Their newest mini-album, called The Ballad, leans (obviously) toward the latter…though there’s plenty of wistfulness still to be had. Check out the moody, atmospheric music video for “Shadow” (though it turns melodramatic toward the end). Note: there’s ain’t no happiness anywhere in sight in this video.

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Download mp3

Alex Band – “Only One”

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Just you and I
Under one sky

One life to live
One love to give
One chance to keep from falling

Thought you had
all the answers
to rest your heart upon.
But something happens,
don’t see it coming, now
you can’t stop yourself.
Now you’re out there swimming…
In the deep.
In the deep.

Life keeps tumbling your heart in circles
till you… Let go.
Till you shed your pride, and you climb to heaven,
and you throw yourself off.
Now you’re out there spinning…
In the deep.

Bird York- “In the Deep”

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The “Play On” round-ups are where I highlight a random assortment of amazing songs I’ve discovered in the past few weeks/months.

This one is all pop, since I’ve been on a pop kick for the past month.

“Dear John,” Taylor Swift  – this raw, heartbreakingly articulate ballad addressed to John Mayer is the best track on Swift’s third album, and is not only one of the best pop ballads I’ve heard in a long time but also one of the best breakup songs I’ve ever heard. It owns my soul.

“Won’t Even Start,” David Choi – this rising Asian-American artist has a gift for simpe lyrics that evoke universal emotions. This warm, wistful, incredibly catchy breakup song has the same emotional honesty as Swift’s “Dear John”, which is perhaps why it works. I’ve had it on replay for weeks.

“All About Him,” Auburn. Auburn Williams is a 23-year-old urban pop singer who will release her  mainstream debut album sometime this year. Talented and adorable, she channels a sassy, more cheeky Rihanna in music videos like “La La La,” but is just at home with bubbly, quirky love songs like “All About Him.” There’s a self-effacing playfulness that runs through all her music that is incredibly endearing, and her songs are very upbeat and catchy.

“Trouble is a Friend,” Lenka.  I don’t know much about this Swedish pop artist, except that I assume she’s relatively popular since I came across her song, and that it seems to perfectly express the nature of my boy problems. Fast-paced and hook-laden, it’s a bubbly, absolutely delightful song that gives a light treatment to a trouble-filled life.

“Lovers in Japan,” Coldplay. I may have heard this before, but if so, I rediscovered this only recently. Coldplay is one of those artists I very rarely choose to listen to, yet whenever someone else plays them or they come on the radio I’m reminded how good they actually are (even if best in small doses). Beautiful, even brilliant lyrics, anthemic choruses…good stuff.

“Sunday,” Hurts. More Brit pop. Epic, fast-paced, and catchy – what’s not to like? (And yes, they are influenced by Coldplay. A lot of Britpop is).

As always, songs not uploaded by me.

Gustave Caillebotte, Fruit Displayed on a Stand

Rachael Yamagata-”Over and Over”

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The “Play On” round-ups are where I highlight a random assortment of amazing songs I’ve discovered in the past few weeks/months.

Rocketeer, Far East Movement feat. Ryan Tedder of One Republic

Dog Days Are Over, Florence and the Machine, from their new album “Lungs”

Who’d Have Known, Lily Allen- quirky, playful hipster love song

Why Try to Change Me Now, Fiona Apple – I’m not usually a rabid Fiona Apple fan, but this cover of a Frank Sinatra classic is just stellar

Where Did You Go, Jets Overhead

As always, songs were not uploaded by me.

Have a sunshiney song, too. “Lucky”, by Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat. The ultimate warm, bubbly pop love song.

Download (right-click, not uploaded by me, as always)

“The Weakness In Me”, Joan Armatrading