So this week I don't really have a whole lot to share with you. Not many artists released new music this week, but I did find a few gems.
The first band is an awesome indie-folk group from Portland, Oregon called Blind Pilot. They originally started as a duo of just guitar and percussion touring the West on their bikes and playing small shows. They have now grown to a full 6 piece band. Israel Nebeker, who is the guitarist/singer an amazingly gifted songwriter. His songs are simple but incredibly melodic and beautiful. Sometimes I feel like people overproduce their music and it sounds too cluttered but Blind Pilot really stripped down their music and the effect is perfect. Their album sounds like an intimate concert in a coffee shop. Their release this week is not really new music, it's just a live in studio session with the full band, but it does include a previously unreleased track called "Get It Out" and a cover of Gillian Welch's "Look At Miss Ohio" which is featured in the video below. I also have included my favorite song from their debut album "3 Rounds and a Sound."
Blind Pilot - The Story I Heard
The second band has been part of my library since my brother bought me an EP of theirs while I was in college. John Butler Trio is a great roots rock band from Frematle, West Australia. Their songs often carry messages, either political or moral. They have a very unique sound that encompasses attributes from folk music to reggae to rock to even hip/hop and soul. They have a funky groove that is infectious. They are easily one of the leading groups to come out of Australia. Their latest release is the first single from their upcoming album "April Uprising" titled "One Way Road," which I have included here. The song is a little more on the rock side than usual however their sound seems to be heading in this direction based on their last few albums. I have also included one of my favorite tracks for your listening pleasure.
John Butler Trio - One Way Road
John Butler Trio - Fire In The Sky
My "band you must hear" this week is MuteMath. They are a very forward thinking experimental band who in the process create some gorgeous songs. Hailing from New Orleans, these artists have a very eclectic musical influence. Their music invokes aspects from jazz, blues, funk, electronic, and rock, but the sound they create is all their own. And not only have they created a brand new sound, but they have invented instruments and effects for their shows, and they continue to push the barrier. With Frontman Paul Meany's voice, which sounds like Sting when he was with The Police, a drummer that could be considered virtuosic, and enough creativity and musical talent to fill the Super Dome, this band is one of the most exciting bands in music. Oh and did I mention that they put on one of the most entertaining live performances that you will ever see? Check out these songs which I hope are enough to show the range of talent these guys have.
MuteMath - Armistice (2nd Line Version with Rebirth Brass Band)
MuteMath - Noticed
MuteMath - Lost Year
Hope you enjoyed all the music this week. Tune in next week same bat-time same bat-channel.
-Emerson
12.30.2009
12.23.2009
The Goods
Hello all,
It's that time again and let me tell you, I have some great stuff this week. Fist off I just want to inform anyone who liked the Cold War Kids songs last week that their EP "Behave Yourself" is out now (only on itunes) and is fantastic.
So the first group I want to tell you all about is called The Swell Season. Many of you may have heard of them or then again maybe not. They are composed of Glen Hansard (an Irish singer/songwriter) and Marketa Irglova (a Czech pianist) who became widely know for their songs in the movie "Once," which they also starred in, and eventually won the Oscar for their song "Falling Slowly." Now this amazing duo is back with another album and it is incredible. It is a little more produced than previous albums which is both good and bad as I really enjoy the quality of the production but I also liked the raw feel of the songs in "Once." However they do not lose any of the emotion that they put into their songs. Hansard has a knack for writing songs that grab hold of you and allow you to really feel the emotions he felt while writing the song. Take a listen to the first track off their album "Strict Joy." It reminds me of Van Morrison in the days of "Into the Mystic"
The next group I have for you is another hip/hop group called Madcon. They are a Norwegian duo that were hugely popular in Europe. I'm not really sure how big they are in the States yet but they are definitely getting radio play here in Ft. Lauderdale. They sound to me like the product of The Roots, Outkast, and Amy Winehouse's producer all mixed into one with some reggae and Latin vibes here and there. I think they are bound to make it big so keep an eye open for this group. Check out their song "Liar" off their album "Conquest" and prepare to dance around with joy because it is so catchy and good. Also the track starts about 23 seconds in.
