Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: Eddie Vedder

The poster boy of Alternative Rock became famous in the 1990s as Pearl Jam's lead singer. His baritone vocal style is somewhat similar to Jim Morrisson's which makes him quiet appealing to Grunge fans.
Pearl jams most successful songs till date has to be Jeremy. May be its the "story telling lyrics" or the tendency to relate to a troubled soul, that make it so popular, but I love the video and the story behind it.

 Once, when asked about the song, Vedder explained:
It came from a small paragraph in a paper which means you kill yourself and you make a big old sacrifice and try to get your revenge. That all you're gonna end up with is a paragraph in a newspaper. Sixty-three degrees and cloudy in a suburban neighborhood. That's the beginning of the video and that's the same thing is that in the end, it does nothing … nothing changes. The world goes on and you're gone. The best revenge is to live on and prove yourself. Be stronger than those people. And then you can come back. 


Another popular song of their's is Alive.


Now what most people don't know is that Eddie Vedder also has a very prolific solo career too. He has written and recorded songs for the movie "Into The Wild", the song Guaranteed won him a Golden Globe Award in 2008.


The most popular song from the movie and my personal favourite is a cover of the song Hard Sun originally created by Indio.


But their is this one song that truly captures the spirit of the movie Society.

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: Glen Hansard

What happens when you leave school at the age of 13 and start playing the guitar, singing songs for bystanders?
Well either you turn out to be a "Broken Hearted Hoover Sucker Guy" or you turn out to be an accomplished Irish singer named Glen Hansard.

I first heard his music in the movie "Once". It won "World Cinema Audience Award" at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The song "Falling Slowly" is probably one of the best featured in the movie, it was co-written by the actors/singers. A beautiful song about love and hope. 



The other notable song from the movie, and one which i think really showcases the talent that Glen possesses is "When Your Mind's Made Up". A really inspiring song, with an extraordinary intensity by Glen Hansard. You have got to listen to this!

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: Anberlin

Reformed in 2002 from a disbanded band, this alternative rock band from Florida reached its peak in 2008. One of their highest ranking songs is "Feel Good Drag". To me it sounds too Emo/Teenage punk rock.
The one song of theirs that I like is "The Unwinding Cable Car". 

Its a song that anyone would instantly relate to. It begins with this nice tune on an acoustic guitar and the song picks up progressively. The vocals, by Stephen Christian are great, he is quiet a versatile singer. As for the lyrics, they speak for themselves, assuring the broken hearted.

"Emotive unstable you're like an unwinding cable car
Listening for voices, but it's the choices that make us who we are
Go your own way, even seasons have changed just burn those new leaves over

So self-absorbed you've seemed to ignore the prayers that have already come about"

 Another good song of theirs is "The Haunting"

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: Eels - That Fresh Feeling

One of The Eels' best songs. What makes it so special are the lyrics, which perfectly complement the music. Its the perfect song to use if one wants to profess one's infatuation with someone. The first verse says it all




You don't have a clue
What it is like to be next to you
I'm here to tell you
That it is good
That it is true



The visual imagery that it creates takes hold of you and you just have to listen to the rest of it.


Birds singing a song
Old paint is peeling
This is that fresh
That fresh feeling


It really does have "That fresh feeling". My favorite verse of the song is,


Try
Try to forget what's in the past
Tomorrow is here
Love,
Orange sky above lighting your way
There's nothing to fear


I just love the way in which it pleads one to shed inhibitions about a new relationship and trust the power of love.
Yeah, I know its a bit "Chick", but I cant help it, its just too good!

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: Death is the Road to Awe

If you liked the original score (theme songs) of “Requiem for a Dream” then you’re going to love this, “Death is the Road to Awe” is from the movie “The Fountain”. The original score for the movie was nominated for an Oscar. It is perhaps one of his best works and the mark of a true musical genius.Death Is The Road To Awe

It’s impossible to describe in words, you can only “feel” it.

Try this, get a nice pair of headphones, turn the lights off, close your eyes, relax, and then give it a listen.

By the end of it you are bound to have been AWED!!!!

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: The Temper Trap

If you have seen the movie “500 Days of Summer” then you must have heard their song “Sweet Disposition”. They play Alternative Rock or Post Punk Revival genre of music. There music has wonderful atmospheric sounds, a nice beat on the drums and delightful guitar riffs. They sound somewhat like a cross between Muse and Radiohead , which works out quite wonderfully for them.

Apart from “Sweet Disposition” their other notable (somewhat underrated) songs are “Love Lost”, my personal favourite and “Soldier On”

This band is sure to make waves with their next album, so watch out for them.

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: Joseph Arthur

The first Joseph Arthur song I heard was Honey and The Moon a nice easy going song, with great guitar picks.
But the song that got me "Hooked", was In The Sun, you can't help but listen, mesmerized by that awesome voice, lyrics and guitar.

"I pictured you in the sun, wondering what went wrong
And falling down on your knees, asking for sympathy
And being caught in between, all you wish for and all you seen
And trying to find anything you can feel that you can believe in" 


the first verse is enough to make you want to listen to the song over and over again.
Yeah, the song is a bit sad, but it has its own beauty, the way he talks about reconciliation and
the hopelessness of a floundering relationship, leaves one mesmerized. I love these lines in particular:




"I don't know anymore
What it's for
I'm not even sure
If there is anyone who is in the sun
Will you help me to understand
'Cause i been caught in between all I wish for and all I need
Maybe you're not even sure what it's for
Any more than me" 

The imagery of this song is spell binding, and that is what makes Joseph Arthur a genuine artist.

Indie,Folk,Rock and Alternative: The Doors - "When The Music's Over"

The first impression is the one that gets you hooked to a band. In case of The Doors when I saw their live performance video of "When The Music's Over", it went something like this, "WHAT THE *@#%!!!!!!! did that guy just burp on stage?" I found out later that Jim Morrison was notorious for doing a lot of "other things" on stage too. And I was instantly hooked!


The almost poetic or as they say "trippin'" lyrics, combined with their jazzy rock music is probably enough to get   anyone "trippin" without using anything illegal (hopefully!) 


Ray Manzerek on the organ starts the song with a slow jazzy riff (the guy plays the organ with one hand and base on keyboard with the other,  both at the same time).
John Densmore on the drums gives a nice steady beat, perfectly complementing Manzerek all through.
Robby Kreiger is awesome on the guitar, he does an amazing 44 second solo and the vocals by Morrison send you to another level of existence. The scream at the start assures you that you are in for a journey to the other side.





"Before I sink 
Into the big sleep
I want to hear
I want to hear
The scream of the butterfly"

When he repeats the opening verse at the end you cant help but smile

"So when the music's over 
When the music's over, yeah 
When the music's over 
Turn out the lights 
Turn out the lights 
Turn out the lights 

Well the music is your special friend 
Dance on fire as it intends 
Music is your only friend 
Until the end 
Until the end 
Until the end!"


Truer words have never been heard since!