The 50 Best Songs of 2010: Intro, Rules and general rambling before it starts tomorrow

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN! Time flew, and I got lazy these past few months. That's changing right now. I'm back to truckloads of scheduled posts and hours of typing away, reminiscing on a year full of music. There's no way I wouldn't do this.

YES! I'm back after a long hiatus (in isolation, blog-wise) because apart from stressing out from school, I was getting this series/list/special ready! (in simpler words, I was cramming it) Why? Because I do it every year and I have absolutely no intention of stopping, even if I'm swamped with work right now. That and it gives me the chance to talk about songs I liked this year, but never got to feature because either I didn't have enough to say to make up a full review, I was stressed and didn't have the time, or I just didn't feel like writing about them.

Read on for a short "briefing" before we commence with the countdown tomorrow.

For those who just started reading PRN this year, (I hope people like that exist!) every December I release a list of my favorite songs of the year. They don't necessarily have to be singles or major releases, but I had to have enjoyed them at some point of the year. It's my way of summarizing everything I've covered during the span of 12 (or 11) months, and making sure I end the year with the songs I personally love - the main reason why I started PRN in the first place was to write about music I enjoy.

My "best of" lists also exist so I can look back on them in the future - for me, the past is just as important as the present and you have to learn the past to be able to write about the present. I'd like to think that these lists best reflect the state of music in my opinion for their specific years.

Please note that because I've cut the list to only include the top 50, certain artists may not be included, or spoken of, at all. This is not because they didn't bring out any good songs this year, but because there are 50 (or more) other better songs that that. During the previous best of lists I included all the songs I personally liked then just took it from there, but this year's list is not only ranked, but limited as well - for a number of reasons you don't have to know just yet. ;D

I've made a few changes to the rules this year (like I do every year), to accommodate all the kpop I have and the Hallyu wave stuff.

1. This is in no way a definitive list because I didn't listen to every single song released this year - this is technically "the 50 best songs of 2010 from Nikki's iTunes library", I have no intention of making this the list of the year or something. It's my list of the year.
2. The song must be on an album, single or EP (mini-album in Korean vocab) released and promoted between January 1, 2010 and November 30, 2010 but it could also have been a standalone song - a one off, as long as it was officially released in 2010. It may have been on an album released before 2010 but was featured on a single or EP in 2010, or vice versa.
3. One entry per artist, per territory/country/language. However, this does not mean that the artist only had one good song this year - he/she/they could have had a whole album full of fantastic songs, but the purpose of this rule is to show the variety in pop this year. I'm sure you wouldn't want to see the list full of DBSK and SHINee. So for example, JYJ had Japanese, Korean and "international"/English releases this year - the list allows one song per language/country.
4. If an album released prior was given a re-release in 2010, only the singles released for and after the re-release PLUS the added tracks will be eligible. Tracks that were on the previous album released before 2010 will be disqualified.
5. Live performances are eligible only if they are featured on an album officially released by the record label or can be bought via iTunes or other digital music stores.
6. Covers and songs from compilations are also eligible rule #3 still applies.

How the posts work:

This year's countdown is a lot simpler than last year's, because the structure is a lot more familiar. I've ranked the 50 best songs of the year from 50 to 1, and starting tomorrow I'll be counting down to the #1 song of the year. Picked by me.

The actual posts will include the single cover if it was an official single or the album cover if it wasn't a single, background on the song, mentions of around when I was listening to it and a general review plus a music video or just the track itself. (again, it depends on whether or not it was a single) No ratings for this, as they've already been ranked, and if ever I've reviewed this, the ratings I gave them back then do not count towards their final rank.

I guess that's it. ;D

I start with #50 and #49 tomorrow, and end with #1 on New Year's eve! Also, like every year, December is time for my Christmas playlist, and a spattering of holiday-themed posts. Still thinking about whether or not I'll be doing a list of the best albums of the year, but it will come towards the end of December if it does.

*deep breath* I CAN DO THIS!

ortoPilot - The Weatherman

From 1976 through 1979 you couldn’t find a rock AM radio station that didn’t have one or more Al Stewart songs in the rotation.  Hits such as “The Year Of The Cat,” “On The Border” and “Time Passages” provided a steady and jazzy folk rock background to the times. 

Ten years earlier Bob Dylan crashed his motorcycle and was injured.  During his convalescence he wrote demos for other up and coming talent including “This Wheel’s On Fire” for Julie Driscoll; “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” for The Byrds; and “The Mighty Quinn” for Manfred Mann.  However, he spent most of his time playing in his basement with a band called Big Pink that would ultimately become The Band.  When Al Stewart hit the airwaves in 1976 Dylan was completing The Band’s farewell tour, The Last Waltz.

I don’t know if Dylan and Stewart have ever played together.  If they have I haven’t heard it. Dylan is an American raised in Minnesota whose personal folk music is greatly affected by the British Invasion and the blues.  Stewart hails from the U.K. and originally worked with legends such as Jimmy Page and Alan Parsons before finding his own stardom in the U.S. If they had made music together what would it sound like?  What type of lyrics would they write?  How would they orchestrate the music?  Would they be any good?

Now, I think I know the possible answers to these questions. In my inbox was a new thirteen track release of original material from ortoPilot called The Weatherman.  ortoPilot is basically the band name for Matt Hutchison.  Hutchison is from Manchester, U.K. and is probably best known for YouTube videos of song covers (he has also released five volumes of covers.)  This, The Weatherman, is his third, and latest, release. 

The release moves Hutchison away from his bedroom covers and provides a professionally recorded, and satisfying, baker’s dozen of original tunes.  Hutchison’s smooth Manchester accent has the same affectation you hear in Al Stewart’s voice and, like Stewart, Hutchison combines it with skiffle, folk and jazz acoustic guitar and orchestration.

The songs contain wonderful lyrical hooks and reflect human emotion, interaction and reaction  For example, on the track “Call Me” a syncopated jazz, reggae, rock, rhythm piece, Hutchison sings, in part:


Call me anytime you like.  I might surprise you.

You might enjoy the night and I will listen to anything you have to say.

I will offer advice to help you on your way.

But she stays here waiting.

I’m hanging on if you want to get wasted and move on.” 



The lyrics make you wonder whether Hutchison is a pusher or just love-smitten and trying to hold on to a love that is ready to leave - which is to say that the lyrics have nuance and texture that Dylan’s lyrics possess.

Hutchison builds his tracks with his voice and acoustic guitar as the primary elements.  He then surrounds these with other instruments, drums and harmonies to build very accessible and soaring lyrical musicscapes.  It is all soft, comfortable, thoughtful, oddly nostalgic and very enjoyable. 

If you know Al Stewart’s hits and Bob Dylan’s post-accident music and can combine them in your mind, you won’t need The Weatherman to know which way Hutchison blows.  If you think the combination works for you, or if you can’t visualize the combination, then, by all means, check out this ortoPilot release. You won’t be disappointed.


