See you in January!

Hi everyone,
Things have been pretty slow around here lately, and it's time I called a spade a spade -- I don't have enough time. Right now, I need to focus my energies elsewhere (like my website and web radio station at djponytail.com), and give myself time to get my energy back. For that reason, I've decided to take the rest of December off. I've been running and writing for Stuck In My Skull pretty much continuously for over three years -- my first post was waaaay back on July 16, 2011. I've been able to slow down some now and then while having other people write on the blog, and I've taken a week off once or twice, but I've never really a decent chunk of time off to catch my breath. With that being said, I want to assure everyone that Stuck In My Skull is not 'going on indefinite hiatus,' being abandoned, or any nonsense like that. No, I'm just taking the rest of December off, nothing more. So with that, I'll see you wonderful people in 2015! Have a great holiday season, and keep rocking out!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 566 -- "Telephone Banking"

Song: "Telephone Banking" || Artist: Clean Bandit feat. Nikki B || http://youtu.be/GeynVBZjls8 ||

Comments: Hello, everyone! For today I've got an incredibly catchy song by Clean Bandit. This song was stuck in my head when I woke up this morning, and it's unlikely to be going anywhere. I can't get enough of the main synth line, and the rest of the song is just the perfect accompaniment for that beat. As usual for a Clean Bandit song, this track makes really great use of strings to bring the rest of the song together. Definitely give this song a listen if you haven't heard it, and be sure to like us on Facebook! Enjoy the day!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 565 -- "Miami Showdown"

Song: "Miami Showdown" || Artist: Digitalism || http://youtu.be/jfMdV-SE2bs ||

Comments: Hello and happy Monday, everyone! After a lovely week off, Stuck In My Skull is back and at it again! Today's song comes from German duo Digitalism, and may be familiar if you follow the American TV show Person of Interest. It's got all the hallmarks of a down-tempo chill track except the feel, in which it's much harder than I usually associate with chill tracks. It's got a really excellent synth bass line driving the song that's incredibly catchy, and the rest of the song hits all the right notes to play off that bass. The song is short and sweet and excellent. Give it a listen, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 564 -- "Whatsername"

Song: "Whatsername" || Artist: Green Day || http://youtu.be/Z2LC1xrdOaM ||

Comments: Hello everyone, and happy Friday! Honestly, I couldn't begin to tell you why I have this song stuck in my head right now -- it's been ages since I listened to it, or for that matter anything on the album. Regardless, it's stuck in my head, and I want to share it. This song is the final track of Green Day's rock opera album American Idiot, and takes a different tone than most of the songs preceding it. It's a slower, more mellow tune that almost seems to be the 'years later' coda to the upbeat insanity that comes before it. It's a really good song, and you should give it a listen. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 563 -- "Adagio for Strings"

Song: "Adagio for Strings" || Artist: Tiesto || http://youtu.be/8tIgN7eICn4 ||

Comments: Hello, everyone! To all of you who, like me, had trouble getting out of bed this morning, this track is for you. It's a fast-paced, pulse-pounding, day-starting nine seven-and-a-half minutes of awesome. This song is on of my favourites from what I think of as 'old' Tiesto, the tracks that I listened to when I was first getting into electronic music, and the songs that really made me fall in love with trance in general and Tiesto and particular. It also was one of the first songs I heard that showed me how much fun you can have remixing classical music -- Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" in this case. All these years later, I still think it holds up. Apparently I'm not the only one -- in early 2013, readers of Mixmag voted this track the second-best dance song of all time. Give this song a listen, and you'll know why.

Download

Stuck In My Skull 562 -- "Path to Decay"

Song: "Path to Decay" || Artist: Sirenia || http://youtu.be/ouZQ7rgAq-I ||

Comments: Hello everyone! Today I quite honestly have "Rainbow Road" stuck in head, as it was the last song I heard from my workout playlist this morning. When I jumped on YouTube to see what else I'd been listening to lately, this song was sitting under that 'Watch it Again' section, and I was surprised to realize I'd never blogged about it. This track has been kicking around my head for at least a few years now, and I had looked at it several times previously without realizing I hadn't written about it. Thankfully, I can finally rectify that unfortunate situation. Sirenia is a gothic/symphonic metal bound with a sound that strikes me as being somewhere between Sonata Arctica and Evanescence, and that's a pretty good endorsement in my book. This track in particular fits almost perfectly into my conceptions of the prototypical female-vocals pseudo-gothic metal track. It's got some solid vocals backed by chugging riffs and the easy pace of a band who knows they rock. Apparently the band has had some lineup changes since this song came out, and I confess that I'm not terribly familiar with their more recent work. As best I can tell from Wikipedia however, the band's vocalist and at least one of the guitarists hasn't changed since this song came out, so I have no doubt that Sirenia's sound will still remain excellent in more recent tracks. Give this song a listen, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 561 -- "Break Free"

Song: "Break Free" || Artist: Ariana Grande feat. Zedd || http://youtu.be/L8eRzOYhLuw ||

Comments: Hello and happy Monday, everyone! Today's song has been stuck in my head for far too long, so it's time to pass it on to you all. To be fair, you've almost certainly heard this song if you've turned on the radio lately -- this thing is everywhere, and it's not hard to see why. The combination of Zedd's excellent production and Ariana Grande's vocals makes for a truly infectious ear-worm. It's got a beat that pounds and a chorus that gets stuck in your head, and I can't get enough of it. Check this song out, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 560 -- "The Longest Road" With Remix!

Song: "The Longest Road" || Artist: Morgan Paige feat. Lissie || Remix: Deadmau5 || Original: http://youtu.be/M4pugDVEBxY || Remix: http://youtu.be/shBKTA3QIok ||

 Original Track

Deadmau5 Remix

Comments: Hello and happy Friday, everyone! If you ask anyone who knows me, they can tell you that my memory isn't always the greatest thing. My short term memory just plain sucks sometimes. So when I hear a good song, I write it down. I've got a running document saved in my phone of all the neat songs I've heard, and when I'm struggling to find a song to write about or have a song stuck in my head that I've already written about, I break out the song list. That's exactly what happened today, and this particular song has been sitting on my list for way too long. 

I originally ran into this song listening to Deadmau5's set from Ultra 2014, where everyone's favourite Mau5 mixes the accapella version of this track with "My Pet Coelacanth" (starting at about 18:00). I recognized the name of the producer of the song, Morgan Paige. He's appeared on this blog before, back in Entry 512 where I was talking about his song "Body Work" with Tegan and Sara. Lissie, however, was unfamiliar to me, so I looked her up. It turns out that she's a fairly talented singer-songwriter from Illinois, with a thing for that country/folk/rock triad that's all the rage these days. Her vocals really make the track move. For that matter, they'd make any track move. I love all three versions of this song that I've heard -- the original, the remix, and the accapella version thrown against "My Pet Coelacanth." The original version sounds about 60/40 house/folk, and the Deadmau5 remix neatly steps up the beat and makes the song into a bit better of a dance groove while keeping all of the original energy intact. Give this track a listen, and you won't be disappointed. Have a fantastic weekend, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 559 -- "Final Masquerade"

Song: "Final Masquerade" || Artist: Linkin Park || http://youtu.be/i8q8fFs3kTM ||

Comments: Hello, everyone! Not too long ago I was surprised to hear this song on the radio, especially on the station that I think of as the local 'soft rock' station. This song is definitely rock, but I would hardly consider it to be 'soft rock,' though I don't think I necessarily agree with Wikipedia's characterization of the song as 'alternative rock' either. Setting aside labels, this is one of the better tracks I've heard from the newest Linkin Park album The Hunting Party, from which this song is the third single. It's got really compelling vocals from lead vocalist Chester Bennington, but I noticed it seems very light on backing vocalist and rapper Mike Shinoda. I noticed the same thing when I reviewed the previous single from the album, "Until It's Gone." That's not to say that Shinoda doesn't make an appearance on the album -- quite the opposite! -- but that this track really revolves around Bennington. Let me tell you, he makes the most of it. The vocals on this track really shine, and drive the entire song. It's also pretty catchy, and I won't be surprised at all if it gets stuck in my head after listening to it to write this entry. Check it out! Enjoy, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 558 -- "Begin Again"

Song: "Begin Again" || Artist: Knife Party || http://youtu.be/MQPK4q488c0 ||

Comments: (This entry is going up early, as I missed Wednesday and I will be exceptionally busy tomorrow. I think this track is worth it, though.) Hello, everyone, and happy Halloween for those of you who celebrate it! Holiday or no, strap yourselves in, because today's song is amazing. Seriously, it's been a very, very long time since I've been dancing in my chair at a song. I'm hoping just as hard as I can that this song ends up getting radio play, because it deserves to be sitting at the top of the charts. I can't say enough good things about this track. It's got a fantastic beat that's closer to house than dubstep, It's got just enough vocals to weave the song together. It's got a bridge that blows me away. Knife Party has not just scored, but knocked this one out of the park. Give this song a listen, and you won't be sorry. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 557 -- "Team"

Song: "Team" || Artist: Lorde || http://youtu.be/f2JuxM-snGc ||

Comments: Hello and happy Monday, everyone! Let's get the week started off right. I've been holding this song back for awhile now, because I wanted to wait until the furor and fervor over this album died down a bit. This song was the third of four singles released from this ten-track album, and in the end I think it and the rest of this album took a lot of unfair criticism for being too 'pop-y.' I have to say, I completely don't agree. I think the album as a whole is an excellently-produced collection with a humongous variety of styles being showcased by the young Newzealander. Even though this song has been out for quite awhile now, it still manages to get stuck in my head on a regular basis. It's got a powerful, percussion-driven beat that plays off of Lorde's impressive vocal abilities nicely, giving her an excellent canvas to express a handful of themes. All in all, it manages to sit on both my workout and relaxation playlists, and is just what I needed to get my Monday started. Give it a listen, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 556 -- "Toothless Hawkins (And His Robot Jazz Band)"

Song: "Toothless Hawkins (And His Robot Jazz Band)" || Artist: Varien and Razihel || http://youtu.be/zG28TM7rKOs ||

Comments: Hello and happy Friday, everyone! For today, I've got a song that I can only describe as 'funky.' The minute I heard of this, I immediately thought of DJ Abso-Newt-ly. Since this track was released off the Monstercat label -- a personal favourite of his and mine -- chances are good he's already heard it, but it's still a song I know I need to write about. Honestly, it's just that good. It's as funky as funky can be, with an excellent beat that makes you really want to dance, and some entertaining lyrics to keep you smiling. It's got more than just a rhythm, it has a groove. Check this song out, folks, you won't be disappointed. Have a fantastic weekend, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 555 -- "Surrender"

Song: "Surrender" || Artist: Cash Cash feat. Julia Michaels || http://youtu.be/K22v4xolOsc || 

Comments: Hello, everyone! I've got a shiny new track by Cash Cash for today's entry, and let me tell you now, this one is epic. I heard this song on the radio driving into work yesterday, and new that I absolutely had to share this. I stumbled upon Cash Cash when I saw their remix of Krewella's "Alive," but they've been doing plenty of work since that time. They've co-written Krewella's track "Live for the Night" and remixed for the likes of Capital Cities, Clean Bandit, Nicky Romero, Icona Pop, Hardwell, and even Katy Perry. With a record like that, perhaps it's not surprising that this song is excellent. It's nearest to the labels 'electrohouse' and 'progressive house,' and I'll be shocked if it doesn't chart fairly soon. The song has some really excellent beats that drive the energy, and unbelievably catchy vocals by an uncredited singer -- Wikipedia lists this excellent voice as Julia Michaels. Definitely check this song out, it's fantastic.

Download

Stuck In My Skull 554 -- "Romanticide"

Song: "Romanticide" || Artist: Nightwish || http://youtu.be/zz_7OCCQlXs ||

Comments: Hello, everyone! Today I've decided to go with some pretty excellent metal. To head off any fan controversy at the pass, let me say this: There are two versions, and long-time die-hard fans are going to give me crap for posting this one. The song came off Nightwish's fifth album "Once" and had vocals by original vocalist Tarja Turunen. That version can be found here. This version is from the DVD "SHOWTIME, STORYTIME" -- a recording of Nightwish's live set at Wacken Open Air concert in 2013. This song, having come from a completely different era of Nightwish, feels vastly different than most of the band's more recent work. If I had to draw a comparison, I'd say it's closest in style to "Ghost River" off the most recent album "Imaginaerum," but the comparison is fairly weak. What I can say with confidence is this song is excellent. I've found myself fairly reserved about the decision to name Floor Jansen as the new vocalist, but this song (and the entire concert, for that matter) puts my mind at ease. My concerns about the overlap in vocal range between Floor and male singer Marco Hietala turned out to be largely unfounded, and the two of them really work well together. For good or for ill, Floor Jansen brings this towards the harder side of symphonic metal, and and this song really epitomizes the shift. It's a great song, so check it out! Have a good weekend, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 553 -- "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Redux!

