Minus the Bear - Part 2

Between warm sake
And street light caught in falling snow

Minus the Bear formed in 2001 in Seattle, Washington. After releasing an EP and touring they entered the studio to record their debut LP--Highly Refined Pirates. One of the most interesting aspects of this band is their song titles. Ranging from "Just Kickin' It Like a Wild Donkey" to "You Kill Bugs Good, Man," you'd think they're just one big joke. I assure you that, musically, they're not and can, in fact, be quite complex.

"Part 2," from their third LP, Planet of Ice, does not actually have a Part 1 to it as far as I know. Just in case you were wondering. It's a pretty mellow and somewhat atmospheric song. I love the mix of both acoustic and electric guitar.

Favourite Part: About 2.5 minutes in, the music gets a little aggressive and the song reaches it's climactic point. I particularly like the lead guitar riff during this section.

Russian Circles - Harper Lewis

I realize instrumental music isn't for everyone. But for those who like it or are open to exploring the genre, the Russian Circles are pretty awesome. I realize there is a lot of vocal-less music in the electronica genre, but these guys are far from that. It would be easy to categorize them as metal, but they have the whole post-rock/experimental thing going as well--so don't write them off so quickly if you can't stand metal. I'm sure you won't get a headache.

"Harper Lewis" is from their second LP, Station, which they recorded in Seattle, Washington. Much like the remainder of the seven track album, this song is very layered and alternates from hard-hitting head banging to mellow breakdowns.

Favourite Part: The way the song constantly changes, builds up, breaks down and keeps you interested in what's next.

Originally from Chicago, the Russian Circles are a three piece band who've opened for such bands as Minus the Bear and Tool.

Death Cab for Cutie - What Sarah Said

Love is watching someone die

So who's gonna watch you die?

Wow. That's definitely the most emo sounding lyrics I've posted thus far. I always loved "What Sarah Said" and it still gives me goosebumps when I hear Ben Gibbard ask that question. I've always pondered the meaning of those two lines, but only recently understood them. Because even though it sounds like something from those corny but cute comics on "Love is ...," it's meaning is as simple as those comics make love out to be. Watching a loved one die is one of the toughest things one can experience in life, but we wouldn't do it if we didn't love them, right? Ok ... I'll stop being morbid and depressing. [:

I'm sure by now you've heard of and most likely even heard some songs by Death Cab for Cutie. But for those who don't know much about them, here are the facts:

• The band was formed in Bellingham, Washington as a side project for frontman Ben Gibbard who was studying engineering at the time (1997).
• After releasing eight songs on cassette (no joke), the band decided to become legit and gave themselves the title Death Cab for Cutie (named after a song by the Bonzo Dog Band (wtf?)).
• They signed with Seattle-based Barsuk Records and released their debut LP, Something About Airplanes, in 1998.
• Ben Gibbard continued to work on his side project: the Postal Service.
• Fast forward: they released Plans, their 4th album and first under a major label in 2005. They remained on the Billboard charts for nearly a year, achieved platinum status, practically became the freakin soundtrack for the television series The O.C., and were nominated for a Grammy.
• Blah blah blah ....

One of my favourite things about Death Cab are their lyrics. I love that they're simple yet descriptive and filled with meaning. I think this song is a perfect example.

Macklemore - Inhale Deep

If I'm not making music

Why the fuck am I existing?

When I first found out in January of 2007 that there was a hip hop scene in Seattle, I was shocked. I'd been listening to hip hop all my life from the east to the west to the dirthy south, but never had I heard of any Seattle-based or "Pacific Northwest" rappers. I was skeptical. I gave some a listen and found that they're just as good as rappers from the rest of the country.

One of the first, and possibly my favourite, that I've heard thus far is Macklemore. Despite being a white boy, he sure can rock the mic. His lyrics are meaningful and he flows well, which is a must if you're rapping, and the beats are solid. "Inhale Deep" from The Language of My World is a good example along with many more from this album. You know by listening to him that he's doing it for the love.

Rocky Votolato - Automatic Rifle

Even a smart girl can end up

With a bomb strapped to her chest

Growing up in Texas with a father who was a member of a motorcycle gang rivals with the Hell's Angels, Rocky Votolato picked up the guitar after his mother moved the family to Seattle. It was here where he began to expand his music roots from country to punk and indie. After playing in a few bands with some high school friends, Rocky decided to launch a solo career. By his 3rd LP, Suicide Medicine, Rocky started to gather some acclaim. Thus far, he'd only spent under a month working on his albums. His fourth album took a year and a half but was praised by fans and critics.

Although there are a handful of Rocky Votolato songs I could recommend I decided to go with "Automatic Rifle." On the surface, he may seem like just another stripped-down guitar and vocals act, but something just resonates with him. I really like the guitar in this song and, as always, his vocals are soothing, but he's also not afraid to crank it up a bit and put some emotion into it.

Rocky is married with 2 children and resides in Seattle. He's also appeared in a movie about a gang war between punk rockers and straight-edgers.