It Takes Me Away

I was introduced to Milo Greene this past December as the opening act for The Civil Wars. They are a fun fivesome straight out of LA comprised of Robbie, Graham, Marlana, Andrew, and Curtis. They had all been working on other projects and had gotten together to pursue a collaboration with each other.

The thing they had in common? Harmony.

And they're friggin' good at it! It is really impressive for 5 people to be on the same page artistically and especially over harmony. What they produce is soothing. It is very easy on the ears, yet it stirs something in you to get you going. And I could just about listen to them all day over and over and not get tired of their sound.

Like The Civil Wars, they are very folky, but since they have more members, they can play more instruments. They have a set drummer, but there is one thing that's really unique about this band: the other four interchange on instruments played. It is quite an awesome performance element to see them transition from song to song and from instrument to instrument during they're set. I spoke with them after the show and they said they have to really think out their sets because of this. Who needs to be where at what time, will it be easy to cross over and under and around microphones? They have to take all this into consideration.

I thought it was just part of their gimmick, but this is just how they wrote the songs. Sometimes someone had a banjo in their hand and had a riff, another two with a guitar, and the one who didn't have an instrument would have to pick up the bass. If they didn't know how to play, they learned so they could fit in and help that song be. It says much of their commitment to their music and each other with being able to just fill in where needed. They're cohesive and do a fantastic job transitioning. If you watch the videos below, you may see where they cross paths from song to song.

I was sad that they only had a 3-song CD that they were selling while touring with The Civil Wars, but they informed me that they were headed up to Washington state this past January to get some studio time in...because after just 6 