I’ve loved this song for what seems like forever when a band called Northern released it on their MySpace. They recently changed their name to Huntingfield and released their debut album. Although I haven’t yet listened their whole album, it’s a phenomenally epic song. There’s really not more to say about it.

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“We Illuminate”

Oh, this burn in my soul
Watch me as the embers glow
You’re, you’re getting too close

Change my middle name
From “subtle” to “the human flame”
Things just won’t be the same

We started a fire
She’s made me a liar
I said, “I don’t need love
I’ve made it this far”
She broke through the surface
It’s hard not to notice
The way I breathe deeper
When she’s in the room

Weak, I thought I was strong
I never could have been more wrong
I’ve waited so long

Oh, and it’s fine
Yeah, it’s alright
We’re getting by
Yeah, it’s alright

Performed by Huntingfield. Released by Transparent Artist Management. Written by John Carter, Aaron Flora, Jonathan Garcia, Michael MacGregor, Jeffrey Perez. ©2009 Von Doom (ASCAP).

I just discovered this song when I heard one line from the song on a commercial on a tv in the other room. It took a bit of searching but I finally found it… and it was worth every second. This is what a happy song sounds like. Although it’s by MoZella (not Mozilla…),  Tim Myers (co-writer and singer/songwriter) is a freaking genius. If you like happy music, that’s where it’s at. Seriously.

“Thank You”

Lalala…

Mixed up and lost
You showed me love at no cost
And when nobody else cared
You were there

Down on my luck
You helped my life get unstuck
And when the world went away
You stayed

Thank you for the good times
Thank you for your love
Thank you for the joy you’ve given me
Yeah, yeah, thank you

You fight off my enemies
You’d take a bullet for me
And you know I’d do the same
For you

‘Cause that’s how we roll
Connected, at the soul
And I just want you to know
How I feel

Thank, you, for loving me every day
Thank, you, for showing me the way
Thank, you, for things that I never say

Performed by MoZella. Written by Maureen McDonald and Timothy Myers. Released by Universal/Motown Records. ©2009 Black Unicorn Music/Mo Zella Mo Music (ASCAP).

I must have Paper Route on the brain. Back in December I posted about a band called For All the Drifters and a song of theirs called “The Perfect Machine.” Well, I’ve been searching high and low to the depths of the internet to find the lyrics to another great song on the same EP. After months of searching… I found them. I’m happy to report I had figured out a solid 80% of them myself… but nothing beats the authentic words. The song is “Go Call the Police” and it’s just amazing.

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“Go Call the Police”

My heart beats slower every day
I swear I won’t go out this way
It’s two years past I’ve spent in fear
I think it’s finally time that I walked away from here

(Honestly)
I’m about let you go
(I think that complacency)
I’m about to save the day
(Has taken a hold of me)
I’m about let it all come out
(You’d agree)
And then we’ll go our separate ways
(Honestly)
I didn’t want to give you up
(I think that complacency)
You didn’t want to let me in
(Has taken a hold of me)
Well, I guess you didn’t hurt me enough
(You’d agree)
When you wondered where I’d been

The world came crashing down on me
The disappointment secrets bring
We made a tragic mess of love
I wish I knew what I’ll know when this is all over

Go call the police
I died at the scene

Take it like a man, again

©2006 For All the Drifters

I meant to finish this review before the release date of the album but I got sidetracked. Haven’t heard of Paper Route? Shame on you. If you have, you know that their highly anticipated debut full-length album Absence released last week. I’ll do my best to describe this piece of magnificence to you.

The record begins with a kaleidoscope of sound and textured beats entitled “Enemy Among Us” calling the only reference to the album title. “Wish” combines the best of rough guitar, solid piano sounds, and synths. “Carousel” is quite the single with a great hook and unforgettable sound. The next track, “Good Intentions” starts off distant and slowly begs you closer to your stereo; not to mention a heartbreaking theme. For a bit of a throwback sound, oddly-named “Tiger Teeth” provides some more great and catchy synth sounds.  From the first 10 seconds, you know “Be Healed” will be stuck in your head tomrrow and it’s follow-up “Last Time” has overwhelmingly powerful vocals and perfect-toned lyrics. “No Sudden Revelations” without a doubt calls hardcore fans right back to the ’sounds’ of the A Thrill of Hope EP with a breath of fresh air. The next track is the only track anybody has any excuse to skip over a song on the record. Although, after the initial warm-up I still like “Gutter” quite a bit, I can see how everybody might not be into the rugged sound. Lyrically, I’m pretty sure “Are We All Forgotten” is my favorite. The words “don’t you break my heart, again” have to resenate with anyone who has a soul. “Lover’s Anthem” brings some pretty good string sounds, however it’s probably the least memerable track on the record. Perhaps that’s because it’s followed up by favorite new track on the record (”All We All Fogotten” is also on the EP released last year). Check it out below.

