Born Ruffians – “Needle”
What a tricky song! You shouldn’t let the first 50 seconds of “Needle” bamboozle you into thinking this is just a good knockoff of the Fleet Foxes. The song begins with a serious folk vibe that is lovingly combined with great vocals, and to my surprise, some very thoughtful lyrics are placed delicately in the mix. As soon as you’re drawn into the voice of Luke Lelond, it evolves into something completely one-of-a-kind because the rest of the band (Mitch DeRosier, Steve Hamelin & Andy Lloyd) joins in solidly. I don’t want it to end, so I play it over and over.
“Needle” by the Canadian band, Born Ruffians, has been out for a while because the album, Birthmarks, came out on April 16. Even though the band has been making music since 2004, I am just now rediscovering them and enjoying their irrepressible energy that seems to be at their core. There is a spirit to this song and throughout the album that is pure pleasure to me. ”Needle” is just sunshiney, sparkley, and delightfully mixed with a few fun firecracker pops! Check them out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BornRuffians. If you have a desire to boost your mood, welcome the weekend, and sing joyously at the top of your lungs, then this is the song for you!
Go To PostShareTweet+1Baby Bee – “High Heel Leather Boots”
A couple weeks ago, iTunes unveiled “High Heel Leather Boots” by Baby Bee as its free single download. Neither the band name nor the song title sound very rebellious, but leave it to a rock ‘n roll band called Baby Bee to shatter expectations. Hailing from southern Louisiana and recently signed to Universal Republic Records, Baby Bee’s two founding members are Joe and David Stark, brothers by blood and in music.
“High Heel Leather Boots” is taken from the band’s label debut The Shaker, a four-track EP that was released earlier this month. In addition to carrying a catchy chorus punctuated by raw vocals, the song also applies a recurring surf guitar riff – an important move that gives the duo just enough of a fresh sound to make them stand out from the many other acts striving to embody the rough rock sound revived in recent years by The Black Keys. With its upbeat melody and tremolo kick, “High Heel Leather Boots” is a perfect add for any summer playlists you might be working on.
Click here to visit the band’s website, and visit their Facebook page to get the latest updates from Baby Bee.
Go To PostShareTweet+1Makthaverskan – “Asleep”
I could write some words about how I feel about the new The National album, but I’ll save that for another day and feature the spectacular lead single from Makthaverskan’s upcoming second album. I’ll plead ignorance to knowing of the Swedish band before this year, but the soaring vocals of Maja Milner can’t be ignored. Layered over top of a surf rock sound, they take central focus, and the repeating “Is that me you’re dreaming of?” have become ingrained after …
Go To PostShareTweet+1Mikky Ekko – “Disappear”
This is one of my favorite non-folk songs of the year. Actually, it’s one of my favorite songs of 2013, period. I’m sure that a lot of people have heard this song at some point over the past two weeks. It’s been popping up all over the internet and rightfully so. The ethereal quality is quite enchanting and I get lost for a few minutes every time that I listen. The long, distant outro is a nice artistic flourish that …
Go To PostShareTweet+1Youngblood Hawke at U Street Music Hall
I haven’t written in quite some time and with this review, I break my silence. The past two months have been a huge whirlwind of changes. I’m sure many can relate to the sentiment of change – whether it’s something as natural as the changing of seasons and growing ages, or something that you work so hard for and finally achieve. Either way, the past two months have been filled with change, the nice positive kind. And with such changes, …
Read MoreNovaak – “Whatevertown”
I can’t believe that I haven’t written about this song at any point during the past two years. I have featured it on a mix and I’ve featured a song from one half of the former duo, but I’ve never featured this song and it is quite possibly the song that best exemplifies 1146 miles. Today I’ll rectify that. Every single word in the lyrics of Whatevertown fits me; even that day holds significance. January 1 thought I’d never be …
Read MoreOutsides – “Seesaw”
Here’s an electropop bedroom project to love. Seesaw is the first song released by Outsides. I’m pretty sure that I account for at least 50 listens on this track and I wanted to share so that you can listen to it 50 times as well. I’m ready for summer at this point and I keep listening to Seesaw hoping the driving beat beckons summer to come quicker. Outsides is Tim Ellis. He’s been involved with Chicago bands and now resides …
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