Top 10 of 2013: The 1975 - The 1975 (LP)

I remember when I first discovered these guys in 2012 like it was yesterday. This band has come a long way from the Facedown EP and the Sex EP. (Although, I won't lie.. I miss those EP's a lot!) I waited over a year for this album to come out, and when it finally did, it was no disappointment. The 1975 was easily the biggest buzz band of the year.

Prior to this album they released a trilogy of EP's, each all built around a specific single for their debut album. Through those EP's we heard Sex, The City, and Chocolate, but we were still thirsty for more. The album boasted sixteen tracks, which in this day and age, is a lot for a debut album. I feel like it could have cut out a song or two at no cost to the overall project, but more music is more music!

At first listen the song that jumped out at me personally was Robbers. I really loved its stadium sound and mellow rhythm. Check out this amazing, but less popular track from the album.



The most recent single off the album is their track Girls, which they released a video for a couple months ago. This song has the 80's sounding guitars that is prevalent throughout the whole album which evokes memories of chasing after girls in high school and yearning to be cool. Watch the video below.

As referenced in the opening scene of this video, the band seems to have gotten closer and closer to pop music as they progress. Although they are popular now, I still don't consider them to be a pop band. But... Then again... Maybe I am living in the past and thinking of how their music sounded before this album... So i'll leave that judgement up to you. Check out this old track of theirs from one of their old EPs that is a fan favorite, even though it didn't make the album. The difference in the bands sound is very noticeable, granted they were released about a year apart.

Make sure you follow the band on Facebook and check out all the remixes of their tracks on their SoundCloud! Especially the Ryan Hemsworth remix of Sex!

Enjoy! <3

Mikky Ekko

Mikky Ekko is one hit single away from being a star. His voice is very well suited for radio, he just needs that one song to push him off the precipice to stardom.

You may have heard his name before. He is featured in Rihanna's track from this year called Stay. That definitely puts Mikky on fame highway; headed west. However, before he blows up, I wanted to shed some light on his talent and get you introduced to him before you hear him all over the radio. The song that first brought him to my attention was actually a remix of his song Pull Me Down by one of my favorite new producers, Ryan Hemsworth.

I think his voice is amazing. He's kind of like a white Bruno Mars with less to lose, which makes his music more raw and passionate! Mikky's songs are beautiful and emotional just like Bruno Mars, he just hasn't gotten commercial yet so the music is still real and pure. Check out what I mean in this more recent release.



He also has a song released on the latest Hunger Games movie soundtrack that is excellent, called Place For Us. Although that song is great, I really wanted to end this post on a softer note. On the same EP he released Pull Me Down on, he released Feels Like The End. This song is absolutely beautiful. It shows his range as an artist, which I am sure you will see more of whenever he puts out a debut LP. Take a listen



Make sure you follow Mikky on Facebook and check out more of his tracks on Spotify and SoundCloud! You won't be disappointed.

Enjoy! <3