The Eagles - Hotel California

Here's a little something that I am certain my fellow studious music-lovers have heard a thousand times over (even if only on the radio!): the ever-popular classic from The Eagles called Hotel California. Whether or not you like it, this song seems to be just around every corner, revered as an epitomizing example of music -- and, if you ask me, rightfully so!

Often, I mention that I study for my college classes by listening to more upbeat, faster electronic music, but I'm afraid that they all lose out to such great rock as Hotel California. This student gives The Eagles an A+ for this one!

Give it a listen, and check for more info on the song after the skip:

Knife Party - Centipede

Mmm, I love this one. For all of those who might be interested (and who don't know already, despite the song's popularity), today's choice for the spotlight is Centipede by Knife Party.

I know that I have been posting quite a bit of dubstep lately (well, electronic music in general, from dance to techno to trance), but that's just what us college kids listen to these days, I'm afraid. :P To try to mix it up for you peeps, though, I'll be sure to try something rock next time. ;D

Take a listen to the song if you haven't (hell, take a listen even if you have!) and let me know what you think of it in the comments. See ya there. B]

Massive Attack - Teardrop

In the year 1998, long before anyone had even conceived of the television series House (which uses a portion of this song as its opening theme), the already-popular British band Massive Attack released the album Mezzanine. The song peaked at the #10 spot on the UK Singles Chart.

The popularity of Teardrop led to its usage in many shows and films, most notably that of House (as I mentioned before). The heartbeat-rhythm bass drum beat at the opening and closing of the song make it into the House opening theme, and the rest is history.

You can catch some vocals in the song from Elizabeth Fraser, who sang with the Cocteau Twins. Check it out below, and if you like it, then bookmark it. I did so myself so that I can listen to this while I'm studying for my college classes, but you can use it for just about anything!

Metallica - Master of Puppets

I believe that I have featured Metallica before on this blog, but let me just make one thing clear: Metallica is one of the best in the genre, as so many fans have attested to. So why not give them a listen, and even more, to one of their best songs? I know I have given up my fair share of listening time for Metallica.

I digress: Master of Puppets has been called the best album of the group's long history by some fans, and is even well-received by the rest.With a deluge of songs we now recognize as classic Metallica, Master of Puppets brought thrash metal to a whole new level. I remember listening to this album over and over while studying long nights for some of my exams and papers (though, playing thrash metal as I studied for my classes doesn't make me the best college student).

Below, you can find an unofficial music video on YouTube for Metallica's Master of Puppets:

Skrillex - Bangarang

Skrillex's logo

I know that I have featured Skrillex in the past, but I gotta say that he has made some interesting little pieces during his reign as the modern, de facto king of dubstep, ruler of college parties. Whether it be the combative Santa in Ruffneck or the pedophile being stomped by a shadow in First of the Year, this student gives Skrillex a big thumbs-up.

While certainly not his best (I think that title may be reserved for the popular Scary Monster and Nice Sprites), Bangarang is definitely worth the watch (and the listen!) for all fans of Skrillex. In my personal index, it ranks in this student's Top Five, up there with the songs mentioned in this very post.

If you like Bangarang, then check out some more of Skrillex's catchy dubstep tunes with First of the Year (Equinox) or Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, both of which I'm sure you can find on YouTube with a cursory search.

Check out Bangarang below:

deadmau5 - Sofi Needs a Ladder

I'm not quite sure if I've posted anything by deadmau5 in the past (though I have a strong feeling that I have), but here is a particularly excellent song by the electronic artist that goes by the name of Sofi Needs a Ladder, and it is quite impressive if you ask me.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think down below in the comments. ;D

009 Sound System - Dreamscape

I found this song by accident while looking through YouTube's selection of acceptable music for overlays (the sound you put over a video), and I must say that I am surprised that it is totally free to use, considering its quality and provocative sound.

Check out for yourself why some people call "Dreamscape" by 009 Sound System the YouTube Anthem:

R/D ft. Nadine Risha - Face of God

Check out this excellent electronic song by R/D (and also featuring Nadine Risha) called "Face of God." If it weren't enough for you that this song is just ridiculously good, the music video created to accompany this piece is also quite visually enthralling.

Though all pieces of art are highly subjective, especially songs and their videos, I would like to venture a guess as to what this may have meant (and what I, personally, got from this video). The "Face of God" is supposed to be this perfect, infallible thing that would wow and amaze anyone who stared into it -- yet everyone in the video had an eccentric style not usually considered perfect.

