Category: A-Z of New Music

OK Go

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

The A-Z of New Music nearly came to a complete standstill today. Twitter was offering me zero suggestions. I was really struggling to find an ‘O’, when I suddenly had a brainwave – the treadmill video? OK something? Bringing us to the American rock band…..OK Go.

Not entirely ‘new’, but the best I can do with the limited time I had available tonight (I do actually spend time listening to these bands). OK Go, an eccentric looking group of American nerd-rockers, play a mix of rock and pop. In fact their latest album, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, has everything, including some 80s synth-ballads and funk. But what you get with OK Go are a collection of tracks that get your feet tapping and your head bobbing. A great album, a definite move away from the power pop that they may be known for.

If you’ve not seen ‘the’ video of Here it Goes Again, and have been locked in a padded room, have a look……

OK Go….B+……

Today’s blog has been brought to you by the letter O……

Nite Jewel

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

The 14th letter of the alphabet, and over half-way through ‘The A-Z of New Music’, brings us to N…….Nite Jewel.

What can we say about Nite Jewel? I’ve spent some time listening to her latest album, One Second of Love. But I can’t help thinking I’ve heard all the songs before. The album is a mix of 80s style funk, moody ballads, atmospheric keyboard lines, a suggestion of dance music, with some pop music thrown in. I’ve found the odd track that has managed to interest me very slightly, ‘One Second of Love’, but overall nothing ‘new’ on show here. As much as I hate dance music, this is the direction I think Nite Jewel need to take. I actually quite like her voice, but the album is just too boring. I can’t even be bothered to embed a youtube clip…..

Nite Jewel, low D, must try harder….

Today’s post was brought to you by the letter N….

My Latest Novel

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The A-Z of New Music brings us to the letter M and, thanks to @kennypieper, some Scottish indie-rock………My Latest Novel.

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My Latest Novel have been going for a few years and although I’ve heard them in the past I haven’t really sat and listened to them properly, I did just that this evening. After a listen for an hour or so I’ve come away undecided. I thought some tracks were great, ‘I Declare a Ceasefire’ and ‘Sister Sneaker Sister Soul’ are two such tracks. The rest I found are too overly serious and depressing for me, and at times the tracks all merged into one. If you are to listen to My Latest Novel, try their debut album, Wolves, over their latest, Deaths and Entrances.

My Latest Novel, really not sure at all…..

Today’s blog was brought to you by the letter M…..

Louise and the Pins

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

The A-Z of New Music, like the rumble of distant thunder, remains ominously close. Today L and the soulful sounds of………….Louise and the Pins.

Louise and the Pins released their debut single, Melancholy, last year and have since played with Laura Marling, Martha Wainwright and Mumford and Sons. Their mix of 50s girl group glamour, country, folk-pop and rock ‘n’roll, together with the sultry voice of lead singer Louise Hull, means fame and fortune may just be just around the corner. He voice falls somewhere in between Amy Winehouse and Imelda May. Take a listen to Melancholy or Bell Jar, you won’t be disappointed. A debut album is due sometime this year.

Louise and the Pins, a solid B…..

Today’s blog has been brought to you by the letter L…..

Koolaid Electric Company

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

The A-Z of New Music keeps rolling on, today……The Koolaid Electric Company.

Our first, and probably our last, look at the music sub-genre that is ‘shoegaze’. Tonight’s music for you delectation is the psychedelic rock sound of The Koolaid Electric Compnay, and if nothing else they have a very cool sounding name. Do you like your guitars? Heavy use of effect pedals? If the answer is yes, you might just like them. The problem I have with a band like this is that it all sounds very repetitive. I listened to the album, Random Noises and Organised Sounds, via soundcloud, and after half an hour I wasn’t sure if I had been listening to the same track over and over again or the whole album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTtNtLTtFo8

Overall, not good….

Today’s blog was brought to you by the letter K…..

Jay James Picton

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

The A-Z of New Music, thanks to @lilbee67, brings us to a white boy with soul…..Jay James Picton.

A quick search online and you’ll soon realise that Jay James Picton is touted as ‘the next big thing’, he may even be the male answer to Adele. With a voice that has many comparing him to the likes of Al Green and Otis Redding (although for our younger readers think John Legend and you won’t be far off). There are loads of tracks on soundcloud for you to listen to, from his rocky blues through to his soulful ballads. His debut album is due for release this summer, but in the mean time, try ‘Play it by Heart’, ‘The Boy That Wants To Fly’ or ‘Oh There She Goes’, all great tracks. If you like your music with soul, then Jay James Picton may well be worth a listen….

Jay James Picton, solid B grade….

Today’s blog was brought to you by the letter J…..