Aussie-Pop! Where Have You Been All My Life?
November 20, 2008 by towerblog
It’s true that there’s the classic Seventies supergroup The Bee Gees and even now, Australian pop-songstress and teen Gabriella Cilmi, whose song “Sweet About Me” has been in top ten lists in at least 10 countries for the past few weeks.
But what’s really taking off is a new wave of Australian pop – just ask my headphones as of late. Bands like Van She, Cut Copy and LadyHawk have such hard-hitting bass lines, you’ll be dancing to the tunes stuck in your head for weeks. Let’s not forget about the Presets who recently toured North America with Cut Copy. The Presets, although recently having claimed a more ‘punk/electronica’ sound in their new album Apocalypso, have definitely supported the Aussie pop movement with their previous album Beams. Both of these albums are worth a listen!
Australians are also kicking international eardrums with a more pop-rock sound thanks to bands such as Kisschasy, Grinspoon and The Veronicas.
And finally, the most important shout-out goes to a rising popstar from ‘Down Under’ – singer/songwriter Sia, whose most recent album Some People Have Real Problems features the infectiously catchy tune “Breath Me.”
Give some (if not all) of these Aussies a chance. I dare you to try to stop your toes from tapping!
2008 CMA Award Winners
November 13, 2008 by Romy
This year’s Country Music Awards have come and gone, and with it a whole new batch of winners!
Lady Antebellum, a Nashville Trio of three vocalists: Charles Kelly, Hillary Scot and Charles Kelley won best new artists for their self-titled album. Be sure to check out the first track on the album, “Love Don’t Live Here” as it’s taking charts by storm.
George Strait won album of the year for Troubadour an album where he sings “House of Cash” with Patty Loveless as a tribute to the Country music great. Strait, who is a 25-year veteran of the Country Music industry was still overwhelmed by the recognition by the CMA for his efforts with this album.
Speaking of Johnny Cash, Reese Witherspoon was in attendance at the ceremonies — the actress who is probably best-known for her role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line.
Carrie Underwood won Female Vocalist of the Year, and she also hosted the Award show this year so you can imagine the funny scene that would have ensued had she awarded herself. And Kenny Chesney received Entertainer of the Year, which he maybe should have won in 2005 when he and Renée Zellweger were all over the news headlines
Nevertheless, congrats to the winners (and the other nominees) for the 2008 CMA Awards!
Exotica Singer Yma Sumac, 1922-2008
November 8, 2008 by Bob
Yma Sumac, legendary lounge/exotica singer of the 1950s passed away on November 1st, 2008 from complications with colon cancer. Perhaps best known for her 4 (and sometimes 5) vocal octave range, Yma Sumac was also known for her lending her voice in various Hollywood films. In fact, she was the singing voice of Aurora for the song, “I Wonder” in Disney animation, Sleeping Beauty.
Born in 1922 in Peru as Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chavarri del Castillo, Sumac decided on her stage name Yma Sumac before she even left Peru for her career in the US. Although false claims found in tabloid magazines during the 1950s believing her real name to be “Amy Camus” spelt backwards, would remain one of the most popular rumors about this incredible singer.
Perhaps most recently, Yma Sumac has made a return in the popular Ultra Lounge compilations such as Ultra-Lounge Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica, Ultra-Lounge Vol. 9: Cha-Cha De Amor and Ultra-Lounge Vol. 2: Mambo Fever.
Ready for More Soul Girls: Wine-not?
October 28, 2008 by towerblog
Although Miss Amy Winehouse has caused quite a stir over the past few years with her less than ‘lady like’ behavior, there is no doubt in my mind that she is more than capable of belting out some serious soul. She proved this with her album ‘Frank’. Amy has unintentionally put the focus on the UK, allowing the spotlight to shine on female singer-songwriters from her stomping grounds and surrounding areas.
Like artists such as Amy MacDonald age 21 from New Glasgow. Although she is a Scottish lassie, she sings oddly enough with an unmistakably Irish sounding brogue.
Be sure to check out MacDonald’s album ‘This Is The Life’.
24-year-old Duffy has also stepped full tilt into the spotlight with her hit song ‘Mercy’ from her album ‘Rockferry’, which went straight to number one. This made Duffy the first Welsh female to achieve a number one pop single in the past 25 years.
Last but most certainly not least is Tottenham native Adele, who has taken the United Kingdom by storm with her album ‘19’. With an amazing voice like hers, I suspect we will be hearing from this young soul singer for many years to come.
So check them out and judge for yourselves whether they deserve the fame, or whether they are destined for a short-lived ride on the controversial coattails of Winehouse.
The Kingston Trio Member, Nick Reynolds 1933-2008
October 3, 2008 by Danny
Rocktober has started and with it comes the sad news of Nick Reynolds, famed Kingston Trio member has passed away on October 1, 2008 at his home in San Diego, California of acute respiratory disease.
Reynolds was a Californian through and through and started the Kingston Trio in the 1950s with his friends Dave Guard and Bob Shane. Influenced by the Calypso movement with artists such as Harry Belafonte, but more importantly, the Kingston Trio are believed to have started the 1950s American Folk music revival. In fact, without Reynolds and the Kingston Trio it is questionable whether artists such as Bob Dylan or Joan Baez would have garnered the successes they have.
You may not have head of Nick Reynolds before now, but we owe him a great amount of gratitude for the state of rock n’ roll today.
