Chris Isaak “Live It Up”
Sometimes things seem to take forever. Yet when you look back on the first time you heard a performer, it all seems to have happened in a snapshot.
It’s hard to believe I first heard the music of Chris Isaak in a record store in Paris in 1985. I was quickly intrigued and bought a French music magazine with him on the cover so that I could find out more about his music. That same night I saw the video for his first single “Dancin'” on TV. I didn’t end up buying his debut album Silvertone until I got home – but it’s one of my most favourite albums and “Dancin'” is one of my most favourite songs. I got the opportunity to interview this singer from Stockton, California, in 1987, more than two years before “Wicked Game” brought him worldwide fame. Since then, his songs have been featured in countless movies (most noteworthy “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing” in “Eyes Wide Shut” in 1999, four years after its original release) and he’s had two TV shows of his own. He last released a studio record, Mr. Lucky, in 2009 (just before this blog began) and a live album Live At The Fillmore was issued last year. That completed his days with Reprise/Warner.
While he continues to tour actively, currently in mid-west US and Canada, he has now signed to Vanguard Records (currently home to Matt Nathanson and Shawn Mullins, among others) for his album of classic 50’s and 60’s Sun Records artists cover versions, called Beyond The Sun. Just the thought of him singing classics like “Ring of Fire”, “Great Balls of Fire”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, and “I Walk The Line” makes my spine tingle, because of his unique way in interpreting a song. All you need to do is hear his renditions of Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man” (from 1995) and Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me” (from 2006) for proof positive.
I could go on and on and on… But there is a free download to precede the October release of Beyond The Sun. In a press release, Chris says the following about “Live It Up”:
“When we were doing the record, I kept learning things,” says Chris. “For instance, nothing on those early records has a rock beat—it’s all shuffle and stripper beat. I wrote “Live It Up” to put a rock beat on the record, so that that beat too is represented.”
Download “Live It Up” right here or listen to it at the link below. Read more about the Beyond The Sun project right here.
Will Young “The Way I See”
Flipping back through the contemporary pop pages, we have a free download by one Will Young, who has been a sensation overseas since his UK Pop Idol win in 2002. In North America, his 2003 hit “Leave Right Now” was used as an American Idol ‘exit’ song in 2010, prompting overdue interest in the singer. As a precursor to his album Echoes, a Robbie Williams-ish single called “Jealousy” was issued. As much as I’ve listened to it several times, that song is not clicking with me. But then along comes this free download of “The Way I See”, and what do we have here? A song destined to get Will Young songs into dance clubs worldwide, so I’m waiting anxiously for the remixes. Download “The Way I See” right here and be prepared to strut your stuff…
Pierre Lewis “Out Of My Mind”
I tipped you off to Pierre’s new single back in June, and this week an impressive video (below) surfaced for the song, due out on release on September 19. “Out Of My Mind” shows the talented British singer’s range as well as someone who can exert his presence in the always underestimated blue-eyed soul sub-genre. Actually to me “Out Of My Mind” is more R&B than pop, it would fit contently next to Ne-Yo or Jason Derulo rather than GaGa or Britney. Pierre has a strong and loyal following of fans but this one could get attention worldwide if handled properly, and it’s from an upcoming EP called Transitions. As I mentioned, the video is pretty eye-catching, the story moves along nicely in all kinds of attractive colour lighting accentuating various eye candy and the considerable charm of the singer. And be sure to check out Pierre on Twitter, especially when he can’t sleep 😉
Marianas Trench “Haven’t Had Enough”
It’s already been to #1 on the Canadian iTunes singles chart, which is testament to the domestic popularity of Vancouver-based quartet Marianas Trench. Though it doesn’t offer up a heck of a lot of new tricks (I really like Matt Webb’s guitar work on this one), “Haven’t Had Enough” gives a trademark to the band’s loud but lyrical party rock sound that just happens to be supported by guys who know their craft and vocal techniques. I was a big supporter of 2009’s Masterpiece Theatre album so I’m looking forward to #3, called Ever After, this fall. There’s no video yet, but listen to the song below.
Evanescence “What You Want”
Leaving the sometimes gothic feel of past hits like “My Immortal” behind as well as the soft-turns-to-loud moments that showcased singer Amy Lee’s voice so well on songs like “Call Me When You’re Sober”, “What You Want” is the Arkansas quintet’s first single from their upcoming self-titled album. It’s big and loud and will hit you square without bowling you over. Amy Lee will continue to be a force among female vocalists and her voice as a featured artist will benefit any song. I don’t usually think a lot about radio these days so it’s hard for me to determine if radio will get behind this record based on the band’s past performance. But in time this could in fact be one of the best records of the year.
Hot New Dance Songs: The sexy and aggressive “Bad Dog” by British singer Neon Hitch, and Maryland rapper Rye Rye‘s (nee Ryeisha Barrain) memorable high profile duet with Robyn on the retro 90’s “Never Will Be Mine” that was featured on the Jay Leno show a week ago. Hear both songs below (the version of “Never Will Be Mine” is the Burns remix).
Proud Swedish Moment: LA’s Adam Tyler recently performed at Stockholm’s pride celebrations in front of over 30,000 people. We’re now 12 days away from the premiere of his album Shattered Ice, and below is a video of Adam performing a new song “Like A Drug”. The album looks to be a spicy mix of dance zingers like this as well as some slower tracks (I’m waiting for “Emergency”!).
Grunge-inspired Brits: Karvel is a new trio from Twickenham, England consisting of singer/guitarist Joe Mallory-Skinner, bassist Ben Soan, and drummer Tom Wood. Together they seem to be fusing together some unexpected rock styles – take UK groups like Placebo and Kasabian, pass them through Ireland’s The Script, and then into the 90’s rock of Beck and Foo Fighters. I think some growth still needs to happen here, but their recent acoustic video cover of The Joy Formidable’s “A Heavy Abacus” certainly grabbed my attention (below), as did their work with Grammy-winner Adrian Bushby on “End of the Night”. Hear them at their heaviest, and grungiest, on “Only The Young” on their Facebook page (from which you can get free downloads with an email subscription).
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