Mary's Musicology - A place to find new music

Follow Mary's Musicology on Facebook!

2012-01-30T16:33:00.000-08:00

There is now a Facebook page for Mary's Musicology. When you follow there you will get updates about new posts as well as other things that I don't post on the blog such as must see concerts and fun Youtube videos.

In Honor of Australia Day

2012-01-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

Since I am not only American but Australian as well I thought it would be appropriate to feature all my favorite Aussie music right now to celebrate Australia Day. There are so many great Australian artists entering the music scene these days it was hard to choose just a few! Enjoy mates!
Boy And Bear - Feeding LineGotye - Somebody That I Used To KnowAngus & Julia Stone - Big Jet PlaneSia - You've Changed

Marc Scibilia

2012-01-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

There are those days when I get caught down the rabbit hole of new music. Its not even clear how I get there but eventually I stumble across a new artist that really takes me. Today I was in the youtube related videos rabbit hole and stumbled across Marc Scibilia and this video.

*Note at 2:38 when I'm pretty sure his dog passes gas and Marc can't stop laughing.

Are you swooning yet? I know I am... The Johnny Cash influence can definitely be heard in this native of Buffalo, New York who moved to Nashville right after high school knowing music was his calling. At this moment a few Youtube videos are all you will get of Marc but he has an EP coming out early this year and you can hear him on Andrew Greer's album coming out January 31st.

I have a feeling he will be exploding shortly so jump on the Marc wagon before it gets too full.

For more on Marc check out these links:

Marc Scibilia Website

Facebook

Youtube

New Music Video From First Aid Kit - Emmylou

2012-01-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

This new song by First Aid Kit has been on repeat for me since it was released and now they have a new video to go along with it. This video is a very unique tribute to some of their favorite artists filmed in the incredible Joshua Tree Park in California. Their new album The Lion's Roar comes out January 24th.

Top 15 Favorite Albums of 2011

2011-12-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

There is only a few more days left in 2011 and its about time I share my favorite albums released this year. In no particular order (except maybe the first one...):

The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

Ben Rector - Something Like This

Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer & Stuart Duncan - The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Gotye - Making Mirrors

Boy & Bear - Moonfire

Adele - 21

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Mutemath - Odd Soul

James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning

Katie Herzig - The Waking Sleep

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

City & Colour - Little Hell

The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart

The Cave Singers - No Witch

Tapes N' Tapes - Outside

Ingrid Michaelson Covers "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye

2011-12-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

I've always loved Ingrid Michaelson but watching this video of her covering one of my current favorite songs takes my admiration of her to another level. She plays all the instruments and keeps the integrity and purity of the song. Love it!

Red Letter Agent - New Christmas EP

2011-12-20T21:11:00.000-08:00

Its only 4 days until Christmas and if you are anything like me you've been listening to Christmas music non-stop. You may be tiring of your current Christmas music library and needing something new. Of course if you are listening to my playlist I'm sure you can't get enough... right? Well I have for you a new release from Red Letter Agent! These guys have recording some great Christmas classics for your listening pleasure. Add something a little rockin' to your holidays and support some good Nashville boys with fabulous hair.

Buy the album on iTunes!

It's Christmas Time Again!

2011-12-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

Here I am sitting on the couch freezing my booty off in southern California watching the Michael Bublé Christmas Special on NBC. Growing up in Los Angeles I remember quite a few Christmases where it was too warm outside to light a fire in our fireplace or wear the new flannel pajamas I received Christmas eve. Now it feels a little more like Christmas all bundled up watching Christmas specials and creating my Christmas music playlist.

If your schedule is anything like mine every weekend is already packed with holiday parties but I hope you can take the time to snuggle up on the couch with some hot chocolate or someone special (or if you are really lucky, both) and listen to some new Christmas music. There are so many great new Christmas albums out this year like Michael Bublé, She & Him, and Mindy Gledhill as well as endless free Christmas and holiday tracks on Noisetrade.com.

This year I tried to choose songs and artists that probably aren't in your regular Christmas music collection. The purpose of this blog is to bring you artists you've never heard of so I hope your find some new favorites. Of course you all probably know Michael Bublé but since I'm watching his program I figured I should add it in to solidify this Christmas feeling I have right now.

Get your own Flash MP3 Player

Merry Christmas everyone!

For even more music listen to the old playlists too!
2009
2010

Its A Video Kind of Day

2011-11-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

I have so many things to post about. Concert reviews galore, my trip to Nashville, Christmas playlists and many many new artists I'm loving. The time to do all that is the only thing lacking. So until I can get to all those posts here are some of my favorite music videos I keep re-watching on Youtube.Mutemath performing "In No Time" in Paul Meany's garage:I saw City and Colour last week and it was probably the best concert I've ever been to. He is amazing.When I saw The Swell Season at the Hollywood Bowl they opened with this and I will never forget it:How could I not include a video from The Civil Wars?? I'm missing their next L.A. show and I'm a bit devastated about it...You may not have heard of Gary Clark Jr. yet but trust me... you will soon...Enjoy!

The Black Keys New Single - Lonely Boy!

2011-10-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

The Black Keys are releasing a new album, El Camino, December 6th and considering how much I loved the first one I know that I will love this one. They released their first single today titled "Lonely Boy." Watch the video and witness some sweet dance moves.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Anticipation

2011-09-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

Its only a few more days until Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco and in anticipation of my first time going I've been knee deep in live Punch Brothers videos as well as created a Spotify playlist of all the artist performing this weekend. Enjoy!

My Spotify playlist!Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Punch Brothers Youtube Playlist: Click Here

Katie Herzig - New Music Video and New Album Out Today!

2011-09-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

Katie Herzig, who has been featured here before, has a new album out today titled The Waking Sleep. She also released the new video for her first single on the album "Free My Mind" which you can watch below. Katie has a wonderful folk but also quirky pop sound that makes her music unique and a joy to listen to. You can't help but tap your toes to her songs. If you like artist like Sia or Ingrid Michaelson you will love Katie Herzig! You can buy the album on iTunes, Amazon or her website.

Katie Herzig - Free My Mind from Katie Herzig on Vimeo.

Apparently for this video 2000 post-its, 300 Q-tips, and 3,000 glue dots were used in the making of this video.

Mutemath's new single Odd Soul!

2011-09-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

Mutemath is one of my top 5 favorite bands. I also think they are one of the top 5 underrated bands as well. Finally a few weeks ago I was able to see them live for the first time and I was thoroughly impressed. They played almost all new songs and put on a great show. The drummer has to tape his headphones to his head so they don't fly off while he is playing. That's when you know you are doing it right.

I got the courage to go up to Paul Meany, the lead singer, and tell him how much I loved their music. I always feel like a music nerd doing that but it had to be done. They needed to know. Paul was so nice. I actually forgot to say my name when I introduced myself and so he asked me and asked us all questions about ourselves. They have a new album coming out titled Odd Soul in the next month or two and I can tell you that its going to be one of their best. So far the two singles included the title track Odd Soul have been released and I am loving them. Check out the music video below!

Kimbra - Good Intent (New Official Video)

2011-09-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

If its not already obvious I'm a huge fan of New Zealand singer Kimbra. She's only 21 but her voice and talent goes well beyond her age. This new music video is just fabulous. Eagerly awaiting the album's release in the U.S.! Check out the video for Settle Down as well!

New Video From Andrew Belle - Ladder

2011-09-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

Absolutely loving this new video that just came out from Andrew Belle. I particularly love the part when he uses his vest as a parachute. Vests are more then just stylish these days...

Charlie Hardin's Kickstarter Campaign- Be A Part Of Making An Album!

2011-08-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

We stream it. We steal it. We "borrow" it from friends. We buy it. How about actually being a part of making it? Well with Kickstarter you have that chance. Artist from all over the country are using Kickstarter to raise money to record albums while allowing their fans and supporters to be a part of the process. The best part is that you are not just donating. You get something in return and you can tell people you helped make that album happen. Charlie Hardin out of Nashville is in the middle of his Kickstarter campaign to raise money to record his first album. If you remember Charlie was featured here way back and was actually my first ever artist interview. Its been a joy to watch how his music career is unfolding and I've also had the pleasure of hearing a few of the new song demos and let me tell you that so far they are amazing. I got back with Charlie to hear more about the new album and Kickstarter. Check out our convo and make sure to visit the Kickstarter page and if you want to support the arts support Charlie!

1. So Charlie, your Kickstarter is off and running for the new album. Can you tell us a little about what Kickstarter is and how it works?

It is indeed off and running! Kickstarter is a sweet platform for artists such as myself to fund projects. A person can choose to pledge any amount of money, and in return they will be given a reward if the goal is reached (if it's not reached, then you don't get the rewards and you are not charged for your pledge). I was recently discussing the whole thing with my friend Will - at first he was under the impression that is was like running a donations-based fundraiser. I don't care for that description because it seems to infer that people are involved in a one-sided transaction. With Kickstarter, nobody gets nothing in return for something. Every person who pledges not only will receive a cool Thank-You for their support (like a signed copy of the album, or their name in the liner notes or their initials tattooed on my body), but more importantly, by backing this project, they become part of it's history. When you choose to back this record, you are literally becoming a valuable part of it getting made. I'm going to love delivering every one of my supporters their rewards, but the best part will be giving them the completed record, because we have all been a part of making it.

2. How long have you been waiting to make this album?

It's been about 2 and a half years since my last release, but it really feels like I've been building up to this record my entire life, frankly. I will have a great deal more creative control with this record, and will be recording material spanning about 4 or 5 years. I have been very fortunate to make many kinds of recordings in the last decade or so, but I am most excited to really express what I've been given with this go-round. There are some very important family stories that I wasn't able to tell last time, which I'm really excited about. One that has been with me for a while is "John David", about my late identical twin brother, which has been a favorite for several years. I've recorded it before, but never officially released it. That's a song that has apparently touched a lot of folks for a while, so letting it fully come to life is going to be a priority. Another favorite (at least of mine) is called "Invention". I've done demos of it a few times, but the most recent one was possibly the closest I've ever come to putting on tape what I actually wanted in my impressionistic brain! I've listened to it a ton of times. How vain! It's based on a dream I had a while back where I had built a time machine involving a 2" reel-to-reel tape deck in this basement, and I traveled back in to a time before my mother suffered from the mental illness that plagued her during her later years. It was such a vivid dream, and the recording, even in demo form, has this amazing dreamlike quality. I just can't wait for everyone to hear it.

3. How has the recording process gone for you so far?

At this moment, we've mostly been doing demos and deciding which songs to use - pretty early on in the actual recording process, but it's already surprising me. The success we experienced with "Invention" has really got my blood moving. I can't wait to see what we come up with when we really dig in to the process.

4. Has your music changed since your previous released recordings? Do you feel like your style has changed or developed over the last year?

Sure, I absolutely do. It's taken me a long time to feel comfortable with the rock and roll side of what we play, and the last record was not taken in that direction. Of course, I listen to stuff I've been recording since college or high school or before that, and it always has this feeling of "did I know what that sounded like when I did it?" In a sense, I feel more like myself as a writer and a performer than I've ever felt. I have always had a weakness for epic sounds and melancholy themes, I feel the way that sounds differently than I have before. Still big, but not too glossy. Still personal, but not unnecessary.

5. Once the album is out do you plan on hitting the road and touring?

I do! Most of the touring will likely be in the spring, but I will start circling the wagons in the fall. Part of the Kickstarter is the option for people to buy a personal concert, so those will be my first priority.

Charlie Hardin's Kickstarter!

Hope you enjoyed Charlie and all his plaid glory. Check out the campaign and help an artist bring a dream into reality.

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)

2011-08-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

If you enjoyed the Kimbra video from last week I think you'll enjoy this video as well. Continuing on my Aussie kick here is Gotye (pronounced 'gore-ti-yeah') featuring Kimbra. I can't seem to stop watching this video. Its so mesmerizing.

Gotye just released his new album titled Making Mirrors. Make sure to check it out!

Andrew Belle Concert Review at The Mint

2011-08-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

This post is about a week and a half late but better late then never right? I've been wanting to start reviewing shows on this blog since I go to so many and what better way to start reviewing then with a show that provoked my post on concert etiquette (see previous post).

Andrew Belle is one of my favorite new artists out of Nashville and I have been eager to see him live ever since I got sick and missed the Ten Out Of Tenn show in Hollywood. I bought tickets right away for his show at The Mint and I'll preface with saying that he did not disappoint. The venue however did. This was my first time at The Mint and I'm not sure I'll ever go back. I don't think I've ever been so irritated at a concert before and I'm a pretty easy going person.

Schuyler Fisk opened accompanied by Ryan Lerman on guitar. Schuyler is also the daughter of Sissy Spacek, who was in attendance, and an actress herself (Any fans of The Baby Sitter's Club?). It was our first experience with her music and we were all really impressed. Unfortunately the sound guy was having some issues with levels and feed back. Its a lesson all musicians have had to learn, you are only as good as your sound guy. Despite the technical issues Schuyler and company were really refreshing. My favorite songs from her set were, What If I Leave, You Hung The Moon, and a cover of You Belong To Me that was absolutely fantastic.

Next up was the headliner of the night Andrew Belle. He played solo on acoustic guitar and played all my favorites. It would have been a perfect set except the fact that the whole crew of people who came for Schuyler were off to the side talking loudly during Andrew's set. Imagine like 15-20 people trying to talk over the music. That accompanied with two very tall girls working their way right before the start of the show through the crowd only to stop front and center video taping the whole set just put me on edge. Andrew handled it all well and the crowd there for Andrew tried to shush the talking people the best we could but they were totally oblivious.

Andrew Belle was great interacting with the crowd sharing funny stories and even allowing two girls who politely asked to come sit on stage for one of his songs. Even without a full band behind him his performance had depth and emotion and captivated all those who were there to see him. After the show I waited for quite a while to go up and meet him. Being that he is tall and pretty easy on the eyes the girls at the show swarmed up to meet him and take pictures. I hate being considered one of those girls so I waited my turn until they had all gone. I'm a music industry professional after all not a groupie. Yet for some reason when I finally got up to talk to him I freaked out! I got really nervous and shaky. I work at a major record label and deal with big acts all the time and I never get nervous. What was wrong with me?? Maybe it was that the band playing at that point was so loud that all the things I had to say to him became too difficult with the noise. Sometimes my old nerves hit me out of no where. In any case I left feeling like an idiot. Sorry Andrew, I'm normally more composed. Thanks for putting on a great show despite the obnoxious L.A. crowd. Comeback again soon!

Kimbra - Plain Gold Ring (Nina Simone Cover) video

2011-08-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ever since my roommate showed me this video of Australian artist Kimbra covering a Nina Simone track I have not been able to stop watching it. The vocal loops she creates are so fabulous. I think big things are coming for Kimbra and she is going to blow up any second. Her new album comes out in Australia only on August 30th (lame). Hopefully her U.S. release will follow shortly! Enjoy!

Concert Etiquette by Mary

2011-08-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

After attending a concert at The Mint in Los Angeles I feel the need to write out a list of concert etiquette because apparently most people aren't aware of how to behave at a show. Los Angeles... for shame...

#1 Being Tall at a Standing Show - If you are more then 5'10" with or without heels its definitely not OK to push your way through the crowd acting like you are just trying to get to bathroom only to stop front row center to watch the show. You have now blocked everyone who have been standing there for the last hour and your giant heads will be in everyone's picture.

#2 Flash Photography - Is it necessary to blind the artist with your red eye flash while they are tuning their guitar in the dark?? Eventually the lights will go on and you can take photos till your hearts content without a flash.

#3 Talking - When the artist starts playing it doesn't mean continue talking but louder so you can be heard over the music. Why did you pay for a concert ticket only to talk through the whole thing?? Take it outside chatty Cathy and have some respect for the artist.

#4 Participation - I don't know what it is about people in Los Angeles who think they are too cool to act like they are enjoying a concert. Everyone stands there with arms crossed with this attitude like, "What you got for me? Play some music and see if you can impress me." Try clapping, dancing, swaying or even just a head bob. I promise that you'll have more fun and the artist will appreciate people participating and enjoying the music.

