Top 10 of 2013: Kaskade - Atmosphere

I love that a lot of producers are beginning to make albums these days. Making an album is hard. EDM producers are used to just cranking out singles, and each one can be totally unrelated to the next. With an album, there has to be some sort of cohesiveness to it that brings it all together. There have been many attempts by producers to create albums this year, but I do not think anyone did it better than Kaskade did on Atmosphere.

I love that Kaskade was finally able to blend his two styles together to make this amazing full length release. It was the perfect combination of old Kasakde and current Kaskade. Tracks like Atmosphere, Last Chance and Feeling the Night are his party bangers that can be heard at festival's around the world. On the flip-side, he has some more deep house kind of tunes like the three tracks that chart different (and i'm sure, for Kaskade, frequently traveled) flight paths across America.

The album also has some cool and interesting features. The familiar female vocalists: Becky Jean Williams, Haley and Lights all make an appearance, as well as Lat Night Alumni, the electronic band from Salt Lake City that Kaskade is a member of. He also brings on some new and interesting features like School of Seven Bells or Zip Zip Through The Night. The track Something Something with Zip Zip Through The Night became one of my favorite tracks on the album after multiple listens through. I love how different it is for an EDM Producer to create, and I love how Kaskade is always willing to experiment with his music. Check it out below

This is a great EDM album. If you haven't your support one way or another for Kaskade, Do it now! Follow him on Facebook for tour dates and listen to his tunes on the Audible Twilight Best of 2013 Playlist!

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

Top 10 of 2013: Real Friends - Put Yourself Back Together

I used to be HUGE into pop-punk and mosh pits and getting injured at shows. That was how it all started for me back in high school. I had almost completely fallen off the pop-punk train, until I listened to Real Friends tell it like it is on this record.

The style of pop-punk that really grabbed me was bands that could blend the raw intensity of punk with the outpouring of emotions typically found in emo music. This band fit that niche perfectly for me and really brought me back to my days of adolescent frustration with love and life. The lyrics are very revealing of the singer's life and his struggles with his relationships and growing up. This band gets 5 stars for their honesty and their optimistic perspective on life, even when things seem terrible.

The album opens with one of my favorite tracks by Real Friends, called Late Nights In My Car. This album sets the tone and the overall theme of the album right away. There are some reoccurring motifs the singer alludes to in multiple songs. He continually mentions being a "Lost boy with bony knees" and seems to have most of his songs based around a certain bad relationship he was in. Check out the video for this track below.

Next I wanted to highlight a song that definitely brings the band more on the emo side of pop-punk. I've Given Up On You is a ballad to one of his exes, explaining how she has inspired so many songs of his, and how he is still struggling to get over what happened. The vocals are only accompanied by an electric guitar, which makes this their quasi-acoustic track on the album. They did an excellent job providing that one track for the album that will tug on your heart strings. Listen below!

I want to congratulate the boys of Real Friends on signing to Fearless Records this week! That is very exciting and I can't wait to get my hands on more music by this talented group. Make sure to like them on Facebook so you can catch them on tour soon! They will be at Soma in SD with The Wonder Years in March! Listen to their EP on our Audible Twilight Best of 2013 Playlist on Spotify!

Enjoy! <3

Top 10 of 2013: Dream Koala - Odyssey EP

France has been on point with their young prodigy game the past couple years. First we had Madeon take the world by storm, now we have Yndi Ferreira, a.k.a. Dream Koala.

Yndi's career has gone from total obscurity to rising star in a very short time. His music is not exactly appealing to the masses in any way, but he was fortunate enough to have the Odyssey EP debuted in Vogue Magazine in October. The reason this made my list was because not only is this release really unique and different, but it also marks Dream Koala's transition from being a kid making music in his room, to being a full time musician. That transition shows in the progress made between this EP and his previous work.

The title track from the EP really shows his musical style. His music is basically comprised of downtempo electronic productions, full of samples, with his own vocals and guitar laid over the top. I have gotten to watch him perform live via the internet once and it was really cool to see him use the midi controller to create the beats and then play his guitar and sing throughout the rest of the song, while using loops to bring it all together. Check out the video for Odyssey below.

The other song I like from the EP has been unreleased for a long time, but he retouched it and made it better for the EP. It's called Ocean. It's got more of a head-bobbing beat than the other tracks, and is great for zoning out, especially as Yndi sings "don't wake me up" over and over again. Get your ambient vibes from Ocean below.

Make sure you Like him on Facebook and check out his SoundCloud for more of his older material. And, of course, this EP will be on the Audible Twilight Best of 2013 Playlist on Spotify!

Enjot! <3

Top 10 of 2013: Kodaline - In A Perfect World (LP)

After you hear Kodaline's debut album... you will fall in love with them. Just a fair warning!

