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There's something about Tokyo Police Club...they're consistent and its great. If you haven't heard their music yet, just start with some of their hits such as "Your English Is Good" from 2008 or "Hang Your Heart" from 2016. "I need your love. I need your car. I need you, baby. Forget the fights. Forget the shi*. I need you, baby." They came back with a new song and you know its TPC when listening. They seriously deserve a bigger spotlight because their music as a collective is just super addictive. While their consistent with their sound, they are very unique. Their guitar, drums, keys, and vocals only sound like TPC and no one else. "Such a slow change, slow sharks beneath the waves...handstands...'cause you're my hundred dollar day." But what about their new song? It's called "Hundred Dollar Day" and they've done it again! You'll just have to take a listen for yourself but there is a real sense of nosta...

"Imagine you're running through the jungle and a lion is chasing you." Imagine you're running through the jungle and a lion is chasing you. What are you going to do? Run! Wowza! You're fast! You made some room and realized if a lion is chasing you, this must be sub-Saharan Africa, a large producer of pineapples. You might want to eat some; you need your energy. "All my life people warning me, 'be careful, be careful,' made me anxious every day just to go outside." Ok...for real tho..."running" by Elohim is one catchy tune. Its actually quite motivational. It may start out with a story about running from a lion but its really about just getting on your feet and to keep on moving even if it is because you're pressured to do so. "All my life I just feel like I'm in motion, in motion. Seems like there is always something after me." Back to the story with the lion in (most-likely) Africa. You know you got to pair this song ...

It's time to get dancing with some alternative EDM! The album COLOR BLOND by pluko is full of dance music and its something we could all use during a pandemic with not much going on in the world right now. Of course, you'll have to dance by yourself at home. Choose any song from the album and you'll be bobbing your head or pumping your fist. For the sake of this blog, we will focus on the song "blessings" featuring Nate Traveller. Although, this one might be one of pluko's tame songs but it's still pretty hype. "In this place all by myself. Doesn't matter who's around. Feels like I'm in over my head. Gotta stop staring at the ground." The easiest way to complete something is to start it! You can't just look at the ground and expect to see progress. However, sometimes it is easier to finish what you started when you have your partner to help. "And I wonder if I make it out. Another blessing comes falling down. I know you wanna...

Chevy Mustang is the European persona of Max Collins, lead singer of Eve 6 and Fitness . He's basically the man. No one can mess with this classy mother-ucker. Chevy Mustang doesn't care about anything and will do whatever he wants. His confidence is on another level. "Because I Want To" is Chevy Mustang's first creation. He tells us what he wants and he will make it happen. Even if it's not his birthday, he wants to celebrate it. He tells us he wants to go to Disney World, go skinny dipping, pop some popcorn, solve a mystery, date a model, and so much more. He tells us why he wants to do all this too. It's because he wants to! That's it. Nothing more. "I want to have a birthday. I want to have a party. I want to make it happen. Why? Because I want to!" Next up is "Aphrodisiac." Chevy talks about his own aphrodisiac and how it affects him when he's with his lady. He might be on his high horse in this song which isn't any di...

Twenty One Pilots' last album, Trench, was much darker than their previous albums and it's great to see a band try something new and challenging. However, their other albums were all over the place which is a good thing. At the time, the idea of combining genres of all kinds was really fresh. Their albums Blurryface and Vessel had songs sharing genres like hip hop, electronic, pop, and rap rock. Their latest single, "Level of Concern," is no different; except this time it's more funky. Twenty One Pilots went back to their roots and its great. "Y ou could bring down my level of concern.  Just need you to tell me we're alright, tell me we're okay." "Level of Concern" is about the pandemic currently taking over the world. In the beginning, people had many concerns. Hell... people are still concerned about a lot including their income and health to name just a few. However, Tyler Joseph, the lead singer of the duo, wrote this song to sing a...

It's easier to just hide your feelings. "My heart is armed and dangerous." "Armed and Dangerous" by Chaos Chaos tells us you'll win fights if you don't show your emotions. Good craft beers also often hide who they are. You expect one thing and get something completely different than what was branded. "Feel the beat and take the heat. I will defeat your heart of war." But that's not a bad thing. Some people love bitter beers but many people don't like that hoppy taste so brewer's found ways to make strong hoppy beers that don't taste bitter. Often, they use citrus fruits in the recipe. That's what Samuel Adams did with their Rebel IPA . This IPA was first brewed for IPA lovers but shortly after came a few other variations of the beer including the Rebel Juiced IPA. Today, Sam Adams still distributes the Rebel Grapefruit IPA, described by the brewery as, a beer with "a hint of juiciness rounds (bringing) a refresh...