#5 Videotaping - If you want to videotape your favorite song during the show so you can watch it back later to relive the moment I get that. Carry on. However, if you are going to video every song with your arm up in the air while you are standing in the front row you suck. Your arm is in all my pictures...

On a recent trip to Ireland I learned the proper way to participate at concert. Let's watch and learn a lesson from the Irish shall we? Look how much fun they are having. Maybe its the fact that they all have a pint in hand...

Boy & Bear

2011-08-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

There is something about Australians I just love. Maybe its the accent, maybe its their cheeky laid back humor and attitude. Or maybe its in my blood since my dad is Australian. In any case I am loving some great artists from down under like Angus & Julia Stone and Ellen Kibble both featured here. Now I'm all about Boy & Bear. After hearing their song Mexican Mavis I couldn't wait for the whole album to be released in the U.S. As of Tuesday it is!! Take a listen to their first two songs and you can stream their album on Spotify and buy it on iTunes.

Members: Dave Hosking - Killian Gavin - Tim Hart - Jake Tarasenko - Jon Hart

Boy & Bear - "Rabbit Song" by theaudioperv

Boy & Bear - "Mexican Mavis" by theaudioperv

Boy & Bear Website
Buy the album on iTunes here
Download Mexican Mavis single here
Stream new album on Spotify here

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

2011-08-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

Last year was the first year I heard about the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Fransisco's Golden Gate Park. Sadly it was a little too last minute and I couldn't find any hotels to stay at that weren't already fully booked and wouldn't have weird stains on the bed spread...

This year I've planned ahead and will be making the drive up to San Fransisco with three friends with accomodations already lined up. So far this years line up DOES NOT disappoint. Check out these medleys of who is confirmed so far and see if you can guess the artists. #3 has my favorite selection. See if you can guess why ;)

For more info on this FREE festival click here.

HSB 2011 Sneak-Peak Medley Round 1 by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

HSB 2011 Sneak-Peak Medley Round 2 by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

HSB 2011 Sneak-Peek Medley Round 3 by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Sneak-Peek Medley Round 4 by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

The Civil Wars AND The Punch Brothers?!!! Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot!

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

2011-07-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

Just loving this Fleet Foxes song. The message of this song is hitting me right where my heart is right now. Enjoy!

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues by subpop

I was raised up believing I was somehow unique
Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see
And now after some thinking, I'd say I'd rather be
A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me

But I don't, I don't know what that will be
I'll get back to you someday soon you will see

What's my name, what's my station, oh, just tell me what I should do
I don't need to be kind to the armies of night that would do such injustice to you
Or bow down and be grateful and say "sure, take all that you see"
To the men who move only in dimly-lit halls and determine my future for me

And I don't, I don't know who to believe
I'll get back to you someday soon you will see

If I know only one thing, it's that everything that I see
Of the world outside is so inconceivable often I barely can speak
Yeah I'm tongue-tied and dizzy and I can't keep it to myself
What good is it to sing helplessness blues, why should I wait for anyone else?

And I know, I know you will keep me on the shelf
I'll come back to you someday soon myself

If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm raw
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
And you would wait tables and soon run the store

Gold hair in the sunlight, my light in the dawn
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
Someday I'll be like the man on the screen

Gary Clark Jr.

2011-06-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I had the pleasure of seeing Gary Clark Jr. live for the first time. Before he started my coworker warned me that I would swoon and to get myself ready. When I saw that he would be playing guitar as well as kick drum and hi-hat all at once I knew my coworker was right. Gary played for 45 minutes and I only wish it could have gone on longer. Gary Clark Jr. is an Austin, TX native raised on blues and soul. He's an incredibly talented musicians who has great things ahead of him. Can't wait for his album to be released!

Gary Clark Jr by GaryClarkJr

Here is the live stream of his performance. Skip to 3:00 in.

City And Colour's New Album!

2011-06-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday City and Colour (aka Dallas Green) released his new album Little Hell and much to my chagrin I have not had time to buy it yet. Its my first on my to do list when I get home tonight from work even before exercise and laundry (those are not hard for me to reprioritize...). In the meantime I've been listening to his new single Fragile Bird with its intriguing and racy music video about a girl having nightmares about her days working in a brothel. So for those of you who have been awaiting its release or maybe have never heard City and Colour (now is the time people!) here are two tracks from the new album that are holding me over until tonight.

Fragile Bird by cityandcolour

Northern Wind by cityandcolour

Image source

Justin Timberlake - SNL

2011-05-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

As you may know or have noticed, I am not a huge pop music fan. I may know the words to a few Katy Perry songs that you can't help but get stuck in your head but if you check my music library you will find it void of any Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas or Ke$ha. However I make a huge exception for Justin Timberlake as I feel he is truly a talented artist with a great voice. I remember watching him on some music awards ceremony a few years ago where he played the piano and guitar incredibly well along with his usual dancing and singing and I was blown away. So when I heard he was giving up music to pursue acting until further notice I was pretty upset. I thought, well if he's going to stick to really good movies like The Social Network then maybe I can get behind it, but Bad Teacher and Friends With Benefits?? Really Justin? Watching his monologue on Saturday Night Live this weekend just made me even more upset. My roommate and I just sat through the whole thing yelling at him through the TV. He's just so good. Can't you do both Justin? Please?

Image source here

Andrew Belle - Static Waves Video and Ten Out Of Tenn Anticipation

2011-05-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday Ten out of Tenn is playing a show at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, CA and you can bet that I bought my tickets weeks ago. I've always wanted to see a Ten out of Tenn show especially Andrew Belle. He along with Matthew Perryman Jones, Amy Stroup, Tent Dabbs and Katie Herzig should make for an amazing show.

And, since Katie will be there I can bet they'll play this in the set. Ooohh! I can't wait!

http://10outoftenn.com/

** UPDATE: I got sick and never made this show. Sad story.

The Johnny Cash Project - Ain't No Grave Video

2011-05-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

There is something spectacular about an artist who impacts people with their art all over the world. People from all walks of life all united in a common love. One of those spectacular artists is Johnny Cash. The Johnny Cash Project as you will see in this video gave people all over the world a chance to contribute to the making of Cash's final music video. Hear their stories and watch the finished product as of a few months ago. You can still contribute to the project which I attempted to do but my artistry skills are lacking and I quickly got intimidated. I think I'll keep to drawing stick figures for now. http://www.thejohnnycashproject.com/

Brooke Fraser - Something In The Water (Official Video)

2011-05-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

Brooke Fraser is easily one of my favorite artists. She is an artist who has branched out of her genre and is getting better at what she does with every album release. My favorite album by far is the most recent release titled Flags. Well worth purchasing the whole album! Here is the official video for my favorite track off the album, "Something In The Water"

and my other favorite from the album, "Betty"

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Josh Garrels - Words Remain

2011-05-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this video last month and I keep going back to my Youtube favorites to watch it every few weeks. So it seems expected that I should share it with all of you. Something about this is so haunting and beautiful.

Music And Travel - The NYC/Ireland Edition

2011-04-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

If I were to describe one of my ideal jobs it would be to be a travel show host or author who journeys around the world looking for good music and good food. I mean how amazing would that be? So whenever I do travel for my own pleasure I make sure to find where to hear great local artists. Just a week ago I got back from a 10 day trip to New York City and Ireland and have finally recovered from the jet lag...oh the jet lag...

Before I left on m trip I reached out to the Twitter community and asked for recommendation to hear local New York artists. A guy in Nashville who follows me recommended me to his friend and local NYC artist Aaron Zimmer to either hear him play or to get some recommendations from. Aaron immediately responded and said he would be glad to get me the low down for the weekend I'd be there. OK, how cool is Twitter that a girl in Los Angeles would get a recommendation from a guy in Nashville for a guy in New York for music tips? Twitter haters step back!

After a red eye flight to New York (brutal) I connected with Aaron over email and he not only recommended a good place to hear local artists but also recommended food places with amazing cheesecake and a booze cruise. This guy apparently knows the way to my heart, cheesecake and good music. Aaron pointed us to Rockwood Music Hall which is a venue that takes up two store fronts and has a stage in each with new artists and bands playing each hour on both stages. We went to check it out Saturday night after a delicious meal in Little Italy (Sicilian meatloaf is gooood) and discovered a venue that is much needed in L.A. What I've always wanted here is a venue where artists can perform without having to bring all there own people or they don't get paid and where you can hear multiple artists without getting kicked out because you only paid for the first act. Rockwood seems to be a place where people go because they want to hear good, new music. There is no cover and occasionally they pass around a basket where you can pitch in to help pay the band supporting the artist.

That evening we were lucky enough to catch Philadelphia artist Nicky Egan. At first glance you'd think she sang country or was a folksy singer/song writer type but oh no. Girl has some serious soul! Nicky Egan has an incredible voice and makes singing R&B and Soul look easy. I purchased her album Good People as soon as I got home and haven't regretted that decision one bit! Nicky played the piano and was supported with a guitarist and bass. Along with her original songs she covered The Black Keys and Janis Joplin giving them her own personal twist. Rockwood and Nicky was a win. Thank you Aaron!

After catching Memphis on Broadway, lunch with our New York boss and a great conversation with the bartender at Joseph Leonard in the West Village about music in New York and the music industry we headed off to Ireland. Another red eye flight and we arrived bright and early in Dublin ready to tour the city delusional from the lack of sleep. We stood out like sore thumbs the entire trip but we didn't mind. We were just happy to be there. The hipster movement has obviously not made its way to Ireland and the Irish were not to sure what to do with my hot pink Ray Ban knock offs and love of mustard yellow clothing. They don't do much color there...

Every pub in Ireland has music but we had an especially great time at Folley's Pub in Kenmare where we stayed all night listening to a local Irishmen sing Irish folk songs with everyone in the pub singing along. I was just sitting there harmonizing and having fun minding my own business when he asked where we were from and asked if I would sing a song for everyone. This would not be my first time to sing in a pub in Ireland. Two years ago the same thing happened in Galway. I need to just stop singing along... Next thing I know I'm up there playing his guitar and singing "I'll Fly Away" and forgetting all the words. I blame the cider. A few days later we were listening to the singer at our castle (yes, our castle. you read right) during a sing-a-long in the lounge. She noticed three new young women sitting and asked us where we were from. "Los Angeles" "Oh really?! Do you sing? Will you sing a song for us?" What in the world?! I wasn't even singing along this time! Apparently if you are from Los Angeles you must be talented. I didn't realize I needed to prepare music for my trip to Ireland...

While in Galway we stopped into the King's Head pub as they were having a live band that night. We waited for the band Frantic Jack not knowing what to expect and quickly realizing that Galway is a college town and the drinking age is 18... We also noticed that we were severely under dressed. Trying to blend in, with no success as we must have "American" stamped somewhere on our bodies, wearing jeans and t-shirts, we saw the crowd of women and girls flooding in dressed as if they were going out in Hollywood. The three of us who actually do go out in Hollywood were not dressed appropriately for the Galway night scene. Nonetheless Frantic Jack took the stage as people gathered closer and they riled up the crowd opening with Mumford and Sons "Little Lion Man." They sang about 80% cover songs that everyone knew and the rest their original songs. Everyone in the pub was singing along, dancing, drinking and having a jolly good time. The whole time I was thinking what it would like if these guys played in Los Angeles. People in L.A. don't dance at shows. They usually stand there with their arms crossed with the look on their face that says, "What you got? Impress me." We thoroughly enjoyed Frantic Jack and were even more surprised to find out after researching their music online that their original songs are mostly songs about God including one that made the top 10 in Ireland. There is no mention anywhere of them being a Christian band and I wouldn't have guessed from the show but several of their songs are obviously inspirational in nature. The show was full of energy not only from the band but from the crowd and the energy was contagious. Its been a while since I've been to a show like that.

Our trip was a huge success and we had a wonderful and exhausting time. We kissed the Blarney Stone, I conquered driving on the left side of the road and enjoyed some pretty good music. Until the next adventure! Sláinte!

The Civil Wars - "Disarm" (Smashing Pumpkins Cover)

2011-03-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Another year has gone by and I still have not made it out to SXSW in Austin. It is something that I have always wanted to do but never have been able to. Since I work at a record label the building was pretty much a ghost town last week with everyone in Austin. Those of us left were pretty much here to make sure no one stole the furniture. Stories are flooding in of the week and what it had to offer. My boss nearly made me cry in jealousy when he explained that Jack White had done a spontaneous street performance. I just keep reminding myself that I'm going to Ireland in a few weeks and then I don't feel soooo bad.

ITunes offered a free SXSW sampler which you can download here so if you didn't get to go either we can get a little sampling of what the week had to offer. This includes The Civil Wars. Can I just say how proud I am of them? I remember when I found them they had just started and all they had was a youtube video of their first track "Falling" and they actually responded to my @ mention Tweets. Now I have to share them with Taylor Swift and thousands of others. Its bittersweet really but absolutely incredible how they have exploded in the last year. Selfishly I want to keep them to myself but I can't help but tell everyone I know how amazing their music is. You can download their live SXSW performance on iTunes here. So here again I share a new video from The Civil Wars doing a Smashing Pumpkins cover. Enjoy! Also if you went to SXSW please comment with your favorite moment of the week!

Its A Video Kind Of Day

2011-03-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share some of my favorite music related videos on Youtube right now.

I am a huge animal person, especially dogs. All throughout elementary, middle and high school I wanted to be a veterinarian until I realized I hated science... kind of important. So this OK Go music video with all these cute pups just melts my heart.

Punch Brothers. Enough said. (fyi the mandolin may beat out the cello now that I really think about it)

This is probably one of the greatest moments of this kids life. Unfortunately he may look back and wonder, "What the heck was I wearing??"

The New John Mayer Trio?? Yes Please!!

2011-02-20T13:03:00.000-08:00

In case you missed the 2011 Grammy Awards this year there is just one performance you must see. Sure Lady Gaga did her usual craziness, and Cee Lo Green wore a bird suit... however it wasn't an official performance that made me jump up with glee and squeal like a little girl. It was actually John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban presenting the award for Song of the Year with a little improv performance of one of my favorite songs of all time, Jolene by Dolly Parton. The combination of all their voices with John and Keith's crazy guitar skills filled my roommates and I with absolute delight and we quickly rewound and rewatched it. The only bad part was how short it was. Someone please tell these three to do a project together! Pretty please!

(Sadly due to copyright infringement this video was taken down. I'll re-post with a legal one as soon as I find it!)

Mindy Gledhill - Anchor

2011-01-21T11:21:00.000-08:00

Love the song. Love her style. Love it all.

"Home" Cover - Could it get any cuter?!

2011-01-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

We all do it. We go on Youtube to check out videos ranging from ridiculous to sentimental to just plain talent. Baby pandas sneezing, 12 year old kids putting Lady Gaga to shame or some amazing 4 year old drummer in Japan. Today I feel the urge to share one of the most precious videos I've seen in a while. I already love "Home" by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros and this makes me love it even more. The video has exploded. When I watched it 2 weeks ago it had around 200,000 views. Now its over 4 million...

Top 10 Albums of 2010

2011-01-03T01:46:00.000-08:00

Well another year has ended and a new one has begun. I finished off the year watching two good friends get married New Years eve and started 2011 at Disneyland which has become a new annual tradition. So after dancing all night in stilettos and then walking all day at Disneyland my feet are getting some much needed rest as I reflect on a great year of new music.

Putting together my top 10 album releases gave me a great excuse to go through my iTunes library and rediscover some great music. Though many of my favorite finds last year didn't nessesarily release in 2010 I thought I should stay true and just pick my favorite albums actually released in 2010 (with that can I give special mention to Florence + The Machine... 2009 claims this beauty). I also decided to exclude EPs. So in no particular order and for no other reason other then the fact that I love it and it makes me happy here is my top 10 of 2010:

The Daylights - This great L.A. band is fresh off their tour with Needtobreathe and hasn't left my car stereo since I bought it at the release party in September.

Sleigh Bells - Treats. This album is unlike most of the music in my library but I can't get enough since I first heard them during my brief stint with satellite radio.

