I've said it before, but this guy has one of the best voices in Rock music, and you've forgotten who he is. The frontman for 90's Alt-Rockers Dishwalla has released his solo debut album, and it picks up right where Dishwalla left off.
They had the most played Rock Radio song in 1995 with "Counting Blue Cars," and released on hell of an amazing album with 2002's "Opaline", (plus, solid albums in 1998's "And You Think You Know What Life's About" and 2005's self-titled effort, AND a live album. Not too shabby of a career for one-hit wonders. The band is taking a hiatus for a little bit while everyone pursues other ventures. His album "A Beautiful End" was released back in May. Today's song for the blog is the title track to the album. Enjoy "A Beautiful End" by J.R. Richards
Considering how big of news it is in the world, and how many covers there are out there of his music, I was tempted to make this a Michael Jackson Flashback Friday. But since everyone else is doing it, I decided not to. We go on as normal on the blog today, and flashback to 1996.
They only had one mainstream hit, but you may have heard of some of their others. Their song "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues" was featured in Road Trip, and they have released a ton of albums to critical acclaim since, but they were never able to recapture the public's eye like in 1996 with their one big hit. From "Beautiful Freak," it's eels, with "Novocaine for the Soul"
Now Seattle gives us bands like The Classic Crime. Power punk-pop that's well-polished. The band broke onto the scene in 2006 with their debut album "Albatross," to which I played to death "The Coldest Heart" and "Who Needs Air" on my WinAmp. Their latest album, "The Silver Cord" actually hit stores last summer, but they're still working it right now, pushing their latest single to radio.
Today's best song you've never heard... it's The Classic Crime- "The Way That You Are."
Based in Los Angeles, and never really thinking he'd be a rock star, The Airborne Toxic Event's lead singer Mikel Jollett has come a long way since a fateful week in 2006. As an aspiring novelist, within one week, he found out his mother was diagnosed with cancer, his relationship broke up, and he himself was diagnosed with a genetic auto-immune disease. His writing turned from writing prose to writing songs, as he said he realized he was writing an album.
I still am not 100% sure if I truly like this band or not. Their first single, "Sometime Around Midnight" was good... and there are moments when I'll listen to it often, but other times I need to let it rest for a while. It's run on the Alternative charts was impressive, slowly climbing to a Top 5 peak Their latest single, "Wishing Well" definitely brings a more radio-friendly feel to the mix.
Enjoy for today, The Aiborne Toxic Event, and their new single "Wishing Well"
They formed in 2000, basing their sound on their love of 90's rock. 9 years later, they're attempting to make their own splash on the world of music.
The band is based in Atlanta, says their band name, "State of Man," is like a mission statement, stating "We're representative of where humanity is as a whole. We want to lead by example and actually get our hands dirty." The band has been doing just that, with their "Service 2 Humanity" tour, as they "Make a difference with music & you."
They've got some big, arena-rock sounds. Check it out in this single. It's State of Man, with "Swallow Your Fears"
I swear, when I got my hands on a bunch of songs to check out for the blog, I had no clue so many of them in a cluster would be Christian Bands. (I gotta go back and look at the source of all of this music.) But yet again, we hit up the Christian sector for today's blog.
The band is called Run Kid Run, signed to Tooth and Nail Records. They've been around since 2006, and have released two albums, 2006's "This is Who We Are" and their latest, 2008's "Love at the Core."
They've had moderate success on the Christian Charts with some of their singles, and try with this one. Forgive the amateur-put together video for this song, it's the only one on YouTube. Check out Run Kid Run's "Set the Dial."
Yeah yeah. Just like when I premiered their new single "Absolutely Still" to kick off the blog, I know I might get some flak for putting my favorite band on my blog. Meh. Sue me.
I was lucky enough to see these guys in concert this past week, first at an acoustic session for Philly radio station Radio 104.5, then later that night in their plugged-in goodness at Philly's Trocadero Theater. I'm not the biggest fan of their latest album at all (It's not ALL bad... there are good songs on there, but it's probably my least favorite Ezra album released.) Anywho.
I figured for today's Flashback Friday, I'd go through their music video collection (what I can find online at least) and let you go "Oh Yeah! I remember that song! Better Than Ezra did it? Cool!" It's a Better Than Ezra OVERLOAD today on the Best Music blog. Sit back, and enjoy.
From 1995's "Deluxe", their debut single, "Good."
Also from 1995's "Deluxe," the follow-up single "In the Blood"
The third single from 1995's "Deluxe," it's "Rosealia."
From their 1996 sophomore album "Friction, Baby" here's "King of New Orleans"
Their more remembered hit from 1996's "Friction, Baby" it's "Desperately Wanting"
Sadly, the only music video BTE got to do for their 1998 album "How Does Your Garden Grow" was for this song, "Like It Like That." Recorded March 19th, 1999 in NYC and March 20th, 1999 in Philly (at the show I was at!!)
The leadoff single from 2005's "Before The Robots," it's "A Lifetime"
Definitely one of their more, uh... interesting videos, it's 2005's "Juicy."
