Saturday, February 23, 2013

New Music Tuesday January 29th 2013!


I have a couple new favorites and four actors on board this week. And two legends. Enjoy.

Love they say from Tegan and Sara's 7th album Heartthrob

I want to like these Canadian twins, but I am afraid I really don't care for their music. I heard them at the Killers concert last December and wasn't falling head over heels. Sorry ladies. These indie hotstars have been playing music since 1995.  I get their appeal but I probably wont be nodding my head along with their album. 
These girls are adorable though.

I'm in I'm out and I'm gone from Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite's album Get up!
I love me some harmonica and the blues. Ben Harper I am familiar with, but I needed a 411 on Charlie, and found out he's an old time blues artist, starting in 1967. Part Cherokee Indian, he wails on the harmonica while Ben shows off his inner badass. Who knew.  This is an incredible collaboration and yes, I will be downloading.  How couldn't I, check out this cover art?   This track makes my shoulders and hips move, suddenly I am transported to a Mississippi pub.


I was first introduced to Emmy when I saw her as Christine in Phantom of the Opera. She has taken classic songs I absolutely adore in this collection of covers produced in time for Valentine's Day . Emmy is a singer and an actress, starting her career in 1993. This is a big year for this quiet songstress, as she is also sub-starring in the movie Beautiful Creatures, which opened Feb 16th. If she just wants to act and sing for her own benefit, keep it up Emmy you are talented. But if you are trying to get our attention, you better start jumping on Oprah's couch or something. 


 
The Feeling Kind from Thao the Get Down Stay Down's album We the common
From San Francisco, Thao Nguyen got the hankering for singing when exposed to the Lilith Fair. She has performed with the Portland Cello Project, Andrew Bird, and Joanna Newsom since she emerged in 2003.  She has a funky pop sound with great brass and sass.  Love her horn section.  Wish I could see her at the Doug Fir March 5th.
 

Me & Whiskey from John Corbett's 2nd album Leaving Nothing Behind
Oh John you will forever be Aidan to me. And thank you for showing up in Sex and the City Movie 2. From West Virginia, this heartthrob has caught our attention in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Northern Exposure, Sex and the City, and of course him dating Bo Derek, which he is currently doing. Keep up the singin, cowboy, but I prefer you on the silver screen.

The Great conversation from Charlie Winston's 3rd album Running Still
Perhaps my favorite pick of the week, Charlie is from the UK and a rather large singing family. Everyone goes by their first and middle name, dropping their last. So we will never know they are related…. Ha. Charlie has a beautiful falsetto, and would love to fly to France to catch up with him (which is where he is based out of now).


Bicycle from Hey Ocean's album Is
Ashleigh the lead singer is from Canada, started out singing in 2005. You may recognize her voice as the My Little Pony theme song singer. No?


Bo Diddley Special from Eric Burdon's album Til Your River Runs Dry
Yes you should know who Eric Burdon is. He once sang about a house in New Orleans, with his Animal Brit buddies back in the 60's.  I could listen to this whole album consecutively and not be bored.

Hotel no name from Trixie Whitley's debut album Fourth Corner
Well if you were a determined little girl in Belgium who wanted to make it as a star, what would you do? Yes, at 14 dj at the Museum of Modern Art in Belgium, then move to NYC at 17 to waitress and sing in clubs til someone offers you a record deal. Just you wait til you hear what she has to say. My second favorite of the week. 
 

Nuclear from Destiny Child's album Love Songs
First off, these aren't love songs. Way to market to the Valentine crowd looking for a hookup. Second, the track Nuclear is the only new song off this album. These three ladies started in 1990, which means they were like 10 and 11 years old. Fortunately for us, they didn't "Say my name" til 1997. Then of course Diana Ross I mean Beyonce jumped into movies and her solo career, landing Jay-Z in the process. I must admit her performance at the Super Bowl wasn't terrible, but she should have blow dried her hair back at the hotel instead of taking out the electricity after her number was up. 
 


Brave from Josh Groban's 6th album All that Echoes
The fourth artist of the week that likes to sing AND act, my boss at the Postal Annex wore me out on Josh's music. I realize IM STILL ME, stop saying that, GROBAN! However, this track I picked Brave is interesting and not his usual wine and dine me shit. He shows passion like he did when he replaced Andrea Bocelli to sing with Celine Dion at the 1998 Grammy's. Be brave Josh. Bring it on.

 


 


 

Sunday, February 17, 2013

New Music Tuesday Jan 22nd!

What an eclectic week. Enjoy.

F*ck You from Bad Religions 16th album True North
From LA, these punk mofo's been Bad since 1979 (and so have I).  I went through Bad Religion's music catalog and don't recognize, or even really liked anything.  Does this make me a hater? Maybe. But I'll take it. And even quote them: "F*ck You!" You made be bad-ass with these legends at The Roseland April 14th.
Little Blimp from The Joy Formidable's 2nd album Wolf's Law
Many music greats have come from Wales: Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, er... Charlotte Church. Anyways, The Joy Formidable have gathered quite the hype from other music reviewers.  I'm not buying it.  Just another alternative band from overseas.
Whore from FIDLARS album FIDLAR
While I'm a huge fan of Fiddler on the Roof and Whores, I am not so much into this band. Damn. They too seem to have a lot of hype, but I'm sensing that there's not a lot of 'must have albums' competition.  I had a hard time with this LA alta-rock band, but they would rather skateboard than make music. I'm not a total hater of Fidlar, I really like this song Whore.  Please read this from their Facebook page:
"FIDLAR are slackers at heart. The only thing they really care about is skateboarding; trivial things like doing their homework and making the grade in school have little meaning to them. But when their adopted Vietnamese brother turns up dead after discovering an error in the shipping records at his place of work, FIDLAR begins to suspect something more. Refusing to accept the police's theory of suicide, FIDLAR launches their own investigation, determined to uncover the truth of what really happened to their brother."

Side note: "whore" as a word isn't recognized by my Blackberry, and that makes me happy.

Someday from The Growlers 3rd album Hung at Heart
Another California band, they are skipping Portland on their national tour but DID play at Bunk (??) during MFNW here last September.  There's something about this album that makes me want more. I must say I'm disappointed I can't see them live soon.  This 'alternative' band has coined the term 'beach goth'.
That guitar riff you hear from the intro to Hawaii 5i-O with the modern garage/coffee shop ring.  I'm in.

Be My Baby from Aaron Neville's album My True Story
If only I had access to the video of my childhood best friend, and myself lipsyncing to this Dirty Dancing favorite... Alas, I don't. Mr Neville is from Louisiana and started his career in 1966.  We know his duets with Linda, but to know he could get down and grove his true story all over our asses, well thank YOU.
Binary Mind from Ra Ra Riots 3rd album Beta Love
From Syracuse, NY, this band has changed genres of music since it's dawning in 2006. After they lost their cellist, what do you do? Go synthpop of course.   I like Ra Ra Riot, but haven't downloaded a single...er...single. Perhaps this album will change my binary Mind.  oh snap.
Running outta moonlight from Randy Houser's album How Country Feels
Mr Houser is from Mississippi.  This is this country artists 3rd album, and it made me smile.
Grown up Calls from Toro Y Moi's album Anything in Return
I liked their 2012 album more.
Bones from Gary Allan's album Set you Free
Oh Gary from California, this is your 9th country album since your debut in 1996.  That's pretty good stats.  I must say I'm more impressed with the country folk this week than any other genre. I dare you not to like this country song.  Kick it, Gary.
Castaway from Kris Krisofferson's album Feeling Mortal
From Texas, he's been an outlaw country singer since 1966.  I just saw him in the cutest movie Joyful Noise. Seriously. Dolly don't do no wrong. And Kris gave us Janis Joplin singing 'Me and Bobby McGee'. I heard him on NPR the other day, please listen: