I have 3 great songs that I would like to share and that I think you need to hear. One you've probably already heard but needs revisiting, a new release from a band that will remind you of something else you loved, and a track from a dude who is taking a break from his band to do a solo project. They have all been on rotation this week in my headphones. I'm talking rotation to the point of annoyance. Ask my sister. I think she may smash my computer. Take a listen below and you'll see why.

Dear Diary,

I can't believe I blogged twice in one month.

<3, Haley

Amy Winehouse - "Valerie"

Unless you live under a rock, you know that Amy Winehouse died this week. Everyone's all, "Are you surprised?" You know what I say to that? Yes. Yes, I am surprised. Just because she had addiction problems doesn't make her death any less shocking. We know it's coming for each of us, but it's always unpredictable no matter what. I completely detest that following her death, people are undermining the music she made because of the life she chose to live. One is not related to the other. And don't fucking tell me that I only like her more now because she died. Fuck that. I basically listened to Back to Black for all of 2007 and revisit it all the time. It was a remarkable album that was comparable to nothing else. I'm not saying that her premature death won't have an impact on how people view her music because it will, but it won't be undeserving. People are also cutting her down for only making 2 albums from 2003 until now. I don't care if she released only one song during that time period. If that one song or those 2 albums affected people, made them feel something or inspired them in any way, then that artist deserves credit where credit is due. That's the point of music and Amy did her job. She was an incredible jazz vocalist and it is a huge loss that we will not be hearing anything else from her. People should be ashamed of themselves for being so incredibly disrespectful. Anyway, "Valerie" is one of the B-sides to her album, Back to Black. It's a showcase for her perfect jazz vocals and once again, I can't stop singing it.

Dum Dum Girls - "Coming Down"

I'll be honest. I couldn't name you one other song by this band. I've heard the buzz about them but never jumped on the bandwagon for absolutely no reason. I stumbled upon this song recently and I can't stop hitting play. It's a sweeping song that could go on for ten minutes and you wouldn't even notice. It's got that heavy, hazy, melancholy feel that I personally can never get enough of. It reminds me a lot of Mazzy Star's, "Fade Into You" which I was infatuated with all throughout high school. Makes me wanna slow dance in a gymnasium with chaperones watching.

Release the Sunbird - "No Light"

Despite the extremely gay band name, the stuff I have heard from him is preeetttty, preeettttty good. By him, I mean Zach Rogue of the band, Rogue Wave. This is his solo project and the first product is titled, Come Back To Us. He adds a female vocalist by the name of Kate Long and their voices truly compliment each other. This song in particular I liked after half of a listen. It flows perfectly and everything about it is pleasing to the ear. It's right in my wheelhouse. I hope the rest of the album is too! I couldn't find a link for just this song so the link above is for NPR's "First Listen" for the whole album. You're welcome!

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I just want to clarify that I was thinking about writing about this subject way before all the real music blogs started writing about it therefor, I am not copying them. It's not my fault they are professionals/have avid readers/real/have their shit in a pile and I'm all, "Yaya, I'm totally gonna write about that for the two people that read my blog...tomorrow or the next day or the next day." It's July. I started writing this in June but never finished. The year is half way done. I guess the idea to recap the best albums released this year is not so original but it is necessary. I'm mostly doing it so I can remember, come December, the albums that individually stole me away for weeks and weeks at a time. It also might have something to do with the fact that I'm bored and a girl can only watch so much, "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant." ::cough BULLSHIT cough::

If you don't know of these albums, I genuinely feel bad for you. If you don't know about these albums, I question your legitimacy as a person, let a alone someone I'm supposed to be acquainted with. If you don't know of these albums, please de-friend me. If you don't know that I'm referring to Facebook when I say de-friend me, de-friend me. If you don't know about these albums, welcome to this little place I like to call, "Earth."

So that was a all a bit dramatic back there, huh? I just wanted to emphasize that these albums are all nothing short of great accomplishments. Just so we are all on the same page, a good album to me is one you can listen to all the way through without getting the urge to change the song. It bears songs that make you feel something and if you're lucky, everything. Trust me when I say, you need these albums in your life. These are my top favorites thus far for 2011 and so far, so good. In no order...