The last group I have no idea how I missed, so many of you may already know about them. But, I figured I would do a segment for anyone who hasn't heard them yet because they absolutely rock the house and hard. Them Crooked Vultures is a super group comprised of Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters/Nirvana, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. This album is pretty much exactly what you would expect to come out of sessions with these three at the helm. The song are very dark and heavy with great riffs and haunting vocals. You can hear the sound of all three artists coming out in the music and it makes me want to shout thanks to the gods of rock & roll for this amazing collaboration. Here is the track "Elephants" off their self-titled album; I think it's the best example showcasing the influence that each artist had on this album. Enjoy
Lastly is my "group you must hear," which this week is The Redwalls. This Chicago native band are one of my top 5 favorite bands of all time. The Baren brothers, Logan and Justin, are the core members of the band with Logan on guitar and Justin on bass. They write and sing the songs and have even produced a few. They are greatly influenced by some amazing 60s rock groups including The Beatles, Niel Young, The Kinks, The Stones, Bob Dylan, etc. They have great vocals; which can at times be rough and edgy but then at others be soft and melodic, perfect harmonies, and write some all around wonderful tunes. They are also an amazing live band with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Although they are still unknown to most, this band could single-handedly keep rock & roll alive so put them on your list of bands to watch. Their sound has evolved a little bit from album to album as all great band's should so I am including three tracks to showcase some different styles. I hope you like them. Also look for some new music from them to be released soon.
Featured Songs: Build a Bridge, Hangman, You'll Never Know
P.S. Here is an early Christmas/Hanukkah/Ramadan/Kwanzaa/Festivus gift to anyone who bought the new John Mayer album and didn't get the itunes pre-order bonus track, like myself. I have been trying to get a hold of this song for weeks. Here's John doing an awesome cover of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire."
Cheers and have a happy holiday,
Emerson
It's that time again and let me tell you, I have some great stuff this week. Fist off I just want to inform anyone who liked the Cold War Kids songs last week that their EP "Behave Yourself" is out now (only on itunes) and is fantastic.
So the first group I want to tell you all about is called The Swell Season. Many of you may have heard of them or then again maybe not. They are composed of Glen Hansard (an Irish singer/songwriter) and Marketa Irglova (a Czech pianist) who became widely know for their songs in the movie "Once," which they also starred in, and eventually won the Oscar for their song "Falling Slowly." Now this amazing duo is back with another album and it is incredible. It is a little more produced than previous albums which is both good and bad as I really enjoy the quality of the production but I also liked the raw feel of the songs in "Once." However they do not lose any of the emotion that they put into their songs. Hansard has a knack for writing songs that grab hold of you and allow you to really feel the emotions he felt while writing the song. Take a listen to the first track off their album "Strict Joy." It reminds me of Van Morrison in the days of "Into the Mystic"
The next group I have for you is another hip/hop group called Madcon. They are a Norwegian duo that were hugely popular in Europe. I'm not really sure how big they are in the States yet but they are definitely getting radio play here in Ft. Lauderdale. They sound to me like the product of The Roots, Outkast, and Amy Winehouse's producer all mixed into one with some reggae and Latin vibes here and there. I think they are bound to make it big so keep an eye open for this group. Check out their song "Liar" off their album "Conquest" and prepare to dance around with joy because it is so catchy and good. Also the track starts about 23 seconds in.
The last group I have no idea how I missed, so many of you may already know about them. But, I figured I would do a segment for anyone who hasn't heard them yet because they absolutely rock the house and hard. Them Crooked Vultures is a super group comprised of Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters/Nirvana, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. This album is pretty much exactly what you would expect to come out of sessions with these three at the helm. The song are very dark and heavy with great riffs and haunting vocals. You can hear the sound of all three artists coming out in the music and it makes me want to shout thanks to the gods of rock & roll for this amazing collaboration. Here is the track "Elephants" off their self-titled album; I think it's the best example showcasing the influence that each artist had on this album. Enjoy
Lastly is my "group you must hear," which this week is The Redwalls. This Chicago native band are one of my top 5 favorite bands of all time. The Baren brothers, Logan and Justin, are the core members of the band with Logan on guitar and Justin on bass. They write and sing the songs and have even produced a few. They are greatly influenced by some amazing 60s rock groups including The Beatles, Niel Young, The Kinks, The Stones, Bob Dylan, etc. They have great vocals; which can at times be rough and edgy but then at others be soft and melodic, perfect harmonies, and write some all around wonderful tunes. They are also an amazing live band with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Although they are still unknown to most, this band could single-handedly keep rock & roll alive so put them on your list of bands to watch. Their sound has evolved a little bit from album to album as all great band's should so I am including three tracks to showcase some different styles. I hope you like them. Also look for some new music from them to be released soon.
Featured Songs: Build a Bridge, Hangman, You'll Never Know
P.S. Here is an early Christmas/Hanukkah/Ramadan/Kwanzaa/Festivus gift to anyone who bought the new John Mayer album and didn't get the itunes pre-order bonus track, like myself. I have been trying to get a hold of this song for weeks. Here's John doing an awesome cover of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire."
Cheers and have a happy holiday,
Emerson
12.16.2009
Numero Uno
Hey everybody! So here is my first official blog post. I'm not really sure what kind of format I want to use so I'm just gonna wing it and hope it works. I have three bands that I have discovered in recent weeks that I want to share with you.
Harper Blynn is my top release this week. They are a New York City quartet that is formerly known as Pete and J. Their debut album "Loneliest Generation" was recorded in 10 days in NYC with producer David Kahne who has produced for the likes of Paul McCartney and it shows in their sound. They have an epic pop/rock sound that makes one reminisce of the days of Wings. The songs are simple but they are very well written using contrast and wonderful harmonies making this a very enjoyable album. Take a listen to their song "25 years" and I promise you won't just listen once.
Harper Blynn - 25 Years
You can stream the rest of their album for free here: http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/3
The next group I have to talk about is for those who love intelligent rappers. Blakroc is a collaboration between The Black Keys and 11 hip/hop artists including Mos Def, Raekwon, Q-tip, RZA, and even ODB. In my opinion this album is at the top of the list of Hip/Hop albums released this year. Not only is the rapping incredible but it is set against the bluesy backdrop created by the always amazing Black Keys. This album was recorded in 11 days and features 11 tracks (unless you buy from itunes in which case you don't get the ODB track). You can watch webisodes of the recording process as well as read bios of all the featured artists at www.blakroc.com. The following track features Mos Def and Jim Jones.
Blakroc - Ain't Nothin' Like You (Hoochie Coo)
The last group I want to share with you is from Canada. They are called Zeus and I think they are a really exciting up and coming band. They have a 60s and 70s rock feel to them with upbeat songs that you can't help but sing along with. They use great harmonies and even incorporate some fuzz guitar into a rockin' cover of the Genesis song "That's All." Right now their only release is a 5 song EP titled "Sounds Like Zeus" but be sure to look for their full length LP "Say Us" on Feb 23, 2010. You can also stream a few live in studio performances on their myspace page www.myspace.com/themusicofzeus. In the meantime here is a song from their EP.
Zeus - Marching Through Your Head
Last but not least in my "artist everyone should know" for this week. Last week I played you a song by Cold War Kids. They are an amazing band with a bluesy soulful sound with hints of R&B flavor. They typically write dark lyrics, like many other bands, however the lead singer has a strain and dissonance in his voice that works incredibly well with the tone and mood and makes for great, well put together songs. Their songs paint an incredible picture if you just sit back close your eyes and listen. Here are two songs from Cold War Kids; one from their latest LP "Loyalty to Loyalty" (which you should listen to with your eyes closed) and another from their forthcoming EP "Behave Yourself" due out next week
Cold War Kids - Every Man I Fall For
Cold War Kids - Coffee Spoon
Hopefully everyone found some new music to listen to this week. If not tune in next week because I have a wide range of music that I like and maybe you will find something more suitable to your tastes. I definitely have plenty more to share with you. Until then happy listening.
