New Music Tuesday
New Music Tuesday is a place for anyone who wants to discuss in a civilized manner new music from all genres, albeit alternative to classical music. As long as it makes you smile, you can discuss it here.
Weekly, I will post new album releases from an assortment of bands and artists, and fortunately, this year has a wide variety of musicals acts with upcoming new material. It's been a good year for music so far and seemed to not be slowing down.
Also, if you want to contribute a new album that I don't mention from an emerging band or just want to talk about a song that makes you smile today, feel free to leave a comment. This isn't just a place to talk about new music, but all music. So join in on the fun!
Today, I have chosen two albums for my first post, Hold Time by M. Ward, and It's Not Me, It's You by Lily Allen. These two album are both from established artists and show a range that expansed on their talent. Exciting stuff, folks.
First, Hold Time by M. Ward
On first listen to this album, I couldn't help but think I was in a hayfield somewhere in a country town, waiting for my grandmother to bring me fresh lemonade. In other words, it seemed like a really great summer album, one I'm sure I'll be playing on repeat when the temperature outside rises above freezing. The first song, For Beginnings, was a great start to prepare the listeners to the simplicity of this album through to the heartbreakingly somber Outro. What I enjoyed about this album was that it wasn't trying to be ambitious. I didn't feel like I was being forced anything, a new direction or a new sound, just something familiar. The heart of this album is the guest appearances, which there are three notable ones, including the other half of his side project Zooey Deschanel from She & Him. I'll admit, I'm a bit biased as I'm in love with the sound that they create together and they did not disappoint with songs: Rave On and my favorite song on the album Never Had Nobody Like You. The other guests on this album, Jason Lytle from the indie band Grandaddy and Lucinda Williams, who I admit I'm not very familiar with, but had great chemistry with M. Ward in the song, Oh Lonesome Man.
So, if you want a cool and breezy album to take you back to a simpler time, where songwriting didn't have to be the only objective in a good song, let this album find its way in your collection.
Choice Tracks: Never Had Nobody Like You or Blake's View
Second, It's Not Me, It's Me by Lily Allen.
Since this album has been out a week or so, I figured I'd give it some recognition, because I simply loved it. I've always been a big fan of Lily, due mostly because I adore her wit, her subject matters and the risks that she seems to take with every song. She isn't as publicized as much here in the States as she is in the UK, but speaking from a third party perspective, she's becoming weary of the life, but not ready to necessarily leave it behind. With her snarky response to politics in the song, F*** You, and her sweet look at relationships in Chinese, you see a side of Lily that she hid behind during her debut album, Alright, Still. As far as sound, it's a very different sound from the extremely pop sound from song LDN and Smile, featuring a pop-electronic sound that fits perfectly to the background sound of the clubs that's she still struggling to distance herself from, in particularly, 22. As far as the lyrics, she still hasn't held back with songs such as Not Fair, that depict her displeasure with a certain lover and also coyly sweet with Never Gonna Happen.
It's Not Me, It's You is an album that isn't going to be as big as her debut, but needless to say , it's purely fun. She shows that even though she is now 23, which is still young, but in the higher age spectrum of the youth oriented “fame”, she still has talent and can still find “the life” just as inviting as when she was 20. This album may not be the best album of the new year, but it shows her longevity in a business that it's as clever as her lyrics
Choice Tracks: F*** You or Everybody's At It
Honorable Mention:
Also today, Morrissey released an album, Years of Refusal.
I have yet to hear it in its entirety, but if you would like to discuss it, feel free to leave a comment, recommend tracks or bash, depending on your response.
Okay, that's it for this week's entry. If you have any thoughts about the two albums featured this week, please leave a comment. Love to hear what you have to say! Until next time...
Weekly, I will post new album releases from an assortment of bands and artists, and fortunately, this year has a wide variety of musicals acts with upcoming new material. It's been a good year for music so far and seemed to not be slowing down.
Also, if you want to contribute a new album that I don't mention from an emerging band or just want to talk about a song that makes you smile today, feel free to leave a comment. This isn't just a place to talk about new music, but all music. So join in on the fun!
Today, I have chosen two albums for my first post, Hold Time by M. Ward, and It's Not Me, It's You by Lily Allen. These two album are both from established artists and show a range that expansed on their talent. Exciting stuff, folks.
First, Hold Time by M. Ward
On first listen to this album, I couldn't help but think I was in a hayfield somewhere in a country town, waiting for my grandmother to bring me fresh lemonade. In other words, it seemed like a really great summer album, one I'm sure I'll be playing on repeat when the temperature outside rises above freezing. The first song, For Beginnings, was a great start to prepare the listeners to the simplicity of this album through to the heartbreakingly somber Outro. What I enjoyed about this album was that it wasn't trying to be ambitious. I didn't feel like I was being forced anything, a new direction or a new sound, just something familiar. The heart of this album is the guest appearances, which there are three notable ones, including the other half of his side project Zooey Deschanel from She & Him. I'll admit, I'm a bit biased as I'm in love with the sound that they create together and they did not disappoint with songs: Rave On and my favorite song on the album Never Had Nobody Like You. The other guests on this album, Jason Lytle from the indie band Grandaddy and Lucinda Williams, who I admit I'm not very familiar with, but had great chemistry with M. Ward in the song, Oh Lonesome Man.
So, if you want a cool and breezy album to take you back to a simpler time, where songwriting didn't have to be the only objective in a good song, let this album find its way in your collection.
Choice Tracks: Never Had Nobody Like You or Blake's View
Second, It's Not Me, It's Me by Lily Allen.
Since this album has been out a week or so, I figured I'd give it some recognition, because I simply loved it. I've always been a big fan of Lily, due mostly because I adore her wit, her subject matters and the risks that she seems to take with every song. She isn't as publicized as much here in the States as she is in the UK, but speaking from a third party perspective, she's becoming weary of the life, but not ready to necessarily leave it behind. With her snarky response to politics in the song, F*** You, and her sweet look at relationships in Chinese, you see a side of Lily that she hid behind during her debut album, Alright, Still. As far as sound, it's a very different sound from the extremely pop sound from song LDN and Smile, featuring a pop-electronic sound that fits perfectly to the background sound of the clubs that's she still struggling to distance herself from, in particularly, 22. As far as the lyrics, she still hasn't held back with songs such as Not Fair, that depict her displeasure with a certain lover and also coyly sweet with Never Gonna Happen.
It's Not Me, It's You is an album that isn't going to be as big as her debut, but needless to say , it's purely fun. She shows that even though she is now 23, which is still young, but in the higher age spectrum of the youth oriented “fame”, she still has talent and can still find “the life” just as inviting as when she was 20. This album may not be the best album of the new year, but it shows her longevity in a business that it's as clever as her lyrics
Choice Tracks: F*** You or Everybody's At It
Honorable Mention:
Also today, Morrissey released an album, Years of Refusal.
I have yet to hear it in its entirety, but if you would like to discuss it, feel free to leave a comment, recommend tracks or bash, depending on your response.
Okay, that's it for this week's entry. If you have any thoughts about the two albums featured this week, please leave a comment. Love to hear what you have to say! Until next time...