Song: "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" || Artist: Panic! at the Disco || http://youtu.be/vc6vs-l5dkc ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone! Strap yourselves in tightly, because today we're going way, way, way back. We're going all the way back to Entry 98! Back in late 2011, before I was using this format, before I was using genre tags, before I was embedding videos or even talking about the song of the day. Waaaaay back then, I mentioned this song, and barely said anything about it. Today, that changes.

First, let's talk about the band. I ran into this band many, many years when my friend Katelyn introduced me to them, and since that time they've been sitting around in the back of my head coming to the surface now and again for brief periods. Their history is a bit complicated, according to Wikipedia -- writing their bio here would be a waste of words. The important part is that this band is about as musically diverse as they come, writing songs from such varied genres as emo and electronic, pop and punk. Also, vocalist Brendon Urie possesses one of the most recognizable voices I've heard in a long, long time. I mean, really -- this guy's about as distinct as Matt Bellamy from Muse. He really just has one of those voices that's impossible to mistake for anyone else.

Speaking of things that are hard to mistake, this song. Panic! at the Disco has a way of writing that really stand out from anything else. .If you hear this band come on the radio, you know who you're listening to. That actually happened to me last night -- this song came on, and I knew right away what it was. That's probably because it has a distinct opener that leads to some really compelling lyrics wrapped in a neat package of electronic rock sound. The Wikipedia article about the song describes it 'emo,' 'pop punk,' and 'baroque pop,' the latter of which I admit I had to look up. Despite the subject matter, this song manages to remain uptempo and airy-feeling, a breath of fresh air from the generic love/hate relationship songs that fill the airwaves. This song came out in 2005 and was released as a single in 2006, but despite its venerable age still manages to get stuck in my head. If you haven't heard it before or just haven't listened in awhile, check this song out -- I think you'll like it. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 552 -- "Silent Waters"

Song: "Silent Waters" || Artist: Amorphis || http://youtu.be/tb2gjwq1WXg ||

Comments: Hello and happy Friday, everyone! For today I figured I'd step even further from electronica and talk metal. I ran into this song and band the other day clicking around YouTube, and ended up binge-listening to this band for a solid hour. Amorphis is a little heavier than I usually go for in a metal band, but I have to say that I really enjoy this Finnish group. This song in particular is pretty excellent, and to my ears has a tinge of drone-influenced guitars. Speaking of guitars, the lead guitarist of the group -- Esa Holopainen -- shares a last name with Nightwish founder and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, but as far as I can tell the two are not related. Metal is a small world, though, and according to Wikipedia, Nightwish member Marco Hietala contributed backing vocals at various points in the band's career. While the timelines overlap for this song, I don't hear Marco in it, and I suspect he isn't. Regardless of who made it, I really like this song. Give it a listen, and don't forget to like us on Facebook! Enjoy the weekend!

A final note: I'm giving some thought to redoing the website. What do you guys think? Keep the current look, or overhaul it? Let me know what you think!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 551 -- "Cool Kids"

Song: "Cool Kids" || Artist: Echosmith || http://youtu.be/SSCzDykng4g ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone! Today's song has been stuck in my head off and on for several days, so I figured it's high time I looked it up and shared it with you all. I first heard this song on pop radio, and according to Wikipedia this song made it to 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The artist, Echosmith, is apparently a group of four siblings. Unlike many fairly tumultuous families, these four brothers and sisters play nicely together, creating a really excellent indie pop/rock song. It's calm, upbeat, and catchy. Well done, Echosmith, well done.

Download

Stuck In My Skull 550 -- "Self Destruct"

Song: "Self Destruct" || Artist: Pegboard Nerds || http://youtu.be/lWDnwTsdtaw ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone! Today's song is one of those tracks that I keep hearing crop up in mixes and sets and never quite pin down which song it is. It's got one of those tunes I always recognize but never identify. Thankfully, that period of wondering is over! I was listening to some insanely long mix on YouTube yesterday and found a very excellent tracklist in the description, and was finally able to put a name to a tune. This song is exceptionally upbeat and uptempo, alternating between a cheerful electro-influenced chorus and some very clean drops that really complement each other. Pegboard Nerds is a name I keep hearing, and deservedly so -- this song is really excellent. The Scandinavian duo has a few songs for download on their Facebook page, Speaking of Facebook pages, make sure you like ours, and enjoy the song!

Edit: I finally figured out what song of theirs I've heard before. Their song "Bassline Kickin" was on Expedition, the album that their label Monstercat was giving out some time ago. That's why I keep thinking I know Pegboard Nerds, because I do! Definitely worth checking out.

Download

Stuck In My Skull 549 -- "Rise and Fall"

Song: "Rise and Fall" || Artist: Adventure Club & Krewella || http://youtu.be/_y8p6uQDH4s ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone! Today's song is a collaboration between two of my favourite artists, and it's double the awesome. From the sound of it, the vocals on this track are Krewella while the instrumentation was provided by Adventure Club. It's got the signature noise of Adventure Club, at least, and there's no doubt that the vocals are the Yousaf sisters. This song is amazing, from it's calm start through to the chorus and the absolutely amazing drops. If you haven't heard this, you're missing out. Go listen, now. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 548 -- "Mozart's House"

Song: "Mozart's House" || Artist: Clean Bandit || http://youtu.be/rd0cT7Dnpt8 ||

Comments: Hello everyone! Today I've decided to put the dubstep on the shelf and talk about what fun you can have when you mess with classical music. One of the first electronic music songs I really fell in love was Tiesto's "Adagio for Strings," the trance remix of the string classic by Samuel Barber. Fast forward a few years and I still enjoy classical remixes. This one in particular is excellent, fusing Mozart's "String Quartet No. 21" with some funky electronic goodness that reminds me strongly of Royksopp. The vocals here are provided by friend of the band Ssegawa Ssekintu, who does a really excellent job of delivering the words and wordplay that make this song really pop. I nearly used this song for Entry 529 but decided to focus first on the Clean Bandit song that was then getting radio play, and so it's long overdue that I mention this song. Give this song a listen -- I think you'll love it. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Suck In My Skull 547 -- "Lies (Zeds Dead Remix)"

Song: "Lies" || Artist: Marina and the Diamonds || Remixing Artist: Zeds Dead || http://youtu.be/KTYD_kN7rPg ||

Comments: Good morning and happy Monday, everyone! Let's start the week off right with some free music! This song is a remix of the song "Lies" by pop group Marina and the Diamonds, who were recently popular from the song "Primadonna Girl." The remixing artist here is Zeds Dead, who I first heard of waaay back when their remix of the Blue Foundation song "Eyes on Fire" was tearing up the internet. I can see the similarities between the two mixes -- Zeds Dead seems to really like putting some massive synth and huge bass behind compelling vocals. I think this is a more mature and complex remix, though -- the instrumentation here is much more intricate with lots of attention payed to the percussion both in and out of the bridge and all the way through the drops. I think this song is great. Check it out, download it, and don't forget to like us on Facebook for the latest!

Attribution: I found this song (and a lot of other really great stuff) on the YouTube channel of SuicideSheep, the 'Free Music' alternate channel of the famous MrSuicideSheep. You rock!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 546 -- "Begin Again"

Song: "Begin Again" || Artist: Knife Party || https://soundcloud.com/steve_0h/knife-party-begin-again ||

 Comments: Good morning everyone! Today I've got a leaked track from Knife Party's upcoming album. Giving credit where credit is due, I out about it via Facebook on this site. This track is definitely different than the Knife Party I'm used to, but I have to say that I'm really enjoying it so far. It's much lighter and less aggressive than most KP tracks, and the vocals are really the driving force behind this song. It feels much more electro and much less dub to me, but that's okay! All in all I think it's a great song, and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming album. Give it a listen, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 545 -- "Better"

Song: "Better" || Artist: Plumb || http://youtu.be/-HeaceAbOtw ||

Comments: Hello, everyone! Today's song originally came up when Pandora (I suspect) decided to inject some randomness into my symphonic metal playlist. I have to say, I'm glad I didn't skip this one. I wasn't paying attention to the music scene when Plumb was in her heyday, so I would have otherwise completely missed this. To my ears, it sounds more than a little bit like Evanescence, but that's quite frankly a complement. It's a good song, it's got a catchy chorus, and I like it. Give it a listen!

Download

Wednesday's Entry

Hey everyone. If you need a song for today, I'd recommend something like "Image of the Invisible" by Thrice or nearly anything by Rage Against the Machine. Today, I want to call your attention to another website fighting the good fight, quite possibly the best fight, and definitely my fight: https://www.battleforthenet.com/sept10th/. Educate yourself and make your own decisions, don't let me tell you what to do. Speaking just for me, I support net neutrality, and I believe in the Battle For The Net team.

Download

Stuck In My Skull 544 -- "Rain"

Song: "Rain" || Artist: Breaking Benjamin || http://youtu.be/Pgs2oiWiYV4 ||

Comments: Hello everyone! I was woken up this morning at 3:00 AM by some seriously massive storms, and I've had this song stuck in my head since. It's a slower song off Breaking Benjamin's second album We Are Not Alone, and I like it. It's acoustic, slow, calm, even a bit sad -- all completely uncharacteristic of Breaking Benjamin's usual fare, but I have to say I like it.  After doing a bit of reading, I found that apparently this song and several others off the album were co-written with Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame (source). It's a good song, and it's gotten my day started right. Have a listen, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 543 -- "Secrets"

Song: "Secrets" || Artist: Mary Lambert || http://youtu.be/cqqqV50zaAc ||

Comments: Hello everyone, and happy Friday! For today, I figured I would wrap up the week on a high note with a song that puts a smile on my face every time I hear it. Mary Lambert first crossed my radar delivering the chorus on the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis track "Same Love," back in Entry 431, and I confess she'd fallen off my radar since then. With this song, though, she's definitely back in the limelight and doing well. This upbeat, positive track is one of those songs with a happy tune that really just brightens my day. If you haven't heard it, check it out! Don't forget to like us on Facebook, and have a great weekend!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 542 -- "Shatter Me"

Song: "Shatter Me" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling feat. Lzzy Hale || http://youtu.be/49tpIMDy9BE ||

Comments: Hello, everyone, and happy Wednesday! If you live in the US, hopefully your Labor Day went well. I know mine did! I rather unexpectedly slept in until nearly 11 AM -- a rare treat in my life. To make up for missing Monday, I'm hoping to blow you away with a really excellent song. I'm a bit behind the times with this one so some of you have probably heard it, but I think it's still worth posting. For today, I'd like to talk about the title track and second single from Lindsey Stirling's second album, Shatter Me. It features vocals from Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, and I have to say that they're fantastic. I'd never heard of Halestorm before this, but after seeing this video and watching the behind the scenes videos (yes, plural -- one for the studio and one for the video set), I have to say that I'm definitely agreeing with Lindsey and becoming sort of an "instant fan" of her work. This song is slightly less violin-focused than some of Lindsey Stirling's other hits, but more than makes up for it by putting just the right amount of instrumentation and emphasis in all the right places. I mean, seriously, a violin dubstep drop? I just can't get enough! The lyrics are excellently written -- there's no evidence at all that this is Lindsey's first time writing lyrics. While the drop is definitely Lindsey Stirling's take on dubstep, the rest of the song carries strong pop overtones, and to my ears what is a strong rock feeling, no doubt complements of Lzzy Hale's influence. Call it whatever you want, the song is fantastic and the video is just as good. Go watch it, and remember to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 541 -- "Sensorium"

Song: "Cry for the Moon" || Artist: Epica || http://youtu.be/jxWHrHC2Qe4 ||

Comments: Hello and happy Friday, everyone! For today I figured I would switch things up and quit talking about EDM. Instead, I'd like to take today to talk about one of my favourite sounds in metal: Epica. Epica is seriously fantastic, and it kills me that I haven't had time to listen to their more recent albums in full yet. For the amount of time I spend listening to them, Epica is seriously underrepresented on this blog. Their live album "The Classical Conspiracy" is one of my go-to albums, whether I'm being productive, gaming, or just relaxing. This song is taken from Epica's first full-length studio album, "The Phantom Agony," which I was shocked to realize came out in 2003. Man, this song is old, but it's one of my favourites. Let me put this in context. In 2003, Nightwish still had Tarja Turunen as a vocalist and was between the albums "Century Child" and "Once." Kamelot had just kicked out it's sixth studio album, "Epica," the first of the two-part story of Ariel which they finished in "The Black Halo." Sonata Arctica was releasing it's third album. This song is old. But enough about that, let's talk about why it's good. For one, I can't get enough of the opening riff -- that combination of piano and guitar does amazing things for the song and works wonderfully with the strings. All of them set the stage for and completely drop off to sit the focus squarely on the opening verses of the lyrics, which are phenomenal in both writing and performance. The way Simone Simons vocals work both with and around the other instruments is far-and-away one of Epica's greatest strengths. When I say 'greatest strengths,' that could imply that there's some sort of corresponding weakness. If there is, I can't find it. I'm generally not even a fan of rough vocals, but the interplay of the rough and clean vocals in this song is absolutely perfect and I can't help but love it. When a song makes you truly enjoy something that you wouldn't otherwise care for, you know you've got a winner. Check it out, and don't forget to like us on Facebook! Have a great weekend!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 540 -- "Resistance" [Free Download!]

Song: "Resistance" || Artist: Knife Party || https://soundcloud.com/knifepartyinc/reistance ||



Comments: Hello wonderful readers! I hadn't originally intended to do two entries in a row of free music, but I discovered this song yesterday and absolutely couldn't let this opportunity pass. I've been a fan of Knife Party for awhile now, both their studio work and their live sets. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've put their Ultra 2013 set on and gotten a solid hour of work done. With that in mind, I was ecstatic to hear that their newest song is out and available download from the Knife Party website for a limited time. It's an excellent track, with some really amazing drops and some fade effects that remind me of trance for some reason. It's got Knife Party's signature aggressive bass and beats but feels like "LRAD" in that it's not as aggressive of a track as some of their other songs like "Destroy Them with Lasers" or "Power Glove." Either way, I absolutely love it. Give it a listen and download it while you can! Don't forget to like us on Facebook!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 539 -- "Youth (Adventure Club Remix)" [Free Download]

Song: "Youth" || Artist: Foxes || Remixing Artist: Adventure Club || http://youtu.be/2XG_0iV2B40 ||

Comments: Hello everyone! Let's get your week started off right with an amazing remix of an amazing song. Foxes -- mostly recently famous for being the vocalist on Zedd's track "Clarity" -- put together a pretty excellent song that Adventure Club got ahold of and somehow managed to make better. This song sits somewhere between dubstep and chillstep, being slow and calm but not quite as mellow as what I would normally call chillstep. It's got Foxes' eerily good vocals perfectly complementing an excellent drop and some truly gripping instrumentation. I originally stumbled onto this song when I saw it on this a popular YouTube channel known for its excellent taste in free music. There's currently no download link to the song by either Foxes or Adventure Club so I don't feel comfortable providing a possibly dangerous link to a download site from here, but I will say that it's fairly easy to find a download if you just Google the song. (Do this at your own risk. Again, I can't find an official download so it may or may not be piracy at this point.) Whether you want to download it or not, definitely give this track a listen. It's amazing.

Update: Nevermind, there is an official download link. Click here! You'll have to like Adventure Club on Facebook to unlock the download, but it's official and it exists! Speaking of Facebook, make sure to Like us on Facebook as well!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 538 -- "Wasted"

Song: "Wasted" || Artist: Tiesto feat. Matthew Koma || http://youtu.be/AmEIemQfk34 ||

Comments: Good morning everyone and congratulations! It's Friday and the week is almost over! Today's song has been a recent favourite of mine, and been stuck in my head since someone mentioned it in conversation last night (I have the most interesting conversations sometimes...) I've been a huge Tiesto fan for years -- I can honestly say that while Tiesto wasn't the first electronic artist I found, he was by far the one I liked the most in my early days of exploring EDM. To this day, I still absolutely love trance, and I think Tiesto has done an excellent job of diversifying into house and other genres of EDM. Matthew Koma is another favourite of mine -- I've really enjoyed listening to songs he's been involved in since I first heard him in "Years" by Alesso. He's been really active in the last two years. Glancing at his Wikipedia page, he's been working with big names like Zedd, Hardwell, and Afrojack in addition to Tiesto and Alesso. Putting these two artists together on one song is bound to have excellent results, and it does. "Wasted" is an upbeat ear-worm that'll get stuck in your head and stay there, with a fantastic beat and lyrics I can't stop singing. Give it a listen and enjoy this song kick-starting your weekend.

Have you liked us on Facebook yet? If not, you should like us on Facebook. And here's that link one more time: Our Facebook page.

Download

Stuck In My Skull 537 -- "Shake It Off"

Song: "Shake It Off" || Artist: Taylor Swift || http://youtu.be/nfWlot6h_JM ||

Comments: Good morning everyone! Late yesterday, someone linked me to a Buzzfeed post about Taylor Swift's dancing in her latest song, and I knew I had to go watch the video. I'll admit, I was not expecting much. With that in mind, this song managed to pleasantly surprise me -- it's actually pretty good. I'm really enjoying the heavy use of brass in the song, and Taylor has done a pretty good job of making a really catchy tune. Basically, this song is unexpectedly good, and I was happy to have my fears dispelled. Go give it a watch!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 536 -- "Apollo"

Song: "Apollo" || Artist: Hardwell feat. Amba Shepherd || http://youtu.be/q8kUckZ15fE ||

Comments: Good morning and happy Monday, everyone! I don't know about you, but I was not ready for the weekend to end. So if you're like me and need a pick-me-up to get the week started on a high note, turn up the volume! Today's song is from Dutch producer Hardwell featuring vocals by Amba Shepherd. If that name rings a bell to you, it's probably because her career has been full of huge songs. She first gained major recognition for being the vocalist on Porter Robinson's breakout song "Vandalism," a long-time favourite of mine featured back in Entry 181. This track is an upbeat masterpiece that took my crappy Monday and turned it around, and I think it can save yours too. Give it a listen!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 535 -- "Empire"

Song: "Empire" || Artist: Shakira || http://youtu.be/QapfTGTXbxc ||

Comments: Good morning and happy Wednesday, everyone! To help you get through Hump Day, I've got a song that'll put a smile on your face, a beat in your ear, and get your mind out of a rut. A more rock-influenced song than many of Shakira's recent hits, "Empire" opens with a soft, acoustic section before bringing in some really well-done guitars behind the Columbian singer's powerful vocals. It's got a bit of electronic distortion in the chorus that I think is really well done, up there with the purposeful misuse of autotune in Kanye West's album 808s & Heartbreak. And yes, I just made a Kanye-Shakira comparison, and yes, I'm still torn about how I feel about that. Either way, this song keeps getting stuck in my head, so I figured it was time to share it with all of you. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 534 -- "Beam Me Up"

Song: "Beam Me Up" || Artist: Cazzette || http://youtu.be/mp-IZEFqrG0 (official video) || http://youtu.be/8pwv3g5D3b4 (lyrics) ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone! I've gotten a handle on last week's crazy computer problems, at least to the point that I have a stable working environment, so it's high time to jump back into the music! For today, I nearly wrote a duplicate entry. I was going to write on "The Hardest Mistakes" by I See Stars, before remembering that Amanda covered it last April. No wonder it sounded familiar! Instead, I've got the breakout track of Swedish EDM duo Cazzette. To borrow a term from DJ Abso-Newt-ly, this track is a banger. Stupidly popular and absolutely fantastic, this song is epic. It's got a blistering house beat complemented by a really excellent dubstep bridge, and the whole song is glued together by an exquisite vocal performance. Try as I might, though, I could not manage to find the identity of the vocalist. If any of you readers know, pretty please chime in here or on Facebook and let us hear it, I'm absolutely dying to know. Enjoy!

Download

Computer problems!

Hey everyone, as of now there is no Wednesday issue of Stuck In My Skull coming. Why? Blame Windows 8 not dual-booting well and a whole long list of technical mumbo jumbo that's causing me to scream, swear, and tear my hair out. Check back Friday!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 533 -- "Buzz"

Song: "Buzz" || Artist: Above & Beyond Presents Tranquility Base || http://youtu.be/eprS9GmNzMg ||

Comments: Hello and happy Friday, everyone! To get the weekend off right, I've got a truly excellent trance track for you. "Buzz" is an up-tempo number with pulsing bass and a catchy synth line that really makes you want to get up and dance, and I could listen to this all day. The artist here -- as best I can tell from the Wikipedia article -- is a side project of the well-known electronic group Above & Beyond, famous for producing a long list of singles and a particularly excellent remix of Motorcycle's "As the Rush Comes." There are numerous versions and mixes of this track, including the 'Buzztalk Mix' released a year after the original. Listen to a few and see what your favourite is. Be sure to like us on Facebook, and have a great weekend!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 532 -- "Until It's Gone"

Song: "Until It's Gone" || Artist: Linkin Park || http://youtu.be/oM-XJD4J36U ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone! Today's entry is coming at you a bit earlier than planned, but I'll try to make it worth the wait. Without further ado, let's jump right in.
I've been a massive Linkin Park fan for a long, long time. I've been enjoying this band since before Minutes to Midnight was released in 2007. I've enjoyed each of their albums for what they were, and enjoyed hearing their sound change over the years. Listening to Hybrid Theory and Living Things, you would hardly think that they were the same band. Their current album -- The Hunting Party -- is yet again something completely different. They've stepped back from the electronic feel of Living Things and by their own words tried to make a rock album. This is neatly highlighted by the minimal (or perhaps even absence of an) appearance by Mike Shinoda (the rap vocalist of the group) in this track. This album also makes heavy use of guest artists, whose performance I'm torn on in their first single.
While it's a definite step back from Living Things and subtly different from the bands' sound in previous albums, there is no doubt in my mind that "Until It's Gone" is vintage Linkin Park. It's got just enough synth to call to mind previous Linkin Park tracks without sounding like a repeat, and builds itself into an excellent, somewhat-dark rock song. It's excellent. Give it a listen!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 531 -- Unrelease Zedd Track "Scorpion Move" and Krewella Vocal Edit (Downloads inside!)

Song: "Scorpion Move" || Artist: Zedd || Vocal Edit Artist: Krewella || Original: https://soundcloud.com/dubstep/scorpion-move-by-zedd || Vocal Edit: https://soundcloud.com/krewella-media-music/scorpion-move-zedd-krewella ||

Comments: Hello and happy Friday everyone! Hopefully you've all had a lovely week, I know mine has been a little crazy. I'm still on a dubstep kick, but I found out last night that Linkin Park dropped a new album while I wasn't paying attention last month, so my dubstep kick will be coming to an end shortly. Check back next week and I'll dish the dirt on the new album.

To wrap up this week, let's jump into it with some excellent music. Today's track is one that I've been holding onto for far too long. To put a scale on just how long I've had this song in reserve, it came out on Krewella's Troll Mix Volume 2 (hour long amazing mix, free download here), and Krewella just released Troll Mix Volume 13 a month ago. Back on Troll Mix Volume 2, they dropped an unreleased track by Zedd called "Scorpion Move" (top soundcloud player, free download). It's an amazing track, full of all the right synths and wubs. It's really, really great, and it's going straight to my workout playlist. I'm shocked I didn't think to look this up before now.

Not satisfied with just dropping an unreleased track by another major artist, Krewella did us one better, and dropped their own vocal edit. Oh man, is this edit something else. I'm insanely sad that this isn't a free download as well, but I'll get over it for the sake of how good this song is. Krewella's vocals and edits are the perfect accompaniment to Zedd's fantastic instrumentals, and come together to make a truly exceptional track. Give this a try, be sure to download the original Zedd track, and check out the Troll Mix that I linked while you're at it -- all of these are amazing, and you won't be disappointed. Be sure to like Stuck In My kull on Facebook, and I'll see you next week!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 530 -- "Faded" [Free Download!] and an update!

Song: "Faded" || Artist: Mt. Eden || https://soundcloud.com/mtedenofficial/faded ||


Comments: Hello everyone! I was originally going to write this entry on Mt. Eden's "Silence" remix, before realizing that I'd covered that song back in Entry 432, which I've updated with a download link. Lately I've been on a pretty massive dubstep kick. For me, that means I'll create a new playlist in my media player of choice (currently Foobar2000 or Clementine on Windows, and Clementine on Linux -- what can I say? I like opensource) and drag all of the artists I think of as 'dubstep' from my library into the playlist. Among those artists is Mt. Eden. Every time I drag them into a playlist, I'm pleasantly surprised when a drum and bass song slips in -- "Faded." Somehow, I never remember that Mt. Eden does more than just dubstep. And that's a shame, because they do it well. Both this song and it's later "2009" version are excellent tracks, full to the brim with adrenaline. Seriously, if you have a work out or a pump up playlist, this belongs in it. And best of all, like most of Mt. Eden's tracks from their days before signing to Ultra, both versions are free downloads! Enjoy!

