The Smooth Maria – “Abandoned Town”
This song is so simple, it just might work. Enjoy sweeping vocals and a simple acoustic guitar melody. Perfect for that fall day that just won’t quit. I’m not even sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it.
The Aggrolites – “Firecracker”
Funky fresh? Check. Silky smooth? Check. Hippity Hoppity? Check. You’ll get it all with this tasty jam from The Aggrolites. You’ll be up and out of your chair in 10 seconds flat.
Kids of 88 – “My House”
Retro and rockin’, this jam from Kids of 88 will take you back to the days of synthesizers and reckless youth. Super trendy drum beats and a catchy chorus are enough to have anyone humming this bad boy. Check it before you wreck it.
I saw Michael Tolcher perform back in 2004 when I was still studying to be “undecided” at my university. Me and my buddy listened to his album I Am a number of times during that year, which also prompted a number of replica photographs we called the “Michael Tolcher” pose (see Figure A.) It would have made for some great Facebook profile pictures had it been around at that point in time, but I suppose it’s never too late.
Figure A
Honestly, after I left school and moved on to the real world, I sort of forgot about Michael Tolcher. I really wish I hadn’t because he really was a talented guy. His music mixed elements of funk, pop, alternative, rock and hip-hop into one catchy compilation. I Am was an album you could listen to for any occasion and not get tired of hearing it. He had a knack for creating songs with positive messages (which was a nice change of pace considering the top radio hits at the time consisted of the Ying Yang Twins and Eastside Boys.)
Michael Tolcher has still been around the music industry creating songs occasionally and even attending the Sundance Film Festival to educate attendees on music for feature films and television. He’s sort of a music professional. A professional of music if you will. Check out his album I Am if you’re looking for something poppy and positive. It will definitely hit the spot.
Buy the album:
From the first time I heard Matt & Kim‘s single “Daylight”, I was hooked. Their quirky indie alternative pop sound was distinctive and just catchy enough to make you think about it all day long. But how could they possibly keep it up? Surely they can’t continue to create catchy songs that will play on repeat in your mind for days on end? Well surely they can. Because they did. How ’bout them apples?
Sidewalks is the latest release from this Brooklyn duo, and it definitely lives up to their names: Matt & Kim. Synthesizers, hip-hop beats, high energy, dancing, toy pianos, killer drums and horns. All of the things you’ll find at Burning Man. Oh, and also all of things you’ll find on Sidewalks. They are practically interchangeable.
If you’re not fully familiar with Matt & Kim, perhaps this will jog your memory:
It’s not easy playing piano in bed. Or in the bathroom. Or in the car. Trust me. I’ve tried. All I got was six stitches and a moving violation. They got a record deal. How fair is that?
Their latest album is even more up-beat than this single, so if you are looking to push your Matt & Kim love a little further, make sure you pick it up. And don’t delay because it’s going to sell out everywhere. I’m not even sure if that’s true, but I like to create a sense of urgency.
Here’s a commercial-type thing for the first song off of Sidewalks:
Buy the album:
When you get hand-picked by Neil Young to be an opener for a crowd of over 20,000 people every night, it’s kind of a big deal. Whether the stars have aligned or you’re just plain that talented, it’s an opportunity that not many artists can claim. Everest can.
Did you know that Everest is actually a mountain located in the Himalayas AND it’s the biggest mountain in the world? I know, it shocked me too. That’s a little free piece of trivia for you. I guess when this band was choosing a name, they wanted something as big as their musical prowess.
We recently got a chance to check out their live show in Chicago and have to say, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a group as tightly knit as these guys. They blend well together on stage and are completely and utterly absorbed in every facet of their music. These guys believe in destiny and I think their being rewarded for it.
Listening to their most recent album, On Approach, you can easily pick out qualities similar to Neil Young, but also elements of blues, folk, rock, alternative and Indie. I even picked out some Jeff Buckley and Black Keys (whether they were going for that or not) and you can draw some elements of the classic American folk sound.
If you’re looking for a group with a classic sound that sticks to the roots and delivers a solid performance, make sure you check out Everest as your next musical venture.
Check out the video for their latest single “Let Go”:
Buy the album:
Award-winning singer? Yes. New Zealand native? Yes. Gorgeous? Yes. Talented? Of course! If you answered similarly to all of these questions, then you might be Brooke Fraser. And if you are Brooke Fraser and you’re reading this, I don’t mean to be forward, but I think I’m in love. I hope that doesn’t scare you off, because I think we would be great together. If you’ve read some of my other posts, you’d know that I have a thing for accents and sexy singing voices. I think you have both of those things.
Brooke Fraser got her start in late 2003 with the release of her first album What To Do With Daylight. Since then she has released two more albums with the most recent addition, Flags, reaching #1 on the iTunes singer-songwriter chart in the first week of sales. Booyah.
Her recent press release tells you why:
“Flags is a dreamy, alternative-pop collection that showcases her agile soprano, lilting melodies and knack for telling her stories through the lives of vibrant characters…”
Dreamy? Agile? Lilting melodies? Ok, I’m interested. Of course, you won’t believe it until you hear it, but we can help point you in the right direction. And if you’re a Chicago new music fan, you can check out Brooke Fraser at Lincoln Hall on November 24th. I’ll be there. With flowers. And chocolates.
Check out the video for “Something In the Water”:
Buy the album:
