Top Ten Songs for March

Another good month of music discovery. I was mostly excited about The 1975's new album, which has solidified them as my favourite band. But some older songs have also risen back onto my charts, including an older 1975 song. And the new music will only continue to pour in, with the Lumineers raging back, Blake Shelton, Eric Clapton, and more releasing new albums in the coming months.

1. Youth - Daughter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QT5eGHCJdE
Another British artist rising to the top of my charts! Not only are they taking over my musical rankings, but they are also dominating the world wide charts. Ed Sheeran, Jamie Lawson, The 1975 recently, and now Daughter. Britain is definitely doing something right!

2. This Must Be a Dream - The 1975 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55wfl5lpoAM
The sound of this new album is completely different, yet strangely similar for the 1975. The sound is definitely more pop, with more synth and electronic sounds moving away from the regular instruments, but they are still present, and driving each song forward. It's more of a development of their sound, or what they wanted originally with their first album.

3. A Change of Heart - The 1975 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvgpsy6dJgs
With the debut of a new album means a new tour. The 1975 are so big now, that they get a worldwide tour. They'll be visiting Toronto May 20 at Echo Beach. A smaller venue then others in Toronto, but it should still be an amazing concert. The show is almost sold out, with the remaining tickets being slightly higher priced.

4. Fierce - Jesus Culture - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II1JKBuz-AY
I know that I've said this before, I think for the song One Thing Remains, but Chris Quilala has an amazing voice. This song, while highlighting many other strengths of the band, puts a spotlight on the vocal talent of their lead male singer. While it doesn't sound like much, the transition from the verse to the chorus vocally is extremely difficult in this song. Jesus Culture is a master of dynamics, and a big reason for that is Quilala's voice.

5. No Longer Slaves - Bethel Music - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k
Kind of like Jesus Culture, Bethel Music is actually a group of musicians separated into many different bands. They each serve in different cities under a church that is part of this Bethel Network. The singers that lead this song are husband and wife Jonathan David Hesler, and Melissa Hesler, who are extremely talented.

6. Love Yourself - Justin Bieber - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyEuk8j8imI
It's kind of cool how the past two years, the top songs have been ballads (or a form of one) with Thinking Out Loud and this one. Obviously, Ed Sheeran has had an impact on both of these songs, again showcasing his amazing talent, but Bieber has a big part to play in this song as well. His musical team also deserves a ton of credit, especially Dan Kanter the musical director.

7. Simplicity - Rend Collective - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8p3n5wzFpM
I love the message behind this song. A lot of times we approach life with such complexity. We try to make a lot out of really what can be so simple. The same can be said with worship. We try to add theatrics, lights, musical additives, and more to create something that can be done with none of all that. Worship is simply connecting with God. Why try to make it more than that?

8. Fire Away - Chris Stapleton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18AhUXAILWE
The music video for this song was just released in February. The idea behind it is fantastic, and the execution is incredible. In a very eerie way, the video aims to bring attention to mental health awareness, in partnership with The Campaign to Change Direction. A great artist with a great song, siding with a foundation for an amazing cause. That's someone who is using their gift for the right reasons.

9. Medicine - The 1975 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lur5B3a4_fk
This is a lesser known track from the 1975, as it was released as a single, in between their two albums. It still is an amazing song, a perfect embodiment of The 1975's sound. It's kind of weird though. Multiple British bands released songs titled Medicine around the same time, with Daughter being one of them.

10. Collide - Howie Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9ub9rpNK4
A classic. It seems though, as if the covers of this song are more popular than the actual original. An acoustic version of this song particularly has the potential to be great, with the track extremely open for an artist's unique touch.

Justin Bieber's Purpose Album Review

Rating: 8.5/10
Website: http://www.justinbiebermusic.com/
Purchase: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/purpose-deluxe/id1049605561

An extremely celebrated return for one of the most promising artists of this decade. Justin Bieber has gone through a lot already, going from international stardom to a worldwide disgrace. But he returns with maturity, development, and purpose with his new album, vaulting him back into the forefront of the musical industry. The new album aptly titled Purpose landmarks another important turning point in his career, and offers an unique insight into the life of a pop star. The album itself is classical Bieber tunes, filled with strong vocal performances, catchy songs, and revolutionizing music.

The album is highlighted by top top international hits such as Sorry, What Do You Mean, and Love Yourself. Relying on catchy unique pop tracks, Bieber uses his new electronic sound and his classic vocal prowess to create hit after hit. Past his top three tracks, Bieber backs his album in strength with Company, I'll Show You and Mark My Words. The rest of the tracks are also unique in their nature, including some cool new artist collaborations.

This album is an excellent addition to Bieber's resume, a perfect step in his career. Hopefully, this marks the return of his sanity, an improvement in his maturity, and a new chapter with his music.

Wikipedia