Levi Goes *Pop*
I was recently implored to check out Pop Levi, whose music was described to me as “Bowie meets Prince.” Ummm…sign me up!
Only a year after his first full length, The Return to Form Black Magick Party, Liverpool’s own Levi Pop is set to release a follow up this summer, titled Never Never Love. Surprisingly, the Bowie meets Prince descriptor is somewhat accurate, although there’s a good helping of electro pop thrown in as well. It also reminded me a bit of what I’ve heard from Alan Wilkis.
I’ve listened to the album a few times now, and continue to enjoy it more with each listen, particularly the dance-oriented tracks. Here are two of my favorites:
Pop Levi – “Wannamama”
And the video for the title track, Never Never Love:
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=SNLkZJ7kALU 336 278]Never Never Love is slated for a July 15 release, but it appears that it will only be available as an import for now. But keep an eye out – I’m sure a US release (digital or physical) will follow.
Jon Regen: Live!
Maestro (and all around nice guy) Jon Regen checked in from the road with an outstanding live recording of his single “Let It Go” from the record of the same name (which you may recall got a good bit of spin time here at Ickmusic East). Recorded in Vienna, Austria it features Jon in a trio setting burning up the keys. Jon has a couple more dates lined up in Italy and will be visiting the UK in September. Hopefully he’ll have a few US dates in there as well.
Jon Regen – Let It Go (live) (MP3)
Tour Dates:
July 19: Griziane Festival – Griziane, Italy
July 20-28: La Ghironda Festival – Puglia, Italy
September 25-27: Pizza Express Jazz Club – London, UKBuy Let It Go: CDBaby | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
What the Kids are Listening to: Katy Perry
Getting a high profile shout out from Mama Madge when you’ve not even released your first record sets some damned high expectations. From what I can tell of young Katy Perry it seems like she has the ability to deliver with some bombast of ‘shock and awe’. She’s got a hell of a voice and a wicked sense of humor. Think of her as the US answer to Lily Allen with a Cyndi Lauper grade voice. And while it’s not exactly taboo these days to admit to some same-sex tomfoolery, admitting to screwing around on your boyfriend with a chick just for kicks is, well, yeah.. not so taboo. Either way it’s got a funky beat and I can bug out to it. Enjoy the video and be sure to check the parodies that are cropping up all over…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F06DyWU2F8 425 355]
Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl (Video)Bonus: Check out her truly excellent (albeit loose) cover of The Outfield’s “Your Love”. This scores instant points with me as this one of my favorite 80’s tunes:
Katy Perry – Use Your Love (Last.fm)
Pre-Order One of the Boys: Amazon
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
New Tunes: Junior Pantherz
My completely random dip into the Inbox tonight yielded a pretty catchy tune. The group is Junior Pantherz, and though the name elicits images of a junior varsity high school basketball team, or a football team of little kids – you know, the kind that Snoop Dogg coaches – you can’t deny a good pop song when you hear one.
The Pantherz hail from the great white north, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Their 6th album, Rejoice, Remain, will be released on May 27th (though it’s currently available on iTunes). The band is made up of Terry Mattson (guitars/vocals), S.J. Kardash (bass/vocals), Maygen Kardash (keys, trumpet, vocals) and last but definitely not least, Arnold Van Lambalgen II on drums. The best drummer name since Bun E. Carlos, if you ask me.
Junior Pantherz – On and Off (mp3)
Buy Rejoice, Remain on
Website: Junior Pantherz.com
Jon Regen – Let it Go
Photo: Merri Cyr
Sometimes an album just hits the mark. Let it Go is one of those records. There is something to it that just feels like home. I’ve spent two weeks soaking up the tracks, something that as Pete pointed out in a recent post is sometimes hard to do with all the music we listen to. Jon Regen has taken on the singer/songwriter genre from a point of view not often seen. The New Jersey native has a Jazz pedigree but the heart of a pop songwriter with the ability to make words and music move your heart through the arc of a relationship’s highs and lows.
