Platforms like YouTube, Tumblr, and Twitter are incredible in building and maintaining fan bases for new and upcoming musicians. Take for example, One Direction, they have just released their first film, This is Us, a few weeks ago and today they announced a third album, Midnight Memories. Without their TV start on the X-Factor UK in 2010 and the incredible power of the internet, this modern day boy band would have never been popular outside the UK, let alone taken over the entire world. Everyone has a guilty pleasure, and mine happens to come in the form of One Direction (even though I don't feel particularly guilty for loving them).
When it comes to music, you can't forget the indie music fans that claim to have liked them 'before they were popular.' This week indie UK artists Bastille, Rizzle Kicks, and The 1975 all released albums in the US and each of them smashed it.
Bastille is an indie rock group from London, England. Their album, Bad Blood has been available in the UK for quite some time now, but ever since the popularity of their hit single 'Pompeii' hit US radio stations, people can't quite seem to get enough of them. Who can really blame them though? Dan, the singer of Bastille has one of those voices that could sing the ABCs and it would sound like the one of the most amazing songs ever written. Each song on the album is a masterpiece. My top 3 off the album are Icarus, Laura Palmer, and Flaws. Icarus holds a special spot in my heart because of it's ties to on of my favorite subjects, Greek mythology (+). They tie in the story of Icarus perfectly to a modern story of a man who is living a reckless lifestyle. In the story of Icarus, to leave the Athens, he is given wings made of wax and feathers and is told not to fly too close to the sun or too close to the water or else his wings will disintegrate. He fails to follow the advice given to him and flys too close to the sun and his wings melt and he dies. The man in the song is "drinking himself to death" and, like Icarus, eventually he will go too far with his drinking and partying and kill himself. Another favorite of mine is Laura Palmer. One word to describe this song is epic. My absolute favorite song on the album is Flaws. It's absolutely wonderful. It's about the different ways two people handle their flaws. If you want to hear amazing acoustic versions click here, here, or here. Their album is currently #5 on the US iTunes charts.
Rizzle Kicks, an indie hip hop duo from Brighton, England, released their second album, The Roaring 20's. They bring a laid-back, fun 80s/90s vibe that separates them from Kanye or Jay-Z who dominate hip hop and rap in the US. They make their lyrics fun yet meaningful which is very unusual. They are some of the most original hip-hop artists I've ever listened to. Off of The Roaring 20's I have two favorite songs: That's Classic and The Reason I Live. That's classic is such a fun tune to listen to in the mornings when I'm getting ready for boring lectures. The Reason I Live, two words, Harley's voice.
Last, but not certainly not least, The 1975, released their self titled album The 1975, worldwide. I have to say, this album is quite possibly the best album ever released. The best track on the album, in my opinion, is 'Girls.' It makes me want to jump into an 80s movie and dance horribly with my best friends for hours on end or hop into a red, convertible Mustang and drive down PCH. If you buy one album this year, this is it.
Make sure to check out iTunes Festival all this month! They always have the best of the best and new and incredibly talented acts every year. You can stream all of the performances free through the iTunes festival app (+) or through iTunes on your computer. Also, if you miss your favorite artist, they post the performances up afterwards for you to watch. Who doesn't love a bit of free live music eh?
Also, check out these really cool covers and mashups:
Bastille:
Rizzle Kicks:
The 1975:
This is the first time that I've ever blogged outside of Tumblr, so bear with me.
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