If You Are in a feel-good mood, (which I hope you are, because those are the best moods) then you're likely to be bent on one of two main types of music: generally lighthearted songs, like "It's a Beautiful Day" by Michael Bublé, or funky lighthearted songs, such as "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root. Both are for sunny moods, but funky light-hearted songs are for when you're feeling especially punchy. They often include humor and an excess of originality. The songs I'll be discussing this week definitely fit that trend. If I had to peg them [the songs I'll be discussing], I'd consider them all alternative rock. I say this because their genre contributes to the moods that they emanate. 1. "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John
Right off the bat, this song opens with a pulsing rhythm that imitates maracas gone wild. Then, a catchy whistling verse. You don't have to worry about the party stopping, because the beat carries throughout the song. Never does it slow down or lose its celebration of life. When I was deciding the topic I wanted to do this week, this song immediately came to mind. It's impossible not to feel at least an inkling of joy while you listen to it. The listener can feel even more joy if he or she thinks about the song in the scope of its genre. "Young Folks" has a smooth rock syncopation to it, yet it's not your generic rock song. On the other hand, calling this song just alternative wouldn't encompass enough of it, either. It's not just about being unique and doing its own thing. It takes rock and makes rock its own thing, making it something new and exciting and a sound to think of other than AC/DC. Rock has many forms. It has hard grit, with raw sound and biting intensity. There's also a softer side to rock that maintains the intense emotion synonymous with the genre, yet shows that emotion in a new light. Songs like this take that emotion of rock and turn it into a third category: a purely emotional category that can add its own sounds but still remain rock, albeit alternative rock, at the core because of its fervent persistence. "Young Folks" shows the world of generic music that a song can fit into a genre because of something more that just music alone: it can fit because of emotion. Quality. Impact. That emotion and impact is pure, yet dense, joy, and awe at the distinctiveness achieved in a world of uniformity.
2. "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root If you want to be "sent on your way" to ineffable joy, this song is a great place to start. It has a very similar beat to "Young Folks": catchy, yet unique and not tiresome. This song truly encompasses the meaning of alternative- Rusted Root's distinct vocals and fast pace sometimes leave the listener wondering what they're even saying. It makes it that much more funky, and contributes to the mood because you can delight in improvising your own lyrics for the indecipherable parts. For example, the chorus says, "I would like to hold my little hand, and we will run and we will, and we will cry we will." Not what you guessed? Me neither. (Or, if you want to take funky fun to a whole other level, spout out the lyrics as you hear them, words or not. Then, later, read the lyrics as you listen, and see how far off you were.) The song also has a bridge of pure, exuberant joy. If you can listen to it and not want to explode into what looks like a fast-forward Peanuts dance, then you, my friend, have a lot of restraint. "Young Folks" is alternative rock because of its raw emotions. While it has an incredibly similar vibe to "Send Me On My Way," they are alternative rock for different reasons. "Young Folks" is a solid 50/50 blend of alternative and a smooth rock sound. "Send Me On My Way" is alternative rock as in crazy rock. Weird rock. Rock that makes you almost question if it's rock, but at the same time you know with conviction that it is without knowing exactly why or how. Rock that is like if all of the songs that first come to mind when you think of rock had peppier, more psychedelic relatives. While "Young Folks" is a blend of alternative and rock, "Send Me On My Way" is rock which is incredibly, alternatively unique. It knows it's out there, and it doesn't care. It wants to make it difficult for you to classify it, and it succeeds. It succeeds in being funky. It succeeds in breaking the rules to a level of pride at the boundaries it overcomes and the victory it reaches. It succeeds in putting you in a feel-good mood.
3. "Odds Are" by Barenaked Ladies Contrary to what the band name might suggest, the Barenaked Ladies are an all-male group. They're about as funky as they come. They make songs about absolutely anything they choose, from postcards with chimpanzees ("Another Postcard") to buying exotic pets like llamas or emus ("If I Had a Million Dollars"). Believe it or not, "Odds Are" is pretty casual for them. It's a great funky lighthearted song to listen to because the waves of the music are uplifting, as well as the lyrics themselves. "Odds are that we will probably be alright" is not only sung to you, but by the end of the song, you even begin to believe it. Compared to the other songs, "Odds Are" is definitely the most out there. "Young Folks" and "Send Me On My Way" are both alternative in the name of something indie and, well, alternative. "Odds Are" is alternative in the name of "well, where else would I put it." The Barenaked Ladies have a style that is so witty and unconventional that it can only be described as alternative. But, as with the other two, it holds to rock roots, while changing the rules and putting a new spin on what listeners think of when they think of the rock genre. Audiences think of many things when they think of rock, and even alternative rock, I can assure you, but "Odds Are" is not the first thing that will come to mind. "Odds Are" shows that unconventional sounds are still sounds, and sounds worth hearing. The level of sheer and utter what-the-hell-idness it possesses puts the listener in a feel-good mood at the fact that they were brave enough to attempt it-- and better yet, pull it off.