-Emerson
Harper Blynn is my top release this week. They are a New York City quartet that is formerly known as Pete and J. Their debut album "Loneliest Generation" was recorded in 10 days in NYC with producer David Kahne who has produced for the likes of Paul McCartney and it shows in their sound. They have an epic pop/rock sound that makes one reminisce of the days of Wings. The songs are simple but they are very well written using contrast and wonderful harmonies making this a very enjoyable album. Take a listen to their song "25 years" and I promise you won't just listen once.
Harper Blynn - 25 Years
You can stream the rest of their album for free here: http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/3
The next group I have to talk about is for those who love intelligent rappers. Blakroc is a collaboration between The Black Keys and 11 hip/hop artists including Mos Def, Raekwon, Q-tip, RZA, and even ODB. In my opinion this album is at the top of the list of Hip/Hop albums released this year. Not only is the rapping incredible but it is set against the bluesy backdrop created by the always amazing Black Keys. This album was recorded in 11 days and features 11 tracks (unless you buy from itunes in which case you don't get the ODB track). You can watch webisodes of the recording process as well as read bios of all the featured artists at www.blakroc.com. The following track features Mos Def and Jim Jones.
Blakroc - Ain't Nothin' Like You (Hoochie Coo)
The last group I want to share with you is from Canada. They are called Zeus and I think they are a really exciting up and coming band. They have a 60s and 70s rock feel to them with upbeat songs that you can't help but sing along with. They use great harmonies and even incorporate some fuzz guitar into a rockin' cover of the Genesis song "That's All." Right now their only release is a 5 song EP titled "Sounds Like Zeus" but be sure to look for their full length LP "Say Us" on Feb 23, 2010. You can also stream a few live in studio performances on their myspace page www.myspace.com/themusicofzeus. In the meantime here is a song from their EP.
Zeus - Marching Through Your Head
Last but not least in my "artist everyone should know" for this week. Last week I played you a song by Cold War Kids. They are an amazing band with a bluesy soulful sound with hints of R&B flavor. They typically write dark lyrics, like many other bands, however the lead singer has a strain and dissonance in his voice that works incredibly well with the tone and mood and makes for great, well put together songs. Their songs paint an incredible picture if you just sit back close your eyes and listen. Here are two songs from Cold War Kids; one from their latest LP "Loyalty to Loyalty" (which you should listen to with your eyes closed) and another from their forthcoming EP "Behave Yourself" due out next week
Cold War Kids - Every Man I Fall For
Cold War Kids - Coffee Spoon
Hopefully everyone found some new music to listen to this week. If not tune in next week because I have a wide range of music that I like and maybe you will find something more suitable to your tastes. I definitely have plenty more to share with you. Until then happy listening.
-Emerson
12.11.2009
Starting Out
Okay everyone, welcome to my new blog! You are obviously here because you have an interest in good music and you think that my taste is music is impeccable; which of course it is, as you will see if you follow my posts. My plan for this blog is to give you just what you are looking for. I plan to share with you any and all music that I find on my daily explorations of the World Wide Web and give you reviews, examples, recommendations, etc. This could include new releases or simply older music that I come upon; but whatever it is I promise it will be good. Essentially I'll be giving you my list of things that I think everyone needs to hear or stay away from in some cases. Hopefully this blog will help you discover someone new or at least give you an idea of what you are buying before you spend the money. I plan on making a post once a week, probably on Wednesdays, unless of course I find something that I need to share right away which may happen often because I get antsy. So thanks for stopping by and make sure you tell everyone you know about me so that we can all share in the glorious wonder that is well crafted music. Oh and check out the song below for a taste of things to come. I'll talk about these guys in my next post.
-Emerson
-Emerson
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