I’ve always found it hard finding an artist who matches the production value of a mainstream artist and the pure talent of an independent artist. Paper Route is one of the few. Hands down, this is the best record released thus far in 2009. Astounding lyrics, phenomenal sounds, and overall epic songs. Every second of this album is good. This is not one to miss.

“Dance On Our Graves”

I hear something out there callin’ my name
No matter where I turn, it all looks the same
I never sleep at night, I just stay up and wait
But the burning in my blood never came

(Will I know it)
Will I know it when I see it?
(Will I know it)
Will I know it when you’re here?

I need you now, I need you more than ever before

I know that where I am is not who I should be
The devil takes my hand and says, ‘Child, come with me.’
My body shivers and aches; I can’t break free
Why do the things I hate come so naturally?

When we see the light when we’re going home
We’ll dance on our graves with our bodies below
We’ll sing, ‘Glory’ and ‘Hallelujah’

©2009 Universal/Motown

Want to listen to the whole album once for free and buy high-quality mp3s for $5.99? Too much? How about unlimted full-length streams of the entire album for $0.60! It’s all here.

I’ve always hated the country music genre. The first twang in a song was enough to make me cringe. Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” became the first recent “country” song I could withstand. When Taylor Swift started to hit the airwaves with “Teardrops on My Guitar” I wanted to like it but couldn’t get past the country sound. Thankfully, they released a pop mix of the single and all was loved. My point being, country music has an interesting opportunity to impact mainstream music… and some labels are taking advantage of the window. Taylor Swift has become something that nobody could have guessed. People embraced her sound, myself included. A few weeks ago, she sold-out Madison Square Garden in NYC in 60 seconds. That’s 20.000 seats.

The industry is, I imagine, trying to pump out some crossover artists while this window of opportunity is open. By no means is this a unique situation, rap and hip-hop has experienced similar crossover success over the last year or two; in fact, country has experienced similar mainstream success in the past.

As labels try to figure out what the next step for a success in the music industry as a whole, it’s interesting to see the impact people getting bored with the same old top 40 repetitiveness. It’s almost a catch-22. Rap and rock have impacted top 40 stations, and now country has increasingly seen popularity in the genre. We’re truly living in some interesting times: the economy sucks overall, the music industry is hurting beyond what anybody thought was possible 10 years ago. Will people get sick of crossover success as well?

Contributing to the country-pop-top40 crossover, Island Records is hoping to gather some success for new artist Jessie James. Her debut single goes for adds this week and All Access has been pushing this single pretty hard. I decided to take a listen, and it’s pretty darn good. Although it was pretty hard to track down, it should gain some ground with the release of the May edition of Promo Only. I wouldn’t say it’s original by any means or even groundbreaking… but will people eat it up? Absolutely.

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“Wanted”

I wanna lie in my bed
And do nothing
I don’t care what anyone says
I got you on my mind
Thinkin’ about one thing
Gonna show you how I do it best

Put my lips on your mouth
Keep you commin’ around
‘Cause I like it, yeah
Put your hands on my hips
Take me down
Sink this ship
Boy, I can’t resist

I wanna wear my hair up in a mess
Cut-off jeans, can you get with that?
Give you some, like you’ve never had
‘Cause I only wanna be wanted by you
I wanna tease you ’till you’re begging me
And you’re on your knees
And it’s hard to breathe
And every other time, it’s just a memory
‘Cause I only wanna be wanted by you

Those other guys when they call
I might answer
But you’re the one I’m thinking ’bout
So baby don’t disappoint
Just move faster
And show me what you’re feeling now

Put your lips on my mouth
Keep it commin’ around
‘Cause I like it, yeah
Nothing’s wrong
It’s so right
Got permission from me tonight
So turn off the lights

Now I’m going crazy
I’m tired of waiting
My lips are on fire
I just want you to know
I’m losing my patience
For the time that you’ve wasted

Performed by Jessie James. Written by Jessie James, Kara DioGuardi, Mitch Allan and David Hodges. ©2009 Mercury/Island Records (a division of Island Def Jam Music Group) and Universal Music Group.

I’ve been really busy lately but wanted to share this random find. Zune Marketplace recommended this to me. Look for regular updates soon.

Check out this song. In fact… her whole album is pretty good.

“Love, Save the Empty”

Little girls don’t know how to be sweet girls
Mama didn’t teach me
Little boys don’t know how to treat little girls
Daddy didn’t show me

Face down, on top of your bed
Oh why did I give it up to you?
Is this how I shoot myself up high
Just high enough to get through?

Again, the false affection
Again, we break down inside
Love, save the empty
Love, save the empty, and save me

Sad boy, you stare up at the sky
When no one’s looking back at you
You wear your every last disguise
You’re flying, then you fall through

Again, the false attention
Again, you’re breaking inside
Love, save the empty
Love, save the empty, save me

Stars feel like knives
They tell us why we’re fighting
Storm, wait outside
Oh, love, hold us together

Performed by Erin McCarley. Written by Jamie Kenney and Erin McCarley. ©2007 Fraggle Music/Carver Music (ASCAP).