Hatchet reporters Katie Donham and Kelsey Grashoff share their latest musical obsessions.
Katie Donham
I chose this song because out of five albums I recently downloaded, this is the one I find myself singing the most often. The song’s eerily calm opening, leads its way to a very upbeat, and equally uplifting finish. The song is refreshing in its sparseness. There are no synthesizers or anything distorting the sounds like so much of the music being released now – just vocals, piano and a few string instruments.
Ingrid Michaelson: “Parachute”
Ingrid Michaelson’s newest single is in a very different vein than her previous music. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked her new sound, but after hearing Ingrid perform “Parachute” at the 9:30 Club two weeks ago, I have definitely warmed up to it. A fun fact about this song is that Ingrid originally wrote it for another artist to perform. Cheryl Cole from the British girl group, Girls Aloud, released the song as a single. Then, Ingrid was persuaded to record it as well. The songs sound completely different, and Ingrid’s is definitely my favorite, but it’s interesting to listen to two renditions of the same song.
Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj: “Bottoms Up”
While this song is honestly pretty lackluster, I have been listening to it on repeat for the last few days. Trey Songz’s contributions are nothing special, but I find Nicki Minaj’s verse almost mesmerizing. I’m not her biggest fan either, but the juxtaposition of her girly whisper with her hard hitting rap really caught my attention. There really is no other female hip hop artist like her. She really is talented and outshines Trey Songz by far, carrying the song all the way through.
Kelsey Grashoff
Yes, I do admit to having listened to the original song by Katy Perry more than once, but as someone who is usually less than interested in anything she has to say, I thoroughly enjoy Boyce Avenue’s cover of the song. The quieter piano and acoustic guitar make it sound more emotional than sexual, and the careful amendments to Perry’s lyrics certainly take away some of the less classy elements of the original – changing Perry’s lyrics “Let’s go all the way tonight, no regrets, just love” to the much more romantic “Let’s just talk all through the night, there’s no need to rush.” For those looking for a great song with great vocals and cute lyrics, this cover is definitely the way to go.
Mumford & Sons: “Winter Winds”
While enjoying a wide audience, the newly wrought fame of this English band is not due purely to the classic rock sound and emotional vocals. The banjo and distinctive, country-esque instruments that Mumford & Sons uses certainly adds a unique element to their popular sound. “Winter Winds,” a lively and emotional track from the band’s debut album, is no exception. The narrative lyrics have a strong poignant element to anyone confused by romance, and the instrumentals are sure to capture the attention of casual listeners.
Los Campesinos!: “Death to Los Campesinos!”
The lyrics of this indie hit don’t make much sense, but the strong instrumentals and great beat make it easy listening. I’ve found it’s a great song for working out or for waking up for the day because you just can’t help but tap your feet along with the beat. The great medley of instruments included in the song really help to give it a diverse feel, while the lyrics become almost a secondary instrument as they go along with the beat very well, especially toward the end. Certainly give this song a listen if you’re looking for a great beat.