Category: music suggestion

5SF: may 29

I can’t believe it’s almost June. This year is flying by!! Well, tons of good music has been FLOODING my ears as a result, so I guess I shouldn’t be complaining. I’m really tired today for some reason, so I am going to just go ahead and get right down to why we are here today… the music!

RichGirl – He Ain’ Wit Me Now (Tho)
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_529_richgirl-heaintwitmenow.mp3]
Not being a HUGE fan of hip hop, this song took me by major surprise! The first time I heard it, was all, “damn! I love this!!!”. It combines a bit of the “lady group” nature of Destiny’s Child, and blends it with the hotness of Amerie (ala One Thing), and together, it certainly has me trippin’. I love the beat, and the fact that all four ladies can sing. This song is ready for the clubs, and I am certainly adding it to my summer playlists. Wiggle wiggle wiggle girl… let’s get that dance on!

Royksopp – The Girl and The Robot
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_529_royksopp-thegirlandtherobot.mp3]
Oh Robyn, how do I love thee? There are so many ways; almost too numerous to count! This track is a fantastic collaboration between Royksopp and Robyn, which I can almost BET Robyn played a big part in (it has her style all over it). If this is just another indication that the Robyn train isn’t slowing down any time soon, it makes me even more excited for her next album; and it makes me happy that in the meantime, she is working so well with other great artists out there. This is definitely the best song on Royskopp’s album, and they did themselves a major favor by working with Robyn. The synth on this track is deep, dark, and pulsating; making this song great for driving or dancing… just don’t do both at the same time!

Miike Snow – A Horse Is Not A Home
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_529_miikesnow-ahorseisnotahome.mp3]
I know that I was singing the praises of Miike Snow last week, but I have to keep singing them; their debut is one of the best albums I have heard all year. It is amazing. With this project, Bloodshy & Avant have seriously raised the bar on the indie-synth pop scene, and produced what is sure to be amongst my favorite albums for all of 2009. I love the pulsating, rhythmic beat in the background, as well as the way in which they vocode the vocals; all making for a toe tapping, and infectious track. The whole album is made up of AMAZING songs like this one, with this probably being my favorite of all. Miike Snow SHOULD be HUGE in 2009, and you can brag to all of your friends that you knew all about them, because music bloggers like me showed you the light. No thanks necessary; just go and download the album already!

Erik Hassle – Isn’t It Obvious
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_529_erikhassle-isntitobvious.mp3]
I have also written about the super-talented Swedish singer, Erik Hassle, who released one of the most beautiful singles for 2009 with his amazing song, Hurtful. As much as I LOVE Hurtful, this song is just as powerful, and with each listen, I love it even more. I love the distorted electro backing track of the chorus, and the emphasis in which he says, “isn’t it obvious that I love you!?!”. It’s a well written track that has the emotive vocals to back up its sentiment, and I always turn up the dial when this one starts playing. AMAZING song. I just realized that he is the third song featured this week by a Swedish artist. Seriously, something AMAZING is going on in Sweden as far as music is concerned, and I hope it keeps on coming!

Butterfly Boucher – A Bitter Song
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_529_butterflyboucher-abittersong.mp3]
I actually heard of Butterfly Boucher a long time ago, because my buddy Deb really likes her, but it didn’t really stick with me, because I couldn’t find her album, as it seems she never got a proper release in the US. Cut to the here and now: Apparently, being on Grey’s Anatomy is the KEY to success, because after this song was on the show, her album has found its way onto iTunes, where I saw it, and was intrigued (having heard of her before). I don’t watch Grey’s, so I heard this song when I sampled the album, and it is epic, haunting, and achingly beautiful. I hope that Butterfly gets more exposure with this album, because songs like this are too wonderful to be ignored.

I hope that you enjoyed all of the songs for today, as much as I have been enjoying them myself. Let me know what you are listening to, and tell me what you think, alright!? Have a great weekend everyone!!

5SF: may 22

Holy three day weekend on the horizon, Batman! YES. Also, this may be the weekend that the shower gets completed, but I am not going to jinx that by saying that it is definitely going to happen. I just have my fingers crossed.

I have some REALLY good picks for you today, and a couple of guilty pleasures; one of which is a 90’s one hit wonder, that I loved the first time I heard it so many years ago, and still enjoy when it randomly comes up on my ipod. Also, I really want to thank all of you that have been giving me feed back on these posts; I really appreciate it!!! Now, on with the show!

Miike Snow – Burial
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_522_miikesnow-burial.mp3]
This is yet another example of how an interesting album cover can attract potential fans. I saw this album on iTunes in the “up and coming” section, and after listening to the samples, I bought the whole album right then and there. What I have found is a fabulous synth-dance-pop album that will surely make my year end list (and probably some others’ as well; I have seen other bloggers taking note of this great new band). This has been a GREAT year for music so far. This album was produced by the crazy-amazing production team, Bloodshy & Avant, who have proven, once again, that some of the best music out there is coming from Sweden. This is one of those random finds that I want to scream about from the rooftops, because of just how unexpectedly fantastic it is. These guys should be pretty huge this year, so keep your ear out for them.

Parachute – She Is Love
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_522_parachute-sheislove.mp3]
I heard about Parachute through iTunes as well, because they offered up one of their songs as a free download a few weeks back. While I thought that track was just okay, I checked out some of the other songs on their album, and this song blew me away. It is really beautiful, and it makes me glad that iTunes introduces people to some great music; even if it is by way of a different song from the same album. This song is a delicate rock-pop ballad that reminds me of the sweet softness of songs by artists like Joshua Radin, and I can’t get enough of its goodness.

Mat Kearney – Here We Go
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_522_matkearney-herewego.mp3]
I love Mat Kearney. I have for a while now. Not only is his voice swoon-worthy, but he is quite the handsome fellow. I mentioned a few weeks back that he was one of the people that I wanted to come out with a new album already (because of how much I loved his first record, Nothing Left To Lose), and it was then that I noticed he was releasing the follow up this month. I finally got my hands on the City of Black and White this week, and all I can say is WOW. With the first listen, I was blown away. Seriously, this is one of the best albums of the year for me, by far. This is one of my favorite tracks from the album, and as I mentioned, I fully expect to see this album near the very top of my year end best of list. Mat certainly did not disappoint with his sophomore album, and I only hope his career consists of more amazing albums like this one. With this release, he has solidified himself a place amongst my favorite artists.

Beyonce – Diva
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_522_beyonce-diva.mp3]
Guilty pleasure alert!!! I normally don’t like a lot of the more “hard core” hip-hop/rap, but this track just screams in ecstasy to the wannabe thuggish girl that lives within me. Not only that, but this video is fucking fierce, and Beyonce is just too damn hot on this track to ignore. I will admit that the first time I heard this song, I really didn’t like it, but that was because I didn’t fully understand how to appreciate it. It is exactly like Kelis’ amazing song, Bossy for me; when I first heard it, I didn’t appreciate the amazingness of it. Well, now I do, and I can tell you, that thug girl living within me wants to be a damn diva… and if she were, this would be her bitch ass theme song. Perhaps what I love the most about this song, is that we now know to watch out, because Bey will cut a bitch, for sure.

Spacehog – In the Meantime
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_522_spacehog-inthemeantime.mp3]
Finally today, the one hit wonder from the 90’s I promised. I remember hearing this song my junior year of high school, and back in those days, they didn’t have mix CDs, and the only way to get a copy of a song was to record it off of the radio, or go out and buy the damn CD. If you were lucky enough, the band would release a single, but low and behold, in this case, they didn’t (not that I could find anyway). So, I plunked down $16 for a CD, for one song. However, this song got LOTS of play, and has one of the catchiest courses that I have ever heard, and one that still makes me smile. I have no fucking idea what “we love the only all of you” means, but I don’t fucking care; that guitar riff is like irresistible, sweet cotton candy, and I can’t get enough.

So there’s another Friday five for you guys and gals… what did you think? I feel compelled to say something (in passing) about the AI finale, because I really do think that Adam was robbed; but I can only hope that it will mean he has more creative freedom when he makes his debut album. He was the best singer of the season, and it is a shame he didn’t win when he rightfully should have. Oh well…

Enjoy your three day weekend (for those that have one), and let me know what you are listening to, won’t you?!

5SF: may 15

TGIF. We are STILL working on the bathroom, and will be for a few more days. I can see the end in sight, and I am definitely getting excited. I will probably take an hour long shower once it is finally finished; I deserve it! Well, enough about that… let’s get to today’s music selection.

Elizabeth and the Catapult – Just In Time

[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_elizabethandthecatapult-justintime.mp3]
Let me start with a one word description of Elizabeth and the Catapult’s most recent release, Taller Children: Amazing. Elizabeth and the Catapult is one of those finds that I still can’t believe I stumbled upon, because of how magnificent they are. What drew me in initially, was the really cute cover, which has brought me to some fantastic music in the past, and certainly did so again this time. The whole album is magnificent, and will certainly be amongst my top records of 2009. The record has a softer side, as well as an eclectic feel to it, and the singer’s voice often channels the might and gusto of singers like Inara George, Aimee Mann, and even Ann Wilson. This was a fantastic find, and one that I am more than happy to sing praises about to anyone who will listen. I LOVE when I find stuff like this on the random!

Death Cab For Cutie – My Mirror Speaks
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_deathcabforcutie-mymirrorspeaks.mp3]
After seeing Death Cab for Cutie last week, I have been listening to them almost non-stop, and I am constantly reminded of how much I love this amazing band. Seriously, Ben Gibbard’s voice and his diction are both amazingly delicious, and are a total treat to my ears. I have been a Death Cab fan for a few years now, and with each subsequent release, they only get better, in my opinion. The recently released EP, the Open Door, is where this fantastic track comes from, and was released to coincide with them beginning their tour. I love every song on that EP, and I was pleased that they played almost all of them at the show. They are amazing live, and I am glad I got an opportunity to finally see them perform.

