Generally, we at Fresh Scouts like to push for artists and groups that haven’t hit the mainstream yet, or maybe haven’t hit a major label yet. In the case of Justin Caldwell, our most recent interview, he hasn’t even hit Wikipedia yet. We’re talking about an emerging talent coming right out the gates, here, and we think you’re going to love him.
Caldwell is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who kind of breaks the mold of the genre by making things a little more jazzy and a little more Sting-y. We read one article that compared his musical style to something in between Jamie Cullum and The Police, and having seen him live we absolutely buy it. He’s a fantastic, energetic young man with music on the verge, and since our job is to give you all music that’s fresh, allow us to introduce Justin Caldwell.
Justin Caldwell Interview with Fresh Scouts:
Justin Caldwell’s “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” Cover:
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Apparently Mickey Mouse does rock the house. The 90′s television phenomenon, The Mickey Mouse Club, has created and churned out pop stars such as Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears. Add singer-songwriter Matt Morris to that list. Matt worked side by side with the previously mentioned pop icons and he is now getting his turn in the pop limelight.
Matt appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club from 1991 – 1994. So where has he been since then? Oh, he has been busy. For one, he has been getting tattoos. Besides painting his skin he has been painting notebook paper. With a pen. He’s been focusing on song writing. That’s what I am getting at. Morris wrote a handful of track’s on Aguilera’s Stripped album. He also hit the top of the charts when he penned the song “Miss Independent” for Ms. Kelly Clarkson. Maybe you have heard of that song? And back in 2003, Morris released an independent album for which he supported with touring and festival appearances. So yeah, Matt has been busy and he is gearing up to put a lot more on his plate.
Matt’s brand new release, When Everything Breaks Open, is on Tennman Records. The record label is co-owned by his good buddy, Justin Timberlake. It certainly helps to have friends in high places. Thankfully Matt Morris doesn’t have to rely solely on his connections, because he is one talented cat. He has a knack for song writing, knows his way around the guitar, and he has one helluva smooth voice. When Everything Breaks Open is an album full of emotion and meaning. The driving focus is on Morris’ voice. He reminds me of a more folksy mix of Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke. Tracks like “Money”, “Bloodline” and “Eternity” certainly caught my attention. Morris and Timberlake recently performed together on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and it seems Morris is ready for the next step in his career.
Check out his Paste in-studio performance of “Bloodline”
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Like Matt Morris? Check out Andrew Ripp!
Even in the middle of winter, I like to find a little bit of summer. Whether it’s DQ in December or rockin’ the hot tub in January, it’s nice to get a taste of the best season of the year, even if it is colder than a Klondike bar on the shady side of an iceberg. Luckily, I’ve had one trick up my sleeve for the past few years that immediately brings me back to summer regardless of the temperature. He goes by the name of G. Love. Now this is a guy that has that special sauce that helps make him the successful artist he’s known as today. Literally. His back-up band is named “Special Sauce” and they have indeed helped him become a most successful artist.
If you’ve never heard of G. Love & the Special Sauce, take note. They’ve been around since the early nineties and have collaborated with many popular artists today including an (at the time) unpopular, chilled-out artist named Jack Johnson. Perhaps you’ve heard a little jam called “Rodeo Clowns” on Mr. Johnson’s 2003 release On and On. That song was first performed on record by G. Love and Jack Johnson on Philadelphonic in 1999. Whoa, did I just blow your mind?
Their albums are a mix of the sound you would find on a Jack Johnson album with a mixture of crazy funky beats, laid back vocals and flowing raps. After hearing a lot of his earlier stuff, it wasn’t hard for me to get addicted to his 2006 release Lemonade off of none-other-than Jack Johnson’s personal record label Brushfire Records in 2006. This album has the ultimate feeling of summer. Besides the pleasant flow of hip-hop, funk and blues, G. Love incorporates acoustic guitars, electric guitars, harmonicas, tamborines, bongos, (possibly a kazoo), and so much more to create a sound that is truly unique.
