The Jadelist: NOV 16

Hey hey lovely people!

I'm not sure if time's just travelling a little bit slower these days, or that I'm becoming even harder to please, but when I start to write up these posts, it feels like I like I heard the first few songs months ago.

By the point I come to writing it up, some of these songs are classics to me, and I'm ready to lip-sync my heart out!

Either way, time moving more slowly gives me the chance to appreciate more music. Win-win if you ask me!

Anyway, without further ado, here's the Jadelist for November!

1.

Because I'm Me by The Avalanches




Instantly after hearing this, I just got funky, young Michael Jackson vibes.

This song samples Why Can't I Get It Too by Six Boys In Trouble, with the lyrics rearranged.

This song gets to me a bit too much and I just wanna do the twist.

Also, props to the remix for keeping the funky, soul atmosphere alive, while still managing to put a modern twist in.

Pro-tip, if you're wanting a laugh, have a watch of the music video.


2.

33 "GOD" by Bon Iver



Now, I know 22, A Million has been out for a while now, but I thought that 22 (Over S∞∞N) would've been my most played.

I. Was. Wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I still adore 22, but if I had a pound for every time I played this song, I would be a very lucky girl!

And let's just talk about the bass when the beat drops. I died and resurrected after it.

Also, this song provides the only happiness when referring to folding clothes. Maybe it'll give me some motivation. Probably not...



3.

Sea Hearts by Honeyblood



Honestly, I feel like this could be some girl power anthem from the mid-00's, like from a scene where the alternative girls fight back against the preps in a typical high school movie.

Maybe like a punkier The Go! Team.

Truth be told, I do feel a little badass listening to this, at home, wrapped in a blanket. Edgy.

Wanna feel like a cool chick? Give it a listen!


4.

LFTM (feat. Felly) by Healy



Obligatory 'I found a cute song on Vine before it dies' song? Check.

Though, let's all just admit that this starts with the most beautiful piano sounds, that develop a jazzy bass to it.

Could someone help a sister out and let me know what this genre would be called? For years in my brain, I've been calling it underground jazz or nighttime jazz.

Props to the thought in the lyrics of this song too. I know I say it too much, but it's really refreshing to hear a rap style song that doesn't mention women, drugs and fast cars in every other verse. Nice one Healy and Felly.

5.

On Hold by The xx



I mean c'mon.

It's The xx.

Now, I'm not gonna write this and act like I'm the worlds biggest The xx fan, but I did have a little outburst of excitement when I saw that they'd released a new song.

Gonna be honest, I do prefer their older work, but On Hold is still a lovely little song, and nice comeback for them.

Your Sunday lazy playlist has now just got a little bit funkier, thanks to this track.


6.

Stop For Nothing by courtship.



Seriously, what's with this month's Jadelist and all the funky tunes?

Someone pass me the flares and peace symbol necklaces!

I mean, I should just come to accept that I'm a sucker for a funky bass.

Also, on a tangent, I find it really aesthetically pleasing that courtship. spell their name with a lower case 'c'.

7.

Kick Jump Twist by Sylvan Esso



Now for my most played track of the month.

Apologies to everyone at the radio station who heard me play this way too many times in the office. Just indoctrinating everyone on the down low.

I mean, typically I wouldn't like this kind of a song. I don't know, maybe it's a bit too dance-ish, or a bit too techno.

Apparently this song was an exception to my brains blueprint, because I was OBSESSED.

Another fab song from Sylvan Esso.



8.

Public Display of Affection by EAT FAST



I'll be honest, when I first heard this song, I wasn't the biggest fan.

But then, the guitar kicked in about 20 seconds in.

I was hooked.

Let's be honest, I'm such a straight edge kid, but this song does make me feel edgy and cool for around three minutes.

Yay, musical emotions.



9.

Antonio Banderas by Forever Cult



Yeah, that's right. This song is called Antonio Banderas.

Yes, I am so young in that if you mention Antonio Banderas, my instant thought is him in Spy Kids.

I am 00's trash.

This song however, is not 00's trash. It's actually really good.

Though, shame on me for mishearing the lyric 'Cautiously you repress the memory, like caught in a dream' for 'Cautiously you replace the memory, like Cobb in a dream', thinking it was an Inception reference.

Inception references or not, this is still a fab little number.

P.s, the track cover is a work of art.

10.

So Good by Warpaint



I must've been feeling a lot cooler than I actually am in November, because man, there are way too many edgy, seductive, jazzy style songs.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the vast majority of this song, but I swoon around three minutes in when the audio becomes more distorted and encapsulated.

It definitely gives it a real early 00's vibe.

