A Jersey girl transplanted in NC rambles on about music, family, friends, her favorite bar and a bunch of other inconsequential stuff that makes up her life.
The baby boy of Carly and James, the fabulous Ben Taylor, has been busy making new music. His camp posted a video, directed by John Forte, of a new song called “It’s Not So Sad” this morning. I love that Ben can switch from having funky songs with edge to these brooding melodies that are more reminiscent of his dad’s style. The video, obviously shot in an apartment with a Christmas tree doing some a little light display, has a very intimate feel to it. You can even catch them talking at the end about how they’re going to record it… Can’t wait to hear more new stuff from this incredibly talented songster!
My favorite little foursome out of L.A., The Ruse, is killing it with their new EP, Rebellion. Check out their new video for “Simple Grace,” a gorgeous, scaled-back, romantic number, one of two quiet songs on the EP. The black and white video is super sexy; and how cool is the wine-cigar-fire bit?
Rich, heartfelt Americana from Fort Frances in this FREE Daytrotter Session!
My friend David McMillin can sing his little butt off (and it is little! He’s so indie skinny!). His band can play some serious instruments. Together, they are Fort Frances, a little folk Americana band from the middle of the country … and they are everything that is good about music. Today, a little session they did hit Daytrotter, and it’s up for free download. I cannot encourage you enough to go get it.
Bonus: the session includes three as-of-yet unreleased songs that are wickedly good, particularly “How to Turn Back Again,” a tune that has got my heart doing jumping jacks – it’s THAT fabulous.
About eight years ago, I got turned on to a sweaty, rock n’ roll singer and his band from Nashville. Since that fateful fall of 2003, Will Hoge and his boys have become one of my favorite bands of all time, and my absolute favorite act to see live (yes, even eclipsing The Boss, kid – and that’s a huge statement for me to make).
Last night, the fellas made their debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Watching them rock it out on national television was just the best thing…I am so excited for them, for the long overdue attention they are getting, and I’m so proud to be one of their fans. The world needs more Will Hoge! Hit the link below to see what I’ve been going on and on about for years…..
Yeah, I know. Long overdue. What can I say … life’s been crazy and it’s all I can do to keep up with breathing, let alone music. But, I do have a couple of tracks that have been burning up the old music machines around chez Krissie. And here they are, for your listening enjoyment.
1. Ruby Soho (Rancid Cover) – Jimmy Cliff
If there is any one person that I should thank for my love of music, it’s my Dad. He was my earliest influencer, and Santa gave me tapes as gifts when I was as young as 7 (point in case, Springsteen’s Born to Run). When I was about 10 years old, Dad, who I think was probably meant to live in the Caribbean, came back from a trip with Jimmy Cliff. He dubbed me a tape copy of Hanging Fire, and I must have listened to “Brown Eyes” a million times on my boom box. Since then, I’ve had a fascination with Jimmy, and was stoked to see him release a little EP of covers a few weeks ago. This fun, upbeat reggae twist on one of my favorite cult 90s classics is my favorite.
2. ‘Til My Heart Gives Out (Mountain Song) – The Lusitania
My friends over at Alternative Addiction gave me a heads up about this San Antonio, Texas band a couple of weeks ago and their 2010 album, Rain and Rivers, has been in rotation ever since. If you’re a fan of The Avett Brothers, OAR, or The Grand Magnolias, you’re going to like this band. Got a little country-bluegrass-pop-punk thing happening. As the temperatures drop, this is the kinda music that keeps me rolling down the river in mid-summer in my mind.
3. Bumps in the Night – The Ruse
Also putting out an EP within the last few weeks is my favorite little LA rock outfit, The Ruse. These fellas know how to put together a rock song, and the Rebellion EP is no exception. Two tracks, in particular, have reinvigorated my craving for guitar-driven rock n’ roll, and this is one of them (for the other, In Defense of the Rebellion, visit here). And I’ve said it already, but I’ll say it again…Jason Young, their drummer, is my hero.
4. The Heyday – Somebody to Someone
There is no denying my love for infectious little pop songs, and no band writes more ear wormy, hand clapping ditties than The Heyday out of Colorado. The fellas put out a new single this week, and it is full of hooky goodness … Bonus: the god of production and songwriting that is Christopher Jak had a hand in it. If this song doesn’t make you wish for being 17 and taking a roadtrip with your best friends, I don’t know what will.
