Ok, so I know that Lily Allen isn’t exactly “fresh” to the music scene and some of you may have already heard about her, but what you probably haven’t heard yet is me talking about her. So for this, you are welcome. She’s actually been around for a while, and her debut album, Alright, Still, was voted/nominated for all sorts of crazy British awards in 2006. It was a great album. But contrary to what you may have heard in the previous sentence, it wasn’t her greatest album to-date. But more on that in a second.
What first got my musical engine revving (does that sound dirty?) was a song I heard with Mark Ronson and Lily Allen that was, at the time, a blind moment where you think you recognize the person’s voice, but can’t quite place it. Like watching a Pixar movie and assuming the main character’s voice is always John Goodman (which would actually be a pretty safe assumption.) But honestly, the song is super-funky and Lily Allen is the perfect voice for the vibe. It’s a pretty jaw-some song (where have I heard that before?)
Plus the cartoon chick is hot. Is that ok to say? Now, back to what I was saying about Lily Allen’s greatest album thus far. I’m sure if you’re familiar with Lily Allen, you’re familiar with her most recent single, “The Fear“, from her second album It’s Not Me, It’s You. This song led me to go ahead and listen to the whole album and I have to say, I’m thoroughly impressed. She takes you through a circus of musical flavors as the album progresses where you find overtones of all sorts of different music; a veritable mix of dance and pop with some hints of traditional music. Kind of a weird combination I know, but it definitely works well.
One might also make note of the parental advisory label on the cover of the album, but then again one might also mention the parental advisory labels on more than a handful of new albums. I guess we can conclude that if you like to dance, sing and curse, this album is for you.
Buy the album:
Are you digging Lily Allen? Then you’ll love Mieka Pauley!
Ryan Shaw – “Do the 45”
It is easy to listen to Ryan Shaw and think you are listening to the oldies station. Shaw brings forth the retro-R&B feel with “Do the 45” which is guaranteed to get you up and moving. Keep Ryan Shaw on your radar because he and his incredible pipes have a lot of things cooking.
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Sue Foley, Deborah Coleman & Roxanne Potvin – “So Far”
These ladies rock my world. I am in love with Sue Foley’s voice. Women with gritty soulful voices get me every time. That certainly explains my music crush on Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks. “So Far” is a fast car ride downhill. Let these bluesy women whip through your hair.
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Erin McCarley – “Pony (It’s Ok)”
I got the chance to meet Erin McCarley a few months ago, and I saw her perform “Pony (It’s Ok)” live. She puts on an energetic live show and since then, this track has been in heavy rotation for me. The track has a fun, quirky sound that will have you singing the catchy hook.
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I had the pleasure of first meeting Mieka Pauley back in 2005. In 2006, I was thrilled to work with her. Years have passed, her music career has exploded and she is gaining a lot of attention on the music scene. Thanks to me perhaps? Doubtful, but a boy can dream can’t he?
Mieka Pauley does something that other performers can only dream of doing. Her method is simple. She quietly mesmerizes and draws you in with her delicate, soft and pure voice.
A vocal tractor beam if you will. Once she has you where she wants you, she explodes with the most amazing display of raw and soulful brilliance. It is downright impossible not to emotionally connect with Mieka Pauley.
Her smoky tone is incredibly sexy. Her stand-out voice coupled with a genuinely kind personality sets the stage for big things in her future. This Boston native embodies classic soul, blues, rock and folk. In the over-populated singer-songwriter genre she stands out as a deep and cleansing breath of fresh air.
Mieka’s talent has certainly not gone unnoticed. In 2008, she won the first ever “Cosmo Starlaunch” sponsored by Cosmopolitan Magazine. Because of the increased national exposure her 2007 release of Elijah Drop Your Gun is finally getting the attention it deserves. I personally recommend checking out “Stronger”, “Bravely”, “Fate Day By Day”, and my all-time favorite “Run”. If you get the chance to see her live you must request that she perform her amazing cover of Eva Cassidy’s “Fields of Gold”.
Do yourself a favor and connect with Mieka Pauley by checking out her music video for “All the Same Mistakes”.
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If you like Mieka Pauley, check out Dave Barnes!
This London-born, Scottish-bred singer-songwriter (according to the sentence I stole from Wikipedia) is probably one of the most powerfully passive artists I’ve seen in a while. His new album “Time Without Consequence“ gives a true sense of his detailed musical storybook with songs like All My Days, Breathe, Home and the wonderfully popular Orange Sky.
Generally, his songs create a harmonic mood instead of a strict musical structure containing all of the pieces of a song in proper order. That’s why I go to the dessert counter at the buffet first. I’d rather have the excitement of all-you-can-eat chocolate pudding in my stomach before moving on to the main entree. Is that crazy? Probably.
Honestly, it’s a nice change of pace from a lot of the cookie-cutter songs created in the singer-songwriter genre nowadays. It’s hard to break away from the “I’m so lonely and depressed because my girlfriend just broke up with me” to the “I’m gonna write a song about your eyes in the hopes that I get laid tonight.” Both are, of course, very powerful subject matter, but sometimes change is necessary.
Alexi Murdoch is one of those artists that has already been sprinkled into many of your everyday activities, probably without you even knowing it. Like how I can see you reading this right now. (Whoa, that was creepy.) What I mean is, if you’re a fan of The OC, House, Prison Break, Ugly Betty, Dirty Sexy Money or Garden State, you’ve already heard his song and didn’t even know it. Orange Sky was so famously popular among guys that pick music for emotional scenes in TV shows and movies (is that a real job?) that it scored a place on each, adding that something special to keep you crying like a baby through the season finale.
I actually just checked him out at a live show in Chicago last week and he sounds exactly like his album, which is saying a lot these days. Overall, he creates a very cool vibe and commands the audience’s attention wihout saying all but ten words the whole show. Minus the crazy drunk, freshly turned 21-year-old that repeatedly called him “Adam” through the whole show (which he very calmly laughed at, continuing on for the less-than-inebriated) Alexi Murdoch puts on an awesomely chillax show.
Check out the well-recieved “Time Without Consequence” below.
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Like Alexi Murdoch? Check out Dave Barnes!
Brett Dennen – “Make You Crazy”
Brett Dennen is a California native that’s got some pipes. The song is pretty catchy in itself, but the music video features a very spicy Mandy Moore. If you’re reading this Mandy, I’m in love with you. Brett’s all right too.
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Cage the Elephant – “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”
This song’s got a really funky slide guitar that gives it an old school, bluesy Beck sound that’s pretty original. Probably one of my favorites for the month.
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Shiny Toy Guns – “Ghost Town”
I heard this song recently and was trying to pinpoint what exactly it reminded me of. Oddly enough, I came up with a mix between the Tings Tings and Linkin Park. Admittedly, it’s a weird combination, but I found myself very attracted to the song and humming it unwillingily throughout the day. Although the video is a little Cartoon Network on acid, the song is very catchy.
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