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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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