Top Ten Records Of 2013

Here they are - my Top Ten Records of 2013:

1. Mike Viola - Ghoul

GHOUL is not a traditional record, GHOUL are trading cards. A set of 24 cards, each card contains autobiographical stories written by Mike Viola and a download code for an exclusive unreleased song. 

GHOUL is a project by Mike Viola and Steve Loter (an American director and producer known for "The Ren and Stimpy Show" or "The Penguins of Madagascar").

If you have all the cards you'll get a 24 track record (!), consisting of almost completely new songs. There is so much good stuff in there - just to name a few: Tonight, Rock'n'Roll Denny's, Moving Forward, Time For Everything To Change (with Kelly Jones), She Thinks She's In Love ... It could easily have been two completely new records - and it's my personal record of the year!

http://mikeviola.com/store/

2. Bleu - To Hell With You

So, here it is: To Hell With You, the fifth record auf Bleu. Also crowd funded like the previous album FOUR, To Hell With You was financially even more successful than its forerunner.

The big question is: Was it worth it?

In my humble opinion: YES! (with a little "but...")

It was known the record would be very different from FOUR. More electronic, even more experimental. And that's right. It IS different. Did anyone expect rap parts? Or Eurodance?

To Hell With You is a compelling, strong record. In parts it's the best Bleu has ever done. But it has its edges. Not everybody who likes the "old" Bleu will like the "new" one.

I do.

But give me some time with the rap parts, okay?

3. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

It's a rare feeling to listen to a record for the first time and being sure that this piece of music is special. So very special it won't leave you alone for quite a while. This happened to me with Daft Punk in 2013.

Daft Punk? 

Yes, Daft Punk.

Daft Punk is a duo of the musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter from France, which tend to refuse to fit in a single genre: house, synthpop, disco, funk, dance music - just to name a few.

In 2013 Daft Punk is back with Random Access Memories.

Random Access Memories is a kind of a hybrid: a reminiscence to history of music and futuristic sounds that could already be found on Daft Punk's Discovery record.
Bangalter explains the reasoning behind the record name: "We were drawing a parallel between the brain and the hard drive – the random way that memories are stored."

You can describe Random Access Memories best with a journey through music. Despite heavy use of vocoders and synths it has a warm sound, most of the record was recorded completely without samples.

Highlights: Instant Crush, Giorgio by Moroder, Touch, Contact

4. Teitur - Story Music

The singer-songwriter Teitur returned to his home - the Faroese Islands - and his musical roots to record his sixth album Story Music.

Story Music was recorded in the brand new Studio Bloch in Torshavn (a 130 year old former ice factory). I recommend to listen to the opening track "Hopeful", the unconventional but gorgeous "If You Wait" and the beautiful "Rock And Roll Band".

If you like the record, I really recommend also its forerunner Let The Dog Drive Home.

Official Website: www.teitur.com

5. Kelly Jones - Alta Loma

Alta Loma is the latest record of Kelly Jones - she called it her "Sunday Morning Record" - shaped by her beautiful voice, songs about life and spirituality and strings by Eric Summer.

More about the new record and Kelly at the official website.

6. The Candle Thieves - All's Well That Ends Well

The Candle Thieves is the brainchild of two serious songwriters, who wear big, thick-framed glasses, walk out onto the stage to the sound of the Jaws theme tune, set off bubble machines, and play glockenspiels, toy pianos, shakers and snares. The Candle Thieves are Scott McEwan and the mysterious man who hides behind the moniker, The Glock.

7. Eric Barao - Eric Barao

Eric Barao is a powerpop singer-songwriter and co-founder of The Cautions, a band from Boston. His self titled debut album was co-produced by Bleu, and recorded / mastered by Ducky Carlisle at Ice Station Zebra.  The album is a collection of power-pop gems and it's a beautiful reminiscence of bands like Jellyfish (On Holiday), Owsley, Jon Brion (Alive - But Barely Breathing), Pugwash (In Love With A Broken Heart) or Fountains Of Wayne (To All You Guys).  Ten songs, no filler - an impressive debut record, Mr. Barao.
 

Buy it at CDBaby - or at the official website www.ericbarao.com for a signed copy.

8. The Major Labels - Aquavia (Japanese Release)

Bleu & Mike Viola formed a super group with producer Ducky Carlisle -  The Major Labels.

