Some of my favorite things come from Memphis, TN. There is a little BBQ place on the outskirts of town that looks like an old broken down convenience store. The Cozy Corner lies lost in a better time where the only thing people had to care about was company and food made with extra love. I’ve also grown to love the gritty soul of Beale Street, where the party dies when the sun rises and Blues musicians play to the street. But Memphis also produces a lot of great folk musicians. Musicians like Drew Holcomb.
The weird thing that I have begun to notice about artists in the music industry is that, more and more, they all seem to be one big happy family. The more people that I’ve met, the more I’ve realized that they are somehow connected. For instance, Drew Holcomb has opened for a number of headlining acts nationwide including Susan Tedeschi, The Avett Brothers, Marc Broussard, Dave Barnes and Matt Hires (among many others.) He is also signed to the same label as Matthew Perryman Jones and Griffin House. So yeah, one big happy family.
But just because he’s been grouped in with these artists doesn’t mean he sounds like these artists. He has a traditional folk sound that is gritty and true, bringing back the roots of a type of music that is exceedingly lost on music listeners today. Drew Holcomb certainly keeps a piece of tradition that most artists fail to keep. His music is strong, yet peaceful. Like Gandalf the Wizard. Was that too nerdy of a reference?
If you want some great folk rock for the winter, make sure you check out Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors. If you want a great movie, check out Lord of the Rings. I’m just sayin’.
Oh, and here is a Christmas treat for you courtesy of them.
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It’s that time of year again. When radio stations start playing Christmas music all day every day, and people that have been waiting to put up their Christmas trees have finally succumb to the Christmas spirit. Yes, it’s finally time to warm your hearts by the fire, make snow angels, drink eggnog, hang lights, buy presents and go sledding. You might want to hold off on the sledding thing until it actually snows, but that’s totally your call.
When we heard Dave Barnes was releasing a Christmas album, we got excited. Not because we love Dave Barnes. Even though we do. A lot. No, we got excited because it’s been a long time coming. Dave Barnes is full of Christmas spirit and has been due for an album like this for quite some time. Of course, it’s hard to do a Christmas album without tossing in some old favorites like “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, but Barnes has a unique, soulful delivery that’s lighthearted and upbeat. He’ll guarantee to brighten your mood in the first few songs. Seriously. If you’re not 100% satisfied with the results, you can return the music to your iPod for a full refund. Just say out loud to your iPod, “not 100% satisfied” and it will spit money out. It’s a new feature.
Of course, you won’t have to return anything because this album is certain to make the rounds at your Christmas festivities. Barnes has a knack for delivering performances with grace and comedic timing. Check out his Christmas “special” video from last year. You can probably expect another one this year. One can only hope.
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If you’ve ever heard one of Ke$ha’s albums, you’ve also thrown up. There really is no avoiding it. It’s like watching a Saw movie while trying to eat lasagna. You just can’t do it. Her fake talking/”rapping” is the reason that radio is dying. You may argue, but I know this to be true. I read it on the Internet. But this isn’t entirely bad news. I mean it is, but there is a silver lining. It makes you appreciate actual female rappers even more. That’ s why when I recently heard Kanye West’s new single “Monster” that featured a number of different artists, I was immediately drawn in by Nicki Minaj.
Her style is 100% unique and 100% in your face. She is a very aggressive rapper and her flow makes you feel like you’re getting yelled at (in a good way.) Her debut release Pink Friday is full of hot beats and cameos from other rap icons including Eminem, Kanye West and will.i.am. With so much support, the album builds a strong repertoire of singles that are sure to get some radio play. Although I don’t completely agree with adding pop icons such as Rihanna and Drake to the mix, the added exposure for Nicki Minaj will help her gain exposure in this day and age of lost talent.
Hopefully in the future we’ll see some independent releases from Nicki Minaj as I think she would do better to showcase her unique style under her own terms. I imagine we’d end up with an album that shows the raw lyrical talent of Nicki Minaj without all of the production. Check out her video for Massive Attack featuring Sean Garrett. The music video is a little bit “Jay-Z”, but I suppose that’s what makes it so gangster.
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Honestly, I grew up with 2%. I tried skim on numerous occasions, but it seemed too chalky and gross to me. There wasn’t enough flavor and it didn’t seem worth the trade-off for a fat-free milk experience. But then I discovered Black Milk. It was the perfect combination of everything. It had hip-hop and hot beats and tasted so good it made you want to slap yo’ mama’. It was pretty intense.
So I couldn’t stop. I was addicted to Black Milk. I still am. Except it’s not actually a drink. In fact it’s not even an “it”. It’s a he; and he is a hip-hop producer and MC from Detroit, MI. He’s worked with the likes of Royce Da 5’9″ and Pharoahe Monch, and has been rockin’ (or hip-hoppin’) the rap scene since 2004. But what makes Black Milk so appealing is his lyrical flow and unique style only slightly similar to that of Wale or K’naan.
His music has been classified as “Midwest hip-hop”. And if you’re thinking, “Well that’s not really hardcore” just remember that Chicago is located in the Midwest. Oh, and Lupe Fiasco and Common both got their start in the Midwest. So really, the Midwest is like the new East Coast. So there.
If you’re interested in super-solid Midwest hip-hop, make sure you check out Black Milk. And if you’re interested in the weak stuff, buy skim milk. Wuss.
Check out the video for “Losing Out” featuring Royce da 5’9″:
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We get a TON of artist submissions on a daily basis, and we absolutely love it. We go through every CD, every song and every press release to find the best stuff out there so we can bring it right to your online doorstep. But sometimes we get something that jumps out so much that we know you’ll dig it after just one listen to the first song. April Smith and The Great Picture Show is one of those bands.
Their unique sound is refreshing and up-lifting. Like using Herbal Essence shampoo or taking your shoes off after work. It contains all of the correct elements to make it “pop” without following a formula, mixing traditional folk with pop, classic rock, old-timey piano and horns. The vocals are also very traditional, but with a very unique twist. She is young and relevant, but it would be quite easy to picture April Smith as the headlining act at a cabaret in the ’30s.
However, updated lyrics and a signature swoon make this lass a popular choice for your latest new music selection. It’s not often you get such a young look and sound out of a band so deeply rooted in traditional musical stylings. But April Smith and The Great Picture Show pulls it off with flying colors.
Judging by the number of instruments they used on the album, one would have to assume that the live show is nothing less than completely interesting. Lucky for you, they have been touring heavily across the nation so you can have your very own opportunity to check them out at one of their upcoming shows. And they’ll even let you stream their entire album for free. How great is that?
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