Album Review: Little Machines

It's been a while since Lights has released music but her most recent album, Little Machines, is her best yet in my opinion. I love all of the songs, which pretty is rare for me. She has kept up her innocent tones with a new maturity, which is appropriate as the album release followed her daughters birth in February of this year, giving her new responsabilities. Her husband is a singer in his own band (Blessthefall) which means the two often have to travel separately for long periods of time while they are on their respective tours which has also been mirrored in her songs. Also, they are actually all clean! ... except I still can't figure out how I feel about the content of Muscle Memory. Let's just avoid that one for now and say the rest are perfectly ok.

I feel like I want to put all of the songs on here because I love them so much but I'm going to try and pick my favorites (it's like trying to pick a favorite child!).

(I'm also realizing it's hard to find the individual tracks on YouTube. If you want to just listen to the whole album, here is the link --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idCJqXOB5N0)

Running With The Boys

                                                                                                     

Oil and Water

                                                                                             

Up We Go
*by the way, there is a music video for this song but I would NOT recommend it.

                                                                                              

Lucky Ones
*bonus track on the Deluxe Version

                                                                                                 

From All Sides
*bonus track on the Deluxe Version

Made My Day

I would like to digress from music for a moment. I was watching videos on YouTube the other day (like most days) and found some videos that really made my day. Sometimes we forget how good people can be but these gave me hope and some made me tear up. I wanted to share a few with you.

 

 

Secret Angel Delivery

 

Reverse Pickpocketing

 

I read an article about this video and basically an autistic boy named Daniel loved to run outside to see the garbage truck come every day. One day, the man driving the garbage truck, Manuel, decided to give the little boy his very own toy garbage truck.

 

This is a video Target put out and I think it is just adorable.



The Secret of Babysitting

I was babysitting a few weeks ago and was having trouble getting all of the kids to get in bed and stay in bed. They all share a room so when one got up and started jumping around, the others felt like they needed to also. I remembered a song I had heard that I thought was perfect to fall asleep to so I told them that if they would all lay down in their beds and were quiet, I would play them a song. I found the song through an app I have on my phone called Sound Cloud so once they were quiet I pulled up the song on my phone and played it quietly so that if they wanted to heard it, they had to remain still and silent. This is the song I played. (By the way, the original versions of all of these songs are clean).

Honeybee (Music Box Edition)

by: Steam Powered Giraffe

                                                                                                  

After that was over, I just searched for piano covers of songs in the app and the first one I found that I was familiar with was this song. By the end of this song, two of the four kids I was babysitting had fallen asleep.

Latch (piano cover)

by: Disclosure

                                                                                                 

Next, I (accidently) clicked on this song (but what kid doesn't like Frozen?).

Let It Go (piano cover)

from: Frozen

                                                                                             

What I meant to click on was this song (which almost but me to sleep as well).

A Thousand Years

by: Christina Perry

This music is great to put kids to sleep, yourself to sleep, or even just give you a sense of peace. The piano is a beautiful instrument that is very relaxing to play and listen to.

Please share with your friends or anyone you think may need some peace or uplifting. That is my goal in making this blog; to help, encourage, and uplift others through music.

Thank you! I will try super hard to post more on this blog (and my modesty blog as well).
:)

In a Fairy Tale

Just some songs about the different stages of falling in (or out of) love.

Oh Hush
by: My Genuine Find

                                                                                             

White Horse

by: Taylor Swift

                                                                                              

Feels Like Yesterday
by: American Authors

                                                                                          

My Kind of Perfect

by: David Archuleta

                                                                                          

Skip to the Good Part

by: He Is We

 

                                                                                        

Holding Out for a Hero

by: Frou Frou (originally by Bonnie Tyler)

                                                                                            

Over You

by: Daughtry

Mothers Day, Part 2

The second artist I wanted to spotlight who recently became a mother is Evynne Hollens. Ashland James Hollens was born to Peter and Evynne Hollens on March 31 (I believe). Here are some adorable pictures of the three of them. Photo credits: Peter Hollens' Facebook.

 

 

Awwwww. Now lets hear some of Evynne's music.

