Gustav Holst

I really just want to bring to your attention Jupiter from The Planets by Holst. If you close your eyes and listen to it, you can imagine yourself in a spaceship, approaching the giant mass that is the planet Jupiter. Imagine seeing its massive terrain and sweeping landscapes for the first time. Imagine traveling over it's humongous canyons and through it's towering mountains. Imagine seeing its enormity, up close in person, for the very first time. That's what this piece of music does to me.

Also, when I first heard it, I recognized that a part in the middle is often used to create church songs. While I am not a church goer, the memory of the familiarity of everyone singing in unity about a common belief adds just enough passion and drama to the piece to make it truly spectacular.

Watch it performed live:
Jupiter from The Planets

Regina Spektor

Shake it up...

...uh-oh!

Two words can describe Regina Spektor: damn catchy.

Although she's definitely a singer-songerwriter, Regina does not fit the standard mold. Her music as a whole doesn't really have one style. Some songs are jazzy, some are pop-y, some are folky, some have a Russian flair to them, and some are just bizarre. Many of the songs experiment with the human voice and the sounds it can produce, though most of them tend to utilize typical instruments, notably piano. Some songs have literary references, while others refer to other musicians and songs. Her lyrics are simple at times when they need to be, but more often they are ingenious. She really tells a story in each song, whether that story is an actual tale or just an emotion. She describes the things that you're feeling and thinking that you couldn't express. And somehow each song moves me in a way I can't describe.

The best part of a Regina Spektor song, though, is that it sticks in your head. And that's okay.

"Fidelity"

One of my favorites:

"Consequence of Sounds"

This is just plain fun (and describes life so well):

"On the Radio"

And if you like something a little softer and sweeter:

"Samson"