5. Holy Ghost – Flagship
This is actually an older song that’s been redone. I wrote awhile ago about two of Charlotte’s young, promising acts – Flagship and Campbell the Band – merging. They decided to ditch a new name and stick with Flagship. This weekend, they put up a video of them performing an older Flagship song, “Holy Ghost” … wow. Forget that every video they put up is outstanding in its production… I am so in love with Drake Margolnick’s voice. It’s just intoxicating. Mesh an already tremendous song with the players’ from Campbell the Band’s ability to write some melancholic little melodies, you have a hit just waiting to happen. Telling you now, watch these kids. They’re going to do big things.
Brooding rock single "Fire Escape," off Civil Twilight's forthcoming album, is now available on their website.
South African rocker trio Civil Twilight’s been in the studio working on a new album, set to release on March 13. The first single from the album, “Fire Escape,” dropped today and is available for download on their website (as of January 31, the single is also available on iTunes and Amazon).
If you haven’t had the pleasure of listening to or seeing these fellas live, you gotta make it a priority. They were an easy sell for me after seeing them perform live for the first time last year…Dark-tinged, moody rock, full of addictive bass lines, really sharp writing and killer vocals. They have not gotten enough exposure in the U.S., as far as I’m concerned…
If the new single is any indication of what’s to come on the album, I think fans are going to be happy. It’s a little more up tempo than some of their songs off their debut album released in 2010 (which, it should be noted, is only $5 at Amazon this month), but retains their stylistic haunting sound. Definitely worth dropping a buck on!
A long time ago … seriously, close to 10 years ago … I went to a Carbon Leaf show here in Charlotte and this crazy-talented fiery red headed kid and his band opened the show. I know I say I love music all the time, but I say this with all the conviction in my heart: that night, I fell deeply in love with Josh Queen’s music. So much so that I accosted his manager and asked what I could do to help. For the next several years, Josh Queen was the center of my musical universe, and became one of my closest friends in the process. I would have followed – and still would! – that kid off the edges of the earth to listen to him sing. I believe in Josh, I believe in his music, and I love the kid like a brother. He is truly one of the best “discoveries” of my life.
A couple of years ago, Josh moved to Denver. He and his buddy, Dave Wright, who lived in Nashville, started writing songs and sharing them back and forth over the computer – a la The Postal Service, but via e-mail. They’d record audio and video snippets and e-mail them cross country. That’s how The Jealous Kind was born. A musical collaboration between two friends, true music lovers, paying homage to the bands that they love. Bands like Toad the Wet Sprocket and Counting Crows, Better Than Ezra and the like. They put out their debut EP together. Two songs that melted my heart and my ears.
My friendship with Josh, and because of him my friendship with Dave, is one truly rooted in music. They’re not just musicians – they are music fans that love music. I often get texts from Josh out of the blue that have quoted song lyrics – his way of telling me he loves a song or thinks a line is particularly awesome. They don’t care about being famous or writing “indie” music that the hipsters will love. They just write the music that they want to listen to. These are two guys that have full-time jobs and families, and yet they still make time for making music. And I think that’s awesome.
Now click off on that iPod of yours. Because I’m about to beg.
My personal plea to all of you: please help these boys make a new record. They never ask for anything from anyone and their music DESERVES to be heard.
I was the first one on board today when they announced their Kickstarter campaign to help raise $2000 to record the new EP. Yeah, I know that us music fans have been bombarded with requests to help out on records, and I’ve personally contributed a number of projects already this year. But like I said…I believe in Josh, and any music he makes is worth a million 24k bars of gold in my mind.
This holiday season, if music is the love of your life, if you’re a music fan who wants to support a good cause, if you’ve got a couple of extra bucks to spare, or if you want to give me a huge Christmas present, please drop a few bucks into The Jealous Kind’s Kickstarter campaign. It will be money well spent. I promise.
As 2011 draws to a close, I’m starting to put together my “best of” lists for the year, and I can say with absolute certainty that Austin’s Saints of Valory will top a number of them. They were my favorite new band discovery this year… So, it makes me merry that the fellas put out an original holiday ditty to finish out the year!
“Winter Lights” sparkles with everything I love about this band’s music…questioning, self-reflection provoking lyrics, sticky choruses, lovely guitar interludes (and a striking little organ intro) … and builds to this gorgeous crescendo of a children’s choir and a snappy military snare breakdown. Of course, Gavin’s plaintive vocals are huge, as always. It’s timeless enough to be played year round, honestly, but definitely wrapped in a great little holiday package, complete with a meaningful message and jingle bells.
And the video is gorgeous, too. There’s something about the golden light that just lends itself to the song… Love the drummer boy outfits and the paper confetti cannons!
Pick up your copy of “Winter Lights” and get on board this year with Saints of Valory. By this time in 2012, they’ll be shining for the world to see.
I am a sucker for rock n’ roll of all kinds…but one of my biggest weaknesses is Brit rock, or faux Brit rock, as some may call it. I blame Lee Garrett, really, for introducing me to The Stereophonics a decade ago and making me fall in love… and ever since then, it’s just been an obsession.
I’ve been craving screaming guitar, thrumming bass and pounding drums like a pregnant woman wants pickles lately. Luckily, I’ve got the cure. Three cures, actually. And not a one of ‘em British.
To help rock you through your long Thanksgiving weekend, let me introduce you to: The Midnight Youth, hailing from New Zealand; and two long-time go-tos for blistering rock, both out of California, The Golden State & The Ruse.
You’re welcome. Happy Turkey Rock.
THE MIDNIGHT YOUTH | Web | Facebook | Twitter
Recently, a New Zealand band I follow on Twitter mentioned The Midnight Youth and how they were releasing a new album soon; said they couldn’t wait for it. Can’t explain what it was about that tweet that made me click on the link, but I did. And I tripped into the rock n’ roll wonderland of The Midnight Youth. After watching their French Girl video, I knew I had to have more. A week later, their World Comes Calling album was released, and it has literally been on repeat ever since. I am hypnotized by lead singer Jeremy Redmore’s clean, soaring vocals that are reminiscent of the best 70s rock bands. If that didn’t win me over, the incredible, beatastic smashing drums and cymbals of Aidan Bartlett would have. This is 2011′s answer to arena rock. The whole album is tremendous, but I am especially in love with “Listen” and the title track – nicely captured in the video below. Seriously, you need to own this record, people. It is baffling to me that we are not promoting music like this in the U.S.
GOLDEN STATE | Web | Facebook | Twitter
Oh, Golden State. A stumbled upon this brit-esque band a few years back when I was looking for a track to round out one of my mix CDs. I’ve been following them ever since. Lead singer James Grundler started in a band called Paloalto that broke up in 2004, and Golden State got together soon after. They’ve released two full lengths, including their latest album Division, and a number of EPs (some that you can’t get any more), been featured music on “Deadliest Catch” in several seasons (particularly poignant was the use of their song “All Roads Lead Home” during the scenes during and following Captain Phil’s death). Again, win me over with vocals, woo me with guitar shredding and heartpounding rhythms… These boys have it. Today, they released their video for “World on Fire” and it just makes me love ‘em more. Graceful, beautiful rock n’ roll.
The Ruse's Rebellion dropped today...and it's fab!
Years ago, The Ruse came and played at The Evening Muse in Charlotte. I was instantly sold on them; the influence from Brit and Euro bands like U2 is fairly obvious, but their writing was what won me over. Absolutely gorgeous lyrics, and we all know I’m a lyrics girl. Then came their 2008 release Midnight in the City, which made #1 on my Top Ten list… And, might I add, spawned an iTunes free single of the week with “Beautiful Is Gone.” Last year’s Love, Sex, Confusion just added to my minor obsession, especially after the creative video for “I Can’t Stop” came out. They’re simply one of the best unknown rock bands in the U.S. So I was pretty excited to download their new EP, Rebellion, today… And I’m pleased as punch with it! This little five song EP is scaled back a bit from their previous records…less “wall of sound,” quieter guitars, softer edges, lots of melodic “whoas” and “ohs”…but it really showcases the songwriting and the individual band members contributions to the music. My favorite track right now is the hardest rocker on the album, “In Defense of the Rebellion” (quite appropriate given the political climate/Occupy movement going on right now), but I’m also quickly falling in love with “Ten Thousand Years.” Epic love story, really, and I’m one of those sappy romantic types. At under $5, you can definitely afford to drop $5 of your Black Friday spending money on this as a gift to yourself!
