Just came across this commercial in the theaters, and I absolutely love Sia’s cover of the Australian band, The Church’s song “Under the Milkyway”. The song came out the year I was born, and was recorded by Sia specifically for the Lincoln commercial. Both the recording and the commercial came out great. Check it out:

there is also a free download of the song as well!

Lincoln has been releasing several successful commercials with great covers of classic songs. The commercial released earlier this year featured Shiny Toy Gun’s cover of David Bowie’s song “Major Tom”. Another one to check out:

Sam Reynolds macht traumhaften Indie-Songwriter-Pop Marke Joshua Radin & Co. Und das auf einem qualitativen Level, das sich hören lassen kann. Jeder Song ein kleiner melancholischer Hit.

Download:  Sam Reynolds – I

[via Bloggin']

Wer bereits mit sieben Jahren seinen ersten Tinnitus bekommt, der muss entweder in einer äußerst lärmbelasteten Umgebung aufwachsen oder gnadenlos der Musik verfallen sein.
Bei Tommy Finke trifft letzteres zu!
Der deutsche Singer / Songwriter hat sich der Musik verschrieben und bringt mit “Poet der Affen / Poet of the Apes” am 29.01.10 sein erstes Album bei Roof Music heraus.

In seinen Songs verbindet Tommy intelligente Texte mit eingängigen Melodien, die einem noch lange im Kopf bleiben und begleiten. Das schätzen auch seine Fans und da diese mittlerweile nicht nur innerhalb Deutschlands zu finden sind, hat er sein komplettes Album einmal in deutsch und in englisch aufgenommen.

www.tommy-finke.de

Photo by VC Ferry

Don’t toy with my affection boy
This girl don’t wanna play
You can’t say simon says
And then just steal away

Like candy from a baby
Your sweet tooth is too strong
Got lost somewhere in hide n’ seek
You hid away too long

Come out come out
Where ever you are
Don’t hide behind your fear
If you make angels in the snow
Then angels will appear

The hula hoop spins round and round
And sometimes it falls down
You have to bend and spin again
Then you can wear the crown

Hear an ocean in a seashell
Make castles in the sand
If you feel like buried treasure
Maybe I can lend a hand

Come out come out
Wherever you are

don’t hide behind your fear
If you make angels in the snow

Then Angels will appear

Jack be nimble
Jack was quick
His flame too hot
To handle
He huffed and puffed
Wasn’t enough
Could not blow out
His candle

I know it’s rough surrender please
Your tendency to stray
Be careful your impression
Will come back to you someday

Come out come out
Wherever you are
Don’t hide behind your fear
If make angels in the snow
Then angels will appear

Angels in the snow
Make angels in the snow

Lisa Thayer

All Rights Reserved

© 1987

I’ve been talking about the fact I’ve been writing a ‘dark song’ for a few weeks now. With lyrics about the fall of society, a son turning on his father, and death of mankind, I guess you could say this is pretty dark.

So without further ado, here is my other new track from last weekends recording session – ‘Son of God’

I’m not a copywriter. I’m not a blogger.

I’m no novelist, nor poet, nor songwriter…

I’m merely a writer.

Or perhaps, more to wit, especially a writer.

I don’t clock out. I don’t take it for granted.

I don’t write because they tell me to. I write because I have to.

Because it’s more than what I do—it’s who I am.

I try to transcend the cliche, the obvious.

Go ahead and draw a line in the sand, I’ll cross it eventually—I refuse to accept the limits of what’s been done. Life is more than just a copy/paste of the past.

I’m as flexible as a Russian gymnast—I’m more than any one style.

I’m more than just a funny guy. I’m not always a sentimental baby, and not every word must burn.

We’re built to process more than the surface emotion.

Sometimes it’s not a matter of what you want.

Sometimes it’s a matter of what you didn’t know you needed.

My motive isn’t always clear, and I don’t write for everyone.

I write for you, and it’s true:

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Anyone can throw a punch or pull a trigger, but action merely garners reaction.

Words can do so much more.

Someday, some folks might just realize what they’re missing.

What they missed.

What they didn’t know they needed.

As for right now, I can only write now.

And hope you keep reading.

It’s a fine line in the music blogosphere – nobody wants to come off as a cheerleader for a particular artist or band, yet there are some acts who inarguably deserve a lot of attention. Jenifer Jackson is no stranger to regular readers here. But even by her rigorous standards, her show at the Rockwood on the nineteenth was transcendent, the best one she’s done – in New York at least – in a long time. And there have been some good ones in between, just to go the music index above and you will see plenty. Is this overkill? Not if you consider how the much ink the Village Voice gave the Ramones in the summer of 1977, or how much press Coltrane got back in the 50s. That’s not an overstatement. Jackson and her bandmates pianist Matt Kanelos  (who leads a fine Americana-rock band of his own) and drummer Billy Doughty gave a clinic in tersely, wrenchingly beautiful songcraft, Jackson’s vocals gentle but with the steely resolve that underscores the intensity of the emotion in everything she writes.

Kanelos gave notice that he was in particularly bluesy, soulful mode right from the start, beginnining with the psychedelic ballad The War Is Done, from Jackson’s 2001 Birds cd. Good Times Roll (her original, not the B.B.King standard) was hypnotic, even mesmerizing, Kanelos playfully working a glockenspiel in tandem with his lefthand rhythm. The understated frustration anthem Words got a particularly propulsive treatment; by contrast, the hopeful ballad Spring (yet another unreleased gem) was lush and sultry, Doughty playing the lead line on melodica.

The angst-driven existentialist anthem Maybe, pondering the point at which it might make sense to let hope – of whatever kind – fall by the wayside was driven and insistent, part post-Carole King riffage, part sprightly post-Bacharach pop, part countrypolitan. Wherever the song led, the dark undercurrent beneath the catchy, glistening pop surface was always there.

Her most countrypolitan ballad, After the Fall (also from Birds) got the benefit of an absolutely psychedelic, hypnotic, percussive jam out. She wrapped up the set with two new ones – a chorus-driven, Mary Lee’s Corvette-style Americana pop hit, another that matched early 70s radio pop to a sweaty Philly soul groove, and a particularly wistful, gently lovely take on the unreleased 6/8 ballad The Beauty in the Emptying, whose title pretty much speaks for itself. Doughty again took the lead on melodica, enhancing its gentle resilience. Wow. What a show. You’ll see this on our Best NYC Concerts of 2009 list in about a month.

The Rockwood has been Jackson’s home for awhile but now that she’s back, who knows where she’ll be next – watch this space for upcoming dates.

DJ ROB SWIFT (X-Ecutioners, USA)

the Architect album release tour March 2010

The Architect Album
Release Tour 2010
March 2010: 19 – 28 2010

DJ ROB SWIFT (X-Ecutioners)
www.djrobswift.com
www.myspace.com/djrobswift
www.ipecac.com

New Album: The Architect
Rel. Date: February 23, 2010
Publisher: Ipecac Recordings

Interview:

Dear Music Fans,

One of the most famous and celebrated Djs and turntablists in the world is back with a slamming new album “The Architect”, this time blending Hip Hop, scratching and classical music.

DJ ROB SWIFT is part of the biggest Dj group “the X Ecutioners” on the planet and toured and worked with everyone: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, Fat Joe, Everlast, Mike Patton (Faith No More), Cypress Hill, Wu Tang Clan, Eminem, Good Charlotte, Xzibit, Dan The Automator and even truly forward-thinking Jazz legends such as Herbie Hancock and Bob James.

It’s ROB SWIFT’S debut release on Mike Patton’s (Faith No More) Ipecac Recordings label, a perfect fit as both men have been challenging the notion of music for years. They have previously toured together promoting Patton’s Peeping Tom project and their collaborative effort General Patton Vs. The X-excutioners.

Tour Facts, Dates, Videos, Infos … read more …

IRC Exclusive: Legendary Producers Martin Bisi & Bill Laswell Team Up with Fiery Furnances and Dresden Dolls

Martin Bisi is a famed producer who built a recording studio with Brian Eno three decades ago, producing albums for some of the best bands of the 1980’s and early 90s underground rock movement, including Sonic Youth, The Swans, Dresden Dolls and The Boredoms, to name just a few. Bisi, who is also a musician, songwriter and engineer, recently jumped into the sound tank himself to record tracks with folks like Fiery Furnances’ dummer Bob D’Amico, prolific producer and bassist Bill Laswell (The Ramones, Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger and many others), and members of The Dresden Dolls and Balkan Beat Box. Laswell was also instrumental in creating the studio with Bisi and Eno.

In fact, Bisi and Laswell collaborated with Herbie Hancock to record the 1983 Grammy Award-winning song, “RockIt” – the first hit song to feature turntable scratching. Jumping forward to this year, all of this talent in one room is a combination sure to result in something interesting, which is exactly what these next songs, “Mile High – Apple of My Eye” and “Drink Your Wine,” prove to be. The songs are from the recently released five-track digital only EP Son of a Gun, and were sent to IRC by Bisi himself. The first song featured below is a perfect track for Halloween, or even The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack, while “Drink Your Wine” is more of an uptempo rocker that is fun and infectious at the same time (watch the video above).

“Mile High – Apple of My Eye” - Martin Bisi & Bill Laswell from Son of a Gun (2009)

“Drink Your Wine” – Martin Bisi & Company from Sun of a Gun (2009)

Get Son of a Gun from iTunes.

Of the recording of the EP, Bisi said: “With Laswell, I did the ‘modern’ approach of sending him files, letting him do whatever, and then adjusting. He really surprised me. I was expecting his usual very groove or dub oriented bass, and he gave me something very ambient, laden with effects and trippy. That pretty much sums up the M.O. on this EP…With “Mile High- Apple Of My Eye,” I asked Butterface (the keyboardist on the EP) to give me some programmed rhythms and sounds with a trip-hop vibe, specifically for Laswell to play on, and he turned it around in 30 minutes.”

For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that I’d been recording all through last weekend. Well, here is one of the songs I laid down during that session (I’ll be posting the other songs over the rest of this week).

This is called ‘Walking Away’.

I’m thrilled to report that my house concert series, North Shore Point House Concerts, has booked Caroline Herring for a Feb. 20 show. Her “Golden Apples of the Sun” is one of the best albums of 2009.

In the home recording studio.

A wears: headphones, jumpsuit, guitar, optimism.
B wears: jeans, intense expression

A: B, how about if you fit the rhythm track around the vocal? Because the vocal is good, y’know, and the guitar is really hard to do.

B: No

A: Go on, B, it’ll be fun.

B: Ummm. No.

A: Please?

<5 minutes>

B: Ok, listen:

A: B, you’ve made it all out of time.

B: ..

A: B?

B: ..

A: This is lyrical song, B, it doesn’t conform to structuralist ideas of tempo.

…B?

B: .. You want me to turn the click up in the headphone?

A: Yes please.

88Nine Radio Milwaukee bietet ein komplettes Bon Iver Konzert in exzellenter Qualität zum kostenlosen Donwload an. Noch Fragen?

Hier dann auch nochmal den Link zu Bon Ivers fantastischer Daytrotter Session.

Download:  Bon Iver Live at the Riverside

Download:  Bon Iver @ Daytrotter

[via Spreeblick]

Its about that time when I give into the powers that be, and begin to play my favorite winter tunes that keep me warm despite the cold (or, not so cold in the case of this winter). I’ve created ‘A Snowy Playlist’ of recommendations in my iTunes that I want to share with you.

(Both songs and original movie scores are included, as I am a sucker for a good compilation)

A Snowy Playlist:

All That I Want- The Weepies

Wish You Well- A Fine Frenzy

PM’s Love Theme- Craig Armstrong from Love Actually

Men of Snow- Ingrid Michaelson

2000 Miles- Coldplay

Winterlove- Parachute

Winter Song- Sara Barielles & Ingrid Michaelson

Cry- Hans Zimmer from The Holiday

The Heartache Can Wait- Brandi Carlile

Christmas Time is Here- A Fine Frenzy

My blogging abilities lack in stewardship. Though I have decided to start a blog and design a page that says a little about myself, I have neglected perhaps the most important part and that is the act of actually blogging. 

In recent weeks life has had it’s share of ups and downs. On the upside of life there has been my girlfriend finishing her Masters degree. On the downside we have been trying desperately to get our schedules in sync and that has not always been the easiest of tasks.  

Often times my work schedule can be rather heavy and that can take it’s toll on any relationship but we are working through it all. What it all boils down to is us trying to make more time for each other, not out of obligation but rather out of desire and we should all be so lucky to have such “problems”.

Another aspect that can take it’s toll on a relationship … or any relationship that I have been in is when a singer/songwriter hits a creative stride.

A few weeks ago I attended a fantastic show. It was the Ten out of Tenn tour. In the few weeks following I felt inspired. Music was exciting again and I didn’t realize how exciting it was. 

At first I started working on one new song and then a second, a third, a fourth until I realized that the number of new songs was nine. It is one thing to start a song but then I started finishing them. One even got a rough draft recording while I worked out the lyrics for a few others. 

There have been mornings where I feel that I can’t leave the house until I play through a certain song a few times and there have been nights where I get out of bed at 2am or 3am and feel the need to work on something new. The inspiration is there and I am trying to let it take me wherever it will. Believe it or not, there is a downside.

Cat ( my girlfriend ) would most likely tell you that I start to act a bit differently in times like these. I am a bit more withdrawn. My mind is all over the place and she knows something is on my mind but it is hard for her to know what it is. Unknowingly I am sending out the wrong signals.

So, I have realized  that it is best to inform when I have started writing again. This way she knows that my mind has entered that creative space. I have also realized that it is best to schedule days to work on music and writing and recording. And perhaps the most important lesson is to inform her when a song is not about her.

If you venture over to my American Songspace page, you could hear a new rough draft recording. Excited about the song, I let her listen to it. She got upset and thought I was breaking up with her. NOT GOOD AT ALL!

Let’s just say that the song is not nice. LOL But after some kissing, hugging and cuddling all was well. If you want to listen to the song, it is called ‘What Do You Want From Me?’ It is on American Songspace and you can listen to it by clicking HERE !

It is nice to be writing again. It feels great to be creating something again. It feels wonderful to be inspired again. Just need to figure how to keep my feet on the ground while my head is in the clouds.

Creativity is a drug like no other and I am trying to avoid an intervention.

selFbrush należy od unikalnych artystów posiadających moc spowalniania życia, hamowania pośpiechu, przywracania zagubionego po drodze dystansu do siebie i świata.

Kompozycje z wydanej niedawno EPki niezawodnie ocieplają uczucia i nawracają ze ścieżki wybrukowanej materialistyczną pobudką na stronę prostoty oczyszczającej przytłoczony informacją umysł. Z jednej strony to urok tradycyjnego folku, z drugiej specyficzne teksty – tak bardzo niemodne i dalekie od wrzaskliwych, zbuntowanych słów hałaśliwych artystów.

„For A New Moher” to prawdziwie swojska przyjemność obcowania ze szczerością przekazu, czystością formy, skromnością i urzekającym minimalizmem. Country’owo brzdąkająca gitara, urokliwa harmonijka i subtelne partie skrzypiec każdorazowo wprowadzają w błogi letarg, sięgając rdzenia ludzkiej natury. W tytułowym utworze Vaclav Havelka brzmi jak Johny Cash, w „Dry Feet” rozbraja łagodnością, a w „Treaded Heart” nuci filuternie.

Wszystko na tej płycie pięknie współgra, tworząc nastrój nieprzystawalności i radosnej harmonii. To teatr jednego aktora – obieżyświata, włóczęgi i mędrca jako przeciwwaga do tego, co tak nieludzko zmagdonaldyzowane i płytkie. Okazuje się, że hałas nie jest dla artysty jedynym narzędziem oddziaływania, a zawód rzemieślnika – songwritera nadal potrzebny, a nawet wskazany, żeby wysiąść na moment z pociągu życia i odetchnąć.

selFbrush “For A New Mother” EP

Magda Kotowska

Uwolnijmuzyke.pl

I just found it off youtube, thought i’d share it with ya’ll: