New (and future) music February edition

No doubt I am missing several (feel free to fill me in), as there is always good music on the horizon. Regardless, here is the latest edition of upcoming music. A few releases I am looking forward to. Some more than others, but I still like to list them. And I am saving one for its own blog post!

Nicole Atkins – Mondo Amore February 8

I have not heard her since Neptune City, which still is her last proper release, but that goes back to 2007! Time flies!

Jessie J – Who You Are February 28

Bumped forward a whole month just a couple of days ago. Probably good for her, and the fans of course, as she is really being hyped now. Here is hoping the album lives up (I am sure it will).

The NEW DATE for #WHOYOUARE my debut album has been bought forward to… 28th FEBRUARY!!! That's 4 weeks early! … http://tmi.me/6idRa—
JESSIE J (@jessiejofficial) February 03, 2011

Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes February 28

Interesting direction on her new single “Get Some”, but I am liking it.

Alexis Jordan – Alexis Jordan February 28

Marsha Ambrosius – Late Nights and Early Mornings March 1

I have not heard any of her solo stuff yet, should be promising! Digging the LP cover!

Britney Spears – Femme Fatale March 14

Rise Against – Endgame March 15

I did not listen to Appeal to Reason too extensively, but if you are looking for quality punk rock that is socially aware, look no further.

Travis Barker – Give the Drummer Some March 15

Album title of course pays homage to the Ultramagnetic MC’s song of the same name. And James Brown uses the line in the hugely important “Funky Drummer”.

Katy B – On a Mission March 28

I have only heard a couple of the singles, as I guess is the case for everyone pretty much. Anyway, I am looking forward to her proper album. This may not be the proper album cover, since it is just shy of two months away, I would not be surprised if it changes.

Vivian Girls – Share The Joy April 12

Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Make a Scene April 20

Foo Fighters – ? April 12

I am really looking forward to this one, recorded entirely in analog (see my Tweet below)! And in Dave’s garage! I hope that will bring back some new energy! Plus it was produced by Butch Vig. Following the release, they will be keeping busy this summer festivals (Hangout Music Festival, Sasquatch! Music Festival, Isle of Wight, etc.) and shows around Europe.

This is frackin sweet! Tour of Dave's garage where the new Foo Fighters album was recorded. Entirely in analog! http://bcove.me/25f1edqb—
Andrew Davidson (@tmmblog) February 02, 2011

Melanie Fiona – The MF Life July

Burlesque film review

Just like my previous blog post, this one finds itself a little too long for Twitter!

Disclaimer: I do not write film reviews very often, and when I do, they are usually documentaries where spoilers are not much of an issue. With that in mind, there are spoilers within this review. In the case that spoilers may be an issue, skip to paragraph five, as it contains no spoilers, and then come back to read the full review after having seen the film!

I will admit it, I did not go see Burlesque for the acting or storyline, or anything that makes a great film. In the end though, it was not that bad. A film whose story, rags to riches so to speak, has been told many a times before. And the film is full of plenty of clichés, and predictability. Such as the scene where the ‘bad’ girl Nikki (Kristen Bell) is going to make a scene of Christina Aguilera’s character Ali, however it was easy to tell as the scene progressed based on prior events in the film, Cher telling Ali character, they (the clientele) pay to see us dance to the music not sing, that that would be Ali’s big turning point in the movie.

Around a little more than halfway through the film when everything is working out well for Ali it had that feel good feeling. In the end of course everything does work out, but the story has clichéd moments that feel like they bring the film down a little.

The moral of the story to me, it is a very rare that someone goes from being a nobody to the big thing that quickly, if one is truly a prodigy so to speak, it can happen, but it is rare. And we cannot jump over periods of our lives with montages. As this is fairly evident, I bring it up for personal reasons, I am learning guitar, and working on some electronic music as well, and as a beginner, I know it takes a lot of hard work, however the film provides a feeling motivation to get going (and keep going!). I may only know a few chords, and still have much work to do, but those are the building blocks. Slowly but surely, staying positive. That being the main reason I wanted to write this review.

Ali, Christina Aguilera’s character, and Jack both have the similarity of being aspiring to do what they love (and moving to Los Angeles in hopes of finding their dreams). He writes music, while she dances and sings. Although it is not much more than accompanying aspect to the storyline for Ali, he eventually (no doubt with the help of Ali) finally finishes a piece of music that Ali sings as the final scene (throughout the film his music is never ‘ready’).

Musically, I do not listen to Christina Aguilera too often, but I do like her, and I know she can belt out music at times. This film is well suited in that aspect for her. And her acting was fairly believable. It was the aforementioned turning point, and other parts where she is performing within the film where she shines. I am not a Cher fan, but when she did sing, one of the times was fairly cliché, as mentioned earlier, regardless, it seems she can still sing.

On the Burlesque soundtrack Christina does have a few good numbers, notably “Express”, the slow “Bound to You”, and the re-working of Marilyn Manson’s “Beautiful People”. The latter, save for the obvious beat, riffs and the title reference, is reworked enough to make it hard to realise it was Marilyn Manson’s song. And adds a nice positive, upbeat spin on it.

New R&B (November/December)

Some new upcoming R&B releases for November and December, as the blog post title suggests! And a couple already out. I am most looking forward to the new Jazmine Sullivan. I reviewed her solid debut, Fearless, a while back, read it here.

November 16

Rihanna – Loud

November 30

Jazmine Sullivan – Love Me Back

Chrisette Michele – Let Freedom Reign

December 14

Ciara – Basic Instinct

December 21

Keyshia Cole – Keyshia

No album cover yet!

Out now

Faith Evans – Something About Faith

Donell Jones – Lyrics

Teedra Moses – Complex Simplicity (LP of the week)

A singer-songwriter in R&B these days seems quite rare. Of course many artists co-write, and have songs that are written solely by them now and then, but to write the entire album is quite a feat. And of course, she has written songs for other artists as well (she co-wrote “Dip it Low” for Christina Milian, among others for Teairra Marí, Trina, and Mary J. Blige).

She started working on music upon breaking her leg on a video set. Prior, she had been an assistant wardrobe stylist.

Really then, Teedra came out of nowhere to release Complex Simplicity on TVT Records.

The album title actually feels like a really good fit. It is smooth, soulful R&B. Makes for a great R&B record. A great listen. And since she wrote all the lyrics, and they all work very well, it would be worth following along with the lyrics to hear everything come into place. Simplicity, as it is very easy to listen to, and would work in just about all settings, from clubs to popular music radio stations, and complex to look deeper, and grasp all the elements working as one. Not unlike watching The Simpsons. Complex simplicity.

Paul Poli, Raphael Saadiq, Lil Jon are the producers. Raphael Saadiq is a featured guest on the moderately slow jam, “Take Me”. This track is a good example for the instrumental arrangements including a nice backing bass line. Following is a nice simple (yet again complex) track of Teedra being somewhat PO’d at another girl. It clocks in at 6:15, making it longer than one would expect from an R&B track.

The leadoff track, “Be Your Girl” would be a perfect example of what could easily be a single, a leadoff single as well for that matter. Actually, while looking around for her on the web I found the video for it on YouTube! (future MVOD I dare say!) So looks as though it was! That does not change the fact that easily numerous, if not all songs on the album could be singles.

Apparently Complex Simplicity is an underground classic, which is not a surprise, as it is just that good. Also, looks like a new album is in the works, but details seem scarce. According to her MySpace, she did put out a mix tape earlier this year (Royal Patience compilation …a love journey), so that is promising, but trying to get to her official website leads to a website not found page. Well, here’s hoping the album is released sooner or later instead of being shelved.

Edit (February 17, 2011): Looks like she has an album, The Lioness, ready to be released, but is in need of a record label. Read a little more over at The Allusic blog. Also her official website is up again, and check out her new video for “R U 4 Real” over at YouTube (available in HD!).

New Music: Duffy – Endlessly, November 29, 2010

The new Duffy release, Endlessly, is set to be released November 29. The first single, “Well Well Well” is out now, and I have embedded the video below. At this point, after only hearing it a couple of times, it has not struck a chord with me, however I like to listen to albums as a whole, and let them grow on me.

The cover is not bad, a little less of a mysterious feel than the cover of her debut. Sort of down to earthy, so I have a feeling it will be a fairly mellow album.

