Matthew Perryman Jones is probably one of the most talented musicians that will make an appearance on this blog. Tonight I’ve posted another live version of the “song of the day”, so that you can grasp what a real artist is like. He’s vocally talented, he can perform and he can write a song like it’s nobody’s business. “Save You” is one of those songs you have to be in the mood for, though. I guess today, I’m in a “saving” mood.
Matthew’s bio on Wikipedia is as follows for those of you who are into the artist more than the music:
“Matthew Perryman Jones (born 1973) is an American singer-songwriter who currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jones began his career as a singer-songwriter in 1997, playing his first public performances at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA. Jones issued his first solo release, Nowhere Else But Here in 2000 after moving to Nashville, TN to pursue music full-time.
In 2006 he released the album Throwing Punches in the Dark. This album, produced by Neilson Hubbard (Glen Phillips, Garrison Starr), is a departure from his previous Folk/Americana sound to something more Pop Rock. Throwing Punches in the Dark has been well received by critics and fans alike.
In 2007 Matthew was asked to perform at the historic Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL for the 10 year celebration of the syndicated radio program, Reg’s Coffee House. Matthew shared the stage with Stoll Vaughan, Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and Patty Griffin.
In 2008, Matthew has teamed up again with producer Neilson Hubbard to produce a new LP entitled Swallow the Sea which, according to his MySpace blog, is named after one of the ten songs included on the album. The album was released August 19,2008.”
Like I said before, “Save You” is one of those songs that you have to really want to listen to. It could kill a totally happy vibe if you’re having one, so just a warning. To me, the song is about looking back and regretting actions that were never taken. It seems as if this might have been written about a delicate person in his life who he didn’t really want to take a chance with and accidentally hurt, but in the end, he wishes he did take that chance.
It’s definitely got a sentimental sound. Be gentle with this one and enjoy!
Oh Ross, what can I say about you that would encompass this song and the rest of your work? Hmm…”you’re awesome” seems to fit. I spent a night looking for new music through Amazon.com’s little list of similar albums that come up along side the one you’re actually looking at when Ross popped up. One quick listen of each 30 second track and I was hooked, particularly on today’s song “I Don’t Want To Let You Go.”
Here’s what Wikipedia had to say about Ross:
“Ross Copperman was born on October 1st, 1982 and grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. He attended Glenvar High School in Roanoke County.
Ross started playing the piano at age 3, and started writing songs in college at James Madison University. The first song he wrote is titled “Fly Away”, and it appears on his studio debut album. He says that it was only after the urging of his teacher (who had listened to this song) that he was convinced to take up music professionally.
While in college, Ross opened a show for Phil Vassar in front of a crowd of 5000.[citation needed] After winning a few competitions, Copperman earned a 40-date US college tour.
He toured the US for around a year and tried selling his independent album Believe, and eventually succeeded in doing so with Phonogenic/RCA records.
The first single he released in the UK, As I Choke, managed to be the most popular iTunes Single Of The Week in the UK, notching up 36,457 downloads in a one-week period.
His second single, and the one that made him known was All She Wrote, entered the UK top 40 in May 2007, and was featured in a couple of instances in TV in the USA.
The third single, Found You, was released a few months later.
His debut album, Welcome to Reality, was released on May 28, 2007.
At a recent performance at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, Ross told his audience that he is currently working on a country album to “get into touch with his roots” and also professed his love for Hannah Montana, saying he loves to jam out to “See You Again.””
I don’t feel the need to explain the theme or any deep meanings of the song, because he puts it out there for you. Enjoy!
Ok, so Ray is probably one of the biggest oddball artists I have in my library, but I love him. I’ve never really been a big fan of the hippy 70’s look and attitude, but “Shelter” is one of those songs where the meaning goes way beyond the artist’s looks and personal beliefs. Thus, I deem it very appropriate for the blog.