Aquavia - their first and most likely also their last album - is really pleasure to listen to. You feel the fun they had recording this all over the record. Self released in 2008 Aquavia got a proper release for the first time in 2013.

It's in parts a kind of reminiscence to the music of The Beatles & the 70s Paul McCartney (Hummingbird, Richard Randolph), Queen and ELO (Don't Hear A Single, Velveteen Queen).
On  the other side Aquavia is not just a record of twelve 3 minute songs. It's rather a record of three artists in their most creative phase, playing with ideas and pouring out songs or song fragments. It's illustrated by the rhythmic changes that appear frequently through the whole album.   

You can (and you should) listen to the whole record at soundcloud:

9. She & Him - Volume 3

Volume 3 is the third album by She & Him (M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel), it's out May 7, 2013.Eleven songs where written by Deschanel, three are cover songs. Volume 1 & 2 were just beautiful, Volume 3 follows this path very well.

 

10. Phoenix - Bankrupt!

Bankrupt! is the fifth album of Phoenix.

Phoenix never failed, just listen to  their first single Entertainment.

Honorable mention :

Parks - Sweater Weather/ Modern Fiction (7" vinyl)

It's (sadly) not a full record, but a limited 7" 180g vinyl: Parks' two singles Sweater Weather and Modern Fiction can be purchased HERE (limited to 100 copies, signed if you want). Get it while you can! Both songs are absolutely great!

PowerPopSquare Facebook Group

Just to let you know - there is a Facebook Group called PowerPopSquare Group.
Feel free to join in:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/powerpopsquare

Teitur - Story Music

The singer-songerwriter Teitur returned to his home - the Faroese Islands - and his musical roots to record his sixth album Story Music.

Story Music was recorded in the brand new Studio Bloch in Torshavn (a 130 year old former ice factory).

I recommend to listen to the opening track "Hopeful", the unconventional but gorgeous "If You Wait" and the beautiful "Rock And Roll Band".

If you like the record, I really recommend also its forerunner Let The Dog Drive Home.

Official Website: www.teitur.com

Jeremy Messersmith - Tourniquet

Jeremy Messersmith is back with a new song called Tourniquet. The new album - Heart Murmurs - will be out in early 2014.
If Tourniquet is an indicator for the full record, he surpassed himself again.

Bleu House Concert in Halle, Germany

In October 2013 Bleu played a House Concert in Halle (Saale), Germany at the Brasserie SKURIL.

Watch four of the songs and some pics of this incredible show here:

Bleu - Live at Brasserie SKURIL in Halle (Saale) #1

Bleu - Live at Brasserie SKURIL in Halle (Saale) #2

Bleu - Live at Brasserie SKURIL in Halle (Saale) #3

Bleu - Live at Brasserie SKURIL in Halle (Saale) #4

+ + + News - September 2013 + + + (Mike Viola, Paul McCartney, Kelly Jones)

Mike Viola - Ghoul (Trading Cards)

Here's the deal: 24 trading cards including 24 biographical stories about Mike Viola - each with one unreleased song (download). 

Get it now! 

Individual packs and ultra-limited autographed boxes available! Each pack contains 5 cards. So, if you get doubles - trade them! And: collect them all!

http://mikeviola.com/store/

Paul McCartney - New 

The latest record of Sir Paul McCartney - "New" - will be out October 14, 2013. "New" is also the first track - and it sounds promising:

Kelly Jones - Alta Loma

Alta Loma is the latest record of Kelly Jones. Its official release will be later this year. It was also available on the tour this summer. Find out more about the record and Kelly at the official website.

 

Robbie Williams - Swings Both Ways

The Great American Songbook was sifted though by Robbie Williams again:
The successor to Robbie's most successful album to date, 2001's Swing When You're Winning, features a mix of swing covers and new material as well as duets with some of pop's biggest names, including Lily Allen, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Olly Murs and Rufus Wainwright.

Release: November 15, 2013

 

Bleu - House Concert in Halle/Saale (Germany)

Come and join us at

Bleu’s house concert in Halle/Saale 

His very first tour in Germany!

Location: Brasserie Skuril

Time: 18:30

Date: October 13, 2013

Entrance: free

Facebook Event

Doodle Schedule

The Cry - 2nd record on Kickstarter!