Here's the official video for their latest single, from 2009's "Paper Empire," it's "Absolutely Still"
There WAS a (really bad) video for 2001's "Extra Ordinary" off their album "Closer" but it's nowhere to be found online. They also released the singles "Long Lost," and "Normal Town" from "Friction, Baby", "One More Murder," and "At the Stars" from "How Does Your Garden Grow?", "Misunderstood" from "Closer" and "Our Last Night" from "Before The Robots" without having a music video.
Until Monday, when hopefully, I'll have my full hearing back. Peace!
From across the pond comes today's "Best Music" blog entry. His name is Gary Go, and he's trying to make his mark in America.
He's snagged some big gigs in his short career, now opening for Take That on their reunion tour, plus he's penned in to be opening for Lady Gaga for a few dates on her upcoming European tour. He's released a few EPs, and now, his full-length, self-titled album, which is in stores now.
Let's present Gary Go, and his debut single "Wonderful"
So today we go holy again for the Best Music blog, as a Christian band get's today's entry. The side project of Trevor McNevan, the lead singer of Thousand Foot Krutch, a very heavy rocking Christian band, FM Static lets him get in touch with much more poppier roots. Formed in 2003, they have released 3 albums, 2003's "What Are You Waiting For?", 2006's "Critically Ashamed" and their latest, 2009's "Dear Diary."
They've had a slew of hits at Christian Rock radio... which, depending on where you are, you might hear, you might not. We'll take their latest hit today. It's FM Static, and "Take Me As I Am."
Today's entry into the blog is another of the "oh yeah! I remember them!"
As they put it themselves, on VH1's Top 100 songs of the 90s, they're doing pretty damn good for being the One Hit Wonder of 1994. They have amassed 7 #1 Mainstream Rock hits, (They would be "Shine," "December," "The World I Know," "Where The River Flows," "Precious Declaration," "Listen," and "Heavy," plus a plethora of other songs you might not remember unless you heard them.
Well they will be returning August 25th with their eighth studio album, entitled "Rabbit," and are ready to hit the radio airwaves with their new single. Today, we present Collective Soul, and "Staring Down."
CLICK HERE to listen to Collective Soul's new song. Courtesy of Alternative Addiction!
After living in the Bible Belt for nearly four years, I found a new respect for Christian music. Seriously. These days, Christian Rock and Christian Pop can sound so mainstream, if you weren't paying attention, you wouldn't know what your listening to was Christian. Lyrically, it's not beating you over your head with their beliefs, and it's slick, well-produced music.
Cue today's track for the blog, from the band Capital Lights. They're from the musical hotspot of... uh... Oklahoma, and are signed to Christian label Tooth and Nail. They've put out three albums, 2006's "Better Late Than Never," 2007's "Revival of the Fittest EP" and their latest and major label debut, 2008's "This is an Outrage!"
They have scattered tour dates, including one in Shirleysburg, PA on the 26th of June. I present for today's blog entry: Capital Lights, and their latest single "Return."
To make up for ::gasp:: taking two days off this week, I figured I'd do a triple shot for this week's Friday Flashback here on the blog. We have a band who just announced they are breaking up, but first, a band who released a song back in 2003, that now, sounds kind of creepy.
They are a bunch of guys from Australia that made a small splash, explaining...how they'd rather have sex with Madonna than any other female pop star. Considering what she looks like now:
it's not a pleasant thought. So we start, with The Androids, and "Do It With Madonna." (And you have to click on it because Universal Records won't let you embed videos. Douchebags. So CLICK HERE
Secondly, sad news as a band you probably have forgotten about has announced their break-up.
Remember Harvey Danger? Yup... those lovable nerds from 1998's "Flagpole Sitta" have officially announced they're done after releasing 3 albums. They never were able to match the success of Flagpole Sitta, which hit #3 on the Modern Rock charts, with such songs as "Save it For Later," and "Private Helicopter," and faded into obscurity. So I'll present two songs, of course, Flagpole Sitta, and from 2000, "Sad Sweetheart of the Rodeo"
Just a heads up, there won't be any updates Wednesday and Thursday this week... I'll be rolling down to the Jersey Shore and won't be bringing my computer with me. Whatever will you do? Wait patiently for the Friday Flashback coming up.
According to the always-accurate Wikipedia, today's band, Green River Ordinance, has been compared to Sister Hazel, Matchbox 20, and Third Eye Blind. They're pretty accurate this time, as, just like Love and Theft yesterday, this song could have been a Modern Rock hit circa 1997. Formed in 2003 in Texas, these guys were touring buddies with Flickerstick (remember THEM from VH1's Bands on the Run?), and have released 3 discs, a full length effort, "The Beauty of Letting Go," and an EP "Way Back Home" on their own, and now, signed to Virgin Records, their debut "Out Of My Hands."
They've gotten some OK reviews on their new disc... the problem... everyone compares them to the aforementioned Sister Hazel, Matchbox 20, and Third Eye Blind. Is that a bad thing? Not in my ears.
Check them out for yourself: It's Green River Ordinance, with "Hold On"
I'm not the biggest country fan in the world. Before I moved to Kansas I never listened to it, but I grew at least an appreciation for it since, and every once in a while I'll hear a country song that's pretty good, like today's.
I forget where I heard this song first, maybe in a store or something, and I was able to remember a snippet of the lyrics to look up later. I really wasn't paying attention, and didn't realize it was a country song at all. It sounded like it could fit into the sound of some 90s rock like Seven Mary Three, The Refreshments, and even early Train. When I saw it was #25 on the Country charts, I said "heh."
I don't know too much about them. They formed in 2006 and just got signed early this year. Their debut album "World Wide Open" will be released in August. Until then, their debut single will hold you over. It's Love and Theft, with "Runaway"
"Everybody knows that the world is full of stupid people..."
Circa 1996, a song came out that wasn't a huge hit on the charts (it only climbed up to #14), and doesn't get a lot of airplay anymore, sadly. But the song is like the Office Space of 90s Modern Rock... it's become a cult classic. If I quote a line from this song on Facebook, 10 people respond with the next line, or a "HEY! I REMEMBER THAT SONG!!" It doesn't even get played in Philly on the radio anymore (WMMR, Radio 104.5, and YSP don't spin it), but people still remember it when they hear it.
They attempted a follow up hit ("Down Together," which was a radio flop), and faded off the map. The only other notable song they did, believe it or not, was the theme to "King of the Hill." They probably made more money off of that than anything they released to radio.
From 1996, and their album "Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy," it's the Refreshments, and "Banditos." (The song kicks in around :27 in)
When I mention the band Our Lady Peace, I always get one of three responses:
A.) Who? B.) Is that some Christian band? C.) They're still around?
Huge in Canada, and a moderate success here in the states, yes, Our Lady Peace is still around, and they are just about to release their latest album, "Burn Burn" on July 21st.
The band has had a great career so far, spanning back to their debut album "Naveed" back in 1994. They've hit the radio with songs like "Clumsy," "Superman's Dead," "One Man Army," "Life," and 2002's "Somewhere Out There," which took them in a more mainstream sound, much to the chagrin of longtime fans. The new album, "Burn Burn," from what I've heard so far, is supposed to be a mix of the newer poppy sound, with some older, more rocking OLP music. The debut single from the new album definitely leans more towards the polished pop sound though, but I'm not complaining, as I thought "Somewhere Out There" is one of their best songs to date.
So let's pull a "heh. Oh yeah! I remember them!" today and debut new music from Our Lady Peace, this is "All You Did Was Save My Life"
We hit the college circuit for today's "Best Music" entry. Holiday Parade has been gathering a lot of attention for an unsigned band. From Emory University in Atlanta, these guys have been featured on MTVu, and have released a few EPs, and their full-length debut, "Tickets and Passports," which can be found if you search around online. (You ain't gonna find it at your local Best Buy, they're not signed yet.)
I can best describe them as well-crafted power-pop, and I wouldn't be surprised if they find themselves a record deal in the near future.
From their album "Tickets and Passports," today's Best Music entry is from the Holiday Parade, and their song "Getaway."
A lot of times in the music world, side projects go completely unnoticed, and the artist that broke free realizes that they are forever tied to their band. (Anyone remember Talk Show?) Sometimes, they have just as great success as the original band (A Perfect Circle).
Then there's Jack's Mannequin. A band who's popularity seems to have surpassed lead singer Andrew McMahon's first band.
Jack's Mannequin was born by Something Corporate lead singer Andrew McMahon. They had (have, since they're not officially broken up or anything) two major label releases, a great live show, and a very dedicated fanbase. The toils of touring though made the band decide to take a break. Andrew had been writing some songs that he said "didn't sound like something Something Corporate would release," so he took he opportunity to form the side project, Jack's Mannequin. Their first release "Everything in Transit" was a moderate success, spawning the singles "The Mixed Tape" and "Dark Blue." Andrew was diagnosed with Leukemia right as the album was released, and their latest album "The Glass Passenger" was written largely during his time of treatment. Healthy, and hitting the road (They're opening for the Fray this summer), they are releasing their second single off the new album.
Today's "Best Music" entry is Jack's Mannequin, and "Swim"
Here's a band where if you don't like them at first, it might take a bit of convincing for you to realize that they really are good. You just need to get past the lead singer's voice.
Thriving Ivory's lead singer, Clayton Stroope, doesn't have a voice that sounds like the rest. Honestly, watching the music videos, you wonder how the voice matches the person at all. But that's not to say it's a bad thing at all, it's just very unique, and if you can see (hear?) past that obstacle, you'll realize that they guys are REALLY good songwriters.
Their debut single "Angels on the Moon" was a slow climber of the charts, pretty much for the same reason. It took a while to get past the vocals to realize that is really was a well-written song (I still think it was the best written song of 2008), and their new single follows into that mold as well.
From San Francisco, I present to you Thriving Ivory, and their new single "Hey Lady"
