Category: Artist of the Week

Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: April Smith

I first stumbled upon April Smith‘s music during CMJ week in October when I met her publicist, who then gave me two of her most recent EP’s. Throughout CMJ Smith kept showing up wherever I went — whether it was her EP on display in a cute coffee shop right off of Ludlow Street or just overhearing her name mentioned by other concertgoers.

While at first Smith reminds me of a mix of Australian songstress Sia and English singer Duffy, there is something quite unique about her. Her EP, The Great Picture Show is a carnival-esque blend of quirkiness, but seemingly classic music all at the same time. Smith’s MySpace page describes her music much better than I ever could: “Her music is like this: combine the dramatic presence of Freddie Mercury, melodic sweetness of Buckley, range and power of Ann Wilson, smoky sarcasm of Tom Waits, and the ornate imagination of Michel Gondry and you’re getting close. Sounds good, we know. We call it vocally-driven-cinemelodic rock (for short).”

On MySpace you can listen to “Terrible Things” which has an eerie organ-like introduction reminiscent to something you might hear during Halloween. Quickly, Smith segways into a more jazzy vibe while singing, “All of the things that I’ve done/Terrible things you would never believe/The things that I’ve done.” Extremely catchy, just one listen begs for more.

“Color” exemplifies the diversity of Smith’s music. A fun number with kazoo accompaniment, it’s a danceable track with hand-clapping rhythm. “Wow and Flutter” may be the most fun track with Smith intertwining lines from infamous 80s Dead or Alive hit, “You Spin Me Round” with a much slower, jazzy take that works incredibly well for her.

Do yourself a favor and check out April Smith. She’s currently on tour and I’ve heard only great things about her live show. I plan on checking it out for myself. Visit April Smith on MySpace.

Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Matt Nathanson

I’ve seen Matt Nathanson a few times in concert, most recently opening up for Lifehouse last spring. I completely forgot how much I love his music until it came on Pandora today. Sure, he may sound like your typical singer-songwriter but there’s something different. His vocals are so relaxing and I can easily listen to his MySpace page all day without getting bored.

“Come On Get Higher” is such a classic. With lyrics like, “So come on, get higher, loosen my lips/Faith and desire and the swing of your hips/Just pull me down hard/And drown me in love/I miss the pull of your heart/I taste the sparks on your tongue/I see angels and devils and God, when you come on” you can’t but help to continue and listen. In fact, all his songs have those impeccable catchy choruses. Instead of boring you with my take on Nathanson, watch some of his videos below and let me know what you think! If that’s not enough be sure to check out his MySpace with a hilarious song titled “Philadelphia” — you guessed it correctly, dedicated to the city of the same name.

“Come On Get Higher”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flAvh1o-s5E]

“Car Crash”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dcm2oovKd8]

One more song for you live from Matt’s home. Listen to “All We Are” acoustic below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arTpsbD2olw]

What do you think? For more on Matt Nathanson be sure to visit his Web site or listen to him on MySpace.

Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Chelsea Lee

When I was 17 I was worrying about passing my driving test and making it on time to volleyball and band practice, not touring and opening up for notable musicians like Pat Benatar and Marc Cohn. But, this is the case for Chelsea Lee, who mixes high school and performing up and down the East Coast like a pro, selling out shows at Virginia’s Jammin’ Java. Pretty impressive for someone in her senior year of high school.

I first came across Chelsea Lee when I caught her performance last month at the Canal Room right before Luke Brindley‘s set. Her voice really blew me away and the fact that she’s just 17 is unfathomable. Lee’s performance and songs are that of someone well beyond her years.

Her relaxed singing style recalls Colbie Caillat; full of emotion complete with captivating storytelling throughout her lyrics. She’s even been compared to Mary Chapin Carpenter and Natalie Merchant.

On “Long Way Down” — a ballad many can relate to — Lee sings, “It’s hard to fit in when they don’t understand/So much behind these eyes/I can’t pretend that I’m not who I am/A reflection I don’t recognize.” With soft vocals and strong guitar and piano accompaniment she captures the listener’s attention wholeheartedly. She then continues, “I lay on the roof and lose count of the stars/I find myself drifting away/And it’s a long way down/And it’s going to hurt til I hit the ground/There’ll be a lot of mistakes/That I’ll try not to make/On the long way down.”

For more of a feel, listen to “Long Way Down” here.

Lee has received rave reviews from the press and fans alike. Buzz McClain of The Washington Post describes Lee best. “She sings. It’s what she does. Chelsea Lee sings like she means it, with a voice that services the emotion of the song. It’s a voice that carries joy and pain into the heart of the listener, with unbridled passion that borders on obsession,” he writes.

“So Far,” another stand-up track, plays with the listener’s heartstrings as she sings, “Why you got to go so far/Why you got to keep me up here wonderin’ where you are/Why you got to go so far/I’d forget you if I could/And I’m doing pretty good.”

“Fly Me Home” has words of life realization while much of her music has that timeless quality that every artist hopes to achieve. The more I listen to Chelsea, the more impressed I am of her music. An artist that shows much promise, check her out for yourself on MySpace and download a copy of her album on iTunes. Be sure to watch her video for “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” below and if you like what you see, check out her YouTube page as well.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cwOG9FX1ag]

Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Johnny Flynn

The first word that came to mind when I heard Johnny Flynn‘s voice was timeless. He has that classic sound that artists have been striving for since Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan emerged on the scene. While each artist aims for the longevity of Cash and Dylan, Flynn is well on his way.

A South African emigrant to Britain, 25-year-old Flynn has a style of music that makes the listener question just how old he is. After just one listen it is evident that his songs have much depth and age to them.

His songs can be categorized as folk rock with that quality storytelling encompassing the music that many folk songs are known for. In fact, it’s no wonder that Dylan is one of Flynn’s major influences as his music takes the listener back to Dylan’s early days. Not only well versed lyrically, Flynn is extremely versatile musically as he plays guitar, violin, trumpet, accordion, mandolin, harmonica and percussion on his debut album, A Larum.

I have a few MP3s and videos of Flynn’s to listen to so you get a better idea of what I’m talking about and can make your own critiques on him instead of just reading mine. Enjoy!


To listen to Flynn’s song “Cold Bread” click here.

To listen to “Hong Kong Cemetry” click here.

You can also watch the video for “The Box” below. A catchy song, Flynn’s deep voice blends impeccably with the guitar interludes throughout — at times almost too perfect to believe.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzknjC-DJt0]

And here’s another video of Flynn’s with Laura Marling covering Jeffrey Lewis & Diane Cluck’s anti-folk song “Travel Light.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-jFR6qaf18]

For more on Johnny Flynn, be sure to check him out on MySpace!

Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Ray LaMontagne

Since I received Ray LaMontagne‘s latest album, Gossip In The Grain, in the mail a few weeks ago I haven’t been able to stop listening to it! I introduced you to LaMontagne a while back with my “Song of the Week” of his beautiful first single off the album, “You Are the Best Thing” — currently my favorite track on the album. You can listen to it here for Windows Media or here for Quicktime if you haven’t yet.

Gossip In The Grain encompasses the perfect blend of music. Whether LaMontagne is singing an ode to Meg White of the White Stripes with his intriguingly catchy lyrics, “Meg White, I saw you on the big screen/Old Jack was keen/But you stole the scene/Meg White, baby you’re the bomb/Old Jack he’s great, don’t get me wrong/But this is your song ” or infusing more of a folk and country sensibility throughout tracks like “Hey Me, Hey Mama,” Gossip In The Grain has much diversity to offer listeners.

He’s been hailed “a songwriter’s songwriter, and a singer’s singer” by fellow singer-songwriter John Mayer, who has blogged about LaMontagne on his Web site, adding “I think Ray LaMontagne is as brilliant as any artist that has ever lived. ” And I must say, I have to agree.

Songs like “Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s a Shame)” showcase LaMontagne’s continuous versatility. Whether it’s his edgier singing and guitar strumming on this track or horn features throughout, he grabs your attention. “Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s a Shame)” is a song that will surely survive the test of time, and so will it’s singer.

“Let It Be Me” exhibits LaMontagne’s sensitive side while his lyrics are comparable to a modern day take on Bill Withers’ “Lean On Me” as his vocals blend extremely well with soft piano interludes and light guitar accompaniment. With poignant lyrics, “When it feels like you’re always comin’ up last/Pockets full of nothin’ ain’t got no cash/No matter where you turn/You ain’t got no place to stand/You reach out for somethin’ and they slap your hand/I remember all too well/Just how it feels to be all alone/To feel like you’d give anything/For just a little place you can call your own” La Montagne aptly gets his point across to the listener in an extremely moving way.

There is so much depth to Gossip In The Grain it’s almost impossible to get everything across adequately in one blog post. Definitely check out LaMontagne’s MySpace and pick up a copy of Gossip In The Grain when you have a chance, you won’t regret it — I promise.

You can also listen to track “Meg White” here. I’d love to hear what you think!

Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Amy Kuney

With her airy and soulful vocals, Amy Kuney has been making waves in the music scene. A YouTube sensation, Amy gained the attention of Damien Rice for her cover of his song “Blower’s Daughter.” (Watch it below).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wccoR5U1oTw]

Rice then asked her to travel to Iceland and open his tour for him. Not too shabby for being heard on YouTube. In addition, Amy’s songs have been featured on shows like “One Tree Hill” and “Gilmore Girls.” While she’s been compared to Fiona Apple and Sarah McLachlan, it’s her storytelling that transpires best throughout her music.

From first track, “Simple Things” on Kuney’s debut album, Bird’s Eye View, I was hooked. Her honest and at times, sarcastic and playful lyrics, take you on a journey, always keeping the listener curious as to what will happen at the end of each song. “Simple Things” draws comparisons to fellow up-and-comer Priscilla Ahn, but a bit more edgy.

In fact, most of her album has that laid-back soulful, yet jazzy acoustic singer-songwriter feel. It’s hard to place Kuney into one specific genre. Her songs are catchy and encompass much depth, both musically and lyrically, even having musician Kate Voegle call her an “amazing lyricist.”

“Rocket Surgery” is a fun track, at times slightly reminiscent to that of a circus with its musical accompaniment complete with horns and piano interludes. Cleverly telling the tale of a yearning romance with lyrics, “So hold me, don’t think too hard about it/Would common sense allow it?/You wait too long and you’ll lose me/Just do it when you get the urging/Oh its not rocket surgery/When you know you love someone it’s easy” Kuney clearly gets her point across.

A favorite track of mine on Bird’s Eye View is “Love is Trippy.” An intriguing song, aptly titled, “Love is Trippy” tells the tale of not always being able to figure out love so easily. With solid horn features accentuating the track extremely well, Kuney sings on the chorus, “But love is trippy like that/Sometimes you think that you’ve got it/Nobody’s gonna trick you outta this one baby/But love will slip through your hands/You never know how to hold it/Control it you’re gripping/It’s tripping you up.” Once again, Kuney showcases her songwriting with lyrics that are thoroughly relatable to many.

With her entertaining narratives throughout each song and soft, but jazzy vocals, Amy Kuney is bound to continue to take the music world by storm, one album and YouTube cover at a time.

Be sure to check Amy out on MySpace as well as her Web site. Check out her cover of Coldplay‘s “Viva La Vida” below and watch as she harmonizes with herself.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN9eT8Ln9r8]

Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Michael Tolcher

I’ve been covering a lot of acoustic singer-songwriters lately. I guess everyone goes through a new phase of music every once in a while. My friend Wendy (and talented concert photographer as you can tell from the awesome photos used on my blog — check out her photos here) suggested me listening to Michael Tolcher, sending me his Web site. From the first song I heard, I was hooked.

“Sooner or Later” is a catchy song right off the bat. Being a writer myself, I tend to analyze each lyric throughout every song I listen to, and this song in particular is so deep in meaning. Almost a guideline to life, Tolcher’s song strikes a chord. Lyrics like, “Some things you have to learn them all on your own/And you can’t rely on anybody else/Or the point of view of a source unknown/If it feels good and it sounds nice/Then it’s your choice so don’t doubt yourself/Don’t even think twice” intrigue the listener. When he sings, “We only want what’s best for you/That’s why we tell you what to do/And nevermind if nothing makes sense/’Cause it all works out in the end” you believe him. Visit his site to take a listen.

“Bad Habits” segues nicely from “Sooner or Later.” A moving ballad with a piano intro that features Tolcher’s deep vocals and light guitar strumming, “Bad Habits” grabs the listener’s attention. Another striking song is”No One Above,” a seductive, almost jazzy song with a smooth drum and guitar beat.

Slightly reminiscent to “Sooner or Later” is cleverly titled, “Mission Responsible.” You can check out a live performance for “Mission Responsible” below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shTlNLZpMrY]

For more on Michael, be sure to visit his MySpace.

Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Pete Murray

My friend Deana recommended Australian singer-songwriter Pete Murray to me after she studied in Australia and constantly heard his music playing while she was there. She said I’d love him since I’m a fan of most acoustic singer-songwriters, and I definitely can’t help but repeatedly listen to his MySpace page while at work, especially his song “Opportunity.” I think an accurate comparison could be calling Pete Murray the Australian John Mayer.

When listening to his MySpace, there’s a blend of soft singing and acoustic guitar playing as well as the occasional harmonica feature, exhibited in his song “Saving Grace.” Murray’s voice is mellow and mixes well with the various musical interludes. Whether it be piano, guitar or strings, Pete’s voice sounds strikingly perfect throughout.

“You Pick Me Up” demonstrates the laid-back feel to Murray’s music. It’s faster than first track, “Saving Grace” but his voice is still ever so gentle and tuneful. “Better Days” and “So Beautiful,” both somewhat somber songs, the listener can easily hear the pain behind the lyrics and meaning encompassing the song.

I absolutely LOVE his song, “Opportunity.” The lyrics have so much meaning and it’s one of those songs that just hit you. I don’t do this often, but I’m posting the video and full lyrics below. I hope you like it just as much as I do.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbCuvsFMSyE]

“Opportunity”

Verse 1:
So it goes another lonely day
You’re saving time but you’re miles away
Your flowers drowning in some bitter tea
Forseeing lost opportunity
Find your mirror
Go and look inside
See the talent you always hide
Don’t go kid yourself, well not today
Satisfaction’s not far away

Chorus:
Hold on now, your exit’s here
It’s waiting just for you
Don’t pause too long
It’s fading now
It’s ending all too soon you’ll see
Soon you’ll see

Verse 2:
Your coffee’s warm but your milk is sour
Life is short but you’re here to flower
Dream yourself along another day
Never miss opportunity
Don’t be scared of what you cannot see
Your only fear is possibility
Never wonder what the hell went wrong
Your second chance may never come along

(Chorus)

(Music)

(Chorus)

Soon you’ll see
Soon you’ll see
Soon you’ll see
Soon you’ll see

Categories
Artist of the Week Features

Artist of the Week: Josh Charles

I stumbled upon Josh Charles on MySpace last week and was incredibly impressed with what I heard. His music is reminiscent to the Motown classics with solid, jazzy horn features and piano interludes while his soulful voice and lyrics blend well into the structure of each song. In fact, you can hear the influences of Ray Charles, James Booker and Sam Cooke in some of his songs, no doubt major inspirations to Josh himself. A review on his EPK described his music as “timeless songs that have a classic but modern sound” and I couldn’t agree more.

Take his first single”Pickin’ Up the Pieces” — a jazzy number that starts off with simple guitar strumming before horns come in, taking you back in time. Josh then begins singing, his voice segueing perfectly into the musical accompaniment throughout the song. Possibly the catchiest track on his EP, it’s one that is sure to stay stuck in your head.

“It Ain’t Easy” is a soulful ballad with musical accompaniment taking the listener back to the Motown era of the 1960s. The piano-based song is a bit slower than “Pickin’ Up the Pieces,” but shows Josh’s versatility. Like many Motown songs from back in the day, “It Ain’t Easy” seems to be the story of love lost. With his moving lyrics accentuated by his saddened vocals, “Try to keep my heart beating from night until day/Wish I could be sleeping, sleeping the pain away/Find myself pacing, all over town/I find myself facing living and dying without you around,” Josh exemplifies the heartbreaking story throughout the song.

While all the tracks on his MySpace deserve a good listen, one song you should be sure to check out is “Love, Work and Money.” An edgier, more fast-paced track, this song will find you tapping your feet along and getting ready to press that repeat button to listen to it all over again.

Whether you’re into the slower ballads or his faster tracks, Josh Charles’ music is timeless and he is someone this ever-changing music industry needs to pay more attention to. Take a listen, I think you’ll dig it.

For more on Josh Charles, visit his Web site and catch a show when he’s in town! He’ll be playing a few in New York in the upcoming weeks so if you like him, check him out.

Categories
Artist of the Week Features

New Artist to Listen For: Serena Ryder

Canadian singer/songwriter Serena Ryder is an artist to definitely be on the look out for. She’s opened for artists such as Paolo Nutini, Chris Isaak and Xavier Rudd and just last year was featured in the South by Southwest festival in Texas where she caught the ears of Atlantic Records. Having already released two albums in Canada, most recent being If Your Memory Serves You Well – which was certified gold – her current U.S. debut EP, Told You In A Whispered Song, was released last year, while her first full-length U.S. album is due out this spring on the Atlantic label.

At first I genuinely liked her EP, Told You In A Whispered Song, but as I listened closer to the lyrics I enjoyed each song even more. Ryder’s honest, heartfelt lyrics about love and heartbreak are universal and you can feel the pure emotion she puts into each song.

Her EP begins with its title track which has a simple guitar rhythm and the light sound of a tambourine in the background. Ryder’s voice is strong and bluesy, fluctuating ever so slightly in the chorus of the song. “Hiding Place” is a slower song, which again features an acoustic guitar and asks the question to a lover, “If your radio didn’t work and your friends all ran away/Would you let yourself fall in love, if only for one day?” The lyrics are truly beautiful in this song. She continues to sing, “Darling can I touch your face and let your skin be my hiding place/Promise I won’t take up too much room/Darling can I touch your face and let your eyes fall into love’s embrace?”

Ryder’s voice has been compared to that of Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin, maybe even early Jewel. “Brand New Love,” her third song on the EP, is a bit more upbeat then the rest, with a strong guitar sound that accentuates her voice well. Check out a stream of this song here. For Windows users you can listen here.

“Weak in the Knees” slows down the EP for a bit. Ryder seems to be telling the story of being weak in the knees with a lover who could care less for her, which eventually forces herself to move on. She belts out towards the end of the song, “It was over, it’s over before it began/I’m a witness to love why can’t you understand?/I won’t give up my heart, I won’t sell you my soul/Don’t you know it was you? You could have had it all.” Truly heartbreaking, but you can feel this emotion through Ryder’s strong singing.

Last song on the EP, “Blown Like The Wind At Night,” definitely has a more edgy sound to it, maybe even a bit bluesy. She starts off the song singing, “Let’s get drunk and lets pretend we are not slaves to anything or anyone that tells us how to be.” Later in the song she sings, “If this is love, then what is hate?/Do you understand my fate?/Oh I’m not broken, you can’t fix me/Wish I had a man that missed me/Tell me everything will be alright.” Her voice fluctuates in this song really well, helping with the angst-ridden feel behind the song.

To hear more on Serena Ryder be sure to check out her MySpace, which features four of the five songs from her EP, Told You In A Whispered Song.