August Picks

August had some hard-hitting moments, but, overall, it has been a low-tempo month. Grab a glass of wine and prepare to chill.

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/fluid3sally/playlist/7zIi3us5BauPo4ab3jNVkF

YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5-H-9C1SLfe8WNyobfqXz_ziLMLhIELH





Hey Violet - Brand New Moves (EP)
Former members of Cherry Bomb dropped an EP with some brand new beats and dance grooves. Really excited about this new sounds, hoping there will be more to come. bonus: score +1 for LA in the running for Spunk capital of the world.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgvLDZ7VCb0



Prophets of Rage - The Party's Over (EP)
Former members of Rage against the Machine have reunited with Zack de la Rocha replaced on vocals by ... none other than the great Chuck D! along with B. Real from Cypress Hill and DJ Lord. (LA/NYC)
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIiyoUZTHNM



Angie Stone - Covered In Soul
the name says it all. covered in soul. covered in funk. several classic songs refunk-dafied. From South Carolina, I think.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sApB1BVErE



Lauren Aquilina - Isn't It Strange?
UK singer/song-writer. nice tunes.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdolfB1yAeE


Black Foxxes - I'm Not Well
from UK (the new British invasion?) full-length debut, some hard chops.. a very solid record. 
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVvXYJV48cE


Thee Oh Sees - A Weird Exists
new one not on Spotify, but what I've heard of it sounds really good. From San Fran.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zFFwnDyz7k


Blues Pills - Lady in Gold
soulful singer/song-writer sound from Sweden since 2011
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmHugBTGDPM


Dinosaur Pileup - Eleven Eleven
formed in UK in 2007. one of the hard-hitting standouts for the month
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPr1JR1Iu3w


Haley Bonar - Impossible Dream
singer/song-writer with hints of country (yes, I'm ok with that) and dream-pop. From South Dakota and other parts of the USA including Portland OR. Fits the easy-listening theme emerging this month
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS2VcTFqckM


Wild Beasts - Boy King
cuz I needed a group from London on this list. jk. these guys have some cool beats and riffs. a unique sound worth checking out.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llinXvTKKQU


Jem - Beachwood Canyon
this record is not on Spotify (yet) and I have not heard it, other than the single, which is very soft.. but a good song. I enjoyed her previous two records, and I'll be eager to check this one out when I can.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT7B9p5CiWc


Miyavi - firebird
this guy has some damn-fine riffs and high-energy records. from Japan. Bonus: one track features Julie Bones. full record not yet on spotify.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCco_YBsU3w


Singles:

• Nina Diaz - watch! - http://www.npr.org/2016/08/25/491342637/nina-diaz-tiny-desk-concert
• Bones UK - watch! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl4JFFeBEUw&list=PL5-H-9C1SLfe8WNyobfqXz_ziLMLhIELH&index=6
• Kidneythieves
• Noisettes
• Saint Motel
• The Griswolds
• The Shadowboxers
• Phantogram

Heavy

September Mourning - Volume II
This dropped very end of July, so I'm counting it with August. an outstanding hard-rock record
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGhVoUapFXU


Delain - Moonbathers
Symphonic metal band formed 2002 in Holland. a lot of good stuff on this record, worth the time it takes to unpack.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmo06CrXP4M


Oops I missed it

As December Falls - When You Figure Out You're Wrong Get Back to Me (July)
check out this review by HeyItsLauren (http://heyitslaurensblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/album-review-as-december-falls-when-you.html)



Close but nope:
some readers may be interested in the new records below.. didn't quite do it for me

• Dinosaur Jr
• Florence and the Machine
• A Day to Remember
• Of Montreal
• De La Soul
  

New Record: Jeff Beck and Bones

I did not see this coming. I was not expecting a 60's era critics-choice rock figure to produce something new and exciting. But Jeff Beck has really done something interesting here.. well played.

The best thing about this record is probably his choice of players. He recruited the British duo "Bones" aka Rosie Bones and Carmen Vandenberg to contribute instrumentally and vocally, and, it appears, also to the song-writing. Rosie delivers a large dose of spunk on the mic, in a way that makes the songs light-hearted, playful, and fun.

This is set against some wailin blues guitar and some hard, heavy riffs. The mix holds together well.

Jeff Beck's career goes back decades, to a time when he played with Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds (the type of band that VH-1 or RollingStone would put near the top of a best-of list.) It is interesting that Clapton also had a new record this year.. with a much different result. Clapton's was soft, boring, and old. A lot of it sounded like something BB King might have done 70 years ago.

"Loud Hailer", on the other hand, sounds modern.. like it could be a new band's first record. Hard-hitting riffs and funky grooves that sound fresh. Songs that tell the story of now.

Lyrically, it is very socially conscious and thoughtful. I'm not sure the song-writing contributions from each member, but I will definitely pay more attention to Mr. Beck, and now to Bones (search for "Bones UK").

well played old man, well played.

samples below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujz-c_nDWHA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-TEk2rUscM