Need I say more? Probably. Cary’s new album is out now! Pick it up here. He’s playing Hotel Cafe tonight too! You should go check him out. For he was our first Showcase EVER! Pity, after four years, he’s still small time.
Dig this record.
Tag Archives: acoustic
Album of the Week: “Wax Wings” by Joshua Radin
24 MayClick 2 Buy!
Gotta love pretapes! Been through my share. Now as I await my release with two more feeds to take in, I figured I’d set up some summer tunes for your weekend pleasure as I do my own thing. Can only imagine the stories about to be had…by all of us.
Surprisingly, I still don’t own this record. Joshua Radin’s music has been a major part of my adult life that almost every single record finds it’s way into my world. Will always remember singing along in a sold out Hollywood Palladium as he performed some of my favorite anthems to a lukewarm crowd back in 2011.
His new independent release — ‘Wax Wings‘ (Out now!) — is much more uplifting than his last. Still haunting. Always beautiful. Joshua’s acoustic romantic folk rock was made for sunny holiday weekends like this. Songs for sunlight poking through living room blinds. Wind breezy. Empty blue sky, riding with the top down. ’Wax Wings’ will keep these stories as lasting memories tucked away in your head.
Lose yourself in the moments. For this is Joshua Radin at his best.
Stream: “Horizon” by Daft Punk
22 May
If you don’t own ‘R.A.M.’ (out now), you are seriously missing out on some really amazing music. It won’t be our ‘Album of The Week’ because I don’t feature albums that have had a post in the past month. However, I’m not sold on that law yet. Daft Punk’s RAM is really incredible. But us U.S. listeners won’t get this Japanese bonus track entitled ‘Horizon’. Like an ocean breeze, it is calming and sweet in perfectly acoustic sort of way.
Leaves me saying one thing…
Spotlight Saturday: “Vacation” by The Blank Tapes
18 May
Big shout out to Riot Act Media. They threw me into The Blank Tapes‘ new record — Vacation — out now! This is sort of album you listen to during, in, around, or to the beach. Very bluesy, hippie, rocking Beach Boys/John Lennon sort of pop that should be the soundtrack to some really great times. Pity I’m on my couch right now. Feels like I’m wasting these really fun beats. Sunshine and sand in my toes are needed!
Here’s their new video for ‘Coast To Coast’ to get you going:
Incredible huh? Wasn’t that just heaps of fun? The record is even more so! Let’s keep the vibing beats going! Here is the entire record just for you. If I you wanted a new album of the week, surely this would do. Vacation, all you ever wanted…
Spotlight Saturday: “Fireworks” by Echo Bloom
12 MayOur first Spotlight Saturday. It’s gonna be a thing. Just you wait. Couldn’t have picked a better artist to highlight out the gate. Echo Bloom is Kyle Evans of Brooklyn, NYC. Just one guy. One Americana up & comer with a new album — Blue — dropping on Tuesday. Kyle wrote the entire thing while in Europe last year. Sounds like something I would do.
If you’re into acoustic friendly rockers like Nick Drake, Sufjan Stevens, Beach Boys, Iron & Wine or City & Colour, then you need to check out Echo Bloom!
The More You Know:
Here’s what Echo Bloom had to say about the camera friendly artistic music video:
The shoot hinged on the Lomokino, a new take on a really old concept – a hand-cranked motion picture camera. The camera takes rolls of regular 35mm film, each of which gives you about 10 seconds of action (depending on the speed you’re cranking). We did some tests cranking at a reasonable speed and estimated that we would get about 6 frames per second, far less than the 24 fps for movies (not to mention the 30 fps for television). To combat this we decided to slow down the song by a factor of 4, lipsync to the song veeeeeeery slowly, and speed everything up in post. Fashion for the shoot was done by the haute couture designer Milu Milu.
His webpage has some amazing BTS pictures.
1st Song of the Day: “Thousand Ways” by The Tallest Man on Earth
7 May
Hard to deny The Tallest Man on Earth in the morning bump. The Wild Hunt‘s tracks do well at the early morning hours. The ‘wee hours’ how I refer to them. 6am shadows where brewed java fills the room. Tingling those sensitive nostrils. Maybe producing a smile with teeth. Songs like this makes me feel good. They really do. That’s why Tallest Man continues to be featured. Instead of the studio track, which is amazing in it’s own right, below is Tallest Man’s acoustic performance from KCRW. There isn’t much lost in translation. Equals the studio version. Probably surpasses it. I’ll let you decide.
On the way in I listened to ‘To Be Loved’ all the way through and it almost made me fall asleep. Mellow, overly loving record. I’m at that point where either it will become one of my favorite records of the year or be lost and forgotten in the Car’s CD Island. I’m leaning to the latter. Part of me, when I listen to a Michael Buble album, always compares it to that lasting experience when I first heard ‘It’s Time’ back in college. ”Why can’t [To Be Loved] be that good”, I repeat to myself. 2005. Wow. Incredible how unperishing that album was to me. Subject matter on the new LP is weak. Really disappointed by it all.
Buble should just join up with Disney & make that dream record already. ”Buble sings Disney’s Classics”…not a far-fetched concept after hearing his Randy Newman cover. Will see the light of day sooner than later.
Here’s a Swedish ballad from a modern day Bob Dylan.
Unplugged: “Who’s Lovin’ You (Live in NYC Subway) by Michael Buble (feat. Naturally 7)
25 Apr
Paroling on buzzfeed during my 1ish break and came across this cool video of Michael Buble performing his ‘To Be Loved’ cut — Who’s Lovin You — live in the NYC subway with Naturally 7. Certain promotion for the fresh, yet decent, record.
To Be Loved is out now!
From Tumblr
New Video: “Over When It’s Over” by Eric Church (feat. Joanna Cotten)
1 Apr
“This Video Should Played LOUD” is how the video starts…probably because the live version sound is off a tad in this music video. Bad joke. Regardless, ’Caught In The Act: Live’ is Eric Church’s first live album that is being released next Tuesday and “Over When It’s Over” is the official video promoting it’s upcoming awesomeness. Regulars should know this track from 2011′s ‘Chief’. Find it exceptional live.
Shout out to Eric’s backup singer – Joanna Cotten — who freaking kills it.
1st Song of the Day: “Rootless Tree” by Damien Rice
28 Mar
If there’s one artist who is ranks #1 on my concert must see list it’s Mr. Rice. Haven’t had the pleasure yet because to put it bluntly…he no longer tours. Here’s the official statement from his website:
“Damien is currently not touring and has no immediate plans to return to the road.”
“Ah fuck”, is what I say. Guess this will have to do. Prefer his performance with Lisa Hannigan from Abbey Road to the studio track. Still as haunting as when I first saw it back in 2007. Probably ended up on my Myspace profile at some point. Pretty sure it did. My Myspace had the best playlists ever! No joke. My best profile picture too. That was the dancing Megaman. Yes, very random stuff this morning. Makes me feel old and kind of sad I’m no longer that bright eye youth. Moving on…
Three day weekend ahead. Starts with WING Night…yes, it’s still a thing…and the Vans Warped Tour Kick Off Party at Club Nokia. Ending March the same way we started…with Music. Tiesto, Swedish House Mafia, and the 30 plus artists at SXSW. Very happy with it all. Musical March is how I’ll always remember this time in my life. Last year’s Vans Warped Tour had Yellowcard, The Used, Forever Came Calling, and Dead Sara. Fell for Emily that day. Siren of grunge. Wonder who will surprise tonight? I’ll let you know soon. Unless I feel awful after Wing Night.
What I haven’t made public is the very personal illness I’ve been dealing with for the past few weeks. Happened before SXSW. Went to the doctor yesterday and finally got put onto the right track. Found out too that I’ve been overly stressed by all the stuff behind the scenes. My head kept pushing me into the worst possible scenario which wasn’t good for my levels. Happy to report I’m fine. On medication. Ready for a break. Was extremely scared. Still kind of am. Let’s see if all works out.
I’m gonna follow up that very personal bump with TV news. Not sure it’s the best transition, but great TV returns this weekend! Worth cheering about. Whovians get out your BINGO card. I got mine.
Two days of The Bells of St. John. This fan boy is super ready. Oh yes! My TiVo is going to full of old episodes when I get home. Will watched my favs and delete the rest. Otherwise, this is me waiting…
Music to follow…hopefully. Yesterday was quite lame. Otherwise, have an amazing Easter weekend. I’ll be rolling around in my musical Tardis with more stories to share soon.
[In retrospect, this was a very british post. hmmm]
1st Song of the Day: “Lead Me Home” by Jamie N Commons
18 Mar
Made my way out of the desert. To this tune especially. Jamie N Commons was one the highlights of SXSW and this tune has been stuck in my head.
Can’t say I’m not fatigued. My eyes barely stayed opened as I drove into work. Lack of Soda mostly. I have been fueled by caffeine since last Tuesday and now I’m on a major down slide. Plus doesn’t help when my stomach is still feeling the effects of that funky food truck corn dog that immobilized me last Thursday. More on that story in a few days.
I’d be lying if I wasn’t perplexed moving forward into the official write up for my SXSW adventure. Over 30 bands. Five days of musical goodness. Most times I cover a music festival it’s just so overwhelming. Stories that I can write about in novelistic form. Gotta keep my promise to myself. Like a great summer blockbuster, all I can say is it’s coming soon.
Lastly, I’m in no hurry to head back into Hollywood for more concerts for the rest of march. My mind, body, and soul have been pushed & overloaded. Just gonna work, play, and we’ll see what happens.
Neither am I going to catch up on past musical posts. This is a fresh start, for all of us. Hope all is well in your worlds.
