Warm Weather Drive

So, it's getting warmer, and as such, it's high time to get back to some fun drives. Here's some of what I've been listening to on the occassions that I've been out and about on the road thus far. These songs in paticular are forever associated with the coming warmer weather.

All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve

Clocks - Coldplay

Flyin' - Adam Ezra Group

If There's A Rocket Tie Me To It - Snow Patrol

Kids - Goodtimes Goodtimes

The Long Goodbye - A Girl Called Eddy

My Maria - B.W. Stevenson

Queen Bitch - David Bowie

Stay (Wasting Time) - Dave Matthew's Band

This Is My Song - Carbon Leaf

Time Is A Runaway - The Alternate Routes

Waiting - Josh Clayton-Felt

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Image from Flickr

Merry Christmas from Carry You Away

No matter what you celebrate, Carry You Away would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season! Thanks for a good year, we'll see you in 2009 with our best songs from 2008.

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
O Holy Night - Troy Andrews
River - Rosie Thomas
Silent Night - Skye
Let It Snow - A Fine Frenzy
When I Get Home For Christmas - Snow Patrol
2000 Miles - Coldplay
White Christmas - Frank Sinatra
Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio
(There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays - Perry Como
Silver Bells - Kate Smith

Merry Christmas!

The Best Albums of the Year

This year has been an incredible one for music. I don’t know if it was the full year of blogging about it, but I have learned and heard so much during the past year, making it incredibly difficult at times to really narrow down what was the best of the good. Looking back over the year, there were some clear choices, some not so clear, and a couple that surprised me. Already, 2009 is shaping up to look like a good year already.


Runners up: Always the Bridesmaid: Decemberists, Human: Civil Twilight, A Hundred Million Suns: Snow Patrol, Let It Go: Jon Regen, View from the Root: Adam Ezra Group, A Good Day: Priscilla Ahn.

10 - The Fairline Parkway, Memory of Open Spaces / The Weepies, Hideaway

Memory of Open Spaces is a light affair, and carries a quiet grace from its opening song, Westward Bound, that is sustained throughout the album with a soft and balanced sound. I like it because it's soft, reflective and interesting throughout with a great sound and good lyrics.

Tied with this album is Hideaway by the Weepies. Like the Fairline Parkway, this album is soft, rythmic and interesting. The sound is evenly balanced between the two vocalists with a sweet and relaxing sound to it.

9 - Bombadil, A Buzz, A Buzz

From the first bars of Bombadil's debut album A Buzz A Buzz, you'll know that there's something very different about their sound. Trip Out West starts out soft but strong, before launching into a series of incredibly diverse, lyrically unique and tight songs. There's a wide range of sounds here, and seeing these guys life is an experience in and of itself, as they move around the stage, often switching instruments.

8 - Oren Lavie, The Opposite Side of the Sea

Oren Lavie's first CD Opposite Side of the Sea is a labor of love, and has been getting a wider audience from the use of several songs in a commercial. While overall, this album is on the softer side, there's a rich variety of themes throughout the album, helped along by his rich voice and lyrics.

7 - Tina Dico, Count To Ten / Sia, Some People Have Real Problems

Ironically, these two singers have a common link: the Electronic/Pop outfits Zero 7, whom both have collaborated with for several songs over their three albums.

Tina Dico's album Count To Ten is the good sort of pop music. She starts off with an incredible voice and beat and sustains it throughout the course of the album with a number of absolutely fantastic songs that continue to impress me numerous listens later.

Sia's latest album, Some People Have Real Problems is easily her finest album to date, with an electro-popish sound with an urgent, yet at the same time relaxed feel to it. The tracks slow down and speed up but each one is just fantastic.

6 - Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs

This album got lot of nay Sayers when released - a lot of this "The band has turned their backs on their fans/roots/style" crap. Bullshit. This album is easily their strongest, with the same strong lyrical style that we've come to expect from these guys, with a richer and far more refined sound throughout. This new album is emotional, intense and rich with sound.

5 - Goodtimes Goodtimes, Glue

Technically, this came out in 2008, but I really got their album in January, so this makes the list. Goodtimes Goodtimes blew me away when I first heard their first track, Kids, with it's bright and optimistic beat that still gets me moving fifty listens later. The rest of the album is just as good too. Each song here sounds fantastic, with some excellent guitar work and lyrics. Every time I pop this into my car's CD player, I sing along, and feel good afterwards.

4 - Coldplay, Viva La Vida/Prospekt's March

I'm counting both of these albums together, along with Lhuna, as one package. Coldplay, after the commercially friendly A Rush of Blood To the Head and disappointing X&Y, proved to be an extremely fresh breath from these guys, proving that they still have the talent to not only produce a good record, but to produce one that drastically refines, changes and exceeds expectations. Viva La Vida is a tight and cohesive affair, with some of their best works to date. Prospekt's March is likewise as good, with several tracks that didn't make it on the album, but carry much of the same feel or talent along with it. Already, there's talk of a follow-up - let's hope that it's a good one.

3 - Amos Lee, Last Days at the Lodge

Amos Lee has come a very, very long way since his first, self titled debut. His second album exceeded that one, and Last Days at the Lodge likewise exceeded that one. Where Supply and Demand really changed around his sound, Last Days brings Lee back to some of his root sounds, revisits some familiar ground and breaks anew, infusing a distinct blend of soul, R&B and folk-rock into the eleven fantastic tracks. The album is intimate and emotional at times, while blatant and fresh at others.

2 - Ray LaMontagne, Gossip in the Grain

Like Amos Lee, Ray LaMontagne has improved upon his sound over his past two albums, really redefining his sound each time. Gossip in the Grain has done much of the same, giving us a new look at this singer as he's refined and honed his skills. His voice isn't as raspy as it was in Trouble, and the backing band here absolutely blows each song away. This album is emotional, touching, personal, romantic and somber all at the same time. It is easily his strongest and best work to date.

1 - Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver's For Emma Forever Ago is my favorite album of the year, and I knew it from the moment I heard the first track, Flume. Recorded in a cabin in the woods during a troubling time for Justin Vernon, what we get is an album that is a mix of raw emotions that is honest, thrilling and simply beautiful to listen to. Each time that I listen to this album, I get chills throughout at the intensity and reflection presented here in the songwriting. Bon Iver has done with this album something that I thought was impossible - show me that there are still huge surprises waiting out there in the music world, and even after listening to it literally hundreds of times, it still shakes and invokes the same emotion and thrill that is present in the notes.

Coming Up: The Albums of 2009

As 2008 comes to a close, everyone is starting to think about the upcoming year and what will be coming out. There's never a shortage of artists who we always want to be releasing new materials, and already, I've started looking for what will be coming out in 2009. Here's what I'm really looking forwards to:

Untitled - Carbon Leaf
Carbon Leaf is my all-time favorite band. I've seen them numerous times in concert, and for the past year and a half, there's been talk of first two albums, then a new album and a remake of an old one, and now another one. Their concerts have featured several new songs, such as I'm In Love (With Another Man's Woman) and Meltdown, two fantastic songs. The album was finished earlier this fall, but we haven't seen a title or track listing yet. The band has said that the album should drop around February sometime.

Untitled - Dave Matthews Band
All this year, I've come across rumors that Dave Matthews and his band will be returning for another studio album. I always look forwards to these, because they can really shape up and change their sound from album to album. Compare Stand Up to Under the Table and Dreaming, and you'll see what I mean. Considering that their last studio album was released in 2005, we're long overdue for another one. No title, release date or track list yet. I don't know if the death of bandmate Leroy Moore will affect this or not.

Untitled - Coldplay
With the highly sucessful release of Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends and Prospekts March this year, Coldplay has been unstoppable, it seems. Their songs are ever more popular, and for good reason - this has been their strongest year yet. With all the press, they've said that they'll be releasing a followup album next year, most likely in the fall/winter. Hopefully it'll be just as good.

Untitled - Cary Brothers
I've been seeing little bits here and there, so this is mostly speculation on my part, but Cary Brothers is back in the studio, recording a followup album. I was a big fan of Who You Are, and it was one of my favorite albums of last year.

Bloodbank EP - Bon Iver
This easily has to be the most anticipated album. For Emma, Forever Ago was brilliant, heartwrenching and emotional, and easily one of the best albums of the year. (You'll see it on my best albums list coming soon). There's an EP being released in January, entitled Bloodbank, and it can't come soon enough.

A Sucker's Dream - The Alternate Routes
The Alternate Routes released their first album last year, Good and Reckless and True, which I really enjoyed, and it likewise made it onto my best albums list last December. After the release of an EP this year, they'll be back with a new album with some of their new songs. From the first single, The Future Is Nothing New, this one will be another good listen.

Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
2006's The Crane Wife is a wonderful album, and it's fully turned me to the Decemberists (whom I really didn't like at first). It was a fantastic album, and while they've been releasing new materials this year via 3 EPs, Always the Bridesmaid, a new LP from these guys will be a welcome thing for sure. Should be due out May of 2009.

Battler - Gregory Douglass
Battler is the latest album from Gregory Douglass, and one of the tracks will be featuring Grace Potter. The first track, Broken Through is fantastic, building on some of the sounds from his last album, Up and Away, which I loved. Battler is coming in February of 2009.

Stay tuned for the Best Albums, New Artists and Songs lists, coming soon!

Coldplay Announces New EP & Album

Over the Weekend, Chris Martin, the front man for Coldplay, announced that in December, they would be releasing a 5-track EP entitled Prospects March. There's no word on an exact date. There was some word about this a while ago, when the band mentioned that they had another track, titled Luna, which featured Kiley Minogue, and that they had a lot more material. No surprise, given how short Viva La Vida was.

In addition to that news, the band also announced that they would be recording another album due to be released next winter. I have to say, after Viva La Vida, I can't wait.

Violet Hill - Coldplay

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New Video - Viva La Vida

Right on the heels of my concert review, I find that the official video for Viva La Vida has just been released. Take a look here:

..

I really like it. Granted, I love this song, but the video here just really fits with the song. It feels very epic to me. Granted, Chris Martin is flopping around weirdly, but I love the camera angles and hues. I'm thinking that this song will be a good contender for my end of the year 'Best of' list.


Viva La Vida - Coldplay

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Concert Review - Coldplay @ the Hartford XL Center

Over the weekend, I got to see one of the bands that I've been wanting to see for a very long time - Coldplay. I gushed about them earlier this summer with the release of their latest album, Viva La Vida. Since July, they've been on the road around the United States.
Thus far, this was the largest concert that I've been to - multiple thousands of people were there, and while my seat was really far from the stage, the sound was good. Despite that, I don't think that this sort of thing compares to the concerts that I've gone to at the Higher Ground in South Burlington, or the Iron Horse in Northampton. This was far less personal, where I was just watching and listening, rather than sinking into the music. It was still quite an experience, if somewhat detached.
The band was great on stage. They played an excellent set, mostly their notable songs, such as Clocks, Violet Hill, Fix You and Yellow being some of the biggest hits. I've seen a couple of videos from when they played at Brixton Acadamy and at the BBC, and Chris Martin seemed a bit flat and off from the studio recordings, but that didn't seem to be the case here on Saturday. Martin, however, does get the prize for having the most awkward stage presence - the guy is like a ragdoll. Kudos to their drummer, Will Champion, who sang Death Will Never Conqueror, which was really good.
One of the things that I really enjoyed was the background videos and video that was shot during the show - particularly during the song Yes. They did a fantastic job with editing together the live feeds, especially with the speed to which they put everything together - I'd love to see them pull together some regular music videos such as the stuff that they did here.
Just prior to the encore, the entire band ran from the stage up to the stands, where they played a couple of acoustic songs, which was really cool to see.
Overall, the entire concert was high energy and sounded fantastic. There was nothing groundbreaking about their performance, but it was certainly one of the better shows that I've been to.

1- Life in Technicolor
2- Violet Hill
3- Clocks
4- In My Place
5- Viva La Vida
6- Yes
7- 42
7- Fix You
8- Strawberry Swing
9- Chinese Sleep Chant
10- God Put a Smile On Your Face
11- Square One
12- Hardest Part
13- Yellow (Audience Participation)
14- Lost!
15- Back to the Start
16- The Scientists (Acoustic - Stands)
17- Death Will Never Conqueror (Stands)
Encore
18- Politik
19- Piano Piece
20- Lovers in Japan
21- Death and All His Friends
22- The Escapist

Looking through youtube, here's a couple of videos:

Viva La Vida

..

Strawberry Swing

..

42

..

Lost!

..

Clocks

..

Yes

..

Yellow - Coldplay
The Scientist - Coldplay
Strawberry Swing - Coldplay

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Cover and Original: Coldplay Covers

Continuing with Coldplay things this week, I did a little digging around and found a couple of good covers that Coldplay has done recently of other artists, and a couple of Coldplay songs that have been covered by other artists.

Coldplay's done two pretty good covers - 2000 Miles, originally by the Pretenders, and Can't Get You Out Of My Head, originally by Kylie Minogue. In both instances, they provide their own solid sound to each, which is pretty nice to hear. Helena Noguerra also does her own version of Can't Get You Out Of My Head, which is pretty neat.

As far as Coldplay covers go, I've found two. Clocks, by Jeff Bujak, which is a fair cover. I heard a couple mistakes here and there, but it's a pretty faithful version of the song. The second cover is by one of my favorite artists, Gregory Douglass, who's doing covers on Youtube, this one of Coldplay's newest hit, Viva La Vida. It's also a pretty fair cover. This is certainly something that's new with the youtube era, for artists to cover something for their fans, using Youtube as a way to distribute things.

2000 Miles (The Pretenders) - Coldplay
2000 Miles - The Pretenders

Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Kylie Minogue) - Coldplay
Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Kylie Minogue) - Helena Noguerra
Can't Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue

Clocks (Coldplay) - Jeff Bujak
Clocks - Coldplay

Viva La Vida (Coldplay) - Gregory Douglass
Viva La Vida - Coldplay

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Duet - Coldplay & Others

To celebrate (not sure that's the right word or not) the release of Coldplay's latest album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, I'm bringing back the Duets feature with a couple of favorite times that Coldplay has performed with some other people. This time around, it's In The Sun, originally a Joseph Arthur song, where they perform with Michael Stipe, of R.E.M. fame. The second one is of a very favorite song of mine, Bittersweet Symphony, where they play with Verve's lead singer Richard Ashcroft.
Both duets are really fun to listen to, although in both cases, Chris Martin says of each song: This is the best song ever written. So, which is better?

In The Sun (Joseph Arthur) - Coldplay & Michael Stipe
Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve) - Coldplay & Richard Ashcroft

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Review: Viva La Vida, or, Coldplay Returns

Coldplay's back with their latest album in a couple of years. I've long been a Coldplay fan, and this album is particularly welcome. A Rush of Blood to the Head and Parachutes were fantastic albums, but X&Y was more of a letdown, and it took me some time to really get into it. Viva La Vida reverses the trend, and in my humble opinion, is one of the best Coldplay albums out there.

Viva La Vida is lively, full of energy and intensity, right from the first track of the album, Life in Technicolor. The rest of the album follows suit - Cemeteries of London, Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love, Yes, Viva La Vida, Violet Hill, Strawberry Swing, all full of life. This album really shows a transition with the group, and I like the shift in sound. The album is tighter, intense and interesting to listen to. There are songs here that are on par with Clocks and Speed of Sound, and I suspect that Viva La Vida will be the band's biggest album thus far.

One of the things that I really like here is that they group manages to pack a lot of material into the album. It's relatively short - 45 minutes or so. But several songs could almost become two songs, changing completely into different sounds halfway through, such as Yes and Lovers in Japan.

I'm hoping to see these guys in August, (although I'm a little worried that the date will conflict with something else) because I'm sure that their live shows this summer will be outstanding.

Viva La Vida - Coldplay

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Coldplay Revises Tour Schedule

Coldplay, who's new album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (Say that ten times fast) is being released today in the Japan, tomorrow in the UK and next week in the US, has released an updated list of concert dates, pushing the tour further into the summer. Here's the list:

July 14 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
July 15 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
July 18 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
July 19 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
July 23 - Chicago, IL - United Center
July 25 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
July 27 - Pemberton Festival
July 29 - Montreal, QB - Bell Centre
July 30 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
August 02 - Hartford, CT - XL Center
August 03 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
August 04 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Arena
October 20 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
October 21 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
October 26 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
November 03 - Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
November 07 - Orlando, FL - Amway Arena
November 09 - Ft Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
November 11 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
November 13 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
November 14 - St Paul, MO - Xcel Energy Center
November 16 - Oklahoma City, OK - Ford Center
November 18 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
November 19 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
November 21 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center Arena
November 22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Energy Solutions Arena
November 26 - Phoenix, AZ - Jobing.com Arena

Oooh, they're coming to Boston. I'd love to get tickets to that show. Or the Hartford one. Hm...

