I was happy to hear that Two Door Cinema Club has finally released a new single (which you can sample by clicking the music video below)! But if you've never heard of the Irish trio, I strongly recommend listening to a couple of tunes from the group's last album, Tourist History, first. "Something Good Can Work" and "What You Know" are two of the best indie-tracks of 2010 and still get recurrent spins on my iPod. Their latest, "Sleep Alone," is a bit more polished than anything on the band's first disc. Their new single may have lost a bit of the band's indie-edginess, but it's still a fine-crafted pop-tune… especially down to the track's final 30-seconds where they channel a bit of Viva la Coldplay.
Regarding their new album, singer Alex Trimble said, "Beacon is a much more intimate record than our first, but at the same time, it's much bigger and more inclusive. Trying to find that balance has been our goal for a long time and this record takes us one step closer to the band we've dreamt of becoming."
The rest of Beacon will see the light of day in early September.
Welcome back, new music maniacs! Glad to see you're still staying ahead of the curve.
By-the-way, you can listen to each of the tunes on these pages by clicking on the song title. If you've been having problems with the link, you may have better luck through Firefox. But if you're trying to play them via your iPad or iPhone... sorry. Blame Apple.
Okay, here's your chance to be the first on your block to play these recently-released, soon-to-be-hit singles! Ready... GO!
"SHE'S SO MEAN"-MATCHBOX20
I've been a big fan of Matchbox20 from their start when they stopped up for a fun interview and a memorable acoustic performance of "Long Day" on my Orlando radio show just after they signed their first record deal and shortly before the release of their debut album in 1996. Well, it's been over a decade since the last all-new MB20 album, but I'm happy to say that Rob Thomas and crew have come up with another gem.
Using a classic power-pop recipe featuring sharp guitar riffs, hand-claps along with that same passion Thomas supplied for "Smooth," Matchbox20's "She's So Mean" has hit-single written all over it... to the degree that if you avoided listening to radio altogether (like I do), this song will still find a way to seek you out. So, you might as well give in now as the parent album (North) won't be out until September 4th.
Incidentally, Thomas pointed out that "She's So Mean" is not about his wife. Instead, it's “really a tongue-in-cheek song about a girl who keeps
doing you wrong, but you can’t stay away. Like a drug, every guy and
girl have had someone like that in their life at some time or another.”
"GIMME TWICE"-ROYAL CONCEPT
This act sounds more like Phoenix than Phoenix sounds like Phoenix. But, after further review, they're actually a Swedish band that was originally called The Concept. But after they discovered there was another group on the East End called The Concept they had to rename themselves The Royal Concept. Then when The Concept decided to revert their name to The Regulars, The Royal Concept briefly considered going back to The Concept but instead thought, "What's the point?"
From what I understand, this track was recorded in Dublin so it's entirely safe to crank it up to 11.
Got time for two more? Great! These are pretty damn good too!
Don't you hate when you're singing along to a song and the artist you're listening to gets the lyrics all wrong? Just sayin'. (File under: "Bathroom on the right.")
Okay... here are a few very interesting recently-released sing-a-long alternative tracks that definitely stand-out from most of the crap corporate radio pushes on us daily. (Burn!) As usual, this blog is Nickleback-free.
"ANNA SUN" - WALK THE MOON
I love an uptempo tune that - with just a couple listens - can put you in a better frame-of-mind. Ready to get happy? Meet the Cincinnati-based indy-band Walk the Moon and a poppy-piece that keytar player Nicholas Pettrica says is, "about college, and maintaining that little bit of being a kid." Love the catchy synth-riff and especially the line, "We got no money, but we got heart!" (Be sure to check ou their music video!)
"MEANT" - ELIZAVETA
A couple of months ago a posted a review of "Video Games" from Lana Del Ray. This ballad, "Meant," is comprised of a lot of the same heartbreaking, sultry emotion. Russian-raised Elizaveta delivers her vocals carefully, methodically while evoking a lack of trust. (Her, saying: "I still think that we were meant to be." Her, then thinking: "Lie to me now." Genius.) She said of her vocals, "I was coming down with a cold, and my throat was in shreds after singing it a number of times, in order to get the perfect take. Also because it is so emotional, and my voice kept giving out."
"1901" - BIRDY
It's hard to believe that English singer Birdy (Jasmine van den Bogaerde) is only 15-years old. Her interpretation of the Phoenix hit from 2009 - about the ups-and-downs of a young couple living in turn-of-the-century Paris - comes across as if it came from the vantage-point of a veteran heart. I've always loved the more-uptempo Phoenix original, but I think you'll agree with me when I say Birdy's Tori Amos-like take flies much higher.
I hope you had a chance to check out my recommendations from earlier this month as they're just beginning to take off. The Gotye track "Someone That I Used To Know" is especially getting alot of attention nationally! But that was yesterday's news! On to this week's picks!
"TONGUE TIED"-GROUPLOVE
I know we're just a few weeks into 2012, but I'm gonna be bold and label this track the feel-good song-of-the-year! I've been playing this Grouplove single for three-weeks now and still can't get enough of it. And, odds are if you pull up next to me while I'm in my car, I'll be singing along to it at the top of my lungs. You may have already heard "Tongue Tied" as it was used in an iPod Touch television commercial last month. Trivia: Grouplove's Ryan Rabin (drummer/producer) is the son of former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin. Get to know it!
"DEDICATION TO MY EX (MISS THAT)"-LLOYD
Okay, I'm was a little slow on this one as it was released four-months ago. But what-the-hell... if it pleads, it leads! What peaked my interest the very first time I listened to "Dedication To My Ex" is I immediately recognized that this soulful song (from R&B singer Lloyd Polite, Jr.) samples the bass loop from one of my favorite Duffy tunes: 2008's "Mercy." The track, which features André 3000 of OutKast and is "narrated" by Lil Wayne, has enough funk to get your grandma dancing! Just tell her that word she can't quite understand is "cookie."
It's a new year and everyone is making resolutions to eat less and exercise more. I, on the other hand, promise to try and get these blogs out in a timely fashion because I've been slacking as-of-late. So, how about updates once a week? Okay, that ain't gonna happen... so, let's make that once a month. Deal.
Since my previous post, which was last October, I've discovered a handful of great tunes. But, by now, you've probably heard of some of them. If not, you gotta check them out. And, I pledge to update this page with more shiny-new pop songs often, and... eat less and exercise more.
"LONELY BOY"-THE BLACK KEYS
What's not to like about this track? "Lonely Boy" has several layers of hook from the bluesy guitar to the motivating back-beat and a obsessive chorus that will have you singing along after your first listen. ("Oh, OH, oh-oh... I got a love that keeps me waiting...") The parent album El Camino was only released last month and has quickly been added to many critic's favorites lists of 2011, including mine. The song was co-written and produced by Danger Mouse.
"SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW"-GOTYE
I'm usually attracted to something that stands out from all of the others, a song that is definitely uniquely unique. This post-relationship point/counter-point set-of-lyrics starts out delicate but builds to an emotional climax with lyrics about broken promises and how to move on after an emotional break-up. The roles are played perfectly by Gotye (Australia's Wouter De Backer) and Kimbra (New Zealand's Kimbra Agiejew). Love... this... song!!!
"TONIGHT"-SEETHER
You don't have to be into post-grunge/alternative metal to dig this single from the South African band Seether. "Tonight," which is part of their album Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray, is heavy but melodic and romantically uplifting as well. It is by far the best cut from their new album and has already hit the top of several rock charts in North America. Remember, it'll sound better at "11."
After you add the above three suggestions to your music library, here are a few others I've been playing on my iPod since Thanksgiving that you might want to get to know too!
I attended the American Music Awards in Los Angeles last week... well, sort of. I was able to crash a couple AMA pre-parties (Thank you, Melissa!), but wasn't able to score credentials to the big show. I was, however, able to be part of the small crowd that was allowed to witness the pre-show AMA taping of Hot Chelle Rae performing a couple of their songs outside the Nokia Theatre. (You can audition their latest hit at the bottom of this page.)
Just as the AMA's big winners this year were women (Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Adele...), I too seemed to have leaned a bit toward the female voices in songs I've added to my iPod this month. Here's what I feel are a few of the best new releases over the past few weeks
"VIDEO GAMES"-LANA DEL REY
The first time I listened to "Video Games" from Lana Del Rey, I was waiting for this slow, lazy, mournful torch song to kick-in. Well, it doesn't. It ends as it begins. And you know what? That's okay. But before you hit "play," be sure to listen with the headsets on and your eyes closed as this haunting ballad is sure to conjure up lots of imagery.
"WE ALL GO BACK TO WHERE WE BELONG"-R.E.M.
To my ears, REM's swan-song single "We All Go Back To Where We Belong" sounds as if the track was written and scored by Burt Bacharach and could have easily been a hit in the 1960's for Dionne Warwick. So later, when I picked up a recent edition of Rolling Stone and read a review that referenced the same Bacharach connection, I felt vindicated. Now, it's not the band's best effort, but when you take into account they're using these three-minutes to say "Goodbye," you kind of want to hang on a little longer.
"GAMES PEOPLE PLAY"-LISSIE
Nashville guitarist Joe South first put "Games People Play" inside Billboard's top-20 in 1969 and those lyrics have been covered countless times over the past 40-years by acts from Mel Torme and Jerry Lee Lewis to Hank Williams Jr. and James Taylor. Blue-eyed soul singer Lissie gives the protest-song a rootsy revival which makes it an easy listen. It's one of five-tracks of covers from her recently-released EP Covered Up In Flowers.
"GONNA GET OVER YOU"-SARA BAREILLES
"I'm gonna get over you. I'll be alright, just not to-night." Know that feeling. That's the punch-line from "Gonna Get Over You," the latest pop-perfect hit single from Sara Bareilles which features broken-hearted lyrics set to an upbeat backdrop. It's not as effervescent as "Uncharted," but still worth $1.29.
"TALLULAH"-COMPANY OF THIEVES
Here's a funky, horn-driven piece of soul that sounds as if Lily Allen accidentally booked a recording session with Tower of Power. "Tallulah" from the Chicago-based threesome Company of Thieves is my feel-good track of the month and should have your head a-bobbin' and your foot a-tappin' before the track comes to a quick stop. By-the-way, the little girl with the big voice is Genevieve Schatz who said the song was inspired after a drive through the abandoned town of Tallulah, Louisiana shortly after Katrina. She said she noticed lots of ivy vines completely engulfing the structures as if Mother Nature was taking the buildings back and saying, "We'll start over here!" She added, "There is life in the process of death. I just really enjoyed that, and wanted to celebrate it in a very New Orleans, Motown, some type of soulful fashion. So we paired these lyrics with this fun horn section to make an upbeat dance song."
Here are a couple others I've added over the past several weeks that you just may want to keep as your own.
Folk, rock, alternative too. Well, this week I discovered a handful of tunes that represent a few of the colorful bands of that wonderful rock and roll rainbow. Just click on the links below to hear the songs.
Check 'em all out... see which ones you like!
"YOU'LL BE MINE"-THE PIERCES
Is there such a thing as female adult alternative folk-pop? If not, there is now. Meet the Pierces, comprised of Birmingham-born sisters (Catherine and Allison) who possess identical pitch-perfect voices that harmonize so well together they sound as if one person was double-tracked in the recording studio. I liked the studio version of "You'll Be Mine" immediately but found a greater appreciation for this very personal composition after listening to Catherine explain how they came to write the ballad (which is followed by an acoustic performance of the song). I think you'll like it as quick as... one, two, three.
"NOT YOUR FAULT"-AWOLNATION
There's no way in hell that AWOLNATION will ever top last year's "Sail." That synth-laden track is still freakin' awesome and so unique! But I had to give props to the band-in-all-capital's latest single from Megalithic Symphony which is a much more uptempo, just as synthesized, track called "Not Your Fault." After just a couple of listens you'll be singing along with the hook. If not, then it is your fault.
