TUNEY TUESDAY l feat. The Front Bottoms

I think this band is very much hit-or-miss. I recently started listening to their music more often and I'm caught in it. The Talon Of The Hawk album is my favorite and it helped me survive the finals season. If you've spend any time on tumblr then you've probably seen some of their lyrics in the form of some fancy art type, 'cause it seems like people find them appropriate for that. 

The lyrics are really good and if you like a mix of genres, more specifically rock/punk/pop, then you should check them out. The music is pretty special, so it might take some time to get used to, and to relate to the songs, but one you do you'll be caught as well. As I said, I haven't listened to them for long, so I don't really know much about them, but I know that I like their music. And that's all that matters right? The list is a mix of some of my favorites,and if you're all new to them then I recommend checking out Talon Of The Hawk first, it's really good. 

xx Sisse

What I Anticipate in 2015...

The end of one year and the beginning of another often bring new music, and this period of changing years is a period for promotion and new singles. This change of year was no exception. During the winter many artists promised new music in 2015 and so far they have not disappointed. 

Fall Out Boy released Save Rock and Roll in 2013 so it surprised me a bit when they already announced a new full album in 2015, but hey, I'm not complaining. The guys are releasing the new album, American Beauty/American Psycho, on January 20 and we've already been graced with some amazing singles. My personal favorites so far are The Kids Aren't Alright and Irresistible. I really hope this album will bring them on a tour near Denmark, I can't go another tour-season without seeing them live. 

Another band I highly look forward to hearing the new album from is Imagine Dragons. These guys have also released some singles and they are SO. GOOD. Smoke + Mirrors is set to be released on February 17, and the deluxe edition will have 18! songs on it. I know what I'll be listening to in February. The single I Bet My Life is a masterpiece on its own, so I'm convinced the full album will be a collection of 18 incredible songs.

Kodaline is also releasing a new album, on February 9. They've released some singles as well and in my opinion this album has en even better promise than In A Perfect World. Don't get me wrong, I love that album as well, but the singles are just so... good. Yeah, not very descriptive, but go listen to them for yourself. I'm going to see them in February as well, and I can't wait to hear some of these songs live. 

Okay, these three bands are the ones I know we can expect some great new music from. However, I do have a few wishes as to who can release some new music this year as well, but they have not made any promises (sadly). twenty one pilots have not hidden the fact that they're working on new songs, and both on twitter and instagram they've informed fans of the process. There's no promises or singles or snippets of singles that fans have magically gotten their hands on yet, but man I hope they release something new this year. Otherwise I'll just listen to their old albums on repeat. Again. And again. They're really good, so that's okay too. 

Earlier this year - or was it last year? I can't remember the exact date this moment. Anyway, earlier on I went to a Tom Odell concert and it was amazing. He was so nice and his songs are even better live. He played some new songs and told the crowd he was working on a new album, and now I sit here and can't help but wonder... Was he joking? Besides from the single for a cute commercial we have not heard anything new from Odell, right? Did I miss something? The songs were good too, I need them on a disc. Or a digital download, but you know what I mean. Come on Tom, I'm waiting. Still.  

Now to a band who have not hinted anything new in any way to my knowledge, the Haim sisters. Days Are Gone is one of my favorite albums and have been ever since they released it. Since then I've seen them live two times, and I do still enjoy the album to the fullest, but I would love to hear something new from them.  (Edit: I just read an article that claimed Haim is working on their second album - let me just convince myself I'm psychic for a moment.) 

Another band I hope to hear something from is Paramore. This is might a long-shot, 'cause when they released the deluxe version of their album in 2014 Hayley stated somewhere that her and the guys were not ready for a new full-length album. And I don't want them to do anything they wouldn't be happy with, but they're still my favorite band, so I do hope they'll give sound from them in 2015. But don't you always have high hopes for your favorite band? I think so.

Are you looking forward to any new music this year? Please share if you do.

xx Sisse 

     

Let's Rewind! General Favorites Of 2014.

Welcome to the second installment of favorite albums from the year we just said goodbye to. I thought I'd share some of my favorites of 2014 that have managed to make it as a permanent part of my favorites.

Favorite albums of 2014, 

Paramore - Paramore (Deluxe); okay, so this is could probably be considered a new release, but seeing as it was a re-release let's just treat it as an oldie. Paramore released a re-release of their self-titled album very recently with a few new songs and some live versions as well. We haven't seen any official releases of this live songs since The Final Riot! tour, so I was very excited. They did not disappoint. All of Paramore's albums are very important to me, but this album marks their growth as a band in a very beautiful way.

twenty one pilots - vessel; these guys. Wow. I went to their show early on this year, and ever since then I haven't stopped listening to them. Rumor has it that they're recording new music, and I can't wait for it. Their Vessel album is very important to me and if you ever find yourself struggling with life then these guys will help you through, I guarantee it. 

Fall Out Boy - Save Rock And Roll; yes, I'm aware that the album on my phone is their new release of American Beauty/American Psycho, but I wanted tot all about Save Rock And Roll. When Fall Out Boy returned with this album they did with an impressive power. The album is a work of art and it just proves their talent and that you shouldn't let yourself be fooled by rumors and haters. 

Arctic Monkeys - AM; these guys have got a lot of great albums but this is one of my favorites. I think. It's raw, it's cool and if you've ever spend any amount of time on tumblr you'll have seen many posts dedicated to the coolness of this album and the need to "wear red lipstick and smoke cigarettes" when listening to it. The album always manages to give me the right amount of "f*** you-attitude" when I'm feeling down. 

Haim - Days Are Gone; as with AM this album is all about the cool attitudes. And great tunes of course. The three sisters will forever be some of my favorites and I always return to this album and I never get bored of it. I just wanna join a cool girl-band - any takers? I'm currently teaching myself to play the ukulele. No?

Echosmith -  Talking Dreams; an album with a very happy-but-sometimes-melanchlic-but-still-optimistic sound. Does that even make any sense? You've probably been blasted with their single Cool Kids but the album has so much more to offer. 

What's some of your all-time favorite albums?   

xx Sisse

Let's Rewind! New Releases Of 2014.

2014 has now come to an end, as I'm sure you're all very aware of - maybe even in the form of a moral or physical hangover. So why not spend the time enjoying all the wonderful music this year had to offer, eh? This post is all about my favorite new releases 2014, so stay tuned for some serious fangirling. 

Six Favorite New Releases,

Ed Sheeran - X/Multiply; This year has truly been great for Ed Sheeran. Sure, he kept us waiting for what felt like an eternity to hear something new from him after the release of his first album, but it was definitely worth the wait. Even if you wanted to avoid it I'm sure you couldn't, and really, why would you even try? Ed can do no wrong it seems.

Lewis Watson - the morning; not too different from Ed's music if I'm honest. Lewis Watson released his first full-length album this year and now another British dude has managed to make it into my top list of favorite human beings (that list is getting pretty damn lengthy). I've rambled about him before I'm sure, so I'll spare you for now, but do yourself an early favor of 2015 and go listen to him. Now. 

George Ezra - Wanted On Voyage; let's just stick to the English guys with amazing voices and equally amazing skills on their guitars, shall we not? Is it an epidemic? Not that I'm complaining, but I'm not sure my heart can take much more. As I said, my list of favorite human beings is taking over. 

The Kooks - Listen; okay, not a single dude and his guitar. Still British though. Oh well, they're impossible to avoid. Listen is one of those albums that I keep going back to, even when I think I've had enough and could in no way dance to Bad Habit one more time. Every time I'm wrong, and yes I did welcome the new year by jumping around to this album. 

Tove Lo - Queen Of The Clouds; I've saved the strongest for last *cough* yes, the girls *cough*. Again and again I read about the struggle of being a lady making it big in the music-biz, (I mostly hear about the pop/punk/rock area, but I imagine it's difficult in most genres) so whenever a girl manage to break through I get even more proud. I talked about Tove Lo in a very recent post, and while her music is not my usual taste, usually music like this is something I'll listen to so much in a very short period of time and then forget all about it, I do really like it. Maybe I'll forget about her album in a week, but her lyrics and attitude cannot be ignored. 

Candy Hearts - All The Ways You Let Me Down; ah, yes. I've talked about this band before and I will never ever stop. If I'm impressed when girls make it in the pop-biz then I'm extremely impressed when girls make it in the pop/punk/rock-biz. And while Candy Hearts is not an all-girls band, then they're mostly represented by their (female) lead-singer, Mariel Loveland. Mariel often talks about the male-dominated world of music on her blog and other social media, and you got to admire her for standing up for herself and other women in music. She's strong and a great singer, so what's not to like? Their album is definitely one of my all-tome favorites, and whenever I listen to it I want to live it - it that weird? I just admire the way their lyrics admits to making mistakes but not breaking down because of them, and it always reminds me that it's okay to not take life too seriously. And sometimes we all need that reminder. Okay, I rambled, I really didn't mean to. Oh well, we'll all survive.