The Cry are on kickstarter right now. 
Folks - donate for the second album of these guys - the first one was a real gem! 
Nine days left! NINE days!

George Barnett - 17 Days

First I was introduced to George Barnett by this:

 It's quite impressive stuff. Then I discovered his records.

17 Days is his recent full length album. If you like Ben Folds (Five) or Jeremy Fisher - or any artists who are passionate about music, you really should take a listen:

 

Official site: www.georgebarnett.co.uk

Tears For Fears - Back in the studio

Tears For Fears are back in the studio for the first time since their huge Everybody Loves a Happy Ending record in 2004.

Before that they put out a cover of Arcade Fire's Ready to Start:

James Iha

James Yoshinobu Iha is known to be the guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins.

But he's a lot more than that: Iha was a member of the group A Perfect Circle and Tinted Windows - a super group of members of Cheap Trick, Fountains of Wayne and Hanson (Bun E. Carlos, Adam Schlesinger, Taylor Hanson).

He co-owns the record indie label Scratchie Records (with Adam Schlesinger) and has a recording studio called Stratosphere Sound with Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase (from Ivy) in Manhattan.

But most important: he released two solo records in 1998 (Let It Come Down) and 2012 (Look To The Sky) that are stunning. These records are musically very different from what you'd suspect from a member of The Smashing Pumpkins.

If you don't know James Iha at all, I suggest you listen to: Beauty, Speed Of Light, See The Sun, Be Strong Now, Dream Tonight.

 

Justin Currie - Bend To My Will (Official Video)

Goldfrapp - Drew

+ + + News July 2013 + + + (Goldfrapp, Justin Currie, Kelly Jones, Parks, Travis)

Justin Currie - Lower Reaches

The Ex-Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie releases his new record Lower Reaches August 19, 2013. Preorder it HERE (you can get a signed lyric sheet for free). You can also ge the first song from the record Little Stars for free HERE.

Travis - Where You Stand

Travis is back. The new record Where You Stand is out August 19, 2013. Preorder it HERE (digital, CD, vinyl, t-shirts - and an exclusive signed deluxe edition).

 

Goldfrapp - Tales Of Us

The new Goldfrapp record Tales Of Us is out September 9, 2013. Preorder the CD, vinyl or deluxe edition HERE.

 

Kelly Jones - Alta Loma

The new record of Kelly Jones will be called Alta Loma and can be purchased on the tour this summer, it will be available online later. More about the tour, the record and Kelly at the official website.

Parks - Limited 7" Vinyl

A limited 7" 180g vinyl (limited to 100 copies, signed if you want) of Parks' two singles Sweater Weather and Modern Fiction can be purchased HERE.Get it while you can! Both songs are absolutely great!

Bleu ft. Alexz Johnson - Bottom Of My Heart [Official Video]

Buy  To Hell With You - the new record from Bleu - @ Pledgemusic.com

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (Review)

It's a rare feeling to listen to a record for the first time and being sure that this piece of music is special. So very special it won't leave you alone for quite a while. Two days ago this happened to me with Daft Punk.

Daft Punk?

Yes, Daft Punk. 

Daft Punk is a duo of the musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter from France, which tend to refuse to fit in a single genre: house, synthpop, disco, funk, dance music - just to name a few.

Their first hit was Around The World from their debut album Homework in 1997.

I was never really interested in their music until Discovery in 1999, which really impressed me.

Now, in 2013 Daft Punk is back with Random Access Memories. 

So, you may ask "Why is this review here?". Because of a simple reason: it may be my personal album of the decade (at least til today).

Random Access Memories is a kind of a hybrid: a reminiscence to history of music and futuristic sounds that could already be found on Daft Punk's Discovery record.
Bangalter explains the reasoning behind the record name: "We were drawing a parallel between the brain and the hard drive – the random way that memories are stored."

You can describe Random Access Memories best with a journey through music. Despite heavy use of vocoders and synths it has a warm sound, most of the record was recorded completely without samples.

Now for the songs:

The opening track Give Life Back to Music already combines a variety of musical influences: funk, guitars, disco and the well-known vocoder vocals.

Surprisingly the second track The Game of Love is laid-back. I'd say it's somewhere between the Discovery sound and the music of AIR.

Giorgio by Moroder starts with an excerpt from a monologue from Giorgio Moroder - an Italian composer and producer, also one of the inventers of the synthie-disco sound - describing his time in the 1969/1970 and his first contact with synthesizers.
Synthesizers, elements of house and funk, violins etc. are present and compact to an intense finale of this epic 9 minute track.

Within is again relaxed and has similarities to The Game of Love (not in a bad way).

After the first four songs I was already slightly impressed by Random Access Memories. But with the following songs Daft Punk blew me away:

Instant Crush. The song title says it all. I f**king love this song. It's so catchy.That's why I love music.

Lose Yourself to Dance wins by Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers. Pharells vocals are incredibly strong and Nile Rodgers (you may know him by this band Chic) is FUNKY!

Touch starts slow and slightly strange, but when Paul Williams begins to sing, it caught me. His voice is beautiful and warm and enhances the song even more. Touch is filled with rhythm changes - it's like a journey. Impressive! 

Get Lucky (featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers) is the first radio single and a straight Daft Punk - Funk song, similar to Lose Yourself to Dance. A perfect choice to represent the record.

The intro of Beyond would perfectly fit in a science-fiction movie. Along with the next two songs it slows down the tempo of Random Access Memories.

The instrumental Motherhood is kind of an ambient track, and it's certainly not the well-known Daft Punk sound. But it fits perfectly here.

Fragments of Time features Todd Edwards on vocals. A strong radio friendly track.

 

The traditional Daft Punk sound shines through at Doin’ It Right. A simple but catchy song.

The epic track Contact closes the record, it may be one of the best closing tracks ever. The Kubrik-esque space atmosphere is real - you hear a sample from the Apollo 17's captain Eugene Cernan from the moon before starting back to earth. Drums, organs and electric guitars accelerate into a fulminant finale.

After 74 minutes the journey is over.
I really hope we don't have to wait eight more years for the next record!

Tracklist:

1. Give Life Back to Music (featuring Nile Rodgers) 

2. The Game of Love 

3. Giorgio by Moroder (featuring Giorgio Moroder) 

4. Within (featuring Chilly Gonzales) 

5. Instant Crush (featuring Julian Casablancas)

6. Lose Yourself to Dance (featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers) 

7. Touch (featuring Paul Williams) 

8. Get Lucky (featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers) 

9. Beyond 

10. Motherhood 

11. Fragments of Time (featuring Todd Edwards) 

12. Doin’ It Right (featuring Panda Bear) 

13. Contact (featuring DJ Falcon)

 

Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock

Here's your chance to hear the Lite Rock classics of the late '70s and early '80s, reimagined and reinterpreted by some of the best indie pop artists of today.
Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock is out April 29, 2013.

To quote Mr. Curry:"As a kid in the late '70s, I used to call these songs and others like them "Putt-Putt music," because I vividly remember hearing them blaring from the sound system at the miniature golf course where I spent my summers. Years later, while chatting with buddies in my college dorm room, I realized that I wasn't alone in my (secret) fondness for these songs. It was those college friends and I who ran with the idea of "Monsters of Lite Rock" and endlessly debated which songs and bands could really lay claim to the Lite Rock brand. (Manilow? No way, dude.) 

And now, more than twenty years later, I'm still talking about this stuff, and I've taken things one step further. I've enlisted dozens of my favorite current musicians to reimagine and reinterpret the Lite Rock songs that defined my childhood. Mike Viola, Bleu, Linus of Hollywood, Kyle Vincent, and almost two dozen more amazing artists from the world of indie pop and power pop have submitted some absolutely brilliant reinterpretations of these old favorites."