I can not call myself a huge fan of hers, but she does have a few standout tracks in my opinion, “Warwick Avenue” being one. And her voice is fairly unique, one cannot go wrong with being compared to Dusty Springfield!

Isis (of Thunderheist) Pop Montreal show review (October 2, 2010 Club Soda)

Isis was actually the second opener. She was supposed to be the only opener, according to the Pop Montreal program, but another act played too. Can’t say as I know who they were, as I was looking forward to Isis, so was not too receptive. They were okay, although not really my cup of tea. No point in really describing, as I do not even know who they are! The headliners were Radio Radio.

Isis, of course, as mentioned in the blog title, is of the group Thunderheist, and with the release of their self titled debut in March of 2009, they received quite a fair amount of attention. However solo, Isis is not as well known.

Her solo work is similar to Thunderheist, but probably more hip hop, R&B, soul, and indie. Performing along with her, was a turntablist and a drummer.

All in all, quite a good set. She performed Thunderheist’s “Little Booty Girl”, with somewhat different beats. Just as she was about to end her set, I believe she was told she had time for another song. She did a somewhat impromptu version of Cee Lo’s new track, “Fuck You”, well done too considering the track was still fairly new, even though it had been all over the internets.

So I look forward to her solo work. Check her out on MySpace.

Still away/Music on television picks this week

So I am still away for the holiday weekend. I´ll be back in a day or two with new posts. In the meantime, here is some music on television picks for the week.

Unless you are on the west coast, it is too late for tonight´s shows. Otherwise, the clips can be found on the respective websites.

Mark Ronson with Q-Tip and MNDR was on Letterman, The XX were on Kimmel.

Tomorrow (or later today), Tuesday October 12, Broken Bells are on Carson Daly.

Wednesday October 13, M.I.A. is on Leno, Mark Ronson is on Kimmel, and Lissie (!) is on Carson Daly!

Thursday October 14, Damian Marley & Nas find their way to Jimmy Kimmel´s show, Ben Folds is on Jimmy Fallon, and City and Colour are on Carson Daly.

Friday October 15, John Legend is on Leno (aka not Conan) and Florence and the Machine (!) is on Ellen´s show!

So I most recommend Lissie and Florence and the Machine, and then M.I.A.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

V.V. Brown – Travelling Like the Light

If the Motown sound still existed today, it would be a safe bet to say V.V. Brown would be doing Motown proud!

I mention Motown, and this really comes to mind most significantly on “L.O.V.E.”, however in general, it’s a great soul, and rock (also as in rock & roll) and dance album! VV Brown does not really want to be confined to a single genre, although she had thought of doowop indie, which sounds right.

V.V. Brown, born as Vanessa Brown is yet another talented English female singer making waves. Her debut, Travelling Like the Light, was actually released a year ago (in the UK, earlier this year in North America), however I only caught the video for “Shark in the Water” late last year or so. A very pleasant surprise. A soulful, yet fun single, and making for a great listen.

If the album itself was not enough to show off VV Brown’s talent, the way in which she writes her songs drives the point home. She believes songs come to the artists, and not the other way around, that certain chords and melodies are associated with certain lyrics. “Crying Blood” was written (as was the whole album apparently!) on a one string guitar! The Presidents of the United States of America would be proud (listen to “Back Porch”)!

The album jumps right in, and quickly starts with the rock and soul in nature, “Quick Fix”. For the most part the album is generally mostly up-tempo, and a highly pleasurable listen. It does slow down for “Back in Time”, and “I Love You”. It picks back up with the retro soul number “L.O.V.E.”. Another love song follows, in “Everybody”. This is a modern toe tapping bass heavy, piano heavy track. Making for an excellent example as a track not released as a single. “Game Over” a nicely layered R&B/soul track, that includes percussive elements and hand claps.

As a whole, I highly recommend the album. It makes for an especially great summer listen.

Music videos:

Crying Blood
Leave!
Shark in the Water
Game Over

Plenty more on YouTube:

VV Brown YouTube channel
VV Brown US YouTube channel
If that was not enough,
VV Brown on Vevo!

Sources:
Exclusive Interview: VV Brown on Piano
V.V. Brown – Crying Blood (Acoustic)

Paloma Faith – Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?

