There’s no other way to describe 2010’s Red Rocking Chair by Portland, Oregon’s Black Prairie other than extremely sad. There is loss here-deep heart-breaking loss. The kind of loss that there is seemingly no way out from or to. Though musically drastically different in style, Black Prairie is partly made up from members of the Decemberists (Chris Funk, Nate Query and Jenny Conlee). Vocal duties on the rare vocal cuts are handled by Annalisa Tornfelt, who’s breathy vocal adds to the sadness…
Read MorePop music with a striking anti-smoking message. I’m not an anti-smoking evangelist, but this song probably does more to discourage smoking than all of the anti-smoking messages combined. I came across this video totally by accident so this was my first introduction to New Zealand popper Princess Chelsea’s simple pop formula. It’s bubbly, quirky and completely singable. Here, guest vocalist Johnathan Bree helps out on The Cigarette Duet from the full length Lil Golden Book. I can’t find an actual release date, but…
Read MoreRainy Day is pure pop-nothing more and nothing less-and that isn’t bad at all, when the practitioner is Young Hines. Hines seems to be basted in the moorings of 60’s era roots rock and pop. His voice is a pleasing, albeit slightly strained tenor. His first full-length release, Give Me My Change, was released in April and he has been getting some play here and there ever since. It’s deserved! Check out Young Hines by visiting his sketchy web site, but don’t stay…
Read MoreThere is an enormously uplifting quality to Live for Music, the collaborative performing effort, written by singer-songwriter, Shaun Canon. The song is a tribute to all of those people who have an enormous passion for music, and fight for that passion daily. Let’s face it, with school music programs suffering severe budget cuts or outright cuts in many school systems, fighting to play and learn music is becoming increasingly difficult. Being musical has proven to enhance the skills that we need…
Read MoreTarra Layne has a beautiful, pure and natural voice that rings out loud and clear on 2011’s Beautiful Day. This Southern fried rocker can belt it out with the best of them. Beautiful Day is from the half-length self-titled release from the same year and is available on CD Baby in both digital and hard-copy formats. You can find out more about Tarra Layne by visiting her web site. Check Tarra Layne and have a Beautiful Day! (Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
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