musicians' music

(Artist) Ingrid Michaelson

2008-11-11T17:16:00.000-08:00

Where to begin about Ingrid Michaelson. She began as a MySpace sensation and wrote that charming 'sweater song' for the Old Navy commercial as well as composing "Keep Breathing" specifically for the Season 3 finale of Grey's Anatomy (where Burke leaves Christina at the altar). When I first found this lovely lady I was attracted most to her charismatic voice and her nonchalant delivery of music. She always seems to just roll up, drop something beautiful on the mic and roll back out. It is only recently that I had the chance to catch up on her live stuff and realize that she is INCREDIBLE live. Also, she is my facebook friend and that is awesome. Pick up her album "Be OK." You will thank me. In the meantime, enjoy Ingrid Michaelson.

"Oh What a Day" (This is actually the first time she ever played this for anyone. She talks at the beginning for like 7 minutes, just to warn you, so you might want to start it loading, then watch another song while this loads and come back to it. However, she IS very witty in person, so you can also listen to her be herself on stage and intro the song. Your choice.)

"You and I" (With Jason Mraz, but with another man on her album, but still awesome)

"Can't Help Falling in Love" (A cover of the classic. Beautiful)

"The Chain" (All four of these songs are on her new album "Be OK" which I assume I have now convinced you to purchase.)

(ARTIST) Sia

2008-11-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

I am lame. Lame lame lame, I know. My commitment to these beasts known as blogs continues to wane sadly. However, I will here begin anew my pursuit of sharing my favorite musics with everyone on the internet. Meet Sia. You may already know her but not realize you do. Her song "Breathe Me" was featured as the finale song of Six Feet Under and has been used in a few other television shows, I believe. The thing that attracted me to her initially was her song-writing. She also did a lot of things with Zero 7 so you might recognize her voice from that. I had the random pleasure of watching a live concert of her a few weeks ago and could not believe how incredible she was live. On recording, she sounds good, but not great. Live, however, she has the soul of a young Stevie Nicks and the most pleasant personality. When she was talking about the obvious failure of her second album, she said she did almost no press for it because she thought she was "fucking Radiohead or something." If that doesn't say it all, nothing will. Also, her on-stage antics are hilarious. Lastly, her latest album cover-art was done via a contest where the entry had to be as crappy as you could possibly do. She wanted legitimate low-budget crap. Awesome. So the soulful songbird herself is here to delight you. Enjoy Sia.

"Buttons" (the costume makes it all okay)

"Breath Me" (I love how she completely enthralls the crowd. Also, she has some great uppers towards the end)

"You Have Been Loved"

"Don't Bring Me Down" (Live recording with a music video attached to support her live album Lady Croissant, which I highly recommend)

(ARTIST) The Fratellis

2008-06-07T20:03:00.001-07:00

So much for my promise of streams and streams of new musical content. Here's one, though. The Fratellis. I freaking love them. They are like a combination of Paper Street Saints, the Kooks, and Franz Ferdinand. They just like to rock out and have some great songs. Usually I would pontificate on their glory for a little while here, but these guys can pretty well speak for themselves through their music.

Flathead - from Costello Music, and awesome album.

Henrietta - also from Costello Music

For The Girl - Costello Music, again.

On a side-note. I have a radio show now, every Friday morning at 10am EST. You can listen to my live on wxou.org or near the Rochester Hills area on 88.3 WXOU. Also, if you have facebook, look me up and become my fan. The show is called "Matt and Sprout in the Morning" and we play music and talk about pretty well everything.

(ARTIST) Eric Hutchinson

2007-10-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

Alright, back by popular demand, and by popular I mean one person commenting that I hadn't posted in a while, here I come with Eric Hutchinson. He's got the vocal range of Justin Timberlake with the delivery of Gavin DeGraw and the humor of Jason Mraz. He's freaking sweet, and just on the brink of absolutely blowing up. He plays guitar, sings, plays piano. Rocks my world. So without further ado, I present Eric Hutchinson.

His version of "My Love" by Justin Timberlake. He sings is better than Justin does. Classico.

This video makes my life. It is "My Girl" "My Humps" and "Ignition" all mixed together. Yeah, he's that sweet. Did I mention the transitions are seemless?

"Oh" (Off his album, Sounds Like This. Available on iTunes)

"Rock & Roll" (Also from Sounds Like This. Buy it already, it is all quality.)