Here’s a bit of info about Ray from the ever famous Wikipedia:
“Raymond Charles “Ray” LaMontagne (born June 18, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter who lives on a farm in Maine with his wife and two sons. Reportedly, after hearing a Stephen Stills song, LaMontagne decided to quit his job at a shoe factory and pursue a career in music. He has since released three albums, Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black and Gossip in the Grain. In the UK, Trouble was a top 5 hit, and the title track of the album was a top 25 hit. Till the Sun Turns Black was a top 40 hit in the U.S. A soft-spoken person who is known for his raspy voice, LaMontagne has won a number of awards for his music and has performed at several charity events.”
This song is the best he’s ever written and performed, in my opinion that is. I own all three of his albums, and nothing else even compares to “Shelter.“ If you listen to the words carefully he’s broken up with whomever he was with, but regardless of their relationship status, he’d do anything to protect and love them. That’s commitment on a whole other level.
Because Ray is extraordinary live, I’ve posted the BBC version of the song. “Shelter” is the first song and “Hold You In My Arms” is the second. Enjoy!
I was surfing through Pandora yesterday looking for new music and as usual, I found some. Lucky me! Actually, lucky you because I’m nice enough to share it. I must admit that “I Won’t Follow” isn’t the greatest song ever played, but there’s something about it that captivated me. I’m pretty sure it was the chorus, but at this point, it could be anything.
Here’s some info about the band that Wikipedia had on hand:
“Test Your Reflex is an indie rock/pop band from Los Angeles, California. Their 2007 debut release was The Burning Hour (released April 24, 2007) on RCA Records. The album has been described as having an 80s sound with hints of U2, The Cars, and Simple Minds as well as The Cure and The Killers.
The band featured on the MySpace Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins album released on MySpace Records and distributed in the July 2007 issue of SPIN Magazine. They liken themselves to other bands on the Pumpkins tribute, such as The Bravery. All tracks appeared on each band’s MySpace page from May 14, 2007. Test Your Reflex opened for The Smashing Pumpkins on July 22, 2007 at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Before that, from March 22, 2007 to May 12, 2007, Test Your Reflex toured the US with the Detroit-based band Electric Six.
Television performances include two appearances with Carson Daly. On June 22, 2007 the band appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly and the following month performed on the Carson Daly show (aired July 12, 2007).
Their song “Thinking of You” is featured as the background music of a radio commercial for Michelob Golden Light beer, heard in the Twin Cities and other markets in the midwest where the beer is sold.”
I think I figured out why I like this song so much. It has to be the “whatever” attitude that they have here, which I share in regard to relationships. The chorus seems like a back handed way of saying “No one can make you as happy as I can, but if you think you can find it, don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.” Finally, someone who shares my views on this love nonsense! No begging, no persuading, no throwing yourself on the ground because they’re leaving; just logical thinking.
Please excuse the quality of the audio. It sounds like they’re playing in a cardboard box. It’s the best I could do…
If there’s one song in my library that I consider catchy, this is it.Robin Thicke has vocals similar to Justin Timberlake, but a music style similar to Jamie Cullum. The first time I heard this song, I thought it was kind of obnoxious, but it grew on me. I guess it doesn’t help when you hear it once and it’s stuck in your head forever. Despite his recent success, I don’t think Robin has made it to the top of the charts yet, which makes him perfect for a blog entry.
Here’s Robin’s bio straight from his website:
“The award-winning multiplatinum superstar returns to center stage with Something Else, a joyful and modern tribute to the ‘70s soul and pop records that have inspired an extraordinary career.
Something Else is aptly titled. “It’s time for hope and change,” Thicke says. “It’s in the air. And I’m speaking on the times around me.” Thicke echoes the change with mesmerizing Superfly-era vocals, Gamble and Huff-inspired horn arrangements (“Hard on My Love”), unabashed lyrical optimism and an irresistible invitation to the dance floor (“Side Step”). “I don’t want to be a preacher, but I do think at the core of every great existence is an abundance of love and joy, and the only way to create that is to give it,” he adds.