These were my favorite new releases from 2014, stay tuned on the blog for a post on my general favorites of 2014 that were not as new. What was your favorite new album of 2014? 

xx Sisse        

TUNEY TUESDAY l Tove Lo

Hey, hello and welcome! This week's tuney tuesday is being brought to you in a finals and flu haze. Sunday morning I woke up feeling like I'd been run over by something unpleasant, and yesterday I started my first final for this semester - what a way to start the week. While the final doesn't bother me so much, all I can think about is blackface minstrelsy, freaks shows and the general power of modern pop-culture. So writing this post feels like a short break and as a realization that freedom will return once I finish this exam. And I mean, I've got until Monday so I shouldn't be stressing yet.  

On to the playlist. Maybe you've heard about Tove Lo before, maybe you haven't. Either way, stop what you're doing, take a break and give her a listen. Her album "Queen Of The Clouds" has quickly become a favorite of mine. All the songs got a cool sound, the interludes are pretty different and while not being extraordinary or fantastic pieces of art, they fit in nicely on the album. As you'll find out if you want to listen to the playlist (or you know, you can read it here), she's got a song on the new soundtrack for Mockingjay Part 1, which is quite good as well. Also, she's from Sweden so I feel proud to be Scandinavian when we can produce music this good. For a debut album I find it really good and her sound, while still being pop and somewhat mainstream, is quite special. 

What's your favorite song from her album?

xx Sisse      

(Also, I apologize if the blog will be a bit neglected in the next week or two. I should have scheduled some posts but instead... I didn't. No surprise there. If I find some time to take photos or get hit by sudden inspiration, I'll post something. But until next time - enjoy the holidays!)

High on Highlighters

In the cold and grey months of Winter many people will stick to a matte, nude-y, basic base-makeup and then pair it with a dark lip or dark eye-makeup. I'm all for that, but one thing I can never abandon is my highlighter. I usually just dab it on top of my cheekbones to add a bit of glow. I must admit that I like a bit of glittery goodness as long as the glitter doesn't come off all chunky, cause I often find that that will make me look like a disco ball. These four are my current favorites and I'll just write you through them a bit!

Sleek Face Form Palette in "Light";

This palette is a go-to palette for me. The contour powder is nice and matte, the blush got a nice shine to it, so you can even use that a highlighter/blush as well. But my favorite part of this palette is the highlighter. It's probably my favorite highlighter in powder form. It's got a nice shine and gives a perfect glow but it's not exactly glittery. And you can add it mixed with a favorite blush or bronzer for that extra-party effect.

e.l.f. Baked Blush;

There is no color name on this one, which is quite annoying. However, all the colors were quite nice if I remember correctly. This highlighter is more of a blush combined with a bit of highlight, because it is quite shimmery. For the price it's a very nice product and if you're just starting out with makeup these or the Baked Bronzers would be a good starting point.

Revlon Highlighting Palette in "Rose Glow";

This is probably my most glittery highlighter and I do have to be a bit more light-handed to avoid the disco ball effect. It's really nice for parties though, and would be great for the different holiday celebrations we face this month. The shades can be used on your eyelids as well and they look quite nice that way. 

Benefit Cream Highlighter "Whatt's Up!";

This is the only cream highlighter I've ever tried and it is the most beautiful color. The champagne glow will probably work with every skin-tone and it's very easy to work with. I just blend it out with a brush but you could use your fingers just as easily. The color is one of those works-with-everything colors, a bit like the "All That Glitters" eyeshadow from MAC. If you're willing to splurge a bit on a good highlighter this one is the one to go for. 

Hope you liked this post! If you have a favorite highlighter please feel free to share as I'm always looking for new ones to try out.

xx Sisse 

TUNEY TUESDAY l The Kooks

We're well into the official Christmas month and maybe you've had it up to here (imagine me waving my hand somewhere over my head) with jolly Christmas music. If that is the case then do not fear - this playlist is not remotely holiday-ish. 

This summer I was properly introduced to The Kooks. I mean, I've heard of them and their music before but when I bought a ticket for their concert in Copenhagen I became a proper and proud fan. All their albums are good. And I mean all of them. So this playlist is not so much a Top Ten but more a small collection of some of my favorites. I think If I had to, I'd say that Inside In / Inside Out, Junk Of The Heart and their newest album Listen are my favorites. So that actually only leaves out one of their full-length albums... Well, it's difficult! I'll just pronounce Listen as my all-time favorite, 'cause it's always nice to introduce new listeners to the newest music - so go listen to Listen! Or to this playlist to get a general feel of the band. 

If you like Arctic Monkeys, The Vaccines and/or The Killers then I think these guys are for you. 

Hope you'll enjoy it!

xx Sisse