Samshine
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Last Active 05-26-11 3:37 am
Joined 02-25-11

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 Lists
01.10.15 Miss Me Bitches?07.08.13 15(ish) Things Worth Knowing About Coff
03.25.13 Samshine's Guide To Spring 03.19.13 Never A Good Idea
01.15.13 The 5 Girlfriends Society Wants You To 08.24.12 Samshine's Top 15 Digs Of Summer 2012
07.27.12 Food07.16.12 Camping
05.23.12 Life Atm05.08.12 Bucketlist
04.23.12 Summer03.01.12 Braces
02.14.12 Fuck Valentines Day01.03.12 Samshine In 2011
12.30.11 Getting Inked12.13.11 Samshine's Worst Of 2011
10.19.11 Users I'd Like To Meet Irl09.12.11 Back To School
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Samshine's Guide To Spring

The weather in Vancouver is finally starting to cooperate. Dare I say that rspring is here Here's a quick list to start the day of shit to bump for this rtime of year (in no particular order).
1Frank Ocean
Channel Orange


This album is topping best of lists the world over, and with good reason. Its release
was highly anticipated for two reasons: the first, Ocean (born Christopher Breaux)
is good. Before he even started thinking about his debut mixtape, Nostalgia ULTRA,
he was busy making a name for himself through working with heavyweights such as
Nas, Pharrell Williams and Beyonce. He's also the hook man for OFWGKTA. Secondly,
he timed his coming out as bisexual to perfection the week beforeChannel
Orange's release but I'm only going to focus on the former, as the album doesn't
need to rely on social media tactics to show how good it really is.
2Plants And Animals
The End of That


The mountains in the distance look so fake I can't believe it's not real mountains;
I tried your cocaine, just to know what it could do / I had to try it again, just to
give it a second chance; I'm gettin' tired of the freefall / I'm lookin' forward to the
spring; lyrical gems such as these are liberally sprinkled throughout, standing out
like moments of revelation. As a whole, the album comes off as a spirited drive
through a person?s second coming of age ? the exuberant naivety of irresponsible
youth is gone, and one?s years and experiences combine to provide a richer, more
thoughtful and nuanced perspective on a tomorrow that is as open and unsure as
ever.
3Gang Colours
The Keychain Collection


Not many can use the grand piano like Gang Colours. Will Ozanne utilizes his skill
well on his first album The Keychain Collection. Though mainly R?n'B, Garage and
House-based, many of the tracks are sprinkled with beautiful piano rhythms. Out on
Giles Peterson?s Brownwood and based out of Southhamton in the UK, Gang Colours
has carved a niche for himself within the buzzing electronica scene, not a million
miles from James Blake, but with a decidedly more dancefloor groove. On this, his
debut, he illustrates exactly what he is capable of, at times expertly flexing his
electronica muscle, and other times exploring his more classical side.
4Kendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d city


Kendrick Lamar ? a man reviving hip hop, straight off them ?killa streets?, paying
tribute to his educators along the way. These educators quickly became
collaborators for Lamar; Dr. Dre, Warren G and Talib Kweli, three men considered hip
hop gods, from back when hip hop still felt like a religion. Nas said hip hop was dead
in 2006 and he was right, and was even a little late in saying so. Thankfully, a
revival is in full swing thanks to young guns like Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Danny Brown,
Flying Lotus? latest project, Captain Murphy, and Lamar?s label mate Schoolboy Q.
These rappers talk about things that matter to the listener, and that for me is what
hip hop was built on, a cultural movement. Long may it continue.
5 David Newberry
No One Will Remember You


As a new generation falls head over heels in love with folk/roots music and anybody
with a beard and a guitar is looked at as a potential star, the wheels of this bloated
bandwagon begin to creak and moan. That?s of no interest to David Newberry,
who?s veered off in his own musical direction, far away from the yawn-worthy, well-
worn path of easy, unadventurous folk.
6Japandroids
Celebration Rock


Hailing from where other than Vancouver BC, this two-piece shot to critical acclaim
with their 2009 debut Post-Nothing. Full of teenage rocker anthems, they quickly
became a much loved band the world over. Being a two-piece can somewhat limit a
band in terms of the songs they write/perform, but Japandroids make it look easy.
They get loud, energetic and shouty a lot, similar to the way the Black Keys used
to back in the early 2000s.
7The Life and Times
No One Loves You Like I Do


The marriage of ringing notes, powerfully fuzzy guitars, pensive lyrics and of drums
that are excitingly unafraid of both silence and chaos makes for a tense, immersive
and hard-rocking affair that is too damn good to go unnoticed.
8The Mars Volta
Noctourniquet


Long gone are the oft-lamented days of At The Drive-In and, as of the end of this
year?sNoctourniquet tour, perhaps also gone are the days of the Mars Volta. he
Mute? It?s a difficult question to answer, considering Mars Volta?s overall
discography, which has rarely not been daring, new, and supremely creative; the
Volta?s latest may be dwarfed by the greatness of its predecessors. In any case,
whether it?s considered on its own or put up against the band?s previous work,
Noctourniquet is a dense, spicy aural feast of experimental jazz, rock and latin
sounds that should not be ignored.
9Gorillaz
Gorillaz


Just getting into these guys (I know, sometimes I am late with this sort of thing).
This is their first album and the one I seem to enjoy most. I love that the
musicians come from all different backgrounds to come together and create a fresh,
new sound.
10Jonsi
Go


J?nsi captured some great energy on this album. Great happy, bright songs.
11Nick Drake
Bryter Layter


The somewhat, more upbeat Nick Drake album. Songs such as Hazey Jane I, Fly
and Northern Sky are perfect spring songs.
12Radiohead
Pablo Honey


I know some people don?t really like Pablo Honey, but I think it has held up pretty
well. It is no OK Computer or Kid A, but the band was at a different state then.
There are some great fun songs on this album. I?ve have some great memories of
listening to this album.
13Red House Painters
Red House Painters I


An album that reminds me of strolling through San Fransisco in springtime. Listen to
Grace Cathedral Park to hear what I mean.
14P.O.S.
Never Better


The energy on this album just reminds me of spring. Talented guy and lyricist. Plus
the cover art for this album is amazing.
15Washed Out
Life of Leisure


Love this LP from Washed Out. Destined to be a classic. Infusing so much mood
into electronic music isn?t an easy thing, but Ernest makes it seem effortless.
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