Pentatonix
My dream concert. These 5 are amazing performers, and are changing the game of mainstream pop and acapella. Inspiring the ears of choir nerds world wide as well as people who just love music. They are challenging how we listen to songs. I won’t go into their history since google exists and I strongly encourage you to discover them for yourselves.

Their arrangements of songs are pretty original, and at this point in their career they have developed a signature sound that helps them stand above the crowd. The three main vocalists, in the centre of the image, have clearly been performing together a long time as they say. Their voices blend like family, and their timing and shadowing of each others voices is flawless. Their bass and percussion voices really round out the trio and bring a whole new dimension to their covers and original compositions. If this is the vocal olympics they are the gold medalists, and the silver and the bronze.

The feeling I get when I watch them perform (live or via youtube) is too overwhelming to describe. But I can only liken it to that of a whole body mind soul soundgasm. You are flooded with a sense of happiness and love for both them and the musicality that pours out of them. It’s almost like that moment in ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ at the very end when they are driving through the tunnel and he says “in that moment we were infinite”. It felt like that, combined with this sense in the back of my mind that I was Beyonce and simultaneously fantasising about being up on stage with them (either being serenaded- like that one lucky girl during the concert) or actually having the chops to guest appear during their set. Imagine that with a massive smile slapped on my face and a fangirlly scream to add the to the many also screaming at them throughout the night. Overall I would hijack a hot tub time machine to go back and see them live again. I highly recommend you check them out and have a listen. You won’t regret it! 

And just to get you going here is one of my favourites of theirs- its a cover of a french song by Stromae called 'Papaouti' and also perhaps check out 'Natural Disaster' by them which is an original
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-571ffilpY 

Peace and Love xx

So my apologies for missing my post yesterday, I spent the day in bed attempting to write essays, but instead ending up skyping my sister in Singapore. Better than essays if you ask me!
So you want some bands for X and Y you say... Well here you go my splendiferous readers.

X is for XYLOS: a five piece pop group fro New York City. They have some great songs, that are upbeat, and playful, but that don't have awful lyrics. With great vocals, and electronic sounds, as well as your typical band instruments. They have an indie pop kind of sound. Their EP album 'Bedrooms' came out in 2008, with their latest self-titled album out in 2011. They also released a single this year called 'Summerlong'.
One of my favourites is called 'Not Enough'

WALK OFF THE EARTH: is a Canadian indie band. They have been around since 2006, and have some awesome songs. They have been gaining a following recently from doing popular covers and kooky videos. It was only this year that they signed with a record company. They have great guitar skills, and mainly do acoustic covers, in inventive ways. Their vocals have a good blend of male and female. Their first album came out in 2007 titled 'Smooth Like a Stone on a Beach', their second came out last year titled 'My Rock', they feature mostly covers of other bands. Their most recent hit was a video them covering the popular song by Gotye 'Somebody That I used to Know'
One of my favourites though is one they did a cover of 'Little Boxes' that is also above, and one final one because, Hey, lets got a little nuts today, is their most recent video release called 'Polly' which I believe is an original song.
W is also for THE WAVE PICTURES: are a 3 man English indie rock band. They have recorded a string of EP's and singles, and have a couple of albums. They have an amazing light, acoustic sound, with soft vocals and catchy melodies. Their lyrics are often quite whimsical as well. There are too many albums to list, and too many songs I like, but one of my favourite songs by them is called 'Sweetheart'

VETIVER: are an American folk band. They great sound, with yes indeed, the banjo featuring on a lot of their tracks. :D Their first album came out in 2004, and they have had a steady stream on various labels, they have also had some good collaborations with artists like Devendra Banhart Recently being signed to SubPop records, their recent album is titled 'The Errant Charm' and was released in 2011. They have a nice laid back sound to them as well.
One of my favourite songs is called 'Wonder Why'

THE VETTES: are a band headed by lead singer Rachel Vette, who recruited her brothers to be in the band. They have a very synth rock/pop sound. So a bit different to the bands I normally post. They released their first EP in 2008 titled 'T.V.' and their first album came out in 2010 called 'Plasticville'
One of their best known songs, which I really like is called 'Give 'Em What They Want', supposedly speaking about the celebrity culture.

