new releases

I’ll Find Another Fantasy

Posted by John on September 8, 2017
Posted in: new releases, reviews, singles. Tagged: . Leave a comment

george-michael-fantasyTalk about an appropriate week to hop back into action. After feeling all the feels over Prince, new music pops up from both Michael Jackson and George Michael. While I enjoy the new MJ mash-up of “Murder on the Dance Floor” with “Dangerous” (and several other tracks), the first posthumous release from Mr. Michael is what I am really feeling at the moment.

To be honest, I don’t recall hearing “Fantasy” in its original form when it was released in 1990 as the B-side to “Freedom 90.” I bought Listen Without Prejudice the week it came out, and that was enough for a poor college student to get by with. I also missed “Fantasy 98” on the flip side of “Outside,” but I did eventually hear “Fantasy” when it was included on the Deluxe version of the Twenty Five compilation. To my ear, the song has always been a bit of a bridge between Faith and Listen Without Prejudice. I’m sure we’ll hear a story about why it wasn’t included on Listen Without Prejudice now that it’s taking center stage in the run up to October’s re-release of Prejudice.

It’s clear from the number of times this song popped up over the course of George’s solo career that he had a soft spot for it. He even performed it live during the Twenty Five tour in 2006. As a result, this surprise release makes total sense when put into context of Prejudice‘s re-release, since there needs to be some type of hook to sell a collection of music that most fans probably have in one form or another. The best part of the story to me is that this isn’t a Frankenstein release pieced together to capitalize on someone’s passing. “Fantasy” was actively re-worked by George in collaboration with Nile Rogers, who took the horns out and added his own funk guitar groove to the track. That, combined with some reworked vocals and samples, makes for an essentially new track while still remaining true to the energy of the original.

Do I love this new version of “Fantasy?” Right now, love is a strong word, but it’s growing on me. As a child reared in the 80s on “event” releases, I instinctively expect a new release from someone like George Michael to be geared to hook people and hopefully propel it to the top of the charts (ie Taylor Swift’s current chart assault). That isn’t “Fantasy.” This is a release that celebrates George’s desire to re-create music that he felt would stand the test of time. He’s done it several times throughout his career, both recorded and live in concert, so it makes sense that the first release after his passing would be a defiant release of a song I’m sure he felt hadn’t gotten its due. I wouldn’t expect any less from George than great music with a hint of rebellion.

What I’m Diggin’ Now

Posted by John on February 1, 2015
Posted in: new releases, singles, upcoming, videos, youtube. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

A good chunk of the reason I don’t blog as much is that I don’t come up with fully fleshed-out topics, but that’s a bit of a cop out. So here’s a quick list of what I’m diggin’ currently:

  • 50 Shades of Grey singles – Ellie Goulding is quickly taking over the radio with “Love Me Like You Do,” The Weeknd is looking at what may be his biggest single yet with “Earned It,” and Sia is appropriately dramatic on “Salted Heart.” Even Beyonce’s 2014 version of “Crazy In Love” from the trailer is haunting (and the full-length that’s floating around on everyone’s blog is a cover, not Bey’s). With tracks still to come from the likes of Jessie Ware, Vaults and Danny Elfman, this is shaping up to be an appropriately moody mid-winter treat. (Side note: if you’re not up on Vaults, please catch up. Stellar stuff.)

  • Olly Murs “Wrapped Up” – I’m such a sucker for this type of track, but there’s no denying that “Wrapped Up” is in the right place at the right time (see what I did there?) to finally give Murs a bona fide hit in the US, even with Travie McCoy back for another round. I even alluded to its potential on my Top Singles of 2014. He’s already scored two top 10 hits in the UK from his latest disc Never Been Better, with second hit “Up” primed to make waves in America with the help of Demi Lovato. With two tracks lined up with what’s going on in the Pop charts right now, Olly may finally get the exposure he deserves. Look for the US release of Never Been Better on March 10th.

  • Sam Hunt – The past few years have seen multiple attempts to bring a hip-hop vibe to the Country charts with abysmal results, but then Sam Hunt comes along, brings a wide range of influences along with him and nails it. He’s not a rapper, although his spoken delivery at times comes across that way. Some would claim that he’s a pop singer with Country influences, and I would be hard-pressed to argue with them. What I would call him is talented…not only is his Montevallo album one of the genuine breakout Country albums of 2014, at least five singles from the album have charted on the Hot Country Songs chart for multiple weeks, even though only two have been officially released. If I were to make a comparison, I’d say he’s a cross between Ed Sheeran and Keith Urban (whose “Cop Car” Hunt co-wrote). No matter how you classify him, at least for once it sounds genuine. Watch “Take Your Time” cross over to the Pop charts like Lady A’s “Need You Now” did in 3…2…

Baby Don’t Rush

Posted by John on October 29, 2012
Posted in: new releases, singles, soundcloud, upcoming. Tagged: , . 2 Comments

While much of the Country music universe is still reeling from dubstep Taylor Swift, one of Pop music’s brightest star continues her move toward Country music domination. Exhibit A was her duet with Reba McEntire on a remake of her “Because of You,” Exhibit B came in the form of “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean, and Exhibit C was the re-recorded Country version of “Mr. Know It All.” The latest and most successful attempt comes in the form of “Don’t Rush.”

Can you say vintage 80s Country? Vince Gill is in my all-time top five Country vocalists, and his background vocals on the chorus only help to bolster Kelly’s Country cred, but this song is a smash with or without Vince’s vocals (or guitar from the sound of it). And don’t even get me going on the key change at the end of the song! “Don’t Rush” is one of three new songs on Kelly’s upcoming Greatest Hits, along with her current Pop hit “Catch My Breath” and “People Like Us.” The album hits November 19th, but if you can’t wait that long, the single is out on iTunes October 30th, and Kelly will be performing the song live with Vince Gill at the CMA Awards on November 1st on ABC.

Like That Highway Headin’ Out of Town

Posted by John on August 14, 2012
Posted in: new artist, new releases, singles, youtube. Tagged: , , , . 16 Comments

I have been a fan of country music in one form or another for years. As a kid, it was more of the crossover stuff, like the Charlie Daniels Band’s “Devil Went Down to Georgia” or Crystal Gayle’s “Talking In Your Sleep.” As I got to college, I started venturing into the more traditional country fare, but still leaning toward the pop-sounding fare. The Judds’ Greatest Hits and Restless Heart’s Wheels were two albums that I remember having in heavy rotation in college, and it only snowballed from there. Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire and Mary Chapin Carpenter were favorites from the 90s, and I can say I have seen all of them live.

Readers of this blog know that country occasionally falls into my definition of Pop, and no country act has gotten more attention here than Lady Antebellum. While I was bit disappointed by their most recent release (Own the Night), I am still a fan and look forward to seeing their continued growth. As a result of their massive success, there are a lot of male/female vocal groups charting or attempting to chart on the Country chart. Here are three notable examples for your review.

Gloriana “(Kissed You) Good Night”

If there is one song from one group that seems to mimic the Lady Antebellum formula from “Need You Now” above all others, it has to be Gloriana’s “(Kissed You) Good Night.” One verse sung by a guy, one by a woman, and a soaring chorus where they met. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then “(Kissed You) Good Night” is a Lifetime Achievement Award for Lady A. The song has become Gloriana’s biggest hit to date as it sits at number two on the Billboard Country Songs chart with a solid shot at number one. They are also fellow Upstate New Yorkers, so I could not be happier to see them make it big.

Little Big Town “Pontoon”

Changing gears from a newer group to an established quartet, Little Big Town got off to a slow start when they first hit the charts in 2002, but their career kicked into high gear in 2005 with back-to-back top ten hits “Boondocks” and “Bring It On Home.” Their chart success has been mixed since then, but they are back in a big way with a monster hit called “Pontoon.” To my ear, “Pontoon” doesn’t sound very country, save a steel guitar buried in the mix, but whether it’s country or pop or Caribbean, it’s still a great song about “motorboatin’.” No, I didn’t make that up. Watch the video. While Little Big Town doesn’t fit the exact Lady Antebellum model, their combined harmonies and fun material always makes them one to watch.

Western Avenue “Highway Headin’ Out of Town”

When I write a compilation post like this, there is normally one idea or one song that inspires it. In this case, that inspiration goes to brand-new Canadian trio Western Avenue, who followed me on Twitter over the weekend. It isn’t often that Canadian country acts follow me, so I checked out their account and saw they have a debut single called “Highway Headin’ Out of Town.” I have a soft spot for Canadian country acts, and it is often very tough for them to break through in the US without living and working full-time in Nashville. So I found their song and played it. And I played it again. And again. Next thing you know, the chorus was stuck in my head for a solid hour.

