Bring Me Up: The Sound

Skeletal Lamping

2008-09-04T18:51:00.004-04:00

After nearly a year of planning, work, and late nights, Polyvinyl and of Montreal are pleased to announce of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping is now available for pre-order. Pre-orders ship September 29 and the album will be in stores October 7.

All pre-orders include a free 3-song digital download code featuring of Montreal rarities as well as two 3"x3" David Barnes and Gemini Tactics stickers and a 4"x4" sticker by David Barnes.

Skeletal Lamping may be bizarre, complicated, and dense, but it's also extremely catchy and packed with slinky grooves that demand a physical response. Instantly ingratiating hooks abound as the album's compositions constantly mutate and shape-shift in ways that defy conventional pop song structure and album sequencing.

Though of Montreal have never been strangers to expressing sexuality in their music, Skeletal Lamping finds Barnes fully immersed in the topic. Throughout the record, sexuality is presented as a broad continuum encompassing a wide range of experiences, anxieties, emotions and orientations.

Listen:
of Montreal - "Id Engager" (mp3)

LoveLikeFire

2008-09-02T12:32:00.004-04:00

LoveLikeFire are proud to announce their signing to UK label Heist or Hit Records. Over the past month they've been busily recording songs for their debut full-length at Tiny Telephone studios in San Francisco with producer Bill Racine (Mates Of State, Rogue Wave).

LoveLikeFire's past two releases (the self-released EPs Bed of Gold (2006), and An Ocean In The Air (2007)) garnered them regional love and a burgeoning fanbase across the united-states. Spin.com sung praise for their "beautifully orchestrated rock." while LA Weekly wrote that "If this were the U.K. the British press would be argy-bargying one another for bragging rights for discovering this irresistible foursome." This past March their video for An Ocean In The Air track "I Will" was chosen as an official selection for the 2008 SXSW Film Festival.

Listen:
LoveLikeFire - "From A Tower" (mp3)

Thank you to Big Hassle Media for this information!

How bout some musical tid bits?

2008-08-25T08:19:00.006-04:00

Brian and I went away for the weekend and now I am back to work feeling VERY groggy. So for the morning at least I'm just going to throw you some tid bits of musical goodness until I can climb out of this ~~delicious~~ fog.

Straylight Run has posted "Wait And Watch" on MySpace, taken from their forthcoming "Un Mas Dos" EP.

*~*~*

The Deer Tracks is David Lehnberg & Elin Lindfors, both children of the Swedish town of Gavle. You can catch their full album preview at their MySpace today and while you're at it catch their new video to the first single "Slow Collision".

*~*~*

The Mississippi Kings have released their first single "Sailing On The Ocean" from their upcoming album Long Time Comin'.

The single is available for free download at their website.

The album will be released in Fall 2008.

*~*~*

Imperial Vipers, is said to be one of the most exciting and authentic rock bands to emerge from Britain recently. The band burst onto the music scene in 2005 with a sound described as somewhere between Soundgarden and the Clash. They've toured with the legendary Hanoi Rocks and can name Iron Maiden front man, Bruce Dickinson, as a fan!

After completing a crazy festival tour circuit, the band finished recording their second album The Sickness, with legendary producer Steve Power (Robbie Williams, Feeder, Charlatans, Blur, Bon Jovi) for Eminence Records. The Sickness comes out on October 6th and the new single "Check This" drops September 22nd.

*~*~*

And, Alex Greenwald of Phantom Planet performs an acoustic version of their song "Ship Lost At Sea" in Asbury Park, New Jersey while on The Final Riot! Summer Tour with Paramore and Jack's Mannequin. You can check it out on YouTube!

*~*~*

Your free download for the day is from Clare & The Reasons and was performed in support of Barack Obama for President.

Listen: "Obama Over the Rainbow" (mp3)

"Because at this defining moment in our history - with our nation at war, and our economy in recession - we know that the American people cannot afford four more years of the same failed policies and the same old politics in Washington. We know that the time for change has come."

What time is it?

2008-08-22T08:37:00.004-04:00

Matt Wertz is from Liberty, Missouri, but has called Nashville, Tennessee, home for the last seven years. It seems fitting that he would be writing his own biography on the cusp of his first major label release, just as he did eight years ago before releasing his first independent album. This time, though, he's not trying to play it off like he didn't write it.