Ignoring the metaphysical debates that seem bound to anything involving the topic of God (especially from college student redditors on r/atheism and the like, haha) I think this video shows excellently that the face of God may not be as "perfect" as you think -- especially since, after all, we are supposed to be modeled in his image. Something to chew on. ;]

Also, enjoy this little nugget: "Miracle" by Blackmill (another electronic piece).

Combichrist - Fuckmachine [WARNING: 18+]

Okay, so warning right off the bat: do not listen to this if you are the under of 18 years old. I cannot be held responsible for whatever young ears may fall on this song, as I have warned you beforehand. Continue with caution.

So this song is absolutely excellent, in my opinion. It adds so much depth from multiple genres to make a song that really resonates with each listen. This is the sign of a great song, regardless of the vulgarity or darkness that the song may harbor.

Sure, it is a bit rough and brash, and suuuure, it may not be appropriate even for most adults (imagine showing this song to your parents!) but if you are into more progressive, modern music like most liberal college / university students these days you may find this quite attractive to your aural senses.

Seven Lions - Isis

"Californian producer Seven Lions have given us an exclusive pre-release of their upcoming Polarized EP dropping April 23rd on Beatport.com. The new track is called ‘Iris’ perhaps reference to the goddess of Ancient Egyptians, as feels to have a middle eastern influences coming through." -The Music Ninja

Perhaps this little piece deserves being compared to a goddess, because my ears love it when I listen to Isis by Seven Lions. I found it on r/dubstep (reddit, if you don't already know, is basically a circlejerk for college students and liberals, of which I happily participate), and I have been listening almost non-stop since. Love it, hope you will, too.

Mac Miller - Frick Park Market

Mac Miller's hit single "Frick Park Market" is an excellent indie hip-hop song that a fan of either genre would enjoy. Usually, this sort of style isn't my thing, but Frick Park Market is surprisingly well-done. The fantastic quality, editing, and choreography of the music video alone is enough to attest to the hard work put in.
The song refers to a food store in Miller's Pittsburgh hometown where he used to work (imagine it; one day you're some lowly student working a store job, the next you're a professional rapper and hip-hop singer). The market is near to the park referenced in the album title, Blue Slide Park (also known officially as Frick Park). The music video was filmed at the store itself, and that video reached well over 17 million views on YouTube.

Check out the video above to enjoy Mac Miller's Frick Park Market -- I promise you won't regret it.

Tenacious D thinks they can "revive" hard rock with a new album

Tenacious D thinks that hard rock is dead.

What makes them think that? Well, looking back at the sort of music that has been coming out lately, it may be easy to jump to that conclusion. After all, Lady Gaga is not exactly what comes to mind first when we think of what we would like the future of music to remember us for. I know that I most certainly don't want to look back on my college days and see Justin Bieber.

Jack Black and Kyle Gass, members of Tenacious D for eighteen years now, intend to "fix" this issue by bringing back what they believe is more real music: hard rock. Their new album will be called "Rize of the Fenix," and is slated to come out tomorrow, Tuesday the 15th.

Though the album will feature a fair amount of comedy (considering that is what we know them best for), they intend to make at least one hit song with this album. They have consulted with Grohl of the Foo Fighters in what the secret is, but only time will tell if Kyle Gass and Jack Black have been good students of the music legend.

Rihanna is going to sing on American Idol finale, May 23

Rihanna fans rejoice: your idol will be on Idol once again for their season finale.

Rihanna to perform May 23 on American Idol season finale

For those of you who are not diehard Rihanna fans (such as myself), this will be the third time Rihanna will sing for the American Idol show. The first was back in April 2010, when she sang "Rockstar 101," followed by the April 2011 performance of "California King Bed."

May 23rd marks the season finale of Idol, where Rihanna will perform "Where Have You Been." She's not alone in celebrity Idol appearances, though; it seems that May 10 will see Jennifer Lopez on the other side of the desk. David Cook is also going to be appearing.

Excited? Then tune in to American Idol for their big performances May 10 and May 23.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony filing for divorce

Turns out Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez are ending their marriage of seven years officially, as Marc Anthony has filed for divorce. Fans and followers will find this as nothing new -- the couple have cited their "irreconcilable differences" before and have planned to split since July.

They certainly look happy -- but that is their job.

Under his real name of Marco Muniz at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Anthony began the process to end their union officially. He also filed for join physical and legal custody of their young, 4 year old twins, Emme and Max.

So how are the two singers taking their big split?

Axl Rose declines induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

A weird turn of events for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently -- one of their nominations has actually declined his own induction, which is usually seen as an artistic honor.

