Thursday, December 4, 2014
HOZIER: Singer/songwriter
Another winner from across the pond.
Andrew Hozier Byrne, aka, Hozier, the Irish lad has a major hit on his hands with 'Take Me To Church'
'Take Me to Church'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYSVMgRr6pw
'Sweet Thing' (Cover)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAbs_PYfpvQ
'Whole Lot of Love' (Cover)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J0uAPipJ7QA
Tunedin4u2.blogspot.com
Jack Savoretti: Singer /Songwriter
Jack Savoretti: Released his latest EP with a powerful song 'Solitude'
The new "TIE ME DOWN' EP, by Savoretti is one you will not soon forget. The voice is a little more gravely, but probably his best work so far, and he just keeps getting better.
'Solitude'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70b-S-8yMpI:
'Back to Me"
https://www.youtube.com/user/JackSavoretti
'Tie Me Down'
https://soundcloud.com/jacksavoretti/last-beat-1
The new "TIE ME DOWN' EP, by Savoretti is one you will not soon forget. The voice is a little more gravely, but probably his best work so far, and he just keeps getting better.
'Solitude'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70b-S-8yMpI:
'Back to Me"
https://www.youtube.com/user/JackSavoretti
'Tie Me Down'
https://soundcloud.com/jacksavoretti/last-beat-1
MAKE IT RAIN - Singer/Songwriter Ed Sheeran
The best thing to come out of the FX Series 'Sons of Anarchy'
'Make it Rain'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrYA9dLxXf0
Live Perforamce:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yhbYWk03aI
http://communityvoices.post-gazette.com/arts-entertainment-living/get-rhythm/item/38576-sons-of-anarchy-s-red-rose-ed-sheeran-s-make-it-rain
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Thursday, June 19, 2014
ED SHEERAN: SINGER/SONGWRITER
Ed Sheeran, released his 2nd Studio album X (Multiply), out on
iTunes June 23, 2014. Hard to believe it is only his second, because he seems
to be everywhere. Sheeran has released 12 EP’s, 8 Singles, and 6 Music Videos, which
may account for his visibility. I
confess I liked some of his stuff, but I
was not a fan until his single ‘SING’, the video produced by Pharrell Williams (The Happy Song guy), and now I want to hear more of his
stuff. The new album seems to be more mature, and appeals to a wider audience, and it is packed with great melodies: ‘Bloodstream’, ‘The Man’, ‘One’, ‘Thinking Out Loud’
and ‘Sing’, plus many more.
See review
posted by the Guardian:
Sheeran the
song writer, has been busy writing for/with Olly Murs, One Direction, Taylor
Swift, Naughty Boy, and more. He also performs with various artists, and collaborates
with them on their albums.
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
SAM SMITH: SINGER/SONGWRITER
Sam Smith, the 22 year old from London England,
is debuting his first studio album ‘In
the Lonely Hour’. He is all over the radio stations playing POP music.
Released May
26, 2014 by Capitol Records, and to iTunes on June 17, 2014. He previously
released singles ‘Latch’, ‘ Money on My Mind’,
‘Lay Me Down’, and ‘Stay
with Me’. Also included on the album is ‘La La La’ featuring Sam Smith with Naughty
Boy.
The album is
basically one ballad after another, with only a few upbeat tracks. The soulful
singer reflects his lonely hour with music and his fabulous voice and frame of mind. Smith equates
his feelings to not having reciprocated love from those he cared about. While
he sings beautifully, it is kind of a downer, but very good overall.
Smith confesses
he struggles with OCD, and cannot leave the house until he performs his
checking routine. Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety
disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions)
and/or repetitive behaviors. He appears
to do just fine while performing. His singing voice will see him through
SNL: Debut
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/sam-smith-dazzles-in-snl-debut-20140330
Tunedin4u.blogpsot.com
Tunedin4u.blogpsot.com
Friday, May 2, 2014
SHOOK TWINS: SINGERS/SONGWRITERS
Katelyn
& Laurie Shook, identical twin sisters from Sandpoint Idaho, released their
4th studio album ‘WHAT WE DO’ April 8, 2014. The Shook Twins are not widely known and primarily
perform the festival circuit on the west coast.
The twins are known for their unique layering of instrumentation, melding acoustic banjo, guitar,
upright bass, mandolin, and ukulele, with a distinctive use of a looping machine
and the ever present ‘green egg’ (percussion).
All Incorporated with electric creating an eccentric mix of folk, roots,
pop and sometimes ‘Quirky Folk’ music that is catchy, blended with the melodic twin
harmonies for a hypnotic sound they call their own.
The Shook
Twins are refreshing, not the same old thing, they are creative, sound good,
and I want to hear more when I listen to them. They may never be the “Pop”
sensation of the moment, but they certainly are entertaining, and if you dare to
try something new, this may be it.
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Friday, April 18, 2014
PAOLO NUTINI: SINGER/SONGWRITER
Paolo Nutini: Singer/Songwriter/Musician, released latest
EP out 4/15/2014 ‘IRON SKY’. The prelude to his 3rd Studio
Album CAUSTIC LOVE, released
in Ireland 4/15 and United Kingdom 4/14/2014, and to be released in the US on
4/22/2014.
His first album ‘These
Streets’ brought hits like ‘Jenny
Don’t Be Hasty’ and ‘New Shoes’. His second album not so much, but this album
brings him back in the spotlight with the single ‘Scream’ (Funk My Life Up) released in January 2014.
The 27 year old Scotsman, known
for singing with his eyes closed during his entire performance, sports a new
hair style, and seems to have opened his eyes, (Maybe not). With his knack for catchy-off beat melodies,
Nutini enhances his raspy vocals, and highlight his mature songwriting skills with
a charming ambitious album which is likely to sport more than one hit single.
The unique thing about Nutini; is
you cannot peg him to be one specific type of artist, he can incorporate many
different styles of music into his album, which makes him more universal than
just a pop singer, he is more like a world
entertainer who appeals to a variety of genres and fans.
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
NICKY EGAN: SINGER/SONGWRITER
Nicky
Egan
released her 2nd studio album ‘The
45 Homestead Project’, 4/1/2014 which is a series of releases. The unique series will be comprised of
three “digital 45’s” that will be released over a three-month span. Each
“digital 45” will have an A/B side with a music video accompanying each a side
track and a live performance at the Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. At
the end of the third release, the singles will be combined to create one
complete 7 song EP that will include an unreleased bonus track. The
structure is designed to resemble the old soul-music model of releasing single
7” records with a modern visual twist.
The first release will feature the single ‘Made A Fool Of Me’, which evokes the spirit of 1960’s era soul legends, and the jazz tinged B side ‘I Tried.’ Each of the accompanying videos will be released on the same day simultaneously. All three videos are directed and produced by Little Lou Productions with Thin Edge Films contributing to the September video release.
Egan, from the Berklee
College of Music, Boston MA, is a powerful soulful singer with a melodic tone that
creates a specific individuality to her voice that can only propel her into the
same league as some of the best. Her vocals are sure to get your attention as
she performs her original tracks with mesmerizing lyrics. This girl has got it
goin’on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpFieoP3JEc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APkhfH4DOQs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MevMARBzrvc
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
MIKEY JUNIOR: SINGER/SONGWRITER/HARMONICA
Mikey Junior released his latest album ‘TRAVELING
SOUTH’ out 3/25/2014. Junior has
been traveling the East Coast blues circuit for a decade or so, and finally he
has released an album that has my attention. The original tunes are well
written and his harmonica is all fired-up and making my harp pump wildly as his
lips blow riffs and hooks that make my hips sway.
Even though
this is his 6 or7th album, he is virtually unknown, except on the East
Coast, his homeland. This album is worth the time it takes to listen to
the blues, with blues harp, and bluesy vocals, while it may be a little more
subdued than the live show, it is still very good.
Check out
this bluesy guy with the big Harp.
“…If he keeps Blowing Harmonica like that,
people gonna find out who Mikey Junior is real soon.”
— Sonny
Rhodes, 2009
He attacks his diatonic with a demonic
vengeance and is smooth as southern comfort on ice when playing the chromatic,
Mikey Junior is a rapidly rising blue harp performer, and rightfully so…”
— Jeff
Silverman, 2011
“…The legacy of immortals like Little Walter,
Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Big Walter Horton lives on in the infectious
harmonica blues of Mikey Jr., a true apostle of joy.”
—
Thomas J. Cullen, contributing editor for Blues Revue and director/co-founder
of the acclaimed Bucks County Blues Society 2013
"...the kind of stuff that could single
handedly light the fuse on a whole nu blues revival."
— Chris
Spector, Midwest Record 2014
http://www.mikeyjunior.com/
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
SHAKIRA:SINGER/SONGWRITER
Shikira was listed in Forbes 2013
as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world and ‘Her Hips Don’t Lie’ as she puts her talent to work by sharing her
wealth making a difference in the world.
A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
and in 1997 Shakira founded the “Barefoot Foundation” (Pies
Descalzos Foundation),
and has built six schools in
Columbia, one in Haiti, and one in South Africa, with plans for 20 learning
centers by 2016, accommodating 20,000 children under the age of five. “The Barefoot Foundation works
to provide education to children across the globe. It supports practical and
innovative education programs while promoting the importance of childhood
education”. She was recently featured on the CBS Sunday Morning
Show. See a portion of the interview with Lew
Cowan.
The 37 year old Shikira possesses a youthful appearance ,
but delivers a mighty impact as a multi-talented entertainer with an electric personality and the ability to make a difference in this world with
her heart of gold.
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 13, 2014
WALK THE EARTH: ALTERNATIVE ROCK GROUP
WALK OFF THE EARTH:
Canadian Alternative Rock Group released their 6th studio
album in March of 2013 REVO.
This album has been out for a year now, and it is still
going strong. The track ‘Red Hands’ is getting radio play on a
daily basis even though it came out in 2012 on their R.E.V.O ‘EP’.
Walk Off the Earth mesh their sound
between Alternative/Indie, Experimental Rock and Ska (Jamaican, Meto, Calypso,
and Reggae), they are multi-talented, innovative, and they aren’t afraid to do
covers of popular songs and put their own spin on them, with great harmonies
and instrumentation that are as good as anything out there. I can’t wait for their next album.
March 25, 2013
Teamwork isn't
a problem for these Canadians, as the 147 million people who saw their YouTube
cover of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" can verify; in it,
the five-piece hunch around a single guitar, subletting individual frets and
strings. Their debut feels equally crowd sourced for maximum popularity, but
fractures under its many moods: half heartedly scornful rap rock
("Sometimes"), teen-baiting party anthems ("R.E.V.O."),
spare pop about breezy road trips and coconut cocktails ("Summer
Vibe"). A handful of tracks are unified in their balance of plush
harmonies and folksy guitar breaks – and the group, at last, seems to be in
merry agreement.
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
ROBBEN FORD: SINGER/SONGWRITER/MUSICIAN
ROBBEN FORD: Released his
14th Studio album A DAY IN
NASHVILLE out March 4.2014. It may sound like it is a country album by
the title, but it is not. It is a bluesy, jazz/fusion rock album for the ages.
Thom Jurek of ALL MUSIC
says it best.
“A Day in Nashville isn't
raw, but it is immediate and soulful. It is the sound class musicians make when
they simply get down to doing what they do best: playing together”.
Ford has
been around a long time; the native Californian is sounding better as time goes
by and it may have to do with his collaborations with best in the business like Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison KISS, Larry Carlton, Sonny Landreth, Michael
McDonald, plus many more and has been named one of the top “100 Greatest
Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician Magazine. Ford has played on albums with Bonnie Raitt,
Charlie Musselwhite, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Witherspoon, Rickie Lee Jones,
Ruthie Foster, John Mayall & The Bluestreakers and more.
See Review
by Jason Shadrick of Guitars & Gear
Album
Preview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZizhgWsDBA0
Previous Review:
http://tunedin4u.blogspot.com/2013/02/robben-ford-musiciansongwriter.html
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Previous Review:
http://tunedin4u.blogspot.com/2013/02/robben-ford-musiciansongwriter.html
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
GARDENS & VILLA: INDIE ROCK GROUP
Gardens & Villa, released their 2nd
studio album 2/4/2014 “DUNE”.
The American
Pop Rock/Indie Rock group formed in 2008 in Santa Barbara, CA
Their
sophomore album has a little more pizzazz with a few danceable melodies. The
tracks are catchy, meaningful and should generate interest and promote fans to
follow along.
The group
puts an original twist on their Synths creating sonic perfection along with Chris Lynch’s falsetto blended to
perfection with a sound of their own.
Review by Tim Sendra of ALL Music.
‘Colony Glen’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNfERGRTw8c
‘Bullet Train’
’Thunder Glove’
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Friday, February 21, 2014
NOEL GOURDIN:SOULSINGER/SONGWRITER
NOEL GOURDIN released his 3rd studio Album January 2014 out on iTunes 2/18/2014.