Matt goes on to say "The record that will be released on Universal Republic is called "Under Summer Sun" and it is a combination of my favorite songs from my first few independent releases, like "5:19" and "Everything's Right," as well as four new songs.

Listen:
Matt Wertz - "5:19" (mp3)

Catch Matt Wertz On Tour!

With Gavin Degraw

Aug. 21 Rochester, NY Nola's
Aug. 23 Wantagh, NY Mulchany's
Aug. 24 Wilmington, DE Grand Opera House
Aug. 26 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
Aug. 27 Knoxville, TN Tenessee Theater
Aug. 28 Nashville, TN City Hall
Aug. 29 Memphis, TN Memphis Agricenter
Sept. 01 Pontiac, MI Clutch Cargo's
Sept. 03 New York, NY Terminal 5
Sept. 04 Boston, MA Wilbur Theater
Sept. 07 Dewey Beach, DE Bottle & Cork
Sept. 08 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live

With O.A.R.

Sept. 15 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Sept. 17 Louisville Palace Louisville, KY
Sept. 18 Knoxville Civic Auditorium Knoxville, TN
Sept. 20 Family Circle Magazine Stadium Charleston, SC
Sept. 23 Charlottesville Pavilion Charlottesville, VA
Sept. 24 Cricket Arena Charlotte, NC
Sept. 26 Koka Booth Ampitheatre Cary, NC
Sept. 27 Verizon Wireless Amiptheatre Alpharetta, GA

Glass Passenger Adventure

2008-08-18T09:04:00.006-04:00

Since there wasn't really anyone special at the Delaware State Fair this year we didn't go to see any of the concerts. What I want to know is how Minnesota ended up with such fantastic bands on their State Fair Concert List...

Aug. 26: Paramore with Jack's Mannequin, Phantom Planet and Paper Route, $30.

Are you freaking kidding me!!! Can you imagine that set!?

Of course they have The Backstreet Boys playing on another night, but I'd say their August 26th showing makes up for it whole heartedly.

And then I found out...Paramore visited Philadelphia on Friday, August 15th for its summer 2008 tour with Jack's Mannequin, Phantom Planet and Paper Route. The groups performed on the Festival Pier at Penn's Landing. Holy mackenzie that is an amazing line up. The whole B, B & C crew would have rocked out! One of Braeden's favorite songs of all-time (his whole four years hehe) is Jack's song "Dark Blue." Man oh man, he would love to see them live, I just know it!

And so on Jack's MySpace page there is a message from their fan club.

The release of The Glass Passenger is rapidly approaching. Jack's Mannequin is turning to their faithful friends, The Messengers, to help them get ready for their upcoming tour and the release of their new album, The Glass Passenger. That's why The Messengers have just launched, "The Glass Passenger Adventure."

As a Messenger you'll be helping to let the world know about Jack's Mannequin, but you'll also be working towards winning the Grand Prize. We don't want to give too much away, but it involves hand-written lyrics, a flyaway and a couple more things. Did we mention that the winner will be hand-selected by Andrew himself? Want in? Signup To The Messengers!

Listen:
Jack's Mannequin - "Resolution" (mp3)

Un Mas Dos

2008-08-12T08:06:00.001-04:00

Indie band Straylight Run has recently announced the release of their 2nd EP, Un Mas Dos. The EP will feature the first new material recorded by the band since the departure of former singer/pianist Michelle DaRosa.

The official release date for Un Mas Dos is set for September 16th and will be released through The Record Collective rather than their former label, Universal Records, who moronically dropped them last year.

Tracks
1. Wait and Watch
2. Listen to - "Try" (mp3)
3. Ten Ton Shoes

From one Black Rose to another

2008-08-11T08:22:00.007-04:00

Once I hit the fourth song on Trapt's new album I realized I should stop trying to hate it, because it's actually a great album. There is a lot of growth in, Only Through the Pain, musically if not lyrically. Track six, "Forget About the Rain" reminds me a little bit of 311 or Sublime whereas the first couple tracks are more like Atari or a high energy Matchbox 20. All I can say is for a third studio album it ended up awfully diverse and very pumped up.

Lyrically the content is bitter, resentful and in many cases depressing, but for me at least, all something which I could relate to in one way or another. The only track I really didn't like was "Cover Up" because it was something I imagine a high school garage band could cover too easily.

Chris Taylor Brown is the singer and guitarist for Trapt. He wrote the music and the lyrics for this album, which released on August 5, 2008. Trapt had been dropped by Warner Brothers and his girlfriend broke up with him. Hence the bitterness in many of the lyrics. But there is a glimmer of hope throughout some of the tracks and I believe that might be due to being picked up by a new label and meeting a new girl.

Eleven Seven Music, founded by Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx picked up Trapt out of the ashes and gave them their second chance. I think they are trying to figure out what kind of genre they want to be, but the point is they ARE rising above and hoping to earn some fan love. =o)

For those of you interested please leave a comment with a way to contact you, because I have THREE albums to giveaway! Three of Trapt's new albums are available to Bring Me Up's readers courtesy of Eleven Seven Music!!! This giveaway will end at 12 p.m. EST on August 22, 2008.

Listen:
Trapt - "Black Rose" (mp3 - * BMU fave)

Buy the new album, Only Through the Pain!!!

An Alphabet Graveyard..clap clap!

2008-08-06T09:14:00.003-04:00

Gentleman Auction House has gradually blossomed into a seven-piece ensemble, providing a sonically saturated accompaniment featuring a variety of instrumental textures - from piano, organ, and auxiliary percussion, to flute, trumpet, and xylophone.

May 2008 welcomed The Book of Matches EP, which served as the thematic and sonic precursor to the band's new full-length Alphabet Graveyard.

Alphabet Graveyard is a record that documents the maturation of a band who has shed the weight of its comparisons and forged a direction all their own to a very new place where solemn folk ballads, epic mood pieces and infectiously danceable pop very naturally find themselves on common ground.

Listen:
Gentleman Auction House - "ABCDEFGraveyard" (mp3)

Tour Dates:
08.16 St Louis, MO - Full Moon Festival
09.19 Champaign, IL - Pygmalion Music Festival w/ Yo La Tengo, Black Mountain, etc.
09.20 Madison, WI - Forward Music Fest w/ Neko Case, Bob Mould, etc.
09.21 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub w/ Yea Big + Kid Static
09.22 Ft Wayne, IN - Mid City Grill w/ Yea Big + Kid Static
09.23 Pontiac, MI - Pike Room w/ Yea Big + Kid Static
09.24 Ypsilanti, MI - Elbow Room w/ Yea Big + Kid Static
09.25 Columbus, OH - High Five w/ Yea Big + Kid Static
09.27 Dekalb, IL - The House w/ Yea Big + Kid Static
11.08 Richmond, IN - Earlham College w/ Ponytail
11.14 Columbia, MO - Mojo's Bluebird Music & Arts Festival
11.29 St Louis, MO - 3rd Degree Glass Factory Rock n Roll Craft Show

Steel Train Alone on the Sea

2008-08-04T07:51:00.006-04:00

The Late Greats says she will be a smashing success in 2009 and I agree.

Listen:
Leslie Mendelson - "Easy Love" (mp3)

But that's really all I have about her at the moment, so listen enjoy and make sure to venture back here in the future for more Leslie Mendelson news.

So let's talk about Steel Train. Silly boys who thought a plain jane band name would ever help them rise above in search engines...no seriously, it took forever to find anymore news about these guys.

But this is who they are:
Jack Antonoff - lead vocals, guitar
Evan Winiker - bass, vocals
Daniel Silbert - guitar, vocals
Jon Shiffman - drums, vocals

Their album is titled Trampoline. Antonoff recorded demo after demo in his New Jersey home to make sure that the new songs were ready for the studio.

In May 2007, the group entered the studio in Eagle Rock, California with producer Mark Trombino (Jimmy Eat World, Rilo Kiley) who helped transfer their demos to something more presentable. Two months after they began, the record was completely tracked.

What they ended up with was something excellent, though perhaps a bit too drama and philosophy oriented. But it worked, now they are part of Drive-Thru Records and are gathering an even larger fan base by the minute!

They played Lollapalooza and are now touring supporting "The Hush Sound." (Not to be confused with an earlier post about "The Hush Now")

Listen:
Steel Train - "I Feel Weird" (mp3)
Steel Train - "Alone on the Sea" (mp3) * BMU fave

Buy their music!

The Hush Now

2008-08-03T16:52:00.003-04:00

Boston based indie-pop-shoegazers, "The Hush Now," are releasing their debut self-titled album in late October.

I wish I knew more about them but their website is, shall we say, lacking in any valuable information. Everything I knew is from a brief release and some research on other music blogs.

Listen, for something spirited and robust:

The Hush Now - "Traditions" (mp3)

Pin Stripe Rock

2008-07-31T08:21:00.004-04:00

It's not like we necessarily need another britpop indie band from the UK to add to our playlist, because clearly there is some sort of fountain for talent coming from there, but it's not going to hurt to give the Pinstripes a listen.

The band is young and I'm guessing that is the reason for their cliche lyrics and dreamy pop sound, but the fact of the matter is I love what I'm hearing. Maybe it's a chick thing. I'm sure there are swooning girls drawing pinstriped hearts in their notebooks.

The band:
Josh Thorner: Keyboards and Vocals
Charlie Brixey: Bass
Liam Sealey: Drums
Louis Standard: Guitars

All in all, I feel there is potential for them to rise above the comfortably safe familiarity that sometimes seems to constrain young bands.

Numerous comparisons aside, here's a track for you to enjoy.

Listen:
Pinstripe - "Closest Thing to Heaven" (mp3)

Life Death Love and Freedom

2008-07-29T07:50:00.004-04:00

On July 15, 2008, John Mellencamp released his 22nd studio record. I have always been a fan thanks to my Dad, but I thought the new record would be more of the same. Don't get me wrong, more of the same would be fine because it's all good, but still sometimes you wonder what artists who have been around the block really could sound like if they went off the beaten path.

He did.

Mellencamp's new 14-track album, Life Death Love and Freedom was produced by T Bone Burnett and is the first of its kind employing the XOE (CODE) format, a proprietary audio technology that creates high-definition audio files that are virtually indistinguishable from the original master tapes.

Above the producer and sound quality though is the feel of the music. Each track is incredible. We brought it to the beach with us and played it on the speakers through the house for several days.

So how did we get so lucky as to have a new album be so fresh and exciting? Well, Mellencamp wanted it that way, he wanted something different, something more "him". This being his 22nd album is amazing in and of itself, but it might very well be the first album he bares his soul in.

The album's release was preceded by its first track, "My Sweet Love" that includes back-up vocals by Karen Fairchild of the hit country music vocal group Little Big Town.

Final leg of the tour:
July 30 Santa Barbara Bowl - Santa Barbara, CA
July 31 Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
Aug 2 Greek Theatre - Berkeley, CA
Sept 20 Farm Aid / Mansfield, MA (Kenny Chesney will be joining his friend John Mellencamp as well as Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Dave Matthews for Farm Aid 2008 outside of Boston on September 20th at the Comcast Center.)

After that he'll be heading to Australia and New Zealand.

Listen, enjoy and buy Life Death Love and Freedom!

John Mellencamp - "My Sweet Love" (mp3)

The Lilac Time and Fields

2008-07-16T08:39:00.004-04:00

A new Pelle Carlberg album will release on August 27, 2008. Since his 2006 release, In A Nutshell, was such a smashing success I am very much excited about the new record which has the alluring title of The Lilac Time.

On the album he plays most of the instruments himself, very Andrew Bird like of him.

Here's the first single:
Pelle Carlberg - "1983" (mp3)

Another anticipated album is coming shortly from "The Fields". Since their last release their guitarist Jamie Putnam has left the band. It will be interesting to hear how this change in line-up effects their sound.

The new album is due out sometime this year.

Demo from the mystery album:
Fields - "Worst Love" (mp3)

From the Inbox

2008-07-14T10:47:00.006-04:00

Time for some Monday music straight from the inbox.

Listen:
Bookhouse Boys - "Dead" (mp3)

The Bookhouse Boys are a band of 9! Their album is being released on August 19, 2008. This music is very dark to me, definitely rage filled. Perhaps it is just this song though. They have a lot going on in their music. There is a very 60s feel to it and if it weren't for the alarmingly dark and deep vocals it would probably be pretty decent.

The nine:
PAUL VAN OESTREN - Vox, Guitar
CATHERINE TURNER - Vocals
CHRIS POLLARD - Guitar
ZACHARY CAIN - Stand Up Drums
WILLIAM EMMS - Bass
J.P. FELLOWS - Keys, Roll Ups
HEDDY KORACHI-ALAOUI - Drums
NATTY DEFRIEND - Trumpet
CHARLIE BERINGER -Trumpet

*~*~*

Caught In the Trees marks the dawn of a new era for Damien Jurado as he's taken a giant leap forward lyrically and there's no turning back. Best known for his dark yet fragile first person fictional tales, Jurado now unlocks the door and invites us into his own enigmatic world with an energy and intensity that is all-consuming. This album comes out on October 27, 2008 in the UK (which also happens to be my brothers 25th birthday.)

Listen:
Damien Jurado - "Gillian Was A Horse" (mp3)

*~*~*

David Vandervelde dropped out of the sky in early 2007 with the well-received indie classic The Moonstation House Band. That album more than lived up to its title's potential, providing a healthy slab of cosmic, primal rock boogie. While this debut was the product of Vandervelde being isolated in the studio, being allowed to follow his every musical whim, Waiting For The Sunrise is a product of a new sort of isolation and you'll find it in stores on August 5, 2008. After relocating from Chicago to Brooklyn, Vandervelde struggled to find his place in the new musical community. This seclusion led to most of the album being composed in his apartment on an acoustic guitar.

Listen:
David Vandervelde -"I Will Be Fine"

Passion Pit's Sleepyhead

2008-07-10T09:07:00.002-04:00

Boston's Passion Pit is the brainchild of Michael Angelakos. A songwriter drawing from a variety of influences, from the classic pop of Randy Newman to the synth work of Giorgio Moroder.

The Chunk of Change EP was originally put together as a (belated) Valentine's Day present to Angelakos' girlfriend which then prompted him to give it out to friends and fellow students at Emerson College. Angelakos wrote and recorded the entire album by himself and it only hints at what is to come from this extremely talented perfectionist.

The production of the recording - brief, sporadic, and explosive - worked towards the development of Angelakos' signature euphoric and blissfully melancholic sound. Frenchkiss Records will reissue the ep this fall with the addition of two bonus tracks "Better Things" and "Sleepyhead" that are already catching the online world on fire.

All of this is in preparation for Passion Pit's debut full length coming out in early 2009.

Listen:
Passion Pit - "Sleepyhead" (mp3)

Plajia explosion

2008-07-09T10:18:00.005-04:00

"making soup or making songs"

From Montreal, Plajia just released our debut album called Beautiful Explosion on Orange Music Records.

"Plajia is escapism without leaving the comfort of your own couch."

For a debut this isn't bad music, but it's a little too whiney for me. The lyrics are fantastic and the keyboard work makes me smile; it adds a dreamy effect to the whine. Perhaps whine isn't the best word, I just feel the vocals hang on a bit too long.

Something about their music reminds me of the opening credits for the show "Dharma and Greg" which isn't at all a bad thing or a good thing, just a mention. I imagine many of the tracks on this debut could support a romantical scene in an indie flick, or a scene where a lonely person is slowly walking, hands in pockets and head down on a fall day with the leaves falling of the trees.

Members:
Patrick Pleau: lead vocals, guitars, keyboards and harmonica
Simon Boivin: bass and backing vocals
Pascal Laviolette: drums, percussion and backing vocals

Listen:
Plajia - "Is that the end?" (mp3)
Plajia - "This House" (mp3) *preferred track

Tribute for the 4th

2008-07-04T10:26:00.003-04:00

Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light...

In 1751, the Province of Pennsylvania sought a bell for its State House to "call the public together." Key members of the Pennsylvania Assembly sent a letter to their London-based colonial agent, Robert Charles, to make an appropriate purchase.

After the bell was received, it was not hung for six months, and when finally placed into position at the State House steeple in March 1753, the Bell cracked on the first test stroke of its clapper.

Two Philadelphia foundry workers, John Pass and John Stow, then offered to recast the Bell.

The Pass and Stow Bell remained in the State House steeple to be used for calling the Assembly together and summoning people on special occasions and events. The State House was many years later renamed Independence Hall, and the steeple Bell would come to be known as the Liberty Bell.

Listen:
Melora Creager - "American Girl" (mp3 cover)
Ani DiFranco - "Independence Day" (mp3)
Bruce Springsteen - "4th of July, Asbury Park" (mp3)

Los Halos and their Dagger Bones

2008-07-03T10:08:00.003-04:00

Strangely recorded drums and a mingling of piano, Los Halos disappointed many fans when they released their album For Romona back in 2002. The negative head shaking began because their music went from being random layering of noises to something more acoustic and intricate. The changes made the album more chill and less overwhelming. It's not a bad thing in my eyes, but what do I know?

Band Members:
Samezvous - vocals, guitar and songwriting
Momo Fats - bass
Brendan Mctear - guitar, keyboards and harmony vocals
Jon Vital - drums

I wish I could say I knew what the band is up to now, but I don't. Taking the CD on a long road trip, I do know their music made it to the ears of a fellow at Loveless Records. John said he was "blown away by the emotional intensity that Los Halos showed." The rest is, as they say, history; they were signed.

For Ramona (2002), Los Halos (2003) and Leaving VA (2003) have all been put out on the Loveless label.

So what happened to them? Where did they go when they left Virginia?

Listen:
Los Halos - "Dagger Bones" (mp3)

BUY THEIR MUSIC!!!

I never asked you to try

2008-07-02T10:21:00.003-04:00

In February of 2007 her song "Let Him Be" was included in Paste Magazine's Sampler, alongside The Shins and Lucinda Williams

Julie started off 2008 with two performances at SXSW, a week at the ASCAP Expo in Los Angeles, and an opening slot for the band America, along with plans to head into the studio to record her next single.

Julie Moffitt.

She is a John Coltrane fan. I think who an artist if a fan of is important. It shows their interests and musical knowledge. Don't you think?

I love her sweet soft voice, it would sit well in any dreamy pop song. But she also has excellent acoustic quality which gives an extra layer of goodness to her music. With a typical background beat I enjoy the mixing in of her piano and guitar and am happy she has those elements going for her.

The song on this post is amazing. The lyrics are honest and beautiful, heart felt, you'd hear this in some chick flick, I'm sure. Don't let that dissuade you from listening though, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and impressed by her solid voice.

Listen:
Julie Moffitt - "Try" (mp3)

BUY HER MUSIC!!!

Gobbledigook

2008-06-30T08:11:00.005-04:00

On this fine Monday morning back to work on a machine which required reformatting...

Well, it means you get very little from Bring Me Up today. So if it has to be little then I'll be sure to make it good, right?

Listen:
Sigur Ros - "Gobbledigook" (mp3)
Queen Victoria - "The Endless Night" (mp3)
Sam Sparro - "Black & Gold" (mp3)
Vivian Girls - "Where Do You Run To?" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Let It Come To You

2008-06-26T08:27:00.003-04:00

It's Thursday and I don't know about you, but this has been a long week so far. With that in mind I've got something new and smooth for you to download and enjoy.

Taylor Eigsti's sophomore album Let It Come to You just released on June 24, 2008. Yes, a new release, but no, not a new face in the music scene. Taylor is a jazz pianist, composer, artist and two-time Grammy nominee. He has been called a jazz prodigy by many.

Taylor has had a musical background from day one with two musical parents, but it was his sister who inspired him to play. When he was only four years old she died at the age of seventeen and in memory of her, he decided to learn to play the piano. Such a young age and yet such devotion.

Now at the age of 23 Taylor seems to be a typical young man who has a girlfriend and loves football, but his music is anything but typical. He is attempting to create a new type of jazz which younger crowds will appreciate. I honestly don't see how anyone could NOT appreciate this music.

If you are interested in bright, vibrant art you may also want to check out his swirly paintings at his website.

Listen:
Taylor Eigsti - "Let It Come To You" (mp3)

BUY HIS MUSIC!

Let's get kooky

2008-06-25T09:31:00.004-04:00

Along with several other bands making their rounds in the U.S. this fall are "The Kooks".

With their new single "Shine On" having been such a success so far, I think they'll have quite of bit of fans flooding their shows. Unless of course they have lost all respect since, Luke Pritchard told a British newspaper that he thinks Coldplay are the best band in the world.

I love Coldplay, I do, but I would never say they are the best band in the world. =o/

And then there is the latest fiasco of Pritchard cursing out the VIP section at one of his recent UK shows. Idiot. I can't stand when singers think they own the world.

Here's an older Kooks tune for you to scoop up.

Listen:
The Kooks - "Ooh La" (mp3)

TOUR DATES:
September 4th - Clinton, NY - The Annex
September 5th - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
September 6th - Toronto, ON - V Festival
September 8th - Washington, DC - 9.30 Club
September 10th - New York, NY - Summerstage
September 12th - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
September 15th - Philly, PA - Electric Factory
September 30th - Baton Rouge, LA - Varsity Theatre
October 2nd - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
October 3rd - Houston, TX - Meridian
October 4th - Austin, TX - Antone's
October 5th - Tulsa, OK - Cains Ballroom
October 7th - St Louis, MO - The Pageant
October 8th - Des Moines, IA - People's Court
October 9th - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre
October 11th - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
October 12th - Cincinatti, OH - Bogarts
October 14th - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
October 21st - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
October 22nd - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
October 24th - Sacramento, CA - Empire
October 25th - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
October 27th - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
October 28th - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Palladium

Sweetly, Chelsea Lee

2008-06-24T10:46:00.005-04:00

You know how people ask you to smile like you mean it? It's so funny to hear that, how can you smile and not mean it? Well that is what those fake plastered on smiles are all about, right?

