Jason Karaban - Shift. Out 4th September.

I often get to thinking how lucky I am having this blog and hearing all the bands releases prior to the general public, I know patience is a virtue and all that, but when something like Jason Karabans album turn up, it feels like I am being treated to something special and feel privileged to have a few extra weeks of it all to myself, well, me and a few others anyway.

This is a delightful album, well written and constructed and one that effortlessly holds your attention on every track from start to finish.

From a home studio in Los Angeles, CA, a songwriter crafts melodic, harmonious songs.   The music eventually makes its way to a handful of well-known musicians across the country.  Though the musicians do not know Jason Karaban, they will listen.  And, eventually, they find themselves in the studio working with the reclusive musician. 

 Karaban isn’t new to the game. He began his career fronting the Philadelphia based indie rock bands Dragstrip Courage in 1997 and Grand in 2000.   A deal with Maverick Records emerged and then evaporated before the music was released and an artist once on the rise went into a dark period.  However, he never stopped writing music.  Karaban emerged as a solo artist with the release of Doomed to Make Choices, in 2006, co-produced with Mike Napolitano (Joseph Arthur, The Twilight Singers) and then later with Sobriety Kills, co-produced by Barry Maguire (The Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant) in 2009. 

A look at Jason’s solo career illuminates his impressive list of collaborations that read like a who’s who of the music world.   Over the years he has worked with the likes of Sara Watkins, Ani DiFranco, Ivan Neville, Lucy Schwartz, Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Garrison Starr, Pete Thomas & Davey Faragher of Elvis Costello’s Imposters, Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum), David Immerglück & Charlie Gillingham of Counting Crows just to name a few.  The result has been two critically acclaimed records, an obscure b-sides record and a three song EP from which numerous songs have been licensed for programs on NBC, MTV, VH-1, commercials, and indie movies. 

 On September 4^th Jason returns with Shift, his most realized work to date, and is planning to tour for the first time in his solo career.  Tracks from Shift can currently be heard on WFMU, WXPN and KCRW.

Contact, befriend, like and love Jason Karaban here: Facebook

"Shift" is instores from September 4th, listen to other tracks by Jason here: Bandcamp

I believe the album will be available there too.  Don't forget to grab the free single download there too!

Jason Karaban website: Official

The Above - My Love 7" single OUT NOW!

 

It is always great to receive some vinyl in the post and it is even better when it is a great band producing that vinyl and The Above certainly fall into that category.

"My Love" reminds me of The Yardbirds early offerings but with the professionalism and talent of their later recordings, this is a fantastic sounding single and the B'side "Chuck's Blues" is a an exciting Hammond driven instrumental that is sure to get your feet moving, just tapping or full out dancing, but your feet will move!

  "My Love" Performed by The Above from David Alan Horowitz on Vimeo.

The Above are a rock and roll group from Brooklyn, New York.  Influenced by the sounds of British-era R&B, this four-piece create memorable and exciting music with a compositional sophistication that are sure to leave both bar-goers and 60s rock and roll enthusiasts tapping their feet.  They have opened for the likes of Roky Erickson, The Fleshtones, Los Straightjackets, Lyres, Paul Collins and other seminal artists.

  

The Above also have a self titled long player available via their web page (link at bottom of the page) that is also not to be overlooked, 12 tracks of rip roaring guitar, Hammond, harmonica, I think I can safely say that this 4 piece are one of the best, most exciting R&B bands out there at the moment!

Contact, befriend, like and love The Above here: Facebook 

The bands official website where you can buy the single and that fantastic self titled album can be found here: The Above Official 

Budokan - Spin A Little Gold

 

This fine album only hit the "Ice Cream Man" mail box this morning and what a fantastic way to start my Sunday, so good in fact, that I had to share it immediately!

This is pure Power Pop with a seventies edge to it, not surprising maybe,  given that their name is borrowed from a Cheap Trick Bootleg album which was recorded at "Budokan" in Japan.  This 13 track album is chock full of guitar licks, driving beats and much, much more, this is pure unadulterated kick arse rock 'n' roll!