Matthew Barber – Easily Bruised
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_matthewbarber-easilybruised.mp3]
This was a free mp3 download from Amazon (as of this writing, it still is, so go and get it!), and I am glad that I checked it out; it’s a beautiful track. I’ll admit that I was initially drawn to it because of the bearded beau on the cover (what can I say… I am a sucker for beards), and I was pleased that he had the musical prowess to really draw me in past a simple glance at the album art. His sound reminds me a lot of Ryan Adams, with just a touch classic rock, updated for the hear and now. This is one of those songs were beautiful music, rugged vocals, and eloquent writing all come together to make some really great music. While this is the only song of his I have currently heard, I am definitely going to check out his recently released album, Ghost Notes.

Great Northern – Story
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_greatnorthern-story.mp3]
As a fan of Great Northern’s 2007 debut, Trading Twilight for Daylight, I was excited when I saw that they were releasing a new album a few weeks ago. While I regrettably haven’t had a chance to give it a proper listen, the first track really struck me instantly, and I really liked it right off the bat. Perhaps what struck me most, is how it has a harder, edgier sound than their previous softer stuff. The marching beat coupled with the distorted guitars, and the lead singer’s haunting vocal make this a fantastically “darker” opener for their new album. It has definitely gotten me excited to delve deeper into the rest of the album; which if it is anything like this, I am sure I will enjoy.

Little Boots – New In Town
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_littleboots-newintown.mp3]
Little Boots is one of those artists that everyone is shouting about how wonderful they are, and for some dumb reason, I just roll my eyes and move on. In fact, I think that I ignore songs like this out of spite. Maybe it is the defiant side of me that just won’t give in? Who knows, but I think it was because I heard a Little Boots track a while back and I wasn’t blown away, so I just moved on; clearly, I must have thought, that it was truly just hype. However, she is back on my radar, because this is an insanely catchy track that is tearing up the radio waves in the UK, and I found myself falling for it after all. It has a little bit of the energy and feel of some of Ladyhawke’s work, which definitely bodes well for Little Boots (especially in my book), because of how great Ladyhawke has proven to be. I don’t know if this one will make a big splash on this side of the pond, but I know that a bunch of my readers will really like this one (that is, if they haven’t been enjoying it already, while I was being stubborn).

Well, there’s your Friday five, what did you think?! I hope that you enjoyed these tracks, and with some of them, you really should do yourself a favor and check out the rest of the album. Elizabeth and the Catapult is definitely one of those discoveries that I am beaming about lately, and I highly recommend the whole album. As always, let me know what you are spinning, and let me know what you think about my choices for this week. Have a great weekend!

5SF: may 8

Well, after a bit of a snafu with the tile situation, I am pretty confident we will make the right choice, and in the end, everything will look amazing. Stay tuned for more on that… I am so ready to take a damn shower in there already, that it isn’t even funny anymore! Alright, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get to the real reason of this post: the music! I have some AMAZING songs for today, so hold on to your hats kids, because away we go!!

Erik Hassle – Hurtful
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_58_erikhassle-hurtful.mp3]
I was surfing my usual music blogs this week, and stumbled on this MASSIVE ballad by yet ANOTHER Swede bringing the pure power of super-sweet and perfectly percolated pop to my ears. Seriously, what is in the water in Sweden?!? There are so many amazing pop artists coming out of Sweden, and Erik Hassle is certainly among them; this song is amazing and beautiful. This song overtook me with one listen. It’s massive. Keep your eyes and ears open for more on Erik Hassle; I am sure we will be hearing a lot more from him in the coming months.

Mandy Moore – I Could Break Your Heart Any Day Of The Week
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_58_mandymoore-icouldbreakyourheartanyday.mp3]
There has always been something about Mandy Moore that I have liked… I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know why, but I love this girl. This song is no exception; I love the slight country twinge, and the overdubbing of her voice on the chorus. I saw the video, and thought it was a bit stupid, but it wasn’t enough to make me like the song any less. I will definitely be checking out Amanda Lee when it hits stores.

The Presets – If I Know You
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_58_thepresets-ifiknowyou.mp3]
This is kind of a blast from the “not so distant past”. I featured the Presets sophomore release, Apocalypso in my 2008 year end countdown at #23, which has more than a handful of fantastic electro tracks. Well, they recently released the video for this song, and I was instantly reminded of how amazing they are, and have added this track back into regular rotation. I love the accent of the lead singer’s voice, and I can’t seem to get enough of their infectious beats and rhythms; I’m glad that this one has jumped back onto my radar screen.

