“Sharpshooter” by Ugly Kids Club
14
Oct

At the beginning of 2012 I featured “My Soul” by Ugly Kids Club. The track was part of UKC’s first self-titled EP which was released earlier this year to an excited and receptive group of fans and music reviewers.

Now, back with a vengeance, the talented two are serving it up once again with their newly released single and video, “Sharpshooter.”

Image courtesy of Eat Sleep Breathe Music

I love the album art for their debut EP because I think it’s sexy. It reminds me of another sexy cover album – Washed Out’s Within and Without. Love it! Image courtesy of Luddite Stereo.

“Ruin” by Liz Wood
30
Sep

Connecticut born singer-songwriter, Liz Wood, showcases honest and fresh songwriting on her newest EP Into My Own. The album is due out October 16, 2012. With influences that span genres and decades, she finds familiarity in the songwriting styles of Bob Dylan, Jacob Dylan and the performance styles of greats such as Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Have a listen to the new single “Ruin.”

[audio:Ruin.mp3|titles=Ruin|artists=Liz Wood]
“Ruin” by Liz Wood

mp3 courtesy of soundcloud

Image courtesy of Wood’s Facebook photo stream.
Shared by Sera Roadnight of MT Press.

“Do I Make It Look Easy” by Sara Jackson-Holman
16
Sep

Portland, Oregon-based pianist/singer-songwriter, Sara Jackson-Holman, has released her sophomore full-length album, Cardiology, on Expunged Records.

Cardiology expresses a very personal journey – centered around themes of love and loss and Jackson-Holman’s experiences with each. Some songs, like “Do I Make It Look Easy” and “For Albert” are about realizing and accepting that you can’t change people. She also wrote songs to sort through what it means to lose someone you love.

Featuring contributions by Skyler Norwood (Point Juncture, WA) on drums and bass, Jack Norwood on bass, Jessie Dettwiler (Alameda) on cello, and Basho Parks (Jenn Rawling & Basho Parks) on violin, Jackson-Holman’s songs are fleshed out by a cast of strong supporters.

[audio:Do I Make It Look Easy.mp3|titles=Do I Make It Look Easy|artists=Sara Jackson-Holman]
“Do I Make It Look Easy” by Sara Jackson-Holman

Image and mp3 courtesy of Alex Steininger at In Music We Trust PR

“Desert Run” by Willie Ames
11
Sep

From sunny San Diego, Willie Ames is a guitarist/banjoist/singer/songwriter performing acoustic folk/rock music. At the age of 18, Willie became deeply inspired by the music of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. Willie has written, and continues to write, his own original material that has listeners comparing his sound to his influences and other well known musicians.

Willie’s track titled “Desert Run” is a good example that proves his ability to finger pick his instrument while singing. As many other banjo players play bluegrass style of banjo, Willie digs deep to find a harder/darker rock type of sound. For years now, Willie has been performing showcases at music venues, festivals, party functions, corporate gigs, and weddings with his original music all across the United States (all 50 States covered to date).

His current album Night Owl features 10 original tracks (with both his solo work and collaborations with other musicians) and a cover of Lindsey Buckingham’s “Never Going Back Again”.

[audio:Desert Run.mp3|titles=Desert Run|artiste=Desert Run]
“Desert Run” by Willie Ames

Image and mp3 courtesy of James Moore, Independent Music Promotions – Music Marketing For Serious Independent Musicians

“Spin Me Ever After” by Side FX
11
Sep

Indie dance/pop band Side FX is picking up momentum and cranking out hit after hit. The boundary-defying group is back for the fourth time to give fans a new album. Released on September first, Spin Me Ever After is available for purchase on the band’s website and iTunes.

Side FX with lead singer, Kim Cameron (the ‘FX’ factor), is well known for exploring new sounds and combining rhythms and beats that, together, offer the unexpected. National TV and films have licensed their songs and radio stations across the US, UK, Canada and Australia have added them to their playlists. Have a listen to the title track below.

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“Spin Me Ever After” by Side FX

mp3 and image of Kim Cameron courtesy of Cleo Gordon, LaFamos, Marketing & Publicity Department.