All of these songs are great funky feel-good options to listen to. But would they be as funky-feel-good if they fit into a genre set perfectly, fitting specifications a,b,c,d exactly as called for? No! Part of the funkiness of these songs is that they are not the perfect representations of any one genre. They're the triangle pegs in the square holes of music genre classification. Do they "fit" into the square holes of alternative rock? Sure. But these songs are triangles-- they're not like the squares of AC/DC, or Radiohead, or Bon Jovi. With these songs, there's room for improvisation. There's room for interpretation. There's room to be funky.
If You Are On A Drive (with the windows down), you're going to shift from feeling a sense of knowing, even if you don't know what it is that you know, to just wanting to jam, to an introspective state. We all know the feeling I'm talking about. I think The Perks of Being a Wallflower best sums it up: you feel infinite. These three states have such diversity that they're best encompassed by three albums with musical variety. So, without further ado, Albums for If You Are on a Drive: 1. Those Younger Days by The Hunts
Have you ever heard of The Hunts? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that unless you travel into the depths of iTunes for alternative songs like me, the answer is no. The reason you've probably never heard of The Hunts is NOT that they're musically inadequate, because trust me: they're incredible. It's because they're a relatively new band. The band is made up of 7 siblings, all of whose names begin with the letter J. This is actually their debut album, and it came out only a few months ago (in June, to be exact). In the album, the siblings play all types of instruments, including violin, banjo, mandolin, piano, and drums. Needless to say, The Hunts' sound is very folky/alternative/indie. The best way I could explain their sound is if Mumford and The Lumineers got together and had a baby that wasn't affected by pop culture yet. The Hunts' music is the kind of music that fills your heart to bursting and makes your soul flutter. Which is why this album is perfect for this week's theme. Those Younger Days is the perfect drive mix because it hits all of the bases. It has songs that are deeper and make you reflect on life as you stare out the window, and then it has songs to listen to on full blast while you feel the wind on your face. "Please Let It Go" is of the first variety. It has a slower tempo, features a strong violin and flawless harmonies, and puts one in what I could only explain as the most ponderous mood I've ever experienced, perfect for the quieter part of a drive. But the way the music builds is still uplifting, just as in the faster songs. The song sounds sad, but it doesn't make the listener sad; instead it makes you feel independent, and almost free and liberated. The contrast "Please Let It Go" inspires is an incredible feat for The Hunts to have pulled off. But they did it. And the result is impeccable. "Please Let It Go" (A small side note here that usually I will embed the YouTube video but "Please Let it Go" doesn't have one readily available.)
On the other hand, "Make this Leap" is a faster song on the album. It has a bouncy beat, and is the perfect bob-your-head-to song in the car. The lyrics are quirky and fun, and include phrases such as "You and I (bum bum) caught up in wind like we were parachutes (bum bum) oh how we'd fly until we hit the ground (bum bum) how could we ever make--this--leap?" You'll find yourself bouncing to the beat, and If You Are in the car, don't be afraid to embrace some rocking seat-dancing.
Last but not least, there's "Lifting the Sea." It's a perfect blend of the tempos of "Please Let It Go" and "Make This Leap." As with almost all of The Hunt's songs, the song has a great build that continues to grow until the end. It also inspires the same thoughtful mood that the other songs do. This song is unique because it has a riff of raw, wordless harmonies made up of pure "ahs" that will make the listener "ooh" and "ah" with it.
The whole album flows together well, despite the different tempos and rhythms, because of the consistent instruments and harmonies throughout, as well as the common theme that makes you think and feel something you're not used to. Is is nostalgia? Is it hope and wonder? Is it something more than all of those things, something you couldn't hope to put into words? You may not be able to peg exactly what it is that the album makes you feel a sense of knowing about. But trust me, you'll feel and know something. I'll let you decide what that is.
