20 years of 'Version 2.0.'

20 years ago Garbage reached no.1 on the UK album chart with their second album 'Version 2.0.' This record was a really excellent follow-up to their debut album 'Garbage', and quite a surprise as they brought a new sound totally different from the grunge and rock-ish style of their flawless debut. And while they tried to bring new sounds to their following albums ('Beautiful Garbage' was a nice effort that grows on you with the years, whereas 'Bleed Like Me', 'Not Your Kind of People' or 'Strange Little Birds' were ok but failed to impress), they haven't been able to reinvent themselves like they did with their sophomore album.

And as such an important date couldn't be missed, Garbage planned to make a anniversary concert in London to remember this amazing album (i've got tickets for that), but there was such a high demand that they ended making an anniversary tour and they will even make it to the US. I really can't wait to see them playing live this amazing album, it's gonna be something beyond, as i've only saw them play live during the 'Beautiful Garbage' tour and it was great.

 So, as a celebration of this very important and ground-breaking album, and while everyone remembers 'Push It', 'I Think I'm Paranoid' or 'When I Grow Up' from this record, i'm bringing you my top 5 songs from 'Version 2.0.' that you probably have forgotten, even though two of them were actually singles. It's going to be worth it because this album is complete perfection from beginning to end, a pure jewel to the ears:

Hammering My Head

"I use the ones that I love the best"

4 more:

Pete Yorn's & Scarlett Johansson's EP 'Apart'

Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson are back together making music again and these two are always a great combination. After nearly 10 years of their first collaboration together with the 'Break Up' album, a pure gem, they are back with 'Apart', a 5 song EP that is simply excellent.

For starters, the first single 'Bad Dreams' is catching like fire, one of those songs you just love to listen while driving, because it has all the energy. But for me, my instant favorite has been 'Movies', such an hypnotic and melodic ballad that really takes you somewhere else. 'Cigarillo' has one hundred percent Pete Yorn's signature all over it, and that's a good thing, while 'Iguana Bird', is a really great start for opening the EP. And last but not least 'Tomorrow' is the perfect brooch for a tiny but perfect EP.

I simply couldn't be happier of these two making sweet and good music again and i hope there's a third full album, or at least EP, in a future. In the meantime, enjoy this small pleasure that turned out to be 'Apart'. Listen below.

sources: spotify & peteyorn

15 years of Madonna's 'American Life'

In 2003 Madonna released the controversial 'American Life' after the country dance album 'Music' and it was definitely a different twist for her. And while i liked some songs, i was kinda disappointed as i expected something else, despite Mirwai's fabulous involvement. But i played it again a few years later and i unexpectedly adored it.

'American Life' wasn't Madonna's biggest success, in fact, its lead single and title album track didn't even make big on the charts as it was expected from the Queen of Pop but many as i didn't understand what we had ahead of ourselves. This album was ahead of its time, and that makes it priceless as years go by and you listen to it with a different point of view. Many appreciated it for what it was but it took time to others to see that this is not Madonna's worst album, not even close. One has to admire gems like the ultra hit 'Hollywood' or divine and worth James Bond tunes like 'Die Another Die', so underrated at the time. And what about the powerful and heart felt ballad 'Nothing Fails' which i saw her performing live, playing an acoustic guitar and with a profound feeling that later i understood as weeks later it was announced that she and Guy Ritchie (after whom he wrote such a beautiful love letter) were divorcing. But all of them, alongside some pure disco electronic delights as fantastic as 'Mother and Father' or 'Nobody Knows Me', make up for a different, out of the box album.

It's surprising how underrated this album actually is but i guess many experienced what happened to me when i first listened to it and now we can give the place it deserves. Below there are my five absolute favorite songs from 'American Life', one of them actually included in my Top 20 Madonna songs ever so it can't be that bad of an album. Not at all.

Hollywood

Nothing Fails

Die Another Day

Love Profusion

Mother and Father

sources: thepinsta & youtube

Pete Yorn and Scarlett together are back together with 'Apart'

These are excellent music news and you have no idea how happy i am. Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson are collaborating again and releasing an EP called 'Apart' after their 2009 'Break Up' and these are wonderful news.

'Break Up' was an excellent EP full of catchy and lively songs about a couple's struggle of breaking things up and now, nine years later, they're back together with 'Apart' dealing with all the emotions that you go through when you're not living anymore with the person you used to be. Lots of sad and confused feelings in really hip songs as the first single 'Bad Dreams' is out and sounds amazing.

We'll have to wait for June 1st to listen to the rest of the tracks but in the meantime, watch the music vid for 'Bad Dreams' below and if you weren't familiar with him, get to know a little bit more about Pete Yorn with my 10 fave songs from him –including lots of the 'Break Up' EP, of course. Maybe you're not aware of it, but Pete and Scarlett back together is the best thing ever.

sources: albumism & youtube

Remembering Dolores O'Riordan with 'No Need To Argue'

The news of the sudden death of Dolores O'Riordan, frontwoman of iconic band The Cranberries, shocked everyone who loved the band. Aged 46, she was extremely young which makes it even more sad, while the cause of the death is still unknown to us. But when an artist dies it's his or her art that prevails so at least we have her voice to remember.

When i grew up i loved 'No Need To Argue' and still to this day is one of my favorite albums, so i'm dedicating a post to it because i think it was her greatest work with the Irish band. Because there's no bad song in the entire album, from the smash hit 'Zombie' to full of energy 'I Can't Be With You' to more melodic or in depth songs like 'Empty' or 'Twenty One'. And how to forget the touching 'Ode To My Family', this album is simply perfection from beginning to end.

So, below you can listen to the whole album but after the cut i've added some of my personal favorites that i've mentioned before. Of course, the band has a bunch of other great songs like 'Animal Instinct', 'Dreams', 'Just My Imagination' or so on but this album really made an impact on my teens, so there you have it.

Top 13 David Bowie songs

This is just heartbreaking, as many of you probably know, legendary artist, singer, songwriter and actor David Bowie has passed away at the age of 69. His birthday was just three days ago and his loss is something indescribable to everyone who loved his music. And his voice... if there's something i always miss when i lose someone close is that i will never get to hear their voices again and it's something that always strikes me and in this case, when it's someone you've been listening ever since you were a kid, it's something tragic.

Inevitably, i'm making a top 12 of my most favourite songs from him, i'm not going to rank them as they're all fantastic and maybe the ones i'm putting are the obvious choices and others are not the most acclaimed ones, but i grew up seeing him in 'Labyrinth' and as it remains one of my favourite movies there you have them. Seriously, what a loss. Check out the rest after the cut.

Under Pressure

Thursday's Child

Music moments in 'Call Me By Your Name'

(Spoilers!!)
Yes, this is another 'Call Me By Your Name' post. But if you've seen the movie, you know the movie is worth a thousand posts. And i'm not going to make any more about it for now, but i had to remark the perfect soudtrack of the film.

From The Psychedelic Furs' 'Love My Way' to the precious songs that Sufjans Stevens' has in the movie, the music is a key element in the film and the final scene with 'Visions of Gideon' by them is something unforgettable. As a i adore those grand music moments in film where a song gives a whole lot of meaning to a specific scene, i could not post this moment, where Elio has to face the reality that him and Oliver are never going to meet again as the lovers they were, and the harsh truth of that. I cannot express with words how grand Chamalet's performance is in that scene but it touches your heart in such a way that i had to post it. And as Sufjan Stevens have released a new video as a soundtrack of the film with 'Mysteries of Love' with gorgeous scenes from the movie, so you can watch it below as well.

sources: id & youtube

Katy Perry as Marie Antoinette in 'Hey Hey Hey' music video

Katy Perry has released her new music video 'Hey Hey Hey' playing a modern Marie Antoinette and is simply fantastic.

Clearly inspired in Sofia Coppola's movie of the French queen, Perry is dressed in period clothes but has a cellphone, eats Hit Takis and ice cream and there are also video games, but even though she's a queen, she's oppressed by her king and husband, so she dreams of rebelling and becoming Joan of Arc. In the end she has the same fate as the infamous queen (with one little surprise) but well, the video and the mixture of that era and actual times is always fun to see and i think anyone dreams of being a modern Marie Antoinette as i did in this post.

Enjoy the vid, this is the fourth single that Katy Perry is releasing from 'Witness' after 'Chained to the Rythm', 'Bon Apetit' and 'Swish Swish' so that's not bad at all from a "flop" album, right?

sources: kparg, wideawoke, unxxrted & youtube

26 years of 'Achtung Baby'

Last year i totally missed U2's best album 25th anniversary so this year i had to dedicate it a post. I know many refer to 'The Joshua Tree' as the Irish band's best album but i have to simply disagree. In fact, as a kid i had to suffer from a die hard U2 fan (my brother) so i listened to everything U2 that was out there and the first album that i actually liked was 'Achtung Baby'. It was a total game changer for a band as it used to have a more conventional sound, so it was a really nice surprise, and the 'Zoo TV Tour' was something visually amazing and i wished i could have gone to one of their concerts but i was too young then.