(ARTIST) Natalie Dessay

2007-07-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

I return yet again and with another amazing talent. Natalie Dessay is a French coloratura, but I won't hold that against her and neither should you. She was initially an actress and studied theatre so her acting is always impeccable. Combine that with an incredibly effortless voice and you have one powerhouse of a soprano. She has played roles varying from Lucia and Violetta all the way to the Queen of the Night herself (though she is not better than Lucia Popp who IS in fact the Queen of the Night). Her range is incredible, though a bit diminished due to recent surgical procedures. She had vocal polyps and has subsequently had them removed more than once over the past 10 years or so, leading her to lose her highest notes, or at least their ease and soft tone, now adding a distinct edge to her upper register. Regardless of this though, pre-surgery, it was not unheard of to hear her sing, full-voiced, a G6 or even A6, which is higher than the Queen goes in "Der Holle Racht," that being an F#6. (And at this point, anybody who didn't believe I was actually a voice major has been convinced. I'm a pretty big voice nerd.) Without being able to find a video of it, I highly recommend you iTunes her version of Frühlingsstimmen, by Strauss, it is spine-tingling. I know you will enjoy Natalie Dessay.

"Où Va la Jeune Hindoue" From Lakme

"The Flower Duet" also from Lakme. (This one you will probably recognize from commercials)

"Glitter and Be Gay" from Candide, by Bernstein. (This is an American Operetta, which is funny to hear her sing. The funniest version of this has to be Sumi Jo, though, who actually says "Jewers" instead of "Jewels" in the middle recit. Classic. Oh and this part was recently played at Lincoln Center by Kristen Chenoweth.)

This is the final scene of Ophelia in Hamlet. Just beautiful. And thanks Kate for showing me this.

(ARTIST) Feist

2007-06-22T10:00:00.001-07:00

Bonjour compatriots! I'm sure you thought I was gone, but I was on musical hiatus listening listening listening and I'm very pleased to announce that I finally got to grab a copy of Feist's new CD and it is just so good I'm going to put her up here as a whole artist, not just an album, because she's super talented. She has a great Chrissy Hynde thing going on with her stage presence and vocal phrasing. But she has a very distinct voice that's pretty much all her own. So much talent, so little time. Enjoy again, Feist!

"Mushaboom" (Her first big hit and I am mesmerized by what she does at the end of this song. KT Tunstall ain't got shit on Feist)

"1 2 3 4" (In case you missed it the first time. Still one of my summer jams)

"Secret Heart" (A little different side, a little Marley-inspired jam)

"Gatekeeper" (This song opens The Reminder and is just fantastic live and album)

(ARTIST) Kate Nash

2007-06-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

So I have a truly unheard singer for you. This girl is only 19 and has yet to release a full LP. She is often compared to Lily Allen (previously on el blogo) and has the same lyrical tastes and musical delivery. She has a great summer feel to her music and would make a welcome addition to any summer mix CD that you might be making. Enjoy Kate Nash.

"Caroline's a Victim"

"Foundations" (I frickin' love this song)

(ARTIST) Joshua Radin

2007-05-26T01:45:00.001-07:00

Alright, it is officially almost 5am and I have to be at a wedding tomorrow by 11. However, I have finally listened to a person I got a few weeks back just now and I can't wait to put him on the blog. All of this came about because a friend of mine reminded me about Schuyler Fisk (who I will hopefully get to hear a full LP from and put on the blog soon) and it made me think of this guy. Joshua Radin, who is actually dating Miss Fisk, happens to have friends in high places. Most notably, he went to school and is very close friends with Zach Braff. Radin was first heard mainstream when Braff got his song "Winter" to be used on Scrubs. Since then, Radin has contributed to various soundtracks, including The Last Kiss, and even Grey's Anatomy. He has an amazing Damien Rice-esque blend of strings, soft vocals, beautiful harmonies, and intimate lyricism. I literally was moved to tears the first time I heard the album version of "Sundrenched World." It is beautiful and so is the rest of his inaugural CD, please oh please enjoy Joshua Radin as much as I am right now.

"Sundrenched World" (It is not quite as good just acoustic as it is on the album, but still fantastic)

"Paperweight" (This one is with Schuyler Fisk, who is awesome, as well. You might remember her as the female lead in Orange County)

"Winter"

(OPERA) Madama Butterfly - Giacomo Puccini

2007-05-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

Alright, it is that time. In the event that ANYONE who doesn't know me reads/watches this blog, I am only a senior recital away from completing my vocal performance degree. Upon completion, I will be able to say that I am a "classically trained" baritone. As such, I loves me some opera. This blog has been classical free...until now. Welcome to opera land. Giacomo Puccini is one of my favorite composers. His operas always seem to capture the heart and soul of his characters and portray them unlike any other composer. Here I will showcase a litte bit of Madama Butterfly. I have directed selected scenes from this opera and it holds a special place near to my heart. The opera is about a Geisha who marries and American, bears his child, and ultimately commits suicide when his American wife returns to Japan to give the news that he will never return. I know you will enjoy Madama Butterfly.

