soft rock

Songs of the Week 72: July 31 – August 6

~ kbo27

xaxo#5. XAXO – Safe Unknown

soundcloud.com/xaxosounds

XAXO only have two songs on their Soundcloud, both of which I heard for the first time this past week. Either could have made my top 5 list as both are sensational. They have a bit of the Weeknd’s sexiness, but with a bit more electro feel. Really digging this sound.

boy & bear#4. Boy & Bear – Breakdown Slow

soundcloud.com/boyandbear

Boy & Bear are my goto for a nice, relaxing afternoon at one’s cabin out by the lake. I’m really hoping to catch their show when they are in town (Vancouver) in October. Would be my first time seeing them live, and I can only imagine how chilled out that atmosphere would be. (P.S. sorry, video above will require you to go to YouTube. Couldn’t find any other links tho :/)

caitlyn-scarlett#3. Caitlyn Scarlett – Rust

soundcloud.com/caitlyn-scarlett-official

Love everything about Rust, the latest from Caitlyn Scarlett. All of it. The verses, the chorus, the voice, the pacing, the rhythm. It’s just a nice time. Reminds me of something that would have been on the Garden State soundtrack (which, at the time, was THE soundtrack to be on).

vulfpeck#2. Vulfpeck – Back Pocket

soundcloud.com/vulfpeck

I want to be friends with the kids at Vulpeck so badly. Just watch any of their videos or listen to any of their tracks. “Groovy” in band form. It’s pure fun. Smiles everywhere. Usually I don’t link to live Youtube clips, but I think this does such a good job of describing everything I love about these guys that I had to. I mean really, if you want to hear the studio version the Soundcloud link is there.

shells#1. Shells – Jagwar

soundcloud.com/shellsmusicnet

Jagwar commands your attention from the first note and doesn’t let go. The pacing is haunting and is complimented with gorgeous, powerful vocals.

Songs of the Week 71: July 24 – July 30

~ kbo27

honne#5. Honne – One At A Time Please

soundcloud.com/hellohonne

Honne have nailed that “successful and classy” sound… you know, the type of track you play when you walk in the door of your downtown penthouse apartment after exiting your Bentley and just before you pour yourself the finest scotch money can buy. Yeah, that type of sound. Super common. (also my apologies for the Spotify link – could not find a working Soundcloud or Youtube link that worked in Canada).

laurel#4. Laurel – San Francisco

soundcloud.com/classiclaurel

Do you like Lana Del Rey? Well then, meet Laurel (although to be fair, San Francisco is the only one of her stellar cast of tracks that I feel like could be sung by Lana Del Rey and I wouldn’t know the difference).

richard walters#3. Richard Walters – July Bones

soundcloud.com/richardwaltersmusic

Sometimes when you are down and out, the only tonic is more depression. I mean this song could be about sugar plums, puppies and winning the lottery, but yet somehow the magical voice of Richard Walters would make me feel like having a good cry. P.S. I’m not known as a great compliment giver… so Richard Walters, take what you can from that and run with it!

loframes#2. Loframes Feat. Anoraak – Since You’ve Gone

soundcloud.com/loframes

Anoraak was one of my first “discoveries” when I got deep into the music-blog world… aka one of the earlier moments when I realized there was music outside what the radio would play or what you would see on MTV/Much Music. Loframes… well I just straight up dig almost anything they put together. Together – well, picture cruising down the streets of Paris late a night, top down and not a care in the world. That’s what you have here.

boa#1. BOA – Pharoah

soundcloud.com/rsvpboa

I don’t have anything witty or clever to say about this one. I don’t know much about BOA (this song was the first I’d heard of them). But it works. It works very very nicely and it grows on me more with every listen. They have a sound that I think would translate well to a live show at some small, intimate venue full of die hard fans who sing every lyric to every song.