Make sure to like us on Facebook, and let me know what you think of me posting so many Soundcloud/download links!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 529 -- "Rather Be"

Song: "Rather Be" || Artist: Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne || http://youtu.be/m-M1AtrxztU ||

Comments: Hello and happy Friday everyone! Let's talk about Clean Bandit. I heard this song on the radio not long ago, and knew the moment I heard it that this was a fresh sound that I was absolutely in love with, and I absolutely had to look this song up. After I did, I spent multiple hours listening to a playlist of Clean Bandit on repeat, and I had really, really hard time picking which song I wanted to use for today. In the end it was a toss-up between this track and "Mozart's House." "Rather Be" won, but just barely, and both songs are excellent. For that matter, I've yet to encounter a Clean Bandit song I haven't liked, but I'll restrict my focus to this track for the sake of writing this entry. As of the time of writing, this song has been on Billboard's Hot 100 chart for five weeks, and is sitting at #32 after making a pretty huge jump up from #51. At the risk of sounding like a pop station, I really think this could be the song of the summer. It's a light, refreshing track with an addictively-funky sound, and it's nothing but awesome. The British electronic music quarter has put together a truly amazing track with some of the best instrumentation I've heard lately, mixing dance-inspired rhythms with classical strings and a floating, whimsical keyboard that really makes the track click. Fellow Brit Jess Glynne brings the song together with beautiful, soulful vocals. Honestly, this is one of the best songs I've heard in awhile, and I can't get enough. If you haven't heard it, check it out! If you have heard it, listen again, and enjoy! Have a good weekend!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 528 -- "Flute (Original Mix)"

Song: "Flute (Original Mix)" || Artist: New World Sound and Thomas Newson || http://youtu.be/e-U1lj57pv8 ||

Comments: Hello and happy Monday everyone. Today's song is one of those who are really completely encapsulated by their title. This amazing track is exactly what you might guess based on its name -- a song that's really defined  by a flute. In this case, it's an excellent electronic track. Really, there's not much that I can say about it. It's catchy and the instrumentation is masterful, and yes, anchored by a flute. Check it out!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 527 -- "Proxy" FREE DOWNLOAD

Song: "Proxy (Original Mix)" || Artist: Martin Garrix || https://soundcloud.com/martingarrix/proxy-original-mix ||


Comments: Good morning and happy Wednesday, everyone! Even though I ended Free Music Week, I'm always on the lookout for great free music, and boy have I got a great one for you today! Martin Garrix is one of the hottest artists in the electronic music scene right now, riding his tracks like "Animals" and "Wizard" all the way to the top of the charts and into your ears. In appreciation of his fans, Mr. Garrix has made this track available as a free download from his Soundcloud. This song is excellent. "Proxy" has all of the brilliance of the more popular Martin Garrix songs, but to my ears sounds a little more house and hardstyle than the trap-twinged hit "Animals." But forget about me trying to label this song, go give it a listen. I think you'll love it.

Download

Stuck In My Skull 526 -- "Engraved Within"

Song: "Engraved Within" || Artist: Serentity || http://youtu.be/M2YCOSSLhK4 ||

Comments: Good morning! I know many of you -- myself included -- might be dragging on this Monday morning, so let's get the lead out together with this song. I found this track last week while listening to my metal station on Pandora. For the record, this is one of my oldest stations on that sight, spanning back multiple years -- at least three, I think. To put things in perspective, this station started not just before they gave unlimited usage back to free listeners, but before they instated the 40 hour cap in the first place. playlist.com was a thing when I made this station. What I'm trying to say is, it's old, and I've put an obscene amount of work into coercing the algorithm to play just the sort of symphonic metal I like. Pandora is built to randomly throw some songs into the rotation that are farther from the beaten path of any given channel in order to add diversity, and you can generally tell when that happens: You'll be listening without a care and suddenly, "Hello, this song is completely different." This is not an instance of that randomness, this fit perfectly into my station. How, then, have I never heard of Serenity before last week? I'll omit my very long discourse on why I think human DJs beat algorithms (you can see most of it in the guest entry I wrote about web radio for Melodic Music Project a bazillion years ago here). The point is, Pandora, why did you take so long to tell me about this band?! This song is excellent. It's got great vocals that remind me strongly of Seventh Wonder. Its instrumentation is nearly as strong as Epica's. As the youtube comments on this song point out, Serenity fills the same amazing niche as other greats like Dream Theatre, Symphony X, and Kamelot. Pandora, why did you take so long to play this? Go and listen to this, dear readers. If you like my taste in metal, you won't be disappointed.

Download

Stuck In My Skull 525 -- "Day and Night (The Widdler's Dubstep Remix)" [Free Music Week!]

Free Music Week, Part 4 || Song: "Day and Night (The Widdler's Dubstep Remix)" || Original Artist: Kid Cudi || Remixing Artist: The Widdler || Download: http://www36.zippyshare.com/v/59213350/file.html ||

Comments: Hello and happy Monday! I'm not sure how long I'm going to keep going with Free Music Week, but I felt like three little entries just weren't enough. So without further ado, let's go for round four! I've had "Day and Night" stuck in my head on and off for a few days. Very dedicated readers and those of you lovely people that have been around from the beginning may remember waaaay back in Entry 6 when I first mentioned the song. As it happens, though, this is one of those funny instances of hearing the remix before the original. While I talked about the original back in Entry 6, it's high time I gave the remix I heard first its day in the sun. I heard The Widdler's Dubstep Remix first, and loved it. I think I found it on youtube originally, but I honestly don't remember. Regardless of source, the track is excellent. It's one of those remixes that takes an already excellent song and gently massages a new vibe out of it, inserting a bit here, changing a note there, and working its way into a lovely song that's clearly different while retaining all of the excellence that characterized the original track. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 524 -- Free Music Everywhere! [Free Music Week!]

Free Music Week, Part 3 || Song: "Ladies" || Artist: SKVTR || https://soundcloud.com/syzygyrecords/skvtr-ladies ||

Comments: Good morning everyone, and happy Friday! Today I'm pleased to bring you not one, not two, but FOUR free tracks! Granted, two of them are just me telling you to go look at This Beat Is Newtricious, because the one and only DJ Abso-Newt-ly has two amazing tracks with download links on his blog today. For my part, let's talk about the track "Ladies." As usual, I've never heard of this artist before, but they've done an excellent job of putting together a very instrumental chillstep track. It's calm, relaxing, and really puts a smile on my face. Clicking the download link will take you to their Facebook page, where you'll be able to download this and one other song for the free! To top it off, I wanted to let you lovely readers know about a this page: EDC2014LiveSets. Here you can grab (for free!) live sets from the EDC music festival by names such as Kaskade, Tiesto, and Seven Lions. That's all for today, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to end Free Music Week quite yet, so check back on Monday. Enjoy the weekend!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 523 -- "Pop It" [Free Music Week!]

