Category: Alternative Rock

90s Songs, Alternative Rock, European Artists, Rock Music

Song of the Day – “Dreams” by The Cranberries

January 15, 2018

Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004 

Happy New Year!

I am excited to get back to Not Your Mom’s Playlist for 2018 and have some goals for the site, and some fun changes to make to the page. I hope you will enjoy it.

Today I heard the very sad news that Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer of The Cranberries, died suddenly in London at the age of 46.  Not much news has been released yet, but it is a tremendous loss. Check out this article on NPR.

I remember very well when The Cranberries entered the music scene. This song was released, on the album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We, in early 1993 during the very early years of my married, working life … and I was instantly hooked. It was one of the first new bands I remember during that time of my life. I loved Dolores’ voice and the musical sounds created by the band, which were so different than the music we had been listening to in the 80s. The music was refreshing, interesting, and beautiful.

“Linger” by The Cranberries is a classic and a song that I absolutely love (and you should definitely listen to it too), but I think that today’s song really highlights Dolores’ amazing, unique voice and the incredible sound that was The Cranberries. I hope that you love this song as much as I do and that it sparks a memory for you. A tremendous loss of an amazing artist who left us much too young.

Alternative Rock, Happy Songs, Love Songs, Singer/Songwriter, Upbeat Songs

Song of the Day – “Better Than I Used To Be” by Mat Kearney (feat. Afsheen)

November 10, 2017

 Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004 

* NEW SONG ALERT!*

This song was just released today by Mat Kearney, who is probably one of my very favorite artists. I absolutely love his music and his incredible, emotion-filled voice! This is a great new song and I thought I would share it quickly so you can check it out on the day of it’s release.

I have seen Mat Kearney live an amazing five times, and had the opportunity to meet him about five years ago in Dallas, Texas. He is such a great talent and just a fabulous guy … and I love his signature hats. 😉

I have been following him and his music since 2005 and always get excited when he releases something new. He has been known to combine all types of music, including rap, hip-hop, folk, rock, pop, and now a little electronic mix. I really like it and hope that you enjoy this new song. If you have not yet had the opportunity to see him perform live, I highly recommend it.

IMG_1411

Meeting Mat Kearney – Dallas, Texas, September 2012

IMG_1209

My collection of tour t-shirts. 🙂

Alternative, Alternative Rock, Folk Rock, Rising Artist, Upbeat Songs

Song of the Day – “Take It All Back 2.0” by Judah & The Lion

October 28, 2017

Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004 

Today’s song is from a young band that I saw live back in March 2015 while they were touring with Mat Kearney. They were so exuberant on stage and their energy was contagious!

IMG_5650

Judah & The Lion – Best Buy Theatre, NYC – March, 2015IMG_5662

Joining Mat Kearney on stage for an energetic performance! NYC – March 2015

In the two years since I saw Judah & The Lion live in NYC, they have really made a name for themselves and get more and more popular all the time. They have been dubbed “one of Nashville’s most genre-bending bands” and their style is hard to describe. They originally started as a folk rock band, but they have combined that folk tinge with other styles, creating a cool hybrid style.

In February of this year they were named by Rolling Stone as one of “10 New Artists You Need To Know.” They have grown their huge fan base through constant touring and live shows. They opened for the huge Twenty One Pilots tour earlier this year, and it was immediately following that run that they started touring as their own headliner.

This is their most popular song and I think it is worth sharing for those who have not yet heard it. The song was popular with their fans long before it was released because they had been playing it live. In Dec 2016/Jan 2017, the song jumped to #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart and stayed there for three weeks! The song was originally released as just “Take It All Back” on their 2016 album Folk Hop N’ Roll. “Take It All Back 2.0” was released on their Folk Hop N’ Roll (Deluxe) album in March, 2017. In addition, they released a Take It All Back (Remix EP) in August. All of the versions of this song are pretty awesome!

Alternative, Alternative Rock, Upbeat Songs

Song of the Day – “Future Looks Good” by OneRepublic

October 27, 2017

Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sister!

Today I want to celebrate my little sister on her birthday. On birthdays, I like to look forward to the year ahead while celebrating the year that just passed. That is why I chose this song today for her birthday and as my wish for her to have joy in the upcoming year. It has been a crazy and challenging year, but I know that the future looks good. 🙂

Having sisters is a gift and I was blessed with 3 of them! I am the third of four girls, and my little sister was a distant fourth … almost 5 years younger than me. For her birthday today, I have to share (probably to her horror!) one of my favorite music memories of her.

Back in the day, my little sister loved Madonna and Michael Jackson. She loved the song “Beat It” SO much that she recorded it on a cassette tape over and over again. I did not know this until we got into the car for a family road trip. As we sat in the back of the van, on this fabulous bed that my dad had built, she blasted on the boom box “Beat It” over and over and over again. I can tell you that I wanted to BEAT her. I am not sure that I ever really liked that song again after that trip. To be honest, I am not sure she did either. 😉

As for today’s song, OneRepublic is probably one of my very favorite bands. I don’t think there is anyone quite as cool or talented as Ryan Tedder, and there is not a song that I don’t like. This song is from their 2016 album, Oh My My.  I have been lucky enough to see OneRepublic in concert several times and they never disappoint. They are truly even better live than recorded.

 Cheers to you, Danni! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Fall Fest at Beacon Theatre, NYC – Oct 2016 and Today Citi Concert Series, NYC – May 2017

Alternative Rock, Anthems, Motivational Music

Song of the Day – “Rise Up” by Imagine Dragons

October 15, 2017

 Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004

I love Imagine Dragons! Their music is amazing and their songs are genuine. They are one of my favorite bands.

The first time I saw them live was in February of 2013 on the Night Visions tour after the release of their first full-album of the same name. At the time, they were much smaller than they are today and my son and I went to see them at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas. The concert still ranks up there as one of my favorites. They had this gigantic drum on the stage and it was just an incredible live performance.

2013 – Night Visions Tour in Dallas, TX
2017 – Evolve Tour in Salt Lake City, UT

2013 – Night Visions Tour        2017 – Evolve Tour

On Friday night, my son and I went to see them again on the Evolve tour in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was another amazing live performance, but the crowd was significantly larger! They have morphed into a hugely successful band and I am thrilled for them and still love their authentic music. (Even crazier to me is how grown up … and handsome! … my son has become!)

IMG_0973

The massive crowd at USANA Amphitheatre on Friday night giving some love to   Imagine Dragons during the song “Demons.” Dan Reynolds gave his personal account of the song being written based on his struggle with depression. 

Las Vegas-based Imagine Dragons consists of frontman Dan Reynolds, along with guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman. The group got their start in Provo, Utah when Dan Reynolds was attending Brigham Young University (BYU). I think Dan Reynolds is the bomb!

Today’s song, “Rise Up,” is from their new album – Evolve. This is just an all around great song. The lyrics just sing to me and the music is anthemic! I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.

Alternative Rock, Love Songs, Soft Rock

Song of the Day – “What Side of Love” by Parachute

October 11, 2017

Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004

Today’s song is from a band that I discovered back in 2009 while living in London. I cannot remember how exactly I was introduced to them there, but I was instantly a fan.

I saw Parachute perform in NYC in March 2015 when they were touring with Mat Kearney (my favorite!) and they put on a great, full band performance, but as much as I liked that …

IMG_5653.jpg
March 2015 at Best Buy Theatre in NYC

I just recently saw them in an intimate, acoustic show at City Winery in NYC last month and it was absolutely amazing! What an incredible venue to hear their music. They obviously sang all the favorites and nearly everyone in attendance sang right along with them.

IMG_0730IMG_0729

Today’s song of the day was probably my very favorite of the performance that night. The song is from their most recent album, Wide Awake, which was released in 2016. Will told the story of what he wrote the song about, but he also said that he felt like it was especially fitting for this time in the world. The lyrics really resonated with me … It is just a great song!

Parachute was originally formed in 2006 in Charlottesville, Virginia and they started touring in 2008 after college graduation. The band consists of childhood friends: Will Anderson (vocals, guitar, frontman), Johnny Stubblefield (drums), and Kit French (keyboard, saxophone).

Their debut album, Losing Sleep was released in 2009 and the I still love the song “The Mess I Made” from that album. Their 2011 album, The Way It Was has some of their most popular songs on it with the song “Kiss Me Slowly” leading my list of favorites off that album.

I hope you enjoy this song. Let me know what you think.

 

Alternative, Alternative Rock, Electronic, Female Artists, UK Artists, World Music

“Princess Of China” by Coldplay & Rihanna

November 6, 2014

Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song is by one of my favorite groups and is the perfect song for today in China!

I am feeling very lucky to get to be with my Princess in China, and today we are off to see the jewel of China.

We are heading out to hike the Great Wall of China. We are not going to the refurbished, tourist section of the wall, but instead we have hired a guide to take us out climbing and hiking in a much more rugged area. I did a lot of research and our guide came highly recommended by many people who I spoke with from all over the world. (That, in itself, was fun! I reached out to people from all over the world regarding a shared experience and we instantly connected. Friends are everywhere!) Anyway, this sounds like the perfect adventure for me and my daughter. I am so excited and imagine I will have some great pictures to share.

Today’s song just resonated with me for an adventure day in China. I am so excited to be here and the video is an awesome look into the romance and allure of China. “Princess of China” is from Coldplay’s 2011 album, Mylo Xyloto. We saw Coldplay in concert following this album. It was the second time the entire family went to see Coldplay in concert – the first time was at Wembley Stadium in London in 2009 and the second time was in Dallas in 2012 – and so Coldplay is always at the top of my list as a family favorite.

Off to conquer the wall and marvel at a wonder of the world. I am feeling blessed today.

Alternative Rock, Love Songs, Mellow Songs, Singer/Songwriter

“Come On Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson

October 16, 2014

Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004

It’s Throwback Thursday! 

Just a quick note tonight before the clock turns to midnight and it is no longer Throwback Thursday. I just got home from a fabulous concert. I will write more about it tomorrow, but Matt Nathanson played an acoustic set and I just had to post one of my very favorite songs by him. He performed this song tonight and it just reminded me once again how much I love it. He was his usual fantastic self on stage – part comedy, part sexy dancer, all fabulous musician.

Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Rising Artist, Synthpop, UK Artists, Upbeat Songs

SONG OF THE DAY – “SETTLE DOWN” by The 1975

September 9, 2014

Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004

Following the song title’s advice today. 🙂

So, in honor of settling down, I am off to the city for a concert tonight. It is going to be fabulous – an artist that I really like giving a private show at Webster Hall in NYC. This will be a new venue for me and one that I have really been wanting to visit. I love these small, intimate, invitation-only concerts where you really get up and close to the artist.I can’t wait to let you know about it tomorrow.

Today’s song is by The 1975, a four-piece, alt-rock band from Manchester in the UK. The group met at school in 2002 and released their first EP in 2012; three more EPs followed. They recently released their debut, self-titled album, The 1975, in September 2013.

The band consists of Matt Healy (lead vocals and guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), Ross McDonald (bass), and George Daniel (drums). They have a really cool sound and are certainly making a big splash. In April of this year they had their first big performance in the US, playing at Coachella Music Festival. I am sure there is much more to come from them and if you have not already explored their music, take time to do it now. They are really good!

Gotta run … I have a train to catch!

Alternative Rock, Australian Artists, Happy Songs, Indie Folk, Rising Artist, Singer/Songwriter, Upbeat Songs

SONG OF THE DAY – “RIPTIDE” by Vance Joy

August 2, 2014

Download_on_iTunes_Badge_US-UK_110x40_1004

Just wanted to post a quick song today. I really like this song and have been looking for a day to share it. No riptides in sight, but we went for a big long walk down along the beach today and the tide was so far out it was incredible. So .. low tide, riptide …. sometimes the connections are weak. 🙂

This song is by Vance Joy (real name, James Keogh), a young Australian singer-songwriter from Melbourne. Keogh picked the name, “Vance Joy” from the Australian author, Peter Carey’s novel, Bliss. The song was his breakthrough and was not only on his first EP, God Loves You When You’re Dancing, in 2013, but led to his 5-Album Atlantic Records deal and will be on his debut studio album, Dream Your Life Away, in September of this year. The song has been a huge hit across the globe and I think we will see much more of Vance Joy in the days to come. He is incredibly talented and just a nice, down-to earth guy. He has been touring constantly this year and just finished performing at Lollapalooza. He will be opening his own US headliner tour in Dallas in October.

Have a great weekend!