Filed under: Music, Song of the Week | Tags: James Morrison, Music, Nelly Furtado, Song of the Week
James Morrison’s ‘Broken Strings’ from his new album ‘Songs for You, Truths for Me’ is this week’s
Song of the Week. ‘Songs’ is Morrison’s sophomore effort, and show’s the benefits of 2 years of growing and touring following his debut effort, ‘Undiscovered’. Morrison’s style is slighly reminiscent of James Blunt, perhaps bit more soulful. This track also features Nelly Furtado in a very understated duet.
He’s much better known in the UK, but will be crossing the Atlantic this year to tour for four weeks in the US followed by two months in Europe. You can find his music on his MySpace page or his official website.
James Morrison, Songs for You, Truths for Me
Filed under: Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Glasvegas, Music, Song of the Week
UK rockers Glasvegas have this week’s Song of the Week with ‘Geraldine’. The Glasgow based band chose a combination of Glasgow and Las Vegas, which is fitting when you hear the glam rock elements in their style. Glasvegas (not to be confused with Marshvegas, Chris) have been touring extensively and are beginning to be known in the States, two years after becoming fairly well known in the UK for their first single ‘Daddy’s Gone’.
Glasvegas is in the US in January, and touring for 6 weeks in Europe before returning to the States to tour through March and April.
You can check out their music on their MySpace page or the band’s official website.
Here’s a cool live performance of the Song of the Week.
Filed under: Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Kings of Leon, Music, Rock, Song of the Week
Kings of Leon’s ‘Use Somebody’ is this week’s Song of the Week. The debut single from the album ‘Only by the Night’ was Sex on Fire, which hit #1 in the UK and did well on US charts as well, but Use Somebody is more remarkable musically, and is just starting its chart ascent.
The band hails from Tennessee, and produced several albums of southern rock influenced music before define their own style. They have been compared to the Strokes, and you can hear some similarity in this track to the Strokes recent ‘You Only Live Once’, but Caleb Followill’s soulful vocals add character missing in the Stroke’s efforts. Caleb is joined by brothers Nathan and Jared and cousin Matthew Followill.
Check out both tracks at the band’s MySpace page or their own official site….
The Killers new single, ‘Human’ is this week’s Song of the Week.
I’ve been a Killers fan since their first album, but some of the singles have been forgettable. This is vintage Killers, a nice blend of melody, poetry and upbeat that draws you in and keeps you interested through the whole track.
You can listen to the full track at the band’s website.
Filed under: Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Hip-Hop, Live Your Life, Music, Rihanna, Song of the Week, T.I.
This was an easy week. Hip hop artist T.I. released another single off his Paper Trail album, “Live Your Life”,and this one features Rihanna, but the most remarkable thing about the track is the use of samples of the “Numa Numa song” (actually “Dragostea din tei” by the Moldovan band O-Zone) made famous as an internet lip synch video by Gary Brolsma in December 2004. Managing to produce an edgy, musical hip hop track while using samples from the Numa Numa song is an impressive feat, and deserves a Song of the Week nod.
The video of Live Your Life is not due out for a couple of days, but I will post it as soon as it is available. In the meantime you can check out the track on MySpace or TI’s official site.
The preview:
In the meantime, the original Numa Numa Dance….
Filed under: Music, Rock, Song of the Week | Tags: Gotta Be Somebody, Music, Nickelback, Rock, Song of the Week
Nickelback, better known for swaggering rock anthems, earns a Song of the Week for the simple, vulnerable “Gotta Be Somebody”. It’s hard to imagine that the band’s last album was released 3 years ago because the single ‘Rockstar’ got incessant play in the Fall of 2007 and Spring of 2008 after releasing late in the cycle, but the new album ‘Dark Horse’ is due out November 18th. If this single is any indication, Dark Horse will surpass the band’s prior successes.
You can check out the single ‘Gotta Be Somebody’ on the band’s website.
Filed under: media, Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Elbow, Music, Pop, Rock, Song of the Week
The Song of the Week this week is ‘One Day Like This’ from English band ‘Elbow’, from their album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’. The best comparison that I can make is to say that several of their tracks sound like Coldplay but rougher and with more soul. The band is from Manchester, UK and is currently touring in mainland Europe.
The album came out this spring, but the single just caught my attention. It’s an excellent track, but weighing in at over 6 minutes long, it was doomed to get little airplay. Their other hit off the album, ‘Grounds for Divorce’ doesn’t strike my fancy, but fits into traditional radio playlists better and got more airplay.
You can hear a sample of their tracks at their MySpace page, or better yet watch the video here. Check out the band’s site, which has one of the coolest user interfaces I’ve seen in awhile on the intro page of the site.
Filed under: Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Hip-Hop, Kanye West, Love Lockdown, Music, Song of the Week
Song of the Week this week is Kanye West’s ‘Love Lockdown’, a single released in advance of his next album. Kanye is no stranger to controversy having offended almost everyone with one set of lyrics or another, but ‘Love Lockdown’ is brewing an entirely new form of controversy…musical. Hip-hop fans are criticizing the track because it has few of the boilerplate elements in standard hip-hop.
West has established a gold-plated track record for layering clever and pointed MCing on top of the most musically creative production work. His production work for other artists is a huge body of work. But ‘Love Lockdown’ is a bare set of lyrics on top of an even sparser instrumental track.
‘Jesus Walks’, ‘Gold Digger’ and ‘Stronger’ were all immensely creative tracks, but fit within the context of mainstream hip-hop at the time. With ‘Love Lockdown’ West goes from creativity to redefining the boundaries of the form.
Check out the track at his MySpace page. West’s website is chock full of content and has a very creative interface, but as of this date doesn’t have this new track.
Filed under: media, Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Lenka, Music, Pop, Song of the Week
Australian pop songstress Lenka has this week’s Song of the Week ‘The Show’, which is available for free from iTunes this week. Her vocal style has been compared to that of Regina Spektor, though Regina’s songs show more clarity, range and stylings. This track is more comparable to Yael Naim’s Apple-Air-powered hit New Soul from earlier this year. And like Naim’s work, the track is already out in an ad, appearing as background music for Old Navy jeans.
Lenka Kripac is the keyboardist and vocalist for Australian band ‘Decoder Ring’, but produced her eponymous debut solo album in the US while on hiatus from the band. The pop works include cameos from the likes of Howie Day and Missy Higgins.
The album is available on iTunes now, and available everywhere September 23rd. You can check out several other tracks for free at either her MySpace page or her official website. Be prepared for plenty of sweet, happy music. If your in a foul mood, this is not the album for you.
Filed under: Music, Rock, Song of the Week | Tags: Music, O.A.R., Song of the Week
This week’s Song of the Week is ‘Shattered (Turn the Car Around)’ by O.A.R., a band that developed a loyal following with early songs circulated on file sharing sites and freely distributed by the band.
O.A.R. (stands for ‘of a revolution’) formed in Rockville, Maryland, got it’s start at Ohio State University with a roots and reggae style and lot’s of live performance. The band’s new album, All Sides, shows the maturity and polish of a veteran band, which disappoints many of their original fans, but the alt/light rock style is well executed.
Check out the band’s website or grab the album which is up on iTunes.
This week’s Song of the Week is “Find the Time” from ‘Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly’, the first single off Get Cape’s new album ‘Searching for the How’s and Why’s’ which has been released in the UK, but not in the US yet. Get Cape is primarily singer/guitarist Sam Duckworth, with backing band members that help produce a nicely sophisticated/orchestrated sound behind Duckworth’s acoustic indie sound. Get Cape is touring all over Europe this Summer, and is starting to get airplay in the US.
Here’s the video for Find the Time, and you can download another single from the album for free from the band’s website.
Filed under: Electronica, Music, Rock, Song of the Week, techno | Tags: drum'n'bass, Electronica, Music, Pendulum, Song of the Week, techno
This week’s Song of the Week is ‘Propane Nightmares’ from Australian electronica masters Pendulum. The single is off their new album ‘In Silico’ released on Warner UK. Pendulum has been around for a half dozen years, forming in Perth before moving to the UK. Modifying the drum’n'bass style of some of their early single, ‘Propane Nightmares’ is pumped up with synth horns and a ton of energy. This is not music to relax by, but the fusion of styles produces a really slick, driving and melodic sound.
