Sometimes I put iTunes on shuffle and I'm pleasantly surprised by what comes on. I'm not sure where I got this album from, but it is definitely something I could see myself getting into. Based out of Brooklyn (the hotbed of all things hip), Calla have been making music since the mid-90s. Their latest album, "Strength in Numbers", is a mix of guitars, ambient noise, and hushed vocals. I'm horrible at classifying music, but I'd say rock/indie pop. Here's what some other people had to say: "Snow Patrol after being mauled by Minus the Bear"; "sounds like The Velvet Underground, Pearl Jam and The Shins." But don't listen to me, or anyone else - check out the track below and then hit up their MySpace for more.
In keeping with the goal of having the blog be socially conscious, I'd like to encourage you to check out Kiva.org The idea behind the site is that by using the power of the internet to network people, entrepreneurs in developing countries can apply for and receive loans to get their business on its feet. Where does the money come from? That's where you come in. By making a contribution of at least $25, your money will be sent to a microfinance institution that manages the loan. You'll receive updates about the progress of the business. Once the loan is repaid, you get your money back or you can loan it to someone else. Interested to see what $25 can do? Visit Kiva.org
It has been a very long time since I have looked forward to a new album release as much as the album I was waiting for this week. For some reason, I avoided the illegal downloads and the full album myspace streaming. I wanted to wait for the release day, go to the store, hold the actual physical cd, and put it in my stereo, and just listen to it. When was the last time I actually did that? And what did I realize? I miss cds. Sure, iTunes is convenient, but it's not the same. And when your iPod dies, then you'll realize how stupid iTunes proprietary file protection is.
The album I bought today is City and Colour's "Bring Me Your Love". It was worth the wait, worth the trip to the store, worth the extra dollar or two. Tonight, I put the CD in my stereo and just sat for 45 minutes and took it all in. Of course, I might be biased, as I was a fan of the band already, but this CD is amazing. I encourage you to buy it from any of these places: Vagrant, Best Buy, Newbury Comics, AmazonMP3, iTunes.
From the "Live" album, here is "Sensible Heart". This track was rerecorded in the studio and can be heard on the new album.
Artist: City and Colour Track: Sensible Heart (live) MP3
Background Info: Dallas Green is a member of Alexisonfire, based out of Canada. He releases solo albums under the name City and Colour. Previous releases include 2005's "Sometimes" and a live album in 2007. While Alexisonfire is considered screamo/post-hardcore, City and Colour is acoustically grounded, with the new album containing many elements found on a traditional folk record. The song topics are varied, ranging from the feeling of being separated from people you care about to death to trying to continue on in the face of adversity. For anyone looking to dedicate a song on Valentine's day, check out "The Girl". Go to City and Colour's myspace to listen to more tracks.
Winners of Britain's prestigious Mercury Prize, the Klaxons released their debut LP, Myths Of The Near Future, last year. I just got this cd and the track that instantly stands out is one of the singles, "Golden Skans." Check it out here and let me know what you think. Artist: Klaxons Track: Golden Skans MP3
I had been thinking about setting up a blog but I didn't know what direction I wanted it to take until tonight. Some of the things that I hope to cover on here include international development, the environment/green living, and music. Of course, I'm sure that my posts will stray into other areas too. Thanks for checking in and leave comments to let me know what you want to see or what you want to know more about.
All of the content on this site is copyright of its respective owners. If your material, or the material of someone you represent, is found here and you would like it removed, please contact me.