Defying Gravity (from Wicked)

                                                                                               

Les Miserables Medley

                                                                                             

Fields of Gold

Mothers Day, Part 1

In honor of Mothers Day tomorrow, I want to spotlight two artists who recently became mothers. The first is Lights. Baby Rocket was born on February 15th. Here are some pictures of the new family. Photo credits: Lights' Facebook.

     

    

Ok, enough pictures. Back to the music.

Toes

                                                                                               

Second Go

                                                                                           

Lions

                                                                                            

Frame and Focus

                                                                                             

Drive My Soul

                                                                                            

Siberia

Just Dance

I was part of a group that planned a pajama dance a few weeks ago and I decided to make a playlist to give to the DJ. I wanted to post some of the songs here to prove that there are plenty of upbeat songs you can dance to that are clean.



Love Like Woe

by: The Ready Set

                                                                                              

 Shooting Star

 by: Owl City

                                                                                                

My interpretation of this song is in being about the music industry. They are talking about how they may have a popular song but it's just a matter of time before they are forgotten about because they don't have famous connections.

All The Right Moves
by: One Republic

                                                                                          

Titanium
by: David Guetta (ft. Sia)

                                                                                               

I think the lyrics in this video may be a little off...

Pumpin' Blood
by: NONONO

                                                                                            

And even though this is a very 80's song, no dance would be complete without a slow dance to...

Forever Young
by: Alphaville

 

Music Is My Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day (aka Single Awareness Day)! Whether or not you have a Valentine, I hope you can enjoy these love songs.

Fall in Love

by: Peter and Evynne Hollens

                                                                                         

Something 'Bout Love

by: David Archuleta

                                                                                               

This was one of the cutest Valentine's presents ever! Taylor Swift wrote the song "Enchanted" about Adam Young (Owl City), which he discovered by decoding the secret message in her lyrics. When he figured this out, he remembered the night she was referring to and decided to sing the song back to her as a Valentines gift. He wrote a really sweet message to go along with it as well. I don't know if she ever heard it or what her reaction was but it was still very sweet. Here are both versions of the song.
 

                                                                                                   

 

Loving You Is Easy

by: Union J

 

 

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Hope you have a splendid day :)

Optimism

These are some of my favorite feel-good songs that remind me of the joys of life and to live it to its fullest.

Beautiful Life

by: Union J

                                                                                           

New Year's Day

by: Abandon

                                                                

Undefeated

by: Jason Derulo

                                                                    

 

Something Beautiful

by: Newsboys

                                                                  

 

Up And Up (Acoustic)

by: Relient K

                                                                       

 

There are a few people in this video to look out for that you might recognize. If you watch Studio C (comedy sketches from BYU), Mallory, Whitney, Jason, Natalie, Adam, and Jeremy are in this. Also, If you've seen Napoleon Dynamite (who hasn't?), Jon Heder makes an appearance. I didn't notice any of them until someone pointed it out to me so you have to look closely.

On Top of the World

by: Imagine Dragons



As of Late

Here are some songs I have been listening to a lot lately.

Girls Like You

by: The Naked and Famous

*I know, not the best band name

                                                                                     

End of All Time

by: Stars of Track and Field

                                                                                   

The Heart of Life

by: John Mayer

                                                                                    

So Easy

by: Phillip Phillips

                                                                                     

Beautiful Words

by: The Afters

I first heard these songs on Pandora and have kept listening to them. If you like them, I would recommend a station called Siberia. It's a song by Lights and I have heard some great stuff on that station.


Reasons Why Peter Hollens Is Amazing

Ok seriously this guy is spectacular and in this post I am going to prove to you why he is so amazing.

This is the first video of his that I saw and I absolutely loved his voice. I found it because I'm a fan of Landon Austin and was listening to some covers he had done. As you can imagine, this cover made me really happy with both of them in it.

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (originally by Taylor Swift)

by: Peter Hollens and Landon Austin

                                                                                                  

Lately I have been going on YouTube and re-discovering Disney songs. I don't think we fully appreciate them as kids but going back now that I'm older I have a new-found love in the amazing and wholesome messages they portray with beautiful music to accompany it. I was looking for a medley and the first one I saw was this one and I thought "hey, I recognize that guy!". Needless to say, I was blown away with his talent once again.

