It's Friday, you don't have a job...wait, wrong quote. Anyways, here are five cover songs for your enjoyment.
My music library is sadly still unavailable to me, so I decided to do a short post on a new favorite of mine, The Gossip. Fronted by Beth Ditto's strong vocals, the band has been releasing material since 1999. Here are a few cuts from 2006's Standing in the Way of Control. Enjoy!
South Carolina native Sam Beam has been performing under the name of Iron & Wine since 2002. Beam garnered a lot of attention when he covered The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" for the Garden State soundtrack. Iron & Wine's latest album, The Shepherd's Dog, hits stores on September 25th, and has been a mainstay on my Itunes for over a month now. Be sure to pick it up.
The power cord to my laptop died, and as I unwisely stored all my music on it instead of on the network, I am having to use my gal's files for songs to post for today. So, I offer up 3 tracks from Tori Amos' latest album, American Doll Posse. Tori has hands down been my favorite artist since I first listened to Little Earthquakes. In the past few years, she's had some misses (The Beekeeper and Strange Little Girls, for example), but this new album rings back to the Tori that I first fell in love with all those years ago. The entire album is solid from start to finish, and I leave you with my favorite cuts from it.
This weekend is going to be full of super nerdy times at Fan Expo Canada, a three day extravaganza of mini-expos relating to comics, science fiction, horror, anime, and gaming. I can barely contain myself, and so I leave you with a few ditties about comic books and super heroes.
Five cover songs for your Friday. Enjoy!
Sia first caught my attention when her song "Breathe Me" was used during the series finale of Six Feet Under. Her solo material, as well as her work with Zero 7, has been solidly consistent. Her new album, Some People Have Real Problems, is chock full of beautiful ballads, and upbeat sing-a-longs. I highly recommend picking this album up when it hits the streets.
If you're looking for really solid indie folk-pop, look no further than The Weepies. Deb Talan and Steve Tannen started dating and playing together in 2001 after meeting at a gig of Tannen's. The duo's latest album, 2006's Say I Am You is very simply arranged, but musically and lyrically beautiful. "Gotta Have You" is by far one of the best songs about longing I've heard in a very long time.
Despite a sinus cold that is threatening to kick my arse, my lovely lady and I are headed to the Air Canada Centre tonight to see Justin Timberlake in concert. In light of losing all my cool points, I leave you with a smattering of cheesy pop songs I adore. Enjoy!
Rilo Kiley officially broke my heart this weekend. I have listened to Under the Blacklight repeatedly, in various states of being, and I just can't get into it. One of my favorite bands tried to make a indie dance pop album, and I just can't follow them. I had hope when "Silver Lining" leaked, as it was a solid track and made me incredibly bouncy. The rest of Under The Blacklight falls horribly short. Jenny Lewis does not have what I would call an incredible voice, but she has pretty vocals. On this album, she sounds strained and tinny for the most part. There's not even great lyrics to make up for how this album sounds ("Smoke Detector" made me cry out in anger with its triteness). I've heard comparisons to Fleetwood Mac on this album. I call bullshit, because at least most Fleetwood Mac is listenable. After having to wait so long for a new album amidst all their solo projects, Rilo Kiley should have stayed under a rock a bit longer and made an album that was worth a three year wait. I am hoping their show at the Phoenix on September 18th is more older material than this dribble. If this had been their debut album, I would have never become a fan.
If Sufjan Stevens and Gillian Welch had a love child, I'd reckon that baby would sound a lot like Holly Golightly. You Can't Buy A Gun When You're Crying came out in April, and I just finally got around to listening to the record. The jury is still out on this one.
It's Friday, therefore you get your weekly dose of cover songs. Enjoy!
I am too full of Chinese food and tired from errands to do a real post. I will however raise myself briefly from the couch and implore you to buy at least two copies of Graduation on September 11th. Nothing would please me greater than for 50 Cent to never release another album.
Today is my best friend Karen's 29th birthday. In honor of her special day, and the fact that I can't be there in person to celebrate with her, I am posting 3 songs for her. These are tracks I didn't have room for on the numerous mix cds I sent her. Enjoy, and happy birthday Kare!
Southern singers always hold a special place in my heart, and 23 year old Blair Gimma is no exception. Her recently released EP, Pluto, is a charming mix of acoustic strumming and beautiful vocals. Upon hearing the track "Kamakazee" I thought, "Hrmm, it's like she's Jenny Lewis' little sister." I will definitely keep an eye out for any future releases from Blair, and highly recommend picking up this EP ($5 at CD Baby).
Eisley's sophmore album, Combinations, comes out tomorrow. The Texas rock group, consisting of four siblings and a cousin, have produced a solid album, with a few tracks really standing out. Eisley would be right at home on any pop radio station, and this may be the album that brings them mainstream success.
I've never really been a fan of Tegan and Sara. I liked 2004's "Walking With a Ghost" alright, but preferred The White Stripe's cover of it. My friend Q had thrown in some songs of theirs on mixed cds here and there, and I just found everything the Quin sisters recorded to be blase. I don't know if I fell and bumped my head at some point, but after downloading their newest release, The Con, on a whim, I haven't been able to stop listening. I like every track on the album, which is a rare occurrence. Tune in and let me know what you think.
After a long hiatus, Lauren Hoffman returned to the music scene with 2006's Choreography, a gorgeous, melodic look at love, loss, and inner darkness. Choreography sounds nothing like her previous albums, thankfully. It seems she took the time off to really dig deep and hone her craft. This album is a must have for any audiophile. Go getcha' some!
Today, Guitar Hero 80s Edition came to live in our house. Because the next 24 hours will be spent glued to my PS2, I'll have to leave you with songs from the previous two games that rocked my socks off. Can't blog, must rock...
In light of a jam packed day of marketing, swimming, attempts at making fried green tomatoes, and grievous injury, I am too tired to make a proper blog entry. I present you with a few tracks from Jenny Owen Youngs' album Batten The Hatches, whose music I have recently become a huge fan of. Enjoy, and good night!
For today, five cover songs that make me a happy boy. Jenny Owen Youngs' cover of Nelly's "Hot in Herre" is an especially good tune. Enjoy!
I recently picked up on the buzz concerning Sara Bareilles' new album Little Voice and decided to try her out, as she had been compared to Norah Jones and Fiona Apple (both favorites of mine). I think the comparisons are way off (any woman with a piano accompaniment gets either the Fiona Apple/Norah Jones or Tori Amos/Sarah McLachlan comparison. Get original guys!). Sara's got a sound of her own that I really enjoy, especially in "Love Song".
Now, an artist I can definitely hear hints of Fiona Apple in is A Fine Frenzy, especially in her song "Ashes and Wine". Her new album One Cell in the Sea is beautiful, and I would highly recommend that you get the entire album, if only for the song "You Picked Me" (a favorite in my household).
Today was spent mostly in doctor's offices, getting prescriptions and set up in the Toronto health system. As whenever I am off to a medical appointment, snippets of Rilo Kiley's "The Good That Won't Come Out" creep into my head (I do this thing where I think I'm real sick/but I won't go to the doctor to find out about it/Cause they make you stay real still in a real small space/As they chart up your insides and put them on display./They'd see all of it, all of me, all of it.). I've been a huge RK fan since first introduced to them by my friend Joseph. I have been eagerly awaiting their new release Under the Blacklight, and seeing them live in Toronto at the Phoenix on September 18th. "The Moneymaker" is the first track to be released so far, and while it is not a horrible song per say, it definitely made me wince a bit and wonder what the hell the new album was going to sound like (at least the video is entertaining). Then I heard a leaked track of "Silver Lining", and my thoughts of impending music suck where quickly quelled. This song makes me unbelievably happy and bouncy, and The Watson Twin's backing is just superb. I've also heard "Dreamworld", which is okay in it's own right, but not being so much of a Blake Sennet fan, I could have really done without his vocal additions to the song. In anticipation of the new release (21 more days!), I present you with three tracks from the upcoming album: