New Musical Discoveries 52 - The Trap - "The Void"

Here is a great upbeat happy feel good song. Love the  driving rhythm and the clapping percussion. Power Pop
at its very best .

Listen!

God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 47 - Lucinda Williams "Essence"

Do you like your music down and dirty with blistering guitar solos and in your face lyrics?
If so, then I have just the song for you. Admittedly, Most of Lucinda's songs are not obscure, but
this one is just left of her radar. It is my favorite of hers. Hope it becomes yours too.

Listen!

Or if you prefer the passionate live version,

Listen Up!

God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 46 - Adult Net "Incense And Peppermints"

This is a true classic given a fresh turn by Adult Net. This goes out to my high school friend (certain Mr. Farmer) who in his infinite wisdom decided I needed to be known as the "The Groover" Only he knows why this song is irrevocably linked with that fact. This isn't a summer time classic but we all know it should be.

If you still prefer the original version by The Strawberry Alarm Clock. Here it is the 2nd video


God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 44 - The Pearlfishers "We're Gonna Save The Summer"

Here is another sunny poppy summer song from a Scottish band. Great lyrics to boot!!

Listen

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New Musical Discoveries 42 - Computer Magic "Found Out"

This captivating song is courtesy of a band out of New York. A touch of  the Cocteau Twins may be discerned.

Listen right here

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New Musical Discoveries 41 - Delay Trees - "Cassette 2012"

Out of Helsinki Finland comes this engaging slice of sugary confetti. A soon to be classic is born.


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New Musical Discoveries 40 - Blue Cartoon "She's Gone"

Here is a nice slice of alt country out of Austin TX. A song that seems very simple upon first listening. However, you will soon find it hard to shake out of your head upon repeated listenings.


Listen 

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New Musical Discoveries 39 - The High Dials "The Holy Gound"

Here is an especially nice tune, performed in a quite engaging manner. I love how the song starts out slowly and steadily builds  into a mini masterpiece. Give it a chance!

Listen

God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 37 - Future Clouds and Radar - "The Epcot View"

Of course, this band evolved out of the ashes of Cotton Mather, so it isn;t so surprising that i have branded it with my Beatlesque tag. Guess what part of England they are from. Wrong! They come from Austin Tx.

Listen

New Musical Discoveries 34 - The Springfields "Wonder"

I am back to yet another jingle jangle classic. This time it is "Wonder" by The Springfields.

Who in the world are The Springfields? You may justifiably as this question. As it so happens

The Springfields were  moniker used by Chicago's own the talented Ric Menck who was later to become 1/3 of that Power Pop classic band Velvet Crush. Ric recorded this little ditty for the legendary Sarah Records of

the U.K. They preferred bands on their label, thus , Voila! The Springfields we're born.

They issued two classic 45s. This one and "Sunflower"

You may watch it here

Fortunately, these obscurities were scooped up and released by Ric on his wonderful CD

The Ballad of Rick Menck.

You can listen to it here

God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 33 - Yep - "Waterloo Sunset"

Do you remember when liner notes were a work of art? Sure they yet another means to promotion,.but some had a way of cutting to the the chase and telling you just what was important. They summed things up and set the vibe for the album. Case in point - the liner notes for Yep's album Once.

You can read it here


In any event,  they bring a refreshing take on Ray Davies's "Waterloo Sunset" which after all is one of these all time classics.

And listen to it here




God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 32 - Richard Orange and The Eggmen "Beatlesque"

I've been asked why I refer to Beatles type tunes as beatlesque. It probably stems to a large part from this song by Richard Orange called appropriately enough Beatlesque. I usually refer to tunes that are inspired by the later
Beatles era as such. Anyway, please check this classic out and tell me if it recalls The Beatles for you.

Find it here


or with others here


God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 30 - Beady Eye - The Roller

Do you like Beatlesque tunes? If so this song, is for you. One of the better ones Plus it is from 2011.Beady Eye is a spin-off of  the Brit Pop band Oasis. Still uptempo tunes today.

check the audio here

and here for the video:



God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 29 - Dar Williams "Are You Out There?"

Here is another upbeat summer kind of song done by my fave female singer Dar Williams. I hope you find this song as uplifting as  I do.

Check it out here



Listen to the audio here


Here is a live version


God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 27 - Cherry Ghost "Thirst For Romance"

DO you like a pinch of Alternate  (Alt) Country? How about  a dash of  Indie Pop. If you answered at all in the affirmative, then head right over to the link and listen to this driving tune from Britain's Cherry Ghost. The attention grabbing lyrics have a way of twirling around inside your brain and you soak them all in and have that
aha moment.

God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 26 - It's Only Roy "It's Only Roy"

Here is a  curious tune by the eponymously named It's Only Roy. I love how the tempo shifts up and down throughout this real catchy melody.
Listen to it here

God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries - The Shins - Phantom Limb

How about about a truly 21st century Summer song? At least one that has vocal harmonies inspired by great legends of the past yet has its own musical stamp. Such a song is "Phantom Limbs" by The Shins. I so love how the twirling vocals build into such a gentle crescendo.

Watch the wonderful video here

Or just the listen to the audio



God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 24 - Jeffrey Foskett "Thru My Window"

It is still Summer out there isn't it? That calls for a Summer song then. Something like a Beach Boys song.
But you have heard them so often that you are truly sick of them. In that case, you really must listen to the song that most closely resembles a Beach Boys song that you never ever heard before. And that song, my loyal blog readers, happens to be "Thru My Window" by Jeffrey Foskett. Why am I not surprised to learn that he often tours in Brian Wilson's band?

Here it is




Or if you have problems with above,  here is another link




God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 23 - Cindy Williams "They Talk About Us"

This song may be the most obscure song worthy of this blog that I have found yet. I'm reaching way back into the past now as this cameout around 1967. As I understand it, she only issued two 45s both only in the U.K. This tune should have been a massive hit. FYI, this is not the same Cindy Williams that appeared on Laverne & Shirley in the seventies. This Cindy Williams came from Swansea in Wales.Boy, can she belt out a song. BTW, It took ages to find a place that plays it.



I Love This Music

New Musical Discoveries 22 - George Usher "Orpheus Turning"

I have nor forsaken all the wonderful jingle jangle songs there are out there.
Here is one now called "Orpheus Turning" by George Usher. Yes, George
is the same guy who wrote "Not The Trembling Kind" covered by the
incomparable  Laura Cantrell

Listen to this marvel now at George's own site


You can also click on the link and buy the album it is from " Dutch April"

God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 21 - Albano Carrisi - Nessun Dorma

As most of you know, or can infer from my prior Posts, opera is not my favored musical style.
However, as in most of life, exceptions exist for most everything. This is one of those cases. Like
many of us, we maintain a certain fondness for Puccini's Nessun Dorma. Luciano Pavarotti's version is often referred to as the gold standard. After all, who can't forget hearing it at the conclusion of the Harrison Ford movie "The Sum Of All Fears"? And who wasn't moved to near tears upon hearing, former Welsh cell phone salesman, Paul Potts' version on "Britain's Got Talent? Yet despite those fabulous versions, there is another rendition that I consider my own personal favorite. It is performed by Al Bano Carrisi, or simply Al Bano as he is referred to in his native Italy. Curiously enough, he isn't considered an Opera star but rather a pop star in his home country.

Watch the moving video here


Listen to the stirring audio here


God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 20 - The Baseball Project "Tony (Boston's Favorite Son)

While I'm on the subject of story songs here is another soon to be classic. At least I think so. This song is just one of the magical moments found on The Baseball Project's latest CD - Vol. 2: High and Inside. It is about the Boston Red Sox star rookie Tony Conigliaro during the sixties.His saga was called "tragic Italian opera" by no less an authority than ESPN. Tony hit a home run in his very first major league game. He became the youngest American League home run champion at age 20 with 32 homers. Tragedy struck on August 18, 1967 when he was walloped by a pitch from the California Angels Jack Hamilton. The pitch broke Tony's cheekbone and temporarily blinded him leading him to miss the 1968 season. He was named Comeback Player of the year after the '69 season. However. lingering vision problems led to his early retirement in '71.
The Baseball Project is a supergroup of sorts featuring R.E.M's guitarist on bass, Scott McCaughey on guitar,   Steve Wynn on vocals and guitar (he also wrote Tony), and Linda Pitmon on drums.

Listen to song here




Here is ESPN''s  review of High and Inside


Here is a capsule biography of Tony



Click here for Tony's Wikipedia entry


God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 19 - Cry Cry Cry "Cold Missouri Waters"

This is one of those "story" songs I find truly engaging. Even more astonishing is the fact that it is true.It concerns the tragedy at Mann Gulch in Montana in the summer of '49 where 13 smokejumping firefighters died when the fire got ahead of them. Cry Cry Cry,  the folk supergroup formed by Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, and Dar Williams performs the version that got my attention first. Richard sings lead. The story of the fire is also accounted in one of the finest non-fiction books ever: "Young Men and Fire" by Norman Maclean, he of the delightful semi-autobiographical  "A River Runs Through It" book.

See the masterful video of Cry Cry Cry's version here



Audio only is available here


The song is actually composed by James Keelaghan.
Catch his intriguing version


Here is a very different yet still compelling version by The Black Irish Band


Steve Cottrell provides a more traditional but still delightful version here



John Garza is fairly traditional but still heart felt



Here is an amateur version by E. R. Hershman that is actually quite good too


Steve Wacker provides an excellent account about the song




If you wish to read "Young Men and Fire" you can get it here


Or on Kindle here



God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 18 - Eliza Carthy & Norman Waterson "Psalm Of Life"

I will tell you right off the bat, this is not an easy listen but an acquired one. However, to those willing to invest the time the effort to appreciate such a song will find a rich reward. The two singers being mother & daughter
sing well together with similar accents yet different registers. The instrumentation - sparse guitars and effective use of brass - complement the mood created.

Go ahead and give it a listen (more than once)
Remember to let the page load then look for the upper left image of the CD "The Gift"
Click on it and the song will start

God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 16 - The Time Lodgers - "Slanted? Oh Yeah"

Another candidate carrying the torch for The Beatles is Norway' s The Time Lodgers
and their captivating tune "Slanted?  Oh Yeah"

Check it out here



God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 7 - Gobsmack - Voodoo

Gobsmack's "Voodoo" is one of the classic power rock anthems of all time. Reminds me a bit of early Pearl Jam
and has clear traces of grunge. Let me know what you think.




God I Love This Music!

New Musical Discoveries 4 - The Zinedines " Twice Upon A Time"

Thanks to Alysathena for finding the link for the The Zinedines track "Twice Upon A Time" discussed in New Musical Discoveries 2. Who of you would guess that they are from the Island of Majorca off The Coast Of Spain?
I had forgotten to attach it

Listen Intently!

Twice Upon A Time

God I Love This Music!