The Amy Winehouse comparisons are inevitable, and have probably already occurred since this album came out September 28, 2009. I think I read one beforehand, and saw another while writing this review. And to get it out of the way, I do think “Broken Doll” sounds a little like an Amy Winehouse track, it feels like a mid tempo track that could have been recorded by Winehouse. As does the title track, “Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?”, however it is a slower number, almost ballad like, with a strings section.

To put the comparison to rest, as I will compare artists, for the sole sake of comparison, the lead-off track is “Stone Cold Sober”. Enough said!

Speaking of the lead-off track, it definitely fits the bill. As well as being the first single. It is overflowing with soul, charisma, rock, and horn section.

I usually listen to the music first, and this is no different, however I like to see who the songwriter credits belong to, and I am happy to see Paloma Faith has writing credits on all tracks.

“Upside Down”, is a groovy, bass heavy track, again with soul. I think using the term throwback has been used over and over again, desite that, this track fits that well, similar to some of Christina Aguilera’s work on Back to Basics, however not as showy and elaborate.

“New York” to me is an exceptional song. It is very close to being perfect. It is one of those tracks that manages to bring chills upon listening. It is a soulful ballad that tells a story, and that features London’s Souls of Prophecy Gospel Choir.

Paloma Faith’s first big break came when she was noticed by an A&R man when she was fronting the manager’s band of a pub she worked in. After that, she seems to have been a rebel artist in the vein of P!nk, in that when he refused to turn off his phone during the audition, she eventually stormed off. She said to the record label executive, “if you’re going to be anything to do with my career, I’d rather sing in pubs for the rest of my life. Then I told him to fuck off.”

“Play On” ends the album in good fashion. All in all a solid debut on its own.

Obligatory links:

Official site
MySpace
YouTube
Twitter

Music videos

Stone Cold Sober
New York
Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful
Upside Down

Currently Rotating (Post 2)

So this post is a sampling of what I am, and have been listening to lately.

I suppose I’ll get the highly commercial out of the way (not that that is necessarily a bad thing, being commercial that is).

Rihanna – Rated R

As you probably know whether intentional or not thanks to all the airplay she receives, Rated R is darker than her usual material. Obviously it is post a certain incident that happened. Surely that has played a part in the style, however, as my sister had said in the past, she has range. As was obvious with all the slew of singles from Good Girl Gone Bad and the Reloaded edition. Think “Disturbia”, yet darker still, but also a bit more evolved (I could not think of the right word, but that seems to work, referring to how her current singles feel a bit more produced and polished).

Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins – Rabbit Fur Coat

Not really my style, yet pretty good nonetheless. “The Big Guns” and “Rise Up with Fists!” are a couple pretty good tracks.

Kate Nash – Made of Bricks

Somehow Kate Nash came to mind, and I realised I never got around to listening to her debut, and now she has a sophomore coming out soon! Anyway, good stuff if you like Lily Allen. Kate is a bit more indie, but they do know eachother, and are similar.

“Mariella” is a really good ditty that reminds me of Regina Spektor, and especially from her album Begin to Hope

If Lily Allen has indeed retired from music, or on an indefinite hiatus, Kate will fill the void!

Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling

She’ll be in Montreal on February 12, so I am listening to her again. A really good album, and she has a album, Heart of My Own due out soon! More tour dates at Basia’s official site.

I was browsing randomly on the web, and found my way to Esmée Denters on Wikipedia. She is Dutch and was signed by Justin Timberlake. Anyway, I found my way to a review on BBC, then clicked to the main reviews section, and they reviewed the new Basia Bulat! I have not read the review yet, however the subtitle to the review is “A patchy, but sporadically wonderful album from the Canadian singer.” So sounds good!

Pixie Lott – Turn it Up

I am still in the process of listening to this as a whole, but so far so good. Sounds like more good British music to say the least!

“Cry Me Out” is on now, sounds like another good throwback track.

Stacie Orrico – Beautiful Awakening

Religious views aside, as mine are probably about as far away from hers as possible, she is a good pop singer, and if I did not know otherwise I would not know anything about her religious views, as from what I can gather, they really don’t come out in her music, at least not in an Amy Grant way (I am guessing). Of course I have not read the lyrics really. For the most part they seem optimistic above all.