"Un Bel Di Vedremo" (This soprano is not the best I have ever heard sing this aria, however, there is something to be said for the fact that she is actually Japanese)

"Un Bel Di Vedremo" (Same aria, but remixed. Frickin' hilarious)

(ARTIST) Mika

2007-05-21T18:37:00.001-07:00

Alrighty, this guy has been out for a while, he's getting really popular, but I owe him a shoutout on the blog because he was the artist (a while back) that inspired me to just make a blog out of this, because I KNEW everyone I knew would enjoy him but it was so hard to burn his CD a 1,000 times. He's British, fantastic, and gearing up to be our generations Freddie Mercury, with the vocals to back that claim up. Oh, and he has 4 octaves. Love it. Please oh please (if you haven't already) enjoy Mika.

"Love Today" (NOTE THE OCTAVES)

"Grace Kelly" (this one has been getting pretty good radio coverage. Check the Freddie in the middle, damn)

"Over My Shoulder" (this song has given me chills on every listen from the first time to just now when I watched the youtube video)

(ARTIST) Menomena (do do do do doo)

2007-05-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

So this band's name makes me super happy. Mostly because it reminds me of the classic muppets skit that I love more than life itself. Anywho, other than a name, this band shares pretty much nothing with the muppet show skit. However, the band DOES feature a regular glockenspiel player. Do you love it or do you LOVE it? Yeah, that's what I thought. They just released a new album and they're awesome. They're pretty experimental, but they rock out pretty well. Enjoy Menomena.

"Wet and Rusting"

"Cough Coughing" (sweet drum line)

"Twenty Cell Revolt" (this is the first of my summer anthems, I think)

(ARTIST) Anjani Thomas

2007-05-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

So I'm back from my hiatus of having Mono, boo. But the plus side to having to lay in bed all day and listen to music is all the music I got to listen to. Expect a few updates in the next day or two. First off, I have Anjani Thomas. This chick is absolutely fabulous. She is born in Hawaii but has an amazing contralto blues voice. She did extensive work with Leonard Cohen, but became a solo artist in 2000 and released her last album in 2006, Blue Alert. It is a great jazz/blues album, hearkening Diana Ross, Dianne Reeves, and Rosemary Clooney, amongst other greats. She is pretty fresh, though, and I could only find one YouTube video of her and it pretty crappy quality. Plus Cohen, bless his heart, sings flat for most of the song, so just listen to her, and worse comes to worse, open up your favorite music buying program, or iTunes (may the not be the same, lol) and check her out. Enjoy Anjani Thomas.

"Whither Thou Goest" (Sadly the only video of her I could find, but she is deserving of your attention.)

(ARTIST) Joel Plaskett

2007-05-09T00:35:00.000-07:00

So this dude is Canadian. He is pretty sweet. I owe this find to Perez Hilton, but I pretty much love this guy. He has a great acoustic vibe to his live stuff, but his albums are pretty electronic and cool. Think great back-beats and funny arrangements. For instance, the opening to one of his CDs starts with a recording of people bouncing basketballs in a gym, then rocks into a sweet electronic beat. So, please, enjoy Joel Plaskett.

"I Love This Town"

"Television Set"

"Before You Leave"

"Non-Believer"

(ALBUM) Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob

2007-04-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

So these guys are probably going to get pretty big. Chances are good you've heard their first single off of this album "Ruby" (which is my grandmother's name, sweet). Anyway, they are continuing my love of the UK invasion this past year or so and this album is sweet. Enjoy the Kaiser Chiefs.

"Ruby" (Grandma WHAT?!)

"Angry Mob" (This song is sweet)

(ARTIST) Bic Runga

2007-04-27T01:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I said that Bic Runga would be an artist on here and it is time to pay up. Bic has been pretty prolific for a while but I am pretty much still feeling her even now. Her song "Sway" was in American Pie, which was how I first introduced myself to her and I've been following her sporadically since then. Thanks to her very individual background, she has a very individual sound. She is from New Zealand but has strong roots in music thanks to her lounge singer mother. All of this leads to a beautiful mezzo-soprano range with a youthful clarity in her tone. All in all a very enjoyable singer/songwriter. Enjoy Bic Runga.

"Sway" (featured in American Pie)

This one won't allow me to embed, but it needs to be featured here, because it is a wonderful song.
"Winning Arrow" (This is from her latest CD Birds, released in 2005, which has a great jazz feel to it)

"Drive"

(ALBUM) Brandi Carlile - The Story

2007-04-27T01:26:00.000-07:00

Miss Carlile has been recording for a little while now, but she has really come into her own with this album. I've noticed that I inadvertently have been covering the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack up in here recently, lol, but I maintain that I didn't know until today. Either way, Brandi Carlile is pretty sweet and rocks out live. She's talented, smart, has an amazing contralto, and is a practicing lesbian. Power. Enjoy Brandi Carlile.

