Showing posts with label *FOTM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label *FOTM. Show all posts
THE SKINNY: Oldwick, a London gang of six, are winning over listeners with their highly organic, vintage pop sensibilities.LAST.FM: http://last.fm/music/oldwick
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/oldwick
FREE DOWNLOAD: "He & She"
Have you ever wondered how the music scene would've evolved if the '80s never happened? We would've never known what Phil Collins could do with a drum machine or how bad Christmas music could really be. We might've even forgotten that there was a time when popular music was the product of a handful of elite, talented musicians and songwriters working tirelessy at what they do. Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting we forget the good ol' days or boycott VH1 because lets face it, there's not much else to do some nights other than watch Michael Ian Black make fun of Cindi Lauper's drunken dancing. I am suggesting, however, we remember music for what it was before electronics, despite my inability to actually remember it. Before synths and drum pads, there were acoustic guitars and voices and reasons to love it. Oldwick is the 2009 reason to love acoustic guitars, drums, pianos, and a stage of amp-less, eclectic, and passionate music makers.
Oldwick formed in the winter of 2008 out of the crumbling ruins of a few of the member's previous projects. They immediately spent time recording a short EP comprised of some of the member's back catalog of pre-written songs which quickly caught the attention of local Londoners with their old school take on dynamic, country-pop. They're currently playing the area, pedaling their cloth-cased cds, pants, bags, and underwear. Oldwick is amassing a handful of positive feedback on their debut, Hoops EP, and looking to aim even higher in 2010.
The opening track on their quick little ep, "He & She" reminds me of what my parents would play on the weekends while we all straightened up the house for Sunday lunch. Reverberated background vocals (fronted by backing vocalist Hazel Tratt) that sound like the very same that support Fleetwood Mac on Rumors permeate your ears as the band makes a cozy home in your head for a few minutes. Memorable folk guitar diddies by Dan Bell and front woman, Lyla Foy, are a humble but major component of the music on the ep. I particularly like the reserved nature of the music and how it manages to avoid what would critically deem it as weak. The band expands dynamically, and shrinks just the same with great ease, but never comes off as timid, just a tad insecure: they are, after all, just kids.
Piano driven songs are primarily the handy-work of Ben Folds, Coldplay, and a handful of imitators so when you stumble across something that sounds like Billy Joel or Elton John it's a nice change of pace. Oldwick's most upbeat track, "13," is just such a gem, steered by a hooky piano riff that dives into a haunting build-up movement that, quite honestly, helped dictate who was receiving Feature of the Month honors for November. As the band pushes through a bridge section toward the end, articulately, we're brought back out of the dark and into that authentically vintage piano riff, completing a monumental piece of pop/rock heaven.
As the album closes with a Beatles-esque, feel-good piece entitled "A Thing Called Love," you're reminded that the band is more than just a pretty voice and good song writing. Oldwick sports a talented group of instrumentalists who actually (dare I say this) jam and do so with great success. Pianist Jake Bowser supplies a solid comp to Dan Bell's improv, a southern styled folk solo with some impressive lines. Drummer Nicky Francis and bassist, James Ingham, who's said to have a soft spot for both rum and Hella, a two-man drum and guitar band that you need to hear to understand, prove their maturity with restraint, simplicity, and a tight rhythmic lock. In my experience, most bands are a balance: good comes with bad, and bad comes with good. Poppy bands with a great singer usually rely on that singer to carry them to fame just like Dream Theater got by on instrumentals alone because, yes, James Labrie is nothing extraordinary. Oldwick, however, though young and raw, have the whole package and show amazing promise.
"13" off of Hoops EP
"A Thing Called Love" off of Hoops EP
FAVORITE TRACK: "13"
FOR FANS OF: John Denver, Fleetwood Mac
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/andreabelangermusicYOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/ABelangerMusic
Every month the team here at PFW toils over who most deserves a month long dedicated post that explores an artist's background, passion, expertise, and repertoire of music. Truth be told, each month proves more difficult than the last as submittees either re-submit or spam us which nobody likes, of course. With that, finding a gem in a pile of dirt is all the more refreshing, and this month's feature is the definition of that word. Andrea Belanger stood out like a sore thumb and certainly as you listen to the beautiful, melancholy tone of this young woman's voice, you'll be struck the same.
For us, the ideal feautre is an artist who's beaming with potential and Andrea should be the poster child for tomorrow's quintessential folk vocalist. A student at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, in Boston MA (former college of greats like John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge, Susan Tedeschi, and John Scofield among of slew of other musical monsters.), Andrea isn't far from home, hailing from Fall River of the same stage. Belanger lists Elliott Smith, Ryan Adams, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Bon Iver (whom she resembles most, to my ears) as influences and the evidence is there in conjunction with an originality that's all her own. Andrea's voice, while wholly folk through and through, can be the bridge listeners need to make the genre gap. Her voice's undeniable ability to hold the attention of listeners is evident not only on recordings but on her impressive resume.
Andrea has shared the stage with such acts as The Greencards and The Wood Brothers, a testament to her ability and ambition. What's most apparent on Andrea's recordings is a sense of sorrow on both 'happy' and 'sad' songs. The ability to convey that emotion, almost as a sub-layer to each song's true atmosphere, is an amazing look into the personality and character of Belanger. Her music is honest and appears to be so out of her own hands, adding another layer of quality to her performance. It's that same nuance and sheer ability to sing well that has Andrea Belanger on the road to the success. She is the very model of an up-and-coming artist that has me excited to see where her voice and ambition will take her in this industry.