The daring nominee? Axl Rose, the frontrunner of Guns N' Roses. Rose said that he didn't feel respected or welcomed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies, turning down his invitation to the 2012 Ceremony as well as being "inducted in absentia," as Rose put it.

"I won't be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame," is the news from Rose himself via a publicly-released letter through his spokeswoman.

UK chooses ol' Humperdinck as their Eurovision contestant

The United Kingdom has made the choice of whom will attend the big Eurovision competition this year, and it is an older artist by the name of Arnold Dorsey, better known (if only somewhat) by his stage name, Engelbert Humperdinck. This guy is, believe it or not, seventy-five years old, and his big hit was back in 1967!

Despite his age, the BBC, who pick the contestants for the U.K., have serious faith in good ol' Humperdinck to win the competition that many British people dismiss at a bit silly. However, it seems that Humperdinck and some other big voices are taking it quite seriously: they hope that Eurovision will shine a light on the political problems plaguing the hosting country, Azerbaijan.

"The competition takes place on May 26 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where it has generated considerable excitement but also seen the country's human rights record come under closer international scrutiny."

-Yahoo! News

Few music competitions in the entire world can compare to the huge, international contest that Eurovision is. It takes the European countries that participate in the European Broadcasting Union, and lets them all duke it out (musically, of course) against each other to see who will take home number one for the year.

So is Humperdinck their first win in fifteen years? We will just have to wait and see, on May 26!

Taylor Swift invites cancer patient to awards show

Kevin McGuire has cancer. He is eighteen years old, very athletic, and keeping his chin up regardless -- and for this, everyone can be a bit inspired. So how does this adolescent factor into the music industry? Well, his sister thought he deserved to meet his idol, and so she spread the word that Kevin wanted to ask Taylor Swift to the prom. That's right, Taylor Swift.

...and she said no.

Swift didn't leave it at that, though; she added that she would like it if he came with her to something a little bigger, though: the Academy of Country Music Awards in April.

"Kevin is the kindest, most noble 18 year old a person could even fathom meeting," his sister Tori wrote on the Facebook page she created for Kevin's wish, "and throughout his ups and downs Kevin never even questioned 'why me?' Nothing, and I mean NOTHING brightens Kevin's day more than Taylor Swift."

Pretty awesome, eh?

Obama works the music angle with blues singing

Apparently, we have a President that is a fan of singing the blues, as Obama was "coaxed" into doing a solo verse of "Sweet Home Chicago" alongside such famous music icons as Mick Jagger, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Jeff Beck.

Obama seemed to channel Clinton's musical talents; as Clinton had played the saxophone for the American people, and impressing quite a few of us, Obama lent his voice to the finale of a TV special on Black History Month, which revolved around blues at the White House.

Last month, when Obama sang a line from the 1971 Al Green classic "Let's Stay Together," the song's sales spiked through the roof at 490%. That's almost five times over!

Adele breaks a Whitney Houston charts record

Just when you thought Whitney Houston had taken considerable control of the charts with her "Greatest Hits" album posthumously nabbing the number two spot and seemingly rising, another popular female singer broke forward to challenge (and defeat) Houston in a another category in which she reigned supreme.

Keeping the top spot for the twenty-first week in a row, Adele's "21" album broke the record set by Whitney Houston for longest number-one album by a woman. Even Whitney Houston could not stop the juggernaut of music that is Adele, effectively allowing "21" to take number one for as many weeks as in the name of the album!

Now, Adele did not get this just for being the singer she has always been -- in fact, there is a pretty specific reason for why she held strong to number one. Her Grammy performance exposed her to so many people who would never have heard of her, or might have stopped listening. Their return to her music is evidenced in older albums of her own also taking strong rises in sales.

Breaking News: Chris Brown Still a Douche

"I'm so happy I could post a scathing tweet to ruin my image!"

Everyone remembers the big Chris Brown debacle that occurred a few years back, when he plead guilty to charges of assault against famous then-girlfriend Rhianna. Back in 2009, on the night before the Grammys of that year, Brown decided to do a number on Rhianna -- and he certainly left his mark. In fact, photos of Rhianna shortly after are, well, quite disturbing.

So, of course, Chris Brown has surely decided to cool off and get back in good graces with the fans that have made it possible for him to win a Grammy this year, right? Right?

Of course not.

In fact, Chris Brown has actually done something that I am sure made his PR cringe: he struck back. Following the Grammys, where he walked away successful and award in hand thanks to his F.A.M.E. album (more like L.A.M.E., considering it is by the King of Douche), Brown sent out a tweet:

"HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY. Now! That's the ultimate F--- OFF"

Oh yeah, Brown. Real smooth. This is definitely going to make people like you more.