2. Life in Cartoon Motion by MIKA
MIKA is an incredibly unique artist. If you've ever heard "Lollipop" ("Sucking too hard on your lollipop yeah love's gonna get you down..."), you know he has a style all his own. This album, Life in Cartoon Motion, is a perfect depiction of MIKA's one-of-a-kind, and incredibly diverse, sound. Unlike The Hunts, MIKA's album has a very alternative pop sound. I say alternative pop because Life in Cartoon Motion is generally upbeat and punchy, but not in the same realm of pop as, say, Nicki Minaj. But, again, MIKA is so in his own box, there's not really a way to put him and his music into another one. Life in Cartoon Motion is an exceptional album for the part of a drive where you're just cruising down the interstate, and fits the bill not just because of the beats, but because of how the music makes you think. Just like Those Younger Days, Life in Cartoon Motion has a variety of tempos on its album, but is held together by similar instrumentals and feelings that the songs inspire. Most of the music in MIKA's songs is strongly electronic or techno. This causes his songs to have a futuristic yet retro sensation. MIKA takes his listeners into the past and the future simultaneously. It's breathtaking. Many songs also include MIKA's signature voice add-ins. I say voice add-ins because rap isn't the word for it. If I had to coin it, it's more on the side of spoken word. "Any Other World," for example, ends in a Hispanic-sounding woman saying, "I never, ever I forget my story. My face is no sad, but sometimes, I am sad." The spoken word of many of MIKA's songs brings a rawness to them that keeps the songs grounded, but still adds to their expression. "Any Other World" is stripped down, and includes a litany of string orchestra instruments, angelic background "ahs," and a slower tempo. The song has an incredibly deep message, but brings the listener a sense of clarity rather than despair. It's heavily introspective and ideal for the rewound part of the drive where you can slow down and think.
Opposing in tempo to "Any Other World," "Love Today" features MIKA's falsetto, and an incredibly catchy beat. The song is upbeat, perfect for chugging down the highway. "La di da di do" is going on in the background noise for most of the song, and you'll be humming it for the rest of the drive. The contrast between this song and "Any Other World" is great, but they blend together well, too. It's like the album is made up of song "siblings." Each song is a different sibling. They each stand well on their own, and all have unique aspects. But the song siblings also have an interconnectedness because at the root, they all have incredible themes and encourage all types of thoughts. That's the Magic of MIKA.
The contrasts continue with "Happy Ending." The best possible way I could describe it is short, but I think it pegs it pretty dead-on: The song has an almost ballad/1980's prom playlist sound. MIKA employs background soulful singers for this one. If you're at the part of the drive to really climax getting stuck in your feelings, this is the song to do the trick. I'm sure you're curious.
All of the songs of Life in Cartoon Motion have a deeper message, but they also have the inescapable quality of being the perfect tempo to just jam out to. Both ways of listening to the album are valid and beneficial. The way you choose to take in MIKA is up to you.
3. Twin Cinema by The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers are about as Indie-Alternative-Rock as you can get. I actually became exposed to them through an Indie Rock coloring book, where I colored the album cover of Twin Cinema. If that doesn't solidify their strength in the genre, I don't know what does. The band, and this album, area critical addition to Albums for If You Are On a Drive because the music is of the so abstract variety that the listener needs to be in an isolated environment, such as a car, to recognize its full sound and understand its full scope. The album is a great depiction of The New Pornographers' sound: different, innovative light alternative rock. The songs generally have a slower, lulling pace but pick up for an instrumental break or a bridge. The main instruments you'll hear are acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboard, and drums. Why is all of this so essential to a drive? Because it really gets you going and you feel a new surge of musical (Is it intensity? Is it excitement? You won't be sure.) in your veins. Twin Cinema features unfaltering harmonies on top of that. You're in for a good ride. "The Bleeding Heart Show" is one of my favorites of the album. It's an Indie-Alternative-Rock take of a struggling couple's song. In reality, it's not the original writing intent that matters: it's what you as the listener take away from it, which are the deep emotions the song produces. The song's melodies and harmonies alone ignite a light in the listener that gets his or her emotions flowing. When you're listening to this on your drive, you'll find yourself looking out the window and pondering over the marvelous horizon (and if you're lucky, a gorgeous sunset). The stereo volume will go up and the noise of the outside world will go down.
"These are the Fables" evokes yet more intense emotions. It has recurring riffs ("My street! My street.") that will have you doing the chicken-head in your seat. The New Pornographers have the ability to translate their feelings through their music, and it directly translates to the listener. This song depicts their rare ability to do so. It's fabulous for a drive because you can choose how you want to listen to it: you can listen to it solely for the jams and the seat-dancing, or you can listen to it for the deeper meaning. Either way, you won't be disappointed.
Although all of The New Pornographers' songs are abstract, one of the most so is by far "Falling Through Your Clothes." I've listened to it many times, and still am not sure what their original intent for the meaning of the song was. I think that's the point, though. The listener can interpret the song into what it means for him or her. The song has a catchy beat that draws on repetition to make its point. It ends in a haunting fade of acoustics that sums up the haunting feeling of the deep realizations you come to while listening to it, and to the album in general.
Those Younger Days, Life in Cartoon Motion, and Twin Cinema can't just be summed up by three songs. They're so abstract in their themes that the albums needs to be listened to as a whole to get the full effect. Keep in mind, though, the full effect is different for everyone, because the songs will evoke different emotions and resurface different memories for each listener. So, my friends, go for a ride, crank up Those Younger Days, Life in Cartoon Motion, and/or Twin Cinema, and see where the music takes you. I recommend listening to them in that order, but if you only have time for one or part of one album, you'll still get the effect you're looking for. Enjoy!<3
