Cooler by Phases

Two things:

1. I got a chance to listen to the new Drake/Future mixtape and I think it is complete trash. You can see my Twitter for more.

2. Portland is generally known for having gray weather, and today is no exception. It's so bland outside that I'm pretty sure the weatherman made a 50 shades of gray joke this morning and we all heard you Tom Rutherford, you're not slick. Either way, today is one of those days that I just need an upbeat track with a catchy chorus and that's exactly what we have here. This song comes from Phases, a band that broke out with their hit single that just unabashedly panders to millennials. The title is 'I'm In Love With My Life' for goodness sake. But if the weather has you in a slump today, this track is perfect. Take a listen.

Sister by Andrew Belle

Youtube Commenter says -"Amazing meaning, fantastic music, lyrics are just undescribable.... "So tell me what happens when the waves break, he tries to kill you and you allow that". This song just points out the scary truth. Choose who you be with wisely people." Take it away Andrew Belle.

Runaway by Aurora

You know those songs that you find and then end up playing over and over and over again? when I discovered this song two days ago, that's exactly what I did. I could write at least three more paragraphs about the mellow and haunting tone of this song but I'll just let my random YouTube commenter friend close this one out with this; "Jesus Christ when I found new good ass music I get hype." I can't vouch for your grammar random YouTube Commenter friend, but this is some good ass music indeed. Check it out below.

A Calf Born In Winter by Khruangbin

"What I find amazing about this song is that it finds a way to perpetuate the same feeling while never really becoming repetitive. The changes are imperceptible as if gently flowing water." - Commenter on YouTube. I chose this track because it's the perfect soundtrack to the pictures I took at the Oregon coast this weekend which you can find here. Listen, relax, and enjoy.

Watercolors by Machineheart

This weekend, I got the incredible oppurtunity to travel to the Oregon Coast and take some incredible pictures with a friend of mine. In the midst of climbing sandy rocks and getting my feet wet in the blistering cold water, I somehow lost my glasses and can now barely see, but my friends, it was more than worth it. You can see some of the pictures I took on my Instagram. Since I was by the water this weekend, it figures that I post a song with some lyrical imagery as relating to water. This is the kind of song that you play over and over and over again. Check it out.

You and Jake by Evening Hymns

I don't like going to rap concerts; The energy is off unless its a huge show, it never sounds as good as the recording, and the rapper usually has to yell over the bass in the song thereby proving my previous point (unless you're at a Mystikal concert, then for him, Yelling = rapping.) But music from bands like this? Now this I could listen to live.

Can't Pretend by Tom O'Dell

Ease My Soul by Trivecta ft. Charlotte Haining

This epic, driving track is what you would call Melodic Dubstep. Unlike most dubstep songs, this one has structure, melody, and is full of emotion. Nearly every instrument in this song is used to communicate something seperate, yet balanced with the lyrics, and the incredible female vocalist is definitely a win. check it out below.

Baby by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Have you ever heard a love song so smooth, soulful, and love-centric, that it makes you miss people you never even dated? This song is that good. Seriously, listening to this song makes me miss my first girlfriend from, like, 1st grade. This is weird because I'm pretty sure I can't remember anything from first grade and I definitely wasn't smooth enough to even have a girlfriend. But listening to this song, I'm convinced her name was Caitlin and her favorite animal was goats? Irregardless of the false memories this song may create, its definitely worth a listen and maybe a spot on your playlist. Listen below.

A Dream Of You and Me by Future Islands

Lesson I learned today; if you're new to a company and want to learn all the great lunch spots, make friends with the I.T. guys.  As much as Yelp is trying, nothing can still beat word of mouth, and that my friends is why computers, as much as they try, can never replace human touch and interaction: because Yelp still can't duplicate the experience of eating delicious pizza with people you just met a month ago. Get it together Yelp. You may be wondering what all that has to do with the song for today and the answer is nothing. I just had a delicious pizza and I had to write about it, so give me a break, Rick. As far as the song goes, one adept Youtuber had this to say about it, "A truly unique song with a smooth dash of retro, new wave, 90's pop, and dipped in this new era. Love singing to this aloud in the car, you should as well. Quality everlasting music." And that my friends, is all she wrote. Take a listen and share.

What I Did For Love by David Guetta

Here's a confession for you; I am a huge fan of Vanessa Carlton. Oh, you don't know who that is? You know Vanessa Carlton, the one that debuted decade defining singles such as 'White Houses' and 'Hands On Me'? What is that judgmental look in your eyes? What? you've never met a heterosexual black man that loves Vanessa Carlton's music before? Have you never seen White Chicks? You need to get out more. Why did I tell you this? Certainly not because it has anything to do with this awesome track I am about to post because it really doesn't. But you do know me a little better now so there's something. Take a listen and tell me if the lyrics of this song are not almost as poignant as any Vanessa Carlton song you've ever heard.

Fall In Love by Barcelona

You know that joke that people say about Drake and Kanye West? The one that's like "Should I listen to Drake and think about you or listen to Kanye and think about myself?" I personally think that joke is hilarious because it's so damn accurate. This new track is definitely a Drake type track. Seriously, the first time I heard it, I was just hoping and praying that the self proclaimed '6 God' would come out of nowhere and drop a verse about Courtney from Hooters who he really felt was the piece that completed him. No matter. Drake or no Drake, this is a minimalist, synth-filled track about love that deserves your listen.

The War by Josh Record

I have a rule about going to coffee shops with friends, especially if they're one of those trendy and hipster coffee shops (which, let's be honest, is EVERY coffee shop in Portland), and that rule is that if we go to a coffee shop together, we cannot talk about anything serious that requires me to pay attention for too long. This is because inevitably, you will see my eyes start to daze as I slowly reach for my phone, click a few buttons, and then stare intently at the screen as if waiting to discover if I just won an all expenses paid date with my dream woman Blake Lively. That's right my sweet friend, while you were telling me about your ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend and how she broke your heart, I heard the faint yet alluring sound of a delicious song on the coffee shop speakers and completely tuned you out as I launched SoundHound on my phone in hopes that it would recognize the song. May sound cruel, but such is the life of a millennial audiophile. That's how this incredible song was discovered, and Matt, I'm sorry about your ex-girlfriend man, lets get together and talk about it sometime, just not at a coffee shop. Take a listen.

The Search by Mree Music

Hey, what kind of bees produce milk? Boobees!
You may not know this, but I have a penchant for corny jokes that are just bad enough to actually make you laugh. What? you don't? maybe you should lighten up Tim, life shouldn't be that serious. Irregardless of Tim's disdain for perfectly crafted corny jokes, today my friends, we have been blessed by the music gods with this hauntingly chill track. And when I say chill and haunting, I mean chill and haunting. Seriously, this track is full of enough synth and Gregorian ooh's to make Bon Iver want to drop another album. Take a listen and check out some of her other tracks here.

River by Tula

Its a silky sunny afternoon in Portland, Oregon and I feel like getting into an adventure. For those of you about to embark on your own adventure on a Wednesday afternoon and need a boisterous and driving soundtrack as you slog your way through traffic, there is River by Tula. The driving drums combined with the subtle vocals and perfectly crafted melody of this song make you want to run through a field of flowers with a loved one and dance at a seedy nightclub at THE SAME TIME. No matter. Whether driving through traffic, running through a field of flowers with a loved one, or dancing in a seedy nightclub, you are sure to enjoy this perfectly crafted track. Take a listen.