Young songstress Alison May has a truly original voice and her remarkable debut album Earnest Keep delivers a blue hued, powerful string of 12 wide eyed folk songs. There are lovely organ and electric guitar embellishments but it is over all a stripped down effort, relying on little more then Alison’s one of a kind voice and emotive sensibility. My two personal favorites are the cutting “Michael’s Song” which culminates in the deeply effective refrain “prepare yourself… everyone is going to change” and “Ellis” which allows for May to break into a ghostly falsetto when she reaches the climax of the story – which seems to be about immigration into Ellis Island, NY.
This is a stellar debut carried by a great voice, a lot of wonderfully recorded instrumentation and rich, pensive lyrics that reflect a depth far beyond her years.
Based on the astrological belief that the world would soon be entering the “Age of Aquarius”, an age of love, light, and humanity, unlike the current “Age of Pisces”, pioneering funkers 5th Dimension set out to write a universal pop song in the greatest sense. The exact circumstances for the change are “When the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars.”
This change was presumed to occur at the end of the 20th century; however, major astrologers differ extremely widely as to when. Their proposed dates range from 2062 to 2680. I feel like it has just begun… so let the sun shine in!
I will begin this quote with a direct quote from LA Mag – “if Wes Anderson started a band devoted to covering obscure, decades old French pop songs en Anglais seulement, this is what it would sound like.” Not only does that ring true of the sound but also the visual esthetic of this video which reeks of Anderson’s vibrant Kubrickian touch.
Formed in 2005 by two Westlake Village high school kids, Foxygen has risen within an earshot of mass appeal in a very short amount of time. Thier new album, We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, came out January 22 on Jagjaguwar and after The Winter Issue of Under The Radar (who’s artists gushed over the lads and placed them in several top album lists) it is fair to say Foxygen has earned their buzz.
This is an all around great clip that underscores the mimed performance of Sam France, who seems to naturally revel in the campiness of it all.
Toronto based Bedouin Soundclash, who’s name derives from dub artist Badawi, released the excellent ska tinged LP Light the Horizon in 2010 – following a no holds bar attack on Canadian radio and UK advertising. Not to mention a string of festival gigs with artists such as Ben Harper and Coldplay.
The delectably produced “Brutal Hearts” finds the band exploring the stripped down pop of the 1960′s with fantastic results. Vocalist Jay Malinowski truly shines here with his effortless crooning, giving guest vocalist Coeur de Pirate a run for her sultry money, while the bossa nova influenced drum machine ticks off a fantastically memorable groove.
The album was released under the bands own label Pirates Blend Records.
Back when things like the emotive quality of a voice and a startlingly original tune mattered… bands like The Cranberries ruled the airwaves. Music videos even took the liberty of being more provocative, urging the MTV generation to acknowledge a truer, more real reality. Somehow we managed to avoid such pearls of wisdom and become the me generation.
The subject matter of the song is still as relevant as it was… maybe even more now. Why we cant seem to wrap our national head around the fact that we may come from different families and races but are still one, is baffling. There are some current bands out there forging the road ahead after the deep slumber of the early 2000′s, namely LA’s The Morning Birds who’s songstress has a similar bravado.
I had the good fortune of coming across this band earlier this year as I was yearning for some robust rock. I was immediately struck by the raw, un-cookie-cutter flavor and brash songwriting of The Jelly Project who are adored by their local St. Paul, Minnesota biker clubs.
The quartet has returned after their first national tour with this strangely insightful video for the kinky thrasher “Stupid Animal”. It is a clever attack on societal norms, reaffirming their penetrating outlaw image while giving the listener plenty of funky visuals to keep in their head after the song is over.
God Bless The Jelly Project for breathing some new, innovative life into the stale indie scene of 2012. Hopefully they can continue their unmasking of the sheepish and expose more and more people to their vital slice of American Rock.
Enjoy a nice pick me up with Rumspringa’s “Goldmine” (2008) from the album Sway. A well cut DIY vibe reminiscent of of the youthful abandon seen in The Vines “Outatheway”. A little footage of the kids traipsing around echo park, playing in the sunlight… a packed show with guys and gals singing along, leaking out into the parking lot… Some silhouettes/minimal props against a red certain. Some well executed editing brings it all together with fantastic indie flair. Of course the African arpeggios, James Brown gusto and slamming kick provide a great canvas.
Now I’m not much into silly YouTube videos of low res images set to someone’s famous song, so please forgive the nature of this video on my blog. I am however deeply effected by this video because it is done well with beautiful imagery and set to a completely awe inspiring song by Mr. Jai Uttal. There is something unearthly about the lyrics and arrangement that transcend traditional music yet bubble with more substantial power then the newage fusion he is known for. Perhaps if Leonard Cohen had gone to India, studied with a voice teacher and recorded with Phillip Glass it would sound something like this. My point being… I could listen to it all day long
It is wonderful to come across a new artist with such a well put together image and remarkably mainstream sound. Tini Grey’s debut album Shades of Grey retains his soulful island essence while exploring R&B, Pop and Folk Rock. It is diverse enough to hold your attention and cohesive enough to paint a full picture of the artist and his message, which is refreshingly positive in nature.
Even the songs that speak on his rougher times seem to have an upbeat vibe in both the music and delivery. “I Feel Lucky” and “Just Smile” both revolve around bringing the best out of a hard situation… and I must say that it is truly a gift to have these kind of emotions articulated in the form of an accessible pop song. If you’re having one of those days, you could simply flip on either of these tracks to shed some light on the darkness and bring some resolve to those negative feelings.
The video above for the catchy single “Company” is a great calling card for Mr. Grey as he moves through vibrant backdrops singing the addictive chorus, gradually becoming more and more surrounded by his loved ones and friends. A great use of color, simplicity and timing keep the viewer raptured and ensure you come away humming the melody line for days after.
My personal favorite on the album is the closer “Raise Them Up”. It is a compassionate and patriotic plea to acknowledge our fallen war heroes. Tini’s voice works really well here, especially when he bites into the lyrics of the last chorus. Again the song seems to deal with very heavy subject matter in a upflifting way, something extremely hard to do, especially with something as controversial as war.
Bryan Evershed’s singing does all the talking on his recent single. With a keen indie appeal and startling sense of melody, Bryan has composed an excellent song here with a very unique chord progression reminiscent of 60′s singer songwriter pop. This is fresh off his EP Surprise,which is sprinkled with similar rootsy strumming and punctuated by punk and alternative rock. A blend which helps distinguish Bryan’s sound, making this outing even more memorable.
