The Rise of the Music Duos

I do realise that we are well into 2012, but sometimes it takes a while to get a feel for the new music which truly means something important to us.

Over the past year, there have been a few bands that have made an astonishing impact in my life. Some are fairly new to the music business in terms of worldwide publicity and sales, whilst others have been around for years and still have the unique ability to evoke such powerful emotions and messages through their old and new music.

I might be a London girl, but that doesn't stop me from absolutely loving the music created by two American duos. The duos in question happen to be Jack and White and The Civil Wars.

Jack and White made their debut appearance in my iTunes library very soon after I first heard about them on Brooke White's inspirational personal blog, and now play a pivotal role in my everyday listening habits. I have loved White's distinctive vocals since the days of American Idol Season 7, and have continued to follow her work over the last four years. One of her solo albums, High Hopes & Heartbreak, had been my designated "Road Trip" album for many months, so the prospect of even more new material written in conjunction with another excellent musician instantly caught my attention. The partnership with the extremely talented Jack Matranga seems effortless, making the whole listening experience so welcoming and leaves you feeling as if hitting the repeat button is the best idea you've had in days. Their two EPs, Gemini and Winter are packed with stunning songs which definitely deserve to be heard by the masses.

I have to admit that I find myself in the awkward position in which I'm struggling to pick out my favourite track from the EPs as I sincerely love them all. To make it slightly easier for myself, I am going to choose my top 3 songs instead. On second thoughts, that is still too hard for me. I hope this shows you how highly I regard this music duo. If I had to make a fast decision, Inside Outside and XYZ could be the chosen favourites, but don't quote me on that one, it's too close to call. Jack and White are currently back in the studio recording an EP dedicated to cover songs. With some luck, their superb cover of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac will make a welcome appearance on the track listing.

The Civil Wars just make me smile. Uncontrollably. I have often found myself in the situation where I'll be listening to their flawless music through my earphones and someone close to me will ask to know the reason why I am smiling. I really can't help it. When you find an artist or a group that can cultivate a sound that is so pure whilst having the refreshing ability to unearth just the right amount of grit at the same time, you know you have found yourselves a winner. Pairing Joy Williams and John Paul White together truly is a match made in Heaven. Everyone always seems to talk about their heartfelt onstage chemistry and I can absolutely see how their genuine real-life friendship has helped to make them such a roaring success in such a short amount of time. I bought a copy of their debut album, Barton Hollow, whilst I was on holiday in California in the summer of 2011, and am so glad that I did.

On a scale of 1 to 10, their likeability factor is, without a doubt, a 10. Their songwriting capabilities reach further than any other fairly new group that I can name. Their sound is exquisite and the pair unequivocally deserve winning their first Grammy Awards last month. 20 Years from their album, Barton Hollow, is an easy favourite of mine and will be for a very long time to come. The only regret I have is that I didn't manage to buy tickets to their London show at Shepherd's Bush Empire on March 19th before it sold out. I am seriously kicking myself right now.

These sensational music duos have helped to highlight the way music should be created. Sometimes good, honest music wins the fight  against the flamboyant music giants that are all too common in this day and age. These duos are destined for great things, and I am so happy that we are able to watch their future musical journeys unfold.

Music Of The 80s

I would wholeheartedly define myself as someone who has an everlasting passion for Top 40 pop music; the type of mainstream stuff which happens to dominate our lives through endless radio play and various other media outlets. Although this "modern-day" music plays such a pivotal role in society today, it's always interesting to step back from what we currently know and think about the joys of music from past decades.

Over the last few months I have been delving deep into various musical delights which happened to be either written or released in the 1980s. I couldn't resist sharing some of my personal favourites with you today, but of course, I have only just scratched the surface with my passion for 80s music and hope to find out about many other artists, bands and songwriters who made incredible music during this time. All of the following seem to have conveyed a positive, thought-provoking message through their music- something which I strive for on a daily basis:

1. Heaven Is A Place On Earth by Belinda Carlisle

A small number of my musical influences relate back to what I remember my parents listening to when I was younger. As soon as I first heard Heaven Is A Place On Earth, I knew I was in for a musical treat! I found the tone of Carlisle's voice to be astonishingly unique and was impressed by how much it complimented the lyrics and melody, adding a whole other dimension to the overall song. Circle In The Sand is also a firm favourite of mine due to not only the relaxing nature of the song, but its ability to make me want to stop and think for a short while.

2. Gold by Spandau Ballet

As I live in the UK, I am always ready and willing to support British bands. When I found out that Spandau Ballet were going to reunite and play a few concert dates in my area, I was more than eager to hear them live for myself. Sadly I wasn't able to attend their concert, but luckily, I was able to rekindle my love for Gold- their iconic power song in which the lyrics aim to inspire us with words of wisdom and encouragement.

3. Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears

Tears For Fears are another one of the great British bands which started to make an influential mark on the music world in the 80s and continue to have growing relevance in our society today. Even though I only started listening to their Greatest Hits album many years after it was initially released, the messages it tries to convey are still extremely accurate in our world where everyone is striving for the best. Two of the most well-known Tears For Fears songs have got to be Mad World and the absolute gem that is Everybody Wants To Rule The World. I have adored both songs for a long time, but hearing the inspirational David Archuleta sing Everybody Wants To Rule The World during his concert at the Myrtle Beach MayFest in South Carolina a short while ago, has made me finally understand what this song actually means to me. David's performance of this song made me shed tears of happiness, enough said!

4. Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins

I'd like to start off by declaring that this song is a piece of musical genius. Not only does this song have musical impact, it also has a strong social impact due to the vivid message about homelessness which it portrays. There are very few people in the world of music who are able to convey pure emotion at this level, which shows just how skilled Collins was and still is to this day. I'm so glad this song has done so well over the years. I'm always excited to hear cover versions of the song which  happen to pop up when you least expect them, often with a stylish twist. Whether it's by the addition of a synth beat or just a simply beautiful acoustic version, this song will always have a special place in our hearts.

While many songs are released and immediately forgotten about the next day, these songs have all stood the test of time and will, undoubtedly, remain this way for decades to come. All that's left for me to do now is to go out and buy an 80s compilation cd to broaden my music horizons!

Sunny Songs for a Beautiful Day

The weather has been surprisingly good over the last two weeks in the UK and has put me in an extremely happy mood! To celebrate the fact that it is currently lovely and warm outside, I have compiled a list of songs which never fail to put a smile on my face, whether raining or sunny:

1. The Feeling -  "Love It When You Call"

The Feeling are another one of my favourite British bands who never fail to deliver catchy choruses and fun instrumentals throughout all of their songs. This track is taken from their first album,"Twelve Stops & Home", which includes a fantastic mix of fast and slow-paced songs. Without doubt, there is something to suit all occasions on this record! I had the opportunity to see the band perform live last summer and learned a lot about how important it is to connect to the audience and with your other band members. This song got everyone dancing and singing along, which can only be a sign of a great song!

2. Natasha Bedingfield - "These Words"

Can you remember what artists you were listining to during 2004/5? Natasha Bedingfield was my female artist of choice during this time period as she was something completely different to what was already in the music industry. She wasn't a diva, nor did she need to be. Her stunning vocals showed the world what true music was and everyone seemed to agree. Let's roll back to the present day where she is a huge global artist and has had incredible hit songs and collaborated with the hottest stars of the 21st century. She is still one of my top artists of all time. 

3. David Archuleta - "The Other Side Of Down"

I really can't help myself! You may have already guessed that my favourite singer of all time would get a mention on my list of sunny songs. It's probably because his music is just so positive and happy. It certainly is absolutely perfect for a bright, sunny day, or any day for that matter! This song makes me want to go out into the sunshine and enjoy life. The lyrics make complete sense to me and I know that all of his music choices have helped people all over the world to become happier, more confident people. He is incredible.

4. Brooke White - "Phoenix"

This song is one of the best road trip songs on this Earth. It makes me smile without even realising and puts me in a mellow mood, ready to get on with the rest of my day. Brooke White is another artist who radiates postive energy and seems to have her priorities in exactly the right place. She is clearly a unique talent who deserves more praise.

I hope you enjoyed my top sunny song picks! If you read my last post, you will remember that "Choices" by The Hoosiers is also an incredible song for summer. Just as I am finishing this post, the sun is being hidden behind a cluster of dark storm clouds.....

If only the weather was as reliable as these great songs highlighted above!

Music Review: Bumpy Ride by The Hoosiers

I have been eagerly anticipating this occasion for the last few weeks and am extremely happy to be able to review Bumpy Ride, the latest album by the British pop trio, The Hoosiers. 

Any of you who have read my blog since its creation will have read my first post, titled "Inspirational Albums", where I mention my top three albums of all time. One of those albums just happens to be The Hoosiers debut album, The Trick to Life, which was left on repeat on my ipod and itunes for the majority of 2008! As you can probably already tell, I seem to be able to connect to every song written by The Hoosiers, and the new album certainly doesn't disappoint!

True fans of the band will know that Bumpy Ride contains the original twelve songs from their second album, The Illusions of Safety, but four new tracks have been added to create a fantastic album filled to the brim with every emotion known to man.

One of the stand out tracks on the album has got to be "Unlikely Hero", as I feel as if this could be the anthem for all the underdogs who just haven't been given enough credit in the world today. Another feel-good song on the album is "Glorious". I just love the beat of the song and know this is going to sound absolutely incredible live. Moving on to the new tracks, "Sister Sister" includes a great guitar riff which  has given me the urge to learn how to play the guitar, just so I can play this song!

I may be a little bit biased due to the fact that I have been in love with this band since their first single, but I truly cannot fault this album. "Choices" makes me remember sunny, warm days spent in Cornwall  with my family whilst on holiday in the Summer of 2010 and never fails to lift my spirits on the rare occasion when I find myself stuck in a foul mood!

As far as I'm concerned, this is an album which deserves to be bought and listened to thoroughly. It is not hard to see that a lot of time, effort and hard decisions have been made for this album to be released. Some say that the second album (or the 2nd and a half album in this case!) are always the hardest to sell as people can only compare you to your debut work, but this album is strong enough to hold its own in the highly saturated industry that is the music business in the 21st century.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Bumpy Ride, so feel free to leave me comments below. 

Here is the link to my previous article, Inspirational Albums, in which I mention The Trick to Life.

AI - Has The Show lost its Sparkle?

Over the last decade, American Idol has spoiled us with the sheer amount of incredible talent it is able to nurture each season. Some may say that some seasons have been more talented than others, but this could be seen as a highly subjective point!

Last night, I thought I would stay up a little bit longer to listen to all the Idol Results Show commentary straight from the mouths of my favourite US/Canadian tweeters who were watching the show live. This was the first time that I had ever done this as usually I like to watch the show the next day when it airs in the UK with a clear mind, with no previous ideas in my head.

Of course, as the show has been running for such a long time, everyone had strong preconceived ideas about what they expected to happen during the show in terms of special guest singers and who should definitely be in the Bottom Three.

Some of the first surprises of the night seemed to be the presence of the very vocally talented Pia Toscano in the Bottom Three and the guest appearance by Constantine Maroulis, the Idol Contestant from Season 4. I then realised that the worst was still to come as my twitter timeline moved rapidly before my eyes.

I'm still extremely confused by the trip to TMZ. Surely a trip to a well-renowned US weekly magazine for women would have been a better bet? Many said Stefano Langone deserved to be in the Bottom Three but I'm not certain about this.  He may not have the wide vocal range that other contestants have, but he sang very well the night before and has a lovely, happy stage persona. What really surprised me was the fact that Jacob Lusk had arrived in the Bottom Three and that Iggy Pop had been asked to appear as a guest singer!

Many of the people I follow were left very discontented by the many shocking events of the night and had decided that the show did not hold the same value that it once held a few seasons ago.

Can we put this amount of upset and discontent down to the fact that the show has changed so drastically over the last few years? Is it because Simon Cowell left to pursue The X Factor USA and that the judging panel is missing some charisma? Maybe it is just because the show has been going on for so long now that the public at home have seen it all before. We therefore expect show-stopping guest performances by our favourite artists and more constructive criticism given to the contestants.

It will be extremely interesting to find out what the viewing figures for the show were like this week. The producers should react to the figures and do something about it. I suggest listening to the people who vote!

The True Purpose Of Music

It has been a couple of roller coaster weeks for a certain young female YouTube/Twitter phenomenon. I'm sure you all know who I'm talking about considering the fact that she has been a Twitter Trending Topic for the last few weeks and has even been mentioned all over the world on various television shows.

Music is an extremely lucrative business and it is obvious that young teens want to become a part of this industry. They think they are 100% guaranteed overnight fame and fortune. Sadly for them, this is not how it works.

Most people understand that the music industry is a big game. This game needs to be played by the rules to succeed, although there are always exceptions. I would sound very naive if I said that natural musical talent always does the best in terms of media coverage and sales, but isn't this what we should expect?

The music consumer wants to listen to songs which conjure up emotion, whether happy or sad, we want to be made to feel something whilst listening to music. By "something", I don't mean how annoyed you are that the artist is singing with no feeling and with lyrics containing no intellectual value!

For me, the true purpose of music is to leave a positive impact on the listener. You may find this in many different forms, but stunning vocals and a great personality always have the biggest positive impact on me.

Feel free to leave me your own comments about this subject!

Kris Allen - Why Didn't I Buy This Album Sooner?!

I admit it. I'm very late jumping on the Kris Allen bandwagon.

It has taken me nearly 18 months to finally buy his self-titled album but on first impressions, I absolutely love it!

Many of you may know that I live in the UK and therefore struggle to find copies of albums which have never been promoted in the UK. Just like all the other cd's belonging to past Idol contestants, Kris Allen's cd was incredibly hard to find without ordering it online. Luckily for me, I managed to buy the only copy in my local music store on Monday afternoon without too much hassle!

I should probably tell you why I was so determined to buy his album:

I have been listening to a lot of 80's music over the last week and decided that I wanted to listen to "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by the British pop/rock band, Tears For Fears. I knew that my Father has their Greatest Hits album on his music shelf  but decided that I needed a quick fix and searched the song on YouTube. Scrolling down the search page, I came across Kris Allen's version of the song and instantly fell in love with him and his music. The next day I bought his album and the rest is history!

I love it when singers actually write or co-write their own music. It shows that they have so much more than a great voice. I feel that artists who write their own music really understand the true meaning behind songs and can connect to songs in such a special, unique way. I take the opinion that Kris Allen has this great ability along with my other personal favourite artists who write their own music like the lovely David Archuleta, Adele and The Hoosiers. 

Kris Allen's post Idol album is full of songs which fit perfectly into the pop/rock genre which I always find myself gravitating towards after a long, tiresome day. I can't fault any song on the album as they are just so beautifully written. One of my standout tracks is Red Guitar, which he wrote single handedly- it is stunning!

I'm now just waiting for the day when he announces that he will be coming to London to promote his music. Hopefully that day arrives soon!

.
Why didn't I buy this album sooner?!