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Friday, August 10, 2012

Joshua Radin Does More Than Scratch the Surface with "Underwater"

Joshua Radin has been doing an excellent job mining the same sensitive singer-songwriter territory as John Mayer. That soft voice melts stoic hearts. The frank emotional honesty builds a reputation. "Underwater" is a nifty set of journeys into the most naked of subjects. It's hard not to smile at the earnestness of "The Greenest Grass". Bet you know someone or are the someone who knows of a girl who makes time seem to melt into the realm of the unimportant. I'm digging the shuffle steps of the percussion here. It lends itself well to the delicate contours of Joshua's voice. "Lost at Home" rings bells as a pensive rumination on being at home with yourself trying to solve the riddle of what your identity is. As the man sings "If you speak, do they hear?" The set isn't all tension wrought orchestral heft and fragility sent to the breaking point though. "Where You Belong" has that springing out of bed to greet the world likability that comes with knowing there's a special person in your life you can't wait to meet back up with. The guitar on this track promptly runs off to the races inside of the first two seconds. It's a welcome change-up from the introspection that tends to be the order of the day. If a man in touch with his feelings in a profound way touches you on some level then "Underwater" is one collection of music that will leave you not wanting to come up for air sooner than is necessary.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Alanis Defuses Cosmic Havoc with "Guardian"

My my my. Hasn't Alanis Morissette come a long way from the woman scorned 'Jagged Little Pill" days. The first single tapped from "Havoc and Bright Lights" is as reassuring as a gay romp through a country meadow. Alanis 2012 isn't pissed as hell at a betraying lover. Quite the contrary. On this track she's promising to be the abiding soul who watches over him for life. This open hearted spirit becomes her. The Buddhism has to be paying off in spades. She marvels at how her man has endured inhumanity, profanity, and out and out undiluted miseries. She rewards his patience be vowing to stick by his side. The gentle attitude gets buoyed by a stellar brew of well-placed piano notes with just a touch of guitar oomph to let audiences know that, even though the new and improved Alanis may have long since put her "You Oughta Know" ferociousness in the rear view mirror, she still has an unmatched vocal presence that only gets more enticing the more she replaces her closed fist with an agreeable hand. Less angst means more room to let her raw vocal strength burst through. A commanding choice of single bound to turn heads and prompt reassured sighs from Morissette mavens globally.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Yellowcard Alive With Possibilities

There's a spring in the step to "Here I Am Alive" the latest cut culled from the band's "Southern Air" album. The guitar is jazzed up in a peppy framework. The drum's timing is spot on. Most of all, lead vocalist Ryan Key brims with no small shortage of optimism. Dark clouds have rolled past. He's in reflective mood wishing he could tell the kid of yesterday what the adult of today knows now. He's glad to have come through the fire in one piece. What's more he assures people he's the better man for it. This tune wraps itself up in the warmth that only comes with having a better idea of how to be comfortable in one's own skin. Longineu W Parsons keeps impeccable time. His sticks serve as the direct transmission point for all that eager embracing of what comes next. With so much about contemporary society erring towards grim despair it's nice Yellowcard is here to administer thoughtful doses of antidote. Fie to the doubters of potential being realized. "Here I Am Alive' delivers proof that these hurdles can and will be overcome.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Nelly Furtado Cranks Up The Dance Factor In The Parking Lot

Nelly Furtado has an unrestrained, unencumbered joy for dance harmonies that in all likelihood comes from some mysterious spiritual place. "Parking Lot" a peak hour club thumper lifted from the soon to be on everyone's iPod offering "The Spirit Indestructible" allows the more and more divine all the time Ms. F to let loose with the slinky dance vocals she pretty much has the patent clinched for. Sure it's not overly sexual like "Promiscuous" or beamed down from on high as was the case with "Say It Right" but still this effort has car stereo vibrations written all over it. Don't be surprise if you hear this one rattling the homeboy rides from New York to L.A. and all points in between. Key to the earthquake thunder is a pulsating drum that goes all battering ram on everyone. It commandeers your attention like a migraine only this actually feels splendid to both head and ears. It's Nelly's heart that steals the spotlight as she stirs the pot for what's destined to be more than one parking lot celebration. Thankfully only some scattered keyboard flavoring is added to the mood. That means Nelly owns the show. She knows it from the first stanza and in time the masses at large will be put on notice too. Such a hang loose endeavor with ample payoff.