Last Wednesday I had the privilege of interviewing Max Holmquist of The Great American Desert , a folk artist that we featured here on TBT for the first time a few weeks ago. While sitting at a coffee shop in Denver, Colorado, Max talked to me on the phone about a number of things from his background in music to his interest in people and place and the different ways in which these subjects come [...]
There is nothing that I love more than discovering a new artist... that feeling that you get when you hear a new song and need to know who sings it right away; or the feeling that you get when a song touches you a certain way, strikes just the right chords, makes you feel great, and reminds you of why you love music so much in the first place. I immediately got these feelings when I first heard the song " You're The One I Want " by folk duo Chris and Thomas [...]
Just over a week ago, on Friday June 15th 2012, I had the privilege of seeing Kristian Matsson of The Tallest Man on Earth in concert at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto, Ontario. I have been wanting to write a review for some time now, but as we all know, sometimes work and the real world can get in the way. Nonetheless, I am writing to all of you now to let you know just how amazing the concert really was. Having already [...]
The past few weeks have been great- school is done for the summer and I haven't yet started working, so my days have consisted of spending time with my friends and scoping out new music to share with all of you. Today I introduce you to I am Oak , the indie/folk work of the musician Thijs Kuijken . Based in The Netherlands, I am Oak has been described as providing "warm and soothing songs with an acoustic guitar and vocal backbone, complimented with strategically placed layers of colorful vocal [...]
Living and studying in beautiful Australia (as I am now) definitely has its drawbacks… Like cramming my brain in preparation for nearly impossible exams while suffering in the winter cold for the month of June. It’s JUNE! I should be basking in summer warmth right now. Ya, I know, Australia is a gust of wind compared to Canada’s winter chaos, but why can I not just have sun 24 hours a day and warmth 365 days a year? Is that so much to ask for?! Anyway, during my daily procrastinating routine of eating, complaining, and finding new music, [...]
Max Holmquist , the talent behind the folk band The Great American Desert , is a musical inspiration to me. Raised in a small town, he began his career at the age of sixteen under the name South of Lincoln and performed songs about home and heartbreak before launching his now folk-inspired career. Driven by a desire to sing "honest songs and stories of broken folks..," Holmquist changed his stage name to The Great American Desert and set off on his [...]
About a year ago, I was in the car with when I was introduced to the 11-piece sounds of "Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes" through a song that has truly taken off, this song being the group's hit, "Home" . After that day I was addicted to the band's unique sound through their previous album titled "Up From Below" . One of the things I fancied about L.A. based, "Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes" is [...]
Those of you who have been following my posts on This Bonus Track most likely know by now that I am a huge fan of the singer-songwriter genre. I can't help but admire the pure and natural talent of so many of these artists, and I am constantly drawn to the soothing melodies that a number of them provide. When I came across the work of Jesse Marchant , a singer-songwriter who goes by the stage name JBM , my reaction was no different... I was instantly hooked on his [...]
Who is Rhye ? That is a good question………… Not much is known about this mysterious Los Angeles based electro-pop duo. The band has left no trails, tracks, or prints. Not a smidge. Both their Facebook and Tumblr pages have kept their identities completely concealed. There has been some speculation of the possibility that the twosome has European backgrounds and both are also members of two well-known bands. But then again, the lead singer could very well be my mum and I’d have no clue. What I am certain about is that Rhye [...]
Azealia Banks is one Bad@$$ B*tch. Listen to her voice and her beats… it just reeks of swagger. Real tough independent woman swagger. It makes me wonder why I never decided to become a rapper. If you don’t believe me, here is a preview of her lyrics (some of my favourite lines): I'm f****ing with you, cutie-q What's your d*** like homie, what [...]
For the first time in my life, I watched an entire season of American Idol this year. I have not always been a dedicated fan of the show, only catching glimpses here and there of the contestants throughout the years as my mom watched religiously from our family room. However, when I tuned into the audition rounds and saw 21-year old singer-songwriter Phillip Phillips audition this past season, I was immediately hooked. I wanted him to win, and tuned in every week to see if he made it into the next round. [...]
Yesterday we were treated to the newest album from John Mayer titled, "Born and Raised" . I'm a big fan of John Mayer and have been waiting for this release for a long time now. This album is a bit of a wild card when it comes to John Mayer . This newest record really is a collection of all his best sounds. All the John Mayer albums, in my opinion, have only [...]
Dante Kinnunen , or better known by his stage name Dante , has unearthed my wandering soul. Based in Stockholm, current drummer of the Swedish indie band, The Concretes , (and my new beloved artist of the month), recently kicked off his solo career this past year with release of his debut EP, “ Next To You .” Inspired heavily by Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, and a wide range of reggae music, Dante flawlessly charms the globe with his beautiful voice and enticing melodies, [...]
Kristian Matsson , the singer-songwriter from Sweden who is better known by his stage name The Tallest Man on Earth , needs no introduction on This Bonus Track. He has been featured here time and time again, and as huge supporters of his music, we are excited to share with you the newest single off of his much-anticipated album " There's No Leaving Now ." Slated for release in just three weeks, the countdown to the new album is officially on; and if the track " 1904 [...]
After release of his new EP, “ Into the Flame , ” Matt Corby , Australian singer-songwriter from Sydney, Australia, has gained quite the following from his recent lead track, “ Brother. ” With a soulful, smooth, and tantalizing voice, Corby has again proven his talent and teased the world with another preview of what is to come. “ Souls A’fire , ” also off the new EP, provides a more bluesy, chill, chug-a-few-brews-with-my-mates -in-the-summertime type of atmosphere. [...]
A couple of years ago while browsing the iTunes store, I came across a single of the week from a Canadian artist that I had never heard of before- Jon Bryant . Impressed with the beauty of the track, I went in search of his other work and quickly became a fan of the soft acoustic style that characterized his debut album " Two Coasts for Comfort ." Today, Bryant releases his second album titled " What Takes You ," and from the first listen, I can [...]
Anyone who knows me, knows that Radiohead has to be one of my favourite bands. From albums such as " OK Computer " to " Kid A " they have truly ruled the world of Experimental Alternative Rock. Radiohead is currently on tour with their 8th studio album titled " The King of Limbs ". " The King of Limbs " was the second Radiohead album to [...]
I have long been a fan of Rachael Yamagata , a singer-songwriter from Virginia who is well-known for her bluesy indie songs that have been featured in numerous television shows including The O.C, Grey's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, and One Tree Hill. Her two studio albums, " Happenstance " (2004) and " Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart " (2008), are cherished members of my CD collection and have been listened to time and time again; and so when I learned that Yamagata had released a new [...]
My favorite Hasidic Jew is back with a new soulful tune to kick this summer off right. Matisyahu was thrown into the spotlight over the past few years because of his unique image as an orthodox Jew who could generate beautiful reggae music. However aside from his image, Matisyahu is an amazing artist who pours his heart and soul into every song. His album, Youth (2006), is one of my favorite albums to listen to all the way through. [...]
After really enjoying Pep Rally and most of Leap Year , I had really high expectations for Hoodie Allen 's new album All American . In both these previous mixtapes, Hoodie blends witty lyrics with great samples and beats. I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, this guy's got serious potential." That being said, I listened to All American a few weeks ago and was a [...]
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