album as "...Tina Turner fronting Outkast at Bette Midler's bat mitzvah". haha!  She says, "I wanted to make music that sounds like it could've been written in the '60s or '70s, but with a big fat hip-hop-like low end...".  Apparently, her love for for upbeat 60s music started back when she was 15 and used to sneak into mod clubs, lol!  In any case this chicah seems pretty entertaining and she sounds amazing - so be sure to keep an eye on her!

[I’m not going to lie, the video below is probably not suitable for young eyes!]

Her website doesn’t have much at the moment, but you can also find her on Facebook.

Music Monday: JJ Grey & Mofro

I discovered JJ Grey & Mofro through iTunes believe it or not. I don’t know what they iNamed it, but that sidebar thing that suggest songs you may like based on what’s playing..yea JJ Grey came up on there. I honestly don’t have a clue what I was listening to at the time, but I’m glad I did! I could sit here and recap the bio on their website, but why don’t you just go read it instead. Oh and apparently they have a little documentary too, so I’ll be checking that out! And if you don’t feel like reading or watching, then just know they are from southern rural Florida and JJ’s voice is gonna rock your socks off. For realz. I’m hoping to catch them in MN or WI this summer. Or hey, JJ, if you’re reading my blog how about you hit up the midwest a bit harder? [coughIOWAcough] ;)

Music Monday: Flash Back

So, I was watching Bridesmaids Saturday night {great movie by the way!} and I was reminded of Wilson Phillips!  I loved that song "Hold On" when I was a kid!  So, for this week I thought I'd share a couple of my childhood favorites, haha!  Enjoy...

Billy Ray Cyrus

Try not to judge me too much for this one!  Not only did I love listening to Billy Ray...I thought he was a total hunk.  Remember, this was circa 1992 Billy.  What...a mullet and jean jacket doesn't say sexy too you? :P

you're welcome.

Madonna

Who doesn't love Madonna?!  Okay plenty of people, even me now.  I mean I don't dislike her, but for me nothing she creates now can even compare to "Like A Prayer".  Seriously, I still have that on cassette tape!  I also believe there is some very embarrassing video of me doing an interpretive dance to it...please let me remind you this was like 1990 and I was about 6.  So be kind to 6-year old Kassie and enjoy some old-school Madoona.  :)

{for the record I find this video really strange...}

And because I teased you with it in the beginning and because it's a great 90's video [LOL]....Wilson Phillips!

Music Monday: Forgotten?

This past Friday I was rocking out with Slacker Radio at work. Generally with Slacker {or Pandora} I’ll just type in an artist and go from there. However, this time preset stations caught my eye... “Great Songs You Forgot”!! It turned out to be pretty sweet! I mean, sure there were a few that I skipped over, but I think that there were only a couple I didn’t recognize. Either way, I was instantly taken back to my early high school days! Which I realize can be a mixed bag of emotions (haha!), but in this case it was fun and I definite was reminded of some great music I forgot about! So in light of that lovely afternoon, I thought I’d share a few favorites I heard!

Eagle Eye Cherry 

So, I am slightly embarrassed to say that I thought this was a band name - I never realized this was just one dude! No doubt the song you will immediately remember is “Save Tonight" from his debut album “Desireless” (1997). And really, that’s the only song I remember. Although, I was checking out his website and he has released many albums, so I think I will have to do some more listening! Oh and cute story I read on wiki (so who knows...) - apparently he was named Eagle-Eye because when he first looked at his father, Don Cherry, it was with one eye closed. :)

  

Fastball 

Oh man, oh man. I LOVED this band in high school. Actually, wait back up...I have their album “All the Pain Money Can Buy” on CASSETTE TAPE. Yep! So...that may have been circa middle school for me, lol. You almost certainly of heard their song “The Way” which was apparently based on the disappearance of an elderly couple. Interesting. In any case, I loved that entire album...hmmf, I wish I still had a tape player. Or, maybe I should just buy the digital version, ha!

 

Weezer 

This band was super popular back in the day, what ever happened to them?  Apparently, they have been a band since 1992, that's crazy!  In '92 I would have been in second or third grade, lol.  Anyway, I really loved their song "Buddy Holly", but you also probably remember them for "The Sweater Song" and "Say it Ain't So".  They did release an album in 2010 of already recorded songs that they never used, probably worth checking out!

 

Music Monday!

Music plays a huge roll in my day to day and I'm always on the hunt for new{to me} bands.  I love how music can envoke very specific and sometimes very strong emotions, it's inspiring.  In any case, I thought I'd share a few of my current favorite bands. 

Mates of State

I've been in love with this band for the last couple of years, they are so good!  They are a husband-wife indie pop duo from the US.  They've been producing music as the Mates since 1996 and their most recent release was Mountaintops, last September.  Although, I think my favorite album is Re-Arrange Us!  They just have such an interesting and unique sound...gah!  Go ahead...listen and begin to fall in love! <3

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

Ohmygosh, this is such a great band and I have such a huge girl crush on their awesome front girl! :P

"Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are like a modern-day version of Tina Turner stroking the microphone in a spangled mini-dress while fronting the Rolling Stones circa Sticky Fingers." via gracepotter.com

So true!  This band had such an awesome sound!  It's sort of a bluesy rock sound, when I first listen to the self named album all the way through I was surprised by the diversity.  Soooo great! :)

This is a really cool, special, acoustic version of my favorite song!


Old Crow Medicine Show

Another great band!  They have a folksy rocker sound...and honestly when I heard them and then looked up a video for the first time I was surprised that they were young. Haha!  I believe they've been band since the late 90s, but I only discovered them a few years ago.  This is one band I would love to see live!

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I don't know if "Music Monday" is going be a weekly thing or not, but possibly.  I think I'm going to be playing around with the "blog schedule" and such in the next few weeks, so just bear with me please! 

{And also, if you see a post you particularly like, then tell me!}