RadioPotato is about to run off into the sunset at the end of this month.  All this wedding planning has been fun, but I sure do miss my blogging.  And don’t worry, I’m not abandoning my blog.  Just my last name.  And in case you’ve been living under a rock, the music industry is now run by bloggers, Twitter, Facebook, and really, by YOU. The only way a band truly makes it is when friends tell their friends, and post YouTube videos on their Facebook walls, and send Tweets of videos shot on an iPhone.  It’s totally organic now and I’m so thankful to have a platform to share these incredible artists before the world finds out.  Every time you share an artist or a song, you are truly building the music industry back up.  In the meantime, I found these dramatically different songs and wove them into a cool vibe for the spring.   Please listen and  VOTE for your favorite song in the poll embedded below and SHARE with your friends!

 

Click HERE for Spotify Playlist or listen below:

1.  “HO HEY” – LUMINEERS Their bio describes the Denver, CO-based Lumineers as “heart-swelling stomp-and-clap acoustic rock, classic pop, and front-porch folk.”  iTunes was downloading the album before I had a chance to finish reading the sentence.  Seemingly exploding out of nowhere with the release of their first full-length album in March, the trio consists of the stripped down power of a new and raw heart-pounding folk.  Coming out of the roots-infused crop of origin-based instrumentation a la Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers, the Lumineers had me at “Ho.”   Seriously, the whole album gets a solid ovation all the way around.  Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download | Spotify

2.  “IT’S TIME” – IMAGINE DRAGONS A sick beat makes all the difference.  There are songs that feel like you’ve got a freight train running through your chest and makes you want to get up, get motivated, go running, dance, high-five someone, slam a punching bag, kick someone, and immediately tell your friends about your new find.  This is one of those songs.  Sitting comfortably in the alt-pop vein, Imagine Dragons is a buzzy quartet hailing from Las Vegas that is suddenly in heavy demand among festivals, TV shows, stations, and The Queen of England herself.  (well, I lied about the Queen – but check their appearance schedule and you’ll see what I mean).  Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download | Spotify

3.  “BLUE EYES” – MIDDLE BROTHER An indie supergroup side project consisting of John McCauley of Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit were welcomed warmly when Rolling Stone voted this song one of the 50 Best Singles of 2011.  The jangly boozy woozy southern rock ditty drips with sloppy piano, twangy 3-part harmony, and the story of a hot pursuit of a “good girl who’ll wear a black bra.” It sounds like a song written in a drunken stupor but when you listen closely, you realize the sheer brilliance of the composition.  Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download | Spotify   

4.  ‘IT’S MY PART” – JONQUIL Born out of an Oxford, England bedroom, Jonquil’s multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Hugo Manuel expanded to a catchy alt-indie quartet that has been touring all over the globe.  With eclectic influences from Animal Collective, Joan Baez, Microphones, and Fleet Foxes, Jonquil layers folk sensibilities on top of an electronica-infused steady beat and nods to 80′s synth pop.  As I normally test my Top 5 song contenders as I go running around Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, this song wouldn’t leave my head long after I left the park. MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Download | Spotify

5.  “THE BROKEN ONES” – DIA FRAMPTON Ah, we have ALL been there.  You ever just get into those patterns where you are so attracted to the broken vulnerable people (translation: F ‘d up mofo’s who keep sucking you back in)?  Obviously, this is a rhetorical question.  They were put into your life for a reason.  You need to fix them.  Dia Frampton (no relation to Peter) sings this simple sweet song that speaks volumes.  Baby let me straighten out your broken bones / All your faults to me make you more beautiful / Maybe we can burn this building / Holding you in.  Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Download | Spotify