Thats all for V.
Love and Peace everyone, hope you are enjoying the A-Z :D

URBANTRAMPER: is a 'future folk' band from New Zealand. The number of members seems to fluctuate, but they have released a few albums. Originally more of an acoustic sounds their latest tracks have developed more of an electronic sound. But all their albums have some good tracks. Their first album was in 2007 titled 'Tokon and The Colours', another in 2009 titled 'Rise and Toward' and their latest being in 2010 titled 'All That is Solid Melts into Air'.
One of my favourites is called 'How do you have your tea?' off of their first album

THE TWO MAN GENTLEMEN BAND: is made up of banjo player Andy Bean and bassist Fuller Condon. They have a great, jazz, folk, americana type style, with witty lyrics. They have a fun party feeling to them, with light strumming, and drinks in hand type of attitude. Their shows have a reputation, of them dressing as characters and handing out kazoos to the audience. They have released 3 albums, the first is a self-titled one released in 2005, a good few in between and their latest coming out this year titled 'Two at a Time'.
One of my favourite songs is called 'I Like to Party With Girls'

SHE KEEPS BEES: is an indie rock duo made up of Brooklyn residents Jessica Larrabee and Andy LaPlant. They are unsigned, and have realsed 3 full length albums and 2 EPs. The vocals have a smokey sound to them, and the instrumentals have a really clean sound to them, with most tracks having just bass and guitar and drums. Their first album came out in 2006 titled 'Minisink Hotel'. Their latest one being released last year titled 'Dig On'.
I quite like their song called 'Cuddle Alone', but you should also check out Ribbon, which can be found on their CD 'Nests' in the link on their name.

REID JAMIESON: A Canadian singer, who has a very relaxed and acoustic sound. His voice has a really nice tone to it, and has a kind of Jack Johnson sound. His first album was country based, released in 2004 titled 'The Unavoidable Truth', he has had a few since then, one was titled 'The Presley Sessions' which featured Elvis songs, in 2007. His latest album is called 'Staring Contest' and came out last year.
His songs are really great to listen to, and to have on the in background as well, they are so relaxing.
One of my favourites is called 'My Green Thumb' off of his latest one... the song starts at 46 seconds in!

QUASIMODE: are a Japanese jazz band, formed in 2002. They have released a few albums, their first being in 2006 titled 'oneself-LIKENESS' and their latest full album coming out in 2010 called 'Daybreak'. They have got a few smaller albums that have also been released up until last year. They have a typical jazz ensemble, and have some really nice chilled songs
One I like is called 'Whisky's High featuring AFRA

POKEY LAFARGE/POKEY LAFARGE AND THE SOUTH CITY THREE:
He/They are a band originally from St Louis, Missouri, and have a ragtime, early american, string, banjo type music. Pokey himself has grown up travelling being inspired by the cotton kingdom, and legendary blues-men. In 2007 he released a solo album titled 'Marmalade' and a follow up one in 2008 called 'Beat, Move and Shake'. In 2009 he started working with The South City Three, and they released an album in 2010 titled 'Riverboat Soul'.
One of the songs I like is called 'La La Blues' >

THE OH HELLO'S: are a brother sister duo from Texas. They have a very acoustic, mumford & sons sound, creating a folk rock type sound. Their self-titled EP was released in 2011, and has a slightly Irish folk sound to it, if perhaps a little less upbeat jig like. (Please go and listen to all 4 of their songs if you click on their name, I honestly love them all... so addictive)
If I had to pick one (which is impossible) I will go with the more upbeat one called 'Trees':


O is also for OF MONSTERS AND MEN: They are slightly more well known band from Iceland. Their first EP album called 'Into the Woods' that came out in 2011, and then released their first full album called 'My Head is an Animal' early this year I think. They released a single called 'Little Talks' that went to number one in Iceland.
If you this song go and have a look at the album on the US itunes, I also really like the songs 'Dirty Paws' and 'King and Lionheart'

Love and Peace.

