...didn't I, my dear?

I've noticed over the years that certain music genres tend to repetitively focus on the same theme. With classic rock it's a caterwauling cacophony of sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll. Rap is usually about money, power, women, and flaunting all three (when you're not fighting someone). Hard rock has the angry monologue market cornered; this is great for activities that require adrenaline boosts, but after a while it can be repetitions and a little monotonous. Hip hop is about physical relationships...take one part "shawty", one part "baby", one part infidelity, and a dose of begging for forgiveness and you have the ingredients for another run of the mill song. I'm not quite sure what country sings about anymore. The twangy guitar and nasaly whining has me changing the station too fast.

What has interested me lately is the indie/alt rock scene. While indie rock has gained notoriety and a bit of fame for housing hundreds of little known or completely unknown bands, the alt rock scene has created a few hits that have transitioned over to the pop/contemporary stage. Neon Trees' "Animal" and anything by the Black Keys or OK GO! would be good examples.

I love bands that use imagery in their lyrics; that's why I count the Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, Hurt, and The Tossers among my favorites. Killers' "Human", Death Cab's "Your New Twin Sized Bed", and Hurt's "Rapture" are amazing, as is The Tossers' "Siobhan"- if you can understand what they're saying. 

I've recently become a fan of the new English folk rock band Mumford & Sons. Their first single, "Little Lion Man", is the perfect mix of folk, Irish, indie, and alt rock. It also has a bit of sad poignancy to the lyrics...something I'm also a fan of. Nothing touches a listener like emotionality in the words, right?

Check it out for yourself here.

C'mon- Paul Spatola using a cello bow on his guitar was mind blowing, sure, but Mumford has an electric banjo. How can you resist that?