It’s time for the February installment of Songs of the Month!
So hold on and prepare yourself to plug yourself straight into my monthly playlist. It’s a little bigger and a little more varied than last month.
First up we have Fiction Family‘s self titled album that I’ve been listening to non stop since they played one of the best concerts I’ve ever attended. The band includes Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek. Both of which take turns as lead and back up singer and both of which are absolutely incredible. I always loved Switchfoot (and can’t wait for their new cd due out this year) and I’d always heard good things about Nickel Creek but I must say the synthesis of these two heavy weights really produces.
At times mellow, experimental, and even dark this cd will give you stirring reminders of Switchfoot and Nickel Creek’s best work then smack you with something you’d never expect from either of these guys. And you can go through that whole progression in a single song. Such is the convenience of a side project I suppose but, hey, as strange as it may sounds it will most certainly knock you off your chair to listen to. Fiction Family won’t disappoint.
Make sure you don’t miss these tracks:
- When She’s Near
- Out of Order
- Betrayal
- Not Sure
- Look for Me Baby
Second up on my list is the band that happened to open for Fiction Family during their concert at my school. That band is Army Of Me and I’ve been listening to their latest album titled Citizen. The cd leads off with one of my favorite songs in a long time, Perfect, which is a melody of regret and reform that I find myself listening to and enjoying over and over again. The album rings with the classic alternative rock sound that the current music industry desperately needs. I couldn’t be happier that I was able to find an alt rock band with a satisfying sound and lyrical skill I’ve been craving for far too long.
Make sure you don’t miss these tracks:
- Perfect
- Going Through Changes
- Still Believe in You
- 2 to 1
The third and final musical masterpiece that rounds out this month’s mix is Anberlin‘s latest work titled New Surrender. Anberlin has been a favorite of mine for quite a while now. Their music is a little harder than what I usually listen to but they do it in a way that isn’t screamy or incoherient thus I find my self nodding my head rather than yelling at someone to “turn off that deafening noise”. New Surrender only makes me love the all the more as they continue, if not impove upon, their distinct balance between hardcore and alt rock. Not to mention that New Surrender has a shout out to Young Life, the high school out reatch ministry I am a part of, aptly titled Young Life.
New Surrender seemlessly shifts from slow and soft near-ballads to head banging power tunes. The two unique sounds complement themselves in a way most bands never master. Its a musical experience that is hard to imagine without listening to it yourself.
Make sure you don’t miss these tracks:
- Breathe
- Young Life
- Haight Street
- Breaking
As always there will be a widget in the right sidebar so you can come back and sample or buy these songs any time this month and here is the larger widget so you can check them out right now:
