Something New: Matt McCloskey

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I’m in love again.

I like to check out music that artists I like talk about. So when Lamar Stockton started posting about a singer-songwriter I’d never heard of before, I clicked.  And listened. And after a few go-rounds with Austin’s Matt McCloskey‘s lyrics and raw voice, I was spellbound. Game over, done. I was going to tumble hard for this one.

I first downloaded his latest EP, The Hard Rains, which came out last December (You can pick this gem up for free right now on Noisetrade).  My first thought was “Like Ryan Adams, but more accessible.”  The more I listened, the more the lyrics spoke to me.  The absolute heart-wrencher – one of the saddest songs I have ever heard – is “Not Tonight.”  Funny how a song doesn’t have to sound sad to be sad.  The entire EP is that way, full of acoustic guitar goodness, haunting instrumentation, and carefully crafted, but simple lyrics that demand self-introspection. “What if your life wasn’t as hard as it is, if the things keeping you down didn’t exist?  What would you do?  What would you do?”

I got busy downloading everything else Matt had on iTunes:  2010’s Let It Burn, and 2009’s These Times Won’t Last.  And every song is as good as the one before, if not better.  I find myself wrapping myself up in these tunes, falling asleep to them, listening to them over and over in the car, passing the hours at work with them as the soundtrack.

And so here I find myself, in love with another artist.  And happily so.  Betcha a buck that if you give Matt’s music a listen, you will be, too.

More Matt McCloskey:  Web | Facebook | Twitter | The Hard Rains on iTunes

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.

Three Must-Have Free Apps for Music Junkies

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My world changed last October when I finally joined modern society and got an iPhone.  Haters, hate all you want, but this tiny little pocket-sized device has become my constant companion and made it even easier for me to be a total music addict.  I know NOTHING about interfaces and technology buzz words, but I thought it might be fun to share some of the apps that have led me to all sorts of new music. So, allow me to introduce you to your new app-addictions.

Got a favorite can’t-live-without-it music app that’s flying under the radar?  Let me know in the comments so I can get in on that action, too!

1.  Band of the Day | Download
What a simple, brilliant concept.  Build a calendar.  Assign an artist to each day.  Introduce others to it.  With cleverly crafted reviews, a streaming function that allows you to listen to several songs by each artist, and easy access to discography, videos and other listener’s thoughts, you can form a well-rounded assessment of the artist to see if it’s something you’d like to buy.  The range of artists is incredible, too, representing just about every genre you can imagine. With iPhone-ready reading screens, the navigation is relatively intuitive, although with so much to see and hear, you can spend hours clicking around, reading and listening. The only downside, in my opinion, is that there are no push notifications to remind you to check in each day.

2.  Tastemaker X  | Download
Imagine the stock market but instead of trading stocks, you’re dealing in artists.  Yup, that’s the name of the game (if you choose to play the game) at Tastemaker X.  This app lets you prove your ear worth by “buying” up imaginary stock in artists and growing your portfolio – and your TScore (sort of your rating as an influencer) – as others buy in after you.  You can trade stock back in at any time to get more notes.  There’s no way to really buy notes with real dollars yet – you can only earn them through occasional promos that the app makers put out. However, the app is adding new features all the time – a new email today out talked about a host of on the verge functionalities, including a concert tracker for artists in which you have invested.  Don’t expect to find your favorite really new artists (there’s still no Saints of Valory – grr), but there is a pretty good selection.  Occasional interface glitches be damned, this is one of the most innovative ideas around and I love it.  Download it today and get 2500 “notes” by entering the code THEFALL in the settings “Redeem Code” area.  I’m JrzyGyrl, so follow me if you jump into the Tastemaker fun!

3.  Songza | Download
Tired of Pandora and Lastfm?  Let someone else build playlists for you.  This groovy app allows you to find a playlist based on time of day, activity, mood, decade and more.  The Concierge helps you pick music to suit your every need.  Unwinding after a long day?  Would you prefer laid-back acoustic or classic rock n’ roll?  Classic rock?  Choose from Muscle Shoals, Late Night Rock, or Smooth Rockabilly.  And then sit back and jam out to some tunes.  With sometimes cleverly and downright funnily titled playlists (Indie Music That’s Not Too Weird, Mustache Music (Or:  Cool in the 70s), and This Will Piss Off Your Parents, for example), and extremely functional categories (NPR’s Ultimate Workout Mix, Influential Producers), you’re bound to find something that is right up your alley.  And I guarantee you, even those of you who think you have the hottest ear around will find something new to listen to here.  My ONLY gripe is that I can’t figure out, once I’m in a playlist, how to get back to the Concierge without quitting out of the app and starting over!