Replay, Please

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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