I’ve been following Lights Resolve since they first started in 2006. I’ve always loved their live show and what few recordings I could find on the internet, but longed for something more. Five years later and I finally get a full length album from this exceptional band. I know there are a lot of alt rock bands out there nowadays, so it might seem odd to give them such high praise. I challenge you to take a close listen, however, because there is definitely an energy in this band that separates them from the rest of the fold. I’ve heard it in their live show, and the album just solidifies it into a form that can be shared more easily. My only complaint is that some of my favorite songs did not make the final cut. If there’s any problem a band wants, however, it’s that the fans can’t get enough of their music. Feel You’re Different officially drops today, and their cd release will be tomorrow night at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. You can find more about the band on their website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
Month: October 2011
Kate Miller-Heidke – Liberty Bell
From the minute Kate Miller-Heidke’s new album, Liberty Bell, begins, you know you are ready for a dance party full of electronic beats and interesting lyrics. Some of these elements were true of her first album, Curiouser, but, as much as I loved her first attempts at this, they seem to work better here. Miller-Heidke has clearly grown as an artist since she first introduced herself to the world. Where the first album had a few moments that were just a bit too weird for even me to get into, this album has none. My excitement grew with each new song. Things slow down a bit at the halfway point with “Let Me Fade,” but in a completely natural way. It then picks up again slightly with “You Got The World,” but not with the “full speed ahead” vibe the first half of the album had. This is ok, however, because the songs are still strong, albeit slightly more laid-back than the first half of the album (with the exception of maybe “The Flasher”). I strongly recommend Liberty Bell for anyone looking for music with character. As a sample, here is the video for “The Tiger Inside Will Eat The Child”.
Liberty Bell was released in the US Oct 11th on Sony Music Australia. You can find more information on Kate’s website, as well as follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Celebrate NYCC w/ Ghost This!
Some of my faithful followers might know that I pull double-duty as a writer for Nerds in Babeland. I did an interview for them with this band, [Ghost This], which you can find here.
I also covered New York Comic Con for the site, and plan to do so again this year. It’s shaping up to be a great weekend, including a show/after-party for Day 1 of the festivities – brought to you by [Ghost This]. The fun happens at Connolly’s on West 45th St. For detals and to confirm the event, go to Facebook.
I really hope you go have fun times with this band, because they are some of the nicest people the internet has directed me to. Tell them News on Shuffle says “hi!”
Rachael Yamagata – Chesapeake
Rachael Yamagata has one of the smoothest, most soulful voices of just about anyone I’ve heard. From the first notes of “Saturday Morning” you know you are in for an experience that will both sooth and awaken you. “I Don’t Want To Be Your Mother” is a beautiful ballad that hits you in places you didn’t know you had, while “Even If I Don’t” has a more driving force behind it that will make you want to get up and face whatever life has in store for you. I have always been impressed with the voice quality Yamagata brings to the table, and this album did not disappoint my expectations in the least.
Chesapeake will be released Oct 11th on Yamagata’s own Frankenfish Records. Tour dates start Oct 24th at Port City Music Hall in Portland, ME and run through December, ending with two nights in NYC at City Winery Dec 21st & 22nd. She will also be at Maxwells in Hoboken on Dec 19th and 20th. Full list of tour dates is as follows:
OCTOBER
10/24 Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
10/25 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
10/27 Ithaca, NY @ Delilah’s on Cayuga
10/28 North Hampton, MA @ Iron Horse
10/30 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
10/31 Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
NOVEMBER
11/1 Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere
11/2 Baltimore, MD @ Sound Stage
11/4 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
11/5 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café
11/6 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
11/7 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall
11/8 Chicago, IL @ Logan Square
11/10 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Ballroom
11/11 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
11/12 Davenport, IA @ Redstone Room
11/14 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
11/16 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
11/18 Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room
11/20 Spokane, WA @ A Club
11/21 Vancouver, Canada @ Media Club
11/22 Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
11/23 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
11/25 San Francisco, CA @ Slims
11/27 San Diego, CA @ Casbah
11/29 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubador
11/30 Tuscon, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
DECEMBER
12/2 Austin, TX @ The Parish
12/3 Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds (Upstairs)
12/4 Dallas, TX @ The Loft
12/5 Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom (2nd Stage)
12/7 St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
12/8 Nashville, TN @ 12th and Porter
12/9 Birmingham, AL @ Work Play
12/10 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
12/12 Charleston, SC @ New Brookland
12/13 Charlotte, NC @ Local 508
12/15 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
12/16 Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
12/17 Louisville, KY @Headliners
12/18 Columbus, OH @ The Basement
12/19 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwells
12/20 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwells
12/21 New York, NY @ City Winery
12/22 New York, NY @ City Winery
You can find more information on her website, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out
Florence + The Machine saw the debut of the video for “Shake It Out” yesterday. I swear, I get more and more excited with each new update from this rhythmically proficient artist. The new song is great, and the video features some wonderful costumes. I’m really looking forward to the album’s debut in November.