Monthly Archives: October 2012

Chase Away the Mondays with a New Honor By August Video

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Six years ago, Alternative Addiction asked me to write a review for an album by a DC band I’d never heard of before.  Enter into my life Honor By August.  In the six years since then, I’ve come to love this band and their music.  I am lucky to call them friends, and so happy to be a contributor to the Kickstarter campaign to fund their new album, Monuments to Progress.

Today, they released a video for their song, “Somebody Real,” the first single off that new, yet-to-be released album.  It is one of my favorites of the new songs, and is a testament to the boys’ hard work for this record.  Since that very first live show I saw in 2006, I knew that this band was something special, and this video gets me so excited for what is to come for them.  I am so proud to be an Honor By August fan today.

Congrats Brian, Evan, Michael and Chris … Ya’ll deserve all the great things that I know are coming your way!

Ladies and gentlemen, “Somebody Real” by Honor By August.

More Honor By August:  Web | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Kickstarter

New Stereophonics: Violins & Tambourines

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Earlier this week, news came out that my fave Welsh band, The Stereophonics, would be releasing their new album in early 2013 (not sure what this means for a stateside release). This in itself is cause for Krissie-celebration.  But it gets better…..

Along with the announcement of the forthcoming new album, they rolled out a video/mini-movie for the first single, “Violins and Tambourines.”  IT IS SO GOOD. I’m not much for videos – I think the music should be able to stand on its own.  However, with the ‘Phonics, the video only serves to augment the story.  Lead singer Kelly Jones, who directed this dark little mini-movie, has a knack for observing the people around him and capturing the little details, eccentricities and monotony of everyday life in his lyrics.  “Violins and Tambourines” is no different – except now, there’s a face that goes along with Jones’ story.  The tune is filled with undulating guitars, strings and a crescendo of percussion that catches you up in the seedy underworld constructed by the lyrics and Jones’ ever-brooding vocals.

 

The song and video have definitely whet my appetite for some new ‘Phonics…now I just have to hope that a U.S. release date doesn’t take until 2014!

More Stereophonics:  Web | Facebook | Twitter

Mum on Mumford

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Mumford and Sons

Hot-to-trot UK artists Mumford & Sons are everyone’s darlings…except mine. What’s wrong with my ears?

Last week, amid scores and scores of my music friends clamoring about the new Mumford & Sons release, Babel, I kept my mouth shut.  Why? I do not get the hype.  For someone who considers music her biggest passion in life, you’d think I would be ashamed to admit these things, huh?  I’m not.

I do feel like I’m just missing something, though.  What in the world makes people ga-ga over them?  [Aside: I also don’t get Muse, and I thought John Mayer was better when Clay Cook was writing his songs, so I guess I just have no musical sense whatsoever.]

It’s not that I don’t appreciate their talent – I do.  The dudes obviously have some serious chops.  But sometimes, the ear just love what the ear loves – and mine does not love Mumford. Call me blasphemous, I suppose, but I just don’t think they’re all that original.

That said, when word got out today that Daytrotter had a new Mumford & Sons session up with a cover of Springsteen’s “Atlantic City”…well, I had to go check it out.  It’s one of my favorite Bruce songs, and I can appreciate someone who does a great cover of it. If anything can make me love a band, it’s turning a Springsteen song into something new and original.  That’s how I caught on to The Hold Steady, after all. My love for Matthew Ryan blossomed upon hearing his cover of “Something in the Night.”  And I developed a new found appreciation for Ben Harper after he covered “My Father’s House.”

But alas, even Bruce love can’t help this cause.  The cover didn’t stir my soul.  I’m still completely loveless for Mumford.

Really, is there something wrong with my ears that I don’t get this band?  Someone help me out.