Five Song Friday - January 3rd

Happy New Year all! I hope you all celebrated safely, and are hard at work on those resolutions you made. A New Year means new music, and here's some of the tunes I've found this week.

1. Dead & Buried - A Day To Remember
   One of the hardest hitting songs of Common Curtesy, "Dead & Buried" is one of my favorite songs by the group to date. It's intense, but the chorus is simultaneous catchy and melancholy. It's everything that ADTR has come to mean; their instrumentals are full of crunching guitars and pounding drums, while Jeremy McKinnon lets out growls and screams that are full of angst and sorrow. The opening riff is my favorite part, and it's thankfully repeated throughout the song. Even though the riff is one chord repeated again an again, it works in this case. I also like when it comes back in the bridge and is accompanied by backing gang vocals that makes it even better. Definitely a great song to check out from ADTR's latest album. 5/5
2. Silhouettes - Of Monsters And Men
   I really enjoy the sound that Of Monsters And Men has going on. Their debut CD was stellar, and this song for the soundtrack of Catching Fire continues that fine musicianship. It's easily one of my favorite songs off the album, and one of my favorite songs by the group. The back and forth nature of their vocals are mesmerizing, both of them playing off of each other. It's one of the most drawing aspects of their sound. I also enjoy the instrumentation they use, with the pace of the song picking up and slowing down in an instant. It's a solid track, and one I recommend getting. 5/5 
3. Trees - Twenty One Pilots
   I finally got the rest of this album, and this song was a stand out from the rest by far. With a synth leading and the addition of some 8-bit effects, this track slowly builds into a huge fist-pumping anthem. It begins slower, but when it unfolds, it has the signature quirkiness that I've come to see from Twenty One Pilots. This song is especially fantastic at the end, when Tyler Joseph begins to yell and scream over the gritty synths and the drums that have almost a tribal sound to them. This is definitely an underrated track from these talented guys. 5/5
4. From Time (feat. Jhene Akio) - Drake
   I discovered this song yesterday, and can't get enough of it. Drake does some good songs, and this is one of his best (at least I think). The laid-back feel of the instrumental and the guest vocals provided by Jhene Akio create a though-provoking and cool atmosphere. Drake muses about love and relationships in this current age over a killer beat, resulting in a memorable track. The outro is a bit odd, with the sampled speech feeling a little out of place, but it does not take away from the overall greatness of the song. If you like Drake, then you'll definitely like this song off his latest album. 5/5
5. Arabella - Arctic Monkeys
   The Arctic Monkeys have a peculiar sound, which I think mainly comes from lead singer Alex Turner's vocals, which are unique and entrancing. This song is much more intense than "Do I Want To Know?", and had much more of an edge to it. It doesn't seem that way from the start, but the moment that the first chorus hits is electrifying. I really enjoy the instrumental after each chorus, which is got a old-fashioned rock 'n roll vibe that you have to just tap your foot along with. It's a song that you'll want to play in your car as you drive down the road and have a blast. At it's core, it's a fun song, and a great buy. 5/5