The Fantastic YouTube Song Purge!

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So, lately I have been uploading songs to YouTube with every intention to share them each as a song of the day. But then one thing or another comes up, or there is a song here or there that I HAVE to share, so it gets pushed to the back burner. So, I have decided to purge. Here are a handful of songs I've uploaded that I think you'll like. 

"Summer House (Acoustic Demo Version)" by Greta Morgan of Gold Motel

"Blood and Guts" by Middle Brother

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Wakey!Wakey!

"Fidelity (Acoustic Mountain Music Lounge Version) " by Regina Spektor

"The Line" by Smoosh

"Maps" by Wakey!Wakey! (Yeah Yeah Yeahs Cover

Songs of the Day: "I Hate The Sun" & "Is It Too Late To Apologize" by The Oh Wells

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One of my favorite "International" bands is striving to reach 1,000 Facebook "likes". Please help them out! They have their own breed of Canadian awesome.

"I Hate The Sun" by The Oh Wells


"Is It Too Late To Apologize" by The Oh Wells

Song of the Day: "The World's Not Bad" by Smoosh

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This is the first and possibly only blog written from my iPhone. But this song is just sooooo...... Ugh.
Makes the whole day just perfect. Had to share it right away. So I hope you realize how much I must love this song to go through this extra effort. So you better listen!

"The World's Not Bad" by Smoosh

Best of 2011: Soul Albums

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This list is a little short. And if it were any other topic I would scrap it all together. I hate putting out lists of less than at least 10 items, but this list needs to be shared. As it has easily become the honest to goodness music of my year.

Here are my top five, hand clapping, foot stomping, head swaying, and all out sing along at the top of your lungs Soul Albums of the year.

Now, alot of people lump Soul and R&B together. I however, see a distinct difference. I hope by the songs I share, you will too. Because it's such a short list, I'm gonna give each artist a bonus track. Two for one.

One other note, three of the five below are Northwest Products. There is a crazy Soul movement up here in the rain. If I were a betting man, I'd wager this is the next musical trend to root in Seattle and blossom out. Enjoy.

1. Pickwick - Myths
Now this was originally released as three separate EP's but combined into one extended EP with a couple new songs recently. It is easily one of the best things I have ever heard. This is the number one band on my list to see live. Considering they are local, and how many shows I go too, it still hard to believe I've missed them.
"Window Sill"


"Hacienda Motel"


2. Allen Stone - Allen Stone
Another Northwest artist that is making spectacular noise. The best thing about him, well, besides his voice, is the fact that it looks like it doesn't belong to him. His craft is so perfectly honed that he can dress like Kurt Cobain, with locks of gold, oversized glasses and it all works. Works hard. I think if a bill was put together with Pickwick, Allen Stone, The BGP, and Tess Henley (#4 below) it would be looked back on in history as the start of something grand in NW Soul.
"Unaware"


"Sleep"


3. Adele - 21
A lot of people consider Adele more of a pop or R&B singer. But I say those people are not listening hard enough. That lady clearly has Soul just oozing out of her. And, as one of the most successful artists out there these days, I should revolt against her and whatnot. But, come on. You've heard that voice, that passion. No one can hate Adele.
"Someone Like You"


"Rolling In The Deep"


4. Tess Henley - Easy To love
Now, this is actually a rerelease from her record of the same name in 2008, but with 4 new tracks, and what sounds like some remastering, it is too special not to be included. Below you will see one of the new tracks, and a song from 2010's EP release The Appetizer. I realize this is breaking trend on the list so far, but I need for you to see what she can do live so you can picture the Bill I mentioned above. Hopefully, if enough people picture it, it will happen.  

"What You Won't Do For Love"


"The Boy In The Window"


5. Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do
All Soul singers have a little throwback in them. It is a necessary evil. Buy Mayer Hawthorne absolutely embraces it. Now, honestly, this album may be better then number 5. But, with Allen Stone spinning prior to picking this up, I probably have not given it enough of a chance. However, that does not mean it does not merit this inclusion. It is a special record that I think will only get better with time.

"The Walk"


"Get To Know You"

Best of 2011: Hip-Hop & R&B

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So, if you read my blog, and I hope you do, you will probably notice a lack of all things Hip-Hop. Now, that is not because I do not listen to it, rather it's because I fear I am not a good judge of it. Every year, my audiophile friends will suggest an album or two that I am "sure to love" and it never sticks. Take the new Lil' Wayne record this year. I cannot count how many people told me that I need to feature that record, that it was the best of the year, and yet, only one song stuck. In years past I've always ended up finding things a little off the beaten track, picking up mixtapes or gravitating to artists like K'Naan, Cage, and Atmosphere. But, I figured,  there have to be a few others out there that have a skewed view of what is right, and solid and good in the hip-hop/r&b world. So, here is what I dig in 2011.

I am not going to be so bold to actually review each album, but I'll share a track and the album cover and let it speak for itself.

Just as a side note. Big K.R.I.T. may only sit at number 13 on this list, but his song The Vent is one of the best written songs I have ever heard. In any genre.

1. Atmosphere - The Family Sign

"Became"

2. Frank Ocean - nostalgia, ULTRA.

"Strawberry Swing"


3. Drake - Take Care

"Lord Knows"


4. Jay Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

"Otis"


5. The Weeknd  - House Of Balloons

"The Party & The After Party"


6. Wale - Ambition 

"Slight Work"


7. Pusha T - Fear of God Part 1 & 2 

OK, so this one needs a bit of an intro. Pusha T, of Clipse, opted to be a genius this year. First, stepping out on one of my favorite hip-hop duos is a bit risky. But then he went and released Fear Of God, as a free Mixtape, and I knew all was right in the world. He later followed it up with an actual release, Part II, and his prowess was only on further display. He is a man on his own track, and he owns it.
"Open Your Eyes" (From Part 1)

"Amen" (From Part 2)


8. Lupe Fiasco - Lasers

"I Don't Wanna Care Right Now"


9. We F.A.M. - Reality Check

"Why"

.
10. Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbowstor

"GMB"

11. Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

"Still Sound"


12. The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles

"Bundle Up"

13. Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4Eva

"The Vent"

We're On Twitter!

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I know we are like way late on this train, but we are on Twitter now. Come follow us and stay on top of what we have coming up. If we gather enough of a swell, we are going to try and start doing contests and giveaways. You know you wanna. 

Come Follow Us!

Band of the Week: Schuyler Fisk

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There is something undeniable about Schuyler Fisk. Something palatable. Something unflinchingly engaging and utterly beautiful about her timbre. I have been a fan of hers since I caught the dramatically underrated flick I'm Reed Fish back when I only knew her as that cute girl from now Day and Orange County. But, she picked up a guitar in that flick and changed everything. Since then, I have picked up everything she has released and have yet to be disappointed.

This blog does not even touch on her FM Radio stuff, which I shared two weeks ago and is already my 7th most popular post ever. Right now, I cannot get enough of Schuyler Fisk.
Here are 5 of my favorite tracks.

"Blue Ribbon Winner"


"Miss You" 


"If You Were Gone"


"From Where I'm Standing"


"Givin' Up"