June Soundtrack

June has come and gone, here's some music to celebrate. Particular favourites from Declan McKenna, Chlöe Howl, Baio and George Ezra.

Best of 2015: Albums

There have been so many fantastic albums this year, it's genuinely been a good year for music. Here are my top 15 albums of 2015, along with a notable song from the album.

Best Of 2015: Songs

So many brilliant songs have been released this year, here's my top 25 tracks, along with a Spotify playlist at the end so you can listen to them all!

Alternate Christmas Songs You Need To Hear

I have a confession. I don't feel festive at all this year, perhaps from a lack of sixth form where I'd be excited to break up for Christmas. For over ten years I've been listening to the same Christmas music every December, I felt I needed some new Christmas music instead of the usual Mariah Carey or Slade. I went on a search for some different Christmas songs, and here they are.

My August Soundtrack

Hello! August has been a fairly 'chill' month, it's also been a slow month for the media in general. Film's haven't been favourable, television has been fairly vacant (saturday night TV starts in September, including Doctor Who), the music industry has also been fairly distant, with radio stations having the exact same playlist as they did last month. I guess this is because August is a 'dump month', despite the summer holidays. However, there have been some good stuff, i.e. these 10 songs which have either been released in August, come into prominence in August, or I've simply for some reason been listening to. 

1. Oh Wonder - Drive

2. Birdy & Rhodes - Let It All Go

3. Sigala - Easy Love

4. Bear's Den - Above the Clouds of Pompeii

5. Prides - Running Wild

6. The Libertines - Gunga Din

7. Stereophonics - I Wanna Get Lost With You

8. Lana Del Rey - High By the Beach

9. Marina and the Diamonds - Blue (MAIZE Remix)

10. Nothing But Thieves - Trip Switch

Honorable Mentions

Jess Glynne - Don't Be So Hard On Yourself

Calvin Harris - How Deep Is Your Love

Flor - Heart

Priory - Weekend

Pvris - St. Patrick

That's all for now, check back on the 5th September for a ranking of the MCU Phase 2 movies! 

Byeeeeeeeee

TotallyCulture

MY DREAM MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS

We've experienced many collaborations in musical past and present, from the likes of Charli XCX/Marina and the Diamonds' Just Desserts to Florence + the Machine/Dizzee Rascal's You've Got The Dirtee Love, as well as Elton John/Kiki Dee's Don't Go Breaking My Heart and Diana Ross/Lionel Richie's Endless Love. 

Yet, there are some collaborations we still don't have, and well, these next 5 hypothetical collaborations are what I'd like to see, no matter how likely or unlikely they are. 

1. Marina and the Diamonds/Florence + the Machine 

Florence and Marina are two hard-hitting musicians, and despite their slight difference in genre despite mostly maintaining an 'indie' vibe, I feel their collaboration would lead to great things. Heck, I'd even want a full album from the two together. If you have a quick browse on YouTube, there are many great fan-made 'mashups' of their songs. This is one I've been obsessed with for a while, however it's since been moved onto soundcloud, it works really well and their voices truly compliment each other. 

2. James Bay/Ed Sheeran

Just imagine all the soul and sheer emotion coming from a James Bay and Ed Sheeran collab. Oh THE FEELS I CAN'T EVEN. Sorry for going all tumblr fangirl on you, I truly am sorry. Anyway, James' album is probably one of my favourite albums of 2015, Ed Sheeran manages to release a hit after hit. This collaboration would do wonders. 

3. Taylor Swift/HAIM

Apparently they're friends? I don't know, they're never seen together at all (sarcasm intended). Imagine a song combining the likes of Taylor Swift's Bad Blood and HAIM's My Song 5, some hardcore rant-pop right there. Heck, I wouldn't mind if they collaborated, with either an intense track like Bad Blood/My Song 5 or perhaps an explosion of pop and disco with Shake It Off/If I Could Change Your Mind, ooh I can see myself dancing already. 

4. CHVRCHES/Years & Years

Imagine all that electro pop gold sparkling down onto your ears and BAMN instant fun and instant dancing (what did I just say). Here I imagine a track combining CHVRCHES' The Mother We Share with Years & Years' Shine. Oh how satisfying to imagine. Please, please, please let this happen. Now. I demand it. Give it to me. NOW. But seriously, I could see perhaps a 'VS' collaboration, similar to Bastille VS HAIM's Bite Down. The best of CHVRCHES VS the best of Years & Years. I'm already dancing thinking about it. 

5. Foxes/Bastille

Two of my favourites, Foxes, a singer, and Bastille, a band (Dan Smith, the lead singer pictured above), create these songs that are not only fun (for the most part, check out Count The Saints by Foxes and Oblivion by Bastille for some serious stuff) but also genuinely GOOD. It's not often we get music that is both nice to listen to and fun to dance to. Here, I would perhaps imagine a line between Foxes' Glorious and Bastille's Laura Palmer, to make a song that has a huge impact on young people and kind of have those 'hipster' vibes. Foxes also supported Bastille on tour, so you know, it could almost definitely happen. 

Anyway. That's all for now. Perhaps another time I will post another set of dream collaborations. Be sure to follow me on BlogLovin', Twitter, like my Facebook page or even subscribe to get email notifications every time I post a new blog post. A new blog post will be going up later in the week, be sure to check it out when it arrives!

TotallyCulture

LEAD UP TO SUMMER PLAYLIST

It's that time of year, April, when everybody starts to prepare for summer. It's getting warmer outside, and everybody's making the awkward transition from jeans and jumpers to shorts and t-shirts. The lead up to summer is great, and summer itself is even better. One thing I love about the lead up to summer is the transition from relatively mellow (yet still brilliant) music to upbeat and lively music. Here are 10 songs to get you in the mood for summer, which are also great songs to listen to in summer. If you liked this blog post feel free to follow me on Twitter, like my Facebook page, follow me on Google+, or follow me on bloglovin', it'd be really helpful. 

 I'll post a Summer Playlist after I finish my exams and leave sixth form in June, be sure to come back and check it out!

1. Radioactive - Marina and the Diamonds

2. Not Alone - Kid Arkade feat. Josh Franceschi

3. We Got The World - Icona Pop

4. The Days - Avicii

5. Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne

6. The Best Of Us - Kid Astray

7. I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like) - Michael Franti & Spearhead

8. Desire - Years & Years

9. Runaway - Galantis

10. Lifted Up (1985) - Passion Pit

(Warning: This video may cause viewers with photo sensitive epilepsy to potentially experience seizures)

That's all

Bye for now

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"but we're just living life and we never stop, we got the world"

REVIEWING FROOT - MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS

FROO OO OO OOT

Froot, the third album from Marina and the Diamonds has just been released, and I like it. Although, I admittedly do have mixed feelings. 

I would probably say my favourite track is Happy, but I also really love Savages, Forget and Weeds. 

My issue is, and I mean this with the greatest respect, it's difficult to listen to this album because I'm a male. I don't feel like I could tell my future wife and children that I listened to this album. I guess it's the whole concept of 'masculinity', and let's be real I'm not Marina's primary target audience, I'm probably not even her secondary target audience. However, I'm a huge fan of Marina's previous work and I do enjoy listening to her new album, FROOT. It's just a difficult listen because of this feeling that it's not suitable for a straight, white, slightly posh 17 year old male. Although, I would give FROOT 5 out of 5 stars, just because the overall concept and sound of the album is amazing, and some songs really do shine, even if others don't. Just for consideration, I would also give Electra Heart 4 out of 5 stars, and The Family Jewels a solid 5 out of 5 stars. The following will be ratings of each song on the album.

1. Happy

Happy is my favourite song on the album. It starts off solemn, yet it progresses into something so inspiring... 

"I believe in possibility, I believe someone's watching over me"

5 out of 5 stars

2. Froot

While this song is good, I can't really bare to listen to it more than once. With all due respect, it's not for me. 

"Living la dolce vita, life couldn't get much sweeter"

3 out of 5 stars

3. I'm A Ruin

OOOOO OOH OOHH YEAAAHHHHHH

"It doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair, when I'm planning to move on and you're still standing there"

4 out of 5 stars

4. Blue

This is such a feel good song, yet the lyrics are the complete opposite.

"For one more night, one last goodbye"

4 out of 5 stars

5. Forget

I could imagine this song playing in a classic American teen's 80's film where the group of teens are running through the bleachers. 

""I'm gonna leave the past behind, I've had enough I'm breaking free"

5 out of 5 stars

6. Gold

This song is very calm, it's just soft and nice. However, it doesn't really stand out for me.

"You can't take way the Midas' touch, so you better make a way for a Greek gold rush"

4 out of 5 stars

7. Can't Pin Me Down

I don't really know about this song, I'm still undecided. It's nice but sometimes it feels a bit too much, you know?

"Do you really want me to write a feminist anthem, I'm happy cooking dinner in the kitchen for my husband" 

4.5 out of 5 stars

8. Solitaire 

This is so The Family Jewels, You go Marina. However, it's, again, one of those songs you learn to love. 

"Hard like a rock, cold like a stone, white like a diamond, black like coal"

4 out of 5 stars

9. Better Than That

Well snap, don't mess with Marina. #sassyMarina

"She's the apple of everybody's eye with an angel voice, devil in disguise" 

4.5 out of 5 stars

10. Weeds

This is such a moving song, Marina really does rock alternative ballads. 

"You know the problem with history, it keeps coming back like a weed"

5 out of 5 stars

11. Savages

This song is such a powerful societal statement on all the corruption in our world. So many powerful lyrics, so much political commentary. Props to Marina for being skilled enough to write such an important song.

"Murder lives forever, and so does war" & "I'm not afraid of God, I am afraid of Man"

5 out of 5 stars

12. Immortal

This is such a good ending to a phenomenal album. Marina's soft vocals mixed with an intense lyrical story. Fantastic. 

"That's what we do it for, to reserve a place, it's just another part of the human race"

4.5 out of 5 stars

Congratulations to Marina for such a fantastic album. I look forward to the next. 

MY TOP 10 FEEL GOOD SONGS

I love songs that make me feel upbeat and positive, songs that make me want to travel the world with my friends, songs that make me want to have a picnic, songs that make me want to dance at a party. So, I'm going to tell you my top 10 feel good songs.

DISCLAIMER: Of course THAT song by Pharrell Williams isn't on here. Kill it with fire.

1. On Our Way - The Royal Concept 

2. Dreaming - Smallpools

3. Break The Rules - Charli XCX

4. Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club

5. Falling - HAIM

6. Lifted Up (1985) - Passion Pit

7. Ain't It Fun - Paramore

8. Radioactive - Marina and the Diamonds

TONIGHT I FEEL LIKE NEON GOOOOLLLLLDDDDD

9. On Top Of The World - Imagine Dragons

10. Youth - Foxes

Honorary mentions

Icona Pop - Get Lost

Flor - Get Behind This

Calvin Harris - Summer

The Wombats - Techno Fan

Youngblood Hawke - We Come Running

That's all

Bye for now

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"Let us shine for what it's worth"

My February Soundtrack

It's February, and it's time to do another monthly post on 10 songs I've been listening to this month (and a few other mentions). Some of these songs weren't released in February, but I found myself listening to them a lot. Let's get started!

1. Passion Pit - Lifted Up (1985)

2. MisterWives - Hurricane

3. Avicii - The Nights

4. DJ Fresh feat. Ella Eyre - Gravity

5. Cash+David - Bones

6. Years & Years - King

7. Marina and the Diamonds - I'm A Ruin

8. Ella Henderson - Empire

9. Flor - Get Behind This

10. Circa Waves - Fossils

Honorary Mentions

Florence + the Machine - What Kind Of Man

Icona Pop - Get Lost

Ruth B - Lost Boy

The Magician feat. Years & Years - Sunlight

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home

RY X - Berlin

That's all.

Bye for now.

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"1985 was a good year, the sky broke apart then you appeared out from the heavens, they called me a dreamer"

My January Soundtrack

Hello! 

So, I thought I'd do a monthly feature where I tell you the top 8 songs I've been listening to in the past month, as it's February, I'll be talking about January, and so forth. These songs weren't strictly released in January, but just what I'd been listening to.

Without further ado...

1. Ellie Goulding - Explosions

I adore this song, so very much. In fact, my final piece for my gcse art exam two years ago was based on this very song. I don't talk about that though, as it wasn't very good. It was an eye with flames inside, just throwing it out there.

2. Calvin Harris ft. HAIM - Pray To God

HAIM HAIM HAIM HAIM

3. Hillsong Young and Free - Pursue

4. Marina and the Diamonds - Happy

Progressive melancholy tone subduing slightly uplifting and motivational lyrics 

"I believe in possibility"

5. James Bay - Hold Back The River

6. Hozier - Take Me To Church

Of course. Who hasn't been listening to this song?

No, that was a serious question. Seriously, who hasn't? Confess.

7. Sia - Fire Meet Gasoline

9. Lykke Li - No Rest For The Wicked (Klangkarussel Remix)

Fair enough, the original is great, but I'm obsessed with this remix!

10. Matt Corby - Brother

This stripped back version of the song is everything good with the world. I adore it. 

Songs that didn't quite make the cut but I still listened to quite a bit

David Guetta ft. Emilé Sande - What I Did For Love

RY X - Berlin

Bring Me The Horizon - Drown

Laura Doggett - Old Faces

Kele - Doubt

Belle and Sebastian - The Party Line

Bastille VS HAIM - Bite Down

Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

That's all.

Bye for now.

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

Music Videos I Like

Hi there!

Basically, music videos are my life. Not really, but still, they're a huge part. It's great to be able to see a visualisation of music. I don't know what I'm saying. Let's get started! Here are a bunch of music videos I find myself watching more than often.

1. Birdy - Wings

2. Marina and the Diamonds - Radioactive

3. Keaton Henson - You Don't Know How Lucky You Are

This one's a bit strange, because it's just one shot of a woman crying, but the emotion conveyed surpasses a video with tonnes of different scenes and cuts.

4. Porter Robinson - Lionhearted

SO MUCH COLOUR

5. HAIM - Falling

6. Bombay Bicycle Club - Carry Me

7. Zedd ft. Foxes - Clarity

8. Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat

9. Hurts - Stay

10. Florence + The Machine - Never Let Me Go

11. Sheppard - Geronimo 

12. Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed

13. Bastille - Oblivion

SANSA STARK??????

That's all.

Bye for now.

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"keep my eyes above the waves when oceans rise"