- Old School


http://soundcloud.com/mud-hut-digital/ortopilot-whatever-comes-up

Black Sun - Twilight of the Gods

Have you ever taken a punch? Not the kind of punch in the shoulder you might get from your wife after making an inappropriate comment about her sister’s boobs, I mean a full on haymaker to the temple that sends a shooting pain through your head and literally forces you to see a flash of light!!! When this latest offering from Black Sun kicks in with the opening bars of “Code Black” it is the musical equivalent of that one punch. There’s no messing around with intros, scene setting or any of that bullshit. This kicks straight into a monster verse with a demolition ball of a riff and a full blooded obnoxious roaring vocal. From this point on there is no let up, Black Sun are out for blood and you can either give it up willingly or they will take it by force…and to be honest, even if you’re prepared to give it up willingly they’ll still take it by force!!!

Pigeonholing Black Sun is a thankless task. They fall loosely into the doom field but this isn’t the patchouli and flare wearing doom of Cathedral with a copy of Masters of Reality in one hand and a spliff in the other. Instead this is a nasty, dead eyed doom with a blackened crust, a bottle of PCP in one hand and a rusty blade in the other. From start to finish Black Sun fill every available space with monstrous huge riffs that range from a Melvins like dissonance to a St Vitus style pummel. “Crawling Saviour” comes across like early Cathedral being fisted by Satan himself as the dual vocal attack spreads from a belligerent bellow to a throat shredding shriek that has more than one foot in the black metal camp. “Terminal Velocity” however does manage to temper the barrage of grime with some subtle beauty that is vaguely choral and transcendental. Black Sun seem to understand that pure filth is more effective when you can see the occasional clean spot in the mire. “Gethsemane” raises its hands to Heaven with near religious fervour as the riffs spit and twist around a might central vocal figure whereas “Tabula Rasa” jerks spasmodically like the last dying twitches of a man beaten into final and fatal submission. The undercurrent of insanity never seems far away from the Black Sun sound…like an inmate finger painting with his own feces in a padded cell whilst listening to Slayer jamming with Voivod on 33 and a 3rd!!!!

Black Sun also know how to vary the levels of intensity. “Transcending the Mire” shows a level of restraint not seen so far in its psychedelic guitar drawl but the repeated vocal refrain of “Can’t take anymore” still seems to belch from the darkest corners of a tortured mind. At times listening to Black Sun is an emotionally harrowing experience that threatens to build pressure behind your eyes and make them bleed. Very few bands seem to attain this level of sheer intensity. Many try but invariably come across sounding like a cartoon version of pain and anger…maybe coming from Glasgow has certain benefits for tormented artists.

By contrast “Black Angel” seems almost perky…if it can be considered perky to have your balls kicked repeatedly by steel toe-capped boots. “The Soldier’s Prayer” also seems reasonably upbeat and approaches something similar to a groove but slits its own throat by delving back into Black Sun’s trick bag of psychotic doom to play out the song. Just as you think you’re beginning to get some sort of handle on the Black Sun sound they unleash “Baby Don’t Cry”. Here they pull Oxbow’s Eugene Robinson from his mother’s breast and throw him screaming, clad only in a soiled nappy to the middle of an empty room to vent whatever vile demons are plaguing his fevered mind. In many ways this is the standout track on the album. Not because of the musical content, which compared to the rest of the songs on offer is fairly weak; a collection of meandering discordant doom laden chords, rather it is Robinson’s schizophrenic delivery which ranges from a childlike cry to a full roar. “Because the hurt does not care” he shouts in the ultimate nihilistic statement of despair…there is no escape from pain. This is the sound of a man going through some major psychological cold turkey…utterly compelling but bordering on unlistenable in a voyeuristic kind of way, should we really be standing by and watching this happen?

Thank fuck then for “Warhead”, a pretty straight up belter of a song that rides on a kicking riff and a four to the floor rhythm. Not that this is a straight up rock and roll song by any means…no siree, Black Sun don’t play such games!!! This is still an abrasive slice of caustic rifferama and won’t see them breaking through to the mainstream any time soon!!! By this point we have one last test of musical endurance to go. The title track starts with a cleaner passage that is reminiscent of some the Amebix’s more delicate moments before delving into the pit of despair once more and delivering us to the land of the mighty riff to close the album in style.

Comparisons are far from easy. There is an air of Amebix throughout in the despairing nihilistic overtones, a touch of Melvins in the sheers down tuned heaviness, a little Voivod in the dissonant, jarring riffs, obviously a touch of Sabbath (isn’t there always?) in the fractured and changeable structures and maybe even a little early 90’s Quicksand meets Helmet for good measure...if they were black metal bands!!! It’s not an easy listen and the vocals may be an acquired taste for some but there is no denying that Black Sun have created an album full of brutal, monolithic power and painful emotional depth. Sometimes music needn’t be about beer and chicks, sometimes it’s a catharsis and not many albums succeed in purging the soul like this one. For a first release Head Of Crom Records have landed firmly on their feet here. Seek this out then play loud and scare your neighbours!!!


--Ollie

Buy here: Black Sun

www.myspace.com/legionofblacksun

F.T.W. – A Tribute to Gideon Smith

It’s a testament to a man when bands come racing out of the wood-work, begging to be a part of a tribute album, and I’m sure that’s what happened when the news broke that this project was being born.   Culling bands from across the US, Canada, and Europe, F.T.W. is an imaginative reworking of 17 classic tracks from the underground rock ‘n’ roll outlaw, Gideon Smith and the Dixie Damned.

For those who don’t know the name, Gideon Smith is a neo-legend of swaggering, tomb-bound, voodoo rock.  Described as a rock star, a philosopher, a poet, a sage, and a writer, Gideon Smith is known to have some of the heaviest mojo outside of the Delta.  And let me tell you, each of these bands attacks their assignment with ferocity and reverence.  Cover albums can be played in one of two ways, either straight or re-imagined.  I’m a big fan of the second style, and listening to these gothic southern rockers remade as punk, rock, southern rock, Doom, Black Metal, Death, Country, Techno Pop, and Stoner Rock odes is simply a blast.

Way too many songs to point out all the highlights, but it starts right off the bat with HK Family’s crunchy “Whiskey Devil” with one helluva fine mid-song reggae breakdown before jumping in the hearse for Barnburner’s death dirge of “Wishing Well.”   Honky Tonk Hustlas bust out a Gothic Country rampage to “Breaking Hearts and Horses,” that just kicks serious denim and leather ass, while Red All Over surprise with a bouncy techno bop remaking of “Draggin’ the River,” that is just too good to believe.

But the greatest testament to the mad talents of this gruff genius is how his music translates so seamlessly to which ever style the bands want to play.  Through it all, the real songcraft shines through, and that’s the real story here, just how strong a songwriter Mr. Smith is.  Perhaps this is never as plain as on Dear Druid’s version of “Lay Me Down in Ecstasy.”  With it’s hushed vocal, disembodied harmonies, and shockingly evocative melody, this may just be one of the most haunting songs I’ve heard all year.  So beautiful, the first time I heard it it actually took my breath away.

I know Gideon enough to know how humbled he must’ve been by this outpouring of love for his music.  Forget those descriptors I used to describe him in the second paragraph, at his essence Gideon is an artist of vision and essence, but he’s also a man of the earth, a man of humility and honor.   I’m sure he looked at this project as an unnecessary praise for his work, but I’m hearing it as a necessary addition to his legend.

Good on ya, Gideon.


--Racer

Music Writers Wanted! Come Join the Ripple!

Well, here it is.

Our first call for writers brought us the stellar talents of Penfold, who's been regaling us with imaginative tales from the netherworlds of music writing.  Add to this the recruited talent of Mr. Brownstone and the contributions of Ollie from the band Grifter, and the Ripple family has grown nicely.

But, we think we're still a bit short.

The Ripple Effect is growing so big, so fast, there simply is no way for us to keep up with all the quality music that comes in.  And now we could use just a little help.

We've got openings for one or two more writers.  We'd love someone who has a mind for lots and lots of metal.  We mean heavy, dirty, deathy, blacky metal.  We could also use a great mind who loves emo, electro, and indy pop.  If it happens that both those minds are in the same person, then so much the better.
So, if you'd like to write about music, get lots of free music to review, and have your column syndicated across everything from GuitarWorld Magazine's website to USAToday, let us know.  We can't pay ya, other than in good music, lots of love, and a lifetime membership in the Ripple gang.

All it takes is a desperate passion for music and the desire to tell people about it.  As fun as the gig is, we'll only take people with a serious commitment to listening and writing.  Nothing half-assed about the Ripple.

Send in a writing sample about an album you love, 5 or 6 paragraphs.  Tell us why you love it, how it makes you feel and why the rest of the world should care.  Create some ripples.

That's what we do here at the Ripple Effect.  Create some ripples.

The Ripple Patch Arrives!

Waveriders Beware! 

Appearing unexpectedly, shockingly, in mail boxes around the world, The Ripple Patch arrives!   At first, jettisoned to the rapturous applause of dedicated Ripple fans, there are plenty of patches available for waveriders left and right.

Under the Grand Designs of Pope and Racer, those who wish to enter the revered brotherhood of the patch are required to perform this simple rite of initiation.  When your patch arrives, take a photo of the patch in any situation you desire; wearing it, not wearing it, feeding it, driving with it, jumping on the space shuttle . . . whatever moves  you.  Let your creativity flow and send us a picture.  All pictures will be posted here on The Ripple Effect, Grooves and Ripples, and later on the official Ripple site, www.ripple-music.com.

For our first photo, we can see the devastating effect the Ripple patch had on a simple rehearsal for the band Mighty High.  There's the patch, right there, branded to the amplifier. Last we heard, no one was brave enough to start mouth-to-mouth.

 So be ready, beware.  When the Ripple patch arrives, don't give into the fear.  Enjoy and embrace your selection into the fraternal order of Ripple.

Long may the patch wave!!@!

On the Ripple Desk – Featuring My Sleeping Karma, Boris Smile, Eastern Conference Champions and Floater

So much good music, so little time.  Let’s jump right into it then, shall we?

My Sleeping Karma – Tri

And there it was . . . Mt. Everest standing right before me.

It was 2006 that Mrs Racer and I took off, flew around the world and spent 3 weeks trekking across Tibet to Mt. Everest.  Standing at basecamp, at 20,000 feet, the glory of Everest’s summit before me, the majesty of Rombuk Monastery behind me . . .  it was a moment of pure magic.

I didn’t bring any music with me on that trip, but if I had, it would’ve been this new, mesmerizing album by Germany’s My Sleeping Karma.  A while back, I wrote about my love affair with their second album, and I’m happy to say, that Tri is every bit as trance-inducing, hypnotic, powerful, and dynamic as Satya was.  My Sleeping Karma don’t create soundscapes, they create sound universes.  Alternate dimensions of Krautrock beats, undulating, snaking guitars, swirling, miasmas of melody.  Each of these 9 instrumental tracks is capable of transporting me somewhere in place and time.  Some alternate reality, some imaginative dimension.  No one else has ever sounded like My Sleeping Karma, no else ever could.  This is psychedelic, space rock at it’s finest.

“Brahma” is playing right now, and in my mind’s eye I see Rombuk monastery, the monk’s walking the grounds, the mountain before me.  I feel the emptiness of being on the ceiling of the earth, the spiritual abandon of being this much closer to God.  My Sleeping Karma can take me there.  Just wait until you see where they can take you.

Buy here: Tri
Buy mp3: TRI

Boris Smile – Rockets EP

One of a long list of discs that’s been sitting way too long on my desk waiting for review.    Boris Smile, a collective of young musicians fronted by singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Wesley Chung, bring a definite emo angle and modern twist to indy rock.  Chung’s disaffected vocals are strangely magnetic, drawing me into this release with his earnest passion and heart-felt searching for truth.

Using the Rocket as a theme, Boris Smile traverses a spectrum of moods from the introspective to the robust., perhaps never more moving than “Apollo” which seems to imagine an Apollo astronaut saying goodbye to his wife and children before launching off on a mission.  Delicate and touching, filled out with gentle strings and angelic harmony vocals, this song could just as easily translate to our current day soldiers leaving home for the unknowns of war.  Like a modern retelling of “Space Odessey” Apollo strikes the heart of real emotion.

But Rockets isn’t a one-song pony.  “Aurora” captivates with its loosely strung acoustic guitar and dreamy melody, while “Are We Alone,” sets the tone with the airiness of its spartan arrangement.  This is a sincere album of lo-fi, acoustic emo.  If you’re a fan of Pedro the Lion or Broken Social Scene, you should look deeply into Boris’s smile.

Buy here (mp3): Rockets EP
Buy vinyl: Smile [Vinyl]

Eastern Conference Champions – Santa Fe EP

I have to admit, it took me a little while to get into this twisted dab of dense folk drone, but once I got it, really got, I couldn’t get the damn thing outta my head.

Eastern Conference Champions are a trio who’ve already been kicking walls and knocking down doors, contributing songs to The Twilight Saga and appearing on “Last Call with Carson Daily.”  But don’t let those accomplishments put you off.  What we got here is hardly the commercial drabble you might associate with a film like Twilight.  ECC play a deceptively folky, alt-country drone rock that sounds unlike any I’ve ever heard.  Where a song like “Common Sense,” nearly flattens with it’s effects-heavy guitar riffing, Teutonic beat, and fuzzed bass, “Bloody Bells,” is just as deceptive with it’s twangy vocal and tinkering percussion.  “Sideways Walking,” finds a new beauty in its spartan melody while “On Off,” crashes against the shore with another layer of muted guitar. 

I guess the most reasonable place to look for inspiration here is Neil Young, because only he could effectively change up moods so quickly and effectively, rocking or folking out, while always sounding so distinctly like himself.  ECC do that as well, and they do it damn well.