"DIFFERENT"-XIMENA SARINANA
Finally, let me introduce you to Ximena Sariñana (hi-MEN-a sa-rin-YAH-na), a 20-something Mexican-born actress, singer-songwriter who falls into the category of "adorable." Although the majority of her previous recordings have been in Spanish, there's hope that "Different" will more than cross-over to the American pop charts. (I just now heard part of this song used in a Pop Tart TV commercial! Mmmm, Pop Tarts!) Take a listen to her matter-of-fact delivery on "Different" and see if you agree that it's sort of in the same style of that 1987 hit song "Breakout." (Okay, besides me, who remembers Swing Out Sister? Anyone...?)
Here are three other new tracks worth checking out:
I caught a bit of Kid Rock's performance on television during the nationally televised Green Bay Packers home-opener pre-game festivities at Lambeau Field last week and had to give another listen to his latest single "Care." Every AC station in the country is probably playing the ballad right now and I came close to recommending it this week. It's a solid song, especially the version with Martina McBride, but after a couple weeks I found myself already skipping past it whenever it pops up on the Pod. It became a quick burn-out for me... but check it out for yourself. See if you Care.
But moving on... there were two stand-out tracks that I've been giving quite a bit of repeated play lately. Oh, by-the-way, this week's picks are brought to you by the letter "W."
"I MIGHT"-WILCO
The new Wilco album The Whole Love is supposed to be available toward the end of this month but the band advance-released the track "I Might" which I've already listened to well over 30-times. Partly because it's so catchy-cool and partly because I've been (unsuccessfully) trying to decipher the lyrics that lead-vocalist Jeff Tweedy is singing. ("Slim Jim..." what?) But what makes the song extra special are the xylophone accents throughout the tune and a very catchy keyboard riff à la ? and the Mysterians.
"HANG ON"-WEEZER
The second single from the latest Weezer album Hurley (yeah, that's that "Lost" dude on the cover) is finally getting some notice. Check out "Hang On" which is so hooky I'm sure that when the band performs the tune live, the title will easily become an audience-participatory fist-pumping chant. Here's something curious about the track: "Hang On" features actor Michael Cera ("Superbad," "Juno") on backing vocals, mandolin and hurdy gurdy.
That's it for now. More to come! Right now I'm heading to Google to find out what the hell a hurdy gurdy is.
Lots of catching-up to do today. Packers pre-season football had me temporarily distracted. Here's what got the nod for the Pod this week!
"HOW COME YOU NEVER GO THERE"-FEIST
Remember Feist? The last time she released an album your house was worth twice as much as it is now. While taking a break from the biz, she found time to pen songs for Metals (out in October), her first collection of new tunes since 2007 when Apple elevated her to pop-star status when they borrowed her "1234" to promote their iPod. She could have gone the safe-route and released "5678," but kudos to Miss Feist for taking a slightly different, slower, more deliberate and bluesier road with the just-released single, "How Come You Never Go There."
"I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING"-BELLE and SEBASTIAN
I've been fascinated with the Scottish group Belle and Sebastian since the first time I heard "For the Price of a Cup of Tea." Check out "I Didn't See It Coming," an easy-on-the-ears pop tune they made much more interesting with addition of the psychedelic bit around the middle-eight.
"WHAT YOU KNOW"-TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
Next up is a track from the Irish group Two Door Cinema Club. The best 3-minutes they've ever came up with was "Something Good Can Work" from 2009... but they come close with their latest, "What You Know." They picked up lots of iPod adds after they performed the song for Jimmy Fallon earlier this year.
"GO OUTSIDE"-CULTS
Get ready for the... xylophone solo! Here's a band so new they didn't exist a little over a year ago. With the help of singer Lily Allen, the Manhattan-based duo the Cults picked-up a record deal which was followed by the release of their debut, eponymously-titled album release last month. Drenched in echo, "Go Outside" has a sing-along, sway-back-and-forth, kind of charm to it.
"THE WALK"-MAYER HAWTHORNE
Is 70's horn-based R&B starting to make a comeback? You would think so with the recent success of Fitz & the Tantrums. If you were a fan of "MoneyGrabber," you'll also dig this brand new retro-soul single called "The Walk" from Mayer Hawthorne. I just read that's a stage moniker he created by pairing his middle name with the street he grew up on. (But isn't that how you come up with your stripper name? Just sayin'.)
Here are a few other honorable mentions that deserve a once-over...
