Do you remember Little Mix? If not, you should brush up on my thoughts on them on their original post. (But in case you don't wanna do that, just know that the most important take away was that I was excited to hear their album and see if they would unlock the potential that I saw in them.)
NOW
I know, I know. The album doesn't actually drop until November 19... in the UK. Not the US. The UK. I actually don't think they have a US release date? Anyway, so... take that as you will. I'm not gonna say I did illegal things to get this album buuuuut, if I did, it was for the greater good, so I could bring you lot a review on whether you should spend the money on said album. (Or chance heavy fines or incarceration for it. You know, whatever strikes your fancy.)
Anyway, all that aside, Little Mix blew this album out of the water. Completely, and totally achieved the greatness that their "Cannonball" performance hinted at. Is it a perfect album?
No.
Is it a perfect first album?
Hell. Yes.
Every single song showcases every girl and proves that they aren't just four pretty faces with fabulous clothes, but four completely stunning voices. Not only that, but the album just breathes girl power. Tracks like "Change Your Life" and "We Are Who We Are" just make me feel good about myself, and I'm not even the self-conscious type. But dear lord, yes. I'm gonna shine like a star, Little Mix told me so. (Though, girls, you all do look like beauty queens already, so that line about not looking like one is a bit moot, yeah?)
Arguably, the best track on the album is the ballad "Turn Your Face." When I listened to the album for the first time last night, I actually had to stop everything I was doing and just listen to it because I found it so heart wrenching and beautiful. There is so much power in their voices and so much pain that the song just leaves you slightly breathless from it all. In fact, I'd say that if there was one track you invested in on this album, it be this one. It validates their win on The X Factor, it truly does. They're such young artists that their voices shouldn't be able to sound like they do on this track. Can you just imagine what they're going to sound like by their second one? (Fun fact: As I listen to the album again, this song is giving me goosebumps. Again.)
Now, there are some songs that should have been cut, or made into bonus tracks. "How Ya Doin'" comes off a little TOO Spice Girls, and to be honest, these girls have voices that are far superior to that of the Spice Girls and they could do so much better than sounding like one of their cover bands. And the following track, "Red Planet" just doesn't sit right with me. It is neither bad, nor is it good. But they make up for it with the following six tracks. (Well, six if you invest in the deluxe edition, which you should. Technically only two tracks if you have the normal edition.)
Lastly, one of the best aspects of this album is that so many of the songs were made to be played live. The song "Madhouse" practically oozes with performance possibilities. I can practically hear the crowd cheering in the arena as they sing this song, running around fighting off the villain much like N'Sync did in their Popodyssey tour. (You know, when they're fighting the video game bad guy? No? Am I really that old?) It's going to be brilliant live, and I would do a lot of things to witness it, to be honest, ESPECIALLY if they run with this film noir theme that runs throughout the album. ("DNA," "Madhouse," and bonus track "Case Closed" all are begging to have a dark, detective themed tour.)
All in all, an album well worth the wait from this female group. Maybe I didn't understand the hype while they were on TXF, but I fully understand now. Keep up the good work, girls. I want you stateside so I can actually invest in this spectacular release.
4/5
Standout tracks: "Turn Your Face," "Case Closed" and "We Are Who We Are."
'DNA' drops in the UK November 19 via SyCo. (And hopefully eventually in the US.)
Oh wow. It's November 16 and it has been a REALLY LONG TIME. Like... a really long time. I am so sorry that I have been MIA. It's just been a pretty hectic semester, what with it being my last one and all and discovering new music wasn't exactly the highest on my to do list, if ya feel me.
But have no fear! Because I'm bringing you guys a good one!
Meet Olivine. Now, they kind of helped me in my band search, because they're the ones who found me on tumblr and followed me. Now, I check out every single person that follows me because I figure if they are, we must have similar interests, right? And to be honest, the second their autoplay started, I almost left because my sound was all the way up and autoplay is never kind to those with their volume on max. Of course, it only took about 4 seconds into the autoplayed song for me to realize leaving the page would be a horrendous idea.
"You just might break a billion hearts tonight." That's the first line listeners hear from singer Jake Mai and lordy, it is a damn good line sung by a damn good voice. And he's backed by a damn good band. So it doesn't shock me at all that they managed to snag the attention of John Feldmann, who has worked with just about every band I have ever loved. (No seriously. All Time Low, The Used, The Cab, Foxy Shazam, Neon Trees, Blitz Kids, Good Charlotte, Story of the Year. The list seriously goes on and on.) Feldmann then invited the band out to his studio and well, have you listened to the four songs on their website? He did a damn good job of producing them, that's all I have to say.
This Dallas based band-- TEXAS REPRESENT!-- has some talent, and if you enjoy bands like SafetySuit and Go Radio, chances are you are going to fall head over heels in love with Olivine. Actually, you're probably going to love them anyway, just because they remind me so much of the music that I obsessed over in the early high school years. (We're talkin' Yellowcard and Dashboard Confessional, and who didn't love Yellowcard and Dashboard Confessional?)
Olivine is definitely a band to keep your eye on. Mark my words. If we're going to see the alternative scene of the mid-2000s come back, it's gonna be spearheaded by this group. And I can only hope that people get on that, because I would LOVE to hear these boys on the radio.
Go Download: I'm gonna be that person and say to download the title track from their debut album 'Drift' (which you can pick up now on iTunes) just because it is a REALLY good song. BUT, you should also check out "Without You," because the strings are phenomenal. In fact, just listen to all four songs they have up on their tumblr page.
By this point we all know One Direction. Whether you like it or not, you’ve heard at least one of their songs and you’ve found yourself with it stuck in your head. Now, hear me out when I say that that isn’t a bad thing. The 1D boys may produce candy coated pop tracks on a (double) platinum platter, but they do it with a lot of talent. Don’t write them off just because they’re perfectly coiffed, don’t pen their own stuff and spend their time on the Top 40s charts.
While ‘Up All Night’ was a piece of solid pop dynamite, it left fans wondering about this band’s shelf life. (After all, the boy band life expectancy isn’t exactly the longest in the music industry.) Could they create another album with the right amount of head bobbing pop beats that didn’t sound like UAN 2.0? Or would they find themselves the victims of the sophomore slump?
Well, 1D fans, it is safe to say that the boys managed to pull off a piece of perfectly polished pop perfection. (I do so love alliteration, don’t you?) Boasting the likes of tracks like “I Would,” “Heart Attack,” and “Kiss You,” the boys show just how much they’ve learned from their boy band contemporaries. (Is it just me, or does it feel a helluva lot like the ’90s again?) ‘Take Me Home’ does what any good pop album sets out to do, and that’s make listeners want to dance. But it’s more than that.
With two songs from Ed Sheeran, the album manages to also create downtime for fans to catch a breather from the faster, punchy songs that surround them. They will also end up as fan favorites given it seems the popular consensus that Sheeran is a lyrical genius.
It’s every bit of catchy as one would expect from 1D, and shows just how much the band has grown. Pulling from the likes of Queen for songs like “Rock Me” and Michael Jackson for “Heart Attack,” they manage to show, for lack of a better word, haters that they are more than just kids who listened to heavily synthesized pop music of the early ’00s. (A common misconception given the artists the boys actually listen to.)