So, below i posted my favorite songs from this one of a kind album that remains to this day my fave from them, i hadn't added 'Even Better Than The Real Thing ' because everyone knows that song (and i like these ones better) but you can listen to the full album here.

Zoo Station

The Fly

One

Who's Gonna Ride your Wild Horses

Ultraviolet. (Light My Way)

sources: u2 & youtube

6 favorite songs by Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton has announced that she's releasing a new album soon and that's good news even though you don't think so. Why? Because her debut album 'Paris', released in 2006, was a pure pop jewel. Sure it contained the basic 2000 pop album sound, similar to those released by Hilary Duff or Ashlee Simpson, but  songs like 'Nothing in This World' or 'Stars Are Blind' remain hit tracks to this day. Maybe you cannot get over the fact that it's indeed Paris Hilton singing this songs and yeah, her voice may not be that good and she doesn't write her own material but if you get over that stuff, the album is kinda good.

So, as we'll have to wait for the heiress to grace us with her new album, here are six songs that you have to admit that are really catchy and fun to dance to, many are from her debut record and 'Good Time' was randomly released but still a great dance song. Listen below!

Stars Are Blind

Nothing In This World

I Want You

DoYou Think I'm Sexy

Turn It Up

Good Time

sources: youtube

Beck's 'Colors'

Beck has released his 12th studio album with 'Colors' and this really is a touch of color in his career. The album is a good-feeling record where practically every song is a dance hit with the exception of 'Fix Me', the only song that could be considered a ballad. But there's no bad track on this record, not at all.

From the hit single 'Up All Night' to 'Seventh Heaven' or 'I'm So Free' all the songs cheer you up and make you wanna dance and it's always great to have a full album like this to change your mood, and it's surprising that it's coming from an artist like Beck. But at the same time, you can hear his signature sound on the album so that's really great as this record has been on repeat at my house ever since i first listened to it. So, below are some of my fave songs from 'Colors' but listen to the full album here because it's really a game changer.

sources: diskunion & spotify

'Twin Peaks: The Return' Top 10 Performances

You think i would go in deep about 'Twin Peaks The Return' without mentioning the awesome music performances that put a brooch almost at the end of every episode? You thought wrong. From Lynch's personal favorite Rebekah Del Rio, unforgettable since 'Mulholland Drive' and her performance in Silencio Club, to new additions into Lynch's world like the Chromatics, fitting perfectly into Twin Peaks, there had been a bunch of performances that gave us a breeze of fresh air after so many emotions during many episodes. And maybe those were to give us a moment and digest everything.

Anyway, there are some that have been stellar, like my number one with Rebekah Del Rio, which performance, voice and lyrics are something hypnotic. Other like the Nine Inch Nails provided the darkest performance for such a twisted episode like 'Part 8'. While we got some nostalgic performances with James singing 'Just You' or the iconic Julee Christie who was back on the show only to trash it after she didn't have the screen time she wanted. And we even got Audrey doing her dance, but was it really her?

Others were new artists like Lissie and her energetic 'Wild West' or even Lynch's son Riley performing with his band Trouble but every performance has been grand. So, below are my fave 10 performances the show had. Maybe you're missing the one with Eddie Vedder, but i'm simply not a fan. Yeah, there are people who don't like his voice or music. Anyway, Ladies and Gentleman, enjoy!

1. Rebekah Del Rio - No Stars (Part 10)

2. Chromatics - Shadow (Part 2)

3. Nine Inch Nails (Part 8)

4. Julee Cruise - The World Spins (Part 17)

5. James - Just You (Part 13)


6. The Veils - Axoloti (Part 15)


7. Lissie - Wild West (Part 14)


8. Trouble - Snake Eyes (Part 5)


9. Audrey's Dance (Part 16)


10. Chromatics - Saturday (Part 12)


sources: twinpeaksarg & youtube

Kesha's 'Rainbow'

Kesha has finally released her new album, after some legal and very disgusting troubles she encountered, and the result can fully be reflected in 'Rainbow'. And i'm telling you as someone who¡s never listened to a full Kesha album, it's something worth giving a try.

