If David Guetta made the soundtrack for Last of the Mohicans, I think it would sound like this. Now there are probably few people out there that know both David Guetta and that soundtrack so this metaphor probably makes no sense, but either way this track by AWOLNATION is a good one. To me this is good around the house/relaxing music, but it may be a little too rough for some tastes. Check out “Sail” and let me know what you think!
Category Archives: rock
What is “atmospheric English indie pop” music? This is.
That’s the term some use to describe the hypnotic beats of English band The xx. It’s hard to argue, although I think I would probably replace “pop” with “rock”, but either way its great music, a great band and their 2012 album Coexist was one of the best of the year. Check them performing “Angels” live st Seattle’s KEXP radio station. They sound just as good live as on the album. Let me know what you think!
Watch the best live concert video ever made!
I’m not sure how their 
label hasn’t found this on YouTube and taken it down yet (and maybe after my posting it they will), but here is one of the best live concert films ever made. It’s from U2′s 2001 Elevation Tour, live from Boston.
To me, this was U2 in its prime. They were at the peak of their career and influence, they had just put out their album All That You Can’t Leave Behind which was chock full of classics from beginning to end, they had a creative new stage layout and HD and multi-camera recording technique in place. Socially, Bono was in the midst of his big ONE Campaign against poverty and his global influence was booming. Historically, it was a significant moment as well because the albums popularity and the Elevation Tour took place around the tragedy of 9/11 and for many living in NYC at the time, myself included, the album became a soundtrack to the healing process.
This video was certainly an all time favorite of mine and I urge you to watch it in its entirety, especially when he sings “With or Without You” and ruins the night for whatever guy came with the girl he brings up on stage! hahaha
A song for all the lonely hearts out there
You ever discover, or rediscover, 
an older song and then become obsessed with how good it was/is? That is me right now with this 10 year old Nada Surf song “Inside of Love”.
It’s an absolute beautiful track chronicling the yearning to be the person in the good relationship when you seem to always be standing on the outside of that. I bet we’ve all felt like that at some point right?
I think the most pointed lyrics in the song come when lead singer Matthew Caws sings “I know the last page so well, I can’t read the first, so I just don’t start.” What a great metaphor for that feeling you get when you just don’t want to even deal with starting a new relationship after having gotten out of one or more that didn’t work.
Anyway, lie down or lean back, close your eyes, and enjoy this great song!
A mellow song to love for a mellow weekend
Well at this point we have all settled in to the New Year. Our New Year resolutions are going strong, or in many cases already getting tedious or fading away. With most of the country set for cold or rainy weather this weekend, I thought I’d share a track that is perfect for vegging out at home.
Their entire first album is great so check it out, but here is one of my favorites from Denver folk-rock band The Lumineers entitled “Stubborn Love”. Watch the video too. Its wonderfully edited footage from their recent tours and gives you a great sense of the band to compliment the music.
If Kings of Leon and Foo Fighter had a baby it would sound like this:
At least that’s the best description I am able to come up with for the sound that comes from South Carolina’s NEEDTOBREATHE. Check out this track “Drive All Night” off of their 4th studio album called The Reckoning. They opened up for Taylor Swift on her 2011 tour so they definitely have some street cred right? Let me know what you think about them.
Just Droppin In…check this out!
5Check out my 
buddy J.R. Biersmith‘s new web show “Just Droppin In” where he drops in on travelers, musicians and other interesting folks from around the world to capture a slice of their lives. This first one with surfer/traveler Kepa Acero is pretty cool and I like how Kepa is documenting his travels through video and music. Check it out!
Need newer Christmas music?
If you’re like me then you probably have a Christmas 
playlist thats about 300 songs deep. If not, then you’re probably more normal than I am when it comes to the holidays 
That said, I do have people ask me for more modern Christmas songs because they are getting bored of The Carpenters christmas tape or CD after listening to it for 40 years…
I’ve got plenty of recommendations, but to start here are Neon Trees with a fun pop/rock holiday melody thats catchy enough that I dont actually find myself getting sick of it. Perfect!
Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
ALL TIME FAVORITE: Best November song ever?
1Granted, 
there arent a ton of songs with November in them, but when I think of November and music I cant help but think of what I consider the greatest rock ballad of all time…November Rain by Guns N’ Roses.
This hit from their epic 1992 album Use Your Illusion I is legendary for a number of reasons:
- its just incredibly well written song
- it includes not one, not two, but three epic guitar solos by Slash which progressively build on each other until the climax at the end which gives me the chills even today when I hear it
- the song it nearly 9 minutes long
- the story and art that went into creating the music video for this redefined that art form by inspiring artists to create larger story lines in videos
- a symphony plays in the song, which was written and conducted by lead singer and writer Axl Rose
I really dont know of a more epic rock ballad than this, what do you think?
Enjoy!
Muse is for music lovers!
Its well
documented that Muse is my favorite band in the world. I think their creativity in unparalleled, they write, arrange and produce their own music, and they seamlessly mix a variety of influences into their albums from hard rock to metal, trance, classical and punk. To me its perfect!
Their latest album came out a few weeks ago and to me it is fantastic. They didn’t just make more of the same, they tried new things and I think succeeded. Check out this video below, its a behind the scenes look at their making 3 tracks off their new album The Second Law, and they just so happen to be my 3 favorite track: “Madness”, “Big Freeze” and “Explorers”.
I hope you enjoy them like I do!