Adele ::: 21

I feel lucky that I am able to listen to this album. I sit and listen and really think, "Man, I'm so lucky Adele and I are alive at the same time." It's that good. There is something so special about when an artist shares every raw emotion of their heartbreak with their listeners. It's like we had a heart to heart and now we are best friends. Adele sings the hell out of every song on the album and she did it beautifully. I'll appreciate a female with an outstanding voice till the day I die. I hope this girl comes out with an album for every age she turns.

"Turning Tables"

"If It Hadn't Been For Love"

Yuck ::: Yuck

Who the hell are they, right? Just this random band from London that has put out a better first album than bands putting out worse fifth albums. The first song I heard from this was, "The Wall." Pitchfork told me to listen to it and I mostly do what they say and usually, I am glad that I heed their advice. I was hooked after one listen and motivated to get the whole album. Yuck made me feel like I was listening to an album that was released during the 90's grunge phase. Its got that heavy guitar, all fuzzed out kinda feel to it but minus the flannel shirts and add background female vocals. It's not an album that you going to listen to one time through and get your socks blown off but rather one that you listen to a couple times through that seeps in through the cracks without you even knowing.

"Suicide Policeman"

"Shook Down"

Cults ::: Cults

Probably one of the hardest bands to Google, right after Girls. I always try and get my hands on albums before they are released simply because I can not wait any longer but it was next to impossible to find anything music related after "Google-ing" Cults. If that was part of their plan in the fight against music piracy, they win. I think I can safely say that this album is the sunniest, glossiest, most sugary, memorable album of 2011 all packaged in thirty-three minutes and when it's over, you might ask yourself what the hell just happened. Cults makes me think that this is what an album would sound like if really talented six year olds started a band. Some might infer from that sentence that this album is not good but let me assure you, that is not the case. Many might not, but I love the light, childhood-like qualities of this album. Although the album presents with that childhood, summer-y feel, the subjects of the songs are mature and are sang in melodies that are incessant and unforgettable. Oh, and whatever that instrument is that sounds like a Fisher Price piano that can be heard on most of the tracks, I'm going to need more of in my life.

"Oh My God"

"Bumper"

Fleet Foxes ::: Helplessness Blues

Fleet Foxes had some big shoes to fill after their first eponymous release. That album ruled. They set the bar almost unreachably high for themselves for their sophomore release. Almost. I must say, they cleared the bar with ease. This album is the most beautiful, stripped down, folky album I've possibly ever heard. There is something so unique about Robin Pecknold's voice yet at the same time, he occasionally reminds me of Jim James from My Morning Jacket. I'm not sure how someone can sound so unique and simultaneously remind me of someone but it happened. My favorite track on the album has to be, "Lorelai." Simply put, it is a disarming song that is laughably beautiful. Now that I think about it, majority of the songs on Helplessness Blues fit that description. Fleet Foxes have created sophisticated, wise beyond their years songs on Helplessness Blues that take me far away, and for that, it is one of my favorite albums of 2011.

"Lorelai"

"Helplessness Blues"

Bon Iver ::: Bon Iver

I was nervous for Bon Iver's second release. I loved For Emma, Foever Ago so incredibly much that in my eyes, there was no way they could do better and that made me sad for them. I loved every song on that album and the story that was tied to the conception of the album (you remember: girl breaks Justin Vernon's heart, Justin goes to a cabin in Wisconsin and whoopsaaay daisaaay, makes incredible album without meaning to) made me love it more intensely. The melodies and textures in these ten songs are breathtaking. If my heart was a sponge, Justin Vernon pretty much is ringing it out every time he opens his mouth to sing. His falsetto hits the spot every time. Bon Iver (the album) is a horse of different color and a stunning one at that. I won't say that it is better than it's predecessor because for me, Bon Iver made that virtually impossible but I will say that it is not in any way comparable to For Emma and I think that is exactly what needed to happen. It's a different beast entirely but the lyrics and intruments are just as haunting. It's a beautiful album and there aren't enough compliments in the world to pay to Bon Iver.

"Holocene"

"Beth/Rest"

"Perth"

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