Free Music Week, Part 2 || Song: "Pop It" || Artist: Anamanaguchi || https://soundcloud.com/anamanaguchi/wheelie ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone! Today I'm bringing you music from another band I've never heard of, but you might have. According to Wikipedia, ANAMANAGUCHI has been involved in the soundtrack for the video game version of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and have a track of theirs featured on the game Rock Band. I can see why -- this upbeat chiptune track is incredibly catchy, and I am already finding myself listening to it on repeat. Their website also has a mildly entertaining timewaster about the song. Check this track out, and enjoy! Check back tomorrow for more free music!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 522 -- "IPOS" [Free Music Week!]

Free Music Week, Part 1 || Song: "IPOS" || Artist: Inpetto || https://soundcloud.com/inpetto/ipos || Download Link: via Facebook ||


Comments: Good morning, everyone! You probably noticed an unexplained lack of posts last week. I apologize for that -- the entry that I had written to explain I'd be missing in action for a week didn't post, and so my little vacation went unexplained. To make up for it, I'm kicking off Stuck In My Skull's first ever Free Music Week! That's right, this week is going to be chock-full of amazing music that you don't have to pay for.
Once I realized that my last entry didn't post and decided to do Free Music Week, I headed to Soundcloud and started searching. For those of you who don't know, Soundcloud is an excellent place to find new music of any genre, from both famous and up-and-coming artists. For example, I clicked on Explore, selected 'Dance' as the genre I wanted to explore, and had my pick of nearly-infinite tracks. As of this morning, there's everything from an hour long set by R3HAB (a free download), an hour of Tiesto's Club Life podcast (also a free download), a stack of remixes by various artists, and eventually this gem. One of the things I've really come to appreciate about the Internet is how easy it is for new artists to spread their music, and this is no exception. Prior to writing this entry, I had never heard of Inpetto. According to their website, however, artists like Sander van Doorn, David Guetta, and Axwell have, and are fans. After hearing this song, I can see why.
I have no idea if "IPOS" is supposed to stand for anything, but it does make me stand up and applaud. This track is amazing. Soundcloud shows this as being labelled progressive house, but I am loving the very chill instrumentation and trance influences all over this track. Perhaps chill house would be a better label? Naming conventions aside, the instrumentation is masterful. This track is seven and a half minutes of awesome. The best part is, you can download this song for free by liking the artist on Facebook. Check this song out, and keep an eye on this blog all week for more free music!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 521 -- "City 2 City"

Song: "City 2 City" || Artist: Zomboy feat. Belle Humble || http://youtu.be/-hT34C5WrlE ||

Comments: Hello and happy Friday, everyone! Today I've got an interesting song from English dubstep producer Zomboy. It's a pretty good song, and I've really been enjoying the interplay of the vocals and the instrumentation. The vocals here are provided by Belle Humble, a name that may ring a bell with long-time readers. Way back in Entry 390, Ms. Humble came up in the context of her vocals on another dubstep song I'm fond of by another English dubstep producer -- Flux Pavilion's remix of "Cracks" by Freestylers. (I just found out that apparently the link posted back in Entry 390 has broken since I wrote the entry; I'll fix that after this post goes up.) Unlike her both the original and the remix of "Cracks," Ms. Humble is applying her excellent talent to a more vocally-focused and much faster track in "City 2 City." It's an excellent song, and I'm definitely going to be looking for more songs from Zomboy, and keeping my ears open for anything else with this vocalist. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 520 -- "Car Radio"

Song: "Car Radio" || Artist: Twenty One Pilots || http://youtu.be/92XVwY54h5k ||

Comments: Good morning or afternoon, everyone! Today's song is an interesting little number I heard on the radio for the first time yesterday. Created by a Columbus, Ohio-based duo, this song is really hard to apply any sort of labels to -- just look at the labels of this post! Its opening consists of some light instrumentation paired with some really excellent rap. It picks up some additional instrumentation, bridges into a section that reminds me faintly of old Linkin Park, then outtros with opening verses repeated and leaves me really, really intrigued. This duo sounds like nothing else I've heard but liberally blends elements that I love, and leaves me wondering why I haven't heard of them sooner. I looked them up on Wikipedia, and the article about them is informative in the literal sense but doesn't give me much of a feel for who the band really is. They're signed to the Fueled By Ramen record label, so that's probably a mark in their favor. Other artists signed to Fueled By Ramen include Cobra Starship, Fun., Gym Class Heroes, Panic! at the Disco, Paramore, and Travie McCoy, all of whom I like. For that reason, I generally give anything that gets released by an artist I haven't heard of signed to Fueled By Ramen a listen on principle. For what it's worth, I don't generally do that -- I generally don't care a whit about record labels and use them mostly to label and pidgeonhole an artist into a category without having to look them up, but there are a few labels I really enjoy (Ultra, Nuclear Blast, the UKF 'label') and a few more that I actually really respect (Monstercat and some artist-made labels like Deadmau5's Mau5trap, Tiesto's Black Hole and Magik Muzik, etc). Getting back on topic, I've really enjoyed the lyrics so far. I haven't had a chance to sit down and really think about the lyrics yet, but at first glance they strike me as being pretty deep. All in all, I'm pretty happy to have stumbled onto Twenty One Pilots. Give this song a listen and let me know what you think in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 519 -- "Live for the Night"

Song: "Live for the Night" || Covering Artist: Cole Rolland || Original Artist: Krewella || http://youtu.be/0er1l4PfMdo ||

Comments: Good morning everyone! Today's entry is a pretty intense metal cover of Krewella's track "Live for the Night." I originally heard about this artist with Newt sent me a link to him, and I don't honestly remember if he linked me to this song or the cover of "Alive" that he's also done. Either way, they're both excellent, and props to Newt for letting me know. According to his youtube channel, this 20 year old Canadian prodigy is self-taught, which is impressive. One of the things I've really enjoyed about the explosive growth of youtube over the last several years is the proliferation of really good music talent, and this is an excellent case in point. Check it out!

Download