Sunday, September 18, 2011
Tift Merritt
A free spirit. A lover. An old soul. A rolling stone.
Her magic?
A voice that sings life with its heart on its sleeve. This can't be faked and it's so, so good.
Tift has a sound that stays with her throughout all her self discoveries that would modify her song-crafting. I suppose its her essence that doesn't escape her. And this is a brilliant thing because it's her essence that keeps her among her singular competitor, which is herself. No one can compete with her at this point in music. Past women singer+songwriters have expressed similar characteristics, but I can't think of one that can override Tift's offering while she's been sharing.
She shares stories drenched with simple openness. She doesn't make you guess a thing about what she is sharing. It's a moat that surrounds her and protects her in a way that you can't hold a thing against her. Anything she is is in plain sight. She's generous in this way.
It's immediately captivating.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Matt Nathanson
San Francisco-based singer-songwriter. He's made it onto Canadian radio! Yay!
His magic?
Catchy phrasing, unfiltered expression.
I would say Matt's musical fusion creates an uninhibited pop-rock with a sneaky emotional weight. At first listen you might think frat-boy. But no, not quite. Mainstream? Nope, not yet. Worth it? Uh-huh! And live, he's a hoot! Funny and crowd pleasing, his act is two thirds music and one third comedy.
His music doesn't veer off from what he is. It can't help but just be him. If you want to know what he is, then listen to him sing it. It's all there for the taking.
His magic?
Catchy phrasing, unfiltered expression.
I would say Matt's musical fusion creates an uninhibited pop-rock with a sneaky emotional weight. At first listen you might think frat-boy. But no, not quite. Mainstream? Nope, not yet. Worth it? Uh-huh! And live, he's a hoot! Funny and crowd pleasing, his act is two thirds music and one third comedy.
His music doesn't veer off from what he is. It can't help but just be him. If you want to know what he is, then listen to him sing it. It's all there for the taking.
Jakob Dylan
Formerly the lead singer-songwriter for The Wallflowers. Currently a solo singer-songwriter.
His magic?
That husky, deep voice that often sounds restrained - and you just want him to let it out.
Jacob had a couple of hits with The Wallflowers but after their major hit single, One Headlight, they just couldn't keep the attention of mainstream listeners.
His, now second, solo album, Woman and Country, displays his authentic strengths; using his words strategically and simply, singing them with 'his magic', and basing all of that on a mostly acoustic foundation.
It's honest, unapologetic and sweet.
His magic?
That husky, deep voice that often sounds restrained - and you just want him to let it out.
Jacob had a couple of hits with The Wallflowers but after their major hit single, One Headlight, they just couldn't keep the attention of mainstream listeners.
His, now second, solo album, Woman and Country, displays his authentic strengths; using his words strategically and simply, singing them with 'his magic', and basing all of that on a mostly acoustic foundation.
It's honest, unapologetic and sweet.
Amos Lee
Smart and intentional songwriting, Amos Lee provokes the buried consciense in the everyman/woman
Mat Kearney
The Oregon to Nashville, Boy Wonder. But really, where did he come from?
His Magic?
A heart of gold that weighs on love, commitment, and truth.
Vocals that confidently - in the quietest way - call us all to action.
What a lucky discovery, Mat Kearney, was for me! I heard some song on the radio, that was cool, kinda' mellow, not trying - just being - worth it. The guy's voice sounded, to me, a cross between Adam Duritz (of Counting Crows) and Chris Martin (of Coldplay), but it wasn't either. So I had to investigate.
Sometimes you do find that pot of gold.
A thing of pure beauty is what Mat Kearney's first full length album is. Nothing Left To Lose uses 'spoken word,' sweet, sweet vocals and, simple soulful acoustics. It sings stories of triumph, perseverance and love.
Live, and in person, he is gracious and humble - but he, generously, puts is all out there and gives it all away.
His Magic?
A heart of gold that weighs on love, commitment, and truth.
Vocals that confidently - in the quietest way - call us all to action.
What a lucky discovery, Mat Kearney, was for me! I heard some song on the radio, that was cool, kinda' mellow, not trying - just being - worth it. The guy's voice sounded, to me, a cross between Adam Duritz (of Counting Crows) and Chris Martin (of Coldplay), but it wasn't either. So I had to investigate.
Sometimes you do find that pot of gold.
A thing of pure beauty is what Mat Kearney's first full length album is. Nothing Left To Lose uses 'spoken word,' sweet, sweet vocals and, simple soulful acoustics. It sings stories of triumph, perseverance and love.
Live, and in person, he is gracious and humble - but he, generously, puts is all out there and gives it all away.
Matt Mays
Matt Mays is chopping down 'hits' and taking the best pieces to reuse them with honesty, artistry and the average man's walk of life. And he does it in plaid, eh.
His Magic?
What surrounds him and feeds his soul: Northern lights, tall trees, wicked winters and angels.
His Magic?
What surrounds him and feeds his soul: Northern lights, tall trees, wicked winters and angels.
Ray Lamontagne
An artist spills out of a hesitant man, whose hesitation is a mystery, for it holds an artist ~
His Magic?
Ghostly soulful expression. Just try to describe it.
While listening to Ray, anything going on around can easily become secondary. He sings, yes, but he is asking you to join him; to step into his world. And he's a humble and unassuming host. He just wants you to hear him and stay a while. To deny that would seem cruel as his voice and sentiments are so delicately woven that a disruption of the smallest magnitude is foiled into becoming an abrupt offense.
Each album offers Ray and his consistent brilliance, but each album also pivots slightly, to match his evolving perspectives and appreciations.
When things are too good to be true there is often some scepticism that forms around it. Sometimes I think ‘maybe he’s just another pretentious, self indulgent, sensitive artist type, and he’s just really good at disguising it with an authentic and genuine facade.’
What do I really know? Not him. So, I’m taking him for what he generously offers, what he precisely creates and what I hear;
reflection, curiousity, gentleness, hope, mercy
His Magic?
Ghostly soulful expression. Just try to describe it.
While listening to Ray, anything going on around can easily become secondary. He sings, yes, but he is asking you to join him; to step into his world. And he's a humble and unassuming host. He just wants you to hear him and stay a while. To deny that would seem cruel as his voice and sentiments are so delicately woven that a disruption of the smallest magnitude is foiled into becoming an abrupt offense.
Each album offers Ray and his consistent brilliance, but each album also pivots slightly, to match his evolving perspectives and appreciations.
When things are too good to be true there is often some scepticism that forms around it. Sometimes I think ‘maybe he’s just another pretentious, self indulgent, sensitive artist type, and he’s just really good at disguising it with an authentic and genuine facade.’
What do I really know? Not him. So, I’m taking him for what he generously offers, what he precisely creates and what I hear;
reflection, curiousity, gentleness, hope, mercy
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