Buy here: Santa Fe

Floater – Wake

Talk about a band with a sound all their own.  Floater take the muted heaviness of grunge, toss that into their witches brew pot, add in the musicianship of prog, some flourishes of psychedelic rock, spice it up with some pretty random time shifts, tribal percussion, and a singer who’s voice is achingly familiar (like a distant Michael Been of The Call).  Stir that whole concoction up, bring that massive wooden spoon up to your lips, and the potion that results is surprisingly tasty.  For those of you who like your rock a little unpredictable yet still familiar, progressive in scope but accessible in execution, heavy yet melodic, you just might find your own musical elixir here.

“Concrete” after it’s ambient, neo-Floyd intro bursts out as anthemic and full of bravado as much of the early Call material.  Even the chorus “Now I can only say/that I’m alive/I’m alive/I’m alive” sounds like something that would’ve burst off the lips of the recently departed Mr. Been. And trust me, that’s a good thing. The Call were always one of my favorite bands.  So take their passion and drive, meld that with some seriously prog-minded chops, toss in enough powerchords to light up a small nation and we’ve got a winner here.

“Cannonball,” follows suit, as does the rest of the album.  This is big, big music played with intent and sincerity.    Call it alt-prog, post-alt-grunge.  Whatever.  Call it good, and you’d be correct.

Buy here: Wake


--Racer

Hot on the Heels of Their Critically-praised Ripple Music Debut, Grand Atlantic Light Up the Soundtrack of Gossip Girl

Following hot on the heels of the success of their Ripple Music debut split 7" single, Grand Atlantic keep the pedal to the metal, building momentum and converting the uninitiated to the Grand Atlantic ranks.

Taken from Grand Atlantic's massively praised second album "How We Survive," the hot single "Used to Be the Sensitive Type" was remixed and remastered for inclusion on the Ripple Music split single which also featured the KEXP Top 20 hit by Sky Parade, "I Should Be Coming Up (But I Keep Coming Down."  Since then, things have only gotten busier for the Australian band.

Locked in the studio working on songs for their 2011 third album hasn't kept Grand Atlantic from touring Japan and readying another US tour in 2011.  With dates already set from coast to coast, including a four-day stay at SXSW, fans will have plenty of opportunity to catch Grand Atlantic's heady, trance-inducing psychedelic pop single.  And the US audience is definitely catching the Grand Atlantic wave. The first episode of season 4 of the hit TV show, Gossip Girl featured Grand Atlantic's Until it's Gone," bringing in tons of new fans.  The video for "Until It's Gone," featuring footage from the recent Japanese Tour garnered thousands of hits after the band's Gossip Girl debut.


Check out the video and hear the song that captured the hearts of Gossip Girl fans everywhere.





Pressed in extremely limited quanties, the Ripple Music s 7" split single (pressed on glowing orange vinyl) is still available through www.ripple-music.com and can be found everywhere on Grand Atlantic's tour. 

For Fans of: Oasis, Dolly Rocker Movement, Stone Roses, Big Star, Baby Woodrose, Dandy Warhols

“Gives Oasis a run for their money.” (Courier Mail, AUS)

"Grand Atlantic molds the psychedelic post-punk ethereal moods of their countrymen, The Church, with the shoegazing swirling madbeat of The Stone Roses, and toss in a touch of garage crunch a la Ripple favorites The Thieves just for kicks. The results of this combination of psychedelic distillery are intoxicating…”(The Ripple Effect, USA)

“…This is the excellent album Oasis should have done after What’s the Story Morning Glory but didn’t…”(Lucid Culture, USA)

“Grand Atlantic sure know how to write songs choc full of guitar driven rock/pop dynamics…” (thedwarf.com.au. AUS)

"Grand Atlantic has a sound masterfully blending driving modern rock riffs with smart pop hooks and spot on harmonies…”(Bill’s Music Forum, USA)

“Grand Atlantic’s second full-length album is chock-full of pop rock, with big sounds, singalong hooks and catchy melodies… How We Survive is a masterfully crafted record.” (Time Off Magazine, AUS)


www.ripple-music.com

Rob Blaine – Rob Blaine’s Big Otis Blues

After just writing about Derin Dow’s guitar histrionics, I turned around and plopped this spicy dish of hot blues into the player and suddenly my world was swirling in another alternate universe of guitar wizardry.  When  I say that Rob Blaine is a Guitar God, I mean that with two capital “G’s.”  Not only is this a fantastic blues album, it’s just one of the best damn guitar albums I’ve heard all year.  Period.

Rob Blaine is one of those precocious youths that I’d love to hate if they weren’t so damn lovable.  I mean come on, the guy didn’t even get his first guitar until age 15 and by 17 he was already gigging regularly around Michigan and sitting in at Chicago’s famed Rosa’s Lounge.   There, he immersed himself in the heart of the blues, working as a doorman, sound tech, and house musician.  If this was an apprenticeship, it paid off in dividends, because on Big Otis Blues Blaine emerges as a full-on, hurricane force blues guitar hero, a true wresting wind to be reckoned with. 

Signed to the dynamite new Blues Label, Swississippi Records, this is an album no fan of the blues should miss.   You love Joe Bonamassa?  Dig on Kenny Wayne Sheppard?  Got a thing for Jonny Lang, Corey Stevens, or Chris Duarte?  I got a new name for you.  One that’s gonna brand itself indelibly in your inner ear, your heart, and your blues-lovin’ soul.  Rob Blaine.

“Not the Forgiving Kind,” launches us onto that path of blues nirvana in it’s very first second. After a staccato burst of snare, Rob Blaine erupts in flaming guitar glory.  Talk about making a strong first impression!  Dig that tone.  I mean really dig that tone.  Rob’s notes are so meticulously chosen, his playing so intuitive and heart-felt, it’s a blessing to behold.  He tears up and down those frets like a man possessed, never over-playing, dropping in some reverb and nuance, holding notes, sustaining them, bending them . . .heck, he could probably make them do backflips if he wanted.  He can funk it up, he can rock it out, and he can blues it down.  And he can do it all seamlessly.  Yes, he’s that good. 

While it’s so easy to lose yourself in Rob’s playing, let’s not forget that voice.  That oh-so-rough-and-weary voice that bellows out aged way beyond it’s years.  I don’t really know how old this cat is.  From his picture he looks early twenties, but that voice, that beautifully deep, whiskey-weathered baritone is ageless.

Big Otis Blues alternates between fierce rockers like “Not the Forgiving Kind,” and slower, moodier, no-less-stunning blues ballads, like the next cut, “Only Mine.”  Rob shines on both.  On “Only Mine,” his guitar literally cries.  It moans.  It whispers in notes of pain and love. 

“Affection and Pain,” picks the rock back up and, my God, does it rock.  Thick and heavy, searing and sparkling with electricity, this song’s a terror.  Rob’s band locks right in with him, Joewaun “Man” Scott blowing the doors off the bottom end, James Knowles raising the ceiling with his snare and highhat.  This is the way I like my blues, gritty and dirty and hitched onto the back of a roaring Harley.  This song really puts the rock back into the term blues rock.   From there every song is just one killer cut after another, but a special nod has to go out to “Must be Nice,” which makes an appearance in both full-on electric and acoustic versions.  It’s a testament to Rob’s talent that he can play that song both ways, such different versions, and each one hits me just as captivating.  Whether sweaty and full of muscle on electric or nuanced and dramatic on acoustic.  I’m there.  Take me where you want to Rob, I’m there.

Blues lovers, it’s time to sit up and take notice.  Rock lovers, you too.  I don’t care if this is a blues album or not.  The guitar work is so intense, the overall feeling so damn heavy, Big Otis Blues is gonna make it’s appearance on my year end “Best of” list.  Yes, it really is that good.

--Racer

Buy here: Rob Blaine's Big Otis Blues

www.bigotisblues.com

Black Sleep Of Kali – Our Slow Decay

Life is too short for intros. I like how the first song “There Is Nothing” just comes crashing in. Full band with vocals and totally pissed off sounding. Perfect when you need to annoy the neighbors RIGHT NOW! Black Sleep Of Kali is a loud 4 piece from Denver that play in a vein similar to Torche or Baroness but with a bit more aggro. The riffs are intense but very catchy and there are some vocal parts for everyone to scream along to.

For a band that’s only been around for about 2 years these guys are very tight. The songs are mainly mid tempo-ish but contain plenty of left hand turns to keep your interest. Killer drum fills abound and the guitar/bass tones are massive. Lyrically they keep it pretty lean and mean. With sonnets like “we will all be forgotten in the end” (from “The Great Destroyer”) you don’t need to say much more than that. Faster ones like “The Crow and The Snake” really pummel the senses and would sound great blasting in the car as you drive off a cliff. Once they dig up your body they can play “Eulogy” at your funeral.

If you like it loud, negative and heavy then Our Slow Decay is right up your alley. And with a cool sleeve from everyone’s favorite tall Australian artist Seldon Hunt you can’t go wrong.

--Woody

www.myspace.com/blacksleepofkali

Buy here: Our Slow Decay
Buy here mp3: Our Slow Decay

Buy here: Small Stone

Ideamen - May You Live In Interesting Times

My first reaction was shock.  This quickly turned into rash anger.  How could this be?  Who would be so bold as to use my name on a music blog outside of the Ripple Effect to review music?  This is outrageous!  This is blasphemous!  I can’t let my sterling reputation be sullied by some callous individual whose only motivation is piggybacking on my online celebrity to garner more hits on his site!  Nay, this gross offense will not stand.  Thank goodness a friend of mine spotted this travesty while surfing the net and let me know about it post haste.  I need some ammunition for taking this joker down, so I think it’s time to visit his site.

Okay, the site has loaded.  What’s this?  The egomaniac put my…his…our name right at the top of the page in bold lettering.  Doesn’t that just figure?  It reads “Penfolde’s Musings”.  Ok wait…hold on a second.  That isn't how I spell my name.  It appears my friend made an error (easy to make really), and I’m beginning to feel pretty foolish right about now.  Hmmm…the graphic at the top of the page is actually pretty cool.  Nice typeface, slick layout, and good use of non-clashing colors.  Anyways, moving on, let’s see what music he is reviewing.  Oh…I see.  It turns out that he reviews audio books.  Uh, huh…I’m feeling increasingly stupid and juvenile with every passing moment.  My friend is definitely going to receive a strong rebuke over this little mishap.  Hey, I love that book too!  It’s good to know that they brought in a quality voice actor to do the story justice.

People often say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  I was hoping dear waveriders to be able to illustrate this point by showing you someone else reviewing music under my name, but alas, it has become apparent that is not to be the case.  Instead let me relate to you all a tale of one of my recent listening experiences.  Why is this tale a proper substitute?  It’s because perceived imitation played a significant role at the beginning of my listening relationship with a band.  That band’s name is Ideamen.

 Before I unwittingly stumbled upon Ideamen I had been sampling many different black and death metal acts.  This sampling was not done purposefully, but it seemed that every band that I investigated fell into one of those two categories.  The sheer weight of those musical genres was wearing me down, numbing my sensibilities, and I was becoming desperate to discover something that broke the mold.  As if on cue, from out of the crowd emerged Ideamen with their album May You Live in Interesting Times.  Not only did the album art stand out with a depiction of what appears to be an adult robot-like being and its child standing in an enclosure with a world map for a floor and a projection of the sky for a ceiling, but the album title seemed to be answering an unvoiced question in my mind.  Yes, I do want to live in interesting times!  With my curiosity piqued, I crossed my fingers and hit play.

Here fellow waveriders is where the story gets tricky.  The music that unfolded quickly put me in a state of rapture -- absolute joy -- but I was unsure how to approach it critically.  Allow me to elaborate.  People might remember that my first Ripple Effect write up was for Mr. Bungle’s California album.  That particular album is on my desert island essentials list.  I simply adore it and the band that created that music.  On the other hand, something that has yet to come up on the Ripple is my fandom regarding System of a Down.  While they were around, I was heavily into their music.  What do these bands have in common, and why am I mentioning them in this write up?  Simple. 

If you mix three quarters of California-era Mr. Bungle and one quarter late period SOAD, you come up with a good approximation of what Ideamen sounds like musically.  The resemblance is further cemented by the vocals.  There are two main vocalists in Ideamen.  The one most often at the forefront could easily be mistaken for Mike Patton, while the other very often sounds exactly like Daron Malakian.  My very first impression concerning both the music and the vocals was that while I really liked what I heard, there might be too much imitation occurring for me to be completely comfortable.  Thankfully this impression proved to be extremely shortsighted.  Multiple listens down the road have proven that Ideamen have a sound all their own, and I find it to be absolutely invigorating.  In fact my estimation of the band grows each and every time I listen to their music, and that is no small feat.

May You Live in Interesting Times is made up of twelve strong tracks, none of which fall into the category of filler material.  Each song contributes to the overall flow and feel of the album.  While the song structures are varied to say the least, there are a few common threads woven throughout.  First of all, with few exceptions, the keyboard acts as the scene setter and melody maker.  I think of it as the finesse portion of the group.  The guitar on the other hand operates as the group’s clenched fist.  When it barrels into a song to take center stage, you had better have prepared the muscles in your neck for some exercise because a workout is forthcoming.  Not mentioning both the bass and drum work would be a grievous offense.   These two crucial elements combine seamlessly to form the backbone and heartbeat of the band, providing the perfect springboard for the madcap adventures of the keyboard, guitar, and vocals.  Putting all the pieces together creates stunning music.  Stunning!

To wrap these proceedings up in a nice little bow, I can not recommend Ideamen’s May You Live in Interesting Times highly enough.  If you like unique musical amalgamations then you need look no further, and if like me you are a fan of Mr. Bungle there is no excuse why Ideamen should not be your new best friend.  Now if you’ll pardon me, I have to go comment on this “Penfolde’s” blog about his cool name.  Ooohhh, maybe he doesn’t know about the newest book by…

-- Penfold


Buy here: May You Live In Interesting Times
Buy here mp3: May You Live In Interesting Times

City and the Sea - Leave A Light On EP

A while back, Pope and I talked about how cool it may be if every once in a while, we both reviewed the same album.  Two different opinions from the same site on the same work.  It may be cool to see how each of us responded to the album and as a waverider, you may find it helpful in deciding if you want to check it out or not.

But being inherently lazy, we never did it.

Until now.  Unbenownst to Old School and Mr. Brownstone, they each got a copy of this dramatic new album by City and the Sea, and both responded with . . . well, we'll let you read on.

The EP Leave A Light On by City and the Sea contains only four tracks and I can’t stop playing it over and over and over again.  If this EP, released September 21, 2010, had been on vinyl, by now I’d need a new needle and a new pressing - and I would immediately go out and get it.  It is available on CD but is also downloadable for free in high quality digital formats, so fortunately, I can listen and listen and listen without wearing it out (however, I sure would like to hear this one on vinyl.)

I love Leave A Light On.  I hear lots of original music.  I play lots of original music.  But, this - this is highly original World-Class Motown soul and kick ass rock.  The band started in 2006 as The Mississippi Kings, but then decided to change its name and sound.  Now, as City and the Sea says on their website biography, their sound is “Part Detroit, part steel town Hamilton [Ontario, Canada] and part Manchester, England.”  The four person nucleus of the band is: Nick Cino (lead vocals), Mike Ventimiglia (lead guitar), Dave Marini (bass) and Dano Stajduhar (drums). All four tracks are originals.  The writing and performances are amazing.  The EP was produced in Hamilton, Ontario by Glen Marshall (Feist, Apostle of Hustle) and Michael Keire (Dark Mean, Wildlife.) The band and producers have crafted four masterpieces.    

The EP starts with “Fool’s Union,” a gritty hard rocker that sports a struttin’ attitude and killer guitar and bass riffs.  The band provides lead singer Cino with high intensity background vocals that accentuate the power chord display. The tune out bads Bad Company, outdrives Bachman Turner Overdrive and is hotter than Hot Tuna.  “Fool’s Union” is not even the best track on “Leave A Light On.”   

The band turns to modern Motown and competes with Detroit’s best on the second track “Hundred.”  By adding a horn section (Scott Neilson on saxophone, and Ellis Marsalis-trained William Sperandei on trumpet) City and the Sea cooks up a soul blues with guitar parts as good as Eric Lindell and a sound that would make Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes melt. This isn’t even the second best track on the EP.

The third track is “Leave A Light On,” the song for which City and the Sea names the EP. It is an introspective, emotional, power rock ballad.  It is the kind of tune that will have you raising a fist and singing the tag line “Please leave the light on for me.” It is arena rock at its best.

The final song - last, but, certainly not least - maybe even best, is “Gimme Back My Soul,” a modern Detroit soul rock piece with a downright infectious riff. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have nothing on this City and the Sea tune. Even when the track is over I am still humming “Gimme Back My Soul.”

Then, comes the worst part of the EP - it is over.  In a little over twelve and a half minutes I fell in love and now it is over. I miss this music. City and the Sea, I want more and I want it now! So will you.


- Old School


Four dudes and kick ass music, what more do you need? City and the Sea shows how to rock n’ roll the good old fashioned way. They’re a little bit of everything and have that perfect mix showing soul, remarkable rhythm and loud guitars that totally have a Detroit/Southern rock sound.

Letting loose on the “Leave A Light On” EP, City and the Sea showcase soulful, bluesy country rock that was previously established on their debut album “Long Time Comin.’” Their passionate playful sound seems reminiscent of songs you have heard years and possibly even decades before, but somehow they aren’t. On their debut, they have been compared by some as a “Marvin Gaye meets the Rolling Stones” and I can completely see that.  However, I get more of a Kings of Leon, Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Kid Rock (2007 to present) sound. They are a little bit country, a little bit rock n’ roll and a whole lotta soul.

The band is comprised of Nick Cino (lead vocals), Mike Ventimiglia (lead guitar), Dave Marini (bass) and Dano Stajduhar (drums). “Fool’s Union” sweet soulful sound leads off City and the Sea’s  Leave A Light On” . Call me crazy, but Cino comes across like Paul Stanley on the beginning part of this track and take the intensity one step further. It’s like Kid Rock, Marvin Gaye and Paul Stanley’s vocals are all combined into one exquisite voice.

They are complete badass rockers you can’t help, but want to sing along with them as though they are “already rock anthems.” Almost every time I listen to the songs off this EP I feel like I am listening to a modern classic rock song. As the lyrics point out, I feel “like a fool” saying that, but their “southern” spirit just overpowers me when thinking about this band.

Horns heat up the song "Hundred" and captivates listeners in a whole new way proving their versatility. They say heart no longer exists in modern music, especially rock. Obviously, those people have never listened to City and the Sea and are truly missing out on a passionate playful band. Their melodic music is fused together to create a simplistic splendid style all their own.

Pop penetrates this EP in “Leave A Light On” showing their softer side and a mature modern outlook on life. This is a great single and one of my favorite songs of the year. I hate do that in a review, but it’s just so sweet and sad. It’s an effective emotional song that leaves you on the edge of your seat building up until the very end. No doubt in my mind, City and the Sea definitely wear their heart on their sleeves and are damn proud of it! More modern rock needs to be like City and the Sea.

The EP concludes with “Gimme Back My Soul,” a pitch-perfect song that is irresistible from beginning to end. Each song, especially “Gimme Back My Soul,” are perfect examples of great music that should always be on the radio. They have captured my soul and should be checked out immediately.



--Mr. Brownstone

 There you have it; two totally unbiased opinions that make the same conclusion.  An album worth checking out.

Derin Dow – Retroactive

An open letter of apology to Derin Dow:

Sorry man, I did it.  I broke the cardinal rule of being a music lover—I judged the album by the cover. 

Now admittedly, and I think you’ll agree, the cover of your dynamite album, Retroactive, er . . . leaves a little to be desired.  Not that it’s bad mind you, but it’s hardly an eye catcher, and in some ways looks a tad amateurish.  And in truth, I’m no fan of guitar heroes.  Just mention the names Malmsteen, Satriani, or Vai to me and my eyes will glaze over as if I was in an amnesiastic fugue.  Add in this day and age of proTools and desktop publishing, the thought that any schmoe can strap on a guitar and force-feed me 40 minutes of string-wankery, unleashing that slop to the general public . . . well . . . it made me wary.

And sorry again, but the first song “Friday,” did nothing to dispel my fears.  Sure there was some nice playing on it, but let’s be honest, it’s not the best demonstration of your talents.  With it’s retro-80’s hair metal vibe and a chorus of “Baby, I’m banging it out on a Friday/I won’t be back until Monday,” . . . well, again, I felt my sphincter tightening, believing I was gonna be in for a long 40 minutes.

Now’s where the apology comes in.  The second track “Signature” was better by far.  That nice strum of the acoustic, that searing guitar-verse lead guitar, that motoring pace and rhythm, your voice sounding so much stronger and more nuanced -- my ears perked up.  Now I could see where you were coming from, the glory days of the melodic rock of the 80’s when guys like Aldo Nova provided guitar heroics. It should have hit me sooner, after all the album’s title is Retroactive, but I’m a tad dense at times.  “Door to Your Heart,” maintained my new found interest with its gorgeous piano intro and your tale of love lost, but it was the freak-out of an instrumental “Lower the Boom” that really made me jump to my feet and take notice.

Folks, take this apology to heart.  What we got here is one damn fine blitzkrieg of good old-fashioned guitar magic.  A pure nugget of melodic rock/AOR treasure with that extra spark of something special.   Listening to “Lower the Boom,” the only word my mouth could utter was, “wow!”  This song jams about as hard as any of the best rock instrumentals I’ve heard.  I was mesmerized by that dramatic chord progression leading into a blistering world of guitar heat.  Think Jeff Beck, think Pat Travers.  You could probably think Satriani. I personally was thinking of Tommy Bolin and anybody that can ever bring the thought of Bolin into my mind is alright with me.  My only complaint was that at 2’45” long it was way too short (and trust me, that’s not usually something I say about rock instrumentals).  I wanted an 8 minute freakout, a 10 minute extravaganza.  Hell, pour it over both sides of an LP and I bet I still wouldn’t be satisfied.

Now fully attentive, I waited eagerly to see what else you could pull off your fretboard, and the rest of the album didn’t disappoint.   “Right Side of the Road,” is another standout track, with just another electrifying assault of shredding guitar.  Derin, you chose some great people to accompany you on this album, primarily Chris Pinnick, whose chops provide the terrific leads in these last two songs.  But throughout, the playing is stellar.  “Right Side of the Road,” picks up right where “Lower the Boom,” left off, that gorgeous guitar tone slicing through the opening chords, and here I think you’ve found you best vocal work and melody.  More Travers here?  Some REO?  No matter which way you slice it, the song just kicks ferocious ass. 

From there, the rest of the album is just a sparkler.  “Runnin’ to Win,” is a strong mid-tempo melodic rock staple with a freaking cool mid-song breakdown and sing-a-long chorus.  “Inside,” recaptures some of that stellar guitar-vibe with it’s clean tone and building choral break.  And, wonders of wonders, after the intensity of “Lower the Boom,” I found myself actually looking forward to the closing instrumental “Feelin’ Free.”  Once again, you didn’t disappoint.  With it’s strong jazzy feel, and Pinnick’s tasteful leads, you ended the album on a high note.

I now sit before you humbled, my hat in hand, crow in mouth.  Thanks for dropping such a sparkling retro-80’s guitar bomb into my lap, and thanks for keeping me honest and open in the way I listen to music.  I promise, I won’t make that same mistake again.


--Racer

www.derindow.com

Dave Holland Pepe Habichuela – Hands

Words.

We have these things called words.  They’re supposed to aid us in communication.  Make the abstract concrete.  Reach across the gaping chasms of interpersonal space and convey ideas, facts, thoughts.  But what do we do when words fail us?  How do you describe the indescribable?  How do you make concrete the abstract?

While all that may seem to be a weighty introduction for a CD review, I still can’t help but wonder how I’m supposed to use words to describe what my ears hear, what my soul feels.  How do I make concrete the beautifully abstract work of Dave Holland and Pepe Habichuela.

I guess I should begin at the beginning.  Dave Holland is a masterful jazz bassist.  Pepe Habichuela is a Spanish guitar legend.  They live in two separate worlds, the impenetrable fortresses of jazz and flamenco.  Those worlds are not meant to collide, not meant to integrate, to fuse.  But they have.  And the results may just be one of the more remarkable releases of the year.

After meeting and forming a soul brotherhood, Holland and Habichuela sat down to make music together.  Flamenco is the foundation, but there being no room in flamenco for bass, Holland was left to search and feel his way into each piece.  What results is an album unlike any I’ve heard before.  Forget what you know about flamenco.  With Holland’s bass finding it’s own expression, searching and diving into nooks and spaces, this is unlike any flamenco I’ve heard.  The bass adds texture and resonance, bring out an inherent drama and moodiness in the pieces that simply wouldn’t be expressed otherwise.

 Yet, it’s not jazz either.  Habichuela’s playing (as is his son Josemi Carmona’s, who also plays flamenco guitar on the album) is never short of breathtaking.  Feeling and emotion are cajoled from his guitar the same way Michaelangelo unveiled the figures hidden in the marble he sculpted.

Never is this more abundantly clear than on the stunning “Camaron (Taranta),” where Holland's bass takes the position of the traditional vocal while Habichuela’s guitar fills the space around him.  Talk about drama. Talk about impact.

The album swings through various moods, some more upbeat and festive, other more pensive and powerful, without ever repeating itself.  “The Whirling Dervish,” is a light-hearted display of magnificent guitar while “Joyride,” brings the bass back into prominence with a gorgeous halo of guitar. 

I can’t go into each song here.  I don’t have the words.  I can’t describe what these two masters are doing with their instruments, the emotions they illicit, or the impact they have.  I can only listen.  It’s only in my soul that the abstract of their music becomes concrete, and in my soul it will remain.  Suffice it to say, Hands is a remarkable album, and if you’re a fan of flamenco guitar or willing to explore a new take on jazz, it’s an album you simply must hear.


--Racer


Buy here: Hands
Buy here mp3: Hands

A Sunday Conversation with J-San and the Analogue Sons

Catching us totally off guard with their deep roots, reggae rock style, J-San and the Analogue Sons captured some hearts at the Ripple Office.  Naturally, we couldn't wait for J-San to take a seat on the red interview couch and fill us in on his views on music.   Since then, J-San and the Analogue Sons have shortened their name to already established fan-favorite moniker of JATAS and now their even offering their last album, the truly impressive One Sound available for FREE at: http://jatas.bandcamp.com/album/one-sound

When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkel, the first time I ever heard Kiss's "Detroit Rock City," it was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphany's since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and revolutionary to your ears. What have been your musical epiphany moments?

I can remember being  very inspired  when I first heard Lee Perry doing dub. It sounded so odd and strange to me and I was naturally drawn to it.  My ears at the time hadn’t really heard such a dark, delayed out and progressive sound.   The dub method/aesthetic is always with me now in my writings and production.



Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? the riddim? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?

I have changed my approach over the years.. used to be strictly guitar writing.. now I use the laptop mostly starting with beats and melody concepts..lyrics come from the particular mood evoked through the track. So nice being back in Brooklyn and being inspired by the people and energy.. i mean every 5 min a car outside my window is bumping soca,roots reggae, dance hall, hip hop, Bollywood, Arabic music… awesome.

 

Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?

I search the blogs a few times a week … just jumping around the links and find new sounds that really grip me.   Sometimes its tapes from Africa (state sponsored highlife bands) or maybe some dusty old roots dub album from the U.K.  So good.



Genre's are so misleading and such a way to pigeonhole bands. Without resorting to labels, how would you describe your music?

It’s changing all the time.   At this point I am really moving into electro-dub-soul.   As a producer it is a challenge to try to recreate the studio(album) sound live and really go for the mood-vibe that was the original intention.


 
What is you musical intention? What are you trying to express or get your audience to feel?

At this point I am seeking to do just that…make us all FEEL (more and more important as we stare into computer screen and cell phones and get detached from human-ness)


 

Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?

I was once stuck in an elevator for 4 hours after a gig with my sax player... we bonded ;)



What makes a great song?

Something that makes us feel.   Period.




Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?

It was a story about a lover who lost his mate and he vowed to walk into the big sky to find her…




What piece of your music are you particularly proud of?

I am really proud of a song called, "Seeds Of Revolution".   It came out of me effortlessly and seems to have an effect on people.

Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?

The answer is clearly vinyl… cd's are not sustainable.



 We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. When we come to your town, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?

NYC - Halcyon



Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?

Great blog and thank you so much for the coverage... share the music with your friends but pay to see shows and buy albums from bands.

No, this is not a review, I'm sorry to say.

This is another one of my "I'm alive, don't worry" posts - I seem to be fond of them.

I don't know what's happening, to be honest with you. These past few days, especially when I got back from China, I've been itching to write - the ideas are all in my head and I know which songs I want to talk about but for some reason, when I do get the time to write, my mind goes blank. If you could see my Blogger control panel thingy, it's overflowing with unfinished drafts that I want to finish, but can't.

Even with my current case of writer's block, which I don't know why it came around, and how long it will last, there is something I can promise you guys. And no, this is not like the promise I made about the SuJu vocal commentary.

On the 1st of December, midnight my time, I'll be starting to count down the 50 best songs of 2010, in my opinion as always. I've done this every single year since 2007 (on Pop Addicted!) and just because I'm not writing, and don't have the time to, lately, doesn't mean there won't be an extravaganza like no other in December. There will also be some Christmas-themed posts coming, and maybe (MAYBE) a "10 best albums of 2010" series, like every year. This is a tradition for me and it gives me the chance to do a lot of things I never got to do during the year, so there's no way I'm not doing it this year.

That's all. For now. Thanks for sticking by me guys, whoever you are. If you'd like to catch up with me or chat or whatever, follow me on Twitter. If you haven't already. ;D

I'll be back on December 1.

Jam Band Extraordinaire, Modern Day Moonshine’s New Album Slated For November Release

After signing on with Ripple Music in the waning weeks of 2009, the Bay Area’s Modern Day Moonshine found themselves in the scenic, serene, and solitary environs of Tres Llamas Studios, a converted ranch overlooking the Towalame River in Northern California. With no one to disturb except for the indigenous wildlife and the three llamas that roam the studio grounds, the band spent late days and even later nights laying down the basic tracks to the dozen or so songs that would eventually make up Refuge, the bands third full-length album.

Scheduled to hit the streets on November 23rd, 2010, Refuge is an album of soulful blues-based rock that features grand elements of jazz, funk, and roots-Americana. This musical diversity has made Modern Day Moonshine practically impossible to accurately categorize, and will undoubtedly leave listeners emotionally charged and excited to explore the multiple layers of the recorded sounds.

Armed with a catalog of well over a hundred songs and the experience of performing more than five hundred shows (including a two and a half years as the house band for the House of Blues in San Diego), Modern Day Moonshine are prepared for a lengthy stint on the road where no two shows will ever sound the same.

Refuge is available for pre-order at the Ripple Music Store or for digital download at Digstation/ModernDayMoonshine

"come on in and pour yourself a cup of alright"

http://www.moderndaymoonshine.com/


www.ripple-music.com

Le Vice - S/T

San Francisco foursome Le Vice is an alternative indie band to watch out for. Blending hip hop, R&B, and electronica, be prepared to experience experimental music that will leave you begging for more. Their talent explodes with energetic lead singer Alex Lee commanding the way and contributing to a powerful progressive danceable debut.

 Filled with dance floor beats, the band blends bluesy guitars with eccentric keyboard effects to create a distinguished debut that seamlessly flows from genre to genre. At times their funky sound turns into hip hop or even dance pop, which makes it easy to compare them to the Black Eyed Peas. Alex Lee’s skills cement her as a person to watch and at times are reminiscent of Fergie.

Le Vice embraces each genre as its own sound whether its indie, R& B, alternative, electronic, dance pop, or hip hop. The band seamlessly switches back and forth for funky great grooves and doesn’t miss a beat. Their confidence creates concise music that is exciting, energetic, and endearing for all music fans.
          
Pure pleasure plays throughout their eponymous debut that is literally a majestic music mash up that combines the best of the 1980s rap and R&B scene, the current electronic/house sound and everything else extravagant.  Irresistible dance beats are just the tip of the iceberg.
          
Distinct drumming by Darrin Thomas, groovy guitar playing by Renzo Staiano, deep bass by Sean Stillinger and the infectious vocals by Alex Lee make Le Vice one of the year’s best new bands. Besides Fergie, Lee has a similar sexy sound to Lauryn Hill and her conceited lyrics in songs like “Uh Huh” give off an M.I.A. vibe.
          
The first track “Le Vice” is nothing mind blowing, but the album builds with “Say-A.” The synth sounding song compliments Lee’s luscious voice and invokes a fun futuristic vibe that makes you dance. Electro funk comes alive in “Hard To Be Ill” and Lee seems to emulate Eve. Now I am not a huge fan of R & B, but wow this band is just too good to ignore.
          
The ten track album is filled with sensational songs mixed for partying and good house beats. Arguably the best song on the album is “Uh Huh.” Lee’s bold bragging has her singing “Whatever you want right now/ You can get it from me” and “I’m a perfect 10 on the scale/You don’t need nobody else” makes moody, yet beautiful points about party girls.
          
Other notable songs include “Why Fight,” “Shy Guy,” “2 O’clock” and “She Wanna.” Each hip hop influenced song has its own outstanding moment that it’s truly hard to compare with other musicians. Santigold, N.E.R.D, Kid Cudi, Gnarls Barkley, LCD Soundsystem, Grizzly Bear, Erykah Badu and even The Roots remain recommended comparisons. They are part of a generation heavily influenced by all amazing music and have brought back new nasty music that is all their own. It’s obvious to see their influences and it’s fantastic to see them take it to a whole new level. The future for Le Vice looks great and I can’t wait to see what they do next.


--Mr Brownstone


Buy here: Le Vice