Artist Spotlight – Tall Poppies

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Artist Spotlight1 Comment

Tall Poppies are a delightfully eccentric indie-pop band fronted by identical twin sisters Susan and Catherine Hay, who originally hail from Perth, Australia. As the sisters note on their website, Perth is the most isolated (big) city in the world, and they dreamed of moving to London to have a music career. They followed that dream by emigrating to London in 2006, and named their band Tall Poppies. In their matching knee socks and bob hairstyles, both sisters provide melodic, harmonizing vocals for all their songs, with Susan playing bass, and Catherine on lead guitar. They later added violinist Diarmuid Nugent and drummer Doug Fink (formerly of Noah and the Whale) to complete their distinctive Tall Poppies sound.

The band is fiercely independent, handling all aspects of recording and production of their own material, as well as the quirky video clips that accompany the songs. Their latest EP High Time, a collection of old and new songs, was released in Autumn 2015 and they’ve been touring throughout the UK to promote their music. They plan on recording new material for an entire album to be released later in 2016.

“Heart Palpitations,” from High Time, is a cheerfully upbeat piece of pop confection. The twins’ intertwining harmonic vocals are perfectly complemented by deft guitar and soothing violin. The song’s fun, whimsical video of the two cavorting around the countryside was filmed over one weekend. Catherine, who’s currently studying at the London College of Fashion, designed the clever palpitating heart costume out of extra red fabric she had lying around.

Their latest single, “Cat Got Your Tongue?” is a deliriously catchy indie pop tune with a retro vibe. Its masterful guitar riffs, plucky violin and hammering drums that will have you dancing even if you’re a certified wallflower! The stylish, colorful video is so entertaining that I found myself hitting repeat so I could watch it over and over again.

An older song, “In Your Dreams,” is a lovely, gentle ballad that really showcases Susan and Catherine’s beautiful harmonizing vocals.

You can follow Tall Poppies on Twitter and Facebook. Their music is available for listening on Soundcloud and Spotify, and for purchase on itunes or their website.

Top 20 Songs for May 8-14, 2016

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments


1. SPIRITS – The Strumbellas
2. RIDE – twenty øne piløts
3. THE SOUND OF SILENCE – Disturbed
4. OPHELIA – The Lumineers
5. 7 YEARS – Lukas Graham
6. WALKING ON A DREAM – Empire of the Sun
7. GENGHIS KHAN – Miike Snow
8. COLOR – Finish Ticket
9. SOMEBODY ELSE – The 1975
10. ALONE – Sun Arcana
11. REAPERS – Muse
12. OFF THE GROUND – The Record Company
13. WOMAN, WOMAN – AWOLNATION
14. THE POP KIDS – The Pet Shop Boys
15. I TOOK A PILL IN IBIZA – Mike Posner
16. 10,000 EMERALD POOLS – BØRNS
17. PRAYERS / TRIANGLES – Deftones (N)
18. UNDER THE INFLUENCE – Elle King
19. HAND CLAP – Fitz & the Tantrums (N)
20. GONE – JR JR (N)

Artist Spotlight – The Ninetyten

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Artist Spotlight3 Comments

It was my lucky day when the alternative indie rock band The Ninetyten followed me on Twitter, because I had the pleasure of discovering their phenomenal music. It makes me happy when I hear music from a newly-discovered artist and love it at first listen. Their formidable guitar-driven sound is authentic and raw, yet richly melodic with arrangements that can only be described as perfection.

The four-member band hails from Britain’s West Midlands, and consists of James Graham (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Robert Skett (lead guitar), Bob Timmins (bass) and Darren Hanson (drums).  This band has only released a few songs, but all of them are superb.

The band’s awesome guitar prowess is on full display in the song “Home.” The song starts out with a simple riff and James Graham’s tentative vocals, then gradually erupts with furious, swirling guitar and pulse-pounding drums. Graham’s vocals take on a passionate urgency that match the music’s power, leaving your hair standing on end. The lyrics are compelling too: “A million miles from home, million miles from everything/Got what I wanted…Only love can save me now.” Take a listen:

https://soundcloud.com/theninetyten/home

“Dust” offers more mind-blowing guitar and assertive percussion that only cemented my feeling that The Ninetyten are highly-accomplished musicians deserving of star status. This is some of the best guitar playing I’ve heard in a while.

In “Missing Person” the band unleashes its sonic weaponry with a barrage of heavy bass and unrelenting drums. Graham’s vocals once again soar to meet the merciless guitar riffs.

https://soundcloud.com/theninetyten/missingperson

Support this amazing band by following them on Twitter and Facebook. Listen to their music on Soundcloud and TONEDEN, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Twintwo – “Mr Winterburn” EP Review

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews3 Comments

I recently discovered a talented, hard-working young hip hop musician from the UK who goes by the name Twintwo.  I loved his music the moment I heard it. Not only is he an amazing rapper, with a nimble, rapid-fire delivery, the music is joyously upbeat, with artful, melodically complex arrangements. His rapping with a British accent makes his voice especially appealing for me, plus he’s a nice, humble guy.

Twintwo

Twintwo was born 20 years ago as Robert Winterburn.  Regarding the origin of his artistic name, he explained that he was the second of twins to be born, but before his parents could fully name him, he was designated “Twin II.” He’s been a big fan of rap music since the age of nine or ten, and started writing songs at around 16. In a recent interview with the blog Xustralia, he stated his music is influenced by Hopsin, Logic, Slaughterhouse, Machine Gun Kelly, and a bit of Calvin Harris.

He released his first song “Beggin” in June, 2015, and later that year dropped a 10 track mix tape All Day Everyday.  That work featured original tracks, as well as his skillful rapping over a few hip hop songs by other artists, including the Logic/Ed Sheeran collaboration “All Along the Watchtower.”  He ramps it up with fresh energy on his latest release, a semi-autobiographical EP titled Mr Winterburn. All five songs are awesome, but I’ll discuss three of them.

The first single, “Late Night Drives,” dazed my ears with its driving EDM-infused hip hop beat and Twintwo’s 100 mile-an-hour rapping. It’s impossible to listen to this exhilarating song without wanting to dance around the room like a crazy person. I never want the song to end so keep hitting repeat.

For the title track, “Mr Winterburn,” Twintwo sings about the challenge of growing up and struggling to have a music career, paying lyrical homage to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” and twenty one pilot’s “Stressed Out” (two of my favorite songs).  He sings “Yeah, I know I’m not taking this as serious as I should/I know if I could I would but I don’t understand the concept/Too immature for my own good.” Later in the song, he laments “I wish I could go back to when I was riding a bicycle.”

https://soundcloud.com/officialtwintwo/mr-winterburn

“Drug Dealers and DJs” has a jazzy, roaring 20s vibe set to a crushing hip hop beat. The old-time sounding horns throughout the song are a sonic delight, and perfectly tailored for the song’s theme. Since I wrote this review, Twintwo released a delightful video for the track.

Even if you’re not a big fan of hip hop or rap, I promise you’ll find yourself liking Twintwo’s music, which is available on Soundcloud and Bandcamp. Also, follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Top 20 Songs for May 1-7, 2016

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's1 Comment

1. SPIRITS – The Strumbellas
2. RIDE – twenty øne piløts
3. THE SOUND OF SILENCE – Disturbed
4. 7 YEARS – Lukas Graham
5. WALKING ON A DREAM – Empire of the Sun
6. OPHELIA – The Lumineers
7. GENGHIS KHAN – Miike Snow
8. COLOR – Finish Ticket
9. SOMEBODY ELSE – The 1975
10. 10,000 EMERALD POOLS – BØRNS
11. REAPERS – Muse
12. ALONE – Sun Arcana
13. OFF THE GROUND – The Record Machine
14. UNDER THE INFLUENCE – Elle King
15. BAD REPUTATION – Adelitas Way
16. PRETTY PIMPIN – Kurt Vile
17. THE POP KIDS – The Pet Shop Boys
18. I TOOK A PILL IN IBIZA – Mike Posner (N)
19. TRIP SWITCH – Nothing But Thieves
20. WOMAN, WOMAN – AWOLNATION (N)

CelloVein – “Bad Cellist” Album Review

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Artist Spotlight5 Comments

How can a cellist be bad, you might ask?  “Bad Cellist” is the name of the debut album from CelloVein, the alter ego of Halley Feaster, a gifted cellist who really wanted to be a badass rocker. She started playing the cello at the age of nine, but deep down just couldn’t imagine herself becoming a classical cellist – “much to the dismay and confusion of some of her teachers” she notes on her website. By bucking convention, Feaster was being “bad.” This album is the culmination of nearly 10 years of hard work and dedication to her passion: making music steeped in rock, metal and blues, all with her acoustic cello and 6-string electric cello. Who knew there were electric cellos?

While working at other jobs to make a living, Feaster wrote songs and perfected her craft by playing cello with cover bands, pit orchestras and local symphonies, and recording as backup to several artists. But realizing her music style was not the radio-friendly stuff that most music studios seem to demand, she founded her own music production company, Rock Solid Productions. She and her husband Michael built their own recording studio and, with her father’s assistance, produced this work of musical art.

Other than the two rock classics she covers on the album – “White Rabbit” and “Stairway to Heaven” – Feaster wrote the music and lyrics for all songs, which range from mellow, folksy tunes to heavy metal. The song “Isle of Apollo,” a bombastic barrage of screaming cello and wobbly bass, is metalcore confection and one of my favorites on the album.

“Bleus” is a superb instrumental that weaves back and forth between languid bluesy interludes and sensual, scratchy jazz riffs demanding your attention.

The beautiful cover of the Led Zeppelin epic “Stairway to Heaven” does justice to my all-time favorite song. Other than the acoustic guitar of Jon Finn, the rest of the strings are cello, which sound amazing!

Support CelloVein by following on Twitter or facebook. Check out more of her music on Spotify or purchase on itunes.

Top 20 Songs for April 24-30, 2016

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's1 Comment


1. RIDE – twenty øne piløts (4th week at #1)
2. SPIRITS – The Strumbellas
3. THE SOUND OF SILENCE – Disturbed
4. 7 YEARS – Lukas Graham
5. GENGHIS KHAN – Miike Snow
6. WALKING ON A DREAM – Empire of the Sun
7. OPHELIA – The Lumineers
8. UNDER THE INFLUENCE – Elle King
9. 10,000 EMERALD POOLS – BØRNS
10. COLOR – Finish Ticket
11. SOMEBODY ELSE – The 1975
12. BAD REPUTATION – Adelitas Way
13. PRETTY PIMPIN – Kurt Vile
14. REAPERS – Muse
15. ALONE – Sun Arcana
16. TRIP SWITCH – Nothing But Thieves
17. LOVE YOURSELF – Justin Bieber
18. OFF THE GROUND – The Record Company
19. THE POP KIDS – The Pet Shop Boys
20. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG – Adele

Annoying Rock Star Behaviors

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Commentary1 Comment

Many of us have been to concerts where the artist or band finally appeared on stage after keeping fans waiting a ridiculously long time, or played only new material, completely ignoring the old songs we love, or grossly overcharged for tickets, and so on. Thought I’d share this entertaining article by Andy Greene, entitled “The 10 Most Annoying Rock Star Behaviors,” that appeared in a 2013 issue of Rolling Stone.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-10-most-annoying-rock-star-behaviors-20130604

Artist Spotlight – Rubber Clown Car

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I was recently turned on to Rubber Clown Car, a three-man band hailing from Illinois. Undeniably, one of the best band names ever! Making the music are Dirk Prysby (guitar, lead vocals), Fred Beasley (drums, backing vocals, guitar) and Tony Pantalones (bass, keyboards and everything else).

Their quirky sound is an entertaining mashup of punk, grunge and 60s pop/rock, sort of a Guided By Voices meets The Kinks meets Barenaked Ladies. But don’t let the fun, catchy melodies and deft guitar riffs fool you into thinking their music is as whimsical as their name. Many of their songs have deeper meanings, laying bare the sometimes harsh realities of life, love and relationships.

One of the first songs the band wrote was “Home in the Suburbs,” featured on their debut album Make the Noise.  Band frontman Dirk Prysby stated the song was “about my parent’s dream of the suburbs and how it would solve all our problems (it didn’t).”  The song’s powerful, thought-provoking lyrics are incredibly honest from beginning to end:  “Darling, look at the flowers.  Just 30 more years, and all of this will be ours. Worked so hard to build our future, you spend so much time all alone. But now we spend so much time together, when the kids put us away in a retirement home.”

Rubber Clown Car’s latest album Let’s Pretend is a collection of 14 songs that really showcase the band’s wide stylistic range, from the introspective acoustic track “Vampire Polo Hats,” the hard-hitting “Send the Kids to War,” to the funky, danceable “Go, Go Girl.”  I love the lyrics “Daddy’s little princess never does nothing wrong. Behind the wheel she’s everything she’s not.”  

Show these guys support by checking out their website http://www.rubberclowncar.net/, following them on Twitter, and listening to their music on Soundcloud or Spotify, or purchasing on Bandcamp or itunes.

SunGhosts – “Indecision Incision”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Artist Spotlight6 Comments

You know those times when you first hear a song and are hit by a blast of adrenalin that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up? Well, that’s what I felt after clicking on a link to a Tweet by the Miami-based indie rock band SunGhosts, which led me to a video of them performing their song “Indecision Incision.” Immediately, I was blown away by their electrifying energy and lead singer Nik Balsiero’s fierce vocals. These guys rip their guitars to shreds, clearly having fun in the process.

The charismatic four-man band includes Nik Balsiero (lead guitar,vocals), Jared Steingold (bass), Arminio Rivero (guitar, backing vocals) and Luis Estopinan (drums, backing vocals). As the band states on their website http://sunghosts.com/, they play “the best surf rock sock hop punk rock your ears can taste! Serving up hot and fresh vibes of aggressive positivity. Listening to SunGhosts you have no choice but to be happy!” All true, and I couldn’t have stated it any better myself.

Take a listen to “Indecision Incision” and I promise you’ll be hitting the repeat button. Be sure to turn up the volume!

SunGhosts have a huge following in South Florida, but are gaining fans worldwide through their infectious and eclectic surf/punk/rock sound, not to mention artistic generosity. They recently made a highly entertaining video of their song “Til the City Goes Under” to help promote the Miami music scene and other area artists.

Support these guys and follow them on Twitter and facebook, and listen to their music on Spotify & YouTube, or purchase on iTunes.