My recent indulgence into Spotify completely changed the landscape of my music library. I’ve decided to grace you wonderful people with some of my discoveries. Game time, bros.

Numero Uno: City and Colour

I can confidently say that I never expected anything this good to come out of Canada. I just sat here for five minutes trying to think of a way to describe City and Colour and the only word that came to my mind was “beautiful”. City and Colour’s voice is as angelic as I’ve ever heard, and it seems like his music improves every time I listen to it. Here you go…

Other Songs: The Girl, Sleeping Sickness, Grand Optimist

Numero Dos: Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men, a six member Icelandic indie group comprised of 6 members who’s names I can’t even come close to pronouncing, may be my favorite find of the last 6 months. I think the most impressive part of Of Monsters and Men is the incredible artistry that goes into their instrumentals. They tend to lean heavily on orchestral instruments, and I love it. Their first album “My Head is an Animal” is a work of art. For your own good, go buy it and enjoy.

Numero Tres: Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s

With a name that creative how could they not be awesome? Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s is an indie band from Indianapolis, and they have captured my heart. They are similar to Of Monsters and Men because they tend to use a lot of orchestral instruments and are extremely successful doing so. The lyricism in their songs is is brilliant and only adds to the phenomenal vocals. Definitely worth checking out.

Numero Cuatro: Death Cab For Cutie



Yeah, they may have released their first album in 1998, but they’re new to me, so fight me bro. Death Cab is definitely one of a kind. Ben Gibbard, the vocalist for the indie band from Washington, has one of the most unique voices I’ve ever heard. Their album Plans has skyrocketed into one of my favorite albums of all time in a matter of a month. Death Cab’s lyricism is a perfect mixture of certain dark aspects and uplifting ones, with death often playing a prevalent role in their songs.

Individual song time? Individual song time.

You And I – Ingrid Michaelson

Oh Ingrid, you angel. This song epitomizes what I think Ingrid is about. Of course it features a great vocal performance by Ingrid and her producer Dan Romer, but it also has the somewhat innocent and idealistic lyricism that I have come to expect from Ingrid.

When A Heart Breaks – Ben Rector

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHCrFA2X26I

No, this song isn’t even remotely close to “Breakeven” by The Script, mostly because it doesn’t blow. Ben Rector brilliantly crafts the atmosphere and feelings following a heartbreak, including the search for peace, confusion, and even physical illness that breeds from a heartbreak. I’m not religious, but the “You don’t need Jesus until you’re here” line really got me. Check dis jawn out.

Comes and Goes (In Waves) – Greg Laswell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEFxfVyz4Uc

Oh man. Greg Laswell, who has been featured on Bauerbreeze before, is one of my favorites. “Comes and Goes” is a song directed at all those people out there that seem to have the world against them. Laswell aims to uplift these people’s spirits by inspiring people to have faith that things will turn around. Easily Greg’s best song. Check it out.

And Finally…No Children – The Mountain Goats

The best self destructive song I’ve ever heard. The Mountain Goats are a “group” focused around John Darnielle. I put group in quotation marks because The Mountain Goats are basically a single member group, but Darnielle has many collaborators who work with him. Now…onto this song. I don’t really know how to describe it besides scary. It’s performed as a man talking to someone he is intimately related to and he describes how he hopes for the difficulties of life to continue, with truly uplifting lyrics – “I hope you die, I hope we both die!”. It’s so weird, and that’s what makes it amazing. Worth checking out, so do it.