Disney Medley

by: Peter Hollens and Alex G

                                                                                                 

After listening to that song like 10 times, I started a mad search through YouTube to hear more of his songs. I found this song that I have heard numerous times but I thought it was a lot cuter to watch him sing it with his wife who also happens to posses an incredible amount of talent. Oh, and as if I wasn't already well on the road to obsession with his music, he made me like him even more by saying in the description of that video "Music is so powerful it needs to be used for redeeming work, to lift people's spirits and lift their souls. Hope you find some of this in my music." Thank you for restating my purpose in making this blog. I'm glad someone else sees the the importance of listening to clean and wholesome music.

(By the way, I've heard the movie this song is from is not exactly something worth recommending. So, don't watch it.)

Seasons of Love (originally from the musical Rent)

by: Peter Hollens Feat. Evynne Hollens

                                                                                                 

I'm not a big Star Wars fan but the nerd inside of me comes out when I see something this cool (and apparently so does theirs). The video was done so well and I thought it was also cool that I recognized Lindsey Stirling. She is a phenomenal violinist who breaks far away from any violinist stereotypes. Watch and you will get a glimpse of what I mean. Check out her other collaborations, original songs, and covers here: http://www.youtube.com/user/lindseystomp

Star Wars Medley

by: Peter Hollens and Lindsey Stirling

                                                                                             

Being a Lord of the Rings/ Hobbit fan, I was pretty excited to find this. I am amazed at how much of a range he has when it comes to singing. Acapella music never ceases to amaze me. (Pst. There is also a version he did with Jun Sung Ahn who is playing the violin. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylfb3FRvuVU ).

Misty Mountains

by: Peter Hollens

 

                                                                                              

I wish this was my job. I guess I need to practice singing more.

Pirates Medley

by: Peter Hollens and Gardiner Sisters

Hope you liked this post. Subscribe, share, and comment to let me know what I can do better or what you would like to see more of. Have a wonderful day!!!!!!

Album Review: lovestrong.

I went to the Library a few days ago because I wanted some new music and they had a fairly large selection of CD's. I checked out six of them and made a list of ones that I wanted to get when I came back. I wanted to share my findings and give you reviews of the music as I listen to it. I will post videos for my favorite songs off of the album and give reviews of the other tracks to tell you what is clean and what isn't.

First up is the album lovestrong. by Christina Perri. I had only heard maybe three of her songs before and I thought they were pretty good but since listening to the whole album I realized that I really like it. The album starts out strong and mellows out by the end but I still enjoyed it.

Overall, there is no sexual content or language. However, I wouldn't recommend the first track, entitled bluebird, because of the frequent use of a certain word I'm not comfortable with (H-E-double hockey sticks, if you know what I mean). Also, in the song mine, liquor is referenced briefly, so if you don't care for that, in my opinion, this track could be skipped. To my understanding, all other tracks on this album are clean and I would recommend listening to them.
The tracks are:

1. bluebird                   2. arms

3. bang, bang, bang     4. distance

5. jar of hearts             6. mine

7. interlude                  8. penguin

9. miles                     10. the lonely

11. sad song              12. tragedy

I love the second track, entitled arms. This is probably my favorite song off of the album.

                                                                                              

  Here is a song you are probably more familiar with- jar of hearts. I actually heard it on the radio the other day.

                                                                                            

Penguin is a pretty cute and enjoyable song about finding time to spend with those who really care about you and appreciating the people in your life.

                                                                                                 

If arms is my favorite, then track #9, miles, is my second favorite. The lyrics are beautiful and unique which is why I love it.

So now that you have seen a variety of posts on this blog, I would like some feedback. What do you like? What don't you like? What do you want to see more of? What would be helpful to you?

To review, so far you have seen posts with:

random songs

a theme (such as Christmas songs)

multiple tracks from a single artist

and an album review

Leave a comment on this post and let me know... and maybe subscribe while you are at it. (If I'm not mistaken, to do so, one would scroll to the very bottom of this page and look for a hyperlink that says "subscribe", click it, and follow the instructions at the top of the page it opens).

Have a great day!