Author Archives: Krissie

‘Tis the Season for More Saints of Valory

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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.

More Saints of Valory:  Web | Twitter | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube

The Thanksgiving Rock Block: The Midnight Youth, Golden State & The Ruse

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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 | Web | Facebook | Twitter

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!

The Life Part of Music.Love.Life.

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The thing I love about my little “Music.Love.Life” tagline (one day the URL will free up and I’ll nab it) is that it means multiple things to me.  Usually on this blog, you guys see one side:  music being a big part of my life. But today’s post isn’t about music.

The “life” part of the tag exists for other reasons, too.

Sixteen years ago today, I fell.  Hit my head.  Pretty hard. (I know, it explains a lot.) Walked around for a few days with a pretty bad headache. Went to the doctor when it wouldn’t go away.  Had a fun little CAT scan, followed by an even more fun ride on a state trooper helicopter.  Too bad I don’t remember that part – by that time, they had me loaded up on pain medication.

See, when I fell, I gave my noggin’ a pretty good shake.  Enough to sheer some blood vessels that caused some blood to leak out and put extra pressure on my brain (hence, the headache).  All the paperwork says “Epidural hematoma,” but my Dad swears it was subdural (he’s a doc, saw the CAT scan).  Either way, same kind of effect.  Made me a little wonky, and required some drilling into my skull to get that blood off and relieve the pressure. Over that week in the hospital, I learned how serious my injury was and how lucky I was … I had a great neurosurgeon, amazing nurses, and family, friends and sorority sisters that were by my side the whole time.

I was 21 when it happened, in the middle of my senior year of college.   Although I was back at school in two weeks (with half of my hair missing!), the whole thing changed my life.  I vowed to reconcile with people I’d had issues with, I promised myself I’d live every day, love my family and friends more, etc., etc.  And I did.  Hell, me mending fences with someone I’d loathed since high school resulted in us dating and me moving to North Carolina.

But sixteen years later, I find myself sitting here on the anniversary of my fall and realizing that I’ve forgotten that resolution to live life to its fullest. The past couple of years have stressed me out to the point where I don’t even recognize myself some days.  Yes, I go out, I do things, I live, I have fun…but more often than not, my brain is working overtime thinking about other things. Work, Mom’s illness, friend drama, lack of a love life, lack of money … Instead of living, I’ve been worrying, stressing, being angry, being hurt, being sad … and I need to stop. Now. It’s not me.

I need to get back to the Krissie that laid in that hospital bed for a week, dreaming of all the things I was going to be, the fears I was going to conquer, the people I was going to love, and the adventures I was going to have if I could just get out of there.

My dear friend Stacy gave me the coffee mug pictured above for my birthday. “Live with passion” is on one side.  The other says  “The universe knows.”  Something about that mug made Stacy think of me…I’d like to think it’s because she knows me and knows that if I’m going to do anything, I do it all the way.  But maybe she gave it to me as a reminder because she’s watched me fall into this rut.  And as I sit here, looking at the mug, I’ve decided it’s my new motto.

“Live with passion.”

Life’s too short not to.

Hot Young Things: Air Dubai

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In last week’s Sunday Funday Playlist, I mentioned Air Dubai, a group of hot young things from Denver, Colorado who are turning my musical ears around with their fresh take on hip-hop.  Yes, I do listen to things other than singer-songwriters!

Mixing hip-hop with jazz, R&B, and their own funkadelic style, the seven-piece just released a devilish little new EP called Day Escape, just over a year after putting out their full-length album Wonder Age. Guess you can’t keep a band on the rise down!

And an escape is exactly what this new EP is.  The toe-tapping, head-bobbing, booty-shaking, trippy little six-song journey is the perfect cure for your daylight savings blahs.  It’s sonic overload in the best possible way.  Keyboards, trumpets, guitars, drums, claps, insanely ear-wormy rhymes and beats layered on top of gorgeous little melodies… And if the musicality doesn’t grab you, take a good listen to the lyrics: these kids are confident in who they are and the message they’re putting out there.  And they’re doing it well.  Live life to its fullest.  Love.  And have a damn good time doing it.

My favorite track is the young band on the road anthem, “Summer Solstice,” but I’m also deeply in love with the lyrics of “Magazines” (the line “If I return to you a broken thing, then lay me down, down…” just floors me) and the Kool and the Gang-esque 70s awesomeness of “Lights Down.”  And they prove their depth with songs like “Crashing Down,” a self-reflective ditty that contemplates the future of music and the staying power of a band.

Check out this video of the kids doing a little in-apartment performance of “Magazines” from the new EP.  Then go pick it up for $4.99 at iTunes or put money into the band’s pocket by buying it on their Bandcamp page.

More Air Dubai:  Facebook | Twitter

The Sunday Funday Playlist – October 30, 2011

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Oh, my.  I missed a week last week…Was recovering from my whirlwind 3-city Alpha Rev – Carbon Leaf tour, and just was too pooped to write.  I’m still a little tuckered out, so I’ll get right to this week’s playlist…

1.  Simple Grace – The Ruse

My favorite little L.A. rockers, The Ruse, churned out a gorgeous little acoustic-y number two weeks ago and it’s been my numero uno play since.  Love it.  The boys show their musical versatility with this change up from their usual guitar-heavy rock n’ roll.  It also reveals they’ve got a romantic side.

2.  The Wrong and the Right Now – Colourslide

One of my favorite North Carolina (by way of Florida) bands is Colourslide.  Last week, the fellas re-released their album Everybody’s Right About Everybody Else with two new bonus tracks…and this is one of them.  It captures the classic Colourslide sound in a gorgeous way.

3.  Soul & Body – Air Dubai

Colorado has so much great music brewing right now that it’s kind of ridiculous, but none more promising than Denver’s Air Dubai.  If you want a fresh, exciting new sound, you’ve got to check these kids out…It’s like they are channeling old school Jamiroquai meshed with jazz and modern day hip hop.  They released a new EP this week called Day Escape, and it is just that…a perfect little musical get away, filled with tales of being young, in love, and in a band.  My favorite track from the EP is actually “Summer Solstice,” but this is the only one available on SoundCloud.  Either way, it’s a little trip into the light fantastic…but check out the whole EP on their Bandcamp page.

4.  I Love Lamp – RdGldGrn

Gotta give my girl Allison at RadioPotato a shout out (and by extension, The Wounded Jukebox) for turning me onto this song.  What an addictive little track!  I have been dancing around my cube, car, living room, kitchen, and just about every place else for the past week to this song…Click on the lil’ arrow above to download this ditty for yourself.

5.  French Girl – Midnight Youth (click on image to watch video on Stuff.co.nz)

Hello, New Zealand. Another NZ band that I follow on Twitter, Mercury Crowe, tweeted about this band last week and I checked them out on a whim.  Apparently, Midnight Youth has been around for some time…my only question is, WHY THE HELL AM I JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THEM?  Holy in love.  I apologize that you’re going to have to click to watch this video on another page, but it’s not embeddable anywhere. I watched this video and was an instant fan, and have been listening to their last album, The Brave Don’t Run, for the last week and anxiously waiting for tomorrow to download this song when it becomes available in the States.