Also, props to Warpaint for making a longer length that doesn't get boring. Now, I don't have to refresh as often. Not all heroes wear capes.



And that's it for this months Jadelist. What was your favourite song of the month of November? Let me know in the comments below.


As always, thank you so much for reading & I hope you have a lovely day!

Lots of Love

The Jadelist: OCT 16

Hey hey lovely people

Remember how I said that last months Jadelist was probably the hardest I've ever had to narrow down?

Yeah, take that back, this edition was narrowed from 28 to 10

I'm still a little heartbroken about having to take out a ton of fab songs, but a big factor that played in 'the cull' was the size of the artists following

The purpose of Jadelist is to introduce people to songs that they wouldn't normally hear on mainstream radio (Sorry about that Kanye)

Nevertheless, here are 10 lovely songs that you should be listening to!

1.

Alaska by Maggie Rogers

When I say that this was my track of the month, I mean it to the extent that I would listen to it multiple times a day, and that was just the end of October.

Let's not even talk about how I would listen to this on repeat for hours when I first heard it!

I found this through Radio 6 (Clearly a surprise. I bet you're all shocked that I found a song through 6 Music. Is my sarcasm evident enough yet?), Shazam'ed it and was instantly hooked.

I was surprised to find out that this track was actually released back in June. It became a bit of an Internet sensation after Pharrell Williams basically forgot how to function as a human being after hearing it. Definitely recommend you check that out.

Then, the official music video was released in October, so that kinda makes me up to date and relevant with the cool kids, right?

Like Pharrell said, it really is wonderful to hear someone making music as themselves unapologetically. Keep doing what you're doing Maggie, because it's perfect!

2.

Actorion by Palenco

Ah, now for one of my shames as a person. I am Welsh (Although apparently not! That's a long story for another time) and have lived in Wales all my life. Heck, I even got an A in GCSE Welsh, but I can't speak conversational Welsh for the life of me!

So when I find Welsh music that sounds great, I'm basically sat contently, appreciating the music and catching the odd word for my brain to translate. The struggles of being Jade.

Nevertheless, I don't think you need to be able to speak a language to appreciate a fab song, and this is a perfect example.

I first heard Palenco on 6 Music late one night when their song Cloudy Leftovers was playing.

Let's face it, there are around 7 billion people on earth and approximately 3 million of them live in Wales, so when you hear a bit of Welsh being spoken, you pay attention.

So I had a patriotic jam at some unholy o'clock, then took to Spotify to find some more fab songs.

Who knows, maybe one day I'll actually be able to understand Welsh properly and appreciate all the lyrics, but until that day, I'm gonna rely on my friend Sammy to be my personal translator. Cheers!

3.

Small Crimes by Nilufer Yanya 

First off, I absolutely love saying the name of this artist!

Now, I know the song has quite a somber tone to it, but I think that's what makes it so addictive.

Did I listen to it way too many times on repeat? I'll leave that up to you to decide!

Truthfully, I think I just have an addictive nature to songs that are shorter than three minutes, always yearning for just a little bit more.

I also like how the guitar in the bridge shouldn't fit in with the melancholy of the song, yet it works so well!

What I really love though is how this song is completely unique to anything else heard; it has its own sound and identity, which is refreshing to heat these days.

After doing some more research, a.k.a spending way too many hours on Spotify, I think you should keep an eye out for Nilufer on Jadelist in the future. Definitely one to watch. 

4.

Reignite by Knox Brown and Gallant

As you can tell by the cover art, there's finally a song that I didn't find through 6 Music or Spotify. Just gonna pat myself on the back!

No, I actually heard this when I made my annual trip to the cinema, this time to watch Bridget Jones' Baby.

Now I, like most of the population who've watched any Bridget Jones movie, ship Bridget and Mark because goals, obviously.

So when this song played during, lets call it their 'reunion', I had to pause the shipping, whack out my phone and Shazam this song.

Luckily I was in the back row, so nobody behind me could judge the beacon of light I just emitted into the room, but I had this song for keeps.

Mark my words, Gallant will be a big artist in 2017. He's starting to pop up everywhere lately and his voice is just incredible.

Now, excuse me while I listen to this on repeat before ultimately continuing with this post. 

5.

Never Going Home by Hazel English

Now, I don't particularly know what I would call this genre. It's like some hybrid between indie and folk, with an electronic tone.

Whatever it is, it's absolutely what I live for.

I heard this on 6 Music Recommends and Shazamed it probably less than 10 seconds into the song.

I was hooked.

Not to get all picturesque and imagery on this, but I just imagine summer times in fields far away and quiet road trips when I hear this song. Maybe I'm just projecting my goals onto this song, who knows!

