The February Playlist

The new year has brought bundles of great new music. Most of the songs I've selected for this month's playlists are fresh from the studios and from a selection of promising artists, emphasizing a surge of support for lesser publicized music thanks to the ease of access offered by services such as Google Play Music (for which I'm a pretty big advocate.)

I could have been caught up in the romanticism of this month (though, saying that, I might make a playlist especially of the best love songs of all time, which will give me an excuse to blast out a few more classics like Peter Gabriel), but instead I have found myself enjoying atmospheric vocals accompanied by more bass than usual. Perfect music for that little flurry of snow we had on Friday.

Lupe Fiasco's new album kicked off the style with some aggressive rapping, making me feel much cooler than I actually am. I've kept tabs on him since Superstar smashed the charts a decade or so ago, but this is the first full album of his I have thoroughly enjoyed. Blur My Hands is more toned down so works in this playlist, with Guy Sebastian providing the smooth R&Bs tones that holds the track together.

I've featured one of my favourite songs of all time this month, that being Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. It's one of those songs that has defined my taste, a song that got me attached emotionally to the music I listen to. Twenty-seven years old as a record, this song is older than me and still earns as much admiration as it used to.

New music wise, this playlist is brewing with potential. A exciting one for me personally is Nothing But Thieves, a band I am going to see live in July at the brilliant 2000Trees festival. Literally bought my Early Bird ticket before writing this and that was made an easier parting with my money when I saw the announcement that these guys were playing. At last year's 2000Trees, I was lucky enough to see Wolf Alice rock out a crowded tent with Blush and there were highlighted in my programme pre-weekend. This feature is aptly timed for NBT, as they have just released a new single, Ban All The Music, but I have selected an song from an earlier E.P. for that riff/vocals pitch contrast during the bridge pre-chorus. It's as sultry as Eva Green in anything ever,

And the artist of the month, the only to feature two songs, is Lapsley. Holly Fletcher, from the Liverpool area, released the Understudy E.P. on January 5 and has been heralded by critics and music lovers alike. You know what I was saying earlier about atmosphere and bass? Well, she brings it. The subtle, sporadic thump thump that consists of the bass in Station gives the tone of her voice even more of a piercing effect. Oh, and she's only 18. That's my age. Shit. Did I mention I'm pretty good at Football Manager? Her mastery and talent is immeasurable.

The Playlist

Falling Short Lapsley
Portrait 19 The Paper Kites
Old Faces Laura Doggett
Wrong Or Right Kwabs
Blush Wolf Alice
Feel Safe All We Are
See Me Tei Shi
Station Lapsley
I Know It's A Good Thing Shamir
Blur My Hands Lupe Fiasco (feat. Guy Sebastian)
Fast Car  Tracy Chapman
In Your Eyes Peter Gabriel
Ghosts Ideyi
Graveyard Whistling Nothing But Thieves
On The Road Sunset Sons
News Freddie Dickson
Lyla The Districts
Don't Go Rae Morris
Wait M83
Morning RHODES
Smalls Hands Keaton Henson
In Winter Michael and the Atlas
Was There Nothing? Asgeir
Paper Sails Stu Larsen
Bones Dustin Tebbutt
Leaner Days Husky
Headlights Tor Miller
Want My Love Cathedrals

If you have Google Play Music, you can find the playlist here.

The January Playlist

Unknown to everyone, I create a monthly playlist and have done since January 2013. I thought I'd share these with the world from this month onwards.

January is a reflective month and, post holidays, can be solemn so my selection is mostly soulful, acoustic, and great to stay in and write/read to. I also found a few alternative covers to old school pop songs, which I've really enjoyed over the holidays.

On the new music scene, listen to Tennyson's With You. They're a electronic duo from Canada and they include some jazz, which makes it a very versatile track. I can see it at a party yet here I am listening to it at home alone.

My favourite of the covers has to be the Springsteen cover by Ruth Moody. She is the anti-Springsteen and that makes this cover a completely different entity to the original. Take away those rumbustious drums and that eighties synth, spruce it up with a perky violin and a plucky guitar, soften those beautiful lyrics with a soothing female vocalist and it is a great version, almost unrecognisable and worth a listen.

On the artist watch, look out for Novo Amor. From our own shores, Ali Lacey (as he's really known) is being labelled the British Bon Iver. His vocals are definitely comparable in style to those of Justin Vernon, but in complete musical terms, I would say he is halfway between the aforementioned Bon Iver and Kodaline. My outlandish prediction therefore is that, when he releases a full length album, it could replicate Kodaline's mainstream success of In a Perfect World, featuring in the UK Top 5 Albums.

The Playlist

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) Sleeping At Last (originally The Proclaimers)
The Well Imaginary Future
Glimpse of a Time Broken Twin
We All Die Trying to Get It Right Vance Joy
Brandy Alexander Feist
Red Daniel Merriweather
From Gold Novo Amor
Ancient Light Allman Brown
Candle in the Wind Ed Sheeran (originally by Elton John)
At Moment's Grace Boy & Bear
Meet Me There Nick Mulvey
Vanishing Act Early Winters
Faux Novo Amor & Ed Tullett
Dancing in the Dark Ruth Moody (originally by Bruce Springsteen)
Coffee Sylvan Esso
Heart Skipped a Beat The xx
How Long Will I Love You Ellie Goulding (originally by The Waterboys)
With You Tennyson
To Build A Home The Cinematic Orchestra
Rewind Paolo Nutini
Vapour Vancouver Sleep Clinic
Stay Alive Jose Gonzalez
Higher Love James Vincent McMorrow (orignally by Steve Winwood & Chaka Khan)
Mexico The Staves
Calendar Girl Stars
Song for Zula Phosphorescent
Run Steve Moakler
22 Night Beds
All I Want Dawn Golden
The Great Exhale Great Lake Swimmers
Here With Me Susie Suh
My Old Friend Sam Amidon
Will You Daniel Wilson
Song For You Alexi Murdoch
1000 Years Liza Anne
I Don't Blame You Cat Powers
Small Things Ben Howard
It Must Have Been Love Kathleen Edwards (originally by Roxette)
Mushaboom Feist
You're The One That I Want Angus & Julia Stone (originally from Grease)
Another Love Tom Odell
Your Song Ellie Goulding (originally by Elton John)
Smother Daughter

If you have Google Play Music Unlimited, you can find the playlist here.

Brian Hadsell

Singer-songwriters are having some sort of resurgence in the popular media lately. Three of the top five best selling albums in the UK this year have been released by Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Paolo Nutini, all emotive songwriters, not adhering to the pop culture sellout looks and producing. The other two featuring in the top five were Coldplay, equally emotive, and Paloma Faith, who just happens to be A Perfect Contradiction to my argument here.

In terms of musical style, Brian Hadsell is less loud and in your face than those mentioned, but his quiet, soothing sounds is similar to the number one album, I Forget Where We, by Ben Howard. There is a skill in writing quiet, but powerful music that Hadsell achieves by clashing his harsh, soulful voice with beautiful acoustics. He has released two EPs and a single this year on brianmatthewhadsell.bandcamp.com and his mastery is best heard in the latest, The Changing of the Tides Sessions, especially the song Dark N' Stormy. The regularity of the guitar in the background exposes the gradual escalation of his voice, which never loses control of the song despite the moving lyrics. His music is what I like listening to when I'm relaxing and it's too cold to go outside, but I'd like to see his music develop into the ups and downs of a full album release next year.

How I found him was the most extraordinary thing about him. He sent me a personal message on Tumblr as if he knew I'd like his music. And of course he was right, but it was so refreshing to meet an artist so intent on using the wide reaching promotion the internet can cause by talking to prospective fans about their music, rather than posting pictures of their "new look" on Instagram. He was sincere, appreciative of my support, and a genuinely nice person. All I want to see is nice people, who care about their musical talent more than anything else, do well in this industry plagued by the in-crowd of overly pampered pop stars regurgitating their meaningless lyrics to supersynthed and computerised backing music. Having talked to Brian, he is a honest, well meaning musician, who deserves exposure so people may fall in love with his music.

I return to the aforementioned musicians, who have achieved success this year in the charts. They are the benchmark for any singer-songwriter to break through. Below them, similar artists are few and far between, but their presence at the very top of British music shows an interest. More exposure for lesser propelled artists like Brian Hadsell could see a shift in popularity towards the honest and realistic. Let music become a portrait of humanity again.  

I've been pulled out of retirement to write a review of the lovely Brian Hadsell. The guy came to my attention by sending me a message on Tumblr and that is exactly the sort of personal contact that is lacking in the music industry today. Because I felt especially nostalgic about being approached like that, I will be writing about music again instead of keeping my findings to myself. It has been 3 years so an update to The Elite List will be due, but I've been pleasantly surprised by how much of the original list I still listen to regularly.

Some More New Shizz

Latest update on the artist list- note: *THIS IS NOT PART OF THE ELITE LIST JUST PART OF THE NORMAL LIST*

Casting Crowns
The Bonedaddys
Matt Costa
Latch Key Kid
Belle & Sebastien
Jesse Harris
Hunter Hayes
Deer Tick
*SONG ALERT* Bon Iver- I Can't Make You Love Me

The Elite List

The Elite List is a group of specific that tick all the boxes for me personally and in my ears each and every night! It sort of filters it down from the extremely long list that makes up my blog to a more compact, exclusive group.

A.C Newman
The Afters
AJ Raphael
Alex Goot
All Time Low
Ashes Remain
Audioslave
Augustana
Barbarossa
Ben Howard
Ben Rector
Blue October
Bombay Bicycle Club
Bon Iver
Carolina Liar
Cary Brothers
Charlie Simpson
Chris August
Chris Medina
Chris Tomlin
Citizen Cope
Colin Hay
The Coronas
Damien Rice
Daniel Ahearn
Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Powter
Dashboard Confessional
David Cook
Death Cab For Cutie
The Dirty Heads
Double 0 Zero
Doves
Finger Eleven
Finn Brothers
Five For Fighting
FM Static
Forever The Sickest Kids
Gabe Dixon
Gavin DeGraw
Go Radio
Grant-Lee Phillips
Greg Laswell
Hot Chelle Rae
Howie Day
Hurts
I'm From Barcelona
Jason Reeves
Javier Colon
John Waller
Jose Gonzalez
Joseph Arthur
Joshua Radin
Kris Allen
Lady Antebellum
Lee DeWyze
The Lyndsay Diaries
Making April
Marc Broussard
Mat Kearney
Matt Maher
Matt Nathanson
Matt Wertz
Michelle Featherstone
Needtobreathe
Neon Trees
Never Shout Never
Newton Faulkner
Old 97's
Our Lady Peace
Parachute
Peter Gabriel
Radical Face
Randy Montana
Rascal Flatts
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Remy Zero
Rhett Miller
Robin Hackett
SafetySuit
Secondhand Serenade
Self
Semisonic
Shane & Shane
Shinedown
Sick Puppies
Spoon
Steve Moakler
Tammany Hall NYC
The Temper Trap
Thirsty Merc
This Providence
Thompson Square
Tim Halperin
Trevor Hall
Tyler Ward
We The Kings
Your Twenties
Zac Brown Band

23/10/11

Lots of new acts as its been a while since i posted:

Finn Brothers
JJ Heller
Marianas Trench
Mayday Parade
Phil Wickham
Radical Face
Ryan Adams
Shane & Shane
Transit
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Steven Wilson
Will Hoge
Tim Halperin
Sonia Leigh
Matt Maher
NEEDTOBREATHE
Kevin Devine
Reckless Kelly
Blind Pilot
Ben Rector
Pinback
The Horrible Crowes
Daniel Ahearn
Greg Laswell
Double 0 Zero
Steve Moakler
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Ben Howard
Jimmy Needham

I realize thats a lot :L