Sound Of Arrows coming back?

I apologize for missing a couple of days. Itunes screwed up the album artwork on my iphone for the second time this summer, so I've been spending the past 24 hours re-embedding artwork one album at a time. A process that will, charmingly, take weeks. Ugh. Now, I've shared this brilliant, brilliant remix before, but I thought it was appropriate to draw attention to it once more because of the recent news that Sound Of Arrows may be coming back with new material for the first time in four years. For those who don't know, Sound Of Arrows released one of the best pop albums of the past 20 years when they unleashed Voyage on us in 2011. The song below was the album's climax, though not in this remixed form. Be sure to check out this new interview with them, and if you haven't given the album a spin, what are you waiting for? Catch up before it's too late!!

Alex Metric - Heart Weighs A Ton (ft. Stefan Storm)

"I'll carry you when your heart weighs a ton"

Okay, this is massive. It might as well be the new Sound Of Arrows single, and if it had been, I wouldn't be disappointed. Heart Weighs A Ton features the vocals of Stefan Storm, who is the inimitable frontman of, as mentioned before, Swedish band The Sound Of Arrows. This is a huge deal to me, because their debut album is still one of my favorites and since then they've been pretty reclusive. This track sounds like it would've been right at home alongside their others, though it does have stronger mainstream dance appeal. It's all about that soaring, simple hook. I was in love at first listen. I don't know much about Alex Metric as a producer, but I wouldn't mind seeing more collaborations between the two of them.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Sound Of Arrows - There Is Still Hope (Fear Of Tigers Remix)

"Within the darkest hour, there is still hope"

This may very well be the best seven minutes of music we'll hear all year. The original version of this song is one of my absolute favorites from Sound Of Arrows, but now--two years later--this remix kicks it even higher. I may or may not have gone totally nutso to this track over the weekend and ended up as an emotionally invigorated pile in the corner of my room. Just sayin'. This band does things to me, and the combination of them and Fear Of Tigers is beyond brilliant. Epic. Epic. Epic. If anything this a "must listen," then this is it. Now we just need a video to go along with it.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their (fantastic) album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Sound of Arrows - Remixed

This isn't really a "song" post, but any Sound Of Arrows news is worth noting. They had my favorite album of last year and continue to treat their fans to awesome videos and surprise downloads like this one. The guys have taken remixes of their excellent singles and collected them all together in one album. Best of all, the album's free to download! All you have to do is visit the band's facebook page (link here). They were even generous enough to include printable inserts for cd cases. This is a band that truly appreciates their fans. Now, all we need is a second album of original material ;)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Music Video: The Sound Of Arrows - Conquest

"I'm obsessed with this conquest"

It's rare that I'll dedicate an entire post to a music video, but there are some artists (very few, actually...) that produce videos of such a consistent quality that I look forward to them just as much as new music. The Sound Of Arrows released my favorite album of 2011 and are now on their fifth music video from it. Conquest was released earlier today and follows its predecessors with three minutes of gorgeous, 80's inspired fantasy imagery. Each video these guys produce is like a mini-movie. Strung together one after another makes for an incredibly strong marriage of sound and image. They have such an indelible, unique vision for themselves, which is increasingly rare in music these days. If you haven't picked up the album yet, you're doing yourself a disservice. At the very least, go watch all their videos on youtube--preferably in a row.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Watch their videos here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 20 Albums of 2011: 2-1

2. Nightwish - Imaginaerum



Sure, it's not 100% perfect, but no other album displayed this much ambition in 2011. The highs on this are amongst the best things recorded this year. Mixing symphonic rock, film soundtracks, goth-rock-pop vocals and more bombast than you can fathom, Nightwish made their strongest album more than a decade into their career.

1. The Sound Of Arrows - Voyage



Like the title states, this is more of an odyssey than an album. In 2011, it was rare to find a collection of songs that played well one after another without any skipping, re-ordering or replacing. In a year of singles and EPs over albums, The Sound of Arrows made a real, classic album--cohesive in sound and message and vision. From the anthemic opener to the triumphant, epic dream of a closer, this is a singular work that sounds like nothing else out there. Bravo, guys.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 10-6

Special Mention: Rebecca Black - Friday

Sure, the song's horrible (in all the best ways), but no other track had a better story behind it than this one. I'd be insane if I didn't at least mention it!

10. LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem



So right for all the wrong reasons. If you told me a year ago that I'd be putting an LMFAO song in my top ten, I'd have said you were crazy. Just shows what an incredible hook (or hooks) can do.

9. Kyla La Grange - Heavy Stone



A little known track that barely got a release, this had my absolutely riveted from the very first time I heard it. For what Kyla's doing here, she's just doing it absolutely perfectly. Haunting, beautiful, and ultimately stirring.