Either way, this song is totally tappable. My thumbs may or may not be furiously tapping to the beat right now.

6.

Strung Out by Ruby Empress

Fun fact: my phone likes to delete some of my music randomly after a few plays. Despite that, this song has continued to stay on there. Surely that's a sign.

Can I call this indie funk? I feel like I wanna do some serious head nodding, maybe pull some awful dad dancing moves and tap my foot on the floor, but in a cool kid kind of way.

Or I might be doing all of that right now...

I first heard this when doing my many YouTube music channel rounds.

Need a song that feels funky, almost in a late 00's way? Give this a hit!

7.

R.E.D by A Tribe Called Red

This was the song that I was surprised to like.

I first heard this a few weeks back when Mary Anne Hobbs played it on her show, and it took me surprise.

I mean, normally you wouldn't here something so edgy with a heavy beat like this, but I became addicted to it.

I mean, it immediately gave me Mercy vibes, what with the multiple voices and tribal vibes, which was great to have something like that again.

I didn't anticipate liking this song so much.

Give it a quick listen, I bet you'll be hooked!

8.

Holy Soul by Salt Cathedral 

Ethereal.

That's the best word I can use to describe this song.

The vocals just sound so pure, but teamed with the delicate and high pitched instruments, they create something magical.

And then, at around a minute, the beat kicks in, and I suddenly get a sense of wanderlust; sunsets in far away places.

I don't know, but this song just makes me feel so adventurous, but it also brings me a longing for summer again, which isn't the best when it's currently November.

Brb, just gonna sit here and listen to Holy Soul while counting down the days until summer. 

9.

Atone by SLO & Bearcubs

Acapella and harmonies be dazzled.

If you want an upbeat song that will make you feel calm, then you've stumbled into the right place.

Again, can somebody tell me what genre this fits into? Because I need more music like this in my life.

Maybe that's why I appreciate it so much, because it is what it is and not an imitation of every other song you hear.

P.s, the name Bearcubs is just the cutest

10.

Should Know Better by Habitats

Ah, now for a Jadelist must-have: a song from an advert.

See, I can't let you down!

This song is used in the most recent Ugg advert and it's simply adorable.

Though, can I just say, this is such a summery and happy song, so why is it used to advertise Uggs in the sunshine?!

Nevertheless, I may have furiously clicked through a load of YouTube videos to try and get the ad up to Shazam it.

After 10 minutes, logic finally kicked in and I searched directly for the ad instead. My bad.

Nevertheless, this is such a cute song with that seaside Brit feel to it. My absolute weakness!




And that's it for this months Jadelist. What songs were you loving in October? Let me know in the comments below!


As always, thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a lovely day!

Lots of Love

The Jadelist: SEP 16

Hey hey lovely people!

September dragged for me.

Not in itself, no. Time wise, it flew for me, but musically, I lived a struggle.

I think this must've been the hardest Jadelist to narrow down: 25 songs to 10!

I just found way too much good music this month, so a lot of songs got the chop.

Fear not though, because this means that only the best songs made it into the list, so without further ado, here's the Jadelist for the month of September!

1.

Last Of Your Kind by Ed Harcourt

Let's kick things off with this track by Ed Harcourt.

I mean, it's practically a given now that I first heard this track on Radio 6, like let's be honest!

And thank God that I was lucky enough to hear this lovely track.

It has that aura of lovely, sentimental rock. Quite a weird combination, yet still so sincere.

I also feel like I get a sense of exploration when I listen to this track too. Maybe I'm just clutching at excuses to me wanting to travel Northern Europe. My bad!

Look past the heavy instruments and you'll see that this rock song has a lot more of a lovely character than you'd think!

2.

On The Frame by Beta Radio

I mean, is it really a Jadelist if I don't include some form of a country song?! 

C'mon, let me justify my country love!

I just so happened to hear this song while I was going through Spotify generated playlists towards the beginning of the month.

It only took five seconds for me to fall in love with it. I knew from that moment that this song was firmly staying put in this months Jadelist. 

This track has such a lovely pattern to it, which is beautifully complimented by bass in the background. Y'know I'm all about that bass...

Plus, I think this song is perfectly fitting for the end of summer/start of autumn that we're now experiencing, "y'know, you have to let go" of Summer, or at least for me!

3.

Lying Has To Stop by Soft Hair

Confession time. I'm obsessed with this track, and I think it's because of how weird it is. 

It's almost like a surreal love.

I mean first, let's talk about the name. The duo are called Soft Hair, and that's no understatement in the slightest! 

I mean, just take a look at the video!

Now, when I first heard this song, I immediately took it in some kind of comedy vibe, and who could blame me? The opening instrument remind me of one of those wavy board things you'd have as a kid.