Born in Los Angeles, Thicke grew up with an ear trained squarely at R&B and hip-hop. “I was listening to Kurtis Blow at 8, NWA at 12, Jodeci and Mary J. at 14 and Boyz II Men and Babyface soon after,” Thicke says. “I didn’t even listen to rock and roll music until I was 17. And I find myself thinking that’s more normal than it is.” André Harrell (then president of Bad Boy Entertainment and mentor to Mary J. Blige, Puff Daddy and Thicke) heard the lanky white kid and was dumbstruck. “I heard what Martin Luther King, Jr. described in his dream of a new America: a place where a white man in the San Fernando Valley can feel Detroit, Harlem and the blues,” he says.
The spirit of Michael Jackson looms large throughout the new release. “Michael is the epitome of celebration, and the core of this album has that: It’s celebratory, healing, loving music,” Thicke says. To deepen that connection, Thicke employed the same horn section used on Jackson’s “You Wanna Be Starting Something,” from the 1979 classic, Off the Wall. “André Harrell told me, ‘When God is singing loud, that’s the sound of horns,’” he says. Gary Grant and the Jackson horn section contributed to the album’s trans-generational appeal. “I kept the kids on some songs and the adults on others, so it’s the sound of young and old coming together.”
Something Else also benefits from writing sessions that took place in different cities, a tactic employed by several of Thicke’s idols, including Marvin Gaye. “New York is the center of information, so I took a few trips there and set up a big studio,” Thicke says. Songs like “Sidestep” and “Something Else” with their heavy, insistent grooves, were the result. “Paris is the center of romance,” he says, “and I went there, and found ‘Sweetest Love,’ ‘You’re My Baby’ and ‘Miss Harmony.’”
The first single, “Magic,” draws all of Something Else’s influences together into one blast of disco-infused dance pop. Robert Hales, director of Gnarles Barkley’s “Crazy” video, was tapped to add visual balance between downtown dance couture, references to Fred Astaire’s Mr. Universe and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, one of Thicke’s all-time favorite films.
Melding the retro and the modern across 12 tracks, Robin Thicke leads his international fanbase into inspired, sexy and refreshing new territory.
Robin Thicke’s first album, A Beautiful World, released in 2003, yielded the hit song, “When I Get You Alone,” and paved the way for his breakthrough second release, 2006’s The Evolution Of Robin Thicke. Now on the way to double platinum status, Evolution’s mega hit “Lost Without U” became the #1 most played song in Urban Adult Contemporary BDS and topped four Billboard charts simultaneously: #1 R&B /Hip Hop album, #1 Hot R&B / Hip Hop song, #1 Hot R&B Hip Hop Airplay, and #1 Hot Adult R&B Airplay. TV appearances included the unprecedented distinction of two appearances on Oprah Winfrey – within two weeks.
The year 2007 concluded with the VH1 Soul/ Vibe award for “Best Breakthrough Artist” and nominations from BET (“Best Male R&B” and “Viewer’s Choice”), Soul Train (“Best R&B Soul Album, Male”), MTV VMA (“Male Artist of the Year”), MOBO (Best Song, “Lost Without U”), the American Music Awards (“Favorite Breakthrough Artist”) and “Lost Without You” was named ASCAP’s (“Song Of The Year”). Robin will begin a run of dates with his longtime friend and fellow musician, Mary J. Blige beginning 9/19.”
“Ms. Harmony” is a pretty simple song to understand. Robin is talking about a woman who has everything but love in her life. She’s perfect in every way, has a great job and evidently a brand new car and all she needs is love to really set her ahead of the game. It’s funny the way he idolizes whoever this woman is and holds her in such high regard.
So, sit back, relax, enjoy the song and get it stuck in your head too…
Donavon Frankenreiter has been one of my favorite musicians for almost 5 years now. It all started with a song called “On My Mind” which caught my attention, but today, I’m going to share another song with you that I think is much more suitable. It’s called “The Way It Is.” I like both songs based on lyrics and guitar work, but “The Way It Is” just stood out more for the song of the day today.