Songs like “Hot Cookin’” and “Thanks and Praise” display the super funktacular beats, whereas songs like “Let The Music Play” (featuring Ben Harper and Marc Broussard) give off the absolute chill he’s known for. Lemonade is sure to get you into the summer spirit all year long so you’ll never have to worry about the cold weather ever again. Unless there’s a snow storm and you get snowed in and can’t leave your house for weeks. Then you should worry about the weather. Also if it gets so cold that your heat stops working and no one can come fix it because everyone’s cars have died. You should also worry about it then. But other than that, you’ll never have to worry about the cold weather ever again.
Check out the video for “Hot Cookin’”:
Buy the album:
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If you like G. Love, check out Brett Dennen!
Those who read Fresh Scouts with any sort of consistency know that I, Gabe, have a sort of musical man-crush on the great Jack White. Loved the White Stripes, love the Dead Weather, and “This Might Get Loud” is the #1 movie on my Netflix queue at the moment, just waiting to get it shipped to the ol’ casa de Gabriel. Perhaps my most favorite Jack White project, however, is his work with the Raconteurs. The 2008 album “Consoler Of the Lonely” is one of the better overall albums of the last three years, and I make so bold a statement for a number of reasons, including:
- “Consoler Of the Lonely” (the song) – It’s the first track on the album and its mix of tempos grabbed my full attention upon first listen. Both the slow parts of the track and fast parts of the song are equally rock-tastic.
- “Salute Your Solution” – Chaos. Pure, delicious, sexually-charged chaos. I may be imagining the “sexually-charged” aspect of the pandemonium, but it felt like the right thing to say. People like sex. Sex sells.
- “You Don’t Understand Me” – So pianistic, so chill, so lovely. It’s a stark contrast from the first two tracks on the record, but still really friggin’ catchy.
- “Old Enough” – Sounds like something from the ‘60s, but in a really good way. A fiddle on a rock record? Hell to the yes.
- “Top Yourself” – Stylistically this is sort of the blues track of the record, but it’s so rhythmic and distorted that it’s impossible not to love.
I should stop now. I could keep going, but to gush about every single track on a favorite album is sort of a waste of time. I’ll just say this—there are some records you can play all the way through and not feel bored at any point during the course of the album. That Crash Kings record is like that. Incubus’s “Make Yourself” is like that. Silverchair’s “Diorama” is like that. And so is this Raconteurs record.
That’s not to say “Consoler of the Lonely” is the only good work the Raconteurs have done. Their other album, “Broken Boy Soldiers” is a doozy as well. But you could’ve guessed I’d say that by my earlier doting in this post. What can I say? They’re so good, you guys.
Seriously.
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In a world that is complicated I find myself drawn to simple things. For instance, when a father gets wacked in the berries by his young son swinging a wiffle bat, well, that just makes me giggle. And when a band puts together honest and simple music, I love it. It is a cherry on top when the band is named something simple and easy to remember. Thank you Spoon for giving me the simple pleasures in life. Thank you.
Spoon has been cranking out brilliant indie rock since the mid 90′s. Frontman Britt Daniel along with Jim Eno, Eric Harvey and Rob Pope are back at it again with their new album, Transference. The guys appear to stick to the mantra of K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid). Their music consists of basic beats, a rockin’ piano and strumming guitars. That simple approach paired with Britt Daniel’s powerful vocals has established Spoon as an “it” band. The past few years have brought a great deal of commercial success and more fans are discovering the simple pleasures of their music.
Transference is the band’s first self-produced album. The collection stays true to what these guys have historically done so well. Tracks like “The Mystery Zone”, “Written in Reverse”, “Got Nuffin” and “Goodnight Laura” are my personal favorites. But honestly, you can toss on the album and let it ride out because all of the tracks are enjoyable. Once you have finished playing Transference, I would recommend you give their 2007 release, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, a play. I think you will agree that Spoon’s music is simply…Mmm Mmm good.
Take a listen to their single “Written in Reverse”
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