“Full Moon Rising” by Neil Halstead
11
Sep

British guitarist and singer, Neil Halstead, released an album today on Brushfire Records titled Palindrome Hunches. The song “Full Moon Rising” is the first single. Neil is an old soul and his newest solo record is exactly who he is – welcoming, warm, clever and kind. He likes mellow music, after all. Staunch fans of his fiercely alternative music in the early 1990s (with his teenage band Slowdive) may not enjoy his transformation, but I welcome it.

[audio:Full Moon Rising.mp3|titles=Full Moon Rising|artists=Neil Halstead]
“Full Moon Rising” by Neil Halstead

mp3 courtesy of Brushfire Records.

Image by John Isaac courtesy of MTV Hive

“Home Again” by Tini Grey
30
Aug

Tini Grey is emerging with unique and soulful songs akin to those of Jack Johnson and John Mayer.

Born of Samoan heritage, Grey grew up in a famous musical family. Despite his inherent musical talent, Tini shied away from the business until his 30’s. Tini began to contemplate his own musical destiny in 2006 and, not long after that, his innate passion to write and play inevitably became his life path.

Shades of Grey is a sophisticated blend of Acoustic, Pop and Soul. An exploration of love, passion, pleasure and empowerment through keen storytelling and heart-felt insight.

[audio:Home Again.mp3|titles=Home Again|artists=Tini Grey]
“Home Again” by Tini Grey

Image and mp3 courtesy of Jennifer Thorington, Working Brilliantly

“Halfway” by Belmont Lights
27
Aug

Los Angeles, CA alt-pop-rock band Belmont Lights‘ highly anticipated debut EP Telegraphs is available for purchase on iTunes and Bandcamp.

Hailing from sunny San Diego, the band was formed in 2009 after frontman Isaiah Blas won San Diego’s Songwriting Competition, earning a spot on the House of Blues SD main stage. The band spent two years playing up-and-down the West Coast, honing their soaring, melodic sound.

Telegraphs was recorded at LA’s very own historic Westlake Recording Studios under producer Alejandro Barajas, engineered by Michael Sanchez and mixed by Mike Ault of Ault Sound. It was mastered by Robert Vosgien (Etta James, Demi Lovato, Saosin, Sick Puppies) at Capitol Records. The release lives up to its title, as from start to finish it delivers an ambient journey through the inner workings of relationships and the human heart.

[audio:Halfway.mp3|titles=Halfway|artists=Belmont Lights]
“Halfway” by Belmont Lights

mp3 courtesy of Tiffany Youhanna of LaFamos PR & Branding

Image courtesy of Belmont Lights’ Followgram

“What I’m Waiting to Hear” by Eric Schackne
20
Aug

Reputable as a singer-songwriter,Eric Schackne, also encompasses a unique piano-driven pop rock style all his own. He writes, plays and produces each song from top to bottom.

During his four years at University of Florida in Gainesville, Eric began polishing his songs further. He acquired his first acoustic guitar. Still, he often found himself sneaking up to play the pianos in the practice rooms of the university’s music building, discovering that was where his true passion was. After graduating with a degree in psychology, Eric ultimately decided to gamble on his talents, record an acoustic five-song EP, and leave the east coast for Los Angeles.

A little over a year after the release of his first untitled, six-song EP, Eric was ready to record again. This time he produced, wrote, recorded, and mixed every single song on his second album, Hammers & Strings EP, in its entirety. Have a listen to “What I’m Waiting to Hear” below.

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“What I’m Waiting to Hear” by Eric Schackne

Image and mp3 courtesy of Amanda Blide, Director of Publicity, LaFamos, Marketing & Publicity Dept.

Installment #2 of Two for Tuesday
14
Aug

It’s actually after midnight, so technically it’s Wednesday. However, I still would like to offer my second installment of my new series, “Two for Tuesday.” This week, we have the original version of the song “Outta My System” from Jim James and the rest of the psychedelic rock band, My Morning Jacket. It can be found on thier latest 2011 release Circuital. The second one is not a cover, but it’s a remix by Sub Pop’s Ernest Greene, a.k.a Washed Out. It can be found on a remix EP titled Remixez Y Friendz EP.

[audio:Outta My System.mp3|titles=Outta My System|artists=My Morning Jacket]
“Outta My System” by My Morning Jacket

Image courtesy of EarplugsNOTIncluded

[audio:Outta My System (Washed Out Remix).mp3|titles=Outta My System|artists=Washed Out]
“Outta My System” by Washed Out

Image courtesy of THE BLUE INDIAN