Budokan hail from Vancouver in Canada and have not only released this fine album in CD format but on a super fine 180gm gold vinyl, they say they want to "write songs that people will love and remember."  Well, they have certainly done that with "Spin A Little Gold", not a filler track of duff track amongst the grooves here, I am also loving the album artwork but I will save my rave about that for my art blog, which I don't have yet, but may very well have to start soon.

Budokan are:

Kent Bendall-bass and vocals
Andrew Molloy - guitar and vocals
Craig Vishek - guitar and vocals
Graham Watson - drums and vocals

I now have the album on third rotation already this morning, blowing all those Saturday night cobwebs away, this album is one for the Power Pop puritans.......and everyone esle!

 

Contact, befriend, like and love Budokan here: Facebook 

Stream and buy "Spin A Little Gold" here: Bandcamp 

Physical copies of the album and more info on the band here: Northern Electric Records

La-Ti-Da Records. Long live the 7" single.

I received an e-mail from La-Ti-Da records this week introducing me to five 7" singles that they have released this summer in the hope that one or two of them may appeal to me and gain some blog space.
Well, I am very pleased to say that all five releases appealed to me and so did the majority of the labels back catologue, so I have decided to do a feature on the label and include the 5 artists that they sent me.
The label based in Vancouver, Canada seems to specialise in 7" vinyl, although you will find the odd album in their catologue. These guys are obviously very passionate about their music as on the website you can find mixtapes that they have made for download, that don't feature their own band signings and very good mix tapes they are too.

Anyway, here are the five bands that they sent to me to listen to, all are very highly recommended and if you, like me, love your vinyl, this is a very good place to stock up, run by music lovers for music lovers!

So there you go, 5 top singles released this summer by La-Ti-Da Records that I am sure you will enjoy as much as I do.  

All of these artists can be found on bandcamp and all the singles can be downloaded there too, unless you have to have the vinyl, which we all know sounds brilliant, in which case go to La-Ti-Da Records web site at the link below.

La-Ti-Da Records Official Web page: http://www.latidarecords.com/

(Don't forget to check out those excellent mixtapes for free download there too along with all the other great artists and events that they have going on!)

Contact, befriend, like and love La-Ti-Da Records here: Facebook

Contact, befriend, like and love The Tranzmitors here: Facebook

Contact, befriend, like and love Needles//Pins here: Facebook

Contact, befriend, like and love Fist City here: Facebook

Contact, befriend, like and love The Ballantynes here: Facebook

Contact, befriend, like and love The React here: Facebook

The Jetsonics NEW EP OUT NOW.

The Jetsonics are a London 3 piece with a sound that that harks back to the days of New Wave and Punk of 1977 - 1979 (think The Jam here as opposed to The Police), their sound is raw, tight and punchy, they're old enough to know better. But they're also smart enough to know that knowing better isn't always much fun. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you The Jetsonics.

This is the third EP release by the band and like the previous releases, the songs are ultra catchy, full of energy, attitude and delivered with snarling passion.

I was lucky enough to catch the band last year playing with Len Price 3 and The Past Tense at the legendary "Half Moon" in London and can vouch that their live performance is every bit as good as their recordings!

The Jetsonics are:

Adam Donovan, Sam Day, Dave Lombardi

Live Dates:

The Jetsonics Live at The Scream Lounge, Croydon

Saturday, 6 October 2012 at 20:00 in UTC+01

The Jetsonics live at The Grey Horse, Kingston

Friday, 19 October 2012 at 20:00 in UTC+01

 Photo: Paul Slattery

 Contact, befriend, like and love The Jetsonics: Facebook

The Jetsonics official web site: http://www.thejetsonics.com/

Download all 3 EP's here: itunes

Contact the band via facebook or their official site if you would like physical copies of the EP.

Michael Gross and The Statuettes - Sunset Beach. OUT TODAY

Michael Gross & The Statuettes are an Indie Rock/Pop band from Salt Lake City that formed in 2008. Michael Gross is formerly a member of the band The Brobecks , which received regional and national recognition from various music web sites, blogs, and magazines around the country as an up and coming "buzz band".  In 2007 Michael left The Brobecks, and recorded a solo album in 2008 entitled “Tales From a Country Home”. Shortly after, Michael decided to form a band around this new project. The Statuettes were born. The current lineup consists of Michael Gross (vocals, guitar), Jimmy Kelly (guitar), Ben Johnson (bass/keys), and Andy Patterson (drums). 

The band has independently released three E.P.’s entitled  “Dust & Daylight EP” (2009), “Impulse & Exports EP” (2010), and "Imaginary Signs EP" (2011). Their debut full-length album entitled "Telepath" was released in 2010 by Jon Siebels of Eve 6, some of which are available for free download on the bands bandcamp page. (Link at the bottom of the page).

 When I received this album the band told me that they had been compared to Radiohead and Weezer and you can certainly hear those two artists in the songs, however, if you are not a Radiohead fan, don't let that put you off, Michael and The Statuettes are so much better and everyone likes Weezer right?

The album breathes into life with the melancholic "We're just shadows" which could have easily sat on Radioheads "The Bends", this is followed by the upbeat "Don't let me down" which has to be my favourite track on the album with its ultra catchy chorus and strong melody, if I was making a mix tape, for the car, this would definately have to be on it. That said, there are no weak tracks or fillers on this album, so I would suggest you just take the complete album with you.


 

The album closes with another great song, "Black is black" which is a song with a big sound and a fantastic production, this song is right in your face, actually, this one could be my favourite, in fact they could all be my favourites!

This is a well balanced album of uptempo songs and more laid back numbers, all of which are extremely well penned songs, melodic and with abundant hooks, delivered with total conviction and passion, this is a really great album and has certainly encouraged me to look into the bands back catalogue, which, I am really looking forward to hearing.

Michael and The Statuettes are:

Michael Gross - Vocals, Guitar, Jimmy Kelly - Guitar and Ben Johnson - Bass

Catch Michael Gross and The Statuettes live for FREE at one of the following gigs:

August 17th - St. George, UT @ Jazzy's

August 18th- Las Vegas, NV @ Freakin' Frog

August 19th- Long Beach, CA @ The Blue Cafe

August 20th- Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge

Contact, befriend, like and love the band here: Facebook 

Listen to the new album and download others for free here: Bandcamp

Official Website: http://michaelgrossmusic.com/

Brandy Butler & the Fonxionaires - Don't Want Nothin' OUT NOW

Earlier in the year I raved about a splendid soul outfit from France called "Mr Day" who blew me away with their take on soul music, now I have been hit again by Brandy Butler and The Fonxionaires, this is really magnificent!

I first heard the powerful vocals of Ms Brandy Butler, on this occasion backed by the most excellent "The Fonxionaires," on the Retroman Blog Retrosonic Podcast, which was crammed full of great mod and soul music, and I immediately got in touch with Steve over there to ask him for some details as I really wanted to share this little soul nugget with the world. This is 'A' class Soul, Motown, Stax and a little Northern Soul, if you like any of those genres, you are going to love this, this hasn't been off the stereo since it arrived and it has got me delving into more of the output of both Brandy and The Fonxionaires as I am sure it will you.

‘There’s a soul revival a-comin’ and standing at the forefront of the storm is the Switzerland based band Brandy Butler and The Fonxionaires. Playing originally composed sweet and rough old school 60’s soul and then adding the sultry powerful vocals of Miss Brandy Butler (the Black American soul mama), you won’t be able to help yourself from Hip Shakin, booty swinging , and soul struttin’!

The Fonxionaires make hits. Numerous contemporary bands play soul music, recordings inspired by the classic singles of the Motown, Stax, Atlantic, and thousands of other regional U.S. record labels that forged the timeless R&B sounds of the 60s and 70s. But The Fonxionaires do something more. They take those sounds and ingeniously craft them into insistent, ingratiating music that light up the listener’s spirits like a long-lost friend entering a room.

It's been 12 years a-coming, but history has been made. The Fonxionaires have built a throne of soul, and collaborating with Ms. Brandy Butler, she'll be holding court like a Queen at its center. While their contemporaries may flirt with these highs, Brandy Butler and The Fonxionaires groove at dazzling stratospheric heights across 14 fantastic songs on this, their debut long-player: " Don't Want Nothin' "

Contact, befriend, like and love Brandy Butler and The Fonxionaires here: FACEBOOK 

Contact, befriend, like and love Brandy Butler here: FACEBOOK

Downloads available via iTunes  Amazon

Physical copies available via mail order at: http://www.copasetic.de/