1.) Piece Of Your Heart

“Piece Of Your Heart” is the first single that MP dropped in anticipation for this album, and I gotta say that I love it. As I mentioned before, I wasn’t the hugest fan of their last two albums, but this song actually has me looking forward to their new album. It feels reminiscent of early Mayday, which as you’ll be able to tell soon, is my favorite era of MP (thus far). The lyricism is similar to their “A Lesson in Romantics” days, something I didn’t know I wanted to hear again. The instrumentation has been cleaned up since their last album (which IMO was a failed attempt at trying to “get back to the roots” of pop punk) and from what I’ve heard of the new album, it sounds like it will flow smoothly.

2.) I Swear This Time I Mean It

If there’s one thing that MP is really good at, it’s sappy ballads. This song, from their sophomore album “Anywhere But Here,” features an acoustic guitar paired with soft vocals from lead singer Derek Sanders. The tempo is pretty slow, almost as if Sanders is singing a lullaby. The song slowly builds, the music crescendoing from the slow tempo to fit smoothly with his gentle voice. Tbh, I could totally listen to this on repeat until I fall asleep. His voice is so soothing.

3.) Kids In Love

“Kids In Love” is another track from their sophomore album, and it’s also the first song I ever heard by the band; I was in 7th grade and thought that I was so in love with the guy I dated that year *cringe*. For as cringey as that is, it felt so applicable at the time – “We were just kids in love / the summer was full of mistakes we wouldn’t learn from.” Despite the memories of my first puppy love, this song feels timeless to me. The instrumentation stays interesting during the entirety of the song, and the lyricism doesn’t feel like it was directed at 13 year olds.

4.) When I Get Home You’re So Dead

This song hails off of their first and most celebrated album, “A Lesson In Romantics.” At the time, Derek Sanders was a co-vocalist with Jason Lancaster, who ended up leaving the band and joining Go Radio (before they broke up and he went solo). This break up song is so 2007 – not sappy and sad, but savage AF. The lyrics basically allude to the fact that the girl is a cheating whore and she won’t ever change. One thing I love about the lyrics is that it doesn’t sound cheesy AF, like some songs I’ve heard calling out ex-girlfriends for being whores. Instrumentally, the guitars sound angry, which helps the direction of this song channel the angsty side of pop punk.

5.) Three Cheers for Five Years

Eeeeeek, this song is so sad. This song was written by drummer Jake Bundrick, who found out that his girlfriend of five years cheated on him (and she told him on their anniversary, nonetheless). This piano ballad features a back-and-forth vocal trade off between Sanders and Lancaster, with vocals sometimes overlapping each other, but in my opinion showcasing the conflicting thoughts of a break up and how to deal with the news of your S/O cheating on you. I love that MP are able to tell stories of break ups in completely polar-opposite ways (see choice 4). The twinkling piano, the switching vocals, the overlapping of thoughts – they all culminate into a song that brings out emotion I didn’t even know I had.

6.) Still Breathing

“Still Breathing” starts off with a somber-sounding guitar, the chord blending seamlessly with Sanders’ vocals. Drums subtly come in throughout the verse and eventually build up into the chorus, which isn’t anything mind-blowing, but isn’t overly simple and boring either. I don’t really know what draws me to this song, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

7.) Just Say You’re Not Into It

Let me tell ya, this EP was *~amazing~*. This song follows the hearts of a conflicted relationship, where the two are fighting, however they want to forget about it for the night and “bring their hearts back home.” I love the way the song starts off, with the lyrics “In a show of hands / who has ever said these words before? / And in a show of hearts on the floor / who has ever meant them more?” I thought that line was just cleverly crafted and didn’t even need to be explained for it to be understood. That right there my friends, is good lyricism.

8.) I’d Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About

Long live the days of long song titles – can we bring that back please? I heard some rumors that “Sunnyland” will have more long titles – yay! Anyway, back to this song. The main reason I love this song so much is because you can hear so much emotion in both of the vocalists voices, but especially Lancaster’s when he jumps into the chorus. I honestly don’t really know what this song is about, who it’s about, what’s going on, but it makes me feel. It’s the weirdest thing – but hey, that’s what music does to ya. Also, with the guitar solos and the way that the song builds, the song flows together so smoothly and makes me want to throw down.

9.) Terrible Things

Okay sorry, we’re going to get sad again. But this song is just. so. beautiful. The narrator, a father, is telling the story of the father and mother – when they first met, when he proposed, and when she told him she’s sick. I mean, shit. Paired with the somber piano, this song is so sad and evokes so many emotions. The father is telling the son “So don’t fall in love / there’s just too much to lose.” and “Now son / I’m only telling you this / because life can do terrible things.” This song is basically a Nicholas Sparks book summed up in four minutes.

10.) One Of Them Will Destroy The Other

This song is one of the songs I actually like from their 2015 album, “Black Lines.” I love how raw this song sounds, in terms of instrumentals and in vocals. Sanders experiments with some more screaming, a change that really shook up their discography since Lancaster left the band. Some fans were disappointed, citing that MP is a band they go to for more sappy, heartfelt songs, not heavier music. However, I thought this was one track that actually did a good job of capturing that raw, stripped down sound that they were looking to do for the album. I don’t think it completely worked out for them – I saw them live shortly after this album was released and they played 3 songs out of a 20 song show from this album. That being said, the songs they did play were the good ones, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

So there you have it! I’m really excited to hear what their album will sound like, and of course, I will see them live at Warped this summer.

