iTunes Free Music of the Week

Two songs this week. I’d highly recommend Madly by Tristan Prettyman. The other one, eh, not as much.

Madly – Tristan Prettyman
Bien Sudao’ – Tony Dize

Best of March

This is over a week late, but I’ve been pretty busy with work and school. That being said, there’s been some really good bands that’ve released some really good songs in March. Here’s the best of them:

I Will Follow You Into the Dark (Death Cab for Cutie) – A Fine Frenzy
- I saw this one performed life at the Iron Horse recently – one of the best covers that I’ve seen of this song.

Snakes and Ladders – Basia Bulat
In The Night - Basia Bulat
- I came across Bulat via NPR’s all songs considered, and really like her energy and sound – it’s got a lot of spirit.

Going On - Gnarls Barkley
- The other track after Run that I really got into from Gnarl Barkley’s latest release, the Odd Couple.

Buffalo - Kathleen Edwards
Goodnight California – Kathleen Edwards
- Edwards was just in Vermont, and I wasn’t able to make it out to see her, something that I was a bit bummed out about. These two tracks are the best off of her latest release, Asking for Flowers.

Punch Bowl - Punch Brothers
- One of the guys from Nickel Creek and some friends with their latest project. Their first album is fantastic, and this is a fun song.

Living Well is the Best Revenge - R.E.M.
- R.E.M.’s latest song is really catchy – I haven’t really listened to REM extensively, but I think that I’m going to – their latest album sounds really good.

New Soul - Tristan Prettyman
- Lastly, that song that has been on the iPod commercial has already been covered – by Tristan Prettyman, who does a fantastic rendition of the song.

Hype - Buy

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

Hype – Buy

Best of February

Alrighty, it’s that time of the month again (a couple days late) with the best new songs that I found this past month, and I’ve found some really good ones.

For Emma, Forever Ago -

For people who loved Iron & Wine, this guy’s for you. This album’s already on my short list for one of my top albums of the year, and I suspect that it’ll remain on it. This guy just put together a beautiful album – highly minimalist, quiet, calm – something that I’ve listened to a number of times and just can’t stop – the imagery that some of these songs conjures up, such as Re: Stacks, like a winter day here in Vermont.

Flume – Bon Iver
Lump Sum – Bon Iver
Re: Stacks – Bon Iver

Human -
Civil Twilight came to my attention via the show House with the title track. These guys sound good, a solid album that really fits together well, with a number of songs that I’ve really enjoyed listening to. There’s nothing innovative or totally original here, but that’s okay – they’ve got a good sound, lyrics and style, and that’s good for me.

Human - Civil Twilight
Letters from the Sky - Civil Twilight
Soldier - Civil Twilight

Gnarls Barkley’s back with another catchy song that will be stuck in my head for a while now. Run is a nice followup to Crazy, but it’s not a copy of it. Rather, it’s fast, retro-sounding song that’ll be big on the radio.

Run - Gnarls Barkley

Joshua Radin has released a new EP in preparation for his upcoming album later this year. It’s a nice, quiet tune, a good duet.

The Fear You Won’t Fall – Joshua Radin

This song (and video) just made me completely crack up when I first watched it. I’m not a big fan of Sarah Silverman, but I am one of Matt Damon, and I can’t stop laughing when he comes in for this.

I’m F*cking Matt Damon – Sarah Silverman

I wasn’t familiar with Flint prior to coming across her music on a couple music blogs and her myspace page. I fell in love with her voice and acoustic sound – both work well together – a really good sound here.

Fearsome Crowd – Kat Flint
Ohio - Kat Flint

Sheryl Crow’s latest album, another one that’s sure to drive up the top 40 tracks. The songs that I’ve heard from this album really feel like some of her earlier stuff, which brings me back to the 90s when I was in middle and high school, listening to her stuff on the school bus’s radio in the morning. Both of these tracks are my favorites from the album – very free and fun songs.

Love is Free – Sheryl Crow
Shine Over Babylon - Sheryl Crow

Tina Dico is one artist that’ll most likely rate a mention on a new discoveries list at the end of this year. A collaborator with Zero 7, she’s got a wonderful album coming out soon, Count To Ten, with some fantastic stories and a great sound.

On The Run - Tina Dico
Sacre Coeur - Tina Dico

Tristan Prettyman’s coming out with a new, richer and better album that I’ll probably talk about more soon, when we get closer to the release date. I’m really looking forwards to it. This is reminiscent of her last. album, Twentythree, but slightly better.

Madly Madly - Tristan Prettyman

Hype – Buy

V-Day

So it’s Valentine’s Day.

When it’s good:

Destiny – Zero 7
Heartbeats – Jose Gonzalez
Dreaming – Sara Wheeler
Hold You In My Arms – Ray LaMontagne
Such Great Heights – The Postal Service
This Is Us – Mark Knofler and Emmylou Harris
Love Love Love – Tristan Prettyman
Songbird - Willie Nelson
I’m A Believer – The Monkees
Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

When it’s not:
Out To Sea – Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
Looking at the World From the Bottom of a Well – Mike Doughty
Apologies - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Let It Die – Foo Fighters
Ashes and Wine – A Fine Frenzy
When The Pain Dies Down – Chris Stills
Learn To Fly - Carbon Leaf
Turpentine - Brandi Carlile

Hype – Buy

Women Who Rock – CYA’s Top Ten

I’ve been looking up information on Regina Spektor, as she’s got a concert here next week, and I’m contemplating on going over to see that at some point. While looking around, I came across a reference that she was #5 on Spinner.com’s Women Who Rock list. I took a look and decided to come up with my own list.

10 – Brandi Carlile
It took me a little while to get into Brandi Carlile. It wasn’t until she released The Story that I started getting into her unique sound, and really started listening. She’s got one helluva vocal range, and a fantastic voice to go along with it. She’ll be up here in October and I’m planning on seeing that.

The Story – Brandi Carlile

9 – Regina Spektor
I’ve started to get into Regina Spektor. She’s got a very cool sound that borders on a bunch of things. Originally from Russia, she’s come to New York and is doing quite well for herself with her first album, Begin to Hope. She’s coming to Middlebury next week. Should I see her?

On the Radio – Regina Spektor

8 – Tristan Prettyman
My first exposure to Tristan Prettyman was through the show Six Degrees with Love, Love, Love, and since then, I’ve loved, loved, loved her music. Acoustic guitar and great vocals is what she’s all about.

Evaporated – Tristan Prettyman

7 – A Fine Frenzy
A Fine Frenzy is another one that I’ve picked up from the television world, this time when they used Hope for the Hopeless in House. Her fantastic voice couples well with her piano work, along with some absolutely stellar lyrics. I’ll be seeing her in October with Brandi.

Rangers – A Fine Frenzy

6 – Feist
I got into Feist with her first single, Let It Die, and I’ve really enjoyed her upbeat, pop sound, as well as her work with Broken Social Scene. I just missed her show up here in Vermont with Rogue Wave, and I’m kicking myself about that…

1 2 3 4 – Feist


5 – Sara Wheeler
I came across Sara Wheeler at my school five years ago, and just got one of her newer albums. Like Prettyman, she’s got the whole acoustic guitar and fantastic vocals going for her, with some great songs. I hope that she’ll be back out and about soon.

Freedom – Sara Wheeler

4 – Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley is a new band for me – I got Under the Blacklight and loved it. They’ve got a great feel and variety to all their music, and are quite standoffish in a way that’s not overdone.

Dreamworld – Rilo Kiley

3 – KT Tunstall
Where to start with KT Tunstall? I loved her first album, Eye to the Telescope, as well as her second album, Drastic Fantastic (review coming next week) and just love this woman’s sound and style. She did some time here in Vermont, and hopefully, will be returning.

Black Horse and the Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall

2 – Sara Bareilles
I just got into Sara Bareilles a couple weeks ago when I came across her fantastic first album Little Voice. She’s got great lyrics and sound here with this first album, and I’m hoping that we’ll see more from her in the near future.

Love Song – Sara Bareilles

1 – Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
No contest for me – Grace Potter is the best female vocalist out there at the moment. She rocks hard, her live concerts are just out of this world, and she’s got some deep influences with Rock & Roll. Plus, her songs, sound and voice are all just amazing. Go out and buy This is Somewhere, you won’t regret it. Or, get her other two albums, Nothing But The Water or Original Voice.

Mr. Columbus – Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Hype – Buy – Look

Artist Comparison: Chicks With Guitars

Two artists who have a similar sound and tone are Sara Wheeler and Tristian Prettyman. They’ve both got that acoustic guitar flair, and both have great voices. There’s something really cool about their sound with the guitarwork, and both would be really cool playing on stage with each other in a concert someday.

Dreaming - Sara Wheeler

Sara Wheeler is a New England artist, who’s relatively difficult to find, although she has recently released a new album, Soleil. Her acoustic guitarwork and voice are a fun match, with a good set of pleasant songs. I discovered Sara Wheeler when she came and played a short concert at my school – I picked up Moonlight Dancers, and have kicked myself for not getting any of her other ones there, because I haven’t been able to find her other stuff lately at all.

Hype – Buy – Look

Love, Love, Love – Tristan Prettyman

Tristan Prettyman likewise has a great acoustic guitar sound and tone, as well as light, poppy lyrics that are much better than most acoustic / pop music out there. This song was featured on the short-lived show Six Degrees, which had a better soundtrack than anything else in the show, and since then, I’ve really enjoyed Prettyman’s voice and lyrics.

Hype – Buy – Look