I love, love, love music. Before the coffee is made or the dogs are fed I hit play on my Ipod each morning. Some people don't care that much about music. That's just not me. If I'm not listening to music, I am singing, humming, or dancing to my own inner song. I've always been this way. Many years ago I was actually reprimanded by my old boss for "being unprofessional" with all my humming and singing. :) So funny.
I trade music lists with a couple of friends which is a wonderful way to find new songs that I might never listen to otherwise. So I wanted to share a slim peek of some of tunes I'm listening to lately. All of these may not be new this year but are new to me. Please chime in on the comments to share what you are listening to and loving lately. I am always super happy to discover new artists.
Our Version of Events - Emili Sande
I think I have the import version of this as I notice that it isn't out in the US until this summer. Who new I was so current? LOL! I've been listening to this for a while now. I really like her voice. It's powerful and crisp. Heaven was a big hit for this Scottish girl in the UK. The album is a mix of different styles. There's a bit of something for most everyone.
I don't remember how I first came to hear The Bamboos. I think I got a free download of one of their songs somewhere or followed a link trail and found them. However I found them, I love this Aussie funk band. At least this album, which is all I've heard. It is awesome! If you are looking for music to make you get up and move, this will do it. It is old school in a way back kind of way (a rocking flute). It is mostly instrumentals but they are just so jamming and so much fun you can't help but have a great time grooving along. It's a favorite of mine lately.
I especially like the title song on this one (and the album cover is awesome). It is a rocking, guitar dripping song that hooks itself into my head every time. "Sour by the minute but you're sweeter by the hour"
I heard Alabama Shakes for the first time on KCRW back in February. The live version they did of Heavy of just amazing. I immediately got their EP (pictured above) and gobbled up every sweet drop of Brittany Howard's vocals. She sings like Etta James pressed up against a wall in some dark alley. She can scream and growl her way through a song with the best of the classic blues singers. And the band is powerfully rocking through every note from start to finish. They just released their first full album, Boys and Girls, which is excellent. It was the soundtrack to our recent family vacation and loved by all of us.
Lana Del Rey - A.K.A. Lizzy Grant
This album by Lizzy Grant (aka Lana Del Rey) is no longer available. It came out digitally for two months in 2010 but the label didn't have funding to keep it around so it was yanked (or some such story). If you click on that link above you can get a free download of A.K.A. Lizzy Grant but it will come to you along with a lot of junk (new toolbar you don't want, emoticons, malware) that took me 45 minutes to get rid of. I already had half the album from another source but couldn't find the rest of it since it disappeared. It might be worth the trouble of deleting all that junk just to hear Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven).
Decide if it is worth the bother (or wait as it is supposedly going to be re-released).
Otherwise, listen to Lana Del Rey's Born to Die. It's more polished but she still sounds like what I would imagine a drunk young child would sound like sitting on a wall singing their little pink heart out. I like it. :) I especially like the song Summertime Sadness.
A Creature I Don't Know - Laura Marling
I first started listening to Laura Marling late last summer. I'd gotten a free song once again from KCRW (I highly recommend visiting their daily download for great new music free five days a week). She sounds a bit like a young, British Joni Mitchell. Then, at Christmas, Bill Flanagan recommended her music on CBS Sunday Morning for a great holiday gift. So I got I Speak Because I Can and her newest disc, A Creature I Don't Know. She's mellow and moving and good.
Just about a year ago I heard the reggae influenced pop song Can't Stop Thinking About You by Brett Dennen. It's such a feel good song. I got this disc and got hooked on him. I'm also busy enjoying So Much More, which is an older disc.
I think I heard the title track for this on television last year and used an Iphone app to find out who it was by. This disc is earthy, sort of country, sort of folky/rock. It's good for when I am painting or making things and just want to chill. She has a new record out with a her dad and husband called Alela Diane and the Wild Divine. I haven't picked it up yet but I hear it is great.
And, today I just picked up Jack White's solo record, Blunderbuss, which came out yesterday. I have been loving the first cut off of it, Love Interrupted, for a while now. I'm really looking forward to digging into it.
I hear Rufus Wainwright has a new record out but I've not heard it yet. There was a period of my life where I listened to him constantly. His voice is like a cashmere sweater. He's just so smooth. Ooh, you can hear it all here.
Also, I've gotten the Shin's newest, Port of Morrows, but haven't had time to give it much of a turn. And Santigold has a new release, Master of My Make-believe, which I haven't heard yet. I was crazy for Light's Out and am looking forward to checking in to see what she is up to.
Lastly, if you want to keep up on new music, check out First Listen at NPR for articles on new music along with tracks before records are released. - Happy Dancing!
You have me completely addicted to the Shakes. Brittney has such a great voice and I love the rawness of their sound. I wish I had pipes like that! Laura Marling is amazing too.
Posted by: pilar | May 05, 2012 at 09:26 PM