It does need to be said, however, that the ending track— at least the normal, not deluxe or yearbook edition ending track— isn’t one of the best album closers out there, leaving listeners, at least this listener, like they’re missing something. It’s a nice track, sure, but definitely one that could have been left on the cutting room floor, or at least made into a bonus track.
Maybe it isn’t mature in the fact that they didn’t decide to suddenly change genres, but the album does show that they’ve grown up quite a bit from the doe eyed, long haired teens of “The X Factor.” Fans of the band are undoubtedly going to love it, especially since they could probably release covers of The Wiggles and some listeners would still eat it up. (Okay, maybe not that far.) But what’s best is TMH will— or at least should— gain them respect from those who signed them off as a band with their fame handed to by Simon Cowell.
‘Take Me Home?’ It’s an accurate title given that’s exactly what you’re going to want to do with this album.
It is my final semester of college and things have been quite hectic. (There's apparently a good reason you aren't supposed to take more than 9 hours of journalism courses at once.)
But this weekend I have some downtime, so keep yours eyes peeled!
Oh, it has been FAR too long! Things got pretty hectic for awhile. I had to move back to Austin for school. Then I had band. Then school started. Basically, something had to go on the back burner, and unfortunately, finding new music to contribute to society had to be what got pushed back.
BUT I'M BACK NOW!
And I have got to tell you that when I was able to find the time, I've been searching for what exactly to bring to the table and I think I've figured it out.
You see, I don't know if you pay as much attention to singing shows as I do, especially since most people are getting tired of singing shows, but I've been pretty keyed into the X Factor UK auditions and I have got to say that they have some pretty stellar talent coming through. There have been multiple auditions that have given me goosebumps and made me fall in love, and I'm just rooting for all of them to make it through. The chances of them making it through? I don't know since I'm pretty certain I'm cursed and anyone I like in a competition loses (save American Idol. I have an uncanny ability to predict the winner based on their first song during the live shows. I've guessed the past five winners this way. It's a gift). We also have to take into account that they don't show us everyone that comes in. So who knows what other talent we're missing!
But that doesn't really matter, because I do know what we've seen and I know that if at least three of these people don't make it, I will go to England and give the judges a piece of my mind.
Week 1:
Curtis Golden- This 18-year old self proclaimed nerd (or geek, because he isn't sure) was set up to be that awkward audition. You know which one I'm talking about. Where they come in and they're all awkward and it's their dream to sing and then they sing and it makes the audience cringe. It doesn't help that he dropped that bit about having a Mel B cutout... with Mel B there. But then the boy whips out the acoustic guitar and starts singing this bluegrass version of "Candyman" and... well, check it out for yourself, yeah? (Warning: Mel B makes things rather awkward near the end, and I felt so bad for the kid.)
Ella Henderson- This girl is only 16 you guys. SIXTEEN. Not only is she trying out for the X Factor, but here she is singing a song she wrote herself about her grandfather. Now most people don't perform songs they wrote themselves because, well, you can be a good singer and a terrible songwriter and then bam, you've shot yourself in the foot. Luckily, that is not the case for young Ella Henderson. The moment she started singing, my jaw dropped. Her words aren't cheesy, they're emotional and relatable and she has a voice that is so strong, at SIXTEEN. There are grown women who strive for a voice like this. Honestly, she was my first set of goosebumps for the audition round, and listening to her now, I'm getting them again. I truly believe that if they don't put her into the live shows, they'll be making a terrible mistake. Because she is brilliant.
Week 2:
Kye Sones- Firstly, I knew of Kye thanks to Sugarscape and their live tweets about the show. So I'd be lying if I said I didn't check him out because I'd been promised a cute guy. That isn't why he's on the list though. (Well, it helps because you have to have the look too, but... let's just keep going, shall we?) Also, the guy is a chimney sweep. A CHIMNEY SWEEP! I didn't even know those were real! My mind was blown! Basically, I had a lot of excitement going into his audition, especially since I knew he was going to do a mash up that included Rita Ora's R.I.P. (You lot know I love Rita, yeah?) Anyway, so when he started to sing, I fell in love. Is he the strongest? No, but he has that something about him, and DAMN did he make me smile with that audition. (He also made Rita smile. At one point I'm pretty sure she was about to jump up on that stage to get him. Which, I mean, can you blame here?)
James Arthur- James Arthur is THAT story. The rough story where music saved his life. The story where he could have either become another hoodlum on the street, or he could have made something of himself, and luckily, for him and for all of us, he chose to make something of himself. And boy am I glad he did. He was my second set of chills for the season, and watching his audition video now, I'm getting chills and it hasn't even reached the singing part yet. He did an acoustic version of Tulisa's "Young" and it blew me away. If I had to give you a reference of what he sounds like, I'd say he's like James Morrison and Ed Sheeran's love child. If THAT isn't awkward. Anyway, now I'm just rambling, you should really just go watch his audition. He is another one that I believe would be a huge mistake if they didn't bring him onto the live shows.
Week 3:
Jake Quickenden- He's a lifeguard with a slightly crazy mom. If anything, I loved him because his banter with his mom reminded me of me and my mom. (And maybe it helps that he's a lifeguard. Maybe.) But I didn't expect him to come out with a soulful rendition of "Use Somebody." Maybe the original rock version, sure. I could even see him coming out with some R&B, but not this. It was a pleasant surprise, and I would be able to listen to this audition over and over again. (I should also probably tell you that I haven't found a cover of that song that I don't like yet. So maybe I'm biased.) I completely agree with Tulisa in this one. His voice isn't perfect, but he has room to grow, and yeah. The ladies do love him :3
Joseph Whelan- Let's be real. When I saw Joseph Whelan, my very first thought was Charlie Simpson. He reminds me so much of him, so I expected the same sort of indie voice as Charlie and his solo stuff. THAT, is not what I got. What I got, was so much more. It was like someone unleashed a can of pure rock onto the X Factor stage. He is straight up 80s rockstar voice, and I looooooove it. We need more rock voices like this in music, and I think he delivers. I hope he makes it to the live shows so we can see what else he can do. (Also, the fact that he's a dad and just obviously loves his son so much made my heart melt.)
Melanie Masson- Last, but most CERTAINLY not least, is 44-year old Melanie Masson. Now, the intro to her audition may have you a little iffy. Married mother of two who runs an under five music class where she dresses up as a fairy. Yeah, I made that look first. But I promise you, you do NOT want to turn away just because of that. This woman started her audition strong, there was no lead in. She hit you with the strength of her voice, and then didn't back down. It's hard to do Janis Joplin and not only make it your own, but not be put to shame, but Melanie did it. People were giving her a standing O like, halfway through her audition. Wow, if there is any audition you take the time to watch on this page, make it this one.
Now, auditions aren't completed, so we still have time to discover some more amazing talent! I'll make sure to keep my eyes open and get them out as well, but there was no way I could keep these guys to myself. They need to be known, and they need to be known now.
So learn to love them! And if any of them make it into the live shows, then you UK readers should vote for them for me ;D
I'm currently in the middle of Hell Week for band, so I haven't had the ability to get on and write up something, but I promise you I have something in the works.
We continue Girl Power Week here at Bands That Need Love Too with our Solo Artist of the Week, Rita Ora! I've seen her name here and there, pretty much on tumblr because a girl I follow is quite a big fan of her, and I always make a note to myself to give her a listen, and then never do. Luckily, thanks to The Hits Radio (again) I finally heard her.
I honestly didn't know who I was listening to when the song came on, probably because I was only half paying attention (you know, because I listen to the radio when doing homework) but I quickly switched my attention because, wow, how boss is this girl's vocals and her track?
Admittedly, she's a little more known than I like to write about, what with her twitter having 900,000+ followers, but I can justify it if we pretend no one in American knows her. (Which, isn't a LIE per say. I mean, I did have to listen to British radio to hear her.) But I digress.
After falling in love with the song, R.I.P., I took to youtube to find all I could from Ms. Ora. What I found was a strong, soulful voice backed by rockin' dance beats that'd make anyone wanna move. I mean, that's kind of the main requirement for Girl Power Week if you haven't noticed. Rita Ora is the music you put on when you just want to have a good time. Her music is the music you blast while driving downtown through the city you love.
One of her singles, "How We Do (Party)," lyrically reminds me of Katy Perry's TGIF, only I personally think Ora rocks it so much better. Why I never heard it on the radio is beyond me. "R.I.P." is a harder song with heavier beats and showcases her voice better, which is probably why I love it so much. That, and it just makes me feel like the biggest badass.
In my own, humble opinion, Rita Ora has everything to make it big. She has the voice (as is apparent in her acoustic stuff), she has beats, and she has the looks. (Honestly, the girl is freaking gorgeous, and much like with Little Mix, I would LOVE to go on a shopping adventure with her.) That, and she just seems to be a pretty cool person. I mean, she cites Tina Turner, Ella Fitzgerald, David Bowie and Gwen Stefani as some of her influences. That's just... boss.
Let's just add her to the list of awesome talent coming from the UK, yeah?
America, you'd be remiss if you didn't learn to love her, like... now.
Go Download: Here in the US of A, you can pick up her single "How We Do (Party)" on iTunes! And if you're in the UK or Ireland, you can preorder her debut album 'ORA' which is set to drop August 28. No word on when it'll be out in the US though :(
And in case you needed proof of how amazing her voice really is...
I don't know what it is this week, but I'm feeling particularly girl power-y. Maybe it's because of the Fab Five-- I mean, I'm STILL reeling from McKayla Maroney's vault. Dear lord girl, could you be more badass?-- or maybe it's because I just watched Kayla Harrison kick some serious butt in Judo this morning. (USA! USA! USA!) Whatever it is, I'm feeling the badass awesome girl groups.
So today, we're gonna be talking about all girl rock band Cherri Bomb, who has not only performed at festivals like Reading, Sonisphere and now Warped, but they've performed alongside the Foo Fighters and the Smashing Pumpkins. As if I wasn't already feeling a little bad about my life with all these 15 year olds winning gold medals in the Olympics, this band is compromised of teenagers ranging from 14-16. That's right, you read that correct. Lemme just type it up again in case you need it. FOURTEEN TO SIXTEEN. What were YOU doing when you were 14?
I can tell you what I was doing. I was a sophomore in high school with absolutely no idea at what I wanted to do with my life. Hell, I'm a month and a half away from 21 and I still am a lost cause. (In case you're masochistic and want to feel a little worse about yourself, when lead vocalist/guitarist Julia Pierce founded the band, she was 11. ELEVEN. At 11, I was mourning the end of *N'SYNC.)
That being said, I had already decided that these girls must be freaking badass, so I told my editor we should interview at Warped Tour (which we did, the video just hasn't been edited yet) and let me tell you something, they were just as awesome as I had decided they had to be.
My first experience with their music was actually at their set that day as I shot their performance and to say I was a little shocked at the voice that came out of Pierce, because it's the sort of voice we haven't gotten from a rock female vocalist is a LONG time. Their music is quite reminiscent of the 90s female grunge that was so empowering because, hey, even girls can be rockstars, okay.
When they performed, they performed hard, no holds barred and it just made me wanna move, alright?
So I came home and I decided to look into their album.
Now, it isn't without its faults. But look at how young they are. They have SO much more room to grown, AND, on top of that, it isn't even a bad first effort. In fact, I've heard much, MUCH worse. It's crashing guitars, angry vocals and in your face drums, which is exactly what you look for in a release like this.
I'm glad I got to talk to these girls, because like I said, they're a bunch of badasses with rockin' music and livin' the dream that I always wanted. Keep an eye out for these ones. Before ya know it, they'll be giving some of the big rock names a run for their money.
Go Download: You can pick up their album 'This Is the End of Control' on iTunes for just $7.99! That's like, nothing! (But if you just want one song, check out "Better This Way" because it makes me wanna throw my middle finger up in the air. Yeah.)
I have quite honestly been the worst about blogging. It isn't my fault, I swear. I haven't lost my love for discovering bands, nor have I lost my love for writing. I've just been so busy that my head has been reeling from all the things that I've been trying to keep up with. (And by that, I mean I've been having one HELL of a time trying to stay on top of Spanish.) However, you will all be happy to hear that not only am I on my second to last chapter of this god forsaken book, I have also found some time to introduce you to another group :)
You see, a couple weeks ago I picked my next band to promo, but now that I listen to them a little more, I come to find I've changed my mind, which left me in distress and in dire need of a band. Who should I tell you lot to listen to if I can't decide?! Then, as I was listening to The Hits Radio-- my current radio obsession, honestly if there is anything you get from this post, it's a new radio station-- and it played Little Mix's single that I've been desperately trying to decide if I like or not, it hit me. (Along with the realization that yes, yes I DO quite like that song.) Why don't I introduce you guys to this group?
Now, I know, I KNOW. You're probably tired of my weird British artist obsession. At this point I might as well change the requirements for this blog to be from England. I swear I don't do it on purpose, it's just that A LOT of really good stuff is coming out of there right now. Cool, glad we got that out of the way. Now on to the important stuff, shall we?
Little Mix is an all girl group who won The X Factor UK (ugh don't you give me those judging eyes) and if I'm being totally, 1,000% honest, I wasn't exactly a fan of their live performances. I mean, I thought they were good, but they weren't for me, ya know? I haven't liked a girl group since The Spice Girls, and even then I think I may have only liked them because I was young and all about girl power.
But I, for the life of me, could not escape these girls. Tumblr talks about them. Sugarscape talks about them. The Hits Radio talks about them. So finally, FINALLY, I gave in (Are you happy internet?) and I gave their single "Wings" a listen. And I still wasn't sold, but I can admit that it makes me break out my inner diva. I mean, you don't have to necessarily like a song to wanna dance to it do ya? (Ex- Anything from Katy Perry) Dear lord, it's quite embarrassing how bad it makes me wanna whip my hair back and forth actually, but I still wasn't sold. In fact, as I started this post, I still wasn't exactly sure how I felt, because like I said, none of their live performances I had seen from the show had made me think, hm, those girls are fucking boss.
