Artist: Death Cab For CutieSong: I Will Possess Your Heart [8:26, 2008]Sounds Like: An amazing instrumental and a stalker
Some loathe the 4 minute intro, and some love it: a lively bass line humming its way into your ears [and getting stuck into your head]; piano jabs here and there; guitar strums and lovely licks; and drum beats to accompany all the good madness. It’s the story of a stalker and a stalkee. Stalkers possessing hearts never sounded so charming, until sung by Ben Gibbard’s breath-taking vocals. He sings these words of a stalker’s feelings, thoughts, and actions. This would most likely be a stalker’s anthem, if you will. Beware of the obsessed for they will find a way to possess! Yet, there’s no need to possess an obsessed heart.
-Marian Mesia
Song: Let’s Dance to Joy Division [3:10, 2007]Artist: The Wombats Sounds like: British Musical Prozac
When you’re feeling down or drained, this song will bring you up. With snazzy guitar riffs and a fun beat aplenty, “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” works well as a pick-me-up. Picking up on the trend of generally happy sounding pop-rock in the U.K., The Wombats make this sound their own concentrate it. The message that’s throughout all the lyrics are pretty easy to understand too: Are things not going right? Is everything going wrong? Then oh well, screw it. Dance and be happy anyways, if only for the sake of irony.
-Jesse Syse
Artist: White ZombieSong: Blur the Technicolor [4:09, 1995]Sounds Like: A psychedelic boat ride through hell
Helmed by rocker/director/cartoon writer Rob Zombie, this song starts off like the beginning of a fight scene from a movie, with drums beating and beating like they go on forever, that is until the guitar sounds up and you feel like you should be driving in a car going 110mph into the mouth of hell.
-Jay Johnson
Artist: Kanye WestSong: Love Lockdown [3:59, 2008]Sounds Like: An entirely new genre of music
Although Kanye West’s new album is yet to be released, his song “Love Lockdown” which he performed at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, has already garnered a lot of attention; and rightfully so. The song’s style is so different; it can almost be classified as a type of song in its own genre. But aside from its unique sound, his lyrics are what is most refreshing. After West suffered the death of his mother in November 2007, and then a split from his girlfriend, his lyrics express pain and grief, and tell the world of his most intimate feelings. Ex: I’m not lovin you, the way I wanted to /I met no one new, I got no one new /I know I said I’m through, but got love for you /But I’m not lovin’ you, the way I wanted to/So keep your love lockdown, your love lockdown/keepin’ your love lockdown you lose.Kanye West not only sings in this song, but there is virtually no rap, and although he doesn’t have a great voice it is refreshing to hear. The beat, rhythm, and melody is so addicting that you will be putting it on repeat all day long.
-Sarah E. Markoff
Artist: O’JaysSong: Love Train [3:00, 1973]Sounds Like: A backyard tune from a troubled world
After losing two sons back to back, the father and lead singer of the O’Jays sits back and reminisces of the good times he shared making great music. This song takes you back to the day when families cooked out, played games, and tell jokes about each others past. I think the lyrics just sit and sink into the heads of our nation. After all, we’re facing tough challenges and an unpredictable future. Listen to this song in your spare time and get On-board your “Love Train”, and let it motivate you to get up and make things right, not only for yourselves but for others as well.
-Derrick Smith