It's a triple threat! "Red Hearse" by Red Hearse on the album, Red Hearse, is unusually catchy. It's basically synth-funk-pop-rock…simple enough? It's perfectly weird. "I'll dive in it head first. I'll die riding in a red hearse." It's only appropriate to pair this triple threat with a triple IPA. Triple IPAs are complex beers. They are bitter like the blatant lyrics of this song. But triple IPAs are also somehow often malty and sweet and always different from one another with flavors ranging from all sorts. Whether you like beers this strong or not, drinking them can be an interesting experience for your tastebuds. Your mouth will turn into an adventure park bouncing from sweet, tangy, hoppy, syrupy, bitter, and then often citrusy or fruity. In most cases, the citrus flavor comes from the hops themselves. "Wake up in the midnight…heavy heart hitting under red light. The last flowers, the first sight, first time I saw you, gave me...

"Freaking Out," the psychedelic pop-rock song by The Wrecks, gets pretty weird… "In the bathroom, on my back, there's a picture on the wall of Kanye West. He's staring at me; he's staring at me. I'm freaking out; I'm freaking out." …as weird as an IPA labeled with a tiger shooting rainbow-lasers out of his eyes. Elysian's Dayglow IPA pairs perfectly with the odd sounds The Wrecks bring us in this new single. "I'm on the lawn. It's almost 3:00. I look around; I look at her; she looks at me. She's suspicious; she's suspicious. I'm freaking out; I'm freaking out." The lyrics and the sounds of the keyboard will automatically have you thinking, "this is weird." And even more so if you listen to the guitar rift in the first second as you stare at your newly found Dayglow bottle. But then you take a sip. It's crisp, a little juicy, and oh my—is that pineapple? Yes, it is! Now your on to the cho...

"You can't lose. You make me offers that I can't refuse. You keep telling pretty lies. You're tired with the truth." "Propaganda" by Muse is a song about being lied to. Blue Moon's White IPA is a perfect pairing. The first time you take a sip, you will never expect how smooth it is. IPAs are often not this smooth. Yet, you can still taste the bitterness of the hops even though it looks like a wheat. The hops will pounce at your palate just like when Muse yells "Propaganda" into your ears. "Only you're killing me with your propaganda." Hopaganda! Song: Propaganda Album: Simulation Theory Artist: Muse Released November 9, 2018 Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Beer: White IPA Style: White IPA Brewery:  Blue Moon Brewing Co. Denver, CO ABV: 5.9%; IBU: 45 View Website

"Apologize" by grandson, the hip-hop/rock artist, has some edgy noises that sounds like if you were about to enter a Western dual just after a tumbleweed rolls by outside a saloon. "I don't know where I'm gonna go but I don't care; I'm on the road. Never been a perfect soul but I will not apologize." Out of Garden City, ID, is Payette Brewing Co., a brewery with many Western themed beers, but there is one beer that stands out from the rest to match this song. Recoil, an IPA, is described by Payette as leaving you with a kick of flavor during the aftertaste just like the backward momentum of a revolver when it is fired. "Been a lot of places in this life and I did a lot wrong I can't make right. Never been a perfect soul but I will not apologize." And the flavors of this beer take you on a trip just like the conventional, yet unusual, sounds of the guitar in "Apologize." Recoil is an IPA with aromas of berries, pine, and ...

You're taking a trip downtown. On your way, you see the one you want to talk to. It could be on the road, in the subway, or you're just walking on the sidewalk. You start daydreaming what it would be like to hangout with them. The only thing stopping you is your confidence and what's considered acceptable. "I took the Metro to the station where I met you…hope to accidentally run into you again. And all those people in those crowded spaces, with their sleepy empty faces, I felt like an alien." In a nutshell, that's what "Fascination" by The Beaches is about. While the all female Canadian rock band sings mostly about moments that nearly any women can relate to, they play hard, especially live, making them a great listen for anyone that enjoys both classic and modern rock. "It's just my fascination, don't need a destination. It's just my fascination; I never felt so beautiful." The Beaches The Anthem, Washington, DC ...

For the most part, Two Door Cinema Club plays light hearted and softer songs, yet fast and dance-worthy. They're trying something new and it's awesome. Their next album, False Alarm, is expected to drop June 21, and as it goes for the new music they have released so far, it's much different. It's darker, deeper, faster, catchier, and head-banging. This especially holds true for their latest single, "Dirty Air," a song about loving the city for all of its faults. "I gave myself to the city. I wanna breathe dirty air. I got myself real pretty. I fixed up my hair." Yes, the city isn't necessarily safe, but it sure is entertaining. Pull up a chair and enjoy the show while drinking Furious, an IPA by Surly Brewing Company, found mostly in the Midwest. "I'll give you fire, fire, fire, fire. Smoking, broken windows, limbos…anything you wanna try. The sky is falling, so pull up a chair. Everyone's watching like nobody cares." Th...

Listen to "Recipe" by Wild Party and you'll be reminded that life is good. The world is not perfect but you're happy with what you got and couldn't ask for more. People will try to tear you down but you don't care what they have to say. "Stop crumbling. Their words didn't matter. Oh well, just forget it, we know we're only going up." You're taking risks—risks that people do not agree with. But you know in order to succeed in life, you must be brave. Failure is an option because if you want want to be the best, you must learn from your actions. "Never gonna hit the breaks too slow—even if we make mistakes we know that all we got is all we have so no we're never gonna look back and think of how I run the worst sometimes." But you won't fail alone. Yes, the common person will judge you but no-one understands you like the people who love you. They will support you and as long as you have your friends and loved ones aro...

"Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones" means that one should not criticize others, because everybody has faults of one kind or another. In other words, don't be be a hypocrite. Cage The Elephant doesn't care what you think of them and they prove it in their newest song titled "House Of Glass." This tune is unlike anything else they've created. Most listeners know of this band as an indie rock band and that's it. "House Of Glass" is straight up punk and it's a refreshing take on the alternative scene that hasn't really been heard in a few decades. "Brick by brick…make it last. Hit that line. The house is glass." The band considers a lot more flaws when living in a glass house than taking on criticism and hypocrisy. Cage the Elephant thinks of the reflections on the house as a metaphor for doing the same thing over and over again. "Slide on down the staircase, that picture-perfect moment. Receiv...

Bear Hands Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD The keys and drums take a front seat in Bear Hands' single, "Back Seat Driver" giving the song a spiritual yet modern sound. It's very fitting considering the alternate title (Spirit Guide). Have you ever been down a road of making poor decisions? There is a voice in the back of your head telling you not to do exactly what you're about to do. Peer pressure and being popular has taken control of the wheel while all reasonable actions have taken a seat in the back. Eventually you say, "enough is enough." Let that voice in the back of your head take control and let your spirit guide you. Avoid the obstacles and follow the path you're meant to take. You know right from wrong. Next time you see a fork in the road, make the easy decision and take the right path. Spirit guide —b ack seat driver;  'bout time that you took the wheel.   Spirit guide —b ack seat driver; d on't cry 'bout what you c...

Keep calm and have a beer. Nothing relieves stress like a good IPA. If you're an IPA fan, then you might already know Dogfish Head makes some of the most simple yet easy-drinking ones on the East Coast. Dogfish Head's flagship beer, 90 Minute IPA, is a beer with a simple concept. They continuously add hops during the brewing process for 90 minutes. The beer has 90 IBUs and an ABV of 9.0%. It's not a complex beer but it is strong and has a nice malty flavor. The easiest way for a beer lover to get something off their mind is with a beer that simply tastes like beer in the best way possible. This is that beer. Sure, when you first open the Imperial IPA, you'll have a lot on your mind but it won't take long until you've cleared your mind. Everything you were thinking about before drinking this beer was over your head and you know it. All these thoughts are an ocean I'm drowning in. I'm in over my—I'm in over my head. By the time you get to your s...

Top Bunk's new sweet lullaby, "Figure It Out" has a dark yet often true message behind it. Love is hard to figure out. You find your perfect match, the one you've been looking for. They are everything you are but you will eventually tire of each other. "Six weeks and it’s so great. Six months and it’s okay. One year and it feels like something crept up in my heart and died." You will try to make it last but you know you will ultimately mess up. But after all, living your fullest is about making mistakes and trying to figure out what works. You can't fake love but nobody understands it either. "Here I go again; I'll mess it all up." The words might bum you out but this song is anything but a sad one. This electronic number is one that will get stuck in your head and will end leaving you to want more. The keys have an extremely cheerful melody and the drums will force you to bobble your head. And while the lyrics are bitter much like an...