One of the big reasons that “Highway Headin’ Out of Town” got lodged in my head is the hook in the chorus. It is one thing to write a song with a catchy hook, but it is another to capitalize on said hook with strong harmonies, and Western Avenue has that covered. The acoustic performance up above gives you a good idea, but check out the studio version to get the full impact of the song. A solid song, tight production and strong harmonies make “Highway Headin’ Out of Town” and Western Avenue ones to watch. In fact, I get the same vibe listening to “Highway” that I did from Lady Antebellum’s debut single “Love Don’t Live Here,” and look what happened there. Here’s hoping some success in the Great White North gets these folks some well-deserved attention in Music City.

“(Kissed You) Good Night,” “Pontoon” and “Highway Headin’ Out of Town” are all available now on iTunes. Gloriana’s A Thousand Miles Left Behind was released in July, while Western Avenue’s debut and Little Big Town’s Tornado are both slated for September releases.

I Will Wait For You

Posted by John on August 9, 2012
Posted in: new releases, reviews, singles, upcoming. Tagged: . 1 Comment

New Mumford and Sons. If this doesn’t put you in a good mood, I don’t know what will.

In going back through my posts, I realized I have not mentioned the Mumfords previously, but that will change. There are few musical acts right now that excite me as much as they do, and I already have tickets to see them at Red Rocks at the end of August. Sigh No More was a revelation to me, and since that album came out I have had it on a pretty regular rotation.

“I Will Wait” continues their alt-Celtic, alt-bluegrass sound that sounds traditional yet contemporary, but it sounds as if Marcus Mumford has discovered what will bring a live crowd to its feet to sing along. As a huge fan of their live shows (this one will be number three), I’m glad to see a band give the fans what they want and still maintain their identity. If anything has changed, it seems that primary writer Marcus Mumford may have lightened up a bit: “I Will Wait” has a much more upbeat message than pretty much everything on Sigh No More.

Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow

Whether this is an anomaly or a precursor of a more optimistic theme, the Mumfords have successfully whipped their fans into a frenzy for their new opus Babel, which comes out on September 25th. If you can’t wait, “I Will Wait” is available for digital download now.

Gonna Wish I Had a Storm Warning

Posted by John on December 27, 2011
Posted in: new artist, new releases, youtube. Tagged: , , , . 3 Comments

Okay…first, watch the video below. We’ll discuss it on the other side:

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about Hunter Hayes, whose above-viewed “Storm Warning” recently hit the Top 20 of the Billboard Country Songs chart with a bullet. The angle that many music journalists are taking to discuss Hayes is to talk about how, at only twenty years of age, he has co-written every song, played every instrument, and sang every note on every song of his album. Great achievement, and definitely worth mentioning. However, if it’s on Pop Music Notes, you know we’re going to talk about the pop quotient.

Back in the 1990s, there was a country singer named Bryan White who played country music with a pop sensibility and scored a few number one records. While the ladies of country music were scaling the pop charts, Bryan got left behind, and eventually the country hits dried up. His one claim to pop music fame was singing the male part on Shania Twain’s 1998 smash “From This Moment On,” but he was edited out of the pop edits of the song. No respect! Check out “Love is the Right Place” from 1997 and hopefully you’ll hear the same similarities with “Storm Warning” that I do:

Just about the time that Bryan’s career was winding down, a group called Rascal Flatts got going in a big way. Their debut self-titled disc came out in 2000 as I was preparing for my move to Colorado, and “I’m Moving On” saw me off as I drove out of Atlanta on my way to Denver the following year. Rascal Flatts have had some crossover success (“Life is a Highway,” “What Hurts the Most,” “Bless the Broken Road”), but for the most part they are still considered a country group. However, recent collaborations with Justin Bieber and Natasha Bedingfield haven’t helped the perception among some country fans that they are just a pop band with a fiddle and a steel guitar in the back of the closet.

So back to Hunter Hayes, who released his self-titled major-label debut in November 2011 and is preparing to hit the road in 2012 opening for Rascal Flatts. The album is a solid effort, although it is a bit generic in spots. For me, the big concern is that I don’t see or hear an individual voice emerging. Then again, the guy is only 20, and has plenty of time to grow into his own perspective. There’s a strong foundation on this album, and hopefully it does well enough to afford him the opportunity to record a follow-up that lets Hunter show through instead of his influences.