You won’t catch Pendulum live outside of the UK this Summer unless they book some additional shows, but In Silico has been released in the US (their US debut) and you can see/hear more at their website or MySpace Page
Filed under: Fratellis, Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Fratellis, indie, Music, Rock, Song of the Week
This week’s Song of the Week is the Fratellis’ ‘A Heady Tale’ from their new album ‘Here We Stand’. You know their music even if you don’t know the band thanks to Heineken’s use of their 2007 hit ‘Chelsea Dagger’ in the massive Amsterdam (Dam Good Beer) campaign. ‘Here We Stand’ could well be one of the top 10 albums of 2008, and there are 4 or 5 good singles there.
The video for A Heady Tale hasn’t been released yet, so enjoy the Fratellis’ video for Flathead and check out the audio for ‘A Heady Tale’ at their website ….
Filed under: Akon, Hip-Hop, Kardinal Offishall, media, Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Akon, Hip-Hop, Kardinal Offishall, Music, Song of the Week
This week’s Song of the Week is Dangerous by Kardinal Offishall featuring Akon. Kardinal Offishall is Canadian rapper and producer Jason Harrow, regarded as one of the best producers in Toronto. Released as a single, Dangerous has become a Top 40 hit, and will likely continue that run for some time. An upcoming album, allegedly titled Not 4 Sale, is expected to contain additional collaborations with Akon, a match that blends hip hop and Akon’s dance/R&B appeal.
The single comes in both explicit and clean form, and both are mature so watch the younger kids on this one.
Check out the official website and MySpace page to sample the single.
Filed under: Music, Rock, Song of the Week | Tags: Alternative, Music, Rock, Saving Jane, Song of the Week, Supergirl
This week’s Song of the Week is Supergirl by ‘Saving Jane’ from the band’s upcoming album ‘One Girl Revolution’, due out at the end of July. Carrying over the success of ‘Girl Next Door’ from their last album, Supergirl has already been picked up by Danica Patrick as the theme song for Patrick Racing, and is getting airplay on alt rock and top 40 stations alike. Fronted by Marti Dodson, this three sometimes four piece band is producing solid rock tunes, and appears to be poised to take the body of work and start to get some recognition.
Their website offers little, but you can learn more and listen to a few tracks at the Myspace page.
Filed under: Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Alternative, indie, Music, Newton Faulkner, Song of the Week, UK music
This week’s Song of the Week is Newton Faulkner’s “Dream Catch Me” from his debut album ‘Hand Built by Robots’ which was a #1 album in the UK, but was only just been released in the US in April. Faulkner has been compared to Jack Johnson and James Morrison, but has a folk/alt style that is more creative and random than either peer. The album has more top 40 capable singles (Gone in the Morning), and Faulkner will take the world stage by storm this summer, appearing at both Bonnaroo, Isle of Wight, and Glastonbury in June, and Lollapalooza in August, with dates on both sides of the Atlantic in between.
Take a listen to his music at his MySpace Page, or his official website.
Filed under: Music, Rock, Song of the Week | Tags: Coldplay, Song of the Week, Violet Hill, Viva la Vida
This week’s Song of the Week is Coldplay’s title track from their upcoming album ‘Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends’. The lead single for the album is Violet Hill, which is also a fine track, but ‘Viva la Vida’ is available via iTunes as a teaser track, and the title track has legs….you will be hearing it all summer on A/C radio (along with Duffy). It’s got the signature Coldplay ethereal-yet-rich sound, a a good hook, and the kind of lyrics that leave you more curious than content. This will become one of the Coldplay singles that gets airplay for years, if the rest of the album is as strong as Viva la Vida and Violet Hill, the band is in for another smash with their fourth album.
Check out Violet Hill at the band’s MySpace page. The album won’t be released until June 17th, but the single ‘Viva La Vida’ is available on iTunes. Coldplay will be touring almost all year with dates in Europe, North America and Japan starting in June and running through November.
