The Best of the Week

Top 5 Songs of the Week:

1.)  ‘Feeding Line’ – Boy & Bear

This is the kind of song that makes me wish I could sing. For some unknown reason, each time I hear this song I am overcome with a desire to stand on stage in front of an enormous crowd and sing to the world. There is a raw grittiness to Feeding Line which makes it that much more appealing. There is a combination of natural ease and rough conflict within the song, making it far more entertaining than most. Added bonus, there’s whistling. Who doesn’t love a good whistle solo?

Boy & Bear 'Feeding Line'

2.)  ‘When U Love Somebody’ – Fruit Bats

Far less fast-paced than some of the other songs off of the Fruit Bat album, When U Love Somebody has a sound that is much more folky. The instrumentals focus on steady beats and interchanging chords. Further adding to the southern-folk vibe is the sporadic clapping and tambourine rattle that overlay each other as the song plays out. There is an informal feeling created by the song which creates the illusion that the band is directly addressing their audience.

Fruit Bats 'When U Love Somebody'

3.)  ‘Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It’ – Stars

Truthfully, the vocals don’t even come close to being the best part about this song. They are certainly entertaining enough but it is the incredible riff that occurs at the 40second mark that transforms the song from average to supreme. Seriously. I’m not entirely positive what is so incredible about it, all I know is that I would buy a 3minute version of it. Luckily enough, the riff is a constant, underlying presence, throughout the duration of the song. There is an almost inspirational quality to the song that creates an incredibly enjoyable vibe.

Stars ‘Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It’

4.)  ‘Rivers Edge’ – Fossil Collective

This song is an impeccable blend of vocals and instrumentals. Neither outshines the other, which allows listeners to appreciate each equally. The piercing vocals complement the steady rhythms of the instruments and form a well-blended song. Rivers Edge is incredibly soothing and creates an ethereal and graceful ambiance. 

Fossil Collective 'Rivers Edge'

5.)  ‘Lost Boy’ – Greg Holden

In short, this song is heartbreaking. Holden’s vocals resonate with listeners and clearly convey an overwhelming amount of emotion. There is a raw pain within the lyrics which, combined with the stunning vocals, creates a powerful feeling of tormented aching.

Greg Holden 'Lost Boy'

Artist of the Week: The Daylights

The Daylights have been around for quite some time. Their music has popped up sporadically in television shows over the past few years however, the group has yet to gain mass recognition that they rightfully deserve. The band is incredibly versatile which is evident in the wide range of music that they have produced. The band’s self-titled debut album successfully lived up to the previously released EPs. ‘Shift and Blur’ and ‘Sans Radio,’ though spectacular in their own right, were surpassed by the group’s full-length album.

The Daylights 'Rogue Machine'

The clear breakout song of the band is undoubtedly Rogue Machine. It was the first song of the Daylights that was introduced to me and it has yet to fall from the top 3 most played list on my iTunes playlist (40 Day Dream and Model Homes have the other coveted spots). The lyrics are absolutely incredible and are supported by equally amazing vocals and instrumentals. Though, commending the song for its lyrics is hardly saying much. The lyrics of each and every song are unique and spectacular. It is clear that the words are the true strength of the band.

It is clear that the full album is one of the more superior albums currently available on iTunes because there is no weak link. Each of the songs are equally unique and enjoyable, thus making the album itself mind-blowing. There is a complementary blend between slow and fast-paced songs (see Weapons and Alive) thus ensuring that listeners never grow bored of the music.

The recently released EP ‘Modern Fossils’ complies with the previously established sound of the Daylights. Purely emotional, the songs combine true grit with an air of melancholy.

The Daylights are a spectacular band that is severely underrated. The band offers everything that listeners look for in quality music. There is no bad song as each new album and EP only grows in strength. The Daylights have come into their own as songwriters and performers and have successfully solidified themselves as the alternative-rock band that others should aim to be.