"The Story"

"Downpour"

"Cannonball" (Recorded on the album with the Indigo Girls. Again, power.)

(ARTIST) Eef Barzelay

2007-04-23T05:36:00.000-07:00

So this guy has the weirdest name, like ever. I saw him open for Ben Folds and was blown away at his stage presence, he just came out alone with a guitar and he was absolutely fantastic. You MAY know him from Clem Snide (I did), he's the lead singer. Either way, enjoy Eef Barzelay rockin' out.

"I Love the Unknown"

"Ballad of Bitter Honey" (Love it.)

"Well"

(ALBUM) Lily Allen - Alright, Still

2007-04-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

This brit released in 2006 and had a #1 hit in the UK with "Smile" which is a slam of a song. I recently acquired her whole album to be pleasantly surprised by the actual song selection. Ranging from ska, to pop, to blues, to electronica, to circus-esque music, this is a pretty tight album. You might have heard her, you might not, but either way, enjoy Lily Allen.

"LDN" (I love how apparent her accent is in her singing)

"Smile" (This one has a great hook. The chord progression doesn't follow the vocal line and that is sweet.)

"Naive" (KOOKS COVER!)

(ALBUM) The Bird and the Bee - LP

2007-04-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, so remember Frou Frou? Yeah, I've come across their half-retarded red-headed step child. This duo has some talent, but mostly, they just seem to enjoy their music. It is sort of an indie-alt sounds, ala Persephone's Bees or Frou Frou or even Bic Runga (who will be an artist later this week, I think). The singer, Inara George, can get kind of pitchy from time to time, but she has a very distinct vocal style. So enjoy The Bird and the Bee.

"Again and Again" (Live recording)

"F*ing Boyfriend" (A pretty funny song, actually)

(ALBUM) The Kooks - Inside In/Inside Out

2007-04-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

So, I love the Kooks. Like love them. LOVE THEM. They are Franz Ferdinand and Paper Street Saints combined and I love them. That's pretty much it. Enjoy the Kooks.

"Jackie Big Tits" (Sweet song)

"Seaside"

"Ooh La" (Actual Music Video)

(ALBUM) James Morrison - Undiscovered

2007-04-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

Here we have James Morrison, and his album "Undiscovered." You might have heard the single "You Give Me Something." We have been sort of establishing a trend of soul and blues here, but Morrison is more than just another grainy voiced crooner. He has pretty good lyrical content. Most of all, he has talent up the wazoo, check out his voice. Enjoy James Morrison.

Rare Live "You Give Me Something"

(ARTIST) Eva Cassidy

2007-04-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know she's not alive anymore, but her talent is UNDENIABLE. You might remember her version of a Christine McVie classic, Songbird, in Love, Actually a few years back. She sings Jazz, Soul, Blues, Gospel, Pop, Rock, essentially anything except Opera (although, she does a FABULOUS cover of Gershwin's "Summertime"). Eva died tragically of Skin Cancer just before her career really took off. Living her life in essential obscurity except to the lucky people of Washington, Eva Cassidy is one those voices that comes along once in a VERY long while. Enjoy Eva Cassidy, I always will.

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (Katharine McPhee copied her version from Cassidy; one of my favorite musical moments of all time happens around the 4:00 mark)

"Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper cover)

"People Get Ready"

"Summertime" (SO GOOD)

"Fever" (Recorded with Chuck Brown; sorry the video is stupid, but the song is fantastic)

"Ain't No Sunshine"

"Cheek to Cheek"

(Preview) Feist - The Reminder

2007-04-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

With the first single out for her new album, The Reminder, Canadian songbird Feist shows that she is back to remind us what music should feel like. The single, 1234, is a fun, uptempo song that just makes me smile. It is a pretty far cry from her last 'hit' Mushaboom. The fact that she has an amazing voice doesn't hurt her cause, but that's beside the point. Enjoy Feist, I sure am.

"1234" (Love it.)

(ALBUM) Amy Winhouse - Back to Black

2007-04-16T17:32:00.000-07:00

This album shows that even British Jews can give Lauryn Hill a run for her money. Winehouse has a voice that is straight out of the recordings of Sarah Vaughn and Etta James, and the soul of a 60 year old black woman. Don't be fooled by her little frame, this whole album is fantastic and works out the kinks of her earlier foray into the music world in her native UK. With a reputation for drinking on stage, performing absolutely wasted, and doing short sets to go vomit off stage, what's not to love? Enjoy Amy Winehouse.

"Rehab"

"You Know I'm No Good"

"Back to Black" (The title track and my favorite; sorry for the audio being a bit off)