Thursday, February 4, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Lawson Rollins - ESPIRITO
That is a question we ask ourselves more and more as artists’ access to professional self –recording equipment flourishes. How much is too much? Fortunately, Lawson enlists an A-team of cohorts to coproduce: Persian-American musician Shahin Shahida of the Billboard Chart-topping group Shahin & Sepehr and multi-platinum producer Dominic Camardella (Ottmar Liebert, Flora Purim, 3rd Force). So in short, no. Espirito is a wonderful follow-up to his 2008 debut, Infinita. Rollins emerges even more fantastically as a clever songwriter, attentive to the small details and nuances throughout the album. It is a mashup of instrumentations and background, drawing on influences from such culturally rich locales as Spain, Brazil, Cuba, Iran, Afghanistan, and the U.S.
For those who only know Lawson by his uncanny, virtuosic ‘shredding’ on YouTube, Espirito unravels a world of jaw-dropping guitar chops, delicately balanced with the musical fundamentals of a celebrity cast. And if you’ve missed out on this Internet Sensation…
VOILA!
Monday, December 28, 2009
IRIS Twitter!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
December Updates
Artist: The Little Heroes
Album: Thank You
Street Date: November 10, 2009
Label: Wednesday Records
Following up on the success of their debut album entitled Cinematic Americana, The Little Heroes present a collection of sincere and endearing songs in their new album, Thank You. The Santa Barbara-based indie rock artist has met the approval and admiration of many music listeners since their November release.
According to Music Alley, Thank You is filled with sweeping melodies and all the components of a solid indie pop rock album.
“WE LOVE IT. We really do. The kind of sweeping melodic Valium that makes our stone-cold hearts like Coldplay.” - Billboard
“The Little Heroes have taken big steps with this album. The band’s rock element is quite apparent and has a definite Replacements-ish bounce in its step, at times letting guitars lead the way with the vocals and drums trying their best to play catch up. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how well they pull off the epic-like Coldplay or Snow Patrol.” – Pop Matters
Watch the video for their title track here!
Genre: Jazz
Artist: Sachal Vasandani
Album: We Move
Street Date: September 15, 2009
Label: Mack Avenue Records
On another note, jazz vocalist extraordinaire Sachal Vasandani released his second album, We Move, in September. Since his debut album released in 2007, Vasandani has matured as a songwriter, music stylist and bandleader.
"What makes a jazz singer has more to do with a set of tools and instincts, and by that measure Sachal Vasandani qualifies as one of the stronger new arrivals in the field." - NYTimes
"The record is a continuation of his debut, although there is a fuller, more mature energy...We Move has a bit more gusto than Eyes Wide Open, yet expect that same sedating, brilliant voice surrounding the sounds." - Huffington Post
Watch the video for his first single, “Every Ocean, Every Star."
To hear the latest alternative and electronic releases, tune into our weekly Stage 4 Podcast and check out the Stage 4 Alternative blog and the Electronic blog.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
A Bad Think’s “Life of a Grape” on YouTube!
Genre: Alternative
Artist: A Bad Think
Album: Simple Rhymes
Street Date: September 29, 2009
Label: Windmark Records
Virginia Beach-based A Bad Think is driven by the many talents of Michael Marquart – one-man wonder and former drummer for British Grammy Award winning band A Flock of Seagulls. Simple Rhymes, his sophomore solo venture, is produced much like the first album was. The album, available September 29, is cathartic and endearing. The listener can directly sense Marquart’s serene triumph over life’s trials. His music and lyrics alike are pensive and well thought about.
Check out the music video for “Life of A Grape,” the first single off of A Band Think’s upcoming album!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Brian Bromberg
Genre: Jazz
Artist: Brian Bromberg
Album: It Is What It Is
Street Date: August 25, 2009
Label: Mack Avenue Records
Acclaimed bassist Brian Bromberg has garnered a hard-earned reputation as one of the most versatile and respected players in jazz, producing an enviable music catalog of straight ahead and contemporary jazz on both upright and electric basses. Following on the heels of the successful Grammy nominated Downright Upright, is his fourth Artistry Music release – It Is What It Is.
Bromberg gets loose and funky throughout the 13 tracks on It Is What It Is, including his unique spin on the B52’s dance classic, “Love Shack.” The album is full of twists and turns, playfully rich with displays of texture only Bromberg can bestow on jazz. It is funky yet refined, lined with horns, waltzes, and ballads in addition to, of course, the main attraction: bass. Bromberg showcases the instrument and shows that the bass can handle the melodic spotlight.
Listeners can tell that Bromberg knows his art: each of Bromberg’s releases have had increasingly higher sales.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Shawn Stern on the 1s & 2s - KXLU in LA, TONIGHT at 1AM!
The Youth Brigade frontman has been asked to curate a featured show for LA-based KXLU's 'Stray Pop' (Stella's popularized Friday night PUNK show). Tune in to 88.9 FM TONIGHT between 1-3AM for a personal DJ set by one of the founding fathers of West Coast Punk. A perfect complement to your Friday night house party!
And if you haven't done so already, check out the Let Them Know documentary, premiering September 10 in LA! It WILL be epic:
