Toph Speaks

I am finally getting around to telling you guys about the music filling my iPhone the past few weeks. Funny, it used to be iPod, huh? I didn’t think anyone read this segment, but since Ray and Doan have been begging me to write, I thought, fine. So, welcome back Toph Listens.

There’s a lot of my favorite bands have come out with new CDs in the past few weeks, so I’ll give you guys a heads up about that, as well as some new stuff I’ve been listening.

Keep rocking… or in my case… Keep swaying gently to crackers and their guitars. EMO ROCK!

Snow Patrol | A Hundred Million Suns - Shit on a cracker they’re good. This CD just rules. Top to bottom, put it on, and love it. I might be a little biased, because I love all of their CDs, and listen to them all top to bottom. But, this CD is like Final Straw, which was amazing. I won’t give you just one song, I’ll just tell you to get the whole thing.

Joshua Radin | Simple Times - Simple Times is another CD that I listen to from song 1 through 11. I’ve liked Radin for some time now, and I’m glad he’s finally put out a new CD. I’m telling you, just buy both these albums (Snow Patrol and Joshua Radin) in full, along with the next ones I’m going to talk about. Spend the money! I’d Rather Be With You, Friend Like You, Brand New Day and You Got Growing Up to Do are all really fucking good. Also, get Everything’ll Be Alright and Today off We Were Here, his last album. So fucking good.

Greg Laswell | Three Flights from Alto Nido - This is Laswell’s followup to his first album, Through Toledo. Dude delievers again. Seriously, this CD will… well… make you chill out. I can’t remember when I first heard Greg Laswell, but he’s finally getting some much deserved recognition. How the Day Sounds, Sweet Dream and Farewell all pretty much rule. His old stuff, in case you don’t have it, Girls Just Want to Have Fun (yeah), High and Low and Through Toledo are all amazing.

Rachael Yamagata | Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart - So, I just found out Rachael Yamagata was in San Francisco tonight. Um, come on… I can’t get a heads up? Well, her new CD Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart is pretty cool. It’s two CDs put into one. Elephants and Teeth Sinking Into Heart. One is supposedly more raw and the other more melodic. Together, they’re badass. Faster rules.

At this point, if you can’t tell, I’m a big fan of Hotel Cafe peeps.

William Fitzsimmons | The Sparrow and the Crow - OK, William Fitzsimmons is really good. Here’s what you should do (and what I would do… if… you know…) - get a cigarette, get in your car and drive with this CD on. (I sold my car, and I don’t smoke… see my problem?) You won’t regret this.

Ben Folds | Way to Normal - The last of the You’d-Be-Crazy-Not-To-Buy-The-Whole-Album group, Ben’s new CD just rules… like all of Ben’s CDs. This one is faily upbeat all the way through, and I only have a problem with Free Coffee, which gives me a headache. I’m a big fan of Regina Spektor, so I was happy to see her appear on You Don’t Know Me (and Evan loves the video). Once you get Hiroshima in your head, good luck getting out. Even better, tomorrow night Beau, Diabla, Evan and myself will see Ben in concert and that Fuckin’ Rules!

Jack’s Mannequin | The Glass Passenger - OK, I suggest you buy the whole album, because this is one of my favorite bands, but I get why you won’t. You’ve already purchased 4 albums, and that’s like $40 bucks (or $0 on Limewire, but if you’re using Limewire, then you have no excuse). I was hoping their 2nd album wouldn’t disappoint, and it didn’t. From the 1st song, Crashin’, you know this album is going to be good. So, at least download that, Hammers and Strings, The Resolution and Sleazy Wednesday are great.

Ray LaMontagne | Gossip In the Grain - I haven’t downloaded the whole CD yet, but if I know Ray LaMontange (whose song Hold You in my Arms was my mother son dance song in my wedding), it’s good. Definitely download Let It Be Me and make love to your lady after you hear it.

Earlimart - This is a band I’m just catching up with. I guess they’ve been around for a little bit, but I didn’t know about it. I like them a lot though. Check out We Drink On the Job, The Movies and Bloody Nose.

Frightened Rabbit - Another band I’m just starting to get into. I heard them on the IndieFeed podcast. They sound a lot like Snow Patrol, which as you can assume, is good. Head Rolls Off is a pretty amazing song, and I also like Old Old Fashioned. The more I find out about them, the more you’ll find out.

Meiko - Meiko is one of the amazing chicks from Hotel Cafe. You know, I dig chick singers (I’m generally alone with this opinion), and Meiko is fucking good. Her version of Fever is pretty sweet. Check out that, How Lucky We Are and Under My Bed.