Sleeping Sun - Coldplay

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The Best of May

This past month has been really, really rich with music. There's been a lot of really good songs that've come through this way, and I'm really excited for what the rest of the summer will bring. Bring on the noise:

Ease Back - Amos Lee
Listen - Amos Lee
Amos Lee is one of my favorite musicians, and judging from the tracks that I've heard from his upcoming 3rd album (Due out June 24th), I'm betting that this one will be his best yet.

Life in Technicolor - Coldplay
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Coldplay's changing things up a little with a bit of a newer sound, and like Lee, I'm thinking that this will be one of their better albums. I can't wait to hear the rest of it.

Cath... - Death Cab for Cutie
Grapevine Fires - Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie's latest album also changed things up quite a bit, and on the whole, it's stronger, edgier and it sounds fantastic.

Robots - Flight of the Conchords
I love these guys, they're absolutely hilarious. Robots is just a geeky song to begin with, and they just make me want to burst out laughing.

Lucky - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
This is a nice, cute duet from these two.

Killing for Love (Beatfanatic Remix) - José González
I love Gonzalez's work, and while I'm not a huge fan of remixes, this is a really good one that I've been listening to a lot.

Magnetismo (Magnatism) - Landon Pigg
Landon Pigg's off to a good start with his first EP, and I think this is the strongest song on the album.

Meet Me By The River - Matthew Ryan
This song is raspy, emotional and really, really good. I suspect that Ryan's album will make it to the end of the year as one of the best.

Dream - Priscilla Ahn
I saw Ahn last year with Cary Brothers, and I really liked her sound, it's sweet and calm. I picked up her EP, and have been waiting eagerly for more news about her next album, due to be released this June. I can't wait.

The World, The People Together - The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are back, and they've got energy. This reminds me a lot of Bohemian Like You, which is a fantastic song.

Orbiting - The Weepies
I really dug these guys 2nd album, and this is one of the best songs on there. Very sweet, easy on the ears.

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Coldplay on the MTV Awards

Coldplay performed at last night's MTV Awards. Here's their performance:

Man, I want to see these guys live.

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Violet Hill Video!

A video for Coldplay's latest single has appeared online. It's pretty cool:

Violet Hill - Coldplay

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The Best of April

This month's had a bunch of really good new songs and releases. There was a lot of really good stuff this month:

View from the Root [Album]
The Adam Ezra Group has rapidly become a favorite of mine, ever since I saw them last December with Carbon Leaf, and again when they returned a week later. They've recently come out with their latest album, and it's a step up for them - they've really refined and strengthened their sound and have produced a really good record. Flyin' is a nice, laid back song that just feels right, and Katie is another fantastic song from them with a great beat and rhythms. My review is coming soon.

Thirty One Today - Aimee Mann
This song feels and sounds great, but it's depressing as hell. The guitar, keys, bass and vocals all work wonderfully today with a nice, seductive sound that's really propelled it to the top of my playlist.

Julian of Norwich - Bombadil
A Buzz, A Buzz - Bombadil
I covered these guys recently with a review of their debut album, A Buzz, A Buzz. They've got a really neat, unique sound with some fantastic songwriting that's really set them apart from a lot of other groups that I've listened to. Julian of Norwich and the title track, A Buzz, A Buzz are two of the best on the album.

Violet Hill - Coldplay
Coldplay's first single off of their upcoming album. It's pretty different from some of their earlier works. I like this sound, and I'll be interested to see what the next album brings.

I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie's back with a new album and a wholly new sound. I have yet to hear the rest of the record at this time, but so far, I really dig it. I Will Possess Your Heart, I think will become one of their better songs, despite the drama from the fanboys on this one. Bands do change their sound. Relax, you will live to see another day.

Westward Bound - The Fairline Parkway
Nowhere to Be - The Fairline Parkway
These guys are new, and made a splash at the South by Southwest festival. My review of this album is forthcoming, but here are two of my favorite tracks from this album.