I snatched some info from Wikipedia for you folks playing along at home. I didn’t realize that he was also a surfer until reading this through a few times. What an awesome guy…
“Frankenreiter started playing in Peanut Butter and Jam at the age of 18. In 1996 he began to seriously pursue a musical career when he formed the band Sunchild. In Sunchild, Frankenreiter was the lead guitar player but did not sing. The band had a 70s rock sound similar in style to The Black Crowes. They released their first CD, Barefoot & Live, on Surfdog Records in 1997. Produced by Gary Hoey, the live album featured covers of The Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Rolling Stones, and Van Morrison, as well as several originals. California Honey followed in 2000 on their own Sunchild Records. This studio album is now out-of-print and is very hard to find. Sunchild disbanded in 2001 and Frankenreiter went on to pursue a solo career. Sunchild is rarely mentioned in interviews or press-releases which leads many people to believe that Donavon only started his professional music career more recently.
In 2002 Frankenreiter signed with Brushfire Records.
His self-titled solo album, Donavon Frankenreiter, was recorded with co-producers Jack Johnson and Mario Caldato Jr. Johnson appears on the album, as do G. Love and Eels member Koool G. Murder. The album was released in April 2004 in Australia due to his high profile in that country from his support gigs for Jack Johnson and from Frankenreiter’s own surfing career. He toured Australia in April 2004, helping the album reach the top forty of the ARIA albums chart. Gary Jules was his support act on this tour. The album was released in the United States one month later, on 11 May 2004.
In 2006 Frankenreiter left Brushfire Records and signed with Lost Highway Records, home of such notable artists as Elvis Costello, Ryan Adams and Willie Nelson. His follow-up album, Move by Yourself, was released on June 6, 2006. Later that year Donavon recorded a song called “Lovely Day” along with Koool G., which was featured in the opening sequence of the 2006 film Snakes on a Plane, and also appears on that movie’s soundtrack.
In November 2007, Donavon toured throughout Brazil on the Mostra Alma Surf Festival with bands, Animal Liberation Orchestra,G. Love and Matt Costa along with Surf Artists Jay Alders, Nathan Gibbs, Céline Chat, Surf Photographer Sean Davey and Surf Film Maker Sunny Abberton.
Donavon’s first live DVD, “Donavon Frankenreiter: The Abbey Road Sessions” was filmed and recorded at a special concert performed at Abbey Road studios in London, England in November of 2005, and subsequently released in early ’06.
An EP full of cover versions called Recycled Recipes landed in 2007 with the polished full-length Pass It Around following a year later. For the Pass It Around Tour, Donavon teamed up with Surf Artist and friend, Jay Alders to design a Limited Edition Tour Poster.”
“The Way It Is” is a story about imagination. It actually reminds me a lot of explanations that a parent would give to a child when they ask difficult questions or where the answers were to complex or would somehow damage their innocence. In this particular song, Donavon uses his “stories” in a protective manner and claims that he’d rather make believe than see the world in a negative light.
Overall, it’s just a fun song to listen to. Great beat, great words, great song. Give it a listen!
Today I have something different. Normally I post something along the lines of rock, but tonight I have a duo that has been described as “electronic/trip-hop with jazz like qualities.” I was watching television a few years ago when a commercial came on for Zune, and featured another one of their singles which I loved. Thus, I downloaded the album. Today’s song, “Bittersweet Faith,” was featured in the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
Wikipedia was kind enough to list some of the duo’s other appearances:
“Recently, they have been listed on the Top 10 on the iTunes Store electronic chart and have been placed on radio station KCRW’s Top 5 Most Requested CD for the week of March 20, 2006 . Additionally, they have been featured on the soundtrack of The Devil Wears Prada, in Episode 2 (“I Am a Tree”) of Season 3 of Grey’s Anatomy, in Episode 7 (“The Ringer”) of Season 1 of Moonlight, in Episode 1 of Lipstick Jungle (“Pilot”), in Episode 17 (“Sleeper”) of Season 7 of Smallville, in Episode 13 (“Betrayed”) of Season 7 of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, the advertisements for Samantha Who? and Victoria’s Secret (featuring the track “Dirty Laundry”), in the movies Because I Said So and Shoot ‘Em Up, in a Zune advertisement (and the device itself), and also placed on MSN’s list for “Ones to Watch.”