Andrea is in the studio currently, working on her forthcoming and first real release entitled: "My Brain is a Storm". The following tracks are an exclusive preview of that record, and aren't even out of production yet.
"Just Don't Leave Me"
"That You'd Forgotten"
FAVORITE TRACK: "Vegetable Song"
FOR FANS OF: Bon Iver
Andrea covering Nirvana's
"Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam"
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/myfirsttoothTWITTER: http://twitter.com/myfirsttooth
PURCHASE: iTunes, Amazon
Our September FEATURE OF THE MONTH comes from across the sea. My First Tooth is a Northampton, UK based indie folk group fronted by Ross Witt. If it weren't for their Sonicbids and MySpace profile, however, I never would have assumed that they were from the UK. I say this because as soon as I started listening to their EP (My First Tooth & The Rubies) I instantly related them to a handful of American indie-folk groups (a la Okkervil River, The Decemberists, Neutral Milk Hotel). Sure enough, they list said groups as major influences on their press release. With that being said, however, they manage to keep their music fresh and original by incorporating their own touch.
Their six song EP, My First Tooth & The Rubies, spans a wide range of emotions and is enjoyable from start to finish. Whether it be Ross' fast folk-strumming and violinist Sophie Galpin's catchy fiddle lines in a track like "Red Carpet Rides," or a simpler, slower acoustic riff accompanied by subtle, beautiful vocal melodies in "Honesty Honestly," there is no doubt that this record is exploding with talent. In short, they manage to keep it simple, catchy and delightful at all times.
My First Tooth also knows the meaning of DIY. The aforementioned EP was their first record released with the aid of a label (Alcopop Records). Prior to it's release, Witt had spent years putting out his own material and averaging around 150 shows per year around the UK and Ireland. I'm glad to see that his hard work has paid off, because it seems like he's really going places with the extra help. My First Tooth plan to record their debut, full length album this November. As a precursor to the new album, they plan to release the first single, "Margaret Yen," both on their Myspace and in physical form in October. In addition, the band will be touring in October in an effort to promote the single.
"Sleet & Snow" off of My First Tooth & The Rubies:
FAVORITE TRACK: "Sleet and Snow" off of My First Tooth & The Rubies
FOR FANS OF: Okkervil River, Defiance Ohio
THE SKINNY: Michael Alvarado, a pop singer that fits in and stands out all at the same time, is PFW's very first "Feature of the Month" - yes, our favorite artist for August, 2009. If you're looking for something easy to listen to, totally and utterly unknown, and absolutely beautiful, read on...MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/michaelalvaradomusic
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/AlvaradoMusic
PURCHASE: Rhapsody, iTunes
DOWNLOAD TEASER ALBUM *FREE
Courtesy Michael Alvarado, Special on PFW
Our very first FEATURE OF THE MONTH comes from a very deserving musician in North Carolina. According to listeners, he's got a sound reminiscent of Maroon5, and Gavin DeGraw - some of my least favorite pop acts of all time - so, take it from a guy with a low tolerance for lame radio pop: Michael Alvarado is the real thing, and in no way reminds me of the above, aside from the shear approachability of the music.
Michael can best be described as a pop singer with some throwbacks to Motown and folk of earlier decades. His live show incorporates multiple backup singers and a generous amount of instrumentation, but maintains a homey, singalong feel, and leaves the superstar ego behind - perhaps that's because he's hasn't achieved that status yet, though it is inevitable. One listen, and it's as evident as his voice is beautiful.
At only 21 years of age, and on his way to completing his college career at Appalachian State, in NC, Michael describes his most recent efforts as being an expensive endeavor with hopes of it paying off in the future. He described to me a few different occasions where he was required to spend money out of his pocket in order to make up for a lack of ticket sales. Michael says that his goals, at this point, aren't to make a ton of money but to get his music heard. He's taking every length to make that possible.
Alvarado's live band consists of 6 members, Michael included, and each bring something reputable to the group, as can be witnessed in the video below. Vocalists Katie Henry and Samantha Crowder, who sometimes see spotlight as leads in tracks like "Down & Out," back Michael up with excellent harmony and an almost retro vibe which is simply a product of being back up singers to a pop singer. This lineup makes for an intersting and unique live show, which is especially cool considering the very limited success Michael's seen thus far.
If you got through either of the tracks below, from start to finish, and assumed that you were listening to the latest hit on MTv, then you were struck with the same feeling I was. So, this very limited success that Michael's seen with his EP "Waste the Day," truly must be the calm before the storm: incredible singing, simple and beautiful songwriting, and an EP that hooks you from start to finish; what more can you ask from an undergrad student at a state university trying to make a living and a name for himself? I'm certainly content and confident to see Michael Alvarado on the front page of many other blogs, magazines, and CD covers in the very near future.
"Slow Love" off of Waste the Day EP
Title Track off of Waste the Day EP
FAVORITE TRACK: Slow Love, Weak At The Knees
FOR FANS OF: Maroon 5, Gavin Degraw, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder
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