Let It Go - Jon Regen
The Last Song - Jon Regen
Regen is a new artist to me, and I love his Soul/Jazz sound that really resembles Marc Cohn's Walking In Memphis. This whole album is tight, full of emotion and really sounds fantastic.

Memory One - Lili Haydn
Satellites - Lili Haydn
Lili Haydn's also a new artist to me, although this is her third album. She has a nice, easy going style that's really set apart with the piano and violin.

John Adams Theme - Robert Lane
My new favorite show - I'm in love with history, and it's fantastic to see a television show get something to the public that's actually good. John Adams is a wonderful show about the founding of the US, and this theme song is just amazing.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar - That Mitchell and Webb Look
This show just makes me laugh. This is actually a theme song for a reoccurring sketch within the show, but it's so slapstick, it's just hilarious.

Hideaway - The Weepies
I haven't listened to these guys extensively, but I'm adding them to my 'to listen' list because I'm really liking their laid back sound here. These songs are light, with a fantastic sound and some interesting lyrics.

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Cover and Original

It's been a little while since I've done one of these, so here's a couple to catch up for lost time:


This song you would have heard if you've turned on a TV recently. Tristan Prettyman has a fantastic cover of it:

New Soul (Yael Naïm) - Tristan Prettyman
New Soul - Yael Naïm

Again, I think that Matt Nathanson is a bit of a prat, but this is a fun cover/duet of Matt, Cary Brothers and Kate Vogele:

Don't Stop Believing (Journey) - Matt Nathanson
Don't Stop Believing - Journey

And Coldplay's one of my favorites, so it's interesting to come across a cover of their works. Here's a good one from Aimee Mann and another from Johnette Napolitano:

The Scientist (Coldplay) - Aimee Mann
The Scientist (Coldplay) - Johnette Napolitano
The Scientist - Coldplay

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The Best of January

So, it's that time of the month again, and it's a new year with a bunch of really good songs to start off the month. It's been an interesting year so far, with the markets going all wacky and a Presidential primary that's really heating up, so here's something to distract you:

Who Cares? - The Alternate Routes
Are You Lonely - The Alternate Routes

The Alternate Routes released a limited CD that took many of the songs off of their first album and turned them acoustic. The result is spectacular - the songs here are plunky and take on a life of their own.

All In It - British Sea Power

British Sea Power released their latest album, Do You Like Rock Music?, recently, with this as the first track - which has a good beat, sound and feel to it - this one's a winner. And it just builds and builds, and does it well, which is always fantastic to hear with a song.

Gravity - Coldplay

Here's a live song from Coldplay that's new - something that might be on the upcoming album, which is due out sometime in the first half of the year. This feels like classic Coldplay - it's nice to hear that they haven't lost their touch.

Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irgolva

This song is almost the perfect ballad

Kids - Goodtimes Goodtimes
Sunshine Sunshine - Goodtimes Goodtimes

Goodtimes Goodtimes is a band that released their first album last year, and which I've since picked up from a couple of music blogs. They have a fantastic guitar groove and vocals. Vocally, they sound a little like Josh Ritter and Paolo Nutini. These are some songs that really get me up, which I like.

Pretty Good (John Prine) - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Josh Ritter

A great cover from Grace Potter, and a fantastic duet that I got to see this past summer, and one that I've been looking for for ages. Finally!

Spaceship - Jason Spooner
Black and Blue - Jason Spooner

Jason Spooner has a nice laid back feel, with some comforting lyrics and a delicate guitar to boot. Lazy driving songs, perfect for the highway.

Little Black Sandals - Sia
Soon We'll Be Found - Sia

Sia, whom Zero 7 fans might know from her collaborating work with them, as well as her prior solo albums, is back with problems. Some Real Problems, and this album is no sweat - light, tight and a fantastic listen. Sorry, did that sound corny?

A-Punk - Vampire Weekend

One of the biggest bands from last year before they even released their first album, A-Punk is a fantastic example from these guys. Great guitars, drums and vocals here.

Lying For The Song - We'll Write
Never Seems To Rain - We'll Write

These guys have a good feel for rhythm and sound, one that takes me back to some nostalgic college days before I began to worry too much about things. It's a refreshing sound and one that I'll be keeping my eyes on.

