Often times, the best kinds of songs are those during which one can sit back, nod in rhythm, and just jam in silence. If you are looking for this euphoric kind of effect, look no further than the band known as the Wild Ones. Sporting a lush and equally infectious sound, the Portland, Oregon-based five-piece teams together to seamlessly amalgamate influences that include hardcore punk, techno, and classical. As one could assume, the product of these diverse influences is impressively unique, creating a sound that is best described as a blissful pop paradise with an intense focus on musicality. Being one of the catchiest and most enjoyable songs from their most recent release Keep This Safe, “Golden Twin” encapsulates all of the Wild Ones’ potential and expresses just how versatile their pop and electronica-laced tracks can be. Dig it, Devils!

You know what’s worse than getting rejected from a college? Getting waitlisted. The wait list is the purgatory (or limbo, if you’re into Inception) of the college admissions process, and last weekend I found myself hanging out in this very purgatory. After going through denial, anger, bargaining, and depression, I have reached the last stage of the five stages of grief: acceptance. Maybe something good will happen, and if it doesn’t, c’est la vie. Because in the end, all I could do is to, well, wait.

And what better way to celebrate the waitlist than by listening to the fittingly named “Wait”? Behind the cryptic, sparse lyrics is an ethereal piece of music, so much that “Wait” has transcended its status as a song – it is a journey. The accompanying video takes “Wait” even further: it becomes an experience. “Wait” is so immersive, all sense of time and space is lost, leaving you with a sense of calmness – you might as well be floating in a cumulus cloud. And when the cloud dissipates, maybe the wait will be over. Dig it, Devils!

If beautifully trippy dreams had a soundtrack, what would it consist of? The answer to that question is anything written by Matthew Halverson, an electronic solo artist who goes by the name “Teen Daze.” Inspired by the gorgeous forests and nature present throughout his homeland in British Columbia, Canada, Halverson took to writing his “insular, droning ambient music” at the end of 2012 and hasn’t stopped since. He describes how rather than using his music as an escape or refuge from reality,  “he simply engages his work with his reality, his physical world.” Whether you’re inspired by the vast power of nature or not, his electronic instrumentals use music to paint a mental image of beauty, serenity, and pure energy that is best described as utterly ethereal. Being one of the best tracks on his most recent release Glacier, “Flora” expresses the impressive capability of Halverson to create an electronic symphony with chill synthesizers, fluid melodies, and bobbing grooves that could calm a bull in a china shop. So if you need a moment to just sit back, relax, dissolve, and absorb the energy of your surroundings, why not have Teen Daze’s “Flora” help make your meditative experience that much better? Dig it, Devils!

This recommendation of “I Feel So” by Boxcar Racer comes just in time for another ‘throwback Thursday.’ This track, recorded back in 2001 as a side-project for Blink-182 singer, Tom Delonge, found its origins during a period of musical frustration for the singer, with Delonge admitting that he felt an “itch to do something where he didn’t feel locked in to what Blink was.” Using this frustration to his advantage during the side-project’s short-lived duration, Delonge was able to satisfy his creative desires, creating a record that was undoubtedly darker and more structurally complex than anything Blink-182 had released at that point in time. While today many only know Delonge for his amazingly popular endeavors with Blink-182, “I Feel So,” one of only two singles released from the self-titled Boxcar Racer album, encapsulates all of the angst and insecurity in a manner that acts as an excellent representation of the album as a whole. The track has it all, aggressive, more punk-driven sections, confessional lyrics, and a chorus that is memorable as it is easily relatable. Dig it, Devils! Check out the music video below:

Gates, a five-piece alternative band from New Jersey, are the perfect example of a local band who aptly deserves every single ounce of attention they have been receiving. Since the release of their 2012 EP titled You Are All You Have Left to Fear, the band signed to California-based independent record label Pure Noise Records and had the opportunity to reissue their EP to a wider audience. With You Are All You Have Left to Fear, Gates have managed to create six tracks as impressive as they are unprecedentedly unique. On this standout track “…and to Those Who Carry On,” Gates highlight why they have progressed as a constantly expanding presence in the alternative/indie music scene, creating a masterfully composed track that has beautifully orchestrated guitar work, roaring and emotionally-gripping vocals, along with a musicality and overall atmosphere that could easily stir pensive thought and introspection. Check out the band’s studio version of the track as well as the live in-studio session version below: