Review: Hannah Georgas - This Is Good

Okay, Hannah Georgas knows what she's talking about- but she's hoping you don't just take her word on it - she wants you to dare her to be wrong! At least thats how I took it.  After a title like that I had to see for myself and I agree - the girl is good! How good you ask? She reminds me of Feist and Regina Spektor- two artist I simply adore, with a little raw attitude  thrown in for authenticity.

My introduction to her music is the opening track  Chit Chat which is a fun steady paced song followed by a slower paced Lovesick, but what  got my attention was Dance Floor - the beginning is electric and punchy going into the chorus where she sings with a raw matter of fact quality "Come on the dance floor ... lets get down ... good time - thats what I'm here for a good time ..." and  then once shes had enough of that- its over. Next track!

In contrast, The Deep End, is a slower paced relaxed folky pop vibe that most anyone would find agreeable.  Shine is also one of my favorites on the album - its a slow, emotional song thats soft and dreamy with almost a Sarah Mclachlan quality - yeah, I said that! wow!
Overall  the album is a must listen to for indie pop fans. Hannah's music will have you tapping your foot one minute and chuckling to yourself on others - her song Bang Bang Your Dead is one such track!

What draws fans to Hannah's music?
Other than her obvious knack at being a skilled songwriter, it is her sincerity (we the listener) identify with her music. That is what makes her music relevant and whether she becomes the next big thing or sits low key with a  more local following- her music is solid. She is another brilliant example of finding passion in what you do and "doing what you love" - it is working for her plus we get to reap the benefits of such talent! I do hope she tours the US- as of now she's playing her native Canada and has been to New York a couple times, but if she takes off like I just know she will, then we should get to see her live in the near future- fingers crossed!


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Angus and Julia Stone

The times are a-changing - at least when it comes to Australian pop music culture.  Brother and sister dynamic duo Angus and Julia Stone, currently on their North American tour are nominated for six ARIA Awards giving this happy twosome something else to sing about. 

Big Jet Plane off their sophomore album "Down the Way" is nominated for Single of the Year - simply amazing for any indie group, even more so after being told  their music wasn't main stream enough for commercial radio. Sweet vindication- not only are they being recognized by the industry that IS main stream for their  single they are also nominated for the coveted Album of the Year  award along with 4 other nominations. It seems that  the Aussies have stopped letting the over night pop sensations determine what relevant music is and are now putting substantial music on the forefront . Bravo!


Angus and Julia offer an eclectic style of folk, acoustic, rock and blues proving that good music does, in fact cross many genres. The Stones' earthy, soft spoken vocals are soothing to the ears and their harmonies are an understated delight. "The Devil's Tears" beautifully exemplifies ghostly sounds when he sings: "I'll taste the Devil's tears. Drink from his soul but I'll never give up you ..." ooh nice lyrics, Angus! Deep much? The notion that a guy would take on the Devil for his love would sweep any girl off her feet! It is a beautiful song. I also liked "Paper Aeroplane" its a simple song that only has a few notes that repeat itself throughout but still emits emotion - perfect. 
The Stones have worldwide appeal, living in London and briefly in the States while writing their music (California, and Queens, NY) the influence is notable in songs like "Yellow Brick Road" and Julia's sweet cover of "Your The One That I Want" from Greece fame. 
Julia has an interesting innocent sound much like a little girl quality to her voice- it's simply charming. Some have compared her to  a young Loretta Lynn meets Stevie Knicks; her fractal vocals you will either find candy apple sweet or annoying cutesy, but I think they add a compelling element  complimenting her brothers smoky, soft spoken vocals nicely.  
Songwriting is a talent they both posses giving Angus and Julia alternate leads on their music lending a variety not often heard on other collaborative duos. Their individuality remains intact while producing music people want to hear, in their case at least, sibling rivalry seems not to be a factor.












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Scala & Kolacny Brothers

 We have a lot to thank the Belgians for: Architecture, Belgian Waffles- totally make up for the Brussels sprouts, Paintings ( Van Eyke, Bruegel, Rubens, Ensor, Magritte.)  

Belgian chocolates - Handel's Messiah is often heard after devouring one of those decadent jewels), various cheeses and over 800 varieties of beer ( really?!) Now add to that illustrious list- Scala and the Kolacny Brothers. I adore girls choirs, and classically trained musicians are the cream of the crop so what the Kolacny brothers have done with Scala is nothing shorter than BRILLIANCE! Their voices are hauntingly beautiful and their music works of art.

Scala is a classical girls choir made up of over 200 girls ages 16- 24 conducted by Stijn Kolacny- his brother Steven arranges and accompanies. This international sensation is noted for their remake of popular rock songs they have transformed and made their own covering such artist as:  Metallica, Muse, U2, Rammstein, Depeche Mode, and others making them the coolest girls choir EVER!

Their performances always draw the biggest crowds and they have performed in Russia, France, Japan and here in the United States in February 2009 at the New York Times Center. Earlier this year Scala recorded a show to air on PBS later this year. American audiences are now discovering what our European friends have long known: these girls are on to something!

In July 2010 the Social Network trailer was released heavily featuring Scala's cover of Creep, thereby setting the stage  for their American success.  The you tube trailer has had over 1.1million hits and Billboard.com has confirmed Scala & Kolacny Brothers have just inked an U.S. deal with Rhino Entertainment / ATCO Records. So It seems we will be hearing a lot more from them in the near future!  Scala & Kolacny are going on tour in 2011 check their website for dates.

Creep

Nothing Else Matters

With or Without You 

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Remember - Misty Miller

Misty Miller

Whether your making a statement or asking a question one is just as relevant as the other. " Do you remember me?  I was the girl about 5' 3. Do you remember my eyes blue, blue as the skies.." Misty Miller sweetly sings about the evolution of young love and its highs and lows.

 Check out Remember.  The debut EP by 16 year old ukulele player from South West London certainly will not disappoint.  It's such a refreshing surprise to hear her fresh voice serenading along with  her plucky companion.  Misty, a self taught musician, recounts on her Myspace page how she received her uke as a gift and only picked it up one afternoon when she was bored. Once she picked it up she was hooked and has been writing music on it ever sense.

Misty sings like an angel in Evergreen Love- a heart felt ballad  sung for someone special no doubt, and Vampire, a song about a girl in love with - well a vampire - should be a popular song for her since it's every teenage girls fantasy at the moment! Still, while Vampires may be overexposed in the media- Misty puts a new spin on the usual hard rock soaked tunes that are commonly associated with Vampires- instead the song musically saunters about the vampire/human component with delicious detail.

      "Tell me about your thousands of lives, I want to learn about your other side.

 'cause I can't get you off of my mind.  And touch me with your freezing finger tips

 and kiss me with your blood red lips- I want to gaze into your ever-changing eyes.."

The final track on her EP, Home, has a soft country vibe, and I find it inspiring she can use a small instrument to take on various influences and it really works for her.  Misty Miller is a name you definitely will remember. She uses her talent to write relevant songs and her ability with this unique instrument leaves you  excitingly anticipating the next song.

Blackbird Blackbird/ Summer Heart LP

Ahh Fridays.. the end of a weekdays, promoter of good things to come. I was looking for some music to put me in a good place and be something out of the ordinary for me and hot damn whats this?  I stumbled upon the floaty electric synths and moody beats of Blackbird Blackbird.  Mikey Sander  is the name behind the musical dreamscapes that is Blackbird Blackbird and I challenge you to find a song that you dont like! He has released two projects just this month alone on his website: Summer Heart  LP and Modern Disbelief EP and announced on his blog this morning that Fade to White 7 is available for pre-order through Firetalk Records. Mikey, no one can say your a man without a vision!
So the other night in my sleepless search for anything to coax me into sweet slumber I come across the video for Pure- the video was enigmatic and entrancing all at the same time, and yes there are blackbirds in the video as well- very nice touch. Now I knew I HAD to hear more. Hawaii- another mind altering song that puts you somewhere along Waikiki at night at a luau complete with hula dancers and roasty pig crackling in a pit. I also enjoyed the title track Summer Heart  and Aura to name a couple more . It should also be noted that Blackbird Blackbird covered Float On made famous by Modest Mouse in  2004 and it sounds sick and aptly gave the song a fresh new vibe. So go download Summer Heart and get a FREE download of his digital album Modern Disbelief featuring Fade to White ( feat. Emily Reo). 




