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.
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:
We all know that Sufjan Stevens can be kind of, well, weird. But I guess that’s a relatively loose statement. I mean, what do we consider weird? The fact that his music is appealing to the ear, but not in the same way as, say, Kanye West or John Mayer? I guess a more appropriate term would be unique. He’s unique because he creates music outside of the formula. He continually recreates the equation, not only in relation to the music industry but to his own style. You have to respect an artist that takes risks. Especially in an age where the formula is what’s proven to make the money. Sufjan Stevens is part of the revolution.
I first heard about Sufjan Stevens upon the announcement of his 50 states project. For those of you that aren’t familiar, the goal was to write an entire album of region-specific songs for each of the 50 states. It was a grand idea, but with only Michigan and Illinois complete, one can only speculate as to whether or not the project will ever see the end. But regardless of whether or not he makes it to your state, he’s still creating new music for all, as is apparent with his latest release The Age of Adz.
This album is definitely different than his previous releases, but still very Sufjan. You’ll still hear the guitar, horns, strings, synthesizers and random strange noises. But themes are a little more wildly spread out throughout the album to take you through many different moods in a single listening session.
Buy The Age of Adz:
So with it being new music Tuesday, I wanted to let you know about the new David Archuleta album. His angelic voice and boyish good looks make him the perfect treat for any 10-year-old girl wanting to take a break from their Tiger Beat magazine. But then I realized that you’re not a 10-year-old girl.
Then I wanted to let you know about the brand new WOW Hits 2011 which I imagine is like a NOW That’s What I Call Music! CD and, let’s be honest, we all have CD burners. For those of you that haven’t figured out that these albums are just burned CDs you are paying full price for, look it up on AOL or whatever old people use these days.
But then I caught wind of the brand new Guster album. I knew right then that I would have to let you know about Easy Wonderful. For those of you that already know about (and belong to) Guster’s cult following, humor me for a second. These guys became popular around 1999 for the release of their single “Fa Fa” which goes a little something like this:
Ah, it’s nice to remember. Their new album is a slight departure from their older sound, but they still keep the same light-hearted, melodic approach with perhaps a more fully-produced sound. Their music has matured like a fine red wine, and I have to say I was again pleasantly surprised with their latest release. If you’re a fan of Guster, you’ll love Easy Wonderful. If you’re not a fan of Guster, you’ll love Easy Wonderful. It’s a win-win situation.
Here’s the latest single “Do You Love Me” with a pretty seriously awesome video:
Buy Easy Wonderful:
