Menswear - The 1975
In the past year, I've really started to love The 1975. I would describe their music as a hipster-alternative twist on the classic boy band. The song "Menswear" departs from the The 1975's normal pop-rock sound, and ventures more into alternative territory. I love how this song is purely instrumental for the first half. It makes the part of the song with lyrics stand out. "Menswear" is an unusual song in it's structure; there is no chorus or even really verses. It's a unique song in many ways, but also has universal appeal. Every friend I've played this song for has said something along the lines of, "oh yeah I love this song!" or asked me the band/song name so they could look it up
Younger Us - The Japandroids
"Younger Us" is an extremely meaningful song to me. If I had to make a list of my top five favorite songs ever, this song would 100% be on it. The Japandroids are too harsh for some people, but I personally love their rough sound and edgy guitar riffs. I can't really even put my finger on why I love the Japandroids so much; perhaps I'm drawn to the intensity of their sound. I also find their lyrics brilliant, and relevant to my age/life. "Younger Us" is the anthem of our generation. It recalls the young, wild days of a relationship ("Remember that night you were already in bed / Said 'fuck it', got up to drink with me instead"). I've been listening to this song for two years now, and I can still blast it in my car and feel the same way as I did the fall of freshman year when I played the song for the first thousand times.
Stubborn Love - The Lumineers
"Stubborn Love" is my favorite song by The Lumineers. I saw them live last fall, and I was actually really disappointed that they were of bunch of pretentious hipsters instead of bearded old guys like I imagined them. They actually were arrogant assholes who stopped in the middle of the stage to yell at the audience members for taking photos.... Although The Lumineers disappointed me as people, they were fantastic performers. They sounded exactly how they do recorded. "Stubborn Love" is such a fantastic song. There are so many smart lyrics in this song that ring true to anyone who has ever loved. Such as "It's better to feel pain, than nothing at all" and "The opposite of love's indifference". It's a song about always coming back to a certain person in your life. I included the music video in this post because I think it's simple and suits the song. The lyrics are accompanied by a fantastic melody, which makes this song unforgettable.
Selene - Imagine Dragons
So, I know what you're thinking: "Imagine Dragons? Really..." But "Selene" is a fantastic song. Also I gotta stand up for this band because I went to high school with the drummer, Daniel Platzman, who is also my neighbor. I'm not a huge fan of the Imagine Dragons that is played on the radio, but they have some great songs that are not as popular. I love all the guitar riffs in "Selene", and the chorus is incredibly catchy. I also really like the bridge of this song where it gets momentarily slower. Overall, "Selene" is a great song and you should definitely give Imagine Dragons a chance.
Always Alright - Alabama Shakes
I had no idea "Always Alright" was in Silver Linings Playbook until this YouTube video, and that just makes me love this song even more. The Alabama Shakes' sound reminds me of a mix of 70s and country. "Always Alright" is a super funky song. For some reason, it reminds me of something that would be popular in an older decade. This song is upbeat and just has a great energy. I love the sassy guitar parts in the verses mixed with lyrics like "I don't give a fuck about your intentions at all". The Alabama Shakes have a super unique sound that I have fallen in love with.