Track list (2CD Edition):
1. Michael Carpenter - We Don't Talk Anymore
2. The Davenports - Just When I Needed You Most
3. Kyle Vincent - How Much I Feel
4. Lisa Mychols - Don't Give Up On Us
5. Throwback Suburbia - I Love You
6. David Myhr - The Things We Do For Love
7. Mike Ruekberg - Believe It Or Not
8. Kelly Jones - I'd Really Love To See You Tonight
9. Paul Bertolino - Just Remember I Love You
10. Eytan Mirsky - Escape (The Piña Colada Song)
11. Plasticsoul - Sentimental Lady
12. Popdudes - Magnet And Steel
13. Joe Giddings - Undercover Angel
14. Mike Viola - Steal Away
15. An American Underdog - Thunder Island
16. Bleu - Baby Come Back
17. Brandon Schott - Thank You For Being A Friend
18. The Sonic Executive Sessions - On And On
19. Linus Of Hollywood - More Than I Can Say
20. Greg Pope - Crazy Love
21. Lannie Flowers - Dance With Me
22. Wyatt Funderburk - Bluer Than Blue
23. Vegas With Randolph - Cool Change
24. Seth Swirsky - Shannon
25. Cliff Hillis - Shake It
26. Paul Myers - Wildfire
27. Sunshine On Mars - Fooled Around And Fell In Love
28. Willie Wisely - So Into You

Bleu - To Hell With You (Review)

So, here it is: To Hell With You, the fifth record auf Bleu. Also crowd funded like the previous album FOUR, To Hell With You was financially even more successful than its forerunner. You can still pledge for the record at Pledgemusic (get signed CDs, house concerts - and much more!).

The big question is: Was it worth it?

In my humble opinion: YES! (with a little "but...")

It was known the record would be very different from FOUR. More electronic, even more experimental. And that's right. It IS different. Did anyone expect rap parts? Or Eurodance?

Now for the tracks:

Overture - The album starts with a lovely orchestral intro of what to expect later.

To Hell With You - The title track reveals: this record is very different than everything before. Very electronic, in parts even kind of Eurodance.

All Downhill From Here - This one is more familiar with the Bleu sound including lots of snapping fingers.

In My Own Little World - Delightful, uplifting! Like it!

Merry-Go-Round - Man, I love this intro. The song is catchy as hell!

I Have To Have You - A dark slow song which interrupts the mostly upbeat tunes on the record.

It’s Not Over (‘Til It’s Over And Done) - With the help of David Mead created this one is pure ear candy.

 

Grasping At Straws - Intense, huge, great! My favourite song from the record.

Bottom Of My Heart - A duet with Alexz Johnson, a radio airplay friendly song that reminds me a lot of the chart successful duets from the nineties. You know, the kind of duet of a man and a woman, like Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue, Meja & Ricky Martin, George Micheal & Elton John ...errr....

Endwell - It starts innocent, reaches its climax in a extremely catchy chorus and than ... Rap! Rap? Yes. Well, it fits.

Odd Future - Rap aagaaain! And even more present than in Endwell. It's love at the second sight. And I begin to like it *cough*

Won’t Make It Out Alive - The record finishes with a more familiar sound. I loved this song from the first time I listened to it.

Hidden Track - After seven minutes of silence there's a laid-back, very Bleuesque tune about the Mexian city Zihuatanejo hidden.
I love these hidden tracks. It's like "surpriiiise - you didn't expect that but ... there is more!".

One song I expected to be on To Hell With You is missing: Coming Up For Air. This is sad, it would fit good on this album.

To sum it up: To Hell With You is a compelling, strong record. In parts it's the best Bleu has ever done. But it has its edges. Not everybody who likes the "old" Bleu will like the "new" one.

I do.

But give me some time with the rap parts, okay?

By the way, there's a lot to come: the album cover has yet to be revealed, CD release is coming in May 2013, the Redhead Record Club ....

Eric Barao - Eric Barao

Eric Barao - Eric Barao

Eric Barao is a powerpop singer-songwriter and co-founder of The Cautions, a band from Boston. His self titled debut album was co-produced by Bleu, and recorded / mastered by Ducky Carlisle at Ice Station Zebra. 

Eric Barao cover

The album is a collection of power-pop gems and it's a beautiful reminiscence of bands like Jellyfish (On Holiday), Owsley, Jon Brion (Alive - But Barely Breathing), Pugwash (In Love With A Broken Heart) or Fountains Of Wayne (To All You Guys).  Ten songs, no filler - an impressive debut record, Mr. Barao!

 

Buy it at CDBaby - a great shop with the best shipping confirmation emails ever! (I won't spoil anything here) or at the official website www.ericbarao.com for a signed copy.

King Charles - LoveBlood

First thing I thought about King Charles: Hey, this guy looks ... special. I stumbled upon him by a live gig on TV, listened to Love Lust and was instantly impressed.
His first full length record Loveblood proved my first opinion.

The record has primarily one thing: versatile!
I bet you never saw a musician that looked like Heinrich IV and mixed Glam Rock, Pop Music, Folk, African Rhythms and Hip Hop - resulting in a fantastic record. 

Highlights: Love Lust, The Brightest Lights, LoveBlood, Lady Percy

Official website: www.kingcharles-music.com

+ + + News March 2013 + + +

David Bowie - The Next Day

David Bowie's The Next Day is out now. The regular CD has 14 tracks, the Deluxe Edition consists of 17 tracks (So She, Plan, I'll Take You There) - and the Japanese version has even a 18th track (God Bless The Girl).

It's a good, strong record. It's not a striking change in direction as with Outside or Earthling, for me it's more a collection of superb songs. I'm still not sure about the cover of the record though. Yes, it's an unusual concept, but I don't like it.

Highlights: (You Will) Set The World On Fire, The Stars (Are Out Tonight), Where Are We Now, If You Can See Me, I'd Rather Be High, God Bless The Girl

Phoenix - Bankrupt!

Bankrupt! is the fifth album of Phoenix and it's out April 22 2013.

Phoenix never failed, considering their first single Entertainment they won't do this time either.

She & Him - Volume 3

Volume 3 is the third album by She & Him (M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel), it's out May 7, 2013.

Eleven songs where written by Deschanel, three are cover songs.
Volume 1 & 2 were just beautiful, Volume 3 seems to follow this path.

Brandon Schott - You Take My Breath Away

You Take My Breath Away, the new single by Brandon Schott, is out now.

Brandon says: "It was 5 years ago to the day on Feb 26th that I found out I was cancer free, it's a big anniversary for me and my family.
'You Take My Breath Away' dates back a few years. I wrote it and recorded it for my Grandmother Judy's wedding to an amazing man named John Anderson on the beach in Sarasota, Florida in the summer of 2009. Unfortunately, a couple years later he was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer and passed in August 2012. The day he died, I was working on background vocals for another song. I just kind of redirected the emotion as the day went on, and at the end of the session I excised only those parts recorded that day and arranged a new accapella piece called 'Now', which is the closer for this set."

Proceeds from the sale of this single will be turned around to The Benjamin Center in Santa Monica, CA - a branch of the Cancer Support Community.

Parks - Modern Fiction

The second single "Modern Fiction" for the forthcoming record of Parks is out now:

Phoenix - Entertainment (new song - lyric video)

Phoenix is back with the new song "Entertainment":

+ + + News Feburary 2013 (David Bowie, Tribute To Lite Rock, Darwin Deez, Ron Sexsmith, She & Him) + + +

Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock 

Drink A Toast To Innocence is a new compilation including artists like Bleu, Mike Viola, Brandon Schott or Cliff Hillis. It's all about classic Lite Rock hits of the late '70s and early '80s, reinterpreted by today's best power pop and indie pop artists. The project is created by Andrew Curry, who started a kickstarter campaign just some days ago. 

In his own words: "As a kid in the late '70s, I used to call these songs and others like them "Putt-Putt music," because I vividly remember hearing them blaring from the sound system at the miniature golf course where I spent my summers. Years later, while chatting with buddies in my college dorm room, I realized that I wasn't alone in my (secret) fondness for these songs. It was those college friends and I who ran with the idea of "Monsters of Lite Rock" and endlessly debated which songs and bands could really lay claim to the Lite Rock brand. (Manilow? No way, dude.) 

And now, more than twenty years later, I'm still talking about this stuff, and I've taken things one step further. I've enlisted dozens of my favorite current musicians to reimagine and reinterpret the Lite Rock songs that defined my childhood. Mike Viola, Bleu, Linus of Hollywood, Kyle Vincent, and almost two dozen more amazing artists from the world of indie pop and power pop have submitted some absolutely brilliant reinterpretations of these old favorites. (Check out Michael Carpenter's excellent new version of the old Cliff Richard classic, "We Don't Talk Anymore," at the link below for a taste of what you can expect.)

Pledge for the digital, CD and vinyl version of the record and many more goodies at kickstarter.com:

 

David Bowie - The Next Day

On January 8, 2013 David Bowie announced a new record: The album The Next Day is Bowie's 30th studio album and his first new album in 10 years.

