Mega stars U2 release a new album, named SONGS OF SURRENDER
on 17 March. An album with 40 reworked/reimagining tracks of their
glorious past.
The Edge about the project: “Music allows you to time travel, and we became
curious to find out what it would be like to bring our early songs back with us to
the present day and give them the benefit, or otherwise, of a 21st-century
reimagining.”
Artist: ANNIE CAPPS Who: Singer-songwriter based in Chelsea, Michigan. Best known for a long performing career with my partner in life and music, Rod Capps. Together they released 8 studio recordings of mostly original material.
An all-women supported project spanning the U.S. and into Canada. The album came
to life with contributions from over 40 artists whose exceptional talents culminated into
a sonically lush, emotionally charged production,
Annie: “The songs that started bubbling up found me excavating in the way back times
of my life. They represent a reckoning of sorts, a closer look into painful memories that
didn’t feel safe to explore. These songs showed up right when they were supposed to and
I couldn’t be more proud of the way they’ve come to life, thanks to an extraordinary
community of nearly 40 women who joined me on this journey.”
TUTV: Expect a mesmeric mix of country, folk, pop, and introspective balladry.
Gripping musings, candlelight romanticism and tenderhearted tunes, with Annie
Capps‘ starry-eyed voice as the most emotive instrument in the spotlight of the
overall melancholic sonoroity. References? Somewhere between Dolly Parton‘s
touching sentimentality and Big Thief‘s poetic splendor. Universal emotions of
love and sadness. Human stories, mixed emotions.
It’s almost 4 years since musical centipede BECK released his Hyperspace album.
But he didn’t sit at home on his lazy butt, watching TV and eating
popcorn all that time. He collaborated on tracks with Gorillaz, Paul
McCartney and many more. He also performed multiple times as
a guest on other artists’ shows.
And this week, he appeared at the Recording Academy’s All-Star
Grammys tribute to Californian legends the Beach Boys.
Now out of the blue, the former loser shared a tender ballad
called THINKING ABOUT YOU. A song he played live a couple
of times.
Band: GIRL WITH A HAWK Who: Singer/songwriter Linda Viens‘collective of Boston rock legends producing gorgeously emotive
indie rock with Americana, garage, and punk roots.
Info: In 1998 Linda Vien’s brother was arrested for armed robbery. A long-time
heroin addict, he had used a toy gun wrapped in a bandanna to rob a convenience
store. He was sentenced to 11 years in a Federal Prison, and had to leave his wife and his two young children behind. He was released in 2010. During his time in prison Linda drove from Boston monthly to visit him During those visits, Linda witnessed the devastation of her brother’s separation from his young family and witnessed firsthand the damage and pain caused by long term, and in some cases, unjust incarceration.
Same Stars was written from her brother’s point of view; from a sister’s vantage point of empathy and sorrow in identification with his daily suffering, shame, regret and grief. In the end of the song, as in the end of the story, he is released into the world a free man who has paid his debt to society, and who must find his family again and begin the long journey of reconciliation and healing.
Same Stars is a heart-and-soul touching story, a longing ballad,
a bittersweet siblings love-inspired reverie with Linda Viens‘s moving
voice sending shivers down your spine. Stirring.
But you see the same stars as me
And someday your daddy will be free
And we’ll ride through the night,
And everything will be alright,
you’ll see, you’ll see
Fabulous soul crooner SAM COOKE was born on 22 January 1931.
Happy 92 to the eternal legend who made 11 LPs and who scored several hit
singles. One of them was BRING IT ON HOME TO ME (more than 230 million
streams on Spotify) which he wrote/released in 1962. It was later covered by
megastars such as Otis Redding, John Lennon and Rod Stewart.
Cooke was killed at the age of 33 on December 11, 1964, at the Hacienda Motel, in L.A. Answering separate reports of a shooting and a kidnapping at the motel, the police found Cooke’s body. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, which was later determined to have pierced his heart. R.I.P.
British guitar pop combo WOLF ALICE worked their way up, since 2010, to one
of the best bands in the UK. In 2018 they won the prestigious Mercury Prize with
their 2nd album Visions Of A Life and their third longplayer Blue Weekend,
released in June 2021, is their most successful one, so far.
“With a bold, genre-defying sound that melds his soulful vocals and prominent vocal sampling with pocketed beats inspired by trap, UK garage, and bass music, Luke Petruzzi is a rising talent in electronic music. Drawing inspiration from diverse artists like James Blake, Four Tet, and Ivy Lab, Petruzzi composes unique tracks that manage to feel ethereal yet relatable. The music showcases his love of taking creative risks and embracing intuitive spontaneity to uncover a novel artistic vision.”
TUTV: Photographs is a heartfelt and moving musing in motion. The bewitching combination of glistening synths, echoing vocals, and an overall vulnerable and
delicate feel makes this sensitive reflection pretty special.
Artist: SHIRAsheWho: Songstress born in upstate NY to Israeli parents. After finishing
her service as a singer in the Israeli Army Band, she moved to NYC where she studied music and theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and The New School. After graduating, Shira met music producer Paul Carbonara (Blondie) as a performer in New York’s vibrant theatre community. Shira recorded two albums produced by Carbonara along with an ace six-piece band, including Israeli-American Grammy-nominated drummer Dan Pugac
Shira: “The holidays can be a tough time. Three years ago was extra hard for me when I was alone, sheltering in place, during the pandemic, while my partner was stuck on the other side of the ocean and I was dreaming of having him here with me in NYC. There’s a certain magic in NYC around the holiday that really doesn’t exist anywhere else. I hope this song brings comfort to whoever is listening and reminds them that they’re not alone. “
Shira‘s angelic voice, think Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten is the star on this new romantic ballad where melancholia and romanticism come together beautifully and touches heart and soul. No better time for these nostalgic sentiments than the Xmas holidays.
The accompanying is a beauty too. The Big Apple in white.
WOLF ALICE worked their way up to the British indie
top over the past 12 years with 3 notable albums.
This year they join the long queue of artists who cover a Xmas carol classic.
They picked the 1872 poem, titledIN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER by Christina
Rossetti, put to music in 1906 by composer Gustav Holst put music to it.
Countless versions of Holst‘ composition were recorded/performed afterward.
TURN UP THE VOLUME 