Dave Matthews Band "Mercy" : New Madonna, Carly Rae Jepsen with Owl City, Alanis Morissette

"MERCY"   DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

In April, Dave Matthews played this song live on  Jimmy Kimmel's Show.  Fans have been excited for new material from the band and this "save the world" lead single is heartfelt.   The music reminds me of "Crash", my favorite DMB song while the lyrics speak about not just hoping on miracles but showing love and mercy as a way to change the world.   The new CD, Away From The World, is being produced by Steve Lillywhite and he promises it will not be all acoustic.  Future post:  My favorite Dave Matthews moment was when he joined Mick Jagger for "Memory Motel". 

"TURN UP THE RADIO"  MADONNA

Wow, a new Madonna video that is actually good!  No gimmicks, no overt sexual references, no guest stars, just a hot dance track and a summer time vibe video!  Here Madonna is getting driven around Italy creating her own party bus (well, not a bus more of a party convertible).  Dancers, streetwalkers, hitchhikers, you name it, join Madonna's party on the move.   Pure dance pop is exactly where Madonna's at her best.  Favorite track on her MDMA CD!

DAILY MUSIC TRIVIA QUESTION:  Initial CD's of Madonna's Erotica CD had what special element?   Yesterday:  Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward starred in Against All Odds


"GOOD TIME"  OWL CITY With CARLY RAE JEPSEN  (Updated Official Video)

"Call Me Maybe" so catchy until you've heard it 100 times, she's back with a new equally perky, summer tune.  This time teaming up with Owl City, known for their hit "Fireflies".   Carly, who's 26 years old (looks 18), said she's thrilled to have the two songs competing on the charts.   The single will be released on each artist's next CD.   "Good Time" is saccharine sweet, repetitively happy lyrics, and will be blasting on IPods for the rest of the summer.   If you haven't heard it yet, enjoy it, for it will be forever in your head from now on!

"GUARDIAN"   ALANIS MORISSETTE

Havoc & Bright Lights in the name of Alanis Morissette's new CD, set to be released August 28th.  The lyrics speak of a mother's protective love for her child.  "I'll be your angel on call, I'll be on demand, the greatest honor all, as your guardian".  Alanis actually debuted this song on Dancing With The Stars.  Unlike some of her other songs, "Guardian" is uncomplicated, hopeful, radio friendly, and an easy listen.   

 

Kardashian's Step-brother Hot New Video: New Jack White, Acoustic Katy Perry, & Brandon And Leah

"THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY"  (acoustic)    KATY PERRY

Katy Perry is on top of the music world, SIX consecutive #1  singles from her latest CD "Teenage Dream".  Nominated for Grammy Album of the Year, Katy Hudson does an acoustic take on her latest smash.

"LIFE HAPPENS" BRANDON and LEAH

If you're a fan of either Jack Johnson or Colbie Caillat, you'll love this sweet, cheeky, pop ditty by Brandon Jenner (yes, Bruce's son) and Leah Felder (daughter of the Eagles guitarist).    Cute couple, laid-back summer jam, hit potential!
                       CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO


"LOVE INTERRUPTION"    JACK WHITE

April 23, 2012, the release date for the first solo CD by Jack White.    The CD is to be titled Blunderbuss (another word for "idiot).   This new track reminds me of "We're Going To Be Friends" with Jack's band, the White Stripes.

New Lil Wayne Video: Bruno Mars, Daughtry , and Evanescence

"MIRRORS"   LIL WAYNE Ft. BRUNO MARS

Dwayne Carter is back with a hot track, over 5 million hits on YouTube in 3 days!   The red paint as blood, the Jesus imagery, and the closeups of Lil Wayne, adds up to a powerful visual experience.  The haunting chorus by Bruno Mars works great softening the painful lyrics of Lil Wayne.

"START OF SOMETHING GOOD"   DAUGHTRY

Chris Daughtry is back with a song similar to his first #1, "Home", a tender ballad describing those emotions when your world is flipped upside down by a new love entering your life.   Great opening lyrics:

You never know when you're gonna meet someone
And your whole wide world in a moment comes undone
You're just walking around and suddenly
Everything that you thought that you knew about love is gone

You find out it's all been wrong
And all my scars don't seem to matter anymore
Cause they led me here to you 

"MY HEART IS BROKEN"  EVANESCENCE

The beautiful vocals of Amy Lee mixed with Evanescene in full Gothic rock mode took the music world by storm a few years ago.   Their 2nd single from the new CD, captures the perfect blend of hard rock with the softness of the lyrics.  Check out Amy at the piano with the sun sneaking through the window at 3:06, stunning!

New Music Tuesday : Gym Class Heroes, Safetysuit, Grace Potter, and Alan Jackson

"ASS LIKE THAT"        GYM CLASS HEROES with NEON HITCH

Following up "Stereo Hearts" with Adam Levine, Travie McCoy is back with a more rock infused track for the second hit single off their new CD.   Featured here, the recurrent theme of an artist on the road and distance taking a toll on a relationship.  UK singer / songwriter, Neon Hitch, shines in the video as Travie's love interest and sings the memorable hook, "Get your ass back home!"   

"SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOVE ME ANYMORE"  ALAN JACKSON

Alan Jackson is the master of singing songs that cut to the emotional heart.   Whether it's songs of 9/11, tributes to legends like Hank Williams Sr, memories of the start of a new love, to this raw, sensitive track about ending a relationship.  The guitar solo perfectly blends with Alan's lyrics of broken hearts and opportunities lost.  Tear in your beer country music songs have been around for years and it's great to hear Alan Jackson keeping "real" country alive and well.

 


"THESE TIMES"              SAFETYSUIT

Great video!  Christian rock artist, Safetysuit, debuts a relevant new anthem about although life can be tough and current economic times are depressing and hitting so many hard, "these times will pass".  Everyone has their own issues crippling them at times (as the video demonstrates) but the hopeful conclusion to the video shares an uplifting, enduring message of recovery.  Think of when you were at the lowest moment of your life, then think of NOW, those bad times do pass.   

"DEAR PRUDENCE"                   GRACE POTTER

From her iTunes session live, Grace performed her bluesy hits like "Paris"  but also took on the challenge of covering two of the biggest musical artists of all-time, The Beatles and Madonna.  Her "Like A Prayer" rocks harder but on the White Album classic, Dear Prudence, Grace treats the classic with reverence and adds her feminine touch to the Beatles masterpiece.   Love the simple line:  "the sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you, dear prudence, won't you come out and play"!

Music For Sex, #1 on the Countdown: Aviici, Seal, Lonely Island, Touch And Go

"STRAIGHT TO NUMBER ONE"        TOUCH & GO

SPEECHLESS...............Found this on a CD called "Music for Sex Vol 3".     The video is shot in a sepia tone (like the famous Chris Isaak video) and features an outrageously sexy woman undressing down to her string bikini and heels,  eating grapes by the pool. Sensual trumpets mixed with sexophone ;) solos combined with enticing lyrics just puts you in a trance.  

"LEVELS"         AVICII

Not sure how to classify Avicii's music, it's electronic, dance, trip hop , pop?    What I do know is this video is awesome!   Crazy dancing, tasers, rainbows, and a flash mob - so much fun!   Avicii is a Swedish DJ who created this mega-hit by sampling Etta James voice with fresh beats.   Avicii has also hit the charts recently with Leona Lewis and Flo Rida and he's definitely a new artist to keep an eye on. 

"COOL GUYS DON'T LOOK AT EXPLOSIONS"      LONELY ISLAND

Adam Sandberg from SNL leads his own music comedy group, Lonely Island.   When he hosted the MTV Video Awards in 2009, Adam premiered this hysterical video featuring Will Ferrell (as Neil Diamond!)   Love the Springsteen like vocals mixed with all of the great movie clips!!

"WISHING ON A STAR"               SEAL 

"Wishing On A Star" has seen its share of versions.  Originally by the disco band, Rose Royce (they also did "Car Wash), then the Cover Girls did a faster version in the 80's.    Jay-Z did a rap version in the late 90's and his wife, Beyonce covered it in the 2000's.   Not to let sleeping dogs lie, Seal released his 2nd CD of classic R&B remakes, SOUL 2 and does in my opinion the definitive version of the song  (mixing in the beats of Sade's Smooth Operator).    A writer for the BBC wrote  "Seal has a voice that can melt icecaps, that has never been doubted by his detractors – the problems with his material post-Seal (II) went deeper, to a basic songwriting level. Here, freed of the weight of his own emotions, he soars!"

  
  

Scary Monsters and Jason Mraz: Skrillex, Seether

"I WON'T GIVE UP"                        JASON MRAZ

Nice comeback single from Jason.     Like his other big hits, "less is more", Jason lets the simple melody wrap around his heartfelt love song message.   The end of the song features his signature fast paced, lyrical wordplay.   You know this song will be all over the radio this winter.   The video shows postcards and handwritten letters.    Times change but emails and texts can't compare to actually receiving something a real person wrote down with their own handwriting, bought a stamp, and sent it to you.  

"TONIGHT"                      SEETHER

Seether have released some amazing songs through the years.   "Broken", the duet with Amy Lee, their rock cover of "Careless Whisper", "Rise Above It" - one of the best positive message rock singles in the last decade.    They're back with "Tonight" another upbeat track, check out the lyrics:




I'm not gonna waste this
This opportunity's mine
I'm sick of complaining
About a beautiful life


How did we get here?
Did we forget all the things inside?
And how do we stay here?
Do we embrace all the things denied?


I feel so alive tonight
You got me feeling sublime
I want to yell it from the rooftops down
Until it's over, and we're older

"ROCK N ROLL WILL TAKE YOU TO THE MOUNTAIN"     SKRILLEX

Not 100% sure if I love this, really like this, or am annoyed by this!     Sonny John Moore goes by the stage name, Skrillex, and he's the leading dub-step artist of the past year or two.   He's done remixes for everyone as diverse as Rihanna and Korn.    This song has an outrageous electronic bass, high energy, and in the right mood, it's the perfect jam to crank up your speakers and get your body moving!     The "Rude Boy" break at the 2 minute mark is intense and so much fun!