'Rainbow' has old classic Kesha hits that are instant favorites like 'Let 'Em Talk' mixed with cheeky and fun songs like 'Boots' but also really powerful tracks like 'Praying' (best song of the whole album for me–that high note at the end!!) or 'Hymn', both songs heavily loaded with heartfelt lyrics. 'Learn To Let Go' is also another song where you can see how all those troubles made Kesha grow up and accept herself despite the haters bashing her looks. The cover, i think, it's no coincidence, as she was mocked online after some paparazzi pics came online and everyone called her fat. This cover, and basically the whole entire album, is Kesha screaming out loud to the haters that she doesn't care anymore, that she has returned from hell better than ever and encourages those who are living a nightmare to stay strong because you can always get out of that as triumphal as she has done. Kesha has always been an outcast so this is her ode to all those who have been in her place and she does it brilliantly. Truth is that are a few songs that i really didn't like but overall i think it's a decent album.

Glad to hear you back Kesha. Listen to 'Rainbow' here and to my faves below.

sources: spotify

Selena Gomez' 'Fetish' Music Video Directed by Petra Collins

Selena Gomez has released a new song which are not news to me because i don't really follow her music (no shade intended) but the music video is directed by Petra Collins, so there she got my attention.

As you know, i really follow and love Collins' work and lately it seems that these two are collaborating a lot, as Petra photographed Selenita for Wonderland Magazine, and they really seem to work things out pretty nicely and good. In the video, Selena sings about some old love that keeps coming back while she's desperate at home trying (i think) not to go back to him. From ripping her tights or tying up her tongue, to eating glass, soap, lipstick, whatever not to yearn for that love, for a kiss of that love, that tongue. She's so hot about it, she even gets into the cooler. The vid is full of really Petra Collins-esque images, and i always adore her style and signature photography, and the song is not bad at all, infact i have it on my mind ever since i watched the vid.

So enjoy this new Collins-Gomez collab and check out some pics the photographer took on set as well as come stills of the vid. After the cut!

Lana del Rey's 'Lust for Life'

Lana del Rey is back with, in my opinion, her best album since her debut 'Born To Die'. Her sophomore album 'Honeymoon' was alright too but i'm really loving 'Lust For Life' a lot. Truth is, it totally has Lana de Rey's signature's sound, but the lyrics, the melodic songs, have something else despite some tracks sounding exactly like she always does. And while 'Ultraviolence' was a little too dark for me, i think with her latest album she's back to her good old self.

Songs like 'Tomorrow Never Came', a beautiful heartfelt duet with Sean Ono Lennon that sounds exactly like a Beatles song and transports you to that era, or cool hip songs like 'Summer Bummer' feat. A$AP Rocky & Plaiboi Carti that makes it for the perfect Summer anthem, thing that she's such a mastermind for. And another thing she's perfect at is at writing heartbreak songs like 'White Mustang' with vocals where you can really feel her pain, just like in 'Cherry' or '13 Beaches', she's simply the heartbreak queen.

So, below i have added some of my fave songs from this really excellent album that i feel it's gonna be the soundtrack of the Summer, just like 'Born To Die' was so many Summers ago now. Enjoy.

sources: genius & spotify

Music Monday (HAIM, Arcade Fire, Kesha, Kid Wise & Hidrogenesse)

Music Monday post! Here are some songs that i've had on repeat for some time now so enjoy!

Haim - Want You Back
The Haim sisters are back and her new single and vid are amazing. The choreographed music video is fantastic and the song one of the ones that really stands out from their new album. I have to give it a few more listens but this song is the one i liked best, for now. I had to post the vid because i loved it.

Arcade Fire - Creature Comfort

This song is pure fire. After 'Everything Now' that kinda gave us 'Reflektor' vibes but this new track is amazing. I didn't expect much from the new album but after this song my body is ready.

Kesha - Praying

I've always loved fun Kesha, she's got really strong hits like 'Tik Tok' or 'Die Young' but this new track after all she's gone through is really touching and emotional. The lyrics and the music are really beautiful and tearing and she has really done a really great track. And she can really sing.

Kid Wise - Hope

I discovered this song waiting to see Hidrogenesse live and it's really catchy and it only gets better. It's an oldie but it's worth listening because it lightens up your mood and makes you want to dance.