Greg Laswell - Take A Bow. Nothing much I can say other then the fact that his voice does bad bad things to me... Oh Ingrid Michaelson you are a lucky women.

Andrew Belle - The Ladder. Another voice I can't get enough of and apparently the music supervisor of Grey's Anatomy can't either. We have good taste...

Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic. While I have great memories of listening to Chris Thile in Nicklecreek this new project is way more fun. Especially when they don't mind you cornering them for a picture...

The Morning Benders - Big Echo. This June album release was just in time to be my perfect summer soundtrack.

The Black Keys - Brothers. This in absolutely fantastic album that hasn't left my car stereo since its day of release. I pretty sure I've amused a few fellow drivers with my inability to resist dancing to this music.

Vampire Weekend - Contra. Its a good thing this album did well this year after the model on the cover decided to sue the band, photographer and company. In any case I can't resist singing along and usually break into song quite often with my coworker, "In December drinking horchata I look psychotic in my balaclava!"

Sia- We Are Born. This girl sings with such passion all the time and her album covers show how quirky she is. Fun and colorful is putting her style simply.

Frightened Rabbit - The Winter Of Mixed Drinks. This Scottish band brings an album of tracks filled with songs about feeling alone, lost and on the edge but pushing through. I believe we’ve all felt that way at one point or another and I don’t know about you but it’s always been nice to hear songs written by others who have gone through the same things. Somehow though the subject matter sounds severe the music itself is light, upbeat and encouraging.

(Honorable mention goes to The Weepies, Audra Mae and Fitz & The Tanrums)

Top Music Memories of 2010:
Punch Brothers

Seeing The Civil Wars live finally and meeting them after!

Not Your Mother's Chrismas Album - Music City Unsigned

2010-12-24T14:33:00.000-08:00

Not a Christmas goes by in my house where Nat King Cole's buttery voice isn't heard down the halls. But with the Christmas classics I like to add in a little of the new, especially from many of the great artists featured here. Music City Unsigned has a love for those same artist and has released their first album. Music City Unsigned Family Christmas is a great collection of Christmas tunes from the burgeoning Nashville artists. The album includes music from Amy Stroup, Jenny & Tyler, Andy Osenga and Daniel Ellsworth who have all been featured here as well as many other great Nashville artists.

On this Christmas Eve add a little new music to your Christmas music playlist with this great holiday mix. Merry Christmas everyone!

Buy the album here: http://musiccityunsigned.bigcartel.com/

Christmas Playlist 2010 Is Here!

2010-12-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! It's Christmas and the season is in full swing. I've already been in a snow storm, built my first snow man, put up our Christmas tree and been to two holiday parties... and it's only December 7th! This is always a busy season for everyone but I hope you all can take time to make a cup of hot cocoa, sit on the couch by your Christmas tree with someone you love and turn on the holiday tunes. I may not be able to help you with most of these things but I can give you some great holiday music to listen to. Remember that this time is about the gift of love and grace that we have received and should pass on to our family and friends. Many blessings to all of you this Christmas!! Also if you are looking for some new Christmas albums to buy this year I would highly recommend the new Dave Barnes and Uncle Daddy records released just a few weeks ago! Also you can download free Christmas songs from The Civil Wars HERE. Merry Christmas! Stay tuned for my favorite albums of 2010!

Get your own Flash MP3 Player

Coldplay - Christmas Lights

2010-12-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

I just love Christmas time. Last night my roommates and two of our good guy friends went to buy a Christmas tree. After 3 tree lots we finally found the perfect one. It was all tied up and I just had a feeling that it was our tree. "Open that one" I told our helper and as the branches were released from the twine I knew it was the one. We all agreed and now its in our apartment all decorated and so pretty. I just love Christmas time! I especially love new Christmas songs. Here is one just released by Coldplay titled, "Christmas Lights". (Please note the violin playing Elvis trio. My favorite part)

You can find the song on iTunes here: www.iTunes.com/Coldplay

I Hope This Gets To You - The Daylights

2010-11-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

I'm a hopeless romantic. I cry at weddings, sobbed at the end of The Notebook and love Jane Austin love stories. So its no surprise that the hopeless romantic in me is swooning at this video. Using The Daylight's new holiday song, "I Hope This Gets To You" this guy created a video that would hopefully go viral and get to his girlfriend away at school without sending it to her directly. With 20,000 youtube views in one day I'm sure it has. Good man... Full feature on The Daylights to come! You can buy the new single on iTunes.

Take a stroll with The Civil Wars - Music Video

2010-10-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

I know I know, I love The Civil Wars and I'm not afraid to say it. Now I want to go on a walk with Joy and John!

The Civil Wars - Forget me not from Green Block on Vimeo.

The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name

2010-09-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

I dare you to not do the little shoulder dance in your chair at work to this (err.. I mean at home because you are not checking out music blogs at work. Unless of course you work in music. Woop!) The Ting Tings are a British indie pop duo and I think they are kind of fabulous. For some reason when I look at them I see musical superheros... Anyone else or am I just weird?

http://www.thetingtings.com

The Daylights - New Album Out Today!

2010-09-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, everyone. I don't like telling people what to do but I'm telling you all to go now and buy the new album by The Daylights.

Its out today and its really really good.

Also pretty stoked on their event tonight! Good music, good friends, good times.

Full report on the event to come!!

Benjamin Winter - 5 Free Songs!

2010-09-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

Click Here!

Benjamin Winter is a pretty cool guy who hails from my old stomping grounds on the California Central Coast.

He's making his 5 new tracks free.

Isn't that nice of him? I think so.

Punch Brothers - Reptilia

2010-09-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned before that I LOVE the Punch Brothers? Well I do. I may have once stalked them at work with my coworker so we could meet them... maybe. I love them so much that I'll be doing a full feature on them soon but I had to share a video I just saw of them covering a Strokes track. They are always brilliant when covering other artists. I heard them live doing a Radiohead tune. Not many can cover Radiohead but they rocked it. Love me some bluegrass!!

Fitz & The Tantrums - a new favorite

2010-09-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

Fitz & The Tantrums just released their new album Pickin' Up The Pieces and it has made it to my list of favorites. Love their retro fabulousness!!

http://fitzandthetantrums.com/

Update!

2010-09-09T23:35:00.000-07:00

So I haven't changed my blog name yet but I am making one little change. I'm taking out the Monday. With my currently crazy schedule posting every Monday was a little difficult. So I'm changing the format. I will now basically be posting whatever I want, whenever I want. Sometimes it will be full artist write ups other times it will be little ramblings on music videos and such. I hope you all enjoy the change!!

~Mary

(Image source unknown)

Satellite - Ring The Bells

2010-08-30T01:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there are songs that hit you like a ton of bricks. Saturday night I heard one of those songs and I wanted to share it. I went to the CD release show for Satellite at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. I had never heard of this band before but some of my friends are buddies with these guys so we all went out for a night on the town. When the title track of their EP played I almost cried listening to it. It was written after the divorce of one of their closest friends after 10 years. He also wrote a beautiful song for his wife of 6 years during one of their worst years that I had to share as well.

"Well ring the bells that lead you home

Cause the only truth I've ever known

Is that nothing ever hurts us more than love

So circle up your best friends

And we'll celebrate the way it ends

At least we live tonight

At least we live tonight"

Life can hit us hard. Actually life will hit us hard. We all go through rough times and times of loss and tragedy and having best friends to surround you during those times is something I've been incredibly blessed with. So I'm sharing this song for my best friends, you all know who you are. I love you.

If you want to check out this band go to their website here.

The Bird and the Bee

2010-08-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I went to one of my favorite concerts to date. It started out with our featured duo The Bird and the Bee, She & Him and ending with one of my all time favorites, The Swell Season. It was a night at the Hollywood Bowl dedicated to male/female writing duos which I have to say are my favorite. To describe The Swell Season's performance would be impossible except to say I actually cried when they did their Oscar winning hit, "Falling Slowly" which is a first for me. The evening started off well with The Bird and the Bee also known as Inara George and Greg Kurstin. I had heard a few of their songs here and there on soundtracks and such so they were familiar but I had never really delved into their music. Inara, dressed in a fabulous retro, silver dress provides the vocals while Greg produces and backs on the keyboard.

Inara and George met back in 2004 when she was working on her debut solo album. They quickly bonded over a love of jazz standards and soon wrote and recorded their debut EP in 2006 and a full self-titled album in 2007. Greg as a keyboardist and producer has worked everyone from Britney Spears to The Flaming Lips to KeSha. The man has to have some skills, no? With several other EPs under their belt and two recent albums, Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future in January 2009 and Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates in 2010 as well as other individual projects you'd have to say these two are quite the busy pair. Let's also address that Inara just had a baby. (Insert witty joke about the birds and the bees).

As much as I would like it Greg and Inara are not a couple as she is actually married to someone else. That didn't matter to Greg though who brought the baby out of stage for the last song while he played piano with one hand. He was probably just trying to pick up girls. I hear babies work really well for that... I however cannot be fooled! I was slightly jealous though that this child has made it up on stage for a performance at the Hollywood Bowl while I still sit in the audience... I'm working on accepting that.

With a recent performance on Ellen as well as the Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel The Bird and the Bee are well on their way to becoming a household name. You can hear their music on Grey's Anatomy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Sex and the City: The Movie and Funny People.

http://www.thebirdandthebee.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thebirdandthebee

I hope you have enjoyed this week's feature after my long absence. Be sure to leave your comments below with what your think of their music and make sure to share it with friends if you like it! Happy Monday!

Photo 1 & 3 – by Autumn DeWilde

Live Photo by Gabi Porter

Sneak Peak at Florence + The Machine

2010-08-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well, its been a crazy few weeks and I've just moved to a new apartment. Boxes are everywhere. We have three sets of silverware and way to many mixing bowls but I'm in love with our new home and am pretty stoked that Peet's Coffee is only two blocks away. In all the chaos and lack of internet my weekly postings have not happened. I hate not posting and I hate not sharing new music with all of you! So until next week when I'll be up and running again here is a little glimpse of a new favorite. If you are a Twilight fan you can hear Florence + The Machine on the new soundtrack and if you love the show So You Think You Can Dance, which I do, then you may recognize this track from an absolutely breath taking contemporary dance performed a few weeks ago. I just downloaded the album Lungs last night off Amazon for only $5.99!! So worth it! Enjoy and I hope to do a full feature on Florence soon!

This video is slightly weird but I love it. Especially all the twinkle lights. She reminds me of a combination of Alison Sudol from A Fine Frenzy and Roisin Murphy. Maybe its the red hair :)

Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes

2010-07-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

Well, we are back after a much needed break! It was a little impromptu but hopefully you didn’t miss me too much. It’s great to come back with a great new artist out of Nashville. Daniel Ellsworth brings to the table a jazz performance degree from Belmont University in Nashville as well as classical piano training under his belt. Daniel along with his band The Great Lakes are making some great music with some 70s vibes as well as Daniel’s jazz background with a little folk and pop thrown in.

Daniel’s first release, Between the Sea & The Sun, was a solo album put out in 2006 that features his jazz influenced piano playing. Two years later he was joined by the Great Lakes to release their self-titled album. The album starts off with the track “Electric In Love” which is a fun upbeat love song with one of my favorite lines in a song, “take off your make up because I like what your made of.” What girl doesn’t want to hear that? Daniel comes from a highly musical family where everyone came together singing and playing their instruments on holidays so it may be no surprise to them that Daniel would pursue a career in music.

Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes are working with Brite Revolution and support the Blood: Water Mission which is an organization started by the band Jars of Clay to help fight the AIDS/HIV and water crisis in Africa. If you join Brite Revolution, which you should because its free, you can get some great tracks from Daniel as well as a ton of other great artists and help support some amazing charities. Of course if you like tracks one and three in our player, those were Brite exclusives so join people, join! Hopefully you are enjoying his music and if you liked to purchase the recent album your can get it for$6.93 on iTunes and Amazon.com.

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s feature! Be sure to leave your comments below and share the music with your friends if you like it.

Photo 1 - Justin Wright Photography

Photo 3 - Photography by Adam Gatchel

Fanfarlo

2010-06-28T23:15:00.000-07:00

Full write up to follow but I thought I should at least get the music up here for you all to listen to since that is the most important part.

Ellen Kibble

2010-06-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

There is a whole world of music. Every country has a unique style and sound but music as everyone knows is the universal language. Cliché but true and that is probably one of the many reasons I love music so much. I have featured artists from England, Norway, Ireland, Scotland and now my favorite country, Australia! One side of my family is Australian so I’m an Aussie at heart. Diving into the Australian music scene is something I have wanted to do for some time and we start of with the young artist Ellen Kibble of Melbourne, Australia.

Ellen Kibble was a great find on Bandcamp.com by just searching for Australian artists. You can purchase her Calvary EP for just over $4 USD. She is a very new artist trying to make a name for herself in Australia and has a very similar sound to another Aussie artist, Missy Higgins, who has made some waves in the U.S. According to her website her rocking chair is her favorite place to write music where she writes songs that are simple, and beautiful acoustic folk storytelling. She apparently is just a down home girl who isn’t afraid to talk back to hecklers at her shows. Then again what Australian isn’t?

Listening to Ellen’s music just makes me want to transport to some dimly lit pub in Australia with friends where she is playing live in the corner. If you are interested in buying Ellen’s music you’ll have to purchase it from Bandcamp as it is the only place where it is available in the U.S. Link provided below.

I hope you have enjoyed this little journey to the land down under. Make sure to leave your comments below with what you think of Ellen’s music and show your support if you are enjoying it and purchase her EP! Have a wonderful week!

http://www.myspace.com/ellenkibble

http://ellenkibble.bandcamp.com/album/cavalry-ep

Photos by Rachel Cook

Citizen Cope

2010-06-15T23:46:00.000-07:00

Lazy summer nights. I remember having so many warm nights with nothing to do but spend time with friends. Now that I have a job and adult responsibilities those nights are fewer. There is some music that reminds me of those nights. Back in college Jack Johnson and Coldplay were a part of my soundtrack but now I have a new artist who, every time I listen to his music, makes me feel like I’m living in a lazy summer night. Citizen Cope is an artist I have grown to love more and more as I hear his music. The first song I heard was his track “Sideways.” The track moved me so much I purchased it right away and played it on repeat. I love it so much it’s the first song I have picked to learn with my guitar instructor who is helping me become a better player.

Citizen Cope is the pseudonym of Clarence Greenwood who is a song-writer, guitarist, singer, and producer among many other things who got his start as a DJ. Born in Washington DC Citizen Cope now resides in Brooklyn, New York. I have been quite surprised lately how few people have heard of him, particularly in my circle of musicians and industry professionals but I am hoping that will change very soon. He recently performed on Ellen and has become one of her favorite new artist. Citizen Cope blends so many different styles of music to create his unique style. A little blues, folk, hip hop, rock and R&B all mixed together showing themselves in his different songs.

Citizen Cope seems to change record labels as often as I change purses and has finally settled on his own label. Citizen Cope seems like someone who would not settle for a label making creative decisions for him or controlling his ideas so the best solution for that is to start your own label. He has released five albums including a recent release, The Rainwater LP, this past February. You can get a great deal on Amazon and download the new album for only $5.99!

His music is a great music to have on as you are out by the pool or just relaxing outside with friends and family. His music speaks of social issues and our current culture as well as your standard love and lost tunes. I can’t seem to get enough of Citizen Cope and I truly hope you feel the same after sampling a few tracks here.

http://www.citizencope.com/

http://www.myspace.com/citizencope

I love comments so let me know what you think below and be sure to check out his website and myspace for more songs and information such as tours and news. The blog name contest is still open so be sure to check it out and share your ideas for a chance to win an iTunes gift card.

Jenny & Tyler

2010-06-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally here and my uber-white winter skin is finally showing some signs of a tan. Summer brings a whole new soundtrack to me as the mood is much different then winter or fall. This week’s new duo, Jenny & Tyler, is starting off the summer playlist. This young married couple met on a bus ride from their college (University of Deleware) to church in 2004 and almost immediately started writing music together. Several years later they were married, released their first album and were officially a duo.

After releasing their first album, A Prelude, in 2007 they decided to move to Nashville, TN to pursue their music career even further. This cute couple has a fresh and authentic sound that really shows their personality and heart. Jenny & Tyler have combined their individual styles of Jazz, bluegrass, pop and country to create their own unique sound. They released a second album in 2009 titled, This Isn’t A Dream and will be releasing a third album this fall.

This music is welcoming, friendly, and warm as well as deep. Many of their tracks explore the depths of our world, like their track, “Product Of Culture” about a girl who seeks love and affirmation in all the wrong places. Their track, “One Eyed Cat” is a whimsical song about the compromises and changes made when you fall in love. Jenny & Tyler will be a great addition to your summer playlist. So don’t forget to put of your sandals, wear your sun block, drink lots of water because summer is hear!!

http://jennyandtylermusic.com/

http://www.myspace.com/jennyandtyler

Don't forget to check out last week's giveaway post. Help me come up with a new name for my blog and win an iTunes giftcard. Contest will stay open until I give notice that it will be closed. I want to give you all plenty of time to use your creativity. Thanks all!

It's A Holiday/New Playlist/Giveaway!

2010-05-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

Since today is a holiday I thought I should take the day off. I contemplated not posting for the day since I'm out of town visiting my favorite little town on the Central Coast of California. Still I couldn't resist posting something. So instead of featuring a new artist I decided to give you a playlist of some songs I currently can not get enough of. I tried to pick ones that haven't been featured here so you all can still get your new music fix.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Now for the good part... A GIVEAWAY!!! I realized that its been a while since I've had one so here you go! However, this giveaway requires a little bit of creativity on your part. I am looking to change the name of my blog in the near future from Mary's Monday Musicology and get myself a url address that doesn't have .blogspot in it so it looks a little more professional. I would love something that could be like a brand name but without my actual name. I'm looking to turn this into a more than once a week blog. Possible even my own business someday. Who knows, but I need a good name to start it off!

If you would like to help out and be entered to win a $15 giftcard for iTunes leave a comment below with your suggestions. Couple things to note:

1. You must be a follower of this blog to enter
2. You can post as many name ideas as you want.

My favorite name will win the gift card!!

The Morning Benders

2010-05-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

This week we are featuring another great indie rock band. The more I listen to bands such as Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer, Beach House and The Black Keys the more I am loving the world of indie rock music. This week’s band is no exception to this love. The Morning Benders is a band from Berkeley, California who started up in 2005. The band is made up of Julian Harmon, Tim Or, Jonathan Chu, and Christopher Chu and they just recently released their second album.

The Morning Benders may look young but their musical talents outweigh their years. The release of their second album, Big Echo, shows their advancement and change since releasing their first album, Talking Through Tin Cans in 2008. You can hear the difference when listening to the track in the player, “Patient Patient,” which is on their first album. In the five years since their start they have supported some huge indie bands on tour and they are continuing that streak by supporting The Black Keys, this summer on tour. The Black Keys just released their album last week and they are #2 on the iTunes album sales.

It only seems big things are to come for The Morning Benders. They are only just beginning and just from seeing the growth from the first album I know there is a lot of untapped potential. Below is a great video they made showing how they recorded the track, “Excuses” with all their friends crammed into a recording studio. Check it out.

Yours Truly Presents: The Morning Benders "Excuses" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s featured band. Be sure to leave your comments below and share it with your friends.

http://www.myspace.com/themorningbenders

http://www.themorningbenders.com/

Photo 1 - by Brooke Sheridan

Photo 2 - By Dominick Mastrangel

Photo 3 - by Jason McDonald

James Morrison

2010-05-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

This week’s artist comes from across the pond where is has made a name for himself in the UK. James Morrison was introduced to me by a friend who was so affected by Morrison’s voice that even her husband was became a little annoyed. After hearing his music I couldn’t blame my friend for being so moved by it. James Morrison’s soulful and raspy voice as well as his passion filled song-writing make for music you can’t help but love.

James Morrison was born in 1984 in England and in the short years since he started his musical career has already, performed for Prince Charles, toured with Corinne Bailey Rae, and has recorded duets with Nelly Furtado and Jason Mraz. You can find the duet with Furtado, “Broken Strings” on Morrison’s new album and with Mraz, “Details In The Fabric” on Mraz’s latest album. Morrison is currently on tour in the U.K. and Europe. While he hasn’t taken the U.S. charts like he has in the UK it is only a mater of time before he takes the red, white and blue by storm.

Morrison attributes his unique voice to a case of whooping cough that almost killed him as a baby. It was years later as a teenager that his uncle introduced him to the guitar teaching him how to play a blues riff. Eventually Morrison started writing his own songs and began playing at a local pub in England for several years building up a following until he was signed to a record label. In 2006, his debut single "You Give Me Something" became a hit in Europe, Australia, and Japan, peaking in the top five in the UK and New Zealand. His first album Undiscovered came out that year and in 2007 he had several U.S. television performances which resulted in is album reaching #24 on the charts when is was released here. His second album, Songs for You, Truths for Me, was released in September of 2008 and it did tremendously well on the UK charts.

http://www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com/

http://www.myspace.com/jamesmorrisonmusic

I hope you have enjoyed this week's featured artist. Be sure to leave you comments below of what you think. Also, if you would like to help and support this artist be sure to share this with your friends. There are some new buttons below to help with that. Have a wonderful week!

Molly Jenson

2010-05-10T22:51:00.000-07:00

Most of the artists featured on MMM have only been in my music library for at most two years. This week’s artist, however, has been on my radar for the last twelve years. My history with Molly Jenson goes all the way back to the summer after freshman year of high school at Hume Lake Christian Camps. Molly was the back up vocalist for the worship band Everybodyduck and all of us girls were in total awe of her. She was beautiful, had an amazing voice and we all wanted to be just like her when we grew up. Her powerful vocals and harmonies are what inspired my own singing and I learned to harmonize by singing along with her on the band’s album. Years have passed since those summers at Hume but I never forgot Molly. When I heard she was releasing her own album last year I was pretty excited and am even more thrilled to share Molly’s music with you today.

Molly Jenson is a San Diego native who didn’t plan on pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter. It came about when Greg Laswell, not only a singer/songwriter himself but one of my absolute favorites, offered to co-write and produce Molly’s first album. That album, Maybe Tomorrow, was released in March of 2009. The album also features a duet with Jon Foreman, lead singer of Switchfoot, on the track, “Do You Only Love The Ones Who Look Like You.” Not only has Molly been signed to Bully!Pulpit/Nettwerk Music Group but she is also working on a second album with Greg Laswell producing again. Laswell has been a featured here on MMM and he just released his new album last Tuesday. You can preview the whole album on his website and I am purchasing it tonight!

Back to Molly, who has not only made waves in Japan and London with her music but is taking her tour away from the west coast and conquering the rest of the U.S. soon. She’ll be performing at the Lilith Fair in Arizona this summer as well. There is no date set yet on the release of the new album but I can only anticipate good things from it. You can find her album for download on Amazon.com and iTunes.

I hope you have enjoyed this little walk I took down memory lane to bring you an artist worth hearing. Check out more on Molly on her website, Myspace and Twitter.

Make sure to leave your comments below on what you think and if you like it share it with your friends!! That is what this blog is all about! I've even added some new buttons below to make that easier.

Molly's Website

Molly's Myspace

Molly's Twitter

Photo 1 by Christian Rios Photography

Photo 3 by Joseph Llanes

Live Photo – unknown

My Current Obsession - The Civil Wars

2010-05-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

If they don't come and play in L.A. soon I might have to go to them. Nashville trip to see The Civil Wars perform anyone?? We can help with some flood relief while we're there.

The CO

2010-05-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

Before I even begin to talk about this week’s featured band I want to send out my prayers to the Nashville community. A devastating flood has hit, destroying homes and lives with no mercy. I know that during and after this crisis we will see the community of Nashville all coming together to help its neighbors. I have seen what an amazing community of musicians are there supporting each other in their careers so I know without a doubt they will be supporting each other during this time. Already as I’ve been researching this week’s band I’ve seen their efforts to help their town by setting up sand bags and helping friends who have lost their homes. This week’s band, The CO, are some amazing guys who met at a local university in Nashville and have stayed there to pursue their careers as musicians. Another Brite Revolution find, the band supports the Dalit Freedom Network which you can learn more about at the bottom of the post.

The CO began with Collin Brace, lead vocals, and Troy Akers, keys and vocals, who started writing songs together during college. The two decided to form a band and were joined by Nate Fleming on drums and later Will Harrison on guitar and Jordan Hester on bass. The band is a pop/rock group that reminds me of One Republic with a little Kris Allen thrown in. Their songs sing of rough times and struggling faith in their tracks, “Keep It Together” and “Hold On,” as well as love in their track, “Come In Closer.” The song writing of this band shows great promise and I can easily see them going far in their careers.

The CO has one album out available for $7.92 on Amazon here and iTunes here. If you are enjoying this band I would recommend buying it through the links provided or through their website links below since it will not be easy to find their music just searching for it. I tried and quickly gave up and found it through the provided links on Brite. Since CO is a very common word when googling The CO you will find a million other companies and websites before finding anything related to the band, which made it a bit hard to research. Even a search on iTunes and Amazon resulted in so many other options before I found them. So, if I had one recommendation for this band it would be a name change. I know that sounds quite brazen of me to suggest that a band change its name but I believe that you want potential fans to find you easily online. If I had heard a friend mention them or heard them playing on the radio I don’t know that I would have had much luck following up with their music. For now I’m making it easy for all of you readers to find more of their music. I hope you can use this as a resource to share this music with your friends because The CO is really a great band that deserves to be heard. And boys, if you ever read this, know that my intentions are not to bash your name choice but help you to be even more successful they you already are.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s featured band. You can follow them on Twitter to get updates on the Nashville flood and learn more on their website, facebook and myspace page. Make sure to leave your comments below on what you think of the music.

Dalit Freedom Network - Approximately 250 million Indians (a full 25% of the population), are Dalit. In a country where everybody is supposed to have equal rights and opportunities, one out of four people is condemned to be untouchable.

The Dalit Freedom Network partners with the Dalits in their quest for religious freedom, social justice, and human dignity by mobilizing human, informational, and financial resources. Learn more from the website.

Photo 1 & 3 - by michael sloane of strategic blend

Ben Rector

2010-04-26T23:26:00.000-07:00

This week’s artist, Ben Rector, is another great find from Brite Revolution. Brite is a great site to get new music and support some amazing causes. The best part is that it is now FREE!! Brite is changing some things around and will be pursuing other ways to support the charities and making the music free for you! So if you haven’t signed up yet you are passing on some amazing music. Seriously, sign up. Now. I’ll wait. Click here. Did you do it? You won’t regret it. Free remember? Done? Good. OK, now that you’ve signed up let's get back to Ben. Ben Rector is an amazing unsigned singer/songwriter out of Nashville who has been touring around with Dave Barnes recently and recording some fantastic music.

Ben started his songwriting while at University of Arkansas and has made his way to the top of the iTunes charts. His recent album, Into The Morning, released February 2010 made it to #5 in iTunes Pop and #10 overall. Ben supports Mocha Club on Brite, which raises funds for Africa by asking you to donate just $7 a month, the price of two mochas at Starbucks. Pretty easy I think. In addition to his new album and the tracks you can get free on Brite (another plug), you can download his other releases, Songs That Duke Wrote and Twenty Tomorrow as well as his holiday release, Jingles and Bells for Christmas time.

Ben is back touring on the Eastern regions of the U.S. but I’m hoping he’ll make his way out to L.A. soon so I can check out his live show. Ben looks to be a great piano player and I have a bit of a weakness for men who play the piano… oops, did I just share that with you all?

I hope you enjoyed this week’s artist. There isn’t too much info on Ben out there but his music is really all you need. Check out his websites and make sure to comment below and let me know what you think.

http://www.myspace.com/benrector

http://www.benrectormusic.com/

All Photos by Chris Galegar

Caroline Smith And The Goodnight Sleeps

2010-04-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

In the world of music there are some living legends. Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin and B.B. King just to name a few. Now, if you were just fifteen years old and you were opening for B.B. King that would be pretty amazing right? How many fifteen year olds are at a level with their music that they could open for a music legend? Well for Caroline Smith this was reality. As a teenager she opened for a blues player so great he has a Sirius Satellite Radio station dedicated to him. Caroline Smith is a singer/songwriter from Minneapolis, Minnesota accompanied by The Good Night Sleeps with a sound similar to Ingrid Michaelson and Katie Herzig.

At a very young age Caroline was taught guitar by her father who bought her first guitar. Her mother didn’t discover her guitar playing until she was fifteen and immediately had her playing in restaurants. Her style is a mix of blues, country and acoustic all rolled together in tunes simple and sweet.

Caroline Smith And The Goodnight Sleeps released their first album, Backyard Tent Sets, in August of 2008 which you can download on Amazon for $8.99 or iTunes for $9.90. Band members are Caroline Smith, Arlen Peiffer, Jesse Schuster and Colin Hacklander.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's feature! Tomorrow will be one year since I started this music blog. I have loved every minute of it and am so blessed and thankful to all of you who follow.

http://www.myspace.com/carolinesmithmusic

http://www.thegoodnightsleeps.com/

Photo 1 & 3 - Lilly Ball

Photo 2 - Nicole Marie Photography

Frightened Rabbit

2010-04-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

It’s late as I write this week’s post and I can actually hear the rain pouring down outside my window. It is so calming that the music has been turned off and I’m listening to nature’s melody instead. I’m looking forward to the rain temporarily washing away the L.A. smog. This week we are going global again and featuring another international band from Glasgow, Scotland. Frightened Rabbit is an indie rock band with Fat Cat Records who released their third album last month. The new album, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks, is an album of tracks filled with songs about feeling alone, lost and on the edge but pushing through. I believe we’ve all felt that way at one point or another and I don’t know about you but it’s always been nice to hear songs written by others who have gone through the same things. Somehow though the subject matter sounds severe the music itself is light, upbeat and encouraging.

Frightened Rabbit started in 2003 when lead singer/guitarist Scott Hutchison started playing solo shows under the band name. He was soon joined by his brother, Grant Hutchison on drums, and Billy Kennedy on bass/guitar to form the band. Andy Monaghan joined in 2008 on guitar/keyboard and Gordon Skene joined in 2009 for the new album on guitar/keyboards. Each new member is a significant part in developing the band’s sound and according to Scott, “A lot of the new record is heavily layered and it felt like too much for the four of us to do. We need another member to get them at their full impact. I dunno, we're kind of bored of each other. We just need to add some fresh meat.” Early years of a band’s life involve the development of their sound, which you can often hear if they release several albums though that period. This new album has definitely showed how much Frightened Rabbit has progressed when you hear their older recordings.

The band is touring extensively throughout Europe and the United States and will be playing at Coachella this Spring with a collection of other great bands and artists. If you are enjoying Frightened Rabbit make sure to check out their other two albums, Sing the Greys released in 2006 and The Midnight Organ Fight from 2008.

http://wearefrightenedrabbit.com/

www.myspace.com/frightenedrabbit

Photo 1 by Danny North

Photo 3 by Gordon Burniston

Fink

2010-04-05T23:12:00.000-07:00

It is a mark of a great artist and/or album when you have a hard time picking your favorite track. I suppose it’s a nice problem to have but when you have to choose just three tracks to share with everyone it can be problematic. That was the problem I had this week with featured artist Fink. It can be a rarity to love every track on an album and the wonderful thing about buying digitally is that you can only buy the songs you like as opposed to the full album with physical discs. How many have had a CD playing in your car and after a while you start skipping certain songs and listening to your favorites over and over. In this case though if you are enjoying Fink so far then I highly recommend purchasing his album Distance and Time in it entirety. It was the first album I bought and is still my favorite.

Fink’s music has this strange power over me. Every time it’s playing I can’t seem to resist closing my eyes and swaying my head to the music. Can’t you just picture yourself listening to this with a glass of wine or maybe some hot tea in your hand just detoxing from a long day at work? Fink’s music wasn’t always like this. Another international artist, Fink hails from Bristol, England and got his start as a DJ and electronica artist. It’s hard to imagine that hearing him now but his change to singer/songwriter is what propelled his career as a performer. Fink, who’s real name is Fin Greenall, comes from a musical family where his father was a folk musician and his mother a music manager. In addition to creating his own music he also uses his remixing and song writing skills to work with artists such as John Legend and Amy Winehouse.

After releasing his first electronica album in 2001 it was five years before he became his label’s first singer/songwriter with the release of Biscuits for Breakfast in 2006. In 2007 he released my favorite album Distance and Time followed by Sort of Revolution in 2009. You can download the bonus track “Naked For Life” from that album for free for a limited time. Make sure to check the Free Music Downloads tab for instructions. Fink’s track, “This Is The Thing” can be found on the soundtrack for the film Dear John.

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s featured artist. Fink’s music is absolutely the perfect soundtrack when you want to mellow out on the couch or cuddle up with your favorite someone or family dog in my case… Enjoy! Please leave your comments below and let me know what you think.

http://www.myspace.com/finkmusic

http://www.finkworld.co.uk/fink/

Photo 1 - Nicolas Dartialh

Photo 2 - Anja Haering

Photo 3 - Nikolas Ernult

Maria Mena

2010-03-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

There have been so many artists featured on this blog that come out of Nashville. There is no doubt that it is a place over flowing with amazing talent. This week though our artist comes from a place much farther away – Norway. I first heard Maria Mena on Pandora and immediately fell in love with her music and soon after bought her album White Turns Blue. Sadly, the rest of her albums are not available in the U.S. unless you want to pay $20 to import. It just might be worth it as this young emerging singer/songwriter has come a long way since releasing her first single in 2001 at just fifteen. Her first single “My Lullaby” is a song she wrote while coping with her parents divorce. Maria writes her song after real life experiences and as a result her music has touched her fans including myself. Her track “Sorry” is my favorite and tells a tragic story of loving a friend who does not love you back.

Maria has already released five albums including the most recent Cause and Effect in 2008. I was able to hear some samples on Amazon and can already hear how far she has come over these last few years. As she has gotten older her voice has changed and become stronger allowing her to sing a wider range of songs. As well as sharing her life through her songs Maria also blogs heavily to connect with her fans. “I like sharing my ups and downs and I believe it’s extremely important to maintain a relationship with those who ultimately buy and appreciate my music” These days, with Twitter and blogs, artist are connecting more with their fans who now feel closer to their favorite artists.

Maria’s career has been blossoming throughout Europe and with one album released in the U.S., a David Letterman performance and several tracks used on the hit show So You Think You Can Dance, my hope is that she will have some success here as well. Her music is raw, beautiful and touching and I can’t wait until I get her new releases. If you love Maria’s music you purchase physical copies through Amazon.com.

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s artist. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

http://www.myspace.com/mariamena

http://mariamenamusic.no/

mariablog.com

Seth Philpott

2010-03-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

Growing up I listened to the typical pop music that my peers listened to. Since my parents weren’t music people they didn’t introduce me to any of the classics so I fell into what everyone else was listening to. It wasn’t until late college that my taste for independent music took charge. I honestly don’t remember what started it or how my love of music developed really developed but I think it was just a sweet gift from God. When the time comes for me to have kids I absolutely can’t wait to give them their musical education. I hear a difference in the artists who grew up listening to really good music because they have learned from it and pulled parts of it for their own music. This week’s artist, Seth Philpott, grew up listening to artists like Willie Nelson, Otis Redding, Harry Connick Jr. and Van Morrison. Once you here Seth’s music you can hear those influences.

Seth Philpott grew up in Texas and now resides in Nashville, TN pursuing his music career. His first release, Good Hearts, came out this past November. You can pick up this 6-track release on iTunes or Amazon.com for just under $6. I’ve been getting his music from Brite Revolution which is the only place you will find his tracks, “Nashville” and “Still” which happen to be my two favorite tracks. All the more reason to join Brite. His music is full of heart break and love. Some intense and emotional like “Still” and others like “Heartbreaker” are a little more upbeat and fun, all showing off his soulful voice and honest music writing.

Seth doesn’t have any tour dates released right now but I can only hope that he is using this time to work on more of his music. He seems to be a part of that great Nashville community of artists and has played with Andy Davis, another soulful artist from Nashville previously featured on MMM.

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s featured artist. If you’ve enjoyed his music be sure to let me know what you think in the comments and check out his music on iTunes or Amazon.

http://www.myspace.com/sethphilpott

http://sethphilpott.com/

Photo1 – Rob Culpepper

Phoenix

2010-03-15T23:32:00.000-07:00

This week’s artist comes all the way from France. You know that place with all the good cheese and bread? Apparently they produce some pretty good music as well with the Paris based band Phoenix. Now I realize they have been around for a little while and they just won this little award called a Grammy but I still felt they were worth featuring. I first heard their album It’s Never Been Like That, which was released in 2006, when I purchased it on Amazon’s daily deal. Since then I can't seem to get enough of their music.

Phoenix is made up of four band mates, vocalist Thomas Mars, bassist Deck d'Arcy, guitarist Christian Mazzalai and his older brother Laurent Brancowitz also on guitar. The band comes from a suburb of Versailles and got their start by playing bars and pubs. If anyone out there has pursued a career in music you know that playing to a room full of drunks is sort of a right of passage that everyone should have to go through.

The band released their first album in 2000 followed by three others until their current release, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which earned them their Grammy award this past January for Best Alternative Album. Lead singer Thomas Mars has a child with his partner, film director Sofia Coppola which caused a three year break before releasing the Grammy winning album. What a little time off will do, eh?

They are current touring through Australia and Europe but will be making their way to the U.S. in April for Coachella and Bonnaroo festival as well as about a dozen other shows through out the nation before heading back to Europe.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks feature. For some of you this may be stretching your musical tastes--as I have mention before is my goal. I’d love to hear what all of you think. Have a wonderful week!

http://www.wearephoenix.com/

http://www.myspace.com/wearephoenix

Meaghan Smith

2010-03-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

The music, movies and fashion of the 20s, 30s and 40s has always captivated and inspired me. My mother raised me on the old classic movies and to this day Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films and anything with James Stewart holds a very special place in my heart. So when another artist takes inspiration from that era when people dressed in evening gowns and tuxes for dinner then I know I’ll love it. The music of Meaghan Smith takes me back to those decades I think I was meant to live in. She too is influenced by those decades and it is so very evident in her music. Meaghan’s debut album, The Cricket’s Orchestra is something quite magical to me. She says of her release, “I wanted the album to be an inspiring musical experience that makes you feel like you’re leaving one world and entering another — a colorful, whimsical and imaginative place where you can reflect on your past and look forward to your future.” Doesn’t that sound just wonderful? Well, after hearing the whole album I whole-heartedly agree.

Meaghan Smith grew up in Ontario, Canada with a very musical family. Her mother taught piano and her father was a bass player. Though her three sisters are talented singers and musicians Meaghan is the only one pursuing a career. She didn't always believe that music was for her as she was overwhelmed by stage fright. Instead she went to school to study animation. It was there that she continued to write and play her music and perform little concerts in the stairway on her guitar for a few people at the animation school. She couldn’t keep herself away from music and with some encouragement from others she worked on recording a demo and played at local venues to build her confidence and get over the stage fright.

The name of the album, The Cricket’s Orchestra, seems like the perfect title as several of the tracks actually sound like there could be a little cartoon orchestra of bugs and birds playing instruments made of grass, flowers and leaves. I know it may sound crazy but listen to “A Little Love.” Can’t you just picture Jiminy Cricket conducting this orchestra? Meaghan also released a Christmas EP last year titled Wish Upon A Star.

With this debut album Meaghan Smith is signed with Sire Records and she is on the roster for the Lilith Fair, which is returning this year. She is on the roster with several others who have been featured here: A Fine Frenzy, Erin McCarley, The Weepies and Rosie Thomas to name a few. They haven’t released the dates but I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to attend this year. I was never old enough to go before so I’m excited to be a part of what will hopefully be a continuing tradition that supports women’s charities and female musicians.

I hope you have enjoyed the beautiful music of Meaghan Smith. To learn more about her and the making of The Cricket’s Orchestra you can view the video bio below. I can’t confirm but I’m assuming this video is showcasing Meaghan’s animation skills. Make sure to leave you comments below about the music.

http://www.meaghansmith.com/

http://www.myspace.com/meaghansmithmusic

Photo 1 & 3 by Jennifer Tzar

Ben Sollee

2010-03-02T00:35:00.000-08:00

Instrumental music has never had much of a place on my iPod. I prefer lyrics that I can sing along with usually while stuck in Los Angeles traffic. I do make an exception for Debussy and any cello music. The cello is an instrument I could listen to endlessly as it has a soothing power over me (maybe I should play it while in traffic…). Combine a cello with my favorite genre of music, folk, and you might find my new favorite artist, Ben Sollee. I first heard Ben Sollee after receiving his new album, Dear Companion in which he collaborates with guitarist Daniel Martin Moore. After hearing the album I knew I wanted to feature this artist and was blown away to find that he accompanies himself on the cello. All of a sudden I had a new appreciation for his music and have been chomping at the bit to feature him this week.

Ben Sollee is a classically trained cellist who started playing when he was in elementary school in Kentucky. Though his background is classical his music is a blend of folk, bluegrass and jazz. In 2005 he joined The Sparrow Quartet, which released its first album in 2008. The same month he released his own EP and the next month a full-length solo album titled, Learning To Bend. Ben wasted no time in getting his music out to the public.

Dear Companion is Ben Sollee’s new album with Daniel Martin Moore that isn't only about the music. The album was inspired and created to bring awareness to Mountaintop Removal coal mining (MTR) and its detrimental affects to the people and heritage of central Appalachia. If you purchase the album 100% of the proceeds will go to the organization Appalachian Voices. Good music, good cause. You can’t go wrong with buying this album.

http://www.bensollee.com/

http://www.myspace.com/bensollee

I really hope you enjoy this music as much as I have. The new album has been playing non-stop since it was release two weeks ago. Ben’s first album Learning to Bend is available for only $5 on Amazon. Also to really grasp what Ben does with the cello watch the two youtube videos below. Hope you enjoy!! I would love to hear your comments!

Video One

Video Two

Photo One by Liz Linder

Photo Two by Liz Linder

Photo three by Mickie Winters

Delayed Post

2010-03-01T04:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday!

Today's post will be delayed slightly due to the fact that its 4am and I've been at the ER all night with my roommate who has appendicitis. Not to mention I was in a car accident Thursday night that has forced me to put all work aside and focus on fixing that mess. I'll have the posting up later this evening or Tuesday but taking care of my roomie is my priority right now. I just didn't want any of you to think I was slacking ;) Pray the surgery goes well! Thanks everyone!

Mary

Interview with Charlie Hardin!

2010-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I featured a new artist named Charlie Hardin out of Nashville, TN. I often get little shout outs from the artists I feature through Twitter thanking me or even their dad commenting on the post, but this time the response I got nearly made me fall out of my chair. After featuring Charlie he sent an email thanking me for the feature, stating he was impressed I was able to pull something together about him considering there is hardly information on him online (I’m blushing at this point in the email). He then asked me if I would want to do an interview with him to help promote both his music and my blog. I’m pretty sure my coworkers all thought I was crazy when I started shouting out with glee. This is something I’ve wanted to bring to this blog and I hope this is the first of many interviews.

After sending Charlie a list of questions he graciously answered each one talking about his pursuit of his passion, his musical family, a slight obsession with the TV show Lost and bi-lingual women, Nashville and even his new music recommendations. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did. His responses left me laughing hysterically and feeling more enlightened and connected with the path of a new artist. I even discovered that we will both be 26 in April. Thank you Charlie for offering this up. I’m more excited than you can imagine.

Mary's Monday Musicology: So Charlie, when did you first start playing music?

Charlie Hardin: My family is a musical one, so I've been singing with them as long as I can remember. I started writing songs around the age of 10, but it wasn't until about 12 that I picked up a guitar and started putting things together. Around that time was when I first saw That Thing You Do and wanted to grow up to be Guy Patterson. My father gently suggested guitar instead of drums.

MMM: Do you play any instruments other than guitar?

CH: I have a functional knowledge of piano, but it's very rudimentary. I absolutely cannot play the drums at all. The brass and woodwind families are like a foreign language.

MMM: Is your family musical at all? If so, how was music present in your life as you grew up?

CH: My Family actually is musical. My parents met in a travelling singing group called Eternity in the 70's. If I'm not mistaken, Dad was the bass player, mom was the lead soprano. It was a choir with a band, kind of like Polyphonic Spree with more of a Jesus lean. Also, between '90 and '93, we were missionaries on the Navajo reservations in New Mexico. My parents were on staff with a summer camp named Broken Arrow Bible Ranch. In the off-season we sometimes traveled around singing in churches (mostly in the southern half of the U.S.) as a family band sort of thing to raise money. For several years when we lived in Starkville, MS, my dad would put together five-part arrangements of Christmas carols and we would go all around town to our friends and favorite businesses and perform them. So... the short answer is yes.

MMM: When did you decide you wanted to pursue a career in music? Has it always been your dream or did you ever want to do something else with your life?

CH: I remember very specifically when I knew I wanted to do music, and it was long before I had any reason to think I would be good at it. When we were living at the camp in New Mexico, the camp director was a guy named Steve Knox. My family was very conservative at that time, even by normal Christian culture standards, so my musical exposure was mostly limited to tapes of worship music by Maranatha and Vineyard. Steve introduced me to Petra, the Godfathers of Christian Rock. Their album Beyond Belief absolutely blew my 7-year-old mind. Then he showed their concert video. I'd never seen grown men wear such tight pants. I knew in my heart of hearts that one day I would wear tight pants in front of people who paid money to see it.

MMM: What other artists inspire you? (musicians, painters, poets, etc.)

CH: Musically, I tend to find a handful of folks that I really connect with and wear them out. I really love Wilco an abnormal amount. I can't get enough of Smashing Pumpkins first 3 albums. Wallflowers' Bringing down the Horse is probably a perfect album (definitely the best drum sounds of the era). Josh Ritter doesn't know how to write a bad song. The Jayhawks Rainy Day Music, Ryan Adams' Cold Roses, Pavement's Crooked Rain, Ben Folds' Songs for Silverman and Suburbs... I find that I am very album-specific with a lot of what I love musically. I have a big thing for the 90's. I don't know how much it works its way into my songwriting, but I love movies and long-form TV shows. I read Aintitcool.com every day. It's possible that I have a song about a character in Lost, but don't tell anyone.

MMM: What would you say to other hopeful artists wanting to move to Nashville and pursue music?

CH: That really depends on what kind of music they are making. Nashville has a great singer/songwriter community, and if they want to do Country or Christian music, then this is the place to be. It is the capital of Christian and Country. It also has all the business functions of New York or L.A. for music, but is much smaller and much more affordable to live in, so that is a plus. The downside is that there are literally thousands people trying to get everybody to come to their shows, so it can be very tricky to draw a crowd, and even if people come, they may not be very enthusiastic. I've heard repeatedly that London and Nashville have very similarly jaded audiences. So there are positives and negatives, but I absolutely love Nashville and am so glad to be here.

MMM: Nashville seems to have a great community of artists who work together. Have you experienced that community and has it been beneficial to you?

CH: I actually have experienced that, and it is a really cool thing. For me it really keeps my ego in check. The two communities that I spend most of my time with end up being musicians and folks from my church, with a surprising amount of overlap. I have the privilege of knowing some amazing writers and performers who inspire me to not just write crap, some of whom you have previously featured (Crystal Thomas, Milktooth, Madi Diaz), and a slew of them that you really ought to check out, because they are sooooo damn good (yes, this is my gratuitous name-dropping segment).

* Natalie Prass: she's this tiny little sparrow of a girl with some badass rock and roll in her bloodstream. Also, her song "Violenty" may be the sexiest thing I've ever heard.

* Stephen Gordon - I've toured with Stephen a bunch, so I'm biased, but he has such an articulate way of speaking his heart, it is a constant encouragement. He is a songwriter's songwriter.

* Brooke Waggoner - She's gotten a lot of attention for her amazing skills as a pianist and arranger, but I think her bare-bones songwriting abilities are my favorite part of what she does. She wouldn't bill herself as a great lyricist, but that's rubbish. She is a really surprising writer and is always swinging for the fences. She also periodically has the most amazing she-mullet I've ever seen.

* Heypenny - Best Party Ever?

* Mikky Ekko- He's the most phenomenally gifted guy I've ever met. And Hooooottttt. Yes, ladies. It's true. Hearing him sing is like being touched by the very hand of God.

Another fun benefit of being in the community is sometimes getting to collaborate for special occasions or jump up on stage and sing background vocals for each other.

MMM: Have you been able to make a living thus far solely on music or do you have any other projects/jobs as well to help support you?

CH: I'm still in the day-job circuit. I do landscaping mostly, sometimes do load-out for shows around town. I also sold fragrances at Macy's for a while. That was an awesome job.

MMM: What does music do for you personally? For example, is writing a form of therapy for you?

CH: It certainly has been at various times. The downside of that is that I can get dependent on drama for songwriting, which is uber-unhealthy. There is this poem called "Poemectomy" I was assigned to read in the 10th grade that describes the writer as having this malignant growth of words inside them and if they didn't get it out it would consume them. I think I really identified with that at the age of 16 because I was hopped up on hormones and everything was urgent and dramatic. 10 years later I think of writing more like the ability to throw a baseball - I can do it better than some people, not as well as others, and if I stop doing it I won't be as good. I will tell you though, very few things are as satisfying as writing a song that says exactly what I mean.

MMM: When are you inspired to write music? Can you write at any time or do events in your life spark you creativity?

CH: Dramatic events make it easier, but when I rely on that I get rusty. All that to say, I had a really dry year, writing-wise. I probably started 30 songs and only finished 2. Here's to you 2010.

MMM: What do you do if you ever feel a creative block or experience discouragement in your career?

CH: Sometimes I just lie in bed all day and wallow in the blah. But when I not being stupid, I do something with my hands (like mow a lawn!) and spend some time praying or talking to myself. Sometimes I have to just try to write something or it isn't ever going to happen, kind of like asking a girl on a date - at some point a guy has to just pony up and ask her or it's probably not going to happen. Unless he tries to guy friend his way in, a method I have come to loathe. I'm not sure we're talking about songs anymore.

MMM: Do you have plans to release a new album or EP? If so, when?

CH: Yes, I hope to release a full length by the end of the year.

MMM: Do enjoy performing live? Do you get nervous or stage fright? If so, how do you get past it?

CH: I love performing live. I love telling my stories and really letting folks in to the inside of the songs. I get nervous very rarely, but it does still happen occasionally. I don't really have a calm-down method, I just get out there and make it happen.

MMM: Who is your favorite musician? What is playing on your iPod right now?

CH: I'm terrible at this question. I love Wilco a lot. They are always on the iPod.

MMM: What is the hardest thing about pursuing a music career?

CH: Presently for me, it's making a living at it. The great thing about the Internet is how everybody can hear me, the bad thing about the Internet is that there are so many dudes with guitars playing mid-tempo folk rock that it is quite a challenge to get noticed. On a more theoretical level, it is very difficult to maintain relationships. I'm a pretty family-oriented man and have a great desire to raise a family of my own, but I don't know how those things will be compatible. I don't want my potential family to starve to death because I am not making enough money to feed them, but I also don't want to never see them because I'm out on the road for 6 months at a time. I have a friend who is married to a relatively successful artist and who is also a pretty successful artist in her own right. I asked her how she handled all that separation and having kids. She said she hated it.

MMM: What is your ultimate goal with this career?

CH: On a superficial level? Here in Nashville we have the Mother Church of Country Music - the Ryman Auditorium. I've Seen Wilco, Keane, Iron and Wine, Brian Wilson, Sufjan Stevens, Ben Folds, the Hold Steady and a ton of other folks there. I want to headline a show at the Ryman. On a personal level? I want to have a discography that I am proud of, full of songs that I love because I mean them and because I worked hard to write them, full of good, true things.

MMM: How do your friends and family support you in your music?

CH: They listen to all my baby songs and tell me what they think. My grandmother recently got forty people from her church to come to my performance in Lexington, SC, by the sheer force of her will. It was amazing. My dad has always been behind me to do this because I love it, and he's never given me the "get a real job" talk. I'm very blessed in that way.

MMM: Would you want to sign to a label or go at your career as many new artist are doing these days and stay unsigned?

CH: I would sign with label if they gave me a deal I could live with, but labels are increasingly unnecessary for folks in my genre. If I were putting together a boy band, I'd definitely want a label, but the grassroots thing usually works better for songwriters because it establishes credibility with listeners and it lets the artist keep larger percentages of their profit streams. Still, I'm not anti-label, but the record isn't the holy grail it was in the 80's and 90's because listeners are spending less and less money on buying music and more time finding artists without the help of a label paying for promo. My roommate Isaiah says folks have finally figured out they don't have to worship at the foot of mount Rocklympus where the labels sit on top and toss down things they hope will please the masses. So I guess I would be open to signing with a label, but I'd have to be really impressed with what they could do for me and convinced by the contract that they would in fact try to do it. I would prefer to stay label-less if I continue to gain momentum on my own, thanks to people like yourself.

MMM: What activity, place, person, etc. brings you joy?

CH:
1. Lost - I have an unhealthy love for Lost. Thanks APJ. Sure it's not perfect, sure there are more "literary" shows out there (I'm looking at you, The Wire), but who cares? Lost is a six-season opus of all of the nerdy things that I love. It's as if J.J. Abrams, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof got together and said "Hey, let's make 130-something hours of sci-fi soap opera that will make Charlie happy."
2. Thai Food - Coconut AND Curry? Delicious!
3. 90's music - it was a magical time when guitars were loud.
4. Bi-lingual women (so hot) - I'm not sure how this has happened, but every girl I've ever dated has been bi-lingual. It's not intentional, it just happens.
5. Time-travel, with specific technological limitations. - I have a special affinity for the Tipler cylinder. Also, everyone should watch Primer. It's the best time travel movie ever.

I hope you all enjoyed this insight into the life of an artist. Thank you for reading. Please show your support for Charlie by checking out his music and leave a comment below. You can read the original feature on Charlie here. Thanks Charlie for sharing!

The fabulous photos are from Kristyn Hogan.

Angus & Julia Stone

2010-02-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

People have been asking me quite often lately how I find the artists featured on this blog. I don’t really have a simple answer for that as it comes from a myriad of sources. One, a favorite indeed, is through Amazon.com’s daily deals. Every day they have a new album priced incredibly low, often as little as $1.99!! Angus & Julia Stone was one of the many great discoveries through Amazon. This brother/sister duo released their first album, A Book Like This, in 2007 and I quickly purchased this amazing daily deal.

Angus & Julia hail from Newport, Australia just north of Sydney. Being half Australian myself I’m excited to post my first Aussie feature! The pair was pursuing solo careers while backing for each other until 2006 when they decided to work together. The two still write their own songs then pull them together resulting in a different feel, style and emotion throughout the album. After two years of touring for A Book Like This they have recorded their second album, Down The Way, to be released March 30th in the U.S. During that time Angus also released a solo album, Smoking Gun, in April 2009 under the name Lady of the Sunshine.

The new album due next month was self-produced by the siblings and recorded all over the world from a studio in Brooklyn, NY to an old sawmill in Cornwall, England to a water tank in Coolangatta, Australia. Intrigued? I know I am!

Australian and UK tour dates have been set but they have not released U.S. dates yet. Seeing Angus & Julia live is definitely on my list of must-sees. While searching through photos I found live tour shots where Julia is playing the guitar, bass, keyboard and trumpet. Yes, a trumpet.

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s featured duo! Please leave your comments on what you think as I love to hear from all of you. Also, make sure to check back later this week, as I will be posting my first exclusive artist interview!! I’m so very excited I might have to do a little dance.

Charlotte Sometimes

2010-02-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

Before I pursued my passion for music I was a dancer. All throughout junior high and high school I took dance classes and competed on our dance team. It was something I was never able to truly excel at for a variety of reasons such as the demands financially and physically. I was tall with lanky, long arms and a woman’s body at fourteen. My instructors did not know what to do with me as they were used to the petite girls who never seemed to go through puberty. That world, so consumed by body image and staying as thin as possible, never appealed to me and I began to focus more on music where I was freer to be myself. This week’s artist had the same start in dance. Charlotte Sometimes was a dancer for thirteen years and left because of the pressure to be thin. She instead picked up a guitar and went about creating her own music. I know its the best decision I ever made and I think Charlotte just might feel the same.

Charlotte Sometimes is the stage name for Jessica Charlotte Poland from New Jersey who renamed herself after a book by Penelope Farmer. She released her first EP in March of 2008 and quickly followed it with a full-length album in May of 2008 titled, Waves And The Both Of Us. Charlotte is just 22 years old but has been writing music and playing guitar since she was fourteen. Before releasing her solo album Charlotte was part of a five-man band known and J. Poland and The Pilots. They self-released an album, I Promise I Won’t Be Released, which is also available on iTunes.

Charlotte’s sound reminds me a little of Natasha Bedingfield with a little Lily Allen thrown in to add uniqueness. Her personal style adds a vintage feel to her look which is even evident on her myspace page. Make sure to check it out because its probably the best myspace layout I’ve seen and if I could get this blog to look like that then I would be over the moon.

Charlotte has based herself in New York, New York and if you are nearby you can catch her playing several shows this March.

http://www.charlottesometimesmusic.com/

http://www.myspace.com/charlottesometimes

Photo 1 by Carolina Palmgren

Photo 2 by Robbie Michaels

Photo 3 by Jeremy Balderson

Charlie Hardin

2010-02-08T17:22:00.000-08:00

This week’s artist may look more like a lumber Jack with his red beard and flannel shirts but don’t be fooled by appearances. Charlie Hardin is an amazing musician and passionate performer on the rise.

Charlie hails from Starkville, Mississippi and is trying his hand in the world of Nashville music hopefuls. His first EP, Hollywood Be Thy Name, was released February of 2009 which you can get on iTunes for just under $6. Charlie has also teamed up with Brite Revolution making his music available to Brite subscribers.

It seems Charlie is getting his music career up and running with some grass roots efforts. He has been playing in coffee shops and people’s homes who request him. You could actually have Charlie come to your house and perform for all your friends! How cool is that! Here is the info should you want to do that:

“Want Me To Play At Your House?
Several good folks have recently asked me if I will come play a show at their house as a part of my upcoming tour schedule. If you live in the United States, then it's probably workable. Shoot me an email at charliehardinmusic@gmail.com and I will give you the particulars. See you soon, in your living room.
~Charlie”

Besides touring with Milktooth this fall there isn’t much news about what is in the works for Charlie. I know this, I can’t wait to hear more!

http://www.myspace.com/charliehardin

Photo1 - Ryan P Photos

Mindy Smith

2010-02-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

What a week it has been. Since last Monday there have been several life changing events in the lives of those closest to me. This week I chose an artist who’s songs touched me and will now forever remind me of the what has happened this last week. Music is so important and purposeful to me and it seems only right for me to dedicate music to these moments. I have chosen the artist Mindy Smith and her beautiful music to share with all you. While Mindy has been around since 2003 her music is still relatively unknown to many. I first heard her track “Come To Jesus” at church, sung by one of our talented vocalist. I immediately fell in love with its old folk sound and looked into Mindy further. Not only is this posting very special to me but my music soul mate, Allegra, actually sent me an email on Saturday asking if I had heard of Mindy Smith because she thought I would like her!

It is that track, “Come To Jesus” that marks the first great moment of this week. On Friday my best friend, who is the closest thing to a sister I have, gave birth to her first child, Jackson Gregory. I drove up Thursday night to be there for her last minute c-section and waited with all the family and friends for baby Jack to be born. He has finally arrived and is absolutely perfect in every way. I am such a proud auntie and this song reminds me of how much we all pray for safety, protection and comfort for this little miracle and the comfort of the Lord in the many years ahead of him. Love and miss you Jack! Also my coworker and his wife gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on Saturday. The full moon was working hard!

The second life changing event of this last week is the engagement of one of my dearest and closest friends. After spending a month in Switzerland with her man she game back with a gorgeous vintage ring on her finger. For her and her love I picked Mindy’s song, “True Love of Mine.” This is a beautiful duet (I LOVE male/female duets!) and would be absolutely perfect for a first dance. Congratulations dear friend! I can’t wait for all that is to come!

Mindy Smith is a singer/songwriter from Long Island, New York who was put on the map after she was asked to sing one of my all time favorite songs, “Jolene” for the Dolly Parton tribute album in 2003. Dolly even joined in the recording during the last part of the track in a moment I can only describe as pure bliss for me. Just listen and see. Mindy released her first album in 2004 titled, One Moment More which includes “Jolene” and “Come To Jesus.” Since her debut album Mindy has released two other full-length albums and one Christmas album in which she wrote 6 original Christmas songs - something rarely done these days. Her recent album, Stupid Love was released last year after a two year break in which she wrote the songs for the album only when she felt inspired. As a result she released a great album with songs you can truly relate your biggest life moment to as I have.

Mindy Smith is a wonderful blend of all my favorite genres. A little, folk, country, bluegrass and pop to create a sound that is truly wonderful. Mindy has also had several of her tracks featured on the shows, "Grey's Anatomy," "Smallville," "Six Feet Under", and "So You Think You Can Dance." Also, you can download Stupid Love on Amazon.com for only $5!

http://www.mindysmith.net/

http://www.myspace.com/mindysmith

I hope you enjoy this week’s featured artist and thank you for letting me share a little of my life with you all.

Would love to have your thoughts and comments!

Winner Winner!

2010-02-01T02:30:00.000-08:00

Well it has been an eventful weekend for me (more info on that in today's feature) and in the midst of the all that was happening I was overjoyed to see all the emails flooding in with your comments.

Thank you all for entering!

The winner of the Lillian Ray Musical Note necklace is Natalie from Blond At Heart!

Using Random.org the 29th comment was chosen. Congrats Natalie!

Contact Beth for your new necklace! lillianraydesigns@gmail.com

(As I went to the Lillian Ray blog I noticed you won her giveaway too! Lucky girl!)

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 73 Result: 29 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Lillian Ray Giveaway!

2010-01-25T23:01:00.000-08:00

While this blog is solely a music site I am a strong supporter of anything artistic and creative. I have several friends who are incredibly talented musicians, photographers, artists and writers. Well today MMM is teaming up with Beth from Lillian Ray to do a special giveaway!

Beth has been one of my closest friends since junior high and has become incredibly talented at making jewelry. Beth started selling her hand-crafted pieces on Etsy.com one year ago and to celebrate her anniversary she has released a new line of high end jewelry in her Lillian Ray Luxe line.

Not only is she offering some great deals and giveaways on her blog (Click here to be directed) she has also created a great piece of jewelry for a special giveaway on MMM.

Isn’t it cute?! So pretty, simple and perfect for the music lover. Enter to win it for yourself, your wife, girlfriend, mom, etc. I just love it so much I wish I could win it!

Why am I doing this giveaway you ask? Well, my goal and vision for this blog is to promote new artists who are trying to gain a fan base and set their career in motion. The music industry is a tough place and I would love this blog to be a place where they can get noticed just like the band featured this week, Vampire Weekend, did when they were just getting started. So to give you a little incentive to spread the word to all your friends I'm having this giveaway as a thank you to all my supporters.

What you need to do to enter:

First you must be a public follower of MMM before you can enter to win.

* For one entry leave a comment with your favorite piece from Lillian Ray and/or Lillian Ray Luxe.

* For another entry mention Mary’s Monday Musicology on your blog or Twitter and leave a separate comment with the link to your blog or Twitter account.

* For a third entry leave another comment with your favorite artist featured on Mary's Monday Musicology and why they're your favorite.

Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. Deadline is January 31st Midnight PST.
I'll be using a random number generator to pick the winner so make sure to check back next Monday!

Vampire Weekend

2010-01-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

You all would be so proud of me. For the second week in a row the featured artist/band is not from Nashville! I’m getting back to more variety and stretching not only myself but also all of you who check in each week for new artists. Over the past few years I’ve been expanding my music taste. Listening to music I wouldn’t normally enjoy and as a result I’ve fallen in love with some new bands such as The Raconteurs and Muse. My friend Taylor who is a musician pursuing a career as an artist told be once that he listens to some music as exercise to work out his musical muscles. Another friend, Valery, has been trying everything from Celtic to Gregorian chanting to expand her musical taste. So here at Mary’s Monday Musicology we are going to be doing that as well (maybe not with chant music). This week we are taking a baby step in that direction with Vampire Weekend.

Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Baio and Christopher Tomson, who all met while at Columbia University in New York, formed vampire weekend in 2006 after graduating. They then self produced their first album while all working full time jobs. I too graduated in 2006 but sadly was not that productive and was in the “What the heck am I doing with my life?/I just want to do music!” stage of life. The name Vampire Weekend comes from a film Koenig made during college. Their first self-titled album was released in 2008 and their new album Contra was just released two weeks ago and I’ve been listening to it non-stop.

It was actually the blog world that spread the word about Vampire Weekend as they were getting their start and working towards getting a record deal. They have had several of their tracks featured on the silver screen with the films Step-Brothers and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Vampire Weekend is great music for friendly gatherings with its mellow but upbeat sound. Can’t you just picture yourself with some Sangria in one hand while you BBQ some carne asada and are doing a little dance? I know I can but that’s just me. The new album has quite a few African beats that just get me dancing in my car.

http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend

http://www.vampireweekend.com/

Hope you enjoyed this week’s featured band. Be sure to comment and let me know what you think.

Giveaway Alert!!!

Check back tonight for a very special giveaway as MMM joins with Lillian Ray Jewelry as she launches her new Luxe line and celebrates her one year anniversary! It will be worth your while I promise!

Photo #2 by Esther White

Photos #1 & 3 - Unknown

Audra Mae

2010-01-18T22:51:00.000-08:00

One of the things I splurge on the most is buying music, more so than new cloths and I love new cloths. Thankfully I get a lot of free/discounted music from work and have discovered several great ways to get good music at a good price. Of course Brite Revolution is one DSP that gives you access to tons of amazing new artists where you can download everything you want for only $4.99 a month. Plus, part of it goes to charity! My other favorite place to get a good music deal is on Amazon. Everyday they have a whole album to download that is a part of their Daily Deals and is priced from $1.99 to $3.99. The albums available range from unknown to mainstream and I have discovered some great new music. Now for our featured artist, Audra Mae, who I found after Amazon had her track “The River” as their free song of the day. The first time I heard this track I knew right away that Audra was going to be a favorite and would make her way to a feature here.

Audra Mae is a native of Oklahoma who has music and performing in her blood being the grand niece of Judy Garland. She grew up with one grandmother teaching her about country and folk music and the other grandmother teaching her about Jazz music. As you listen to Audra’s music you can hear how much that early education in music affected her style and craft today. Her voice has that old sound to it and reminds me of several great female vocalists of the 50s and 60s. After flunking out of college, because she was focused on music and parties, Audra moved to California in 2004 and began to make her way around the Los Angeles music scene playing in clubs until she got a publishing deal and later signed with an independent record label best known for the Irish rock band, Flogging Molly.

After signing with her new label Audra released her second EP of 2009, titled Haunt, and will be releasing her full-length album later this month. Haunt is the perfect title for Audra’s new release since haunting is one of the first words I would use to describe her music. I’m a very happy, easy going person but for some reason I absolutely love music that is haunting and tragically beautiful. Her track, “Sullivan’s Letter” is a great example of that style. Audra is a songwriter and found inspiration for this track after reading a love letter written by a civil war soldier on the back of some music she received. The soldier wrote a love letter to his wife and soon after died in the first battle of Bull Run. It is a sad and beautiful song that truly showcases Audra’s songwriting talent.

I’m very excited to see what awaits with the release of her full length album and I hope you all are too after hearing her music and learning a little bit about her.

Let me know what you think of this artist and look into her links below if you want to learn more.

http://www.myspace.com/audramae

http://twitter.com/AudraMaemusic

If you are as curious as I was to learn more about Sullivan and his letter to his wife you can read the full text here Sullivan Ballou Letter It could quite possibly be one of the most beautiful and tragic things I have ever read.

Perrin Lamb

2010-01-11T17:16:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy being able to give you all a detailed bio of the artists or bands featured here. Though I’ve been discovering that with really new artists there isn’t much info out there. Some of them are so new that they don’t have a whole lot to tell yet. This week’s artist, Perrin Lamb, comes out of Nashville, TN and has released several EPs but no full-length album yet. I looked everywhere for information on Lamb and was only able to find a little something on Briterevolution.com. Lamb has teamed up with them and has released his third EP Sometimes At Night exclusively on Brite. Which is one of many reason I would recommend for you all to join. The three tracks featured here are from the new EP. His first two EPs, Be This Way (2007) and Feels Like Home (2008) are available on iTunes and Amazon.

Lamb is a young husband and father to a beautiful wife and baby girl. His songs reflect the hard life of pursuing a career in music, supporting a family and living life. He was raised in Mississippi and is now setting up shop in Nashville joining the community of new artists and songwriters. Lamb has had his songs featured on several shows such as Army wives, Kyle XY, Grey’s Anatomy, the Real World, and The Hills.

http://www.myspace.com/perrinlamb

http://perrinlamb.com/

I’m sure his new EP will be made available at some point on iTunes but in the mean time check out his previous two releases. Hope you enjoyed this week's new artist!

Madi Diaz

2010-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

So this week I tried to pick an artist who was not from Nashville. I failed… Madi Diaz was a find one random day perusing through iTunes for new music. Once I started researching her for this feature not only did I discover that she is setting up shop in Nashville but she is currently touring with Ten Out Of Tenn. TOT has been mentioned here before and it just proves what a small world it really is. Everyone knows everyone it seems!

Madi is from Lancaster, PA and met her collaborator Kyle Ryan while at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The two have been working together ever since and now call Nashville home and have been doing very well for themselves in Music City. The pair released an album titled, Skin and Bone back in 2007 and an EP titled Ten Gun Salute in 2008. The EP has a much different sound then the album and I am liking the new direction much better. The new sound is entering the world of indie pop and I cannot wait to hear more.

http://www.myspace.com/madidiaz

http://www.madidiaz.com/

http://madimadidiaz.tumblr.com/

Hope you enjoy this week’s feature! Happy New Year everyone! I’m so excited for 2010 and all the new things this year will bring. Including all the new music to come!!

Milktooth

2009-12-29T16:35:00.000-08:00

I’m always trying to stretch myself in terms of my music taste. I do this so I’m open to new genres of music that I just might end up loving. As you can probably tell if you follow my blog, acoustic pop folk is my favorite genre right now but sometimes I need something a little heavier. When I do I usually listen to Mutemath, Muse, The Raconteurs and now Milktooth, this week’s featured band.

Milktooth’s lead singer, David Condos, was having a successful solo career releasing two albums but in 2009 he decided to join with his friends, Ian Leach, Noah Denney, and Michael Ford Jr. and form a band. What resulted was a little rock, a little indie pop and a little folk. Just in the last year they have released two EPs. In June they released a self-titled 6 track EP available on iTunes & Amazon as well as a 3 track EP Halloween in Santa Anna in October.

This is another band out of Nashville showing the city’s diverse indie music scene. Milktooth has only emerged this last year and is gaining a following in the Midwest and I’m hoping they spread out to the west coast. I have a feeling they put on an amazing live show. They along with Andrew Belle and Lórien have all recently had tracks featured on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Which considering the show's ratings could be a pretty good thing for these artists.

These guys are pretty new and I’m sure they value every new fan so share them and this blog with your friends and family. New artist need as much help and support as they can get these days so if you are enjoying the music make sure you go buy some of their tracks. This site is meant to help support the local independent artists.

http://www.myspace.com/milktoothmusic

http://twitter.com/milktoothmusic

http://www.last.fm/music/milktooth

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Milktooth/55962483341

Happy New Years all!! I can’t wait for this new year and all the new artists I’m going to find and share with you all!!

Tis The Season For New Music! Falalalalala!

2009-12-21T16:45:00.000-08:00

I have some great friends. Have I ever mentioned that? During this holiday season I am reminded how blessed I am to not only have so many amazing friends but ones who love music like I do. My friend Valery sent an email out a few weeks back to myself and several music lovers about Christmas music. She was looking for suggestions and wanted to share her favorites with us:

“Hey Music lovers~
Every year (the husband) and I go on a hunt for the perfect Christmas soundtrack(s). Each year I find that my taste changes just a bit and this year I found that I am leaning a little more modern/funky and a little less cheery/traditional. However I have Christmas music on constantly which requires me to have a few different CD’s to switch through. It’s hard to find good stuff!! So I was just thinking since I am always searching for fabulous Christmas music, others might be as well.” ~ Valery

I of course loved this idea of sharing our Christmas favorites and so did several others. Valery has made me some amazing mixed CDsfor me so I know I'lllove her suggestions! Here is what we came up with!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Valery:
-The Hotel Café presents: Winter Songs. This CD is the bomb, however not traditional so might not be loved by all. It features Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile, Lenka, Fiona Apple, Kate Havnevik: are you excited already or what?!? Every song is awesome except #5 Silver Bells by Alice Smith- the last few minutes of the song are soo off key I grimace every time I hear it.
-Christmas Eclectic. Really fun tecno/drum/base beats. AH-mazing!
-Kohala Christmas: This is Hawaiian instrumental. SO beautiful. (Allegra introduced me to this band when i started doing massage... they are wonderful and chill)
-Ella Fitzgerald Wishes You a Swinging Christmas. Ella: Enough said.
-Holiday Dinner Party Music by the Santa Ana Players. Traditional but not too cheese.
-Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails (1&2). Makes me wanna have a christmas dinner party NOW!

Allegra of Frenchie & Flea
I'm a freakishly huge fan of Rosie Thomas's Christmas CD and as a Christmas classic for fond memories in my heart, Amy Grant's Tennessee Christmas album :)

Jennifer of The Style Geek:
- Michael Buble Let it Snow EP
- Sarah McLachlan- Wintersong
- Amy Grant- Home for Christmas
- Kenny G- Miracles

Mary of… well you know where I’m from:

Some of my favorites have already been listed. Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong is an album I could listen to all year long it is so good. Anything Michael Buble releases I love because he’s my main man (in my dreams) as well as Rosie Thomas who can never miss in my mind. Some other favorites both new and old are:

- Nat King Cole – His Christmas album is legendary and his voice that sounds like butter (if butter could sing) made “The Christmas Song” famous. This album is probably my all time favorite.
- Holiday Noise Vol 1-3 is a collection of holiday tunes by various Nashville artists. http://www.holidaynoise.com/
- A Fine Frenzy Oh, Blue Christmas EP is the perfect collection of holiday songs and holiday themed songs with a broken heart center.
- Josh Groban’s Noel was the highest selling album of 2008 and even if you don’t favor his music style his duet with Brian McKnight is amazing.
- There are a couple other favorite artists such as Joy Williams and Mindy Smith who have some great Christmas music as well so I've included them in a Christmas music playlist for all of you to enjoy this season.

Free Music Alert!!!

Every day in December until the 25th Amazon is putting up a free Christmas song to download. You can still get all the previous releases. Who doesn’t love free music!! You can even get Joy William’s Christmas EP for free if you tell 5 friends (link is in the right hand column).

Merry Christmas Everyone!! May you have a blessed and safe Christmas.

Crystal Thomas

2009-12-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

This week’s artist was born to sing. Crystal Thomas comes from a long line of women singers in her family. She is the fifth generation of female performers and she knew it was her turn to carry on the tradition. Crystal is based in Nashville and created her EP The Touch of My Skin while working as a pastry chef. She sounds like a friend I’d like to have!

Crystal released her EP last April and you can get it for free by telling 5 friends about it or pay what you want. The link is in the right column with all the other music downloads.

Her touring schedule is mainly in the Nashville area but I have a feeling this new artist will be making her voice known in the months to come. You can find her music on Brite Revolution as well.

http://www.myspace.com/crystalthomas

http://www.last.fm/music/Crystal+Thomas

Check back later this week for a Christmas music midweek feature!!

City And Colour

2009-12-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

There is something I don’t always understand in the music industry. Solo Projects. Beyonce, Chris Cornell and many others have left their bands/groups to do their own solo projects. To me it just seems like a move to get more attention and fame and not share the credit and acknowledgement with others. Especially when the solo projects don’t really differ that much from the group. Not that the solo projects aren’t good, I still enjoy them. This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine but there are a few exceptions. Justin Timberlake’s solo efforts were definitely better than his boy band days and I grew to appreciate his musical talents. Of course Eric Clapton and Sting cannot really be criticized for their solo efforts either. For the most part though you really have to show me that you can do something really different in your solo project in order to impress me. Well, City And Colour has done that leaps and bounds.

City And Colour is comprised of Dallas Green who didn’t just go solo he did a 180 and went for a completely different genre. Dallas was the lead singer of a hardcore alternative band out of Canada called Alexisonfire and if you are streaming his music right now hardcore is not really what comes to mind when describing City And Colour. Dallas went folk acoustic, which is currently my favorite genre! He also didn’t want his solo project to go by his own name (already winning points with me) and decided to release his music with an alias. (I’ll give you ten points if you can figure out why he chose that name).

Dallas started writing and recording his music in between Alexisonfire gigs and started making it available to the band’s fans and started a huge buzz about the new directions he was taking. With the fans supporting him Dallas released his first solo album titled Sometimes, in 2005 which was soon followed by a live album in 2006 and a sophomore album in 2008 titled Bring Me You Love. I can only imagine the reaction of Alexisonfire fans hearing City And Colour for the first time. Its not what you expect out of a tattoo covered alternative rock singer but it makes me appreciate his work so much more.

http://www.myspace.com/dallasgreen

http://www.cityandcolour.ca/

I hope you are enjoying this new shift for Dallas Green as much as I am. I love comments so feel free to let me know what you think.

Erin McCarley

2009-11-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

It has amazed me lately the community of artists in Nashville. Everyone seems to know everyone but not only that they collaborate, tour together, co-write songs together and are each others back up for shows. I realized this while researching this weeks artist, Erin McCarley. The first song of Erin’s I heard was “Pitter-Pat” on an amazing mixed CD a friend made me and I loved it immediately.

Click on the player below to hear some of Erin's tracks.

As I looked into this artist I discovered that she is also basing herself out of Nashville as are many of the other artists featured here. Not only that but she is buddies with them! As I was watching a video of her performance on Craig Ferguson I recognized Matthew Perryman Jones on the guitar, K.S. Rhoads (soon to be featured here) on keyboard and possibly Andy Davis on the keys as well but there wasn’t a clear shot of him but he wore the same hat Andy seems to always wear and had the same moves I saw in him live. Erin also co-wrote one of her songs with Greg Laswell, another one of our features here.

Erin is currently touring with Ten out of Tenn which is a group that does a collaborative tour with Nashville artist such as Joy Williams, Andy Davis, Andrew Belle, Griffin House, Matthew Perryman Jones and Katie Herceg. Do those names sound familiar? They should because they have all been featured on this blog. All these artist and many more cycle through the tour so they are not all performing at once. It is an ever-changing collaboration and they are coming to Los Angeles tomorrow and I sadly will not be able to attend.

Before Erin started pursuing a career as singer/songwriter she was a sheltered girl from Dallas, Texas who was given a quick awakening to the ways of the world after she left the comforts of her safe family environment. Erin started out as just a singer but later discovered her skills in song writing while living in San Diego. She decided to take her career to the next level and moved herself to Nashville with all the many aspiring artists there. She has been setting herself above the rest making waves at the South By Southwest conference last year and has had her songs featured on several hit TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy (known for his great song choices), One Tree Hill, Kyle XY and several others.

Erin McCarley released her debut album, Love, Save The Empty last winter and the title track was featured in the film He’s Just Not That Into You and was the only song from the soundtrack that was given a music video to go along with the film. You can check out the full album on iTunes and Amazon.

http://www.erinmccarley.com/

http://www.myspace.com/erinmccarley

I hope you enjoyed the feature this week after the unplanned break last week do to technical difficulties with the flash player. Let me know what you think of this week’s artist and remember I love comments! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here is a little taste of mine. This was the view I got to wake up to every morning in Lake Tahoe.

Flash Player Meltdown

2009-11-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

UPDATE!! Thanks to my good friend Aaron, who is my savior when it comes to computers and all things technology related, I now have a new flash player system!! Of course the old one came back but too late, I'm done with you disappearing player!! Working on changing them all over now and will have a new artist next week. Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for all of you!

Well I don't know what happened but the flash player I have been using has disappeared off the internet like some illegal drug scam. The website doesn't exist anymore and all the players on my previous posts are gone!!

So now I'm on the hunt for another system and will have to redo all my previous posts. Let me know if you have some suggestions.

In the mean time enjoy some music off the old player and check out the free music downloads when you tell 5 friends or pay what you want. Joy Williams has a Christmas EP! I'm so excited!

On a side note: I should have know this was going to be an interesting day when I almost walked out of the house holding one running shoe instead of my water bottle...

Sincerly,

Frustrated with technology Mary

Andy Davis

2009-11-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

This week’s featured artist wasn’t on the schedule for this week but after seeing him live Friday night at the Hotel Café in Hollywood I couldn’t resist. Andy Davis has quickly become one of my favorite artists coming out of Nashville and there are so many talented artists trying to make it in Music City. Andy is another Brite Revolution find (I swear I don’t work for Brite but I’m starting to think I should!) and they are supplying two exclusive tracks each month. At his concert he performed several new tracks that Andy hasn’t made available yet but guess what? I have them complements of Brite. If you haven’t signed up for a Brite Revolution subscription I would highly recommend it.

Andy Davis is a powerful performer and it was all I could do to resist dancing during his show but I was afraid I might embarrass my friends. He started off the concert behind the keyboard then switched to the acoustic guitar but it was behind the keyboard that Andy was really shining. He was absolutely electric on the keys and his stool could not contain him. It was so much fun watching him perform. After the concert he came out and made the rounds meeting people and I got the chance to introduce myself and wanted to ask for a picture with him but I felt like a dork asking even though everyone else was doing it too. I regret not asking but I can’t change that now. Oh well…

Andy Davis comes from a musical family in Baton Rouge where his dad played guitar and his mother played the piano (now I know where he got his multiple talents). Andy moved to Nashville for college and started writing songs and performing and had such a great response from friends and was later asked to open for his friend Dave Barnes (another favorite of mine). His homemade CDs were doing tremendously well and Andy caught the attention of Runway Network who helped him release a newly mixed version of his first recording titled, Thinks of Her. Andy’s most recent album, Let The Woman, is where all but one of the tracks on the playlist are from. "Chicago, City of Shoulders" is from his EP Fine China.

All of Andy’s albums are available on iTunes and Amazon. You’ll find a better deal on Amazon and they have a simple downloading tool that will put the music and artwork straight into your iTunes library.

Also I would highly recommend this video of Andy covering Etta James’ “At Last” in what appears to be and impromptu shoot in a stairwell. I was completely rapture by this version of one of the greatest love songs of all time.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s artist. Let me know what you think of Andy’s music. Also I promise next week to feature an artist not from Brite Revolution. Happy Monday!

Photo Credits

Photo 1 - Kyle Barnes Photography

Photo 2 - Mary's I Need A Better Camera Photography

Photo 3 - Micah Kandros Photography

The Silver Seas

2009-11-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

Music can be intense. Filled with emotion and heavy hearts from artists who have a therapeutic outlet in the music they write. There is a time when I enjoy that music but sometimes I just need something happy and carefree. The Silver Seas are one of the bands I go to when I need that kind of music. Their music tells a story and I feel like I’m listening to a classic tune even though they are a new band.

The Silver Seas started out as The Bees (U.S.) but due the fact that there was a UK band with the same name they decided to change it with the release of their second album, High Society in 2006. Their first album, Starry Gazey Pie was released in 2004 under their original name. All the tracks featured are from that first album so when searching iTunes you have to look under The Bees or join Brite Revolution where they have been posting their older tunes. The band is working towards releasing their new album this year titled Chateau Revenge.

The band comes out of Nashville, TN and consists of four members. Daniel Tashian is lead vocals and guitar. Jason Lehning is piano and backing vocals. John Deaderick is electric bass and David Gehrke is on the drums as well as backing vocals. I don’t have an exact date for their new album but you can grab their first two on iTunes as well as on Brite Revolution. Hope you enjoyed this week’s feature!!

http://www.myspace.com/thesilverseas

http://www.thesilverseas.net/

Contest Winner!!

2009-11-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

Well its official!

I've picked a winner.

I used my super scientific number generator known as my coworker

and asked her to pick a number between 1 and 8.

Soooo....

The winner is Craftygal86 from

Knots by Ashley

She has a super cute blog and Etsy store.

You all should check it out!

Craftygal86 loves Haley Bonar featured two weeks ago.

Email me to claim your prize and I'll send you Haley's newest album!

This week's feature on The Silver Seas coming shortly.

Matthew Perryman Jones

2009-11-02T01:41:00.000-08:00

This week’s artist, Matthew Perryman Jones, comes from my favorite site – Brite Revolution. I know, I know a lot of the featured artists have come from Brite but they have such great artist there I just can’t help it. Jones is one of the many amazing singer/songwriters that are coming out of Nashville these days. Nashville is Music City and although I have never been there I’m pretty sure it will be my favorite place ever when I finally get myself there (anyone up for a road trip?).

Jones is originally from Georgia where he started his music career playing at Eddie’s Attic, which is where The Civil Wars recorded their live album. Soon Jones was encouraged to head to Nashville where he joined the musical community of independent artists. Jones began touring and writing with his fellow artists including the collaboration group Ten Out of Ten. TOT is a group of artists who tour and perform together whose members have included Joy Williams, Andrew Belle and Katie Herzig.

While touring, writing and recording three albums and one EP Jones has also had his music featured on several TV shows including Kyle XY, The Hills, Private Practice, One Tree Hill and Bones.

Jones’ most recent album is available on iTunes and his previous album you can download from the widget in the right hand column here for free if you tell five friends or pay what you want.

Available albums from Matthew Perryman Jones

Swallow the Sea, 2008

Throwing Punches in the Dark, 2006

For the Road (EP), 2003

Nowhere Else But Here, 2000

http://www.myspace.com/mpjmusic

Almost forgot!! Music giveaway this week!!

Become a "public" follower (unless you are already a follower) and leave a comment stating who your favorite artist is on Mary's Musicology and if you win you'll get their recent album!!
Enter to win by 11-7-09

Haley Bonar

2009-10-26T00:38:00.000-07:00

There isn’t too much information on this week’s featured artist Haley Bonar. I found her while listening to Pandora Radio at work and took note when I heard “Big Star” come on. I quickly wrote down her name and promised to look into her more.

What I do know about Haley is that she is a 25-year-old pop folk singer/songwriter from South Dakota who now resides in Minnesota. She plays a 1957 acoustic Guild guitar, which makes me happy as I have a 1962 acoustic Guild I call “Ole Willie”. Bonar is signed to Afternoon Records, an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

If you are enjoying Haley Bonar’s music and would like to purchase it then here is how you do it. Some of her early releases are available on iTunes but her recent album Big Star is only available from the store on Afternoon Records’ website. You can still sample 30-second clips on iTunes as well.

To buy:

You will need a paypal account in order to pay for your purchase

http://www.afternoonrecords.com/catalog/music

Find Haley Bonar in the list and you can choose to download her MP3 album ($8.99), purchase and actual CD or if you are really cool, a vinyl.

Once you have made your purchase just sit back and wait a few minutes and don’t start freaking out like I did wondering how to get the music after you’ve paid. You will receive an email from AR with a link and codes to download a zip of the album. Just add it into your iTunes or player of choice and bam!! You’ve got yourself some new music.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks feature artist! I love comments so let me know what you think.

www.haleybonar.com

*Spoiler* Next week we just might have a CD giveaway! Yeahy!!

Andrew Belle

2009-10-19T10:42:00.001-07:00

When I was about 6 or 7 years old I had a friend in the apartment below who was a few years older than me. She had high heels, make up, and music - music that my mom would not let me listen to. Still I couldn’t resist the cassette tapes of Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson that my friend was willing to lend me. So every once in a while I would sneak down, borrow the tape, then listen to it quietly in my room. My mom was always very cautious about the music I listened to which is probably a good thing but it didn’t quiet my desire to hear the pop music of the day. I had this trip down memory lane after reading about this week’s artist, Andrew Belle. Andrew Belle is another Brite Revolution find from their new/emerging section.

After reading about Belle I discovered we had a similar history with music. When Belle was young his parents wouldn’t let him listen to the radio or secular music until he was in high school. In Junior High he would secretly record music off the radio and then listen to it quietly in his room. His first album was by the Counting Crows – one that had been out for several years but that time spent secretly listening to that music set the foundation for his career in music.

“Not that I think of myself now as important to music as Adam Duritz or the Counting Crows have been, nor do I even dare to compare myself to such talent, but thinking back on my earliest experiences with music, there is no doubt that those quiet moments spent alone in my bedroom shaped my desires and passions and gave me the hope to make my small mark on this world, one song at a time.”
-Andrew Belle

Belle is a 25-year-old singer/songwriter from Chicago who is also residing in Nashville. His EP All Those Pretty Lights was released last fall and his full length album, The Ladder, will be released January 2010. You can download his EP for free or be a good human being and pay something. Click here to download. He has a duet with Katie Herzig, who was featured here a while back, which is the first track on our playlist. The last track “My Oldest Friend” is a demo and shows off his Coldplay sound. Belle has probably been my favorite find on Brite Revolution next to Joy Williams.

Hope you enjoyed reading about Andrew Belle and hearing his music. For more information check out his webpage and myspace.

http://www.andrewbelle.com/

http://www.myspace.com/andrewbelle

*** All photos of Belle are by www.dartphotographie.net

Nikki & Rich

2009-10-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

This week’s new artist is hot off the presses. Nikki & Rich is a brand new duo that just signed with Warner Bros. Records. They had only their second show together last Thursday at The Viper Room in Hollywood and I was invited to attend. I was enticed with free admission and open bar to celebrate the duo’s signing and I happily attended.

Nikki & Rich are comprised of Nikki Leonti, a pastor’s daughter from California, and Rich Velonskis, who goes by Rich Skillz, from Queens, New York. Rich is a former DJ and hip-hop/R&B producer who has produced tracks for Robin Thicke, Ludacris and several others. Nikki on the other hand was working out of Nashville as a background singer for Carrie Underwood. Rich was looking to do something different with his music and found Nikki in 2007 to collaborate as the vocals to his tracks.

So what happens when you pair Rich’s DJ/Remixing/Producing skills with Nikki’s strong vocals? Something that sounds like the Supremes, a little Amy Winehouse and a touch of the Black Eyed Peas. Music that will make you want to shimmy and shake, do the mashed potato and the Beyonce booty shake all at the same time.

At their show last Thursday I knew I was in for a treat when the three back up singers came out all wearing the same vintage gold dress and matching black wigs. Rich started out with some beats and a beautiful woman in black came out and began dancing on the stage to welcome Nikki up. The backing track for “Heatwave” started up, a few choreographed moves and Nikki appeared dazzling a short white sequined dress and high heels. Everyone on stage had great energy, the music was great and the spirits in the room were high thanks to the open bar.

Nikki & Rich have taken the great sounds from 40 years ago and made them contemporary without being just a tribute group. They have already had several tracks featured on Entourage and the new 90210 so this new duo is on their way to be a huge success. Their single “Cat & Mouse” is available on iTunes and you can hear two other tracks on myspace.com. Their debut album is due out in 2010 and I’ll keep you all updated on the release. Hope you all enjoyed this brand new group. I thought we could use a little music that gets the body moving since the cold weather is setting in.

Giveaway Winners!!!!

2009-10-12T01:22:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please.....

Well after my super scientific procedure of picking a winner

(name on a piece of paper - 3 entries = 3 pieces of paper)

I have chosen the following lucky music lovers:

Grand Prize of a $20 iTunes gift card goes to:

Stephanie from The Gimlins - http://thegimlinfamily.blogspot.com/

Second Prize of a $10 iTunes gift card goes to:

Jeanneoli from A Bushel and a Peck - http://www.bushelandapeck.typepad.com/

Thank you to all who entered and gave me mention on you blogs and Twitter,

especially Stephanie, Lindsey and Beth - You three gave me great shout outs and I'm so grateful.

And to my dear friend Allegra who suggested I do this giveaway so you should be thanking her for your gift cards ;)

Congrats winners!!

To collect your prize email me at:

marysmusicologyblog@gmail.com

and I will be sending your gift card to your email.

(If I do not hear from the winners by Friday, October 17th the prize will roll over to the next giveaway so hurry, hurry!!)

Michael Bublé - New Album

2009-10-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day.

Why?

Well, because Michael Bublé's new album Crazy Love came out today!

I heard it a while back and now I can finally share it with you.

I've been a fan of Michael since his start and love his work with bringing back the standards of music.

I have been to two of his concerts and I am always amazed at his incredible vocal skills and cheaky humor.

I usually leave his concerts with my face and stomach hurting from laughing.

He has this power to hold the audience in the palm of his hand with his wit, charm, boyish good looks and crooner status.

Here is a little taste of the first track off the new album.

If this song doesn't make you want to move your hips and have a Michael Bublé moment (when you all of a sudden have a desire for a dirty martini and a cigarette even though you don't smoke) then you might be broken inside... ;)

Love it!!

Enter to Win An iTunes Gift Card!

2009-10-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

Hey there music lovers!!

Are you ready for the first giveaway on

Mary's Monday Musicology?!

Here's how it will go:

For ONE entry become a follower of this blog

(Note: You must follow publicly or I can't tell that you are a follower)

For TWO entries become a follower and post a comment on this entry or one of your favorite artists I've featured.

For THREE entries become a follower, leave a comment and mention this little page on your own blog or website. Be sure to let me know in a comment if you do that.

What will you win you ask?

First prize will be a $20 gift card to iTunes

Second prize will be a $10 gift card to iTunes

I am a huge supporter of buying the music you love and supporting the artist so here is a little incentive to do that.

Be sure to check back on Monday's feature to see if you won!

Well, I'm off to see live the artist for next week's feature and can't wait to hear from all of you!

Mary

Lórien

2009-10-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

This week is another great find from Brite Revolution. Lórien is a great new band coming out of Nashville, TN. They got their start back in 2005 and since then have released two EPs and one full length album last February. This group of friends and strangers has come together to create a great new sound. They are gaining a great following throughout the Midwest and Southeast and are starting a tour though the area. They have been know to put on an amazing live show so if they come to your town be sure to check them out and let me know. No shows yet for California…

Memphis, TN. The Hi Tone. September 30 2009.

Springfield, MO. The Outland Ballroom. October 1 2009.

Kansas City, MO. Mainstree Cafe. October 2 2009.

Urbana, IL. The IMC Theatre. October 3 2009.

Chicago, IL. October 4 2009.

Carmel, IN. The Warehouse. October 5, 2009.

Cincinnati, OH. Play By Play Cafe. October 6, 2009.

Nashville, TN. Mercy Lounge [Next Big Nashville]. October 7 2009.

Knoxville, TN. The Shed. October 10 2009.

Winston-Salem, NC. Club Oasis. October 11 2009.

Greensboro, NC. The Cliff. October 12 2009.

Peachtree City, GA. First Presbytarian. October 15 2009.

Macon, GA. The Refuge. October 16 2009.

Pulaski, TN. Festively Local. October 18 2009.