This Sparrow Found Her Wings

Posted by John on October 27, 2011
Posted in: holiday, new artist, new releases. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Goodbye leaves of fall
So long
Miss you

If you think that Denver is just for the Fray, OneRepublic, 3OH!3, and Dynasty, you’re missing out. Not only does Denver have some big name musicians calling it home, there is also a sizable indie/underground music scene that any minute now someone else may burst out of (Matt Morris, anyone?). Add to that bursting list singer-songwriter Katey Laurel, who this month released “Two Birds” on iTunes and CD Baby.

The premise is simple: two people are separated by distance, and one plans to “drive across the Plains” so they can spend the winter together. However, it’s the mix of this story with the two birds visual that makes the song work, as the listener has no problem picturing those two birds “sitting on a wire” or nestled in a nest, adding more impact than just a simple “I’ll drive to you” premise.

“Two Birds” succeeds not only because of its lyrical clarity, but also because of the simple yet effective production. One listen will transport you to that time between the brightness of autumn and the pure white of winter where you know the snow is coming, and in your mind you are mentally preparing. All it takes is two guitars to propel the song along, and the rest of it just flows. “Two Birds” isn’t a Christmas song per se, but it evokes some of the same emotions that make the more mellow holiday songs a welcome addition to your playlist come November and December.

There’s no plan at the moment for a full-length album, so you will have to go back to her early 2011 CD From Here if you want to hear more, or check out one of her Colorado/New Mexico shows in November or December. Then you can say “I knew Katey Laurel when…”

So We Are History, Your Shadow Covers Me

Posted by John on August 2, 2011
Posted in: commentary, death, new releases. Tagged: . Leave a comment

The world is spinning constantly, ushering one event in as it shows the last event the door at breakneck speed. Despite knowing this fact, I was struck this afternoon about all of the events that have occurred in the world and in my life since I heard that Amy Winehouse died ten days ago. Let’s be honest right upfront: while I was a fan, I wasn’t a die-hard follower. Back to Black got some serious rotation in my mixes when it came out, but I had not revisited the album recently. As for Frank, that one passed me by on its original release, and I only gave it a passing glance upon finding out that Back to Black was not Amy’s debut.

With all of that said, I can say with a clear conscience that even with my less-than-obsessive following I knew that Amy Winehouse was a force to be reckoned with. In the hands of almost any other vocalist, Back to Black would have sounded like a tribute at best or karaoke at worst, but Amy Winehouse owned those lyrics with her passionate and world-weary vocals from start to finish. Many of the ladies that have followed in her footsteps have already stumbled badly (Duffy, anyone?), but if you can say anything positive about Amy, it is that not rushing out a third album would have helped her immensely when that disc finally hit the stores and the Internet. Sadly, it is now guaranteed that if the disc sees the light of day, it will be an instant best seller.

The saddest part of all the media coverage has been the people empowered to say “she got what she deserved.” Granted, she set herself up by writing, recording and releasing a song like “Rehab,” but some of the things that have been said show just how cold the anonymous posters can be when emboldened to do so. That may be a topic for another day, but it still deserves mention because in my opinion she doesn’t deserve it.

So what do we have to show for having had Amy Winehouse in this world for 27 years? For one, we have a renewed interest in 60s girl groups, which is never a bad thing. Beehives, for better or worse, made a brief comeback. Ghostface Killer got played on the radio via the “You Know I’m No Good” remix, and I’ll never complain about that. Sadly, we now have some brilliant music being released in tribute to Amy. While some of these are simply covers that are meant to memorialize a talented performer, at least one reinterprets one of Amy’s greatest songs in an unexpected way.

Ronnie Spector wrote for Rolling Stone magazine one of the most personal tributes to Amy Winehouse that I read in the aftermath of Amy’s death, but it was the musical tribute that truly moved me. Spector, who performed “Back to Black” live with Amy in the audience, recorded a cover of the song that reinterprets it from a dark and moody girl group ballad to a smoky dancefloor anthem that is begging remixes while standing on its own as an unexpected revelation. According to Rolling Stone, the cover will be released as a charity single, but for the time being I’m playing the song over and over as a reminder of both Amy Winehouse’s writing talent and as a testament to the vocal power of Ronnie Spector. If there is any silver lining to Amy’s passing, may it be the exposure she directed toward the originators of the sound that made her popular, and the respect those pioneers are showing her in return.

Songs for Japan

Posted by John on March 25, 2011
Posted in: new releases. Tagged: . 1 Comment

I usually don’t do full-on blatant posts for new releases, but with the reality of natural and man-made disasters becoming more and more devastating in Japan, I think this is a good exception. An all-star compilation of 38 tracks encompassing multiple record labels is available starting today through iTunes worldwide, with both artist and iTunes proceeds going directly to the Japanese Red Cross.

The society will use the funds for the ongoing provision of immediate relief and for eventual recovery support to the affected population. The artists participating on “Songs for Japan,” the music labels and music publishers have waived their royalties and proceeds from the worldwide sales of the album to ensure that the JRCS receives as much support as possible from this global initiative.

Even if you own a majority of the tracks, donating $10 to the effort and receiving something in return is about as great of a deal as I can think of. As @xolondon mentioned on Twitter this morning, there is a previously unreleased Starsmith Remix of “Born This Way” that might help blunt the impact of so many previously available tracks downloading to your computer, but at the end of the day, it is about the assistance. If you want to do more, you can donate additional funds to the Red Cross here. Check out the track listing below:

1. John Lennon “Imagine” (Remastered)
2. U2 “Walk On” (Radio Edit)
3. Bob Dylan “Shelter From The Storm”
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Around The World” (Live)
5. Lady Gaga “Born This Way” (Starsmith Remix)
6. Beyonce “Irreplaceable”
7. Bruno Mars “Talking To The Moon” (Acoustic Piano Version)
8. Katy Perry “Firework”
9. Rihanna “Only Girl (In The World)”
10. Justin Timberlake “Like I Love You”
11. Madonna “Miles Away” (Live)
12. David Guetta “When Love Takes Over” (feat. Kelly Rowland)
13. Eminem “Love The Way You Lie” (feat. Rihanna) [Clean Version}
14. Bruce Springsteen “Human Touch”
15. Josh Groban “Awake” (Live)
16. Keith Urban “Better Life”
17. Black Eyed Peas “One Tribe”
18. Pink “Sober”
19. Cee Lo Green “It’s Ok”
20. Lady Antebellum “I Run To You”
21. Bon Jovi “What Do You Got?”
22. Foo Fighters “My Hero”
23. R.E.M. “Man On The Moon”
24. Nicki Minaj “Save Me” (Clean Version)
25. Sade “By Your Side”
26. Michael Buble “Hold On” (Radio Mix)
27. Justin Bieber “Pray” (Acoustic)
28. Adele “Make You Feel My Love”
29. Enya “If I Could Be Where You Are”
30. Elton John “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”
31. John Mayer “Waiting On The World To Change”
32. Queen “Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)” [Remastered]
33. Kings Of Leon “Use Somebody”
34. Sting “Fragile” (Live In Berlin)
35. Leona Lewis “Better In Time”
36. Ne-Yo “One In A Million”
37. Shakira “Whenever, Wherever”
38. Norah Jones “Sunrise”

Springing A Leak

Posted by John on April 24, 2010
Posted in: commentary, music industry, new releases. Tagged: , . 16 Comments

I woke up this morning to a tweet from @shayneTward (well, not PERSONALLY to me):

I find it disgusting that yet another 1 of my songs have been leaked. I ask all of u to not download or even listen 2 it in respect of me.!

Now there’s a conundrum for the Shayne Ward fan in your life. (Full disclosure if you didn’t already know it: I’m a fan). On one hand, a fan of an artist wants to help that person out and support whatever efforts will allow them to be successful. However, the flip side is that said fan wants to hear that leaked music as soon as possible. So what way do you go?

Leaks have become a completely different beast in the age of the Internet than they ever were in more analog times. My first “leak” was a vinyl copy of the Black Album in the late-80s that I got from a person who worked for a distributor. At the time, I thought I was being all rebellious and connected at the same time, but now I know that the bootleg was actually a promo copy of the aborted (at the time) album. It came as a fully packaged album, with a two-toned black cover, so I should have recognized the effort that went into the packaging. The Black Album was finally released in 1994, although by that time not nearly as many people cared.

So back to the leak at hand. I’ve already talked about two Shayne leaks last month, and as we get closer to the release of his third record, I am sure we will see more. While you want to think that the actions of someone you respect are on the up and up, I can’t help think that bringing attention to a track continues the conversation about the artist started by the first two leaks. Leaks have worked very well in building buzz for artists over the past few years (think Britney’s last two projects), so it isn’t a reach to wonder if the protest is to bring attention to the leak, because I didn’t know another track had leaked until Shayne told me so. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, I suppose.

So here’s the question: given the circumstance, would you check out the leak, or would you leave it alone? I promise that I will share which way I went with it, but I’d like to see some of the feedback first.