Twenty One Pilots - Trees

I know where you stand
Silent in the trees
And that's where I am
Silent in the trees
Why won't you speak
Where I happen to be?
Silent in the trees
Standing cowardly

I can feel your breath
I can feel my death
I want to know you
I want to see
I want to say hello

TØP is a favorite band of both Keith and I, so it's been nagging at me all year to pick a song. Of course, they broke out to HUGE commercial success this year, so it's not like they need us highlighting their work... But I have gotten absolutely sick of hearing only "Ride", "Stressed Out", and "Heathens" on the radio. "Cancer", their latest single, is lyrically powerful and interesting-sounding as all their work, but it's such a slow, downer (Tyler does like to be sad). So! I decided to go back to their 2012 LP, Vessel, which I've been listening to on vinyl almost daily lately. I went with "Trees" because the pace and power of the song completely win me over, despite not being on the same page with the religious undertone. It still starts on a minor chord, but I dare you not to dance! The guys say this is one of their most favorite tracks as well, as it seems to magically give them a second wind at the end of a live set (and if you've seen them live, you know they need a magical reserve of energy).

RIYL: Beastie Boys, Panic! At the Disco, MGMT, Gorillaz

Upcoming Shows

Idlehands - Glass Eyed Boys

We were glass eyed boys
Selling dreams to the world
Laughing at the cold
We were glass eyed boys
Swimming in our graves
We were so much more
Than evil friends

Playing "follow the thread"—in this case from Black Map to gP.—lead me to Idlehands, an interesting indie rock outfit from San Diego. Their first album, Dena Mora, is really good but pretty standard progressive rock fare. I don't mean that to say it was boring, I listened to and loved it, but that it's not all that unique when compared to similar acts. Not so for their latest single "Glass Eyed Boys" which takes that prog. rock foundation and builds upon it with clever lyrics and subtle, sophisticated layering and arrangement. Excited to hear more from them.

RIYL: Circa Survive, gP., Tides of Man, The Dear Hunter, mewithoutYou

Upcoming Shows

gP. - Let's Not Forget Holly Golightly

We carried you home
'cause you grew up so fast
And before you know
You'll be shakin' your ass

I don't know much...ok, next to nothing, about gP. (or Ghostparade) but they keep popping up in my Spotify stream and I'm digging "Let's Not Forget Holly Golightly" quite a bit. It's a pretty straight-ahead prog rock track with solid vocals, nice arrangements, and some (ha) fairly corny lyrics. They've got a video out and, from the looks of it, would probably be a pretty great live show.

RIYL: Black Map, Tides of Man, Idlehands, Circa Survive

Upcoming Shows