This Dublin based band (yes... another band from the UK! Something in the air there makes people musically amazing..) first made waves under their old band name, 21 Demands, with a chart topping single in 2007, but reformed in 2011 as Kodaline. The album is full of incredible acoustic rock jams that sounds kind of like what One Republic would sound like is they turned folk. Every song is one you can either sing along to at the top of your lungs or just relax and mellow out to. Pretty perfect combo, in my opinion!

My favorite track from In A Perfect World is All Comes Down. It gives me tingles down my spine every time. The soft acapella beginning builds with some piano and simple percussion, which leads into stadium ready guitars and it all culminates into one epic sing-along that would close out any concert in the most incredible way. Check it out here.

There are so many other tracks on this album that are amazing, it is hard to pick which to highlight. Their current single making its rounds right now is titled All I Want. The song starts soft and builds into a nice, powerful rock song by the end. Definitely worth a listen, but my other favorite track I wanted to post is Way Back When. This upbeat, folk rock track about living life and having fun doing it, and living without regrets is the perfect way to brighten up your day. Remind yourself not to take life too seriously as you listen to it below!

Follow the band on Facebook or catch them on tour in the US in February! I will be at their show at The Casbah in San Diego if you care to join! All my favorite tracks of theirs will be on the Audible Twilight Best of 2013 Playlist on Spotify for your listening pleasure!

Enjoy! <3

Top 10 of 2013: Swim Deep - Where The Heaven Are We (LP)

I waited many months to get my hands on this album. Where The Heaven Are We is Swim Deep's debut album, and it put these young British rockers on the map!

I had discovered these guys months before their album was supposed to release, but their SoundCloud was full of songs, so I didn't need to be too impatient. Initially their style and sound is a little strange; they sound like they grew up by the beach making bright, sun-sprayed indie rock jams, but they're from gloomy Birmingham in the UK.. so that doesn't exactly add up. But somehow they are able to channel a vibe that is completely foreign to their environment at home, which is pretty cool.

The first single off the album was the track King City. This track is infectiously poppy, and its about wanting more from life than you have now, which everyone can relate too. Get down to the track below!

My first favorite track off the album was definitely The Sea. I LOVED its laid back, happy vibe that is perfect for a stroll down the beach or through the park on a gorgeous day. It was on every summer playlist I made this year. Put your Raybans on and go for a stroll to it sometime.. you won't regret it!



Other notable tracks on the album that strike my fancy are Honey, Soul Trippin, She Changes The Weather and Francisco. You can hear all these songs on the Audible Twilight Best of 2013 Spotify Playlist!!

Follow Swim Deep on Facebook and cross your fingers with me that by some miracle they make it to Coachella this year!!!

Enjoy! <3

Top 10 of 2013: The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record

The Dangerous Summer have been one of my all time favorite bands for about six or seven years now. Every album they release is amazing. I would describe them as the perfect cross between an indie and an emo band, which is how I have been able to still love them all the way from high school to now.

They released their third full length album this summer, called Golden Record. The year or two leading up to the album release was full of turmoil within the band. They had lost 2 of the founding 4 members by the time they needed to record this album. They enlisted the help of drummer, Ben Cato and guitarist, Matt Kennedy (who is also involved with The Sun And The Sea) and were able to overcome the adversity to create a great piece of art.

Their music is as polished as ever and the addition of the new members adds new elements to the overall sound of the band. You can really tell on the more uptempo tracks on the album, like Miles Apart and We Will Wait In The Fog. The music is brighter and more optimistic. Another thing about the album that has progressed from their previous work is AJ's lyric songwriting ability. His lyrics are very revealing about his life and the things he has gone through since the last album and how he feels about those changes. Listening to third album is almost like reading his personal diary. It takes true talent to be able to connect to people through music the way he does.

Let me give you some music to listen to from them that will give you an idea of why I love this band so much.

The album can be found on Spotify or hear all my favorite tracks on the Audible Twilight playlist! PLEASE follow them on Facebook if you dig them. I want to make sure this is not the last album they make, so show them some love!!

Enjoy! <3

Top 10 of 2013: Goldroom - Embrace EP

Goldroom is easily one of my biggest come ups of the year. His music opened up a whole new genre of dance music to me, and I have been obsessed ever since.

This year he released his Embrace EP as a follow up to his Angeles EP from last year. It is a definite step up in all aspects from his previous work. The production quality sky rocketed and the music became more electronic sounding, which is always fun. Although, after seeing him perform his music with a live band, it still sounds super cool with a more organic, live sound as well. 

The title track from the EP is by far the stand out track. It is so catchy and the beat is perfect for that summertime pool party atmosphere. I know I bumped this every beautiful Saturday morning to get my day started and my blood pumping. Check it out below!

The other tracks from the EP that I love are Adalita, Fifteen and Only You Can Show Me which you can find on both Spotify and his SoundCloud!

What originally got me into Goldroom though were his remixes. He has SO MANY amazing remixes.. it's kind of ridiculous how good every one actually is. Let me show you a couple of my all time favorites.




All of his remixes are for free download! So grab them on his Facebook!

Enjoy! <3