Hidrogenesse - El árbol

And while seeing Hidrogenesse live, this song really caught my attention because of the lyrics. Yeah, it's in Spanish but i could not add it here because it really touched me deep so here it is. 

sources: youtube & spotify

TLC's 'Deluxe'

TLC are back! The last time they released an album was in 2002 with '3D' and there they included some vocals by late member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, but now with 'Deluxe', i think it's the first time they are releasing something by themselves.

Sure it was a really a really hard blow when Lisa Lopes, their most popular and probably, talented member, tragically passed away, and it has been a really hard test for them to keep going as a band, because all three fitted so well together. 'CrazySexyCool' is one of my fave albums and as the title states, each of them had something different that made their three member girlband something unique. From their voices to their personalities, TLC were the biggest girlband in the world and not too long ago were still the most selling girlband ever.

So now what happens with 'Deluxe' where T-Boz and Chilli are by themselves without their most iconic member? The result is not bad. There are songs that are really not bad though not something great, they even have a collaboration with Snoop Dogg, but there are a few ones that really evoke TLC's old glory days and are really really worth listening. Songs about positive feedback as they always do, with tracks like 'Haters' and 'Perfect Girls' or true friendship and missing old dear peers like 'Start a Fire' and 'American Gold', these songs remind me to the TLC i loved back when i was a teenager. So, did they pass the test as a duo? I think with tracks like the ones i mentioned and those meaningful lyrics, they're on the way. So, decide by yourself and take a listen to them below or check out the album here.

sources: TLC

Lorde's 'Melodrama'

Now this was an unexpected surprise. When Lorde first came out with her debut album 'Pure Heroine', i didn't like it at all. Like, i listened to it but i didn't dig it and didn't understand why everyone loved it so much. But well to each his own as everyone has their own taste. So, when she released her second album titled 'Melodrama' and released 'Green Light' as the first single, things were different. Because the song is an instant hit and you've got to be crazy not to like it. But despite that, after listening to the sophomore album now i can say that i like Lorde.

The album has a more accessible sound still maintaining her signature style, but everything works out perfectly. The songs make you want to dance while the powerful lyrics hit you hard and all that makes for a perfect album that i can't stop listening now, as surprised as i am. Catchy like fire songs like 'Supercut' or 'Homemade Dynamite', 'Sober', 'Louvre', 'Hard Feelings/Loveless' and so on, there's no bad song in the album. So, below are my fave tracks from 'Melodrama', which i already mentioned but they're really going to be the soundtrack of my Summer. Enjoy!

sources: spotify

Katy Perry's 'Witness'

Katy Perry released her latest album this week in the middle of some unfair controversy with Snake Swift releasing all her songs in all devices the same day Katy's album was out, which is really petty and shady from her. But well, 'Witness' was out and while it's not 'Teenage Dream' is not a bad album at all.

Truth is that i believe that Katy Hudson has really chosen wrong when it comes to releasing singles of the new album. Yes, 'Chained to the Rhythm' was all over the place, but i grew tired of it soon after it was released and 'Bon Apetit' is not a strong enough single despite the music video. I really think she should have released 'Swish Swish' earlier because it's an instant hit and pretty much any of the five first songs of the album are amazing. After those, the album is not bad but not impressive at all, kinda forgetable, so i think she needs to be releasing some of those songs, as she has done with 'Swish Swish' and make the most of those really catchy and great songs. From the strong tune 'Hey Hey Hey', to the 90s dance track 'Roulette', the super catchy 'Dejà Vu' or the album's title song 'Witness', any song could be a strong solid single.

Anyway, listen to 'Witness' here and check out my fave songs from it, they're really worth listening.

sources: spotifyweb

Phoenix's 'Ti Amo'

Phoenix are back with a new record that reminds me to the gloriousness that was their album 'Wolfgang Amadeus' was. Not that they haven't released other great stuff in the meantime, but they didn't deliver such a perfect record like they did back in 2009. But 'Ti Amo' seems to have them back to being fresh, charming and hip with an album full of songs where every track has really something. From the band's first single 'J-Boy' to the marvellous album track that gives the album its name, there's no bad song. And they always manage to elaborate catchy tunes without sounding too washed out or repetitive despite their signature sound.

Anyway, here are the five songs i loved most besides 'J-Boy' or 'Goodbye Soleil' that had already been released, but keep in mind that i practically adored the album from beginning to end so treat yourself and listen to the full album here.

sources: wearephoenix & spotify