Tunes & Tales: Unbreakable Smile

I really took notice of Tori Kelly after seeing her open for Ed Sheeran's Madison Square Garden show last year. Her compelling tone, whip smart lyrics and fun personality really appealed to me, and I've been listening to her stuff ever since then. Rachel was the one who alerted me to her latest album Unbreakable Smile, which was released on June 23, 2015. It's a great collection of original tunes, and I've been listening to it on repeat for a while now! 

VIBE: soulful pop with excellent vocals

WHY: If you like powerful voices and smart lyrics, Tori's album is for you.

TRY: My favorite track at the moment is First Heartbreak!

Where I Belong // Amplified

I'm just a girl and her guitar

Trying to give you my whole heart

If there's anybody out there listening to me

All I have is a story and a dream

Here I am, and that's all I can be

Unbreakable Smile // Under the Lights

Somebody told me fame is a disease

You start singing the blues when you start seeing the green

But I think it's all about what you choose

The way you live your life, depends on you

Nobody Love // Scorched

I should be more cynical and tell myself it’s not okay

(To feel this good when I’m with you)

I try my best to fight it, say I hate you but I always stay

Expensive // The Royal We

'Cause you kiss me like I'm dreamin'

Like I'm one in a million

And I think it's time your figured it out, oooh

'Cause I know I got that somethin'

And it won't cost you nothin'

I already feel expensive enough

Turn that gold into dust

Should've Been Us // Jet

Back and forth like a tug of war

What's it all for, do I want it back

I still got a little flame for ya

Even though you drove me mad

Now and then, I pretend

That it's you when I close my eyes

You got yours, I got mine

But I wonder where you are tonight

First Heartbreak // Rowdy

'Cause for the first time I get worried

When I'm lookin' in your eyes

That one day you might leave me

And it keeps me up at night

I guess that means I really love you

I Was Made For Loving You // The Heart of Betrayal

I was made for loving you

Even though we may be hopeless hearts just passing through

Every bone screaming I don't know what we should do

All I know is, darling, I was made for loving you

City Dove // Legend

City dove, fly between the buildings and fences

Soft inside but rough on the edges

Waiting here for something to come just holdin' on

Oooh,

City dove, fly between the stars and the headlights

Passin' by the clouds and the street signs

Knowing that there's something to come, just holdin' on

Talk // Firewalker

People run, people walk

But they don't ever see past the world that they're in

So if it's talk that you want from me then maybe you should let me in

Funny - Live // Something Real

'Cause the same ones that shun you

are the same ones that love you

the same words that break you

are the same words that shape you

the same rules that blind you

are the same rules that guide you

Art of Letting You Go // Better Off Friends

We were just little kids, we were ambiguous

My crush was serious, it's crazy how

As we were growing up, I could just set you up

But it just wasn't love, I guess the stars

Never aligned for us, life just snuck up on us

You got a girlfriend and stuff, feelings are bottled up

Hide 'em in this song, take the key and lock it up

California Lovers // Anne & Henry

Even if it was only small talk

You always knew the right thing to say, uh

Maybe I was just being stupid

For thinking that my first love would last, uh-uh

Even though it ended in heartache

Sometimes I wanna go back

Falling Slow // Pushing the Limits

What if I messed up? Would you give up on us?

Would you tear the page out like it never ever happened?

What if I told you you're doing fine? Stay cool

Swear I'll make it worthwhile, baby

You should know I'm always falling slow in love

Slow in love

Falling slow in love

Anyway // Nowhere But Here

My heads full of dreams

And I feel like livin' them

While you're messin' with perfection

Inspiration's what I'm chasin'

And take it or leave it babe

I'm not gonna change

If you don't understand I don't need you anyway