THE NARCOLEPTIC DANCERS: is a half-brother and sister duo from the Netherlands. They have a kooky indie pop type sound, with nice melodies. Their trademark look is that they drape their hair over their eyes, kind of a cousin it look. Their first EP came out in 2010 titled 'Not Evident' and their album 'Never Sleep' came out last year.
My favourite song is the first one I heard by them called 'Not Evident'

N is also for NOUS NON PLUS: they are a french indie-rock band, based in New York City. They have been around for a while but only released albums quite recently. Their songs are really upbeat, and happy to listen to. They always put me in a good mood. Their first self-titled album came out in 2005, their second titled 'Menagerie' was released in 2009, and their latest titled 'Freudian Slip' came out last year.
My favourite song is called 'Ye-Ye C'est L'ete- Summer song' but I couldn't find that one anywhere but on spotify for those of you in the UK. So Here is 'J'en Ai Marre- Had Enough'

MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS: are an English band, who have an alternative folk sound. Some of their instruments include a banjo, an accordion, piano, and other usual instruments. They have released two EP albums in 2010, one titled 'To the North' the other 'Kingdom of Our Own'

My favourite song (mainly because it was the first one I heard, that made me love them) is called 'I followed fires'

The next band for M is MELODICA, MELODY AND ME: they are also a folk band, but they try and combine some ska into their songs. It's very chilled music, but has a nice beat to it underneath that keeps it happy, rather than melancholy. From Brixton, UK, they have a really nice sound. They have two EP releases, one in 2010 called 'Piece me Back Together' the other in 2011 called 'Come Outside' (with some bonus tracks on them as well)
Here is 'Piece me Back Together'

LULU AND THE LAMPSHADES: originally from Bristol, UK. Started by two lovely ladies, Heloise and Luisa, as well as added bandmates Jemma and Dan, (last names not known- not that you need them to stalk this band). They have a quirky folk-pop sound. Currently unsigned, but having released an EP album titled 'Cold Water'.
My favourite is called 'Cups' the recorded version is good, but this song came into my life through a home recording, and I love how they make the sound with actual cups.

L is also for THE LOST CAVALRY: a London based band formed in 2009. They have a couple of EP albums out, but their 2011 one was titled 'Snow City Radio'. Their music is influenced by circus's and marching bands, with a combination of electronic and acoustic instruments to experiment with.
One of the songs I like is called 'Desert Tracks' (the song starts about 30 seconds into the video so bear with it) :)

THE KOPECKY FAMILY BAND: are a band that blends neo-classical, folk and electric, and rock like sounds. Originally from Nashville, they have starting gathering a following. They have released two albums one in 2010 called 'The Disaster' the other coming out last year called 'of Epic Proportions', and I think there is one more called 'The Embraces'

My favourite one is called 'Little Baby Sister'

JOY KILLS SORROW: is a Boston based string band, that draws on bluegrass roots, and ties it with a modern acousticy sound. They first cropped up in 2005. Their self titled album was released in 2006, and Their second album came out in 2010 titled 'Darkness Sure Becomes This City'. And the most recent was released in 2011 title 'This Unknown Science'

My favourite song is called 'You Made it Easy' but it's not on youtube so if you click the name it will take you to the page you can listen to it on! Another good one is called 'Send Me a Letter'

My second band have a bit more of an alternative/indie sound. They are called IS TROPICAL: a recent band from London. They choose to perform with veiled faces, and masks, I'm not sure why, but it's an interesting visual hook. They have a more electro, bass, pop sound. Their debut album was released last year titled 'Native To'. My favourite song is called 'The Greeks', but I would also recommend listening to 'South Pacific'. 

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu: is an Indigenous Australian singer, who sings in the Yolngu language. He was born blind, but plays the drums, keyboards, guitar, and didgeridoo. His songs tell stories, in a couple of different languages, and are really beautiful to listen to, even if you don't understand them.

So, sorry for the delay with this post... Have had a couple of assignment deadlines recently. But F is indeed for The Fruit Tree Foundation! This is actually a foundation, that released a CD of song collaborations with different artists from the folk and indie scenes.
It was started in Scotland, by Musicians Rod Jones and Emma Pollock. The aim being to raise awareness for mental health problems and their preconceptions. The songs also try to explore the stereotypes and childhood mental health issues.

Their album came out last year- which you can listen to on spotify if you have it.... a lot of the songs are on youtube, or you can buy them here.
This song is called 'Just as Scared'- its got a slow feel to it, and they use some minor notes to give it a creepy kind of sound, and not as upbeat. But I enjoy it....

Also for F- is the New Zealand band FIVE MILE TOWN: who have just released their single 'Saturated'
This song reminds me a little of The Kooks, and the singer sounds a bit mumford and sons but I like their stuff so far.

Love and Peace