From the first notes of the opening title track through to aptly titled “The Last Song” there is no emotional stone left unturned. I really struggled with what tunes to share with you all as there are no duds here. I choose the heartfelt “Better Days” and the beautiful “Finding My Way Back to Me”. Check these out and pick up the record at the links below so you can tell all your friends that you were listening to this guy before he hit it big.
*Note: I’ve reloaded the audio files and they should be working now. My apologies to those who have tried to listen.
Jon Regen – Better Days (MP3)
Jon Regen – Finding My Way Back to Me (MP3)
Buy Let It Go: CDBaby | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
Video: Sebastien Tellier’s Divine
From the inbox. This was instant gratification for me. It’s too early for a summer song. How about a new spring song of 2008? From French artist Sebastien Tellier. We’re going international baby…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz58Hw9hldw]
First Listen: Kensington Prairie
The perfect compliment to a cold and rainy day in New England, the debut record from Canada’s Kensington Prairie is one of the finest slices of Dream Pop I’ve heard since The Sundays Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. The heart and soul of the group is Rebecca Rowan (singer/songwriter of Vancouver’s Maplewood Lane) whose voice drifts gently over the lush layers of guitars, mandolins and Rhodes pianos. Simple and emotional the songwriting is first rate with themes of life’s recollections, love, yearning, and lonesomeness. The record opens with the nostalgia of “Time on Our Side” and makes its way through nine thriving tracks fading with the closing track “Dissappear From View” leaving you wanting more.
The full length debut Captured in Still Life will be released April 22nd. For now check out the lead off single “Crooked Things Straight”. There are a few more tracks available for preview at the group’s official site (including my personal favorite “Letters That I Send”).
Kensington Prairie – Crooked Things Straight (MP3)
Links: Official Site | on MySpace
Seeing George Michael
I’m going to see George Michael in concert. In June.
There, I said it! Say what you will, brothers and sisters, but George’s music has always connected with me. I’m a sucker for his voice, the great melodies he puts together, and dammit, I’m not afraid to share it with the world! Actually, that shouldn’t surprise any of you who have spent any amount of time here.
I count Faith and Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 as two of my favorites. “Kissing a Fool“, “Father Figure“, “Freedom 90“, “Waiting for the Day“…. and as a Prince fan, “I Want Your Sex” has always ranked high in my Raunchy & Funky Hall of Fame.
But if I had to pick one George Michael song for my desert island iPod, I ‘d pick “A Different Corner”, from Wham’s third and final album, Music from the Edge of Heaven. Sublime, beautiful, filled with aching & longing. If you write ol’ George off for any reason, maybe you should take his advice, open your mind, and “listen without prejudice.”
RIP Jeff Healey
Canadian guitarist Jeff Healey passed away Sunday at the age of 41 after a long battle with a rare form of retinal cancer. Jeff had been blind since infancy due to this cancer.
“Angel Eyes” was one of those songs that hit right in my formative years (1988). I was 18 years old, in love with my high school sweetie, and a song like this came along to sum it all up. Truly a great tune.
Jeff Healey Band – Angel Eyes (LastFM full song)
Kanye’s updated Billie Jean
For the 25th anniversary of Thriller, the reissued CD includes some contemporary versions by the likes of the ubiquitous, overrated and overhyped Will.i.am, Fergie, Akon, and Kanye West. Ol’ Kanye offers up “Billie Jean 2008”. After hearing it, all I have to say is: “Wow!” Like, “Wow, what a piece of shit!” Adding a signature Kanye beat and uttering a couple of “Uh Uh”s is talent? They thought this would enhance the reissue of one of the greatest albums in music history? Not to these ears.
It made me think of the Live Earth performance where Kanye joined the Police for “Message in a Bottle”. It made me think of the awards show (AMA’s or Grammys?) where Jay-Z barked in on Paul McCartney & Linkin Park singing “Yesterday”.
Maybe it’s cross-genre synergy they’re shooting for, but it does nothing to showcase the talents of a good rapper / MC. Watch these, and tell me, does screaming “Yeah” and “Uh Huh” over otherwise great tracks enhance them in any way? Are there really people out there who hear & see these who think to themselves: “Woww, Kanye/Jay-Z is a genius, man!!”
I don’t get it.
“Billie Jean 2008” (Kanye West Remix)
