Ali Cutler:
Much like a hidden caper in a heaping pile of spaghetti, great music is hard to find and much harder to define. The hits of our generation tend to be springy, feel good, sexual and bubbly Pepsi tunes. Yet they are lacking in one thing that makes a mere good idea into an emotional and sometimes life-changing masterpiece: passion. The murky water of today’s hit list is considerably shallower than knee-deep. What happened to the musical masterpieces of yesteryear? Where did the writers of lyrical art that transgressed the generational boundaries disappear to? “Well I think it’s fine, building jumbo planes or taking a ride on a cosmic train switch on summer from a slot machine”—solid gold Cat Stevens, solid gold, and just one of the many priceless lyrical gems generously bestowed by the 1970s.
Themes that touch the heart, soul, and mind have been seemingly lost to the dark abyss of temporal urges that plague today’s American society. Seeing tunes lacking anything that resonates with a deeper meaning gain mass appeal makes you wonder. Isla Vista provides a prime front row experience to watching the music world burn down in hell fire. You’re likely to witness drunken, estrogen-fueled hoards requesting songs by the untalented teen, Miley Cyrus, with a nails-down-chalkboard-voice. Her most recent hit contains the lyrics: “So I put my hands up, they’re playin’ my song the butterflies fly away, I’m noddin’ my head like ‘Yeah!’ Movin’ my hips like ‘Yeah!’” And needless to mention any specific songs here, but the artist with the name “Gucci Mane” somehow went platinum…
XM radio’s top 20 on 20 song lineup contains sounds that are fun to bliss out to at a club. They can inspire you to ask that button-shirted, recently shaved lad across the dance floor for a front to back simulation of sex (dancing). But how about when you are in the middle of pondering life, assessing your role in the universe or simply in a spiritual mood? Can these songs touch your soul then? Can you really extract a deeper meaning? It is when you are in such moods that I provide the top five musical artists that you NEED to hear.
Heartless Bastards
Triple threat Erika Wennerstrom dominates the stage with a powerhouse voice as the main singer, songwriter, and guitarist for this band. Formed in Cincinnati and classified as garage rock, the Heartless Bastards also have the clear presence of a blues influence. Their latest album released this year called The Mountain includes my personal favorite: “Out at Sea”. Erika’s voice sounds eerily similar to former rock legend Robert Plant, which is a risky statement to put forth in light of his sheer magnitude in the music world.
The Felice Brothers
An upstate New York group founded in 2006, the Felice Brothers began their journey as a band in the New York subway. However, their musical experiences began much earlier; the three brothers would play together at their father’s Sunday barbeques. Their songs resonate with touches of folk rock and bluegrass. When I listen to my favorite of theirs—”Frankie’s Gun”—I close my eyes and picture driving down a desolate road in the South in a beat-up old pickup truck and four bearded men practically exploding with charisma smoking a cigarette and chanting a song favorite of their granddad.
Angus and Julia Stone
This brother-sister duo from the northern shores of Australia released their debut album called Chocolates and Cigarettes in 2006. The matching of their voices is eerie, but eerie in a good way. The soft plucking of the guitar’s melodic beats paired with these two angelic voices provides for a good way to clock out on a midsummer’s day.
Alexi Murdoch
His indie-acoustic songs were used for the entire soundtrack for the dark, romantic comedy Away We Go. Enough said.
Beats Antique
Founded near my home, this Oakland based group has fallen down the rabbit hole and come out on the other side. Their musical style is best described by the group itself: “Beats Antique forges a curious alliance between middle eastern traditions and potent west coast circus, underground hip hop, breakbeat brass band, downtempo, glitch and dubstep.” With beats that sound like they belong in an underground circus in another realm, listeners can truly descend down the rabbit hole. Welcome to one of your coolest acid trips.
I shot an arrow into the air
and where it landed, I know not where
but when I heard a lady grunt
I knew it hit her...in the elbow 
This is just not a good article. I’m disappointed.
well it doesn’t like you either.
i liked it. the felice brothers are amazing!
Alexi Murdoch is awesome. Check out his unreleased song “Something Beautiful”
shit, shit, shit, shit and shit
great insight into the world of music, thanks!
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What do you know about indicate?
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Hello
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Yo Bro
Way cool stuff, will have to try it. By teh way, down load link does not work. Can you please help? gracias
Bye
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Hi There
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Laters
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Talk Later
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Bye Bye