Whoever said that contemporary hip-hop can never work with alternative blues, they probably haven't heard ZZ Ward.
I was watching the official trailer of Pretty Little Liars two days ago and then, it featured this song that immediately caught my attention. It's probably the authentic beats of contemporary hip-hop or it could be the voice but I found myself searching the artist behind it.
Thank God for YouTube [and Pretty Little Liars] because they introduced me to the music of ZZ Ward.
So, I've learned that the track I've heard on the trailer is called "'Till The Casket Drops" and I swear if you listen to it, you'll get captivated as well. (The comments on trailer itself were talking about the song and not the show itself, as awkward as that is.)
Listen to 'Til The Casket Drops
And upon research, I figured that the Roseburg, Oregon native blues singer just made her Eleven Roses mixtape available for free download.
ZZ Ward's debut mixtape features eight tracks of genius music - the raw yet elegant combination of blues and hip-hop plus the undeniably flawless voice of ZZ Ward plus the brutal and beautiful lyrics of every song; it is an overall win.
The third track "Overdue" made me think that she's actually the love child of Adele and BoB or the second coming of Fiona Apple. This track is brutally honest and it's arrangement made you feel every single bit of it's honesty.
Watch the official music video of Overdue
"Better Off Dead" and "Got It Bad", the first and second single off the mixtape, just showed why ZZ Ward's music deserves an applause. It's the type you'd listen to after a long day because aside from laughter, good music just makes everything okay.
My personal favorite would be "Morphine". It has that music video vibe that when you listen to it while walking down the street, you'd feel as badass as the song itself.
The entire mixtape is a consistent mix of honest words and raw beats from track one to track eight.
The two acoustic tracks just showed off ZZ Ward's amazing vocals that will make you think she was standing in front of the line when God showered singing talents to humanity.
Raw, elegant, beautiful - three words to describe this record.
Rating:
Learn more about ZZ Ward through the following links:
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
- Berthold Auerbach
What if we had a whole list of songs for each day of the week?
During the last phase of stay at my previous work, my seatmate and I had a fun time counting our last days (because we resigned at the same time) that at some point, our counting down turned into a whole galore of picking songs that had the names of the week in the title.
I remember Wednesday being the toughest one to pick a song for, Friday as the easiest one (blame Rebecca Black for everything, even for the issues in Scarborough Shoal) and Monday was the funniest one, simply because The Carpenters has this song called "Rainy Days and Mondays".
It's not funny because the song is horrible but we found it funny because after singing some parts of it, we can't seem to get the melody out of heads anymore. You know what they say about last song syndrome.
Listen to The Carpenters' "Rainy Days and Mondays"
So yeah, since I have been doing a lot of music streaming lately, I decided to take up a whole blog entry with the list of songs that have week days in it.
Shall we?
M O N D A Y
Most people hate Mondays simply because it means going back to work or school (not me, I have always loved Mondays but not as much as I love the weekend).
"Manic Monday" by The Bangles [a classic song with light hating on Mondays; It's just another manic Monday. I wish it was Sunday.]
"Monday, Monday, Monday" by Tegan & Sara [another classic song I don't quite get but the melody is nice]
"Monday Morning "by Fleetwood Mac [my personal favorite Monday song simply because I love Fleetwood Mac so much that I feel as if I was born in the wrong decade]
Monday Morning, Fleetwood Mac
T U E S D A Y
Second day of the week, a little toned down; not quite as panic-inducing as Mondays. Better than yesterday but still, we all know tomorrow is better.
"Ruby Tuesday" by The Rolling Stones [they have to make this list although the song is so not about Tuesday because they are THE Rolling Stones and this song is written by THE Mick Jagger]
"Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)" by The Moody Blues[this could definitely qualify as a summer song]
"Tuesday Heartbreak" by Stevie Wonder [anything that is by the man himself, Stevie Wonder is pure genius, really]
Tuesday Heartbreak, Stevie Wonder
W E D N E S D A Y
The time of the week where the glass both empty and full. Is it just two days away from the weekend or is it still two days away from the weekend? You be the judge.
"It's Already Wednesday" by Freya [pretty much the song of anyone who always feel as if the week just passes them by]
"Wednesday" by Drive By Truckers [a bittersweet one, though]
"Wednesday Morning" by America[from one of my all-time favorite bands, also from a great album]
Wednesday Morning, America
T H U R S D A Y
This is where we're all excited about Friday because Friday means last work/school day. I feel sad about Thursday sometimes, always looking forward to Friday. How about Mr. Thursday?