"CITY HEART, SOUTHERN SOUL"
city to the heart, but
southern to the soul.
The classic
soul singer brings it to the table with memorable soulful R&B soul, with a
little bit of funk. Sexy dialog, sassy rhythms impacted with romantic connotation.
Gourdin loves romance, and women and pays
homage with each track. Noel Gourdin reminds me of crooners Sam Cooke, Anthony
Hamilton, and R. Kelly. He has a little of each of those guys wrapped in his delivery,
tone and swagger.
See Previous
Review:
This album
is the most diverse so far, and I think his work will become more recognizable
than the previous 2 albums, the third time may be the charm he is looking for
to make him a household name in soul. He has great vocals and the album is
enjoyable and makes you move to the tracks. It was a definite download for me.
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 13, 2014
BASTILLE: ALT ROCK GROUP
BASTILLE: Alternative Rock/Indie Rock group formed 2010 in London.
Bastille released their debut album in the United Kingdom in March 2013 ‘BAD BLOOD’ they later released ‘ALL THIS BAD BLOOD’ in the United Kingdom in
November 2013, and to iTunes January 2014, which includes all the tracks of 'Bad Blood', plus new songs and demo's.
Somewhat
similar to ‘Bon Iver’, they are a talented group:Dan Smith – lead vocals,
keyboards, percussion, string arrangements, Kyle Simmons – keyboards, percussion, backing
vocals, Will Farquarson – bass,
keyboards, acoustic guitar, backing vocals and Chris "Woody" Wood –
drums, backing vocals.
The
group is skilled at layering digitally altered harmonies and thick synths with exact
implementation of instruments as in drums, or guitars or keyboard, whatever is
called for in specific hooks and runs. They bring all the modern day gimmicks with
vocals that create memorable melodies.
They
recently appeared on Saturday Night Live (1/18/2014), Jimmy Kimmal and Conan, performing
their hit ‘Pompeii'.
They
are hugely popular in the United Kingdom and the United States. Currently ‘Pompeii’ is the number one single on iTunes a year
after its original release. They are currently working on their 2nd
studio album and touring around the USA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCTDKLjdok4
tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Friday, February 7, 2014
AMERICAN AUTHORS: ALTERNATIVE ROCK GROUP
AMERICAN AUTHORS:
The American
born group came together via Brooklyn NY/Boston MA, in 2006 as ‘The Blue Pages’,
but soon changed their name to the
'American Authors’, and off they go. They
are enjoying the good life, with their best selling single ‘Best Days of My
Life’ with several commercials airing their anthem, and it has also been added to movie trailers, and with non-stop radio play, this
song is destined for only good things to come.
Zac Barnett: Lead Vocals, Guitar, James Adam Shelly: Lead Guitar, Dave Rublin: Bass, Matt Sanchez: Drums, have been together since the beginning, and while they
profess to be ‘College Dropouts’ they
are definitely talented and maybe college isn’t for everyone, at least for now. Their music has substance, and I
can’t wait for their debut album
“Oh What A
Life” to be released on March 4, 2014. If you haven’t heard them before, click
on the links below and see for yourself.
The American
Authors recently appeared on the ‘Ellen’ Show and have been added to ‘One
Republics’ 2014 summer tour as the opening act.
“Crafting their own story line: "We
tell stories, so we look at ourselves as authors, and we're from all over the
country, so that's where the American came from," says Barnett. "I'm
from Minnesota, James is from Florida, Matt from Texas and Dave from New
Jersey." The songs are all based in their experiences, so fans should
consider the music a peek into their lives. "Two songs off our
(self-titled) EP, for example. Luckis about moving away from family and having to miss big
events and making those sacrifices," says Barnett. "Home is about how going home always turns out to be
harder than you think it will be." While they call themselves alt-pop
rock, the band pulls from wildly different styles. "We add our own flavor;
we use EDM, hip-hop, Irish folk songs," he says. "We like everything from Jimi
Hendrix and Motown to The 1975”.
Read the entire article by Korina
Lopez in USA TODAY
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Friday, January 24, 2014
ALEX CLARE: SINGER/SONGWRITER
Alex Clare
The 28 year
old British singer/songwriter released his debut album 7/11/2011 in the United Kingdom.
THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR, was released to iTunes in May
2012. The album produced three singles of which the second ‘Too Close’ peaked at #4 in the UK and #7 on the USA
Billboard Top 100, and it has lots of radio play on alternative music radio
stations to this day.
I love the tune, the melody, the voice, the quality of
the song. I am not sure if this is a ‘One Hit Wonder’, but the quality of Clare’s
voice makes me think he has staying power.
The first
released single from the album is ‘Tightrope’ and the 3rd is ‘Treading
Water’.
Probably the
highest claim to fame was his link to Amy Winehouse, whom he dated for about a year
before it fizzled out. I think he has an interview or book about the
relationship somewhere, I’ve heard, but have not actually read, which is really
irrelevant, when talking about his talent.
Clare is
very secular and does not perform or travel on the Jewish Sabbath, or religious
holidays, which has cost him a gig or two. A man of conviction, but will it have an unfavorable
effect on his career? Only time will
tell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOsl5wOsQRM
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Friday, January 17, 2014
JOHN NEWMAN: SINGER/SONGWRITER
The idea of Tribute is that nothing is really original and
his music is a blend of what he grew up with listening to his Mom’s music by Otis Redding,
Led Zeppelin and Marvin Gaye, and the music of today by Adele,
and other great artist.
At the age of 23, the baby-faced, tall drink of water not
only writes his own music, but he produces, performs and remixes it and, and he designs
his own clothes.
Read Review of TRIBUTE by Johnny Biggs of Sputnik
Tunedin4u.blogspot.com
Friday, January 10, 2014
SERENA RYDER:SINGER/SONGWRITER
Serena Ryder released her 5 th studio album ‘Harmony’ 11/27/2012 and on iTunes in August 2013. With her single’ Stompa’ earlier in 2013. The Canadian born Serena Ryder has been around since 1999,
releasing 6 EP’s, 4 Live Performance
Albums and now her 5th Studio album. The Folk/Indie Rock singer is currently getting
a lot of radio play right now with her catchy single ‘Stompa’.
Ryder has a 3-Octave range, and is considered a mezzoo-soprano
(middle female voice), with a slightly
raspy lower register, who has toured with Areosmith, Melissa Etheridge, and the
first time I saw her in concert , she was the opening act for Paolo Nutini in
2008, where I purchased her EP ‘Told You In A Whispered Song’ .
Honestly I forgot about her until I kept hearing ‘Stompa’ on
the radio and decided I needed to look her up, and was pleasantly surprised she was the same person I saw in 2008, who I thought at the time was very entertaining. Her last hit was from here previous album “IS
IT OK” with the song ‘Weak In The Knees’ , which was released on her EP ‘Told
You In A Whispered Song’
Ryders voice is not unique, but her song writing is, and I
think we will hear from Ms. Ryder for years to come, with her catchy lyrics and the know how when delivering a memorable tune.
Review by: Matt
Collar of ALLMusic
Serena Ryder's sixth studio album, 2013's Harmony, showcases the Canadian singer/songwriter's
soulful and bluesy music mixing Dusty
Springfield-esque
'60s R&B with a contemporary pop aesthetic. Ryder has a
huge following in Canada, where her albums have gone gold and platinum and
earned her several Juno awards. Prior to the release of her single
"Stompa" -- included on Harmony -- she
was not as well known in the United States, but the release ofHarmony will
probably go a long way toward raising her profile outside of Canada. Ryder possesses
a powerful voice with a throaty timbre and a nasal resonance, making her the
perfect vehicle for her brand of soulful rock. Not surprisingly, she's drawn
favorable comparisons to both Melissa
Etheridge and Adele, and Harmony will do
nothing to dissuade such allusions. Admittedly, Ryder fits
snugly into the post-Amy
Winehouse crew of female vocalists with songs that
oscillate between moments of Southern soul, contemporary R&B, and
mainstream melodic rock. If Ryder's voice weren't so engaging, or if she weren't so
emotionally believable on Harmony, some of the Winehouse/Mark
Ronson-esque
production via Jerrod
Bettis and Jon
Levine might cause the average listener, bombarded with
a slew of Winehouse-wannabes, to tune out. However, Ryder is such
a compelling singer and her songs are, by and large, so catchy that such
generalities are easy to dismiss. Primarily, Ryder avoids
the retro-tag by delivering a handful of gutsy, organic torch songs like
"Please," "Heavy Love," and "Mary Go Round," all
of which owe far less to the stylized production and more to the unique sound
of her voice and the quality of her songwriting.
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