"Chelsea Lee sings like she means it."

I read that in her bio on her website and after listening to several tracks I wholeheartedly agree.

Being a young teen still it is surprising to know she writes the songs she sings. I say this because they are so emotional and sincere. But then I think back to when I was 16 and the poems I used to write. Starry-eyed love and of course the heartache which often followed from the high school crushes I swore were my soul mates. Let's just say I feel Miss Lee and I rode the same wavelength at one time. Who knows, maybe we still do.

Chelsea has an exquisite voice and I imagine it will only become more refined with time. As it stands right now she's already got a new following fan in me.

Listen:
Chelsea Lee - "So Far" (mp3)

BUY HER MUSIC!

Baby do you wanna take a ride?

2008-06-23T03:00:00.004-04:00

Hmm. It has been maybe three years, maybe less, since I saw Ike perform up in Philly. They were having their CD release party at Grape Street Pub (which by the way used to be a totally awesome venue.)

Their hit at the time was "Into Philadelphia" which, I am sure you can imagine, was a smashing success at Grape Street. Even those who didn't know Ike and who didn't know that track we're still singing along and jumping around like music loving fools by the time it was over. "Into Philadelphia" (which was really a rock lullaby written for Faye's newborn son) is one of the most infectious songs I have ever heard. Definitely repeat worthy. Though it is not a lullaby, my son loves it and sings along while we're jamming in the car.

Not long after the release of The Real Life in 2005, things took a bad turn for the band. And then there were two...guitarist Cliff Hillis and drummer Dave Anthony left the band. Guitarist Cliff Hillis, tragically lost both his parents within months of each other in early '06 began to reassess his personal and musical goals. "I don't blame Cliff at all for his decision; if ever a there was a time for him to take stock, that was it," says Faye, "but there was a long time when we weren't the best communicators with each other and no one knew what anyone was thinking. He would never want to be the one to let us down, so I think he stayed a lot longer than maybe he should have at that point."

Many feared for the end of Ike and for a bit of time perhaps so did they. But as mending took place, lead vocalist John Faye and bassist Joann Schmidt added two new musicians to their roster. Guitarist Brett Talley and drummer Tom Kristich were chosen to jump in and become band mates with two talents who were doing everything possible to rise above some rough times.

So it is not a surprise that their recent release is titled Where To Begin.

If you were a fan of Ike in 2005 when their release was peppy, upbeat and exuberant with fantastic energy then this new album will probably kick you down a notch. The two albums rely on polar opposite materials. But, and this is very important, do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT dismiss Where To Begin. The music in this album is amazing. The lyric content is 100% real and though you may feel forlorn or wander down a best forgotten memory lane, you'll get hooked on every track. (If you're looking for any sort of "old Ike" in the album check the track "Say Luvva.")

Listen:
Ike - "Better Off Alone" (mp3)

BUY ALL OF THEIR MUSIC!!!

Fitting in a June Giveaway

2008-06-20T08:00:00.004-04:00

For the past few days I have been listening to a copy of Justin Hopkins album Here Goes Nothing. It just so happens he also sent a copy for a giveaway. Yes, that's right and hopefully you know the drill. Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address (only to be used for this purpose) and a winner will be chosen by 12 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2008.

Justin Hopkins has great potential and there are two tracks in particular which make the album worth it to me. The opening track and reason for the title is "Here Goes Nothing" and then the closing track "It Ends Tonight" are my personal favorites. You'll have to let me know which ones you enjoy. There isn't one song I would say I dislike, though I have heard some of his music NOT on this album which I absolutely love and hope to hear on albums to come.

Hopkins does for piano what Colbie Caillat does for the acoustic guitar. I use her as an example because I think she is an aspiring artist and I really enjoy the fact that her music isn't "run of the mill". I feel the same about Justin Hopkins.

So be sure to leave a comment (and a way for me to contact you if you are the winner.)

Listen:
Justin Hopkins - "It Ends Tonight" (mp3)