The Tough Alliance: TTA have been around since 2003 and I just recently discovered them earlier this year. Their music is some of the most unique styles of pop I've ever listened to. Having released several EP's and two full albums already, I can definitely hear an ocean theme running through their tracks. The way they use their own voices to create catchy beats to how they sing their lyrics almost makes them sound indifferent and childish, but that's the whole point. TTA quickly became one of my favorite artists this year and I will anxiously await all of their upcoming projects for next year. I especially loved listening to their music in my car while driving next to the beach during the summer--it was delightfully euphoric.

The Tough Alliance - Silly Crimes
The Tough Alliance - Holiday
The Tough Alliance - Koka-Kola Veins

'Silly Crimes' was a part of TTA's summer EP: 'New Waves'. I found myself being reminiscent of my summer excursions with friends and the ones in store for the upcoming years. The pigeon sounds in the song work so well--it's amazing. 'Holiday' was the first single released on their first EP and 'Koka-Kola Veins' is from their first album, 'The New School'. All of these songs were singles in Sweden (which received critical acclaim) and they just recently released an ambient album through their own music label called, 'Escaping Your Ambitions', which takes you through legs of an underwater adventure.

Cat5: Yes, I did abandon my live journal for a little over four months and yes, it's collected a lot of internet dust (if there's such a thing) while gone, but I am taking it back--starting now because it's been a part of my life for around three years already and I have much more to share with everyone who reads this. I've been quite busy with life at the moment with art as a career, but I wanted to start posting again by recommending Cat5 who just recently released a new single from their debut album in Sweden. I am very impressed by their style of music and beats these two girls have produced for their album. The instrumentals are upbeat and provoke unwanted dancing while the lyrics are fun and catchy to sing along to-sometimes you can't help it, ha. Here are three of their songs from their album 'Cat5' which was released earlier this year.

Cat5 - Stretch and Bend
Cat5 - Battle
Cat5 - I Want You

These three songs demonstrate their unique sound as a whole. My mom personally loves 'I Want You', hahaha, because of the 'Como Estas' part-yeah, my mom is pretty cool. Anyways, I hope you all like Cat5! Also, I can't believe, yet again, that the holiday season has arrived;Office Depot, don't let me down this year with my ritual card printing services. At least, I'll always have poignant holiday specials.

The Similou: This male duo (Dizzy Crane and Jesse Nectar) from Sweden are an up and coming electropop act with poppy, disco, funky beats and extremely catchy choruses--can it get any better than that, you ask? Why yes, yes it can! While they sample original sounds using their keytars and other electronic instruments in their music, the lead vocalist projects their lyrics using this amazing androgynous voice! Oh yes, my friends, androgyny prevails all! It's great music for the summer and I am exposing them to you because I simply cannot stop listening to them and now, you won't either.

The Similou - Play With Us
The Similou - All This Love
The Similou - Ladykillers
BONUS:The Similou - Ladykillers (Andreas Tilliander Remix)

Maybe I am being rather too observant, but...there is a peculiar sound in 'Play With Us' that keeps reminding me of those Donkey Kong Country games for the SNES. Does anyone remember when Diddy (the smaller chimp) would get hurt by the 'baddies' and then scurry off to god knows where--but that one scream that he does, this song totally samples that sound! Am I right? haha. I've uploaded all of the songs they've released as singles (all of which I LOVE), but I think their whole album is fantastic.

Toy: A brilliant (down tempo/trip-hop) electronic album that seems to almost be an imaginative childhood soundtrack. It was just released this year and I think it was a bold attempt on something unique. The track titles and overall sound on each track help conjure a lot of fun imagery. I feel as though it would've been great to hear this type of music on lets say: 'Pee-wee's Playhouse' or perhaps even a really silly animated cartoon because it sounds well, animated! Nevertheless, the entire album (which transitions from one song/adventure to the next) retains a magical charm that will leave you feeling euphoric!

Toy - Valley Cars
Toy - Rabbit Pushing Mower
Toy - Grass Beatbox

'Valley Cars' is simply my favorite. I like the kazoo sound in the beginning (I think it's a kazoo--perhaps its another musical toy instrument, not sure) but I think this song will help you understand the imaginative quality that this album embodies. Let me know what you think about this recommendation--oh! I'll be going to my local art store soon and I need to stock up on supplies, if anybody uses some specific brand (you use and love) and would like to suggest to me, please do so cos I'm really looking for top notch stuff. Watercolour, pens, pencils, paper, sketchbooks, anything, really! Thanks everyone and enjoy the music!

The Knife: You'll either love or hate their music and odd sense of humor. This brother and sister duo from Sweden claim that their music is pop; pop adorned with dark electro rhythms and shrill vocals quite similar to that of Björk. Their work standout from other electropop music because they make it sound so cool. They make their music appeal to many, by utilizing fresh new synth, deep bass, beats. They break so many musical barriers that its quite impossible to lump them into one genre. Music has never been this amazing, the sound, the vocals, the motifs; they practically make genres irreverent.

The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health
The Knife - Wanting To Kill
The Knife - Kino
The Knife - Heartbeats

I've uploaded one song from each of their current released albums. 'We Share Our Mother's Health' is definitely the song to gain you over. It'll leave numerous, auditory-pleasing sounds resonating in your ears once you're done listening to it--and their Trentemøller remix version of this song is beyond ace! I simply love their music and it was hard to pick just one song from each to leave a rather lasting impression...or a sudden urge of 'Wanting To Kill'. lolz. I hope you've been enjoying these fine music recommendations!

The Presets: Indie music is something that never really piqued my interest, because when I think 'Indie' I associate it with words such as: emo, scene, self-mutilation, and myspace. But, when an eccentric duo takes indie and meshes different electronic sounds into it, then we have brilliance. They just released their first album this year entitled 'Beams' which received critical acclaim for their exceptional electronic/rock/trip-hop sound. Native to Australia, these two blokes promote their music through use of style, sound, and engaging performances. Their album is ingenious and their songs induce impulsive toe-tapping under any occasion.

The Presets - Down Down Down
The Presets - I Go Hard, I Go Home
The Presets - Are You The One?

My favorite song by The Presets has to be 'Down Down Down'. It sounds very 80's and Devo-like during their 'Whip It' days and that's pretty damn classic.

Capsule: This was the J-pop duo that had their videos inspire me to draw cute asian girls. Thanks to binsybaby, I was able to evaluate most of their songs in the scope of two days and already have many favorites. Influenced by genres such as bossa nova, lounge, and french pop--Capsule embodies a really cute and appealing style and sound unlike any other. Albeit, I have no idea what their lyrics translate to, I still find their music enjoyable, catchy, and it'll make you feel happy without being inebriated. I am particularly fond of their songs inspired by music that hipsters in the 60's used to listen to and The Pizzicato 5.

Capsule - Robot Disco
Capsule - CrazEEE Skyhopper
Capsule - Beautiful Hour
Capsule - Odekake GO! GO!
Capsule - Call Me, Call Me

Capsule's new album 'FRUITS CLiPPER', has a more aggressive style where they focused on house-beats and a more polished electronic inspired sound. I've included different songs so you can hear their growth as musicians. Well, let me know if you enjoyed these new recommendations--if you want any other songs by these artists, just ask. KACHOW-lol.

Goldfrapp: Just the other day, I was trying to decipher a journal entry written in the French vernacular by my awesome friend injenuity and noticed that she was listening to this amazing electropop group from the UK. I've been listening to them for a while now and think they're amazing. They bring so many fresh elements to music and in a sense, seem to almost create a genre of their own. Some of my favorite songs evoke beautiful, visual images that inspire me and I enjoy music that encourages creativity while still maintaining an appealing and rare sound. Furthermore, their songs are conveyed with much thought as they are concise with the given track title. This is certainly a group you should all be willing to hear.

Goldfrapp - Hairy Trees
Goldfrapp - Ride A White Horse
Goldfrapp - Slide In
Goldfrapp - Koko

'Hairy Trees' is a prime example of how Goldfrapp exemplifies a unique sound to encapsulate the idiom within the track title. Hear it for yourselves and hopefully you'll understand how amazing their music really is. Let me know if you happen to enjoy any of these tracks, too! Its always great to read opinions. Speaking of great --

( + french fox + )

I am a giver, what can I say. Heres the Beatmania IIDX 3rd Style for you folks. There's a whole load of genres on this soundtrack, so I am almost confident you'll enjoy atleast one song from it. Under the cut lists my favorite songs from this CD and genre. Sexy.

( + Ba dah bup pah yah + )

Hey kids, today I bring you some songs to download. Its been a while since I've shared music on here so thought I'd make a new segment to my livejournal titled 'Ranny Recommends' every once in a while with music that I enjoy listening to. This time, I have music from groups that have an 80's, electropop sound to them. A lot of europop groups have been doing that recently and I really like what they're doing with their music.

Bodies Without Organs: add a very fresh sound to modern music and stay consistent with their genre. I love this group of eccentric characters; The witch-like woman who wears animal patterned dresses, the pretty androgynous boy in the middle with the jacket I so wish to have, and that troll-like, bald man on the right with the huge, scruffy mustache and checkered shirt! Amazing. Here are some of my favorite songs from their first album Prototype. It was released in 2005 and are currently finishing their new album to be released later this year.

Bodies Without Organs - Riding Through the Night
Bodies Without Organs - Son of a Gun
Bodies Without Organs - Conquering America
Bodies Without Organs - Sunshine in the Rain

Pay TV: First off, their group name is cool, one of the group members is named; Claudia Ca$h, and they come from Sweden. Actually, BWO come from Sweden, too. Oh boy, that just furthers my love for Sweden. Their first album will be released this year.

Pay TV - Trendy Discotheque
Pay TV - Refrain Refrain

Thats all I got this Tuesday night. Lemme know what you think and if you happen to have nothing to do at the moment check this site out. Some Canadian dude has an LED screen that projects the words you type and submit in that little box. Good to promote your website I suppose? Still, its pretty amusing -- Type whatever you want c:

Undergoing the task of livejournal updation has proved far too daunting. I have a supreme number of hilarity's to relay, and yet I cannot fathom comprising an entry at this very moment...and yet, I persist. School, as always, went well, I sauntered home from a long day of slave labor, and began a thorough review of my class notes and demo reel proposals (and when I say "thorough", I mean "not at all") -- After that, I spent some time with my mom drawing horses and crazy chickens with the avian flu. Her horses resembled short, stocky, retarded, midget, pigs which had us laughing for what must have been ten minutes straight.

( + i share music + )