Pure

Blackbird Blackbird – Pure (official music video) from Isaac Bauman on Vimeo.


Float On

Review :Rocky Votolato -True Devotion

Singer songwriter Rocky Votolato has gift- he makes the morose sound beautiful.  In True Devotion he has a clean yet emotional sound and often Ill find myself mindlessly singing tracks like  Red River - my personal favorite, it has a strong indie rock flavor all throughout the track.
 One thing anyone will notice about  Rocky Votolato is that he isn't musically boring or predictable. Maybe it comes from his background being raised in the Pacific Northwest indie scene of Seattle that he pulls his inspiration from, but if you compare Red River to another track on the album, Lucky Clover Coin, its stripped to an acoustic guitar, some violin in parts and his harmonic voice and heart felt lyrics- YEAH this is a damn good track and I like that it's first on the album because you'll want to hear it over and over again.

Rocky is currently on tour and maybe in a living room near you.  He's taking a grass root- ish  approach with this tour that is absolutely amazing- basically you go to his website and can actually request him in your very own living room to do a show in your town- if your chosen- you get 5 tickets for yourself then he sells the rest to fans in your area at $20 a head and you get a very intimate performance with a very cool dude in your own basement or wherever you can comfortably hold about 50 people. All he needs is a chair and the man is set- how awesome is that?! You dont even have to have a big house, here's a vid of said concert he recently put on in someones APARTMENT!



True Devotion is an understated  mellow album with mostly  simplistic acoustic songs proving once again that  at least as far as he is concerned less is more and we the fans are forced to reckon with the lyrics of his melodies and the messages it  softly speaks.
Track listing:
1. Lucky Clover Coin
2. Fragments
3. Red River
4. Eyes Like Static
5. Sparklers
6. Instrument
7. What Waited For Me
8. Sun Devil
9. Don’t Be Angry
10. Where We Started

Its Great to be GREEN!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!  I hope this festive day finds ya tippin' your green derby hat to yur  closest chum, as you eat me lucky charms....  or  if you wanna go  more authentic perhaps your  eating limerick ham, shepherds pie or coddle stew? Irish food honestly inst my favorite , but I do enjoy shepherds pie usually annually round this time of year :) Personally, I do enjoy the good nature spirit that is associated with this  day of celebration. Irish or not , you can for at least a day feel like everyones  brother/sister and its like one big family reunion. ( *insert warm fuzzies )The Irish are good people, it's evident in their music- sure you have the folk lore of leprechauns and magic that comes to mind( what other nationality can you say that about?) but even their music stirs the soul . What famous Irish musicians do we know here in the States? First thing that comes to my mind is Enya, U2 and Riverdance.  So I got to researching and remember the 90's rock band The Cranberries - their Irish, along with Van Morrison, The Corrs and Damien Rice. Remember season 7 Irish -American Idol finalist Carly  Smithson?  She has teamed up with a few of the original members of the extremely successful  rock band Evanescence  heading up hew own band called We Are The Fallen.  What if you go to Dublin, Ireland though, what would you hear on their air waves? Check out Live Ireland-

Find more videos like this on liveIreland
which is live Irish internet radio and they offer live talk, music,  pics from the Irish country side and webcams all promising to thoroughly douse you in Irish culture and leave you wistfully wishing you were there! Im serious, GO THERE NOW!! Im watching a live web show there now as we speak, you can also interact with  them with your Twitter, Facebook accounts- Its your source for all things Irish and St. Patrick's celebration!
There will be parades in every small town  and major cities  that boast Irish roots. The pubs will be packed around the globe today and pints of Guinness will be consumed in honor  of ol' St. Patrick, for me though Ill forgo the parades and I cant stomach the bitter bite of a stout Guinness( maybe I'll have some  Bailey's Irish cream instead?!) but these Irish eyes will be smiling regardless as I reflect of the culture the day reminds us - I pass this blessing on to you!
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!