I know I usually highlight artists with record deals and such, but tonight I wanted to share something a little more personal. I was searching youtube - like always - and I found some stuff that was from my days in the high school band. Ever since I graduated I’ve noticed that I am a very proud person - especially of the people that I’ve gotten to know in my past. And well, I am very proud of the band that I played in for four years! I had a lot of great memories there.

So anyway, here’s a video from my senior year ;) :

O Magnum Mysterium (in europe!)

I’m on break! And its great, although I know that I really laking in my updates here. I just wanted to give an update that James Morrison’s cd “Undiscovered” I finally in the US itunes store! Go check it out - its a great album!

I’ll do some serious updates next week - there are some great artists out there that I’m planning to cover! Now go get Undiscovered!

I came across this in my nightly search on the internet. Last Monday NBC premiered its new drama The Black Donnelly’s. At the very end of the show there was this five minute action montage that featured Snow Patrol’s “Open Your Eyes.” I found out from this site that the song was not actually the first choice. Turns out the producers really wanted to use “Rebellion” by Arcade Fire. Well, just our luck - both versions were leaked!

I personally think the aired version works great with the dialoge and has a better build up than “Rebellion” does. But feel free to decide for yourself!

Here is the ‘as aired’ version featuring Snow Patrol:

And the leaked version featuring Arcade Fire:

Tried to find Sinatra singing this one, but this will have to do instead-

It has been a little while hasn’t it? I love this next artist! His newest CD “Life in Cartoon Motion” has the most fitting title I’ve ever seen for an album. Awesomely(!) fun cd from a great new artist!

A self-taught piano virtuoso, gymnastic vocalist and born entertainer, Mika has music in his bones and at a prodigiously young age he was ready to show out and let go. Mika wasn’t hunched over a radio under his bedclothes or seduced by the glitz of “Top of the Pop’s” on the TV screen when he had his first performance awakenings. Instead, he was catapulted onto the stage of a Richard Strauss opera at 11. David Hockney was pottering around at rehearsals in the background, with models, designing the set (Mika still has the poster for the opera on his living room wall now, signed by Hockney). After near complete social exclusion at school - “I wish I could say I was a self-imposed loner but it was imposed on me” - this was a life he fell in love with, instantly:

“It was a magical world that you could live in. A parallel universe for people that is illusory and enchanting and amazing.”

His US site. His cd isn’t avalible in the states quite yet, but give it a month or so and I’m sure he’ll be on the shelves here!

Grace Kelly:

Much much more!- (more…)

Just wanted to let you all know that Paolo Nutini’s cd is now availible on itunes! It was only on the UK site for the longest time…

Hey all. The holidays are quickly approaching and I though I’d get you all in the holiday spirit with some of my favorite holiday tunes! Happy Holidays!
White Christmas - Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby

Carol of Bells

O Holy Night

And just for kicks ;)

Ok. I based on all of the music I listen to lately, its official - I’m just going to have to move to Europe somewhere! Thanks to Grey’s Anatomy, I am now a fan of Irish artist Damien Rice :).

Damien Rice was born on the outskirts of Dublin in the early 70’s and grew up in Celbridge Co. Kildare. He spent much of his childhood down by the River Liffey fishing…hours of catching little left plenty of time for thinking…

Damien was also part of an act called Juniper who managed to get a big record deal with Polygram, and released “The World Is Dead” and “Weatherman”. However, all was not well. The record company put pressure on Damien to write upbeat radio friendly songs. Damien struggled and in despair one night stumbled onto to a song which became Amy. He left the band but the remains of Juniper became Bell X1.

In March 1999 he moved to Tuscany, then travelled around Europe, busking the streets. He arrived back to Dublin a year later, with a clear head, loaded with idea’s, he approached his music with a new found freshness and decided to put some songs down.

http://www.damienrice.co.uk

9 Crimes:

Cannonball and Volcano after the cut! (more…)

Yep. I am an American Idol fan :). I just wanted to give a little shout out to one of my favorite contestents from this past season: Daughtry.

“I began my music career as a songwriter, but I’ve always believed in the power of a band. The great moments are when you’re able to capture that extra special connection between members that you can’t really define. That’s what I’m striving for. We’ve found the right guys and I’m really excited about the prospects of what we can do. We didn’t have time to feature them on the album but I canÌt wait to hit the road with them.” For Chris, who drew consistently rave reviews on the summer-long Idol 5 jaunt, mixing it up with his own players will give his live show an even greater dimension. “There’s nothing like the camaraderie of a band. That feeling that you’re surrounded by a group of people who feel closer to you than just about anybody. It makes such a difference in the music.”

Overall I think this upcoming cd is pretty solid. It does seem a little ‘made-for-radio-rock’ but hey, for a first outing under Clive Davis, thats not bad.

Crashed - mp3, and my personal favorite from the album.

Self-titled Cd comes out this Tuesday, Nov 21st. Get it Here. Listen to the whole album thanks to Vh1 Here.

It’s Not Over from tuesday’s GMA:

acoustic It’s Not Over after the cut! (more…)

Another artist from across the pond! Because I am in no way a writer, here’s James’ words about his music:

“My Uncle used to play the guitar and watching him made me want to learn. I remember him showing me a blues riff which got me started. Id listen to tunes on the radio and try to learn to play and sing along to them. I was about thirteen at this point.

I found that singing and playing guitar was a way for me to release any frustration I had at the time. Not that I couldn’t express myself any other way, just that music has a more powerful way of doing it. I like being creative but it took me a few years of playing other people’s stuff before I could create my own style of songwriting.

I grew up on artists like Otis Redding, Al Green, Cat Stevens, The Kinks and Van Morrison. I always loved songs where the singer would sing with real soul, like they really believed in what they were singing about. Those are the kinds of songs that really stayed with me. I can’t sing a song about something I don’t believe in.”

Current Single: Call the Police

Better Man mp3 - a highly recommended download :) *the link has been updated!*

More vids after the cut

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