Aaliyah - Back & Forth

Just thought I'd put something from the past...any death is a tragedy but the untimely death of someone with such a bright future is truly sad.  Here was her debut song - a fun song and not too deep but sometimes that's all that's necessary!

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.



If you like the song, please buy the music!!!

Daft Punk - The Game of Love

Daft Punk is a French duo focusing on electronic music.  With four studio albums to their credit since 1997, they don't set records for frequency of record releases.  In fact, there was an eight year period between Human After All (2005) and their latest release, Random Access Memories (2013), during which time they were busy working on original music for the movie Tron: Legacy (2010).  An interesting career choice...but maybe I'm looking at it from hindsight after watching the movie.

In any case, I like The Game of Love along with their lead single Get Lucky which includes Pharrell Williams on vocals.  As with all of their albums, It's unlikely that anyone would love every song on Random Access Memories given the broad range of music but there is enough there to give Daft Punk a chance.

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.


If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!

The Cataracs - All You (Feat Waka Flocka Flame & Kaskade)

The Cataracs started out as a duo and then wasn't...David "Campa" Benjamin Singer-Vine left the group in 2012 leaving Niles "Cyranizzy" Hollowell-Dhar with the Cataracs name.  Strange to refer to Niles as The Cataracs.  The name was supposedly inspired Snoop Dogg's "Smoke till ya eyes got cataracts" lyric from his What's My Name Pt.2.  See this website for this and nine other things you didn't know about the Cataracs...it does not mention poor spelling but that might be well known given their name.

I like this song a lot. Not sure why Dev is not given credit for female vocals on this one but it's definitely a great song and I love the music!

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.



If you like the song, please support the artist and buy his music!!!

Grimes - Vowels = Space And Time

An interesting Canadian artist with some very surreal music. She's had three albums in the last the three years.  If you're a science-fiction fan, her first album is titled Geidi Primes (2010), after the Frank Herbert novel from 1965, Dune.  Read it - it's still stands the test of time.  

But this is about the music which is hard to define but definitely interesting to hear.  It's techno but still retains lyrics as an important component of the music.  Listen to the music and I'm sure you will agree.  And if you like the artwork on the album, please check out her blog for more art - she's a fan of Animé

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.


If you like the song, please support the artist and buy her music!!!!

Norah Jones - Chasing Pirates

Norah Jones has had five albums, all of which are quite good with lots of material from which to choose.  Chasing Pirates is my personal favorite and from her fourth album, The Fall (2009).  

But if you're one of a handful of people who've never heard a Norah Jones song, start with her first album, Come Away with Me (2002).  Every song on the album is exceptional and worth a listen.

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.


If you like the song, please support the artist and buy her music!!!

Jennifer Paige - Wasted

Good pop song from Jennifer Paige from her third album, Best Kept Secret (2008).  Her most recent work was a 2012 Christmas album - I think it is safe to say that an artist's release of a holiday album is the musical version of "jumping the shark."  For those not familiar with the term, please see the following site: tvtropes.org.

Hopefully I'm wrong and more real albums are on their way!

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.



If you like the song, please support the artist and buy her music!!!

Nneka - The Uncomfortable Truth

Nigerian-German artist Nneka has an interesting sound. The Uncomfortable Truth is from her third album, Concrete Jungle (2010). Though she has toured in the US, I don't think that has translated to commercial success outside of Europe.

In any case, have a listen and tell me what you think!

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.


If you like the song, please support the artist and buy her music!!!

John Mayer - Who You Love (Feat Katy Perry)

I like John Mayer and I like country music. With that in mind, I thought that I would love his latest album, which seems to be going for a quieter and more contemplative style. Or something just not very entertaining...

While the album received generally positive reviews, I must say that this is my least favorite work from John Mayer, I liked only two of the songs, both of which were duets. I don't believe that is a coincidence since both Katy Perry and Frank Ocean (on Wildfire) deliver on an otherwise bland assortment.  This is really a disappointment for me - I'm a huge fan normally.

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.


If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!

Aimee Mann - That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart

Aimee Mann was the lead singer of 'til Tuesday, an eighties group with three studio albums of uneven quality. She's been a prolific solo artist with eight albums from 1993 through 2012 and has done quite a few duets and backing vocals as well. This song is one of my favorites from her solo work and can be found on her 2005 album, The Forgotten Arm.  Interesting album art!

You can find out more about her on her website: aimeemann.com


Please see the video below for music and lyrics.



If you like the song, please support the artist and buy her music!!!

OneRepublic - What You Wanted

OneRepublic is an American group from Colorado.  They've ha a total of three albums in the last six years and all of them are quite good.  Native (2013) is their latest and has had several successful singles launched from it making this album their most popular one to date.  I can listen to Native from beginning to end without skipping over any of the songs - as always, that's the highest praise I can give any album.

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.


If you like the song, please support the artists and buy their music!!!

 

Adele - Hometown Glory

I know this is not a new song by Adele and everyone's probably heard it many times. But it is such a great song so I thought I would share regardless. It's from her first album, 19 (2008).  Both 19 and 21 were amazing albums worth buying in their entirety and I cannot wait for Adele's next album!

I wonder if the album cover will show as "Adele (MBE)" to reflect her award of Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire?  I believe that would be most excellent.

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.


If you like the song, please support the artist and buy her music!!!

Eddie Money - Think I'm in Love

Great song from the eighties!  Brooklyn native Eddie Money came from a family of police officers and spent two years on the force before leaving to pursue his musical dreams.  He had a string of hits but has not produced any original music in more than a decade.  I would definitely recommend buying one of his compilation albums if you don't have his early work - it is worth the money!

Please see the video below for music and lyrics.




If you like the song, please support the artist and buy his music!!!

Something for Kate - Back to Normal

Something for Kate is an Australian group formed almost twenty years ago.  They have eight studio albums and several compilation and live albums as well.  Back to Normal is from the 2012 album, Leave Your Soul to Science, a welcome return after six years without a studio album.


Please see the video below for music and lyrics.