"Jersey Thursday" by Donovan [warning you: this is really vintage, but just as timelessly charming]
"Thursday Morning" by Giles Giles and Fripp [another classic but man, it never gets old... as old as it is]
"Thursday's Child" by David Bowie[simply because he is David Bowie]
Thursday's Child, David Bowie
F R I D A Y
This is where we all say, "Cheers to the freakin' weekend!" And no, Rebecca Black won't make this list.
"Good Friday" by The Black Crowes [a song that will always be in my library]
"Last Friday Night" by Katy Perry [contrary to the what you have in my mind, I'm 22 and despite my love for classics, I'll love me some Katy Perry]
"Friday I'm in Love" by The Cure [awesome song, period]
Friday I'm in Love, The Cure
S A T U R D A Y
Now, who's guilty of waking up late on Saturdays? No worries. You're certainly not alone. If I didn't have the pattern of putting songs with the week names in the titles, I would certainly list the whole sountrack of Saturday Night Fever here. I win at life.
"Saturday Nite" by Earth, Wind & Fire [I admit up until this day, I still dance to this song and I was born in the 90s this song was in the 70s]
"Saturday in the Park" by Chicago [everybody loves a Chicago from time to time]
"Saturday
Night's Alright For Fighting" by Elton John [because he is THE Elton John; one my all-time faves, too]
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, Elton John
S U N D A Y
The most bittersweet day of the week, it's the weekend, yet tomorrow's Monday and we all know Monday is not sweet. Bring on the whining kids.
"A Sunday Kind of Love" by Etta James [have you heard her voice? like really heard it? it's awesome.]
"Sunday Morning" by The Velvet Underground [this song ties Queen's Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon; I just love Sunday mornings more than afternoons)
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2 [I know, I know... of course!]
Sunday Bloody Sunday, U2
So, there goes your entire week! I know by now it's clear to you that my music ranges up back to the 70s, there are a few 60s here (the ones I found on research) but yeah, I was born in the 90s. Don't blame me for the age old songs, though. There aren't many songs like that these days. Thank you! *curtsy*
They say summer is a fleeting feeling. It's that time of the year to relax, soak under the sun, enjoy life for a while and then go back to reality afterwards. Others say summer lasts whole year long, being okay and feeling free doesn't have to feel tentative.
Whatever summer is for you, make sure you enjoy this time of the year because whether it is fleeting or all-year long, summer is filled with breaking the rules and standing apart; ignoring your head and following your heart.
Be it by the beach or by the pool, make sure you back yourself up with music that spices up the mood. Forget the heartbreaks, forget the stress, for one second, take a moment for your self.
Summer's a time for Afrobeat-fused indie rock, reggae-tinged, synth-heavy dream pop, and contemplative R&B music. So, from the summer of '87 to current mainstream music - let me share my summer mixtape. Hit the road!
1. "Battery Kinzie", Fleet Foxes
2. "My Mistakes", Eleanor Friedberger
3. "Down By the Seaside", Led Zeppelin
4. "Up, Up, Up", Givers
5. "Swim Good", Frank Ocean
6. "Something Good Can Work", Two Door Cinema Club (The Twelves Remix) 7. "Pieces of You", Wolf Gang (Baby Monster Remix)
I feel happy, I feel sad, I feel like running through the walls I'm overjoyed, I'm undecided, I don't know who I am Well maybe I'm not perfect, at least I'm working on it
22 is like the worst idea that I have ever had
It's too much pain, it's too much freedom, what should I do with this? It's not the way you plan it, it's how you make it happen
Yeah, it's how you make it happen
It's such a cold, cold world (hello cold world) and I can't get out
So I'll just make the best of everything I'll never have Such a cold, cold world (hello cold world) and it's got me down
But I'll get right back up as long as it spins around
Hello cold world
Girls and boys keep lining up to see if they can measure up They look good and they feel wild, but it won't never be enough You say you're really hurting, at least you're feeling something
We can hope and we can pray that everything would work out fine You can't just stay out on your knees, the revolution is outside
You wanna make a difference, get out and go and get it
Whoah, get out and go and get it
It's such a cold, cold world (hello cold world) and I can't get out
So I'll just make the best of everything I'll never have
Such a cold, cold world (hello cold world) and it's got me down
But I'll get right back up as long as it spins around Hello cold world
Don't need my eyes open
Oh I, I just want to feel something
It's such a cold, cold world (hello cold world) and I can't get out
So I'll just make the best of everything I'll never have
Such a cold, cold world (hello cold world) and it's got me down
But I'll get right back up as long as it spins around (spins around)
