Melody Kills is the latest project from Brooklyn's Leslie Mendelson, one that takes the talented singer/songwriter from the Motown-tinged piano pop of her '09 debut album -- sadly overlooked in the midst of a record label shake-up -- into more Feist-ian indie art/pop territory. The few songs we've heard from the forthcoming album maintain Mendelson's way with a killer melody (!), but now the production is sharper, brisker and bolder. "Nowhere Slow" sounds like a modern Fleetwood Mac, with a driving, off-kilter drum beat, a rush of acoustic strumming and a bass line that would bring a [...]
The Grammy nominations are out and they are a bit poppier than usual. A little less Paul McCartney, a little more GaGa. We don't really care where the awards go, but the show is always fun. The highlights of the event are as goes: 10 nominations: Beyonce. 8 nominations: Taylor Swift. 6 nominations: Maxwell. 5 nominations: Lady GaGa, Black Eyed Peas. 3 nominations: India Arie. 2 nominations: Melody Gardot, MGMT, Dido, Pink, Jazmine Sullivan, Keri Hilson. 1 nomination: Royksopp, Leslie Mendelson, Imogen Heap, Kathy Griffin, Tracy [...]
New York transplant Leslie Mendelson has become a well-known folk songwriter in the Manhattan area, impressing with her breezy folk style that recalls classic pop artists like Carole King (perhaps her most obvious influence) and Laura Nyro. After self-releasing an album in 2005, Mendelson returns having won a label contract with Rykodisc and is releasing a second debut, of sorts, called Swan Feathers . It's a lovely singer/songwriter album that employs the likes of producer Rob Mounsey (Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Brian Wilson), guitarist James Maddock (Wood) and drummer Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors), but the focus remains on Mendelson's [...]
Way back in August of last year, I made this proclamation: Leslie Mendelson's album "Easy Love" will be the first great new release of 2009. Leslie's music leans on the pop with substance side. Comparable artists = the three Sarahs: McLachlan, Bareilles and Harmer. Mendelson is from NYC. She likes to bum around with James Maddock – who some may remember from the band Wood. Download this mp3. And when she hits the big time in '09, you can say, "Oh Leslie. I've been listening to her months." [...]
New York singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson describes her sound as a "lost Motown track", and it's easy to see just how and why that works on a more simmering soulful scale. Her new album Swan Feathers , just out this week on Rykodisc, has what we've called a "combination of laid back, sultry vibe and intelligent, piano-driven songs (that) may have some turning to the Norah Jones trajectory to find similarities in style and substance." Check out a "live in the studio" version of "Easy Love" to see if you don't agree. More DC [...]
Note: Album streams and MP3s may only be available for a limited time. Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Session Listen: Full Album Stream Buy It: Amazon | iTunes All Smiles - Oh For The Getting and Not Letting Go Listen: Full Album Stream Buy It: Amazon | iTunes [...]
New York-based singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson 's combination of laid back, sultry vibe and intelligent, piano-driven songs may have some turning to the Norah Jones trajectory to find similarities in style and substance. But with her pitch-perfect second album Swan Feathers arriving June 30, Mendelson is clearly her own creative force on an album that simply glows with an assured, reflective light and not a small amount of heat to boot. "A lost Motown track" is how she describes her [...]
The Late Greats says she will be a smashing success in 2009 and I agree. Listen: Leslie Mendelson - " Easy Love " (mp3) But that's really all I have about her at the moment, so listen enjoy and make sure to venture back here in the future for more Leslie Mendelson news. So let's talk about Steel Train. Silly boys who thought a plain jane band name would ever help them rise above in search engines...no seriously, it took forever to find anymore news about these guys. [...]
Leslie Mendelson's album " Easy Love " will be the first great new release of 2009 . Leslie's music leans on the pop with substance side. Comparable artists = the three Sarahs: McLachlan, Bareilles and Harmer. Mendelson is from NYC. She likes to bum around with James Maddock – who some may remember from the band Wood. Download this mp3. And when she hits the big time in '09, you can say, "Oh Les lie. I've been listening to her months." Rating: Ready for Grey's Anatomy [...]
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