8. The Ark - Breaking Up With God



The Ark's swan song, and I'm so glad they borrowed their best sounds and themes when writing this. It's a smart, anthemic rock track, written from a place as personal as it always is with this band.

7. One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful



The best non-Swedish (though that's debatable, given the writers/producers) teen pop track since the turn of the century. The genre hasn't sounded this alive in a long while. The chorus alone is massive enough to convert music snobs everywhere.

6. The Sound Of Arrows - Magic



Uplifting, mysterious, and so, so catchy. This is about as cool as cool gets. One of the year's top music videos helped highlight one of the band's best songs.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 30-26

30. Short Stack - Heartbreak Made Me A Killer



An album highlight and one of their best singles. It's like all of their best sounds thrown together into one song.

29. Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (ft. Rizzle Kicks)



Represents his shift from X-Factor runner-up to proper popstar. This was inescapable this Summer, and rightfully so.

28. The Sound Of Arrows - Nova



After an extended break, The Sound Of Arrows returned with this taster from their debut album. It got me 1000% more excited.

27. Adele - Someone Like You



The year's most moving ballad. Even after being played to death in every country, it still carries its bite.

26. Lady Gaga - Born This Way




Her anthem, and undeniably a massive part of 2011. This is what happens when a pop song becomes more than a pop song and enters the public consciousness.

Track-by-Track: The Sound Of Arrows - Voyage

It's difficult to review this album on a track-by-track basis, because more than any other recent release that I can remember, this is a collection of songs meant to be experienced together. As the album's title expresses, this is a voyage... and one hell of a fantastic one at that. Expectations were high after a string of amazing singles, but these guys have done the increasingly impossible task of creating a perfect, modern pop album. I can't stop listening to it.

1. Into The Clouds - What more can be said about this? Amazing. One of the best pop songs of the last few years. I love the new, dramatic synth opening. It's absolutely majestic. This track alone will get you hooked on the band. 10/10

2. Wonders - This was a "9" until I heard it in the context of the album. A few days ago, I really had my "moment" with the song. It's a massive dance track and one of the more uptempo songs on here. It flows perfectly from the last one. The drums are especially huge. 10/10

3. My Shadow - Compared to some other tracks, this is pretty straightforward and radio friendly. It's very reminiscent of 80's era Pet Shop Boys. This is a very good thing... even better than I would have thought. The instrumental alone is gorgeous. 10/10

4. Magic - An irresistibly feel-good single. The music video made me fall in love with it, but after several months with the new single mix, I haven't gotten tired of it. I love the use of the children's choir. 10/10

5. Ruins Of Rome - A natural progression from the last track, this also utilizes the children's choir... but to very different effect. This has a darker, more plodding feel to it. It's by no means a bad thing. It's got a real cinematic grandeur to it. While not as instant as the past four tracks, I'm now thoroughly addicted. So, yes, it's another 10/10

6. Longest Ever Dream - I think I like the instrumental portion of this better than the vocals. It's still extremely strong (and I love the operatic bits), but I wish they would have reserved the female vocal parts for background only. That would've made it perfect. As it is, the verses fall just a little short. 9/10

7. Hurting All The Way - My least favorite track, but that's not saying a lot because the entire album is brilliant. It's more of a short palate cleanser than a full song. In that regard, it totally works. It's just quite slow and doesn't really go anywhere. 8/10

8. Conquest - Back to straightforward pop. Of course, nothing's quite straightforward with these guys. This has a slight island flavor (which strangely works), and a funky beat with one of the album's catchiest choruses. 9/10

9. Nova - The second single, and probably the most aggressive sounding track on the album. I've loved this song from the beginning, and it's no different here. Once that beat kicks in, it's pretty epic. 10/10

10. There Is Still Hope - Speaking of epic... oh my god. This is the longest track on the album, but it earns every single minute. Starting with a dramatic synth intro before bursting into an anthemic, triumphant melody, this is rousing, life-affirming stuff. Essential. 10/10

11. Lost City - In a lot of ways, this acts as the ending credits to a great journey. I'm not usually a big fan of instrumentals, but this is flawless. The vocals at the end are just icing on the cake. 10/10

* Though I won't count them in the album's grade, some versions come with two bonus tracks. It's worth highlighting "Disappear," which is a wonderfully uptempo pop track that's actually one of their stronger recordings.

Album Grade: 9.6/10

The Sound Of Arrows - There Is Still Hope

"In the darkest hour, there is still hope"

Absolutely euphoric. That's about all I can say when it comes to The Sound Of Arrows' debut album. it may sound like hyperbole, but with the release of Voyage, these guys may have just saved the modern pop album. This track comprises the album's conclusion, so I almost feel wrong offering it for sample out of context. It works best as an earned climax to the journey that the album takes you on, but it's just so damn good that I need people to hear it. If this doesn't make you want to get the album, I don't know what will. At nearly eight minutes, it's the longest, most epic track on the album. Though believe me, it speeds by and almost (in a strange way) seems too short. The grandiose opening will grab your attention, but once those drums usher in that anthemic melody of the verses, you'll be pumping your fist along. In some ways, it's the closest these guys get to a "Don't Stop Believing" moment, though this is not nearly as straightforward. Ugh. It's brilliant. You've gotta play this album loud. Believe me.

The Sound Of Arrows - There Is Still Hope by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

November is the Month for Albums

November is always a reliably strong month for pop music. Historically, it's when most of the would-be blockbuster albums are released in time for Holiday shopping. This year, we need November more than ever. It's been a pitiful past few months for big pop albums. I can't remember a dry spell this lengthy in years. It seems like everything's just been shut down since the Spring. Even countries like Sweden, who are usually quality pop producers, have been quiet of late. Luckily, there are plenty of releases coming up in the next few weeks that I'm very much looking forward to:

The Sound Of Arrows - Voyage (11/7)
I've been waiting for this one for years. The singles have all been excellent, the videos even better. I can't wait to hear the album in full.
Samples



The Wanted - Battleground (11/7)
Their first album was a very pleasant surprise and I'm hoping for more of the same on this one.

Samples




Cher Lloyd - Sticks & Stones (11/7)
The new single is excellent and Lloyd is an undeniable pop star. Having heard most of this already, I know it'll be great.

Samples



One Direction - Up All Night (11/21)
My favorite X-Factor contestants of all time had one of my favorite singles of the year already. I'm eagerly awaiting more from them.
Samples



Rihanna - Talk That Talk (11/21)
There isn't even a tracklist yet, but Rihanna never disappoints. The new single is one of her best and the new video is the most riveting thing she's ever put to film.
Video



Olly Murs - In Case You Didn't Know (11/28)
I wasn't sold on his debut, but I've loved both of the singles from this. I'm hoping this will end up as a nice surprise.
Video



Eric Saade - Saade Vol. 2 (11/30)
Volume One left me mostly cold, but I have faith in Saade. He's representing Sweden this month, so he better not disappoint.
Single



Others that I'll give a try: Pixie Lott - Young Foolish Happy JLS - Jukebox, Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires, The Saturdays - On Your Radar

The Sound Of Arrows - Wonders

"I'll never forget how you made me feel"

Soon, folks. Soon we will be presented with The Sound Of Arrows' first album. I'm dying to hear it, but this next single will have to tide me over for a couple more weeks. Wonders follows their previous releases in sound and style. If I were to compare it to one of the past three singles, I'd say it's the most like Nova. And, of all we've heard, it's also the first that didn't hit me instantly. It's more of a grower, but retains their epic cosmic instrumentation and breathy vocals. I have a feeling this is gonna be a remarkably consistent album. When it comes to this song, though, what I'm really anticipating is the music video. The band know how to craft memorable, jaw-droppingly beautiful videos. I hope this one's no different!

The Sound Of Arrows - Wonders by WorkItMedia

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Sound Of Arrows - After The Silence

"Let go of all fear"

I can't even tell you how excited I am for the new Sound of Arrows album. I pretty much can't wait another moment to hear it (ie: if their label is out there, send me a promo copy and you're guaranteed a review!). Shameless begging aside, I consider it my duty to let the world know how unbelievably, jaw-droppingly awesome this band is. I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but seriously... these guys deserve so much more attention than they're getting. Their singles have all been nothing short of brilliant and I'm hearing similar things about the album. This is the kind of band that takes you on a journey. They're cinematic when other bands settle for keeping it small screen. After The Silence won't be on the album, but if the quality of this b-side wasn't deemed up to par with the other tracks, we're in for something quite stunning. This is the kind of track any artist would be proud to have on their album.

the sound of arrows - after the silence by beastinthejungle

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Queen Of Hearts - Shoot The Bullet

"You conceal it, but I feel it"

The Sound Of Arrows are FINALLY releasing their debut album about a month from now. It has strong potential to be the album of the year. All of their singles up to this point have been jaw-to-the-floor amazing. To celebrate this news, I'm not going to post a SoA track, but instead I want to feature a track they produced. Queen of Hearts is a British electro-pop singer. She's got a handful of tracks produced by well-known European acts, but this is the best of the bunch. I prefer to think it's due to SoA's influence. The song is certainly not as epic and spacey as their work, but it does have an undeniable pop surge to it. As far as Queen of Hearts, I'd say she's definitely one to watch. All she needs is a big song to break her into the mainstream and set her apart from similar acts in the market right now.