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The post Jen’s Top Ten’s: My Favorite Mayday Parade Songs appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Some rainy days are nothing but cozy – full of baking, movie marathons, sipping tea and snuggling with your dog. Others can be miserable – walking to class in a downpour, getting splashed by a bus driving through a massive puddle, wind spraying sheets of rain in your face – you get the point.

But whether you love them or hate them, rainy days always tend to make people more contemplative. Nothing sparks forgotten feelings or makes you reminisce about old memories like a soft drizzle outside of your window.

A fitting playlist enhances those feelings. And for those of us who love to ride the angsty train for as long as we can, rainy days are our jam – as long as we have something appropriate to jam along to during them.

Here are my favorite songs to listen to when the forecast reads, “heavy showers”.

“Talking in Code” – Margot and the Nuclear So So’s: This is one of my favorite songs of all time, regardless of the weather. The swooping violins, utter pain in the vocals and heartbreaking lyrics are absolutely killer.

“High Hopes” – Kodaline: Steve Garrington’s voice will stun you in this gorgeous ballad.

“Vincent” – Don Mclean: This sweet and tender song makes you feel as if you’re drifting through the clouds while Mclean sings to you from his own cloud, guitar in hand.

“Elise” – The Greeting Committee: This raw confession focuses on the simple moments of pure bliss that comes with falling in love.

“Big Black Car” – Gregory Alan Isakov: I’ve listened to this song an absurd amount of times, and it never gets old. The instrumentals are effortlessly beautiful and Isakov’s voice is the perfect accompaniment.

“Sunday Morning” – Maroon 5: Obviously, this is sort of a rainy day anthem, with the first lyric being, “Sunday morning, rain is falling/Steal some covers, share some skin”. Can’t go wrong here.

“Dynamite (Acoustic)” – Sigrid: If the rainy day you choose to listen to this song during is a particularly somber one, then this is the perfect backdrop. A rumbling piano plays below Sigrid’s icy voice, allowing us to hear every gorgeous intricacy.

“Carry You” – Novo Amor: This is definitely one of those songs that instantly has you visualizing yourself in a movie, but once the vocals kick in, things are more lighthearted, while still soothing.

“Girlie” – Alexandra Savior: With a sultry chorus and subtle swear words, this song reminds me of a young Lana Del Rey.

“Some Day Soon” – Alexi Murdoch: Not only is this song effortlessly beautiful, it’s featured in the first season of the NBC drama, “This is Us”, so it’s sure to give you major feels.

“Drink You Gone” – Ingrid Michaelson: It’s no secret that Michaelson has a stunning voice. It is showcased here while telling a heartbreaking story.

“Numb” – Max Jury: Max Jury is from Des Moines, Iowa, and has opened for Lana Del Rey. He coaxes listeners into a trance with his smooth voice and sultry music.

“Champagne Supernova” – Oasis: This is a no-brainer rainy day song – it begins with a flood of rain, and anyone who has seen “The OC” knows why this song is so special.

“Boston” – Augustana: Another one of my all-time favorite songs, “Boston” is tender while still building up to a dramatic ending that will have you belting out the lyrics.

“No One’s Gonna Love You” – Band of Horses: This is a classic breakup song if I’ve ever heard one. The aching lyrics will have a flood of memories with ex-lovers washing into your mind with the rain.

“Big Jet Plane” – Angus & Julia Stone: The Stones’ unique voices and whimsical lyrics create a dreamy vibe in this track.

“Fools (Acoustic)” – The Temper Trap: Every facet of Dougy Mandagi’s voice is heard in this incredible song.

“Cherry Wine” – Hozier: This is one of Hozier’s most tender-sounding songs, but the lyrics contrast the sweet vibe with the harsh reality of selfish lovers.

“Brooklyn Baby” – Lana Del Rey: As my favorite Rey song, “Brooklyn Baby” contains every trait that makes me love the singer so much – clever lyrics, insane vocal tricks, and a seductive vibe.

“10,000 Emerald Pools” – Borns: This song will add a little more grooviness to your rainy day with a catchy beat and chill vibe.

“If” – Bread: This seventies soft rock ballad will tug on all of your heartstrings and transport you back to another era.

“Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac: Another obvious rainy day song, beginning with the lyrics, “Thunder only happens when it’s raining”. Electricity flows through this entire seductive song.

“Let’s be Still” – The Head and the Heart: This is one of my favorite The Head and the Heart songs and definitely one of their most relaxing and contemplative, reminding us to live in the moment.

“Hold You in my Arms” – Ray LaMontagne: Another groovy, yet chill vibe oozes from this song, accompanied by LaMontagne’s raspy voice.

“Fly Away” – My Brothers and I: This is one of those songs that you’ll know every word to quickly as a result of listening to it on repeat.

“Blood” – The Middle East: I’ve admired this song for years because of its instrumental that sets me in a trance every single time I listen to it.

“The Girl” – City and Colour: You can never go wrong with this song, but it’s especially beautiful when the sky is grey and crying.

I could go on forever with sad, soothing, eerie, and thoughtful songs that are perfect for rainy days, but I’ll let you get started on this list first. Light a candle, step into your slippers and bask in the feeling that only rainy days can create.

The post The Alt Rock Chick: Rainy Day Tunes appeared first on KRUI Radio.