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Christmas Time is Here

So, I'm going to jump on the Christmas-mix bandwagon, because this is probably going to be my last post for about a week. (I still don't have the internet at my place, and I get a week off from work, where I can get away from everything and read.) So, here are some of my favorite Christmas songs, new and old. The best of the list is the one at the bottom, which was part of the now canceled show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Santa Claus is Coming To Town - Frank Sinatra
Silent Night - Skye
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
2000 Miles (The Pretenders) - Coldplay
When I Get Home For Christmas - Snow Patrol
(There's No Place Like Home) For Christmas - Perry Como
Jingle Bells - Diana Krall
Here Comes Santa Claus - Elvis Presley
Toy Soldiers - Carbon Leaf
Silver Bells - Kate Smith
Have Yourself a Merry Christmas - Coldplay
Holly Jolly Christmas - The Format
Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Watermark - Enya
O' Holy Night - Troy Andrews

After my break, we'll be back with the best song and album of the year, as well as my picks for the best new artists and some thoughts on what we'll be seeing next year. And, I've got an announcement for a huge, major feature that'll take up most of the year that I'm quite excited about. Stay tuned.

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The Evolution of ... Coldplay

Coldplay has been one of my longtime favorite bands. They've gained considerable fame worldwide with their three major albums and numerous hits that each has produced, all the while coming up with a fairly consistant sound that doesn't get old, at least to my ears.

The group came onto the music scene in London, England, and released their first EP, entitled Brothers and Sisters, which was released on 1999. The three songs lay the foundation of the band's sound, quiet, calm, with a fairly high voice from their lead singer, Chris Martin. When they strike up the mood, they'll get into a great beat.

Only Superstition - Coldplay

They followed up Brothers and Sisters with their debut album, Parachutes. This album produced several major hits, including Trouble and Yellow. Another track, Don't Panic, gained fame in it's release with the Garden State soundtrack.
Parachutes further refined the sound that the group started with, with better guitar work and lyrics. The album is overall everything a debut album should be, and it's easily one of the finest alternative albums to come out of this decade.

Everything's Not Lost - Coldplay

Two years after Parachutes, Coldplay followed up with another monster hit, A Rush of Blood to the Head, which probably surpassed the first album in popularity, although it wasn't a huge jump away from Parachutes. Coldplay's most recognizable song, Clocks, as well as Daylight, The Scientist and God Put A Smile On Your Face are all part of this album and helped bring the group further into the limelight. A Rush of Blood to the Head is similar to Parachutes - similar style, song types and feel. It's a good album, but not a breakout success that their first album brought about.

Warning Sign - Coldplay

It was a three year wait before Coldplay came back with another album, this time X&Y, which, like their first two albums, brought quite a bit of success to the band. They also changed around their sound a little. There's more emphisis on the vocals, and the insturmentation takes more of a supporting role here. The album takes on a bit more of a consistant tone and speed. It's still got the same basic sound as that of the prior two albums, but it's less of a copy. Still, it doesn't quite hit the level of Parachutes.

What If? - Coldplay

Coldplay has, over the past couple of years, become heavily involved with various charities, such as Oxfam and LiveAid. A couple of years ago, they said that it would be a long time before anyone heard from them for a while, sparking rumours that the band was on the verge of splitting up. That's since been retracked, and the group has announced that they'll be coming back sometime next year with another album, title unknown.
One of the things that I've found interesting recently is the number of Douglas Adams references in their music. Don't Panic is a classic line and saying from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and their next album has a song and total length of 42 minutes, another major part of Adams' books. Recently, Coldplay has appeared on an EP called In the Sun, with REM's Michael Stipe, where they play along with him on the song In the Sun, which is quite good.

In the Sun - Michael Stipe & Coldplay

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Coldplay News

I just came across some information about the upcoming Coldplay album. It doesn't have a title yet, but apparently, it's almost finished and will be out in the first half of 2008. The band said that it feels dense, and it seems like it will be a fairly short album - only 42 minutes.

Confirmed tracks:

• Glass of Water
• Lost
• Cemeteries of London
• Rainy Day
• Violet Hill
• Poppy Fields
• 42
• Yes!
• Leftrightleftrightleft
• Famous Old Painters

Trouble - Coldplay

Clocks - Coldplay

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