But then, it was almost like I came under the spell of the song, and I really can't stop listening!

Every time it comes on when I'm listening to Radio 6, I break out in to song! 

Now, don't deceive me! I know you love this song too! Lying has to stop! 

4.

Cool 2 by Hoops

This song makes me so happy, yet so sad!

I mean, don't get me wrong, it's an incredible song, but it's so short! The amount of times I've pressed the replay button on this is too embarrassing to admit!

One minute and fifty five seconds is definitely not enough for me. I'm musically greedy! 

But I suppose that's what makes it so special and leaves you coming back for more! You can never say the song was overkilled and lasted too long!

It gives me a short dose of that summer-type rock that's getting me through this cold weather. Bless this track! Counting down the days until summer already!

5.

Twice by Catfish and the Bottlemen 

Now, to say I'm late to the party is an understatement.

Don't get me wrong, I completely recognise the name Catfish and the Bottlemen, but I've never listened to them before, at least never knowingly and through my own choice.

What an idiot I have been!

It's funny, because they almost give me a sense of that early 00's style of pop punk, but as if it's grown up over the years, and this is what it's like now.

In all honesty, I'm still amazed how with some songs, you can completely dismiss the lyrics and genre and still see it as an upbeat song, like an oxymoron in itself, and this is completely one for me. 

I'm guessing I'm the last person to listen to them, but if there is actually one more person out there who hasn't here's your chance! Enjoy!

6.

The Spoils by Massive Attack

Now, for a more calming song.

It's really nice to get some more tracks that have that 'Bristol' style, like Massive Attack and Portishead. 

I mean the first thing that popped into my head when I heard this was it felt like a more serious/less sexy version of Glory Box by Portishead.

Which is completely understandable from the links between the groups.

Either way, I am 110% up for a complete revival of this style of music! Let's get on it!

7.

Terribly So by Howe Gelb

I almost think this is an unwritten rule of life; hear a Howe Gelb song, must include it in a playlist.

Again, I'm late to the Howe scene, first hearing about him through The Common Linnets. Since I heard his work with Giant Sand, I became hooked on his jazzy Americana/country style. 

Really, I think it's just any time I hear a bass, I go weak at the knees and can't stop tapping my foot. 

His voice just fits perfectly with a bass rhythm, it's magical.

For me, this is easy listening at it's finest. 

What I really want to know though is who is the female additional vocal? For what it's worth, she reminds me of Colbie Caillat, which if it isn't, would be a great set up for a future song.

Can I send requests please?!

8.

And The Bubble Burst by High Tide 15:47

It's funny because I get so confused every time I see this band name. Can't really blame me for getting High Tyde and High Tide 15:47 mixed up!

I mean, they both have a similar style of indie/pop-rock, so no judgement today please!

Though, where High Tyde are more 1975-esque, I feel that High Tide 15:47 have more of a Vampire Weekend style to them, yet still in a style of their own. 

Again, I can see this as such a summery song.

I mean, let's just admit it now, I probably on some subconscious level keep picking these songs so I can repress the fact that winter is coming. 

But as long as I listen to this lovely summery song, I won't notice and it'll still be warm and sunny outside, right?

9.

She Said by Sundara Karma

C'mon, it's Sundara Karma, I had to!

This is probably the second time I've ever been really happy and learnt something useful from a YouTube Ad!

Bless the YouTube algorithms or Cookies for playing this song for me. Very much appreciated!

Let's be honest, it will never be able to compete with Flame for me, because that's firmly in my place as one of my favourite songs of all time, but it well and truly deserves a place in this months Jadelist! 

It has a differing style to Flame, in that it's more upbeat and pop-rocky-indie, but trust me when I say it's a serious foot tapper and earworm.

Like apologies in advance for getting this stuck in your head. 

Accept your fate, give it a listen now!

10.

Ivy (Throwing Snow Remix) by Tusks

I was lucky enough to first hear this song in a magical way.

Last Wednesday, Lauren Laverne had the illustrator, Chris Riddell on her show, who did one of the most creative things I've seen a while.

For an hour throughout the show, he was periscoping him illustrating each track as he heard it. Then, he went on to sketch the headphones moment track, Ivy by Tusks (which you can see here at 44:15 minutes in)

Not only did I instantly find the song beautiful, but the illustration to match it was equally so. 

Honestly, I think it was a great experience to see music visually expressed, and I'd love to see it again.

So, go on, have you headphones moment now and give it a listen!

And that's it for this edition Jadelist! What was your favourite song of the past month? Let me know in the comments below!

As always, thank you so much for reading & I hope you have a lovely day!

Lots of Love