Born Under A Bad Sign, Or Something Else?
Does luck have anything to do with making it in music?
“Born under a bad sign
Been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
You know, I wouldn't have no luck at all”
So sang Albert King one of the great blues giants. Even though these lyrics on the surface sound a bit downtrodden, it seems that King was singing them with quite a bit of his tongue behind his cheek, actually saying that whatever you do and it doesn’t turn in your favor, you just can’t and shouldn’t give up.
That is something particularly true if you try to do something artistic, play and compose music, for example. These days it seems much harder for musicians to make it, no matter how good their music is. Whatever the case is, and the reasons they are not making are, giving up should be the last option they should think about.
Changing the course, re-inventing themselves, or just trying a bit harder might be something they should think about first.
The Nude Party - Ride On
So many relatively new bands are inspired by Velvet Underground, but so many of them remain at just that inspiration. The Nude Party actually does take it up a notch and transfer that inspiration into something a bit more substantial.
Lichen Slow - Preset
Whether things are set or preset, Arab Strap’s Malcolm Middleton is definitely no strange to some good music, and as shown here, some good groves too. He just goes on to show that when you got it, you got it.
The Commoners - More Than Mistakes
These Canadians like their rock in that roots groove, but to do that and make it work you have to have your musical chops down to a pat, and these guys seem to have too many birthdays and weddings behind them, not to be able to pull it off musically.
The Saxophones - To Be A Cloud
Back in the fifties, at those open-air dances there was always a moment when the DJ would play a slow tune, labeled as ’ladies’ choice.’ The Saxophones definitely deserve that tag, actually, as one Mr. McCartney would say, here, there, and everywhere.
foil - Portal
Nothing wrong with going the electronic way, but you either have to strictly stick to the current rules of such music, or be at least a bit inventive. foil chooses the latter, and making it brief at that. Commendable.
Sivu - Apollo
Sivu, aka British songwriter James Page, is also somebody who tries to bend the rules as much as possible, something that doesn’t just require bravery, but the ability to do so. He’s got it here on both accounts.
Niall Summerton - I Found It
Well, it seems that Summerton definitely found it, that is, a way to be within. the singer-songwriter mode and still present something fresh and new. That requires both hard work and talent and Summerton seems to have (and done) both
John Southworth - Dow in the under
Canadian Southworth has shown through his work so far that he is an immense talent, and an original one at that, often combining music, theater, and written words. He does the same here, and while he is still ‘bubbling under,’ he is rightfully not giving up. He shouldn’t.
Healthyliving - Dream Hive
Bringing something new into the world of heavy metal music in any shape or form can be quite tricky, and Amaya López-Carromero (Maud the moth), Scott McLean (Falloch, Ashenspire), and Stefan Pötzsch try to do that with some intricate melody and come up with something that even those not that much in favor of metal will give this one a listen.
Annika Bennett - Lose A Friend
County/folk/Americana music seems to be on a rise, and making it within that realm can be a Sisyphus-like task. Yet Bennett has both that melodic touch and subtle vocals that she shouldn’t have to try too hard.
Penguin Cafe - In Re: Budd
Penguin Cafe has been around in some shape and form since the eighties and definitely falls into a cult-fave category, so they must be doing something good. And Simon Jeffes and his cry show why that is the case here, with this tribute to late pianist/composer Harold Budd (is it?).
Devin James Fry - Black Rainbow
Fry was so far known as ‘a regular’ singer-songwriter, but with this collaboration with Chris Conde, he seems to be trying to reinvent himself, with elements of electronics and hip-hop to make things (quite) interesting.
Chloe Gallardo - Bloodline
On the other hand, Gallardo sticks to that ’regular’ thing, and actually, she definitely should do so, as on the evidence of this one, both her songwriting vocals, and guitar skills are so good that she doesn’t need to change it, this is more than good.
Sean Barna - Sleeping With Strangers
Barna has one of those quirky vocals that would probably carry a weaker song too, but his songwriting matches his vocals, a combination that should always work.
Tanlines - The Big Mess
Pop/rock or power pop is sometimes a neglected category, and here Tanlines show why it shouldn’t be because some good songwriting is coupled with an excellent arrangement and production to match to come up with some excellent music for spring.
Alabaster De Plume -Salty Road Dogs Victory Anthem
De Plume is at the forefront of combining Ethiopian jazzy grooves into all forms of Western music, something that he obviously knows how to do and how to do it so well. Another great one from him.
Manchester Collective w. Hannah Peel - Neon 1: Shinjuku
Bringing in something new within the field of neo-classical/post-rock is, well, quite complex, and both Manchester Collective and Hannah Peel don’t shy away from complex here, and they shouldn’t, as they do it so well.
Marieme - Built For Greatness
Quite a bold statement even for a very established artist, but Marieme has both the voice and the modern R&B chops to prove the statement from the title, being supported by some excellent songwriting and an arrangement to boot will certainly help.
Hugar/Dustin O’Halloran - ok
This combination of the Icelandic duo Hugar and A Winged Victory for the Sullen’s Dustin O’Halloran (who reworks the song, or composition, if you will) goes on to prove that there is still much more to be heard within the ambient/post-rock music, just as long as you keep it as inventive as possible.
Low Coast - I Know We’ll Never Know
Sticking to your guns and playing mid-tempo rock ballads can only be good, if you are actually good at it, and Gameface’s Jeff Caudill with his new band shows why sticking to your own guns is quite often a good thing.