The duo was formed when Halligan answered an ad listed on Craigslist for a singer posted by Shahani, who, along with Rick Torres, had previously founded the Supreme Beings of Leisure.[citation needed] Their 11-track debut album, The Mating Game, was released April 4, 2006 under Quango Music Group.
In summer of 2007, Bitter:Sweet released The Remix Game, featuring reworked versions of tracks from The Mating Game by renowned producers such as Thievery Corporation, Fort Knox Five, Jed Smith and Skeewiff. These tracks were previously available only on vinyl, or unreleased.
In early February 2008, It was announced that the Duo would release an album of new material called ‘Drama’, due for release June 3, 2008. A 30 second preview for their new song ‘The Bomb’, which was used as the theme music for Lipstick Jungle, could be heard on their MySpace page. On September 4, 2008 ‘The Bomb’ was added to the download list for the game Tap Tap Revenge. An instrumental version of ‘The Bomb’ was used in the trailer for Tony Gilroy’s Duplicity, starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.”
I was reading through the lyrics and found that the song is actually about a married couple, from a wife to her husband. She talks about sacrificing everything she can for him and for the sake of their perfect relationship. The song is a real classic and if you get a chance, really listen to how they put the song together both lyrically and instrumentally. Great stuff here…
Please excuse the video, YouTube has been giving me a real hard time lately about posting the original songs.
Ok, so I think I’ve made it apparent before that I’m not the biggest fan of Christian Rock or religious music, but “Dying to Know You” is truly amazing. The first time I heard it, I had no idea that Downhere was a Christian Rock band, but upon further investigation that was revealed. They’re extremely well know in their genre, but not to the general public, so I’m going to put them out there. Can I get an alleluia?
As with every other artist, I’ve scrounged around Wikipedia for some band information for you folks to read:
“Downhere is a Juno, Dove, and Covenant Award winning Christian rock (melodic alt-rock) band from Canada. They have released four albums to date, the latest being the Juno Award winning, Ending is Beginning, released on September 23, 2008.
The band was formed by Marc Martel and Jason Germain who were roommates at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan. Martel and Germain added fellow Canadians Tyson Manning and Jeremy Thiessen to the mix and released a now out-of-print, self-titled debut CD on Slyngshot Records. That album was re-worked with new bassist Glenn Lavender and became their debut international release through Word Records.
Their second album, also released through Word Records was entitled So Much For Substitutes. In 2006 they were signed to Centricity Records and released Wide-Eyed And Mystified which led to Covenant Awards (GMA Canada) for Recorded Song of the Year (for “A Better Way”) and Rock Album of the Year and the 2007 Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.
In 2007, the band released two additional CDs that were unique. In early 2007, they released Wide-Eyed and Simplified, which contained new versions of 8 songs from Wide-Eyed and Mystified, in addition to three popular songs from earlier releases.
Later in 2007, the band released Thunder After Lightning (The Uncut Demos). This album contained 15 previously unreleased demos which were considered for use on Wide-Eyed and Mystified but were not used. The CD also contained demo versions of 2 songs which were used on Wide-Eyed and Mystified.
The band completed recording sessions for new album, Ending is Beginning, released on September 23, 2008. The band released the songs for a few days and gave fans the chance to give input on which songs they should put on the album, and as a pre-release to Ending is Beginning in June 2008 they gave away the whole album Wide-Eyed and Mystified as a free download.”