Queen of Hearts - Shoot The Bullet by Queen Of Hearts

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

My Top Songs of Summer 2011

Summer is over this weekend (though from the weather around here, you'd think that it was finally just beginning). I was seriously underwhelmed in the album category this year, but there were a ton of great singles to choose from. Here's an album's worth (in no particular order) of what I've been listening to over and over again. What about you?

Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me - Such a leap from his earlier work, which I also loved. It's just a gargantuan song waiting to crossover to the US.

One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful - I was a huge supporter of theirs during X-Factor, and now that I've heard this I like them even better. 100% on the mark.

Martin Rolinski - Blame It On A Decent Matter - BWO frontman goes solo with a track that nearly out-BWOs BWO! Big, plastic Swedish synths (MUCH better than Swedish meatballs).

LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem - This was, for better or worse, played so often this summer. A triumph in infectious stupidity.

Pnau - The Truth - It really caught on with me over the past few months. That chorus hits you like a freight train.

Adele vs Robin S. - Show Me In The Deep - I tired of the Adele original very quickly, but never wore out this excellent remix. She should do dance more often. The remix of the year, without question.

Nero - Promises Dipping my toe into dubstep (and this is really watered down dubstep), this was the La Roux track of the summer (without actually being La Roux).

The Sound Of Arrows - Magic - They get better and better with every release. This never failed to cheer me up.

Foster The People - Helena Beat The world's still reeling from their debut, but I was onto the next single months ago. This one's better, anyways.

Mika - Elle Me Dit - Who would have thought Mika would've wormed his way back into my good graces with a french dance track?

Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger - Even stranger, this was a band I couldn't stand two months ago. Cue this track, which turned it around with that incessant whistle. Xtina couldn't even ruin it.

Le Kid - America - A soaring pop confection from Sweden, in a year where Sweden isn't quite living up to the hype I always give it.

Katy Perry - Last Friday Night - With each single, I like her more and more. The video to this song clinched it.

The Wanted - Glad You Came - I have a feeling that this will be known as the year of the boybands in the UK. But when they're this good...

Skyship Academy: The Music - Day One

It's hard for me to even process, but my debut novel, SKYSHIP ACADEMY: THE PEARL WARS, will be released in just over a month (Sept. 8th, to be exact). In honor of that, all this week is going to be a fusion of the largest portions (non-day-job) of my life: music and writing. Each day I'll take a character from the book and post two songs that not only sound futuristic and awesome, but fit that character as well. Should be fun! And today, we start with one of the main characters:

JESSE FISHER

Who: fifteen-year-old Skyship Academy trainee ** slacker/klutz deemed all but hopeless by the faculty ** mysterious past may lead to a truth both powerful and dangerous

Songs:

Pnau - The Truth
Much of Jesse's past is shrouded in mystery. His parents were killed in an Academy mission when he was only a few years old. The faculty of the Academy act strangely around him, and he's never sure who he can trust completely. This, understandably, leads to a lot of confusion, self-doubt and frustration. The lyrics to this track express all of this, but the giant, aggressive melody does it one better by truly summing up all the feelings swirling around in his mind.

The Truth by Pnau

The Sound of Arrows - Into The Clouds
Because of the isolated nature of the Academy, Jesse often expresses a fantasy of breaking free and leaving for good (preferably with his crush, Avery Wicksen - more on her later this week). Of course, the teachers and staff aren't about to let this happen. This song has the wistful sound to it that compliments the first track as well as presenting more of the optimistic, adventurous side to his personality. Plus, I think the general feel is very Skyshippy.

Sound of Arrows - Into The Clouds by jonnylightning

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The Sound Of Arrows - Magic

"The world was endless with possibilities"

Every time The Sound Of Arrows release a new music video I fall in love with them more. But this song is an especially interesting case because (unlike the other singles), Magic in its original form was not my cup of tea. Since then, though, two things have happened. First, the song was given an update on its production, which is superb. And second, the duo have released a stunning, cinematic video. As it stands now, I can see this becoming my favorite single release of the summer (though honestly, there's not a whole lot of competition). I am just madly in love with the band's sound and image. And like their other fans, I'm not all happy that the album keeps being pushed back. I feel like we've been waiting for years now. Luckily, the duo have signed with a major label in the UK. I hope this means good things are coming. Even if we never get an album, I'd be happy with a string of music videos. They make the BEST music videos. And this single deserves to go top ten. It's a HIT.

The Sound Of Arrows - Magic by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.