Brendan here again. In what may be a first for Muruch.com, I'm taking a second pass at an album which had been previously reviewed by my lovely wife, Vic. Kate Bush's 50 Words For Snow has become one of four released last year which have been added to my favorites collection (if you're interested, the [...]
Brendan here. Grace Weber's debut album, Hope & Heart, is a soulful collection of old-fashioned love songs. The album opens strongly with "Stay or Leave," available as a free download if you provide your email address at Grace Weber's site. You can also download and stream several other tracks from the album via the widgets [...]
While clearing out my review CDs and emails from the past year, I found this little overlooked gem from Big Scary's The Big Scary Four Seasons album. The music on the disc has a muffled, multi-voiced, Sufjanesque, indie pop-folk sound. The Big Scary - Autumn (mp3)* *mp3 hosted & posted w/ permission of band's PR [...]
When I reviewed Tori Amos' new classical-inspired album, Night Of Hunters, I said: "I hope the powers that be at Deutsche Grammophon can convince Tori to record a purely classical album next time around." My wish has been granted with the label's release of an exquisite instrumental version of the album entitled Sin Palabras (Without [...]
Escort is a seventeen-member "disc orchestra" led by singer Adeline Michele, and they're definitely one of the more unusual and delightful acts I've heard. Escort's self-titled debut will be released physically on January 31, 2012 and is already available digitally. I can't imagine a more fun and catchy album being released next year. Songs like [...]
Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Jeremy Denk joined forces for French Impressions. This elegant and lovely collaboration features eleven violin and piano interpretations of works by Camille Saint-Saëns, César Franck and and Maurice Ravel. French Impressions will be released on January 10, 2012. BUY @ AMAZON Joshua Bell Official Site
This year's top album list pretty much assembled itself throughout the year. The top 4 in particular are albums I expect to continue to listening to over and over for years to come. Click on the album titles to read the full reviews, purchase the albums, and, in some cases, download mp3s… Muruch's Top 25 [...]
I've been holding my Top Albums of 2011 post back for a few weeks awaiting the arrival of Florence + the Machine's new album, Ceremonials. It was a wise decision, for it will most certainly be on the list. While the British band's brilliant debut, Lungs, wrapped its bold drama and striking vocal acrobatics in [...]
Sugar & the Hi-Lows are Nashville singer-songwriters Trent Dobbs and Amy Stroup, whose previous duets have been featured on Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Bones, Private Practice and Parenthood. The duo's self-titled debut won't be released until February 14th, otherwise it would be a last minute addition to my best of the year list. This [...]
Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets is a new 26-track, 2-disc collection of pretty much all of Bob Seger's best songs, many of which were popular singles. I always forget how much I like Seger's music until I actually here it. The only song missing here is "Fire Inside," otherwise all my personal favorites [...]
Muruch's resident Sinatra expert, Brendan, shares his take below on the new Best of the Best collection featuring Sinatra recordings from both Reprise and Capitol Records. Frank Sinatra founded Reprise Records in 1960. He would have some very good years ahead, but his best years were behind him. A search for "Best of Sinatra" results [...]
The Naked & The Famous use catchy pop beats - similar to but not quite as melodic as The Good Natured - as a base for an unsual and somewhat theatric brand of electro-rock. Though the five-piece New Zealand band's debut, Passive Me, Aggressive You, is a bit uneven, it definitely has more hits than [...]
I love bands, such as The Concretes and The Bird & The Bee, who combine catchy electro-pop with airy dream-pop. British "pop-noir trio" The Good Natured does exactly that on their new album, Skeleton. What sets The Good Natured's songs apart is the occasional splash of exotic strings or thunderous, syncopated beats. I'm enjoying this [...]
I'm still torn on whether I really like Kate Bush's new album, 50 Words for Snow, or not. My opinion of the music seems to depend more on external factors, such as the day, location, and even weather, rather than my mood or the actual artistic merit of the songs. Listening to the CD in [...]
Local readers will need no introduction to Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., who is pretty much West Virginia's version of Susan Boyle. After he won America's Got Talent, it seemed the entire state of West Virginia caught Landau fever. The Logan County crooner has already played two of this month's three sold-out concerts at The Clay [...]
Chamber pop ensemble yMusic, who recently collaborated with Shara Worden for My Brightest Diamond's new album, have released their own debut full-length, Beautiful Mechanical. The yMusic album features works composed by My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden, St. Vincent's Annie Clark and Son Lux among many others. You can download a free, legal mp3 of "Skin [...]
Those who enjoyed my classic album posts may be happy to know that Smashing Pumpkins' first two albums, Gish and Siamese Dream, have been remastered and reissued as expanded editions featuring previously unreleased material. The newly "Deluxe Edition" of Siamese Dream is three-disc box set containing the band's remastered 1993 sophomore album, a disc of [...]
Mediaeval Baebes' latest release, Illumination, churns the all-female vocal ensemble's signature Gothic choir sound with even more exotic instrumentation, faster tempos and fiercer wails. The song cycle is brimming with dark drama, intoxicating rhythms and haunting choral harmonies that transport you to the Middle Ages. Stand out tracks are "Desert Rose," "The Blacksmiths," "Yonder Lea" [...]
White Shoes & The Couples Company are back with another catchy song. You can download a free, legal mp3 of "Senja Mengglia" from their new sophomore album, Album Vakansi below... White Shoes & The Couples Company - Senja Mengglia (mp3)* *mp3 hosted by & posted w/ permission of record label Buy @ Amazon
I thought I had posted about Class Actress (a.k.a. Elizabeth Harper) before, but apparently not. I love her airy electro-pop sound. You can download a free, legal mp3 of "Weekend" from her debut album, Rapprocher, via the Soundcloud widget below... Weekend uploaded by Class Actress Buy @ Amazon Class Actress Official Site
Muruch
Childish Gambino
The Shins: “September” (b-side of “Simple Song” 7”)
St. Vincent - 'Cheerleader'
OK Go - Needing/Getting - Official Video
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as In Paris (Explicit)![Niki & The Dove - The Fox [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/youtube/l2f6UbMnlq4_130.jpg)
Niki & The Dove - The Fox [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
Karmin – “Broken Hearted” and “I Told You So” 2/11 SNL
The Best Whitney Houston Covers: A Tribute
The Weeknd – D.D. (Chi Duly Remix)