"The Next Day" track list:
01. The Next Day
02. Dirty Boys
03. The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
04. Love Is Lost
05. Where Are We Now?
06. Valentine’s Day
07. If You Can See Me
08. I'd Rather Be High
09. Boss of Me
10. Dancing Out In Space
11. How Does the Grass Grow?
12. (You Will) Set the World On Fire
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die
14. Heat
15. So She (Bonus)
16. Plan (Bonus)
17. I'll Take You There (Bonus)
18. God Bless The Girl (Japan only)

Release: March 11, 2013

Darwin Deez - Songs for Imaginative People

You don't know Darwin Deez? You should:

Deez's second record Songs for Imaginative People is out now!
Available as digital, CD, signed CD, deluxe CD/DVD Book edition and purple vinyl):

recordstore.co.uk 

amazon.co.uk 

iTunes

Official Website: darwindeez.com

Ron Sexsmith - Forever Endeavor

Forever Endeavour is Ron's 13th studio album, and it's out now. There's not much to say: it's a Ron Sexsmith record and, yes, it's as good as expected.

Track list:

1. Nowhere To Go
2. Nowhere Is
3. If Only Avenue
4. Snake Road
5. Blind Eye
6. Lost In Thought
7. Sneak Out The Back Door
8. Back Of My Hand
9. Deepens With Time
10. Me Myself and Wine
11. She Does My HeartGood
12. The Morning Light
13. Life After A Broken Heart (Bonus Track)
14. Autumn Light (Bonus Track)

 

She & Him - Volume 3

The album Volume 3 includes 14 songs – 11 Deschanel originals and three covers. 

Track list:

1. I’ve Got Your Number, Son
2. Never Wanted Your Love
3. Baby
4. I Could’ve Been Your Girl
5. Turn to White
6. Somebody Sweet to Talk To
7. Something’s Haunting You
8. Together
9. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
10. Snow Queen
11. Sunday Girl
12. London
13. Shadow of Love
14. Reprise (I Could’ve Been Your Girl)

Available May 7, 2013

The Candle Thieves

2013 starts with a blast of a discovery - The Candle Thieves!

The Candle Thieves is the brainchild of two serious songwriters, who wear big, thick-framed glasses, walk out onto the stage to the sound of the Jaws theme tune, set off bubble machines, and play glockenspiels, toy pianos, shakers and snares. 

They summon up the spirits of Eels, Sufjan Stevens, and the Lucksmiths in their sounds, but make wonderful songs that are utterly their own. 

The Candle Thieves are Scott McEwan and the mysterious man who hides behind the moniker, The Glock.

"We had both been listening to songs that were very different to the music we made", explains McEwan. "We both like melancholy things that were happy on the surface, but more serious underneath – songs that weren't trying to be clever, but somehow said everything." 

They named their band after The Glock's peculiar habit of stealing wax candles from wedding parties, many of which would fill the bedroom to which he had returned. 

They started experimenting with new instruments, and found out there was something truthful and sweet about a man in his mid-20s pouring his heart out over a toy piano, or experimenting with gentle melodies on a Casio keyboard. They realised they could turn their little gigs into special events by handing out chocolates, setting off party poppers – and then shifting people's expectations by singing songs about nightmares and acute anxieties. 

The Candle Thieves - discography:

2009 The Sunshine EP
2010 Sunshine And Other Misfortunes
2010 The Misfortunes EP
2011 The Weatherman EP
2012 Balloons

Official website: www.thecandlethieves.com

I wholeheartedly recommend both of their full length records. Listen to this! Start here:

Big Box Store

Big-Box Store
- noun
1) A physically large retail establishment.
2) A pop covers project by Joe Seiders, produced by Bleu.

Big-Box Store is a project by Joseph Seiders. He's mostly known as drummer - touring with artists such as Bleu, Taylor Locke & The Roughs, The Everyday Visuals, Juliana Hatfield and Tracy Bonham. Originally from New Hampshire he lives now in LA.

The 5 track EP Love Songs is out on iTunes January 15.

Based on the two tracks that are already available, this EP will be remarkable!

Official website: http://www.bigboxstoremusic.com