Because there isn’t a video released yet for Viva la Vida, I am embedding the ‘Violet Hill’ performed live video, and I’ll put up the Viva la Vida video as soon as it is available.
Filed under: Music, Rock, Song of the Week | Tags: I Kissed A Girl, Katy Perry, Music, Pop, Rock, Song of the Week, UR So Gay
This week’s Song of the Week is Katy Perry’s new single, ‘I Kissed a Girl’, from her upcoming album ‘One of the Boys’. This non-PC single will get no airplay in parts of the country, the even more non-PC track ‘UR So Gay (And You Don’t Even Like Boys)’ is apparently Madonna’s favorite song right now. ‘UR So Gay’ was released as the title track of Perry’s first EP last November. While many of the lyrics are adult, in a sarcastic/humorous, Alanis Morissette kind of way, the music is catchy and engaging.
Perry, born Katy Hudson, started out as a gospel singer, but has adopted a pop rock sound that is reminiscent of ’80′s bands like Heart. [Her cover of The Outfield's 'Use Your Love' is an improvement on the original.] ‘I Kissed a Girl’ is available on iTunes. You can check out the single and several more at her MySpace Page or her website. Not youngster appropriate though….
Filed under: Music, Song of the Week | Tags: French music, Music, Song of the Week, Zaho
This week’s Song of the Week is from Canadian artist Zaho. Her single C’est Chelou is running up European charts, but probably won’t be seen on the U.S. charts because the lyrics are in french. Her first album, ‘Dima’ came out in March and C’est Chelou is a top ten single in Europe.
See more Zaho at her MySpace page (english/french) or her website (french).
Filed under: Apple, media, Music, Song of the Week | Tags: Air, indie, Macbook, Music, Regina Spektor, Song of the Week, Yael Naim
This week’s Song of the Week is not a new release, but is another in the line of cool songs popularized by major corporations as part of their ad campaigns. Yael Naim’s ‘New Soul’ crashed onto the scene this month as part of Apple’s ad campaign for the Air laptop. Naim’s eponymous album was released in Europe last October, but has now gone mainstream and released in the US in March…. The single evokes Regina Spektor’s sparse vocals and piano work.
Yael Naim’s MySpace page and website.
Filed under: ballad, Bucket List, Jack Nicholson, John Mayer, Morgan Freeman, Music, Rock, Say, Say What You Need to Say, Song of the Week
Say what you like about John Mayer’s music, but the man can perform a ballad. This week’s Song of the Week is Mayer’s ‘Say (What You Need to Say)’ a new single that appears courtesy of the soundtrack to “Bucket List” the new Nicholson/Freeman movie.Audio, tour dates, etc. available at John’s site or his MySpace page.
Filed under: Hip-Hop, List of Demands, Music, Nike, Nike ad, Saul Williams, Song of the Week, Sparq
This week’s Song of the Week is Saul Williams’ hip hop manifesto “List of Demands (Reparations)” from his eponymous 2004 album. You won’t find it on any Top 40 lists and you won’t hear it on the radio, but if you have been watching any of March’s sporting events there’s a good chance you have heard this track which is the striking background to Nike’s Sparq training gear ads.
Williams made a mark for himself as an award winning spoken word poet in the mid-90′s, and was the central character in 1998′s Sundance winning indie film “Slam”. When he decided to take on the music world, it was as an extension of his poetry, with his spoken world style ramped up and combined with hip hop/rock tracks reminiscent of “Rage Against the Machine”.
Find out more about Saul Williams at his MySpace page or the album page for “The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust”, his latest collection.
Filed under: Amy Ann Duffy, Duffy, media, Music, Pop, Rock, Song of the Week
Though I try to avoid overlapping with iTunes Single of the Week (many of which are complete garbage) there are times when it just can’t be avoided because they end up with the clear choice for Song of the Week. If you have iTunes, go grab Welsh singer Duffy’s single ‘Mercy’ from her album ‘Rockferry’. Duffy is Amy Ann Duffy, and her vocal style has been compared to Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark, but that doesn’t do the artist or the single justice.
She’s topping the charts in the UK, but you can sample her music at her MySpace page or her website (neither of which are obvious so use our links).
