Are You Theirs? L.A. Quartet @saintmotel Sing About “My Type”

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SAINT MOTEL, “My Type”

It’s no surprise that Saint Motel have continued with a big, bold and brassy sound on their new single “My Type”.  Their debut album of last year, Voyeur, incorporated a diverse blend of styles, but heavily influenced by jazz and/or big bands in songs like (natch) “Benny Goodman” and “Puzzle Pieces”.  “My Type” will certainly send you to the dance floor (and some remixes might be nice…) with its catchy horn riff.  Led by singer A/J Jackson, Saint Motel is tight in concert, and they are on a summer tour across the U.S. and the west coast of Canada, so do catch them if you can.  As with all of their past visuals, I’m certain we will also see another unique and creative video directed by A/J in the near future too.  You can buy “My Type” on iTunes or Bandcamp.

@ryanstar’s New EP Animals

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RYAN STAR, Animals (EP)

Following my recent posts about new smashing single “Impossible” and another song on Animals, “Fuck’n Up”, today (August 5, 2013) saw the release of Ryan Star’s Animals EP independently worldwide.  Its songs are as much about reflecting on the past and our hopes and dreams, as they are moving forward boldly, unapologetically, and confidently.  It’s the story of Ryan’s live these past 10 years or so, and with every venture there are so many positives that have been built along the way, resulting in a hugely dedicated fan base that will likely sell out all of Ryan’s shows in NYC this week.  

As introspective as the songs may seem at times, Ryan does not hold back when he wants to rock out, and such a great example of this is in the closer “My Life With You” (below), which transforms into an emotional anthem about half way through.  Other new songs “Bullet” and “The World I Used To Know” all command your attention, “Bullet” particularly drawing you in as the opening song with its 7 minutes + length.  Animals is Ryan Star choosing to wear his honest songs gloriously on his sleeve, but this time the songs are hungrier and raw, and fans old and new will love it.

Mechanical Mixtape Previews New @sam_sparro Songs

SAM SPARRO, Mechanical (mixtape)

After engaging the Twitterverse in a Q&A chat this evening, L.A.-based and Australia-born singer Sam Sparro uniquely unleashed some new songs on the world interspersed with others on a 30 minute mixtape called Mechanical (above).  His new album, Quantum Physical Volume One will drop in September – nary a year after sophomore album Return To Paradise was released.  It will be preceded by single “Hang On 2 Your Love”, another fantastic upbeat pop/dance song that neatly follows last year’s “Happiness”.  Given the light, house-y tone of the heavily R&B-flavoured Mechanical, I suspect the new record will be more fun than a forest of koalas.  Sam’s included excerpts of songs (some larger than others) by Rihanna, Aaliyah, Kendrick Lamar, Disclosure, new UK sensation Sam Smith, Rosie Gaines (“Closer Than Close”!), and Janet Jackson.  Put Quantum Physical Volume One on your list for an enjoyable finale to your summer!  

@RyanStar Waxes Eloquent About “F*ck’n Up”

RYAN STAR, “F*ck’n Up”

After previously debuting the emotionally charged single “Impossible” at the end of July, we are now on the eve of the arrival of Ryan Star’s Animals EP, due Monday.  Last week, ARTISTDirect debuted another song, “F*ck’n Up”.   It’s a slow and deliberate ode to what anyone can do as we grow up – screw up royally.  And while it doesn’t seem like it at the time, life does go on though it has been inextricably changed.  Ryan has so very eloquently written how to get this across to just about anyone, and I’m sure when he holds court at 4 gigs in NYC next week, “F*ck’n Up” will be one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of each evening.  Listen above.

@Maighreadsings Returns with Powerful Electropop “Sooner”

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MAIGHREAD, “Sooner”

A year after “In The Beginning”, her collaboration with Disco Damage, became one of the highlights of Volume 1 of the dance/EDM compilation This Beat Is…Poptronik!, London-based, Ireland-born electropop singer Maighréad is back with “Sooner”.  No matter the remix or radio edit version, “Sooner” works because of Maighréad’s striking voice.  The song takes some of the best qualities of Annie Lennox, as well as fellow Irish singers Sinéad O’Connor and Róisín Murphy – power, resonance, grace – and Maighréad owns them all the way through “Sooner”, creating dancefloor bliss in the process.  Hear the Extended and Fik & Hurr remix below, and pick up “Sooner” on iTunes.

Fun Loving Nashville Troupe @TheAquaducks “This Far”

THE AQUADUCKS, “This Far”

Last September, I introduced you to the relatively newly formed rock/jazz/R&B outfit The Aquaducks, who hail from Nashville.  The band has tightened its sound and with a more professional video to support “This Far”, they continue to get across their fun-loving, live-off-the-floor sound which is pretty well guaranteed to blow the roof off of any small club.   Creigh Reipe’s crisp vocal and Paul Violante’s inviting sax lead the way in the performance part of the video amid the funky jazzy business.  And in the rest of the loosely structured but amusing plot, the band seems to be trying to play in the legendary Ryman Auditorium but ends up running around Nashville under watch.  Quack to that 🙂  I’m hoping that “This Far” is the start of the quality work that you will get to know from The Aquaducks.

Bold, Smooth R&B from @Traedonya: “Family Affair” and “Another Lie”

TRAEDONYA  “Family Affair”, “Another Lie”

New York singer Traedonya is no stranger to the music scene, having recorded since age 13 with some major label success in the 90’s with her band Sample This.  She’s been recording solo since 2003, and her bold, smooth and sophisticated R&B provides a welcome alternative to what songs in that genre move on to pop radio these days.  There’s heavy jazz influence here which certainly recalls how Mavis Staples, Chaka Khan, and other 70’s R&B masters incorporated it into their songs.  Traedonya transforms Sly & The Family Stone’s 1971 #1 “Family Affair” from a fun and funky song with a message, into a classy, warm and welcoming update that gives off that same strong message of unity.  “Another Lie” is an even better showcase for the singer’s attractive and scorching voice that lends itself to biting lyrics amid an old-style smoky jazz-club kind of setting.  Watch for Traedonya’s EP High Fructose Corn Syrup and listen to the songs above and below.

@MatthewKoma’s Emotionally Packed “Suitcase”

MATTHEW KOMA, “Suitcase”

Singer Matthew Koma has created some of the best music to arrive in the last year or so, from his EP Parachute, and then with the recent release of “One Night” from his upcoming album Arcadia.  Matthew announced this week that an EP will precede the album and that “Suitcase” might be included.  The video above is an excellent performance live from the Cherrytree House in June.  Matthew has the uncanny ability to draw you into the song, either through the melody or lyrics (or maybe both) on one listen.  “Suitcase” has a lot of emotion crammed into one song and identifies some hard truths that we don’t always like to hear.  It’s beautifully done – reminiscent of Australian singer Stan Walker’s “Black Box” in some ways.  Can’t wait to see more Matthew Koma songs on official release this year, hopefully more sooner than later.

Getting To See @JarellPerry in the Video for “Getaway”

JARELL PERRY, “Getaway”

Through the successful independent and free download release of his album Simple Things, one of the year’s best records, I will reiterate that Jarell Perry has proven that great songs carried by a magnificent voice can lead the way without the aid of visuals.  So somewhat belatedly we now have the video for one of that album’s songs “Getaway” to make the package complete.  For those of you unfamiliar with Jarell, “Getaway” is a most worthy introduction, though to me there are other better songs on the album (“9 2 5”, “Awkward”, “Perfect”).  Nonetheless by the end of 2013 Jarell Perry will be considered among the many fine vocalists who have surfaced with new music over the past year or so, whether they be relative newcomers like Frank Ocean or Miguel, or powerhouses like Justin Timberlake and Usher.

BILLCS Top 30 #410 – July 29, 2013

If you’re a new reader, the BILLCS Top 30 is my personal chart of faves, and this marks the 410th edition since January 1998.  And since September 2009, I’ve been writing these bi-weekly wanderings though my new’n’notables 🙂

  • First off, and first 🙂 Pet Shop Boys currently rule my iPod Touch!  Electric is very likely my favourite long-player of the year so far, and current single “Vocal” captures the top of my chart for a third bi-weekly appearance, showing no immediate signs of relenting…
  • This is leaving “Begging” by Swedish teen star Anton Ewald, in second place.  And that’s not unfortunate when it’s next to Pet Shop Boys.  “Begging” is from Anton’s EP called A.
  • #3 and #4 follow each other into the Top 5.  I’m looking forward to remixes of Dan Black & Kelis’ “Hearts”, as well as full albums from each (watch the intriguing video below).  And Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” seems to have stirred up a whole lotta fun around the world as sex rules the pop charts more predominately since possibly 1973 (which will be another separate blog post).

  • There’s not a whole lot happening in the first minute and a half of “I Think I Love You”, a rework of a song by Dwele courtesy of Montreal’s Victor Bongiovanni at #6.  But for what it lacks in lyrical substance it totally makes up for with club atmosphere and a most propulsive, seductive bassline.
  • I’m still grooving to “Let The Groove Get In” by Justin Timberlake (below) at #7 from the first part of The 20/20 Experience.  “Take Back The Night” should arrive in this space in two weeks.
  • It’s been one of my most read blog posts these past few months, but it’s quite apparent that Ryan Adamés’ deeply warm and fuzzy cover of Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me” (video at the top of this page – the song is a free download if you ‘like’ Ryan’s Facebook page) is turning heads and getting in some ears.  It’s a stunner and a chart topper contender that bows at #8, while Ryan’s collaboration with Parralox on “Silent Morning” holds steady at #5.  Two concurrent times in my Top 10 for a new performer is a rarity!
  • Two songs from FrankMusik’s Between album continue to rise up the chart while the singer has been on a deserved vacation, after which he now plans to release Between and the acoustic Between Us as a double album in the Fall, preceded by new material due imminently.  “Chasing Shadows” inches up to #10, while “Life (Is My Revenge)” moves to #15.

You can view the full Top 30 using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. You can hear all of the songs on the chart or watch their videos by clicking on the pics on the chart page.  Any free downloads that are identified are sanctioned by the performer.  There’s always a tiny place at the bottom of the blog post with tags and the statement “Leave A Comment” – please feel free to do so :)

  • Two great indie acts are closing in on the Top 10.  It’s taken a while but “Fade Into The Light” by Adam Tyler is at #11, and he is no stranger to the Top 10 with past songs like “Friction”, “I Won’t Let You Go”, and “Music Freak”.  But NYC’s Andy Suzuki & The Method are still fairly fresh new blood, and “Dirty Floors” from Born Out Of Mischief jumps to #12.
  • Lawson’s “Brokenhearted” (featuring B.o.B.) became their most recent UK Top 10 hit, which I’m hoping will lead to its North American release while the band tours here.  It climbs to #14.
  • More indie newcomers to the chart are Killian Wells (featuring Kristinia DeBarge) on the bright and very shiny “Remix My Love” at #16 (above), and Kim Smith, whose “Shooting Star” from debut electropop album Nova soars to #17.
  • Travis Garland’s “Homewrecker” looks to break hearts as the song climbs 24-18 from the free downloadable EP Fashionably Late II, while Kylie Minogue has the fastest riser on the chart with “Skirt” (below) tantalizing dance floors world wide.  It jumps 26-19.
  • Playing it cool in the summer months is studio project Amelia’s Fault featuring Dave Gahan-influenced singer Color Theory with “Colder” at #20.

  • Two more debuts by newcomers grace the chart.  Sam Dickinson’s album The Stories That Occurred is one of the finest sung albums you will hear this year, which will take you to another place within the pop/R&B/soul realm.  His latest single “Learn To Wait” storms the chart at #22

  • New Zealand singer Lorde sneaks under your skin before you know it with “Royals” looking to be a rather conveniently titled pop song that regardless of the birth of Prince George looks to be a hit anyway.  It arrives at #25.