Owl City – Hot Air Balloon
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_58_owlcity-hotairballoon.mp3]
I love Owl City. If you followed my best CDs of 2008 list, you remember that Owl City’s self-released album Maybe I’m Dreaming took the #10 spot on my list. Apparently, he was signed, because he is releasing a new album, presumably his major label debut, Ocean Eyes, due out September 1, 2009. I saw that he released this song as buzz, and I had to check it out. The best thing, is that if you go to Owl City’s website, you can register for updates, and download this track for FREE! That’s right kids… great music, for free on this Friday! Take full advantage of it while it lasts! I just bought my tickets to see Owl City in June, and getting this glimpse into the future of Owl City only increases my love of this great band. I can’t wait for the show!

Passion Pit – The Reeling
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_58_passionpit-thereeling.mp3]
Last but certainly not least today, is sublime electro-goodness from up and coming HUGE sensation Passion Pit. This is their second single, which will accompany a full album release (Manners) from them this month. At first, I didn’t love this song as much as I loved Sleepyhead (which I have posted about before), but that is because Sleepyhead is PERFECT. Well, after a couple of listens, I realized something: Passion Pit is amazing. This song is awesome, and while they are definitely one of those bands I should, by all accounts hate, I actually LOVE them. I love the shrill voice, the pops and beats, I love it all. This is definitely a song that when it comes on the radio, you HAVE to crank it up. Try not to tap your toes and bop your head to this one folks… it’s difficult!

Well, there are your Friday five. I always say for you guys to let me know how I am doing, but I rarely get any feedback. Anyone out there want to say anything? Let me know what you think! Have a great weekend… expect tile pictures/stories soon!!

5SF: may 1

Uno de Mayo! I can’t believe it’s already May. This year is flying by… Well, a good thing about that, is that with this year progressing, it means that more new music is hitting the interwebs at increasing speeds. This week in particular, several MASSIVE tunes have come onto my radar screen, and I couldn’t wait until today, so that I could share them with all of you. Also, I am bringing a B-side track by an artist that I hope will come out with a new album sometime this year… because I miss her! With that, I say we get started, shall we?

Metric – Gimme Sympathy
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_51_metric-gimmesympathy.mp3]
Sometimes, I am told about a band, and for whatever reason, I have to come to them on my own before I really appreciate them. Metric is one of those bands. I managed to catch the video for Gimme Sympathy last week, and I INSTANTLY loved it. Too bad my friend Deb had already been singing their praises for weeks now. D’oh! Well, I am on the Metric bandwagon now, and I have been loving them a lot this week. Specifically, this dance rock number, which really gets me dancing in my seat whenever I hear it. If you enjoyed this song (and how could you not), I highly recommend you snag the rest of their recently released new album, Fantasies.

FrankMusik- Better Off As 2
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_51_frankmusik-betteroffas2.mp3]
I have heard this name a lot, but never really knew who Frankmusik was. Well, I was perusing an iTunes chart, and noticed that he had a song called Better Off As 2 available, so I thought I would at least listen to the sample and see what it was all about. Well, the result was an amazing, jaw-dropping WOW from me; this song is EPIC! I loved it from the first note all of the way through to the end, and I cannot stop listening to it! It has a little bit of the electo-rock sound of Hellogoodbye, yet turns its focus more to the dance floor, like other male solo artists such as Sam Sparro. I can’t wait until Frankmusik’s debut album, Complete Me is released next month; I am definitely looking forward to more of what he has to offer!

St. Vincent – Actor Out Of Work
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_51_stvincent-actoroutofwork.mp3]
Like Frankmusik, I have heard A LOT about St. Vincent, but I had never actually heard anything BY her. Well, I saw the amazing video for Actor Out of Work randomly, and at first, I really didn’t like the song, but I really liked the video (she sits stoically while actors “audition” for her, and all show a range of intense emotion). Well, I listened to the song a couple of times, and I saw the pure brilliance in it. I highly recommend that you listen to this one several times before you make a judgment, because it is DEFINITELY a grower. Those of you that have been singing the praises of St. Vincent; worry no more, I am finally listening!

Nick Lachey – All In My Head
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_51_nicklachey-allinmyhead.mp3]
Now hear me out… I have liked Nick Lachey since he was in 98 Degrees. I have both of his previous solo albums, and I am not ashamed of that fact. My name is duane, and I like boy-band pop. There, I said it. However, this is definitely a great track, and one that I could see getting tons of airplay. Perhaps the third time is the charm for Nick, and this may be the album that brings him the fame he has been seeking since he left 98 Degrees. His first single attempt for this album may have flopped (it was a carbon-copy cover of Take That’s Patience), but this one is definitely a very great pop song, and I hope the rest of the album is just as good. I actually like this song better and better with each listen.

Kate Nash – Navy Taxi
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_51_katenash-navytaxi.mp3]
Finally today, I wanted to post something by the amazing Kate Nash, who made it almost all of the way to the top of my year end list in 2007 with her debut album, Made Of Bricks. Well, I have been listening to my ipod on shuffle this week, and this song came up, and it reminded me of just how much I love Kate, and how I hope that she brings us another fantastic record sometime this year. In the mean time, I will just continue to appreciate her fabulous debut, and the few B-sides (like this one) that are floating around out there. Perhaps my favorite thing about Kate is her way of story telling through song, and how she paints such a beautiful picture with her music and vocals. I miss you Kate! Come back soon!

Well, there’s your five, and I hope you enjoyed them as much as I have been enjoying them this week. I love all of these songs!!! As always, let me know what you thought, and tell me what you are listening to on repeat these days! Have a great weekend… we have tiling in our future!

5SF: april 24

I can’t believe that this is the last five song Friday of April; 2009 is FLYING by!! Well, it is nice and warm outside, so I won’t keep you kids inside too long… let’s get right to it!

Jars of Clay – Two Hands
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_424_jarsofclay-twohands.mp3]
I have been a fan of Jars of Clay for many, many years. I was a bigger fan when I was in college, but I have always loved their music, and still, I definitely count them amongst my favorite artists. Well, I saw that they had a new CD coming out this week, and naturally, I had to check it out. After my first listen, I was glad to discover quite a fantastic album throughout. In my opinion, this is definitely one of their strongest records, and it shows a real growth as a band. Their sound as matured over the years, and they consistently put out great music. This is the first single from their new record, The Long Fall Back To Earth, which I highly recommend.

Noisettes – Never Forget You
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_424_noisettes-neverforgetyou.mp3]
The second of 3 albums I have been paying attention to that came out this week, was Wild Young Hearts by the Noisettes. I first mentioned them a few weeks ago when I featured their fantastic first single, Don’t Upset The Rhythm. Well, after giving the whole album a listen, I was pleased to find that they too had produced a pretty great album. This is one of my favorite songs from the record, which bears similarity to the vocal styling of Duffy and Amy Winehouse, and has a sock hop/TV soundtrack flair to the arrangement. The arrangement really makes me think of Laverne and Shirley for some reason…

Chester French – C’mon (On My Own)
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_424_chesterfrench-cmon.mp3]
The third album released this week that was definitely on my radar was the debut album of Chester French. I have also talked about them previously, when I featured their fantastic song She Loves Everybody. My interest in Chester French shot sky high after seeing them open for Lady GaGa a few weeks ago, because they were excellent live. I liked all of the songs that I heard at the show, and was glad to get my hands on the album so that I could hear them again. This is probably my favorite song from the album, which is kind of good, but unfortunately overall, only has a handful of songs that really speak to me. Also note that he says motherfucker pretty loudly during one of the choruses.

Lady Sovereign – So Human
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_424_ladysovereign-sohuman.mp3]
Okay, I may have mentioned it before, but I am a huge sucker for a well used sample. This is a great example of that technique; I LOVE the way she integrates the Cure’s Close to Me, and uses it to soften up her previously “uber-tough” persona. I love her accent, and how “rough” she is (ha! rough and tough!), and I am glad that she is still making her mark on hip hop. This is a fun little track that I have been enjoying since I saw the video a couple of weeks ago, and I have been meaning to feature it ever since.

Pussycat Dolls – Magic

[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_424_pcd-magic.mp3]
Finally this week, I am posting a song that I randomly heard playing in the background of a TV show; that happens to be from PCD’s Doll Domination album. I heard it, and I really liked the beat, and I did a lot of searching on the internet to find out who it was, and what song it was; only to find that I already had it on my hard drive!! No, I don’t have an iPhone, or I probably would have just used Shazam, but thankfully, my persistence and my good research skills led me to this fun little track. I have to say, PCD really keeps throwing me surprises; I’m glad that I gave in and started enjoying this girl group!

I tried to keep it brief so you kids can get out there and enjoy this fine weather. As always, please let me know what you are listening to, and let me know what you think of the five tracks that I brought you this week. Have a great evening!

5SF: april 17

TGIF! For whatever reason, it seems like this week has flown by; but don’t worry, I’m not complaining!! For this week’s selection, along with a couple of “must listen” tracks, I decided to feature some songs that I found on my ipod by listening on shuffle. I was surprised by how good they were, and I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t heard them before I did. It just goes to show, that there is a ton of good music out there, and some of it is right under your nose; and unfortunately, sometimes it can get lost among the masses. Well, I’ve wasted enough time talking about this… on to the tunes!

Erin McCarley – Gotta Figure This Out
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_417_erinmccarley-gottafigurethisout.mp3]
I posted a song by Erin a while back, noting how her similarity to Sara Bareilles made me sit up and pay attention. Well, I never really got around to listening intently to her whole CD (sometimes, I just let things fall through the cracks), but when this track came up during one of my rounds of listening on shuffle, my interest in Erin was instantly re-invigorated. This track is sweet and the melody is beautiful. I love the backing violins and the way the song builds; all while retaining an inner softness. Thanks to shuffle, Erin is definitely going to be getting some more well deserved attention from me in the future.

Elbow – Some Riot
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_417_elbow-someriot.mp3]
I downloaded this a while ago, mainly because I kept seeing people talk about it on other music blogs. Additionally, I heard one song on BBC Radio One, and I kinda liked it, so I thought I would give the rest of the album a go. Unfortunately, it, like Erin’s album, slipped through the cracks, and I forgot about it. Well, when this haunting and enigmatic track came up during a shuffle-driven listening session, I did a double take when I saw who it was. This song is fantastic!!! I love how his vocals mirror some of the weathered despair of Morrissey with an added touch of Peter Gabriel, and I love the subtlety of his accent as well. I also love the piano, which reminds me a lot of a Nicole Atkins track. A big thanks goes out to shuffle for finding this great track that I let slip!

Matt Wertz – Everything’s Alright
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_417_mattwertz-everythingsright.mp3]
When Matt Wertz first hit my radar, I was instantly a fan. I liked his vocal style and the playful and upbeat pop-rock style that he used in his music. He reminds me a lot of fellow singers like John McLachlan; not only in style, but in this particular case, there is a big similarity in the voice. Overall, Matt Wertz released a “new” album last year, and it kind of fell off of my radar, because it rehashed several of the songs on his previous release, which led to me kind of forgetting about it. Then, shuffle brings this song up, and instantly Matt is back on my radar. This song is perfect for spring, and I am glad that it is back on my playlist.

Glasvegas – Geraldine
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_417_glasvegas-geraldine.mp3]
Sometimes, (shit, most of the time) I am a sucker for a beautiful accent. Particularly, my favorite accents are Irish and British, and definitely Scottish. Well, the thick Scottish accent present in the lead singer of Glasvegas is downright swoon worthy. I have had this song on my ipod for quite some time, and it wasn’t until it popped up during a shuffle that I really paid quality attention to it. I ended up downloading the whole album and I really like it. It quickly turned into one of those records that I wish I had of discovered last year, because there is definitely a chance it could have made my year end list. Oh well, I shouldn’t really dwell on the past, so I am more than pleased that I have it to listen to more in the future.

Silversun Pickups – There’s No Secrets This Year
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_417_silversunpickups-theresnosecretsthisyear.mp3]
Earlier this week, the delightful Silversun Pickups released their second album, Swoon. I was eager to see what they would bring with this new release, because I really enjoyed their 2006 album, Carnavas. What I like most about the Silversun Pickups, is how their use the distortion and heavy alternative influence of early 90’s Smashing Pumpkins; only they put there own twist on it, making it perfect for the here and now. This is my favorite song off of the album, which overall, is a solid, well made, and familiar release. I am glad they are still rocking hard, and making great music like this. I hope Swoon is a massive record for them; it definitely should be.

So there’s five songs for your Friday… I hope you enjoyed them. Let me know what you think, as well as what YOU are listening to. Leslie Hall pictures and concert post are coming soon, so be sure to check back for that too!

lady gaga @ center stage ATL 4/9/09

I finally finished sorting through the TONS of pictures that I took at Lady GaGa last week, so I am finally ready to do a post about the concert. First of all, I will start by saying that yes, it was amazing. Lady GaGa knows how to put on a show, as I witnessed the first time I saw her back in October of last year. However, this time, I got to see a full show, instead of just a few songs at an intimate venue.

I will say this; I have been to Center Stage MANY times. Most of the time, it is sold out. I have never, however, seen as many people there as I did the night of Lady GaGa. It was insane. Speaking of which, people need to be more respectful of others. You can’t save 5 seats. You can’t get all assholish when someone in the standing room only area accidentally bumps into you. People really need to learn how to be nicer. Anyway…
Lady GaGa @ Center Stage ATL 4/9/09
There were 3 (!!!) opening acts for Lady GaGa, and I really enjoyed Chester French (who I have featured on the 5SF in the past), and I also liked White Tie Affair (who’s CD was on my ipod, but I have never listened to it). After much anticipation, and some shuffling around trying to find a great place to watch the show from (IT WAS PACKED), the curtain fell, and Lady GaGa emerged from a funky looking set up in the middle of the stage. What followed was a full hour of costume changes, dance routines, and killer vocals from Lady GaGa. She completely delivers live, and she owned that stage like a seasoned professional.
Lady GaGa @ Center Stage ATL 4/9/09
A few songs into the show, she got more intimate, and put on her now famous bubbles outfit, and played a bubble filled piano. She played a new song, which I think is called Future Love, and it was, to quote the Lady herself, marvelous. It seems that Lady GaGa has a lot more great music to give us in the future.
Lady GaGa @ Center Stage ATL 4/9/09
Overall, the show was energetic, and the crowd was totally into her. I will admit that she is a bit “out there” with her fashion and her style, but I think that it makes her unique in that she isn’t afraid to be different, and do something funky. The result was a sold out show full of people clamoring for more of the newest, and biggest, pop diva to take hold of the reigns of pop music. I can say that I was really glad to see her again, and whenever she comes back to the ATL, you can bet that I will be there.

Check out the pictures on flickr.

5SF: april 10

So the first order of business is to say something, anything about how amazing Lady GaGa was last night at Center Stage. After seeing her in an intimate setting at Bazaar, I was excited to see a full set, and ladies and gentlemen, she did not disappoint. She was amazing. I took a lot of pictures, and hopefully, some of them came out okay; I have NEVER seen Center Stage that crowded before. Since it was so great, I want to post more on the concert later, so stay tuned. Now, let’s get to the five glorious songs for this fine Friday, shall we?

Marmaduke Duke – Rubber Lover
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_410_marmadukeduke-rubberlover.mp3]
This is probably going to be the shortest song in the history (or future) of the Five Song Friday. This energetic track clocks in at just under 2 minutes, but the entire two minutes are a fun filled, dancey romp that is too great to ignore. You probably hear the sampling of Billy Joel’s Sleeping With The Television On, that makes the song somewhat familiar, and perhaps, even more lovable. They have been playing this song like CRAZY on BBC Radio One, and I have to admit that I crank the radio up and dance every time I hear it. This song is MASSIVE, which is funny because it is less than two minutes long! I can’t wait to see what else Marmaduke Duke has in store on their upcoming release, Duke Pandemonium.

V Factory – Love Struck
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_410_vfactory-lovestruck.mp3]
When I first heard this song, one question filled my brain, “could this possibly signal a triumphant return of the boy band?”. Well, of course, only time can tell, but V Factory have an undeniable resemblance to another boy band, 5ive, who were pretty massive in the UK in their hay day. Also interesting to me, is that V Factory shares not only a sound similarity to 5ive, but also that the V most likely stands for 5, and as such, the two are even further, and more inexplicably linked. I am curious to see what V Factory will follow this fantastic pop track up with, because if it anything like this, then we may have an answer to the aforementioned proposed question: hells yes!

Tina Parol – Who’s Got Your Money
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_410_tinaparol-whosgotyourmoney.mp3]
Remember the amazing Blu Cantrell and her ‘it’s over’ anthem, Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)? Well, I do, and this song instantly reminded me of that fabulous hip hop track; but not because they sound similar in any way. Tina Parol uses the same subject matter of Blu’s break-up track, but instead of a tell off fit for a hip-hop diva, Tina steers more towards the pop-rock/Avril Lavigne-angsty rock in her delivery. In doing so, she has made another ‘you screw me over, I’ll take your money’ kiss off track that is radio-ready music to my ears. There’s something about an angry girl, exacting revenge on a bad boyfriend by hitting him in the wallet, that makes a great subject for an empowering ‘it’s over’ song; whether it be a hip hop anthem with a blasting beat, or in this case, an angsty, and energetic rock-pop track.

Paula DeAnda – Roll The Credits
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_410_pauladeanda-rollthecredits.mp3]
Initially, this song really didn’t hit me as hard as it probably should have, because the beginning is a little weak. However, at about one minute in when the violins take you to the first crescendo, it really soars. Paula’s sweet vocals remind me a lot of fellow female artists like JoJo and Christina Milian, and with this song, Paula really shows that she belongs on the charts right there along with her pop peers. This is one of those songs that gets better with each listen, and I am really glad that I gave Paula another chance; she’s got a great little pop ballad on her hands with this one.

Bat For Lashes – Moon and Moon
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_410_batforlashes-moonandmoon.mp3]
Finally today, I wanted to bring you something a little bit more subdued than the other tracks featured today. I have been enjoying Bat For Lashes’ most recent release Two Suns (which was released on Tuesday) all week, and this is my favorite track from the CD. The ethereal nature of her voice and the beauty of the arrangement of this track really brings up memories of my favorite Feist songs, and as such, really makes me glad that I gave Bat For Lashes a listen. The rest of the album is quite diverse, at times going from what sounds to me like old Fleetwood Mac, and other times, going all of the way to the other side of the spectrum, invoking a bit of Bjork for some unexpected electronica (or folktronica, as I believe it is called). Overall, the entire album is a great listening experience. This is one of those “hey, you’ve heard of her right? Isn’t she amazing!?!” artists, and I am extremely glad to spread the word about how much I have been enjoying Bat For Lashes. NOTE: Yes, I have seen lots of reference to Kate Bush with regards to similarities; however, believe it or not, I have never listened to Kate Bush. I will try to remedy that, but I make no guarantees; I just wanted to acknowledge that I have heard their are similarities between the two.

So there’s your Friday five, folks! I hope you enjoyed these songs as much I have been enjoying them all week. As always, let me know what you are listening to, and as always, let me know what you think of my picks as well. Have a great weekend, and remember to check back for word about the Lady GaGa show I went to last night.

5SF: april 3

I have been hella busy today, but it is finally time for the Friday five that I know all of you have been waiting patiently for! So without any further adieu, here they are:

Angel Taylor – Not Even Human
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_43_angeltaylor-notevenhuman.mp3]
First up today is the amazing Angel Taylor, who I posted about a while back, when I fell deep in love with her amazing first single, Chai Tea Latte, and just had to share it with you. Well, I noticed that Angel’s debut quietly album came out on Tuesday, when I saw that iTunes was featuring a song of hers for free this week. With that, I knew I had to check it out. Well, I can definitely report that I am loving some Angel Taylor right now. She undeniably reminds me of one of my all time favorite singer-songwriters, the indelible Ms. Sara Bareilles. In fact, this beautiful song is so similar in sound to Sara’s amazing song City, that I believe it would be a crime not to mention it. Despite the striking similarities, Angel’s voice is pretty different, and good on it’s own, and her style is a bit different (save this song) from Sara’s. This is one of my favorite tracks off of her debut, and I am glad that I took a chance on her and downloaded Chai Tea Latte not so long ago; because in doing so, I have found myself another great singer songwriter to listen to!

Bon Iver – Blood Bank
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_43_boniver-bloodbank.mp3]
Now, I have heard of Bon Iver before, and I have seen the insane amount of hype surrounding this fella. I didn’t get it. I didn’t see it. However, I was watching Monday’s episode of Chuck, and this amazingly beautiful song was playing in the background as Sara took Chuck to find his father. This was that song. At first, I thought it was a really depressed Coldplay song, because Bon Iver sounds EXACTLY like Chris Martin with a dash of Mat Kearney, but I came to find out that it was actually Bon Iver, thanks to the amazing power of the internets. Thank GOD for websites that post this type of information, because I love this song, and I had to have it immediately. It is beautiful! I can definitely say that I have a greater understanding of some of that hype for Bon Iver now. I guess I can thank the producers/music coordinators (?) of Chuck for including it!

M. Ward – For Beginners
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_43_mward-forbeginners.mp3]
Today has turned out to be rather folky, hasn’t it?! Oh well, let’s continue down that road, because after all, I really do love the softer side of music. This song struck me instantly with it’s sweet country-alternative sound, smoky vocals, and toe tapping rhythm. I really liked what M. Ward did with Zooey DeSchanel in the group She & Him, and he doesn’t disappoint on his own either. This is a really beautiful song, and really sparked my interest in his recently released solo album, Hold Time. I love how distorted and weathered his voice sounds, and I especially enjoy the simplicity of the arrangement of the song.

Kelly Clarkson – I Do Not Hook Up
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_43_kellyclarkson-idonothookup.mp3]
When Kelly finally released a very commercially viable single after years of trying to escape the depressed state that My December painted her into, I was all for it. I have been a big fan of Kelly’s from the beginning, and I knew that if anyone had it in them to burst back onto the pop scene, unscathed, it was her. Well, her recent release may have a few duds (3 in fact) that I would have preferred that she just left on the cutting room floor, the rest of the tracks are definitely strong, and all highlight the Kelly I fell in love with back with Breakaway. This track takes the energy of My Life Would Suck Without You, and revs the engine and slams down the pedal, sending you on a fast spin around the track. I absolutely love her vocals on this track, and can’t get the chorus out of my head, no matter how hard I try. Welcome back Kelly! (Note: I know that this song was written, at least in part, by Katy Perry, and while I can’t stand her, this song is just too pop perfect to ignore because of the stuff that she has done; plus, she didn’t sing it!).

Ciara – Love Sex Magic
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_43_ciara-lovesexmagic.mp3]
For me, Ciara really will never do better than One, Two Step. It isn’t her fault, because that track is literally hip hop-pop perfection. It is a song that, no matter how many times I hear it, it always gets me dancing. However, that love didn’t translate into following much else that she has done, but when I saw that she was coming out with a new CD, I will admit that I was curious to see if there was to be another One, Two Step-like track amongst the bunch. Well, this song, which is a duet with Justin Timberlake (and which is something that usually turns me off instantly), is definitely a dance floor filler, and while it may not have the staying power of One, Two Step, I am definitely enjoying it more and more with each listen. I will say, that after seeing the video, I want to know who in the hell choreographed it, and especially who the wardrobe person was. They should be fired on the spot! She wallows on the floor most of the time, all while clad in a very unflattering animal print unitard. It was not the video I would have expected for this song, and I really don’t think that it does anything flattering for either Ciara or the song. Oh well, I guess you can’t win ’em all.

Well, I hope everyone has a fantastical weekend; I will be inside, to prevent rubbing my nose off in a tissue. Let me know what you thought about this week’s 5, and as always, tell me what YOU are listening to!