Then, I came across their a capella versions of "Cry Me A River" and "Survivor." (Found HERE) and though they clock in at about 25 seconds a piece, I started to get it. They weren't hiding behind any of the extras that come with The X Factor-- you know, fancy lights, dancing, etc-- they were sitting on a couch, singing and beat boxing. (That's right. BEAT BOXING. Fierce.)
But, then I saw the link that would change everything. You see, dearest readers, sitting in the "Suggested Videos" sidebar was their live performance of Damien Rice's "Cannonball." It is honestly one of the most beautiful songs, and woah, who'd think these diva-licious singers would cover that song, right? So curiosity got the better of me and I clicked it.
And then it was like the stars aligned and wow. I GET it. Alright, England, you dragged me kicking and screaming on this one but I see why they won. I understand. The song showcased each and every one of them and my breath was taken away by how spectacular they are. They aren't just some pop girl group, but four soulful singers that are SO much more.
"Wings" may be the fun track that is gonna get them on radios everywhere, but "Cannonball" is, well, it's the song that's gonna get them fans. GOD I hope they have more like it on their album, because you best believe that I'll be getting it, as I hope many other people will, because I'd actually quite enjoy seeing these girls make it. With voices like that, they deserve to make it.
That, and let's be real, I kinda wish I could be them. Have you seen how gorgeous they are? And do NOT even get me started on their wardrobes. Hey Little Mix, let's go shoppin' together, yeah?
Go Download: WELL, unfortunately you can't download anything yet :/ If you live in the UK though, you can pre-order "Wings." We Americans, however, have to wait. They're worth the wait though!
And of course, the single, which is full of color and fun and yeah. I'm still whippin' my hair.
I had a lot of preparations to make for Warped Tour and I've had even more Spanish homework than usual on top of a couple of reviews to do here and there.
So I swear I'm not ignoring you, or losing track of things, it's just in the grand scheme of things something had to give, and this blog was what lost out.
However, I'm on my 10 out of 12 chapters of Spanish, I only have one more review to knock out and Warped Tour is over, so I should be able to force new music upon you soon.
So, my most ardent and loyal readers, the name Moonlight Social isn't new to you. If it is, you obviously have missed out on their original post, my feature on them and the fact that they made my Top 10 List of Discoveries for this past year. And if you're new, well, you should probably familiarize yourself with them now while you have that opportunity so readily available to you.
Now, you're probably wondering to yourself, why have they made yet another resurgence on your blog, Vicci? Well, dear reader, I'll tell you. You see, my buddies known as Moonlight Social have been mighty busy since I last wrote about them. They raised over $16,500 through their kickstarter (the original goal being set at $15,00) and they recorded their debut album--out July 21-- with Matt Noveskey of Blue October. They've been playing shows. They've been keeping fans in the loop with track-by-track videos. They just released a cover of Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men, AND, as of today, they've released their first music video. On top of all that awesome sauce (am I allowed to say awesome sauce, or does that deduct credibility points?) they've been receiving pretty good reviews from people who matter a helluva lot more than I do. You know, people like Gene Foley of Foley Entertainment who said, "Moonlight Social is the real deal. The writing, musicianship and vocals are all outstanding. These songs are as strong as anything on the radio. This is clearly an artist worth your time and attention," so now you guys can see that I'm not just saying they're great because I know them.
It probably would have been easier to list the things they haven't been up to, but hey, the more you know.
Now, on to this music video, shall we?
The song is "Heading South," which, if you pledged $5 to them, you received for download. Honestly, it's a catchy song, and the musicality of it is superb. (It kind of makes my heart warm and fuzzy inside knowing that I know such talented people.) And what I love most about this video is that it is quite literally the video personification of what I believe embodies the band. Note, I could be way off on this one, but that's okay cuz it's my opinion. We get to see a bit of the writing process, we get to see them travel, and most importantly, you get the complete and utter sense of Texas. (There's also a pretty boss fire, but I may be a slight pyromaniac). Maybe I'm a little bit cheesy, but there is nothing I love more than the fact that when you listen this band's music, you can hear Texas. It places you in the middle of a warm day when the sun is shining as you lay in a field surrounded by bluebonnets. Sure, it's a romanticized picture of Texas, but it's Texas nonetheless, and they depict that marvelously in the video. It kind of makes me want to go outside and yell "Texas Forever!" (Friday Night Lights reference, anyone?)
Now, don't get me wrong, that in no way means they aren't accessible to everyone else. I mean, good music is for everybody really, it's just a matter of getting everybody to realize it's okay to find it good. I still stand by what I've said in the past. Moonlight Social is gonna go places. So if I were you, I'd start falling in love with them now so you can say you've been there since the first video, you know, cuz sometimes it's just cool to say you've been there from the beginning.
Go Download: PICK UP THEIR DEBUT ALBUM 'HEADING SOUTH' JULY 21!!!!
Also, after rambling for long enough, here's that video :)
If you're like me, you know Iwan Rheon as Simon from the hit British show Misfits. (Haven't heard of it? You need to hop on over to Hulu right now and get filled in. Or, if you're opposed to watching shows online, Logo will start airing it July 19 at 10 PM ET. Nice little plug, eh?)
If we're being completely honest, if it hadn't been for the commercial for Misfits I saw on Logo this morning, I'd probably keep this boy all to myself. But that isn't fair to do, so I guess I'll share. (See, I can be nice.) Anyway, I've been turned on to Mr. Rheon's talents for some time now. You see, aside from being a part of such an awesome show, the Welsh actor has also been a part of the cast in the London cast of Spring Awakening (which for anyone wondering is one of my favorites) and-- obviously or I wouldn't be writing about him-- he has a musical career.
His first solo EP was recorded and released in 2010 with help from Kevin Bacon. Okay, not the Kevin Bacon you're thinking of, but it sure did grab your attention, didn't it? It's a four track slice of heaven that features him and an acoustic guitar. His second was recorded and released just last year, so as you can see, though he's been off acting, he's also kept up with this music business.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Vicci, you've told us about him, but what does he sound like?!
Well, my dear, dear readers, he sounds like a man with a wonderfully ear appeasing folk voice accompanied by acoustic guitar. He fits in nicely with the likes of the British Folk Movement that we've seen as of late. You know, that one that includes Mumford & Sons and Bobby Long. This is the type of music that you have playing on a lazy afternoon when you curl up on the couch with a good read and a nice warm cuppa. (cup·pa/ˈkÉ™pÉ™/: Noun: A cup of tea)
Or on a rainy day.
Or on a nice, sunny Sunday drive.
Or while studying.
Packing for a trip.
Really, you could probably just listen to him whenever the hell you felt like it really. It's so calming and I really can't imagine anyone being able to listen to his music without just getting lost in it.
Is it completely different from anything we've ever heard? No. It isn't. But there's always room on my iPod for a nice and good folk song that wants nothing from me except my undivided attention.
That being said, Iwan is currently working on a full length album to get on out there so we have more to add to our "Just About Anything" playlist, and we'll be waiting ever so patiently because god dammit, we love you Barry. Er, I mean Iwan.
(Don't get that reference? Well obviously you need to watch Misfits.)
Welcome my dearest readers to the first official Solo Artist of the Week! And who better to kick off this new branch of promotions than the one and only Olly Murs.
You see, as many of you may know, I have One Direction Infection bad. Like... real bad. If I had it in me to feel ashamed, I probably would be. Luckily enough, I have no shame. But I digress. This confession is necessary because it's thanks to One Direction that I know Olly Murs. Sure, I'd heard the name before and I knew of him, I just hadn't listened to him. Not because I didn't want to, mind you, but because I just never got around to it. So when I finally got around to really listening to Mr. Murs, it was at 1D's Atlanta concert just a few nights ago.
You see, hearing people live is probably one of my favorite ways to discover artists, because really if they're great live then of course they're going to be good on album. It's like the true test. I can love an artist based on performance alone. So when Olly came out and lit that stage on fire, it was needless to say that I needed him on my iPod, and I needed him there ASAP.
For those of you who don't know, Olly was the runner up in the The X Factor UK in 2009. You know, that same X Factor that gave us our beloved British boy band. (I just love alliteration, don't you?) He was slated as the dark horse of the competition, though if I'm being honest, this Joe McElderry must be pretty damn phenomenal because I can't think of any other reason why Olly would have been beat if it weren't for that.
He's just a really funny guy, freaking adorable, and SUCH an entertainer. You know when you can just tell that someone was born to perform? Yeah. That's how I feel about him. AND on top of that, his music is quite literally the musical personification of sunshine and happiness. Wikipedia likes to classify it as pop/reggae fusion/ska/dance/soul, which is kind of a lot of different things to roll into one, but honestly, it's probably how I'd classify it as well. I seriously can't NOT be happy when listening to his tunes. Even his slower stuff is amazing. I'm also quite certain that "I Need You Now" was written from my head, okay. If you can't relate to it, you're cold and heartless.
Of course, he also performed "Superstitious" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and you guys should probably know that I freaking love Stevie Wonder too, so I may be just a tad biased.
But that's why I'm here, to tell you to look people up and decide for yourself if you think they're amazing as well! (Which you should, because right now I'm listening to him sing "Isn't She Lovely" and I just can't even handle it.)
PLEASE America, I BEG OF YOU, love Olly Murs so he can headline in the US and we can all fangirl over him and bask in the sunshiney happiness that is his music. And I mean, did I mention he's like, the cutest thing ever?
Go Download: WELL, first off, you can pick up a free remix of his single "Heart Skips A Beat" if you sign up for his newsletter. You can also pick up the original version of the single over on iTunes. And LASTLY, you should definitely pre-order his album which is released in the US on September 25 for jus $7.99, also on iTunes. Take it from me, it is worth SO much more than $7.99. (But you should know my favorite, hands down, is "I Need You Now.")
And if you have 10 minutes to spare for some Stevie Wonder Medley Goodness, check this out. You won't regret it. I promise.
Hey guys!
It's been awhile, and currently I'm working on Spanish but I thought I'd drop in and let you know you'd be getting a post ttomorrow and another the next day because I'm starting something new.
You see, Bands That Need Love Too seems to have evolved into Solo Artists That Need Love As Well, and I want to get back to BTNLT, but I also want to keep up with my solo acts, THUS I'm starting up two posts a week.
One will be a Band That Needs Love Too and the other will be the Solo Artist of the Week.
It'll keep me posting and it'll keep new music flowing into your speakers!
I've been missing for the past week. I even promised to give you a new artist/band and didn't hold up to that promise. Which makes me feel like a terrible person who should not be allowed to run a promotional blog and have Spanish homework at the same time. With that being said, I've been scratching my head trying to find who to break my mini hiatus with. I've had three solo artists queued for a bit, and I'm ever in the search for more bands, since, well... this is BANDS That Need Love Too. So finally, after much agonizing, I've decided to come back to you all with artist Zach London.
Much like the many that have come before him, Zach London was discovered through on of my various social networks. (Tumblr this time for all those wondering. I'm assuming he followed me due to the One Direction part of my blog, as I don't think the post-hardcore/pop-rock part of it wouldn't call out much to his genre lol.) What intrigued me so much about him is that none of his sites-- well, his Youtube, Tumblr and Facebook anyway-- are more than three months old, which leads me to believe he is seriously THAT brand spanking new.
Now, let's jump into his covers, shall we? That's right, all the guy has up right now are covers. Three on his Youtube and one on his Tumblr to be exact, but don't look anything into it, because each one is stunning. I'm particularly partial to his cover of Usher's "Climax." Maybe it's because I already loved the song to begin with, but Zach London breathes such a rich, smooth feel into it that I can't help but just sit back and feel like I'm rolling around in something completely decadent. (Think chocolate fondue for the ears, yeah?) Not that Usher DOESN'T deliver some rich R&B, but it's Mr. London here who takes it above and beyond, his tone the perfect breathy and light that makes it seem more like a heartbreak song than it sounds when Usher does it. (Let's be real, when Usher sings it, it's baby making music. Is that too far?)
He also covered One Direction's "More Than This," which is actually my least favorite of his covers. Not because I don't like it, because honestly I think this boy is great, but because it's too faithful to the original version. It's almost like I'm listening to 1D's long lost sixth member, and personally, I would like to hear more Zach London, because if I wanted to listen to 1D, I'd throw their album on.
His other two covers, Beyonce and Frank Ocean's "Miss You" and J. Cole's "Work Out" are both great covers. "Work Out" is almost tied with "Climax" as far as favorites go for Zach's covers. It's uptempo and is just fun. It's good stuff AND he made it his own.
I really, sincerely hope that we get new music from him soon, whether it be another cover or if it be something of his own. I think he can breathe some new life into the R&B/Pop scene and would GLADLY buy an album from him. So I think, you should get to liking him too. That way we all can point fingers and say I told you so when he makes it big :)
Go Download: It's a sad, sad day when I can't post a link for you to download anything, but hey, you can give his songs a listen on his Youtube!
In which I get 55 or so assignments to complete every 5 days.
This is why you haven't gotten another band, but I promise you you will have one this upcoming week.
I'm just trying to get ahead in this class so I don't fall behind. Things might become one band a week for awhile.
I must be masochistic. There's no other explanation for why I keep finding artists outside of the US who I can't 1) see in concert and 2) download their music. But I guess it's a burden I'm all too willing to bear because let's face it, Lawson is spectacular.
I decided to look into them after seeing the boys of The Wanted tweet about them, and after seeing Sugarscape tweet a picture from one of their shows, I decided they would most definitely be worth looking into. And boy am I glad I did. Upon finding their YouTube channel, the very first thing I decided to watch was their cover of Lady Gaga's "Marry the Night." Why you ask? Well, I haven't seen any covers of "Marry The Night" and the fact that this British pop-rock band decided to cover a song that my pop expert friend regards as one of Gaga's best and most under appreciated single intrigued me. How would they cover it? And most importantly, how could they possibly do it justice? Well, the answer is quite simple. They stripped it down and slowed it into a gorgeous ballad feel that ultimately caused my to get chills. (It also did the same for Siri, so that's sayin' something. It wasn't just me lol) That cover alone was all I really needed to solidify my love for them. But I can't really justify writing a post mainly based on one cover, so I found myself listening to their latest single.
Now, if you're thinking that they can only pull off other people's songs, I'd have to call bullshit, because "She Was Mine" is a wonderful piece of pop to rival that of artists such as Parachute. It has ALL potential to get on the radio, and honestly I'll be quite disappointed if it doesn't make it's way to America ASAP.
I mean, it'd only make sense that they would break the US, right? They've toured with the likes of The Wanted, Avril Lavigne and Westlife. They also had their own headlining tour in May AND are a part of the lineup for T in the Park. Basically they're going places in the UK and with the amount of UK acts taking a crack at the US right now, I can only hope they'd join along.
That all being said it looks like their album isn't set to drop until September and we all know that means that here in the US of A we'll have to wait a couple months longer than that, but lemme be the first to tell you that this band is DEFINITELY worth the wait.
Go Download: You can pick up a download of their song "Red Sky" for nothing more than a tweet or Facebook like, which I SOOOO worth it. (Also, it might be time to dust off that youtube to mp3 converter so you can replay that "Marry the Night" cover as many times as you'd like.)
I'm a firm believer in checking out music that artists I like talk about. I mean, since I like them, it only stands to reason that I'd like what they listen to, at least a little, right? So when Louis Tomlinson tweeted about Tich's cover of "More Than This", I had to look into it, if not only for the fact that I love the song. What I ended up finding was a wonderful female vocalist who not only makes gorgeous covers of the songs I love, but who also makes amazing original songs.
If we're being honest, I was so excited to write the post about her, I almost double posted yesterday. But I exercised my self restraint and waited until this morning to post. Because of this remarkable self restraint I have (haha) I was able to become quite familiar with the songs she has on her youtube channel (I think I let her channel autoplay like.... four times in a row).
You see, Tich is the stage name of Rachel Furner, who started playing piano and writing music at quite a young age, so though she's only 20, she has the musicality of someone much older. Her voice is so clear and strong and I can't help but feel it's the voice that most female artists shoot to emulate, but never can. And because of that, I can't help but wonder how it is this girl isn't making radio rounds yet. Of course, I can only imagine it's a matter of time now before people pick up on how amazing she is as she has performed with artists such as Paolo Nutini, Pixie Lott, Justin Beiber and written music with Nick Jonas. (Oh, and in 2010 she performed at the iTunes Festival. Yeah.)
On top of all that, she just seems like such a genuine person. As we speak-- er... type-- her song "What I Meant To Say" is playing and the video consists of several clips of her and her friends just goofing off. Now, I like to pride myself in the fact that I'm an excellent judge of character, and this girl has the best kind of character. She not only captivates you with her music, but her personality.
Have I said enough about her to make you intrigued? No? Well, good, cuz I wasn't done yet anyway. You see, I was already pretty sold on Tich after the "More Than This" cover. I became completely sold upon hearing her cover of Queen's "No One But You." But the song that made Tich leap to the top of my favorite female vocalist list? Her own song "Breathe In, Breathe Out" that she wrote with Nick Jonas. The song is about the moment you realize you've fallen in love with someone, and who HASN'T been there before, right? But anyway, aside from the fact that it's so freaking relatable, she sings it SO passionately. I was completely blown away when I heard it. So much so in fact that I had to replay it just to make sure that I had heard what I thought I had. (If you were wondering, yes, I did. It still blows me away even though I'm sure I've added 100 views to the video.)
So yeah, I don't know if you guys get it at this point, but I think Tich is phenomenal. A lot of the comments on her youtube videos call for her to try out for X Factor, but if we're being honest, I don't think she needs it. She is wonderful on her own and I can't imagine she'll stay unknown for much longer. And if she does, than I have lost faith in the industry.
Go Download: Aside from the free download on her Facebook (which is also the Official Anti Bullying Ambassadors Campaign Song), we unfortunately don't have anything else to add to our iPods. Luckily, technology allows us to access youtube on just about anything now.
Have I mentioned that she's amazing yet? Thank you Louis!
I like Swedish things. Swedish Fish. Alexander Skarsgard. Swedish Meatballs. Now I can add Erik Hassle to the list. You see, my mom loves watching dance, and a choreographer named Kate Jablonski posted a new dance and the song was gorgeous. After much searching (Ok... I scrolled down to the comments section) I found that it was a cover of Robyn's "Be Mine" by Ellie Goulding and Erik Hassle. Now, I already am head over heels in love with Ellie, so it only stands to reason that I'd check out this Erik Hassle, especially given that his voice is so marvelous in the duet. And he DEFINITELY didn't disappoint. (Funnily enough, my good friend Luis wrote about Erik in October on his blog Album Confessions and honestly his post is probably more read worthy than my own lol)
You see, Mr. Hassle here has seen much success in Sweden, his album 'Hassle' making it's debut on Swedish charts and #2 and stayed on the charts for 10 weeks. Pretty damn impressive if I do say so myself. And as I went through all his songs on youtube I couldn't help but wonder, why the hell isn't he bigger here? He has such a powerfully soulful voice and sings about love and loss that everyone can relate to. ("You don't know what you've got until you're missing it a lot" he croons in his song "Hurtful" that was a free song on iTunes awhile back. Sadly enough, I missed that one -.-')
One of the best parts about his music is that even though they may tackle some pretty sad subjects, they have a strong beat to support them, making me want to dance along even though my heart is hit with all the feels. ("Nothing lasts forever, what the hell am I doing here, standing where you left me?" Seriously. If I wasn't too busy dancing, I'd probably be crying into my pillow.)
The 23 year old pop singer-songwriter is magnificent, and if we're being honest, I am completely confused as to why he hasn't been/isn't on the radio right now. I know a lot of people are losing faith in pop music, but if there is ANYONE who is gonna save it, I think it's Erik Hassle.
Go Download: PLEASE just buy his whole album 'Pieces' because it's marvelous. But I guess if you're looking for a song to look into first, hit up "Hurtful." (You should also note that "The Thanks I Get" has GORGEOUS piano in it.)
(Just listen to his voice. Even the dog is mesmerized.)
Monday, May 28, 2012
I've been MIA. And for that I'm sorry, but my little sister graduated middle school and the grandparents came up thus we have been go go go.
But I promise that I will have something for you tomorrow, and the days to follow, to make it up :)
Who do you have to thank for this post? Savan Kotecha. That's right, Savan Kotecha, songwriter and vocal producer behind artists such as Usher, Carrie Underwood and One Direction. WHY do you have him to thank? Well, my dear readers, because he has been tweeting nonstop about Cher Lloyd and curiosity finally got the better of me.
After seeing yet another tweet about her latest single, "Want U Back," I took to Youtube in search of the song and was hit in the face with a catchy summer song. Of course, this led me to start searching her album because I am in need of some serious summer tune-age. What I found, was a great, fun album.
Now, if I were to describe Cher Lloyd's music to you, I'd have to say this: It's like if Nicki Minaj and Lily Allen's music had a baby that was influenced by Godmummy Madonna. That's really weird to read, I'm sure, but I really can't think of how else to describe it. But I promise, it makes sense when you listen to her.
Let's start from the beginning, yeah?
Cher Lloyd is another product of the UK's X Factor, having been a contestant on the seventh series. (Seems to have been QUITE an exciting season, no?) She made it to the final, finishing in fourth place before being signed by Syco Music (Simon Cowell's label, in case you were wondering). And I guess you can say the rest is history.
Her debut album, 'Sticks + Stones,' boasts collaborations with Busta Rhymes, Carolina Liar and Mike Posner as well as beats that get under your skin. The album peaked in the UK at #4 and now she's trying her hand at cracking America. You know, as a part of this major British Invasion we got going on. NOT that I'm complaining. You guys already know how I feel about all things British.
That all being said, I don't think I've ever heard an album that is just so freaking catchy the whole way through. Even the one song that I'm not particularly a fan of has me bobbing my head, even if I don't want to. ("Swagger Jagger" for those of you wondering. Though I do love the chorus.) Overall, 'Sticks + Stones' is a great first album. I'm genuinely excited to see her grow as an artist and let's be real, I'm EXTRA excited to blast her music in my car with the windows down. Get with it America, I wanna hear this girl on the radio.
Go Download: "Want U Back" just dropped in America TODAY! So go pick it up HERE!!! And make sure to keep your eyes open for when her album happens :D
It was pretty late last night/this morning when I decided it was time to go to sleep. I was drifting off when my email alert on my phone sounded. Now, normally, I would have ignored it and continued on my path to blissful coma but for some reason I was like "Let me just take a look at that." The email in question was none other than a Twitter follow from All Night Affair. Again, I probably would have ignored it until morning, but something kept me pressing forward and I found myself on All Night Affair's youtube channel. I clicked on the first video that had popped up-- a cover of The Fray's "Over My Head (Cable Car)"-- and that was when I decided staying up had been an excellent decision. Then his cover of "One Thing" by One Direction caught my eye and that was when I decided on my next Band That Needs Love Too.
All Night Affair consists of Dylan Ronan, who hails from Boston, MA and one of the things that I find most interesting about Mr. Ronan upon going through his Facebook were his influences. How many people do YOU know cite The Maine, The Summer Set and Lady Antebellum under their influences? Not many.
His covers are spot on and I think they're a great way for reaching out to a larger audience but I think where the magic happens is on his own tracks. Currently I'm listening to "Long Way Home" and it's taking all I have not to air guitar to this solo and keep typing. Ronan's vocals are reminiscent of Bryce Avary in my opinion, and I love it. It's like he took all the best bits of the bands I love (The Rocket Summer, The Summer Set, etc) and shoved them all together to create lighthearted, happy, pop-rock. Quite fitting if I do say so myself, ya know, since it's summer and all.
If anything, this is the type of music you pop in when you're planning on being out in the sun. At a beach? All Night Affair. Roadtrippin'? All Night Affair. Chillin' in my backyard because the beach is too far and I don't have the money to roadtrip? All Night Affair.
I think you get the point. I also think you get that I'm really pushing for you to go listen to him. So what are you doing still here?!
Go Download: You can get "Long Way Home" for free on Facebook!
I like when people refer me to artists to look into, especially when they're people that I don't know, because not only does it make me feel cool but it also gives me a new outlet. Generally I end up finding bands that sound alike because I generally find all my music through the same channels. So, it only stands to reason that when I was tweeted to check out Ryan Ashley, I made a mental note to do so. I mean, if someone was taking the time to tweet me to tell me to check him out, he must be decent, right? AND they also noted that the guy is only 16. Now, you should know that it blows my mind to find people with SO much talent when they are so young so curiosity got the better of me and I found myself on his youtube channel.
The kid has 22 videos up, covers that he's done over the past couple of years-- I think his oldest being done when he was 14-- and I mean, yeah, I'm blown away by his talent. (I also had a hard time believing he was only 16 because he just doesn't look 16, but whatever. That isn't the point lol. I guess kids these days just look older.) What I love about his covers is he doesn't just hit the track of the original song and redo it as it was, just with his voice. He turns them into more soulful renditions and makes them his own, which, in case you were wondering, means they come out stunningly. I also love how pure his voice sounds, if that makes any sense. It's refreshing to hear a voice that doesn't sounded jaded by the industry and just like they're singing to sing a song. It almost sounds like he isn't working at all, but more like he's just breathing and that voice is happening.
On top of that, you can also hear the amount of growth he's made over the past two years. Is he perfect? No. But the kid is only 16 years old, and if he can do some of the things he's doing now at this age, can you imagine in a few more years when he's 20? He's going to be a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure. But until then? Well, I guess we'll just have to keep watching his covers, now won't we? (And hoping for the day we can add him to our iPods legally. Not that I'd ever stoop to a youtube to mp3 conversion site *coughs*)
Go Download: Man, I wish I could download his music. But from what I can see, we can't download anything yet. But you should def keep an eye on his Twitter, Facebook and Youtube for updates :)
(You should all note that BTNLT alum Ed Sheeran thinks he's got a fantastic voice as well.)
I've been on the prowl for new music. So with the constant email ping on my phone alerting me to the occasional new twitter follower, I've kept my eyes peeled. Then Blitz Kids popped up. What REALLY caught my eye about them was that Josh Franceschi of You Me At Six follows them, and since I love him, I was pretty certain they must be awesome. (Ya know, since YMAS is awesome. It only stands to reason, right?) Luckily, my logic was not flawed, and as we speak, I have them pumping at me via my headphones. (It would be my speakers if I weren't sitting in the living room, typing away while my mother watches The Talk.) But that's okay, because I can only imagine how great they'll sound blasting out of my car speakers, a theory I'll have to test out quite soon.
Anyway, the first song that caught my eye was "Story," which features Aled Phillips-- you know, the same Aled that sings for Kids In Glass Houses, just ANOTHER band that I adore-- and boy do I like what I heard. It's a polished rock track with killer guitar and hard hitting drums. Not only that, but Joe James' voice is like a breath of fresh air. It's like if the British rock bands of old had a love child with the rock bands now, creating a glorious mix that makes me want to bust out a leather jacket and drive around town with my windows down acting like a total bamf.
Of course, I'm sure that's the exact response they wanted as they ARE named Blitz Kids, also the name of people who frequented the Blitz nightclub and helped create the New Romantic period of the 80s most commonly depicted with eccentric androgyny. Obviously, this band isn't Duran Duran or Boy George. They very much look like men. It isn't that they're bringing back the New Romantic era PHYSICALLY, but they're doing so musically. The music is eccentric, and is a wonderful mix of all the good things in music. (Can I classify them as New Romantics 2.0?)
Aside from that though, without the rather awesome name choice (whether that's what they intended or not), I'm sitting here, bobbing my head and just rocking out. (I'm also getting curious looks from my mom and dogs.) I'm getting completely lost in their music, and I have found myself stopping periodically as I'm writing this because I just keep getting pulled in.
And before you think I'm just being biased because they're British and liked by two bands I love, you should also know that Rock Sound, Kerrang!, Big Cheese and Alter the Press quite enjoy them as well.
Obviously, I was right in assuming that Josh Franceschi has great taste in music, because these guys are the real deal.
Go Download: WELL, if you like their Facebook page, you can download their first two EP's for FREE! So go get on it!
(Have I mentioned how in love with this song I am?)
That I haven't posted in a while because I had to write my final for school, pack, clean and drive back to Alabama.
Now that I am back here, I can officially find more bands to promo.
It may take a couple days since I don't have as much time to sit in front of my laptop like usual, but I promise you that within the next few days I shall have at least one new post for you.
It's a pretty well known fact that I believe I was born in the wrong country. I love everything about the England. The tea, the fashion, the music, the actors, the people, everything. So much so in fact that I have grand plans to move there after I graduate, a fact that my parents may or may not think I'm just joking about. Now that you've been filled in on my England obsession, it only stands to reason that all the live tweeting Sugarscape does for The Voice UK has pushed me to find out what the fuss is about. So yesterday, when I should have been working on my final, I found myself on YouTube. And that is when I stumbled across the holy grail. (Ok, less dramatically, it was a channel that posts full episodes in STUNNING quality.) Which led to a few hours of amazing UK talent. THAT then led me to write a post on my favorite artists on the show, which dear readers, is what you have your eyes on now!
Max Milner Team: Danny O'Donoghue Why I Love Him: Well, you see, first off, I am a huge fan of a husky voice and a guitar, both in which Max rocked during his blind audition. And as if he couldn't get better, he performed a mashup. Not just any old mashup. No, a mashup of The Beatles' "Come Together" and Eminem's "Lose Yourself." Show me someone else who can do that without looking like a complete fool. Then, he went and blew his competitor out of the water during the head to head round singing "Beggin'." (I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't slightly turned on by how intense and in Bill's face he got.) It legitimately sounded like they were throwing vocal punches at each other. And most recently, he pulled off a stunning cover of "Free Fallin'" accompanied with an acoustic guitar (and a shaker? Is that what I'm hearing?). It was a very intimate performance even though I was watching it via tiny YouTube video player. Point being, Max is hands down my favorite competitor on the show and I have my fingers crossed that he wins. Favorite Performance So Far: I just really love his "Free Fallin'" okay. I posted it like three times on Facebook yesterday.
Vince Kidd Team: Jessie J Why I Love Him: I saw a comment on one of the YouTube videos that Vince was a male version of Jessie J, and as Jessie J is my queen, obviously I'm going to at least like this Vince Kidd a little. However, since I skipped the actual audition shows and only saw Max's audition, the first time I heard Vince was during the battle rounds, where he went against Jessica Hammond with "We Found Love." I was blown away by his voice and promptly started yelling at Jessie J, ya know, to make sure that she would pick him. (I get really into my TV shows, alright.) What I loved best about him was his voice could cover all the ranges. He did the soulful lower register that sent shivers down my spine, but also hit the falsetto high notes. And I know that this show is about the voice and all, but I just absolutely LOVE his look as well. After quickly adding him to my list of favorites, just slightly behind Max, I looked up his tryout, which was soulful/reggae style "Like A Virgin." To say that it was fresh to death would be an understatement. And I personally think he and Jessie are a match made in heaven. Favorite Performance So Far: His voice during the battle rounds is by far the best. Just.... listen.
Ruth Brown Team: Tom Jones Why I Like Her: I don't think I've ever heard someone have SO much power in their voice before. It's almost like she isn't even trying and that's crazy. She's also really young, 19 I believe, so just imagine how she's gonna sound in a few years when she gets total control of her vocals. And if I'm right, I do believe she's never done vocal lessons? Mad respect. I don't particularly care for female singers. It isn't a secret. But with Ruth... I don't know. The segment where they're preparing the battle duet and she's singing and just burst out crying really got to me. She's so human and I can empathize with that. (What an odd statement, right? I'm sure you get what I mean.) Anyway, she hit the live shows with a rendition of "Get Here" by Oleta Adams and the amount of goosebumps that shot up and down my arms was out of control. Favorite Performance So Far: God damn, "Get Here" just gets me every time.
Aleks Josh Team: Danny O'Donoghue Why I Like Him: Well if he isn't the most adorable little thing I've ever seen! Aha, I know that isn't the point of the show, but when Jessie J was talking about pretending to drown in the pool so a cute lifeguard would save her and he was like "If you were drowning in MY pool-" and I was sold. Maybe not so much on his voice, because I think a Jason Mraz song isn't a good song to audition for anything with, but I was sold on his personality. You know we here at BTNLT love a good personality almost as much as we love the music itself. Even though I liked him better in his battle duet, I still wasn't too sold on his voice, because it seemed to me like he was trying too much to be like James Morrison when he should have been trying to be like himself. No, I wasn't completely sold on Mr. Josh until his latest performance, "Dream A Little Dream of Me." His little charming smile paired with that old-timey voice and my heart was gone. Do I think he'll win? No, I think he needs to fine tune things a little more, but my goodness if I could vote, I'd vote to keep him in as long as I could. Favorite Performance So Far: Do I even have to say it?
(I feel bad for not having anyone from Will.I.Am's team, but I honestly had to look up his team to even remember who was on it. Oops.)
It's been awhile since we've had a Siri Suggestion (that's catchy, I might keep using that) here on Bands That Need Love Too, but I figure since the girl cannot stop talkin about these boys, I'd FINALLY give in and talk about them :P So here we go.
First, can I just say that Siri first REALLY brought the guys up to me on our Dallas adventure, which happened after Spring Break so I've been hearing about them now for.... two months? Ish? Yes. And those are two months that I should have spent listening to these guys as opposed to ignoring her obvious promotions for them. Yeah, yeah, I know. I don't know why I didn't listen to her earlier either. Everyone makes mistakes right? With that being said, Empire Holiday's music is kind of like Breathe Carolina's (okay maybe I took that comparison from Siri lol), only with a little more emphasis on face melting beats. (I'm currently sitting here blasting "Ballroom Murder" and it's quite intense.) I literally can't decide if I wanna turn it up louder to rock out harder or turn it down to preserve my face, which I'm sure will melt off if I turn it up another decibel. Pair said body rockin', fist pumping, blood rushing beats with Christopher Shelton's clean vocals and Ronnie Hughes' screams, and you've got one of the most in your faces songs that I have heard in a long time.
So much so in fact that I would dare say that they seem to pull off what Breathe Carolina is going for far better than Breathe Carolina does (at least, in their newer stuff). Instead of putting 50% of effort into the dance side and 50% of effort into the hardcore side to create a decent song, they give both aspects all they have which definitely sets them apart and quite frankly I love it. I can only hope that they continue down this path because "Ballroom Murder" blows the rest of the music on their Facebook page out of the water. Not to say that their old stuff wasn't decent-- and I mean, who doesn't love a cover of "What Is Love?"-- but this glimpse of what they're doing now runs circles around it.
I'm glad these guys decided to continue on with the band after a quick hiatus (er, breakup turned hiatus?), because let's face it, what they've got going is quite promising. I greatly look forward to what they have coming up next. And I very much look forward to my dear, dear Siri dragging me along to their shows :)
Go Download: Their new single "Ballroom Murder," duh. I mean, I've only been talking about it this whole post and it's only .99. You really have no excuse to go get that bad boy on iTunes!