I think the title of the song really kind of gives away the theme of the song, so no need for me to write it here and bore you. I will say, before you listen to the song, that it’s a very intensely written song. Great lyrics, great vocals, great piece of music. Sorry for the live version, but YouTube and their copyright policies wouldn’t let me upload the album version. Download it if you get the chance…
I’ve never been a huge fan of techno or dance music, but we’re going to listen to some tonight. You might already be familiar with EBTG because of their song “Missing” that came out in 2003. It was extremely popular on easy listening stations across the U.S., but since, they seem to have fallen off the face of the earth.
Luckily for me, they resurrected when I was watching a clip of the movie “Hitch” with Will Smith, Eva Mendes, and one of my all time favorites, Kevin James. I don’t recall what part of the movie this was in, but I think it was in the second club scene. The beat and the voice were unmistakable and since downloading it, “Five Fathoms” has really grown on me.
Here’s a quick little blurb from Wikipedia about the duo:
“Everything but the Girl (often shortened EBTG) are a two-person English band formed in Hull in 1982, consisting of lead singer and sometime-guitarist Tracey Thorn (born 26 September 1962) and guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist Ben Watt (born 6 December 1962).
Watt and Thorn are also a couple; they are intensely private about their relationship and personal life. It was not a publicized fact for some time that they were a couple, or that they had subsequently married. The duo have a strong desire to raise their three children outside of the spotlight.”
“Five Fathoms” captures the sights and the sounds of the city and promotes the theme of being free to do whatever you want and to love whoever you want. It’s a very positive and uplifting message along with a great descriptive song. This one will keep your head bobbing for a while…
If you’ve ever wondered what my favorite song is, this is it. Feeder’s “Love Pollution” has been #1 on my list of songs since I first heard the song in 2004. The album that it came off (“Comfort in Sound”) was produced the year previously. It’s one of those songs that’s very relaxed and has a lot of meaning behind it. It’ll make you think while putting you to sleep, which is something that rarely ever happens.
I thought it was appropriate to steal another blurb of information from Wikipedia about the band. After all, it is my favorite song and you need to know everything about the band in the shortest amount of time. Here’s some info:
“Feeder is a multi-platinum-selling British rock band, formed in Newport, Wales, during 1992 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Grant Nicholas and drummer Jon Lee. Bassist Taka Hirose later joined after responding to an advert in Loot Magazine. Jon Lee tragically took his own life in January 2002 at his Miami home. Former Skunk Anansie drummer Mark Richardson was asked by Grant Nicholas to step in and record Comfort in Sound, he joined Feeder on a permanent basis and recorded 2 further albums with the band. In April 2009 Mark Richardson parted company with Feeder and reunited with his old band Skunk Anansie. Feeder have also been accompanied by touring members Matt Sime (keyboards; 2000–2002) and Dean Tidey (guitar, backing vocals; 1998–present) and Dean Deavall (keyboards, backing vocals; 2008-present).
Feeder first saw mainstream success from their third album, Echo Park (2001), and its first single “Buck Rogers”, which became their highest charting single at the time. Alongside “Buck Rogers”, the band are also currently best known for their other top 20 single “Just a Day”. Feeder have won two Kerrang! Awards in 2001 and 2003 for “Best British Live Act” and “Best British Band”, alongside being named as one of the most successful UK chart acts between 1952-2006, by the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums. Feeder have charted 24 singles and eight albums, with six of those making the top 10 between 1999 and 2008, alongside 20 of their singles making the top 40 over a span of 11 years. Their music has been inspired by a wide variety of artists, including the Pixies and The Smashing Pumpkins.”
The main idea behind this song is about fading away when you’re not with that “special person.” It’s almost as if Grant is saying that this person brings out the best in him and when they’re away, it’s just not worth living. The bridge of this song is telling of the theme and really what makes it, so I think. The lyrics to that particular piece of the song are the following:
“You pick the pieces up again
You’re like the song that never ends
And you’re the reason I wake up
And you’re my vision
You’re my touch…”