Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
26 Feb 2014 2 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: kongos, take me back
KONGOS: “Take Me Back” (2014)
In an article titled 10 New Artists You Need to Know, Rolling Stone magazine describes their sound thusly: “A Balkan accordionist, a Burundi drummer, an American slide guitarist, and a British rock star walk into a bar. High-octane folk-pop ensues”.
The KONGOS sound is a distinctive mix of classic rock, African and Balkan elements, and it’s unlike anything you’ve heard before.
31 Jan 2014 Leave a comment
in Recommended Albums Tags: hard time for the dreamer, shelly poole
Shelly Poole: Hard Time for the Dreamer (2005)
The fact that private sellers on Amazon.com price British singer-songwriter Shelly Poole’s out-of-print debut album at around $200 speaks to the injustice of its current lack of availability.
Poole, who was previously one half of sister duo Alisha’s Attic, hasn’t been heard from since this single solo release. But what a rare gem of genre-slipping pop it is. Falling between the cracks of chillwave, trip hop, R&B and introspective country-folk, the unforced vibe and appealing melodies remain the constant as steel guitar, flute, and electronic sounds sneak in and out of breezy, understated arrangements.
Listen to: “Hard Time For The Dreamer”
Listen to: “Totally Underwater”
Listen to: “Little Wonder”
Listen to: “If You Will Be Pilot”
Listen to: “Lost in You”
29 Jan 2014 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: family of the year, hero
Family of the Year: “Hero” (2012)
A gentle, poignant highlight of their 2012 Loma Vista album.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/10/06/songs-you-may-have-missed-486/
24 Jan 2014 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: mind over matter, young the giant
Young the Giant: “Mind Over Matter” (2014)
After a debut that Amazon.com rated as the third best rock album of 2010, the Orange County modern rock band fronted by full-voiced frontman Sameer Gadhia are back with the follow-up, Mind Over Matter. The title cut is a highlight, and contains a fish hook of a chorus that might ricochet around in your brain all day.
11 Jan 2014 Leave a comment
in Recommended Albums Tags: david j. caron, thru never ending black
David J. Caron: Thru Never-Ending Black (2013)
Irish-Italian David J. Caron released a double CD album, Thru Never Ending Black, in 2013–a move usually made by an artist with an established following. The unusual thing here is that the mammoth 28-track work is his debut. Caron wrote, performed and produced one of the best rock debut albums in recent years, a work that lives up to its own ambition with solid consistency over its abundant length.
Categorizing the music is more difficult than appreciating it. Caron seems to straddle the worlds of progressive rock (the genre suggested by the album’s cover, artwork and, at times, lyrics) modern rock and AOR. Caron’s work has echoes of 80’s neo-prog, but with a fresh, modern rock-informed sound. It really defies easy categorization.
But while it doesn’t fit neatly into a particular genre, any fan of modern melodic rock with intelligent, captivating lyrics and infectious choruses will find something appealing here–and a generous helping thereof.
Listen to: “Time Machine”
Listen to: “Feels of Fire”
Listen to: “Memory Magnetic”
Listen to: “Frozen Ice”
Listen to: “Escapin’ Back”
Every Moment Has A Song 