Mondo Cozmo: A Brilliant “Must Listen To”
I know we don’t all like the same genres, and not everyone will think “Shine” by Mondo Cozmo is brilliant, but the Bob Dylan-ish vocals and lyrics, plus the Tom Petty influence, make a compelling case. Stick with me Jesus through the comin' storm I've come to you in...
An Authentic Rock n’ Roll Song by Kings of Leon
What makes a “real” rock n' roll song? E-N-E-R-G-Y. Bruce Springsteen comes to mind, and while Kings of Leon may not be as intense as “The Boss,” they still pound it out, thus qualifying as authentic rock and rollers. The lyrics to their newest, “Waste A...
It’s That 70s Sound All Over Again!
40-years ago the hook to "Shake Your Booty" by KC & The Sunshine Band moved into the Boomer generation’s collective memory and just stayed there, usually dormant, but it pops up front and center when listening to “Move” by Saint Motel, a totally...
Bastille: A Nod to Queen & David Bowie Plus A Killer Open
Bastille. A 4-man English indie pop band that’s captured the hearts and minds of music fans world-wide. “Good Grief” is their newest hit and its opening bass line is similar to the underpinning that Queen and David Bowie brought us in 1981’s classic "Under...
Up for Some Talking Heads Level Intensity? Try Twenty One Pilots.
In 1979 David Byrne and the Talking Heads had a hit with “Life During Wartime" which was on the soundtrack of the film "Stop Making Sense." Today, Twenty One Pilots’ “Heathens” is #1 and it, too, was featured in a film--“Suicide Squad,” a summer blockbuster...
The Struts: Rock & Rollers Influenced by Def Leppard
When The Struts opened for the Rolling Stones’ 2014 Paris sell-out, they were anointed: officially cool, now and forever---‘cause The Stones are not going to let some milquetoast losers open for them, right? The Struts are four English guys who play classic...
A “Must Listen To:” The Soulful Artistry of Michael Kiwanuka
Soulful artistry—that’s British singer/songwriter Michael Kiwanuka. His music overflows with emotion and heartfelt lyrics, which he perhaps comes by rightly, as he’s the son of parents who fled Uganda during the brutal Idi Amin regime. Kiwanuka’s tremendous...
Emotion That Rips Your Heart Out
Who could it be? Is it 25-year old Aretha Franklin singing 1967’s “Chain of Fools,” and hurting so bad you could feel it, too, or is it 24-year old British singer/songwriter Bishop Briggs who made her U.S. TV debut just last month on Jimmy Fallon’s show, and...
A Powerful New Song From Norah Jones
One of 1977’s biggest pop songs was Crystal Gayle’s jazz tinged “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and it comes to mind when you listen to Norah Jones newest “Carry On.” Both Gayle and Jones have smoky voices, with similar styles—strong, calm, controlled...