Worldly Wednesday: Native American

Listen to this weeks edition of Worldly Wednesday; Native American artist Carlos Santana performs "Shape Shifter" live at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

New Music: Avett Brothers

Just released today! The Avett Brothers, a band hailing from North Carolina, have released their second full-length album entitled, "The Carpenter" http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-carpenter/id548881442 Chock full with wonderful lullabies, simple lyrics, and bluegrass/alternative heart.

Track List:

1. The Once and Future Carpenter

2. Live and Die

3. Winter in My Heart

4. Pretty Girl from Michigan

5. I Never Knew You

6. February Seven

7. Through my Prayers

8. Down With the Shine

9. A Fathers First Spring

10. Geraldine

11. Paul Newman vs. The Devil

12. Life

Preview the album below;

Preview: Worldly Wednesday

THIS Wednesday, readers can experience an esoteric post; a post on world music, a post on cultural music.

Cultural music has the ability to awaken ones inner sense of sole identity or belonging. This weeks focus will be by a Native American artist who works to produces recordings that are not purely cultural, but rather, recordings that incorporate cultural elements/identity into simple song.

Time Travel Tuesday: Bob Marley

"Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom?" The familiar words of Jamaican reggae artist and world renowned musician Bob Marley. For this weeks Time Travel Tuesday I'm taking you back to the 1970's, back to the jammin times of Bob Marley. Similar to his life, Marley's music is very much so spiritual, profound and meaningful, Redemption song is one of his most influential recording.

Listen here; 

Mumford Monday #2

Merry Mumford Monday! The picture above is from the band's current U.S. tour, where they are performing in front of several sold out crowds http://www.mumfordandsons.com/tbs/us.html 

Check out this folksy tune by them; "Roll Away Your Stone"

KISS "Monster" Preview

Gene Simmons (vocals and bass guitar) recently told Billboard that Monster is "one of the best or the top three albums we've ever done". He also pointed out that the lyrics this time have less to do with the cockmanship of "Hey Babe, I'm gonna rock you all night long", and more to do with the primal notion about who we are and how we feel.

Paul Stanley (vocals and rhythm guitar) has produced the album for the group.

Monster is this American rock band's 20th album and will be released October 16th, 2012. 

Track List:

@#!*% or Hallelujah
Wall of Sound
Freak
Back to the Stone Age
Shout Mercy
Eat Your Heart Out
Long Way Down
The Devil is Me
Outta This World
Take Me Down Below
All For the Love of Rock & Roll
Right Here Right No (Bonus Track)

Song Review - Passion Pit

"Take a Walk" a track off of the electro-pop band Passion Pit's recently released album "Gossamer" is a textbook electro song; wacky, fun, repetitive, and colourful. Similar to an MGMT song, "Take a Walk" will one moment have you jumping wildly about, and then then another moment have you walking and thinking. Overall, the song is thought evoking and colourful. If one is not in the mood for thinking, than the entertainment spark is also there for enjoyment. Be prepared for a marching beat, wacky lyrics, synth, and a wandering melody. Compared to other tracks in Passion Pit's album "Gossamer", while being still repetitive and electronic,"Take a Walk" is much more serious and down to earth. 

Watch the well made and interesting music video below;

Rick Ross - 3 Kings collaboration

It was once a George Clooney movie and know it's also a rap collaboration by Rick Ross featuring Jay-Z and Dr. Dre. Stream below, the self-conscious song about an artist's fight to rap glory, fame, and riches.

The Avett Brothers - New Album

This growing U.S. alternative/folk band has announced the release date of their 6th full  length album entitled "The Carpenter" as Spetember 11, 2012. The album is available for pre-order from their website http://www.theavettbrothers.com/us/splash and will feature the already released single "Live and Die". A lovely tune with the rare sound of a banjo plunking it's strings, and the vocals of Scott Avett, Seth Avett, and Bob Crawford filling your ears.

The Vaccines - Teenage Icon (Music Video)

This catchy U.K. indie rock band recently released the video for their single "Teenage Icon" off of their upcoming album "The Vaccines Come of Age" (released September 4th in Canada). An interesting video with the hair shaking rockers leaving the performance venues to jam in a cramped elevator, an elevator that transitions back and forth from the Vaccines to an all-female version of the band.

Music Review #1 - Paper Lions

Paper Lions - At Long Creek EP

1. Ghostwriters

2. My Friends

3. Little Liar

4. Bodies in Winter

5. Travelling

6. Polly Hill

From the small community of Belfast, Prince Edward Island, this Indie Rock band consists of members, John (lead vocals) and Rob MacPhee (bass), Colin Buchanan (guitar), and David MacDonald (kit). The overall sound of the EP “At Long Creek” is a meaningful and imaginative folksy sound that calls to mind moments of travelling through green countryside, with sunlight flashing through the leaves of trees, and a refreshing breeze stirring the air, pushing along the white wisps of clouds in the blue sky above. Beautiful guitar riffs in "Ghostwriter" prelude a comforting and talented vocal melody. A soulful tune and driving tempo in "My Friend" is complete with unique instrumentation and a bass solo. "Little Liar"; a wonderful picked guitar melody and another bass solo highlight this folksy and mournful tune. A synthesized beat intro and an interesting bass line in "Bodies in Winter" contrast with the otherwise natural and acoustic sound, a very collaborative and unique tune, instrumental wise, compared to the rest of the EP. "Travelling" is a very acoustic tune with a wonderful vocal melody complete with meaningful and imaginative lyrics, a driving bass line, and a jumpy tambourine beat keeps the fingers snapping. "Polly Hill" has a more mournful vocal melody accompanied by complex harmonies and complete with a well crafted acoustic guitar solo. Soft dynamics and simple instrumentation create a comforting sound. Paper Lions EP "At Long Creek" is highly recommended for Indie and Folk enthusiasts, but it's repetition and moderate "walking" tempo does not make it an attraction for the pop culture genres.

Similar Sounds: Fleet Foxes, Chapel Club

Listen to the Paper Lion's EP "At Long Creek" here;

Mumford Monday #1

Merry Mumford Monday!

It's the day dedicated to the U.K. band "Mumford & Sons". The band's spiritual, heartfelt, and soulful sound, rich with foot-stomping tempo and wicked banjo sessions, will truly awake your soul and have you longing for more. Currently on tour, the band recently announced the release date of their new album "Babel" as September 24th 2012 http://www.mumfordandsons.com/

" In these bodies we will live, in theses bodies we will die, where you invest your love, you invest your life" ~ Mumford & Sons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBAveoLB8uk

Geddy Lee's (Rush) Birthday!

Rush, the iconic Canadian rock band, has been on the music scene for a little more than four decades. Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees and winners of several Juno awards, band members Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart have been made officers of the Order of Canada, and their sales statistics place them third behind The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums sold by a rock band. Today is lead vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Geddy Lee's birthday. Well known for his astoundingly high tenor vocals and innovative bass playing,  Geddy Lee has influenced and inspired many rock musicians. Geddy Lee was born on July 29th 1953 in Toronto Ontario.

Listen here to Rush's U.S. Top 40 hit "New World Man" 

The Official London 2012 Olympic Song

Most of you may already know this seeing as it was announced a while back, but considering that the Olympics officially opened yesterday, I thought it might do well to reiterate.

The BBC published an article on-line about the official song http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18607319. It seems the synth rock band Muse has been given the honour.

I think the song differs from the usual inspirational sounds of past Olympic songs. It is definitely a new sound for the Olympics.

Listen and watch the video montage from youtube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66molzUEkWI

First Off...

This blog is a music blog (what I mean by "music blog" will be explained on a later date, so stay tuned). This post is the first post. I doubt that it's the best blog post of all time but, here it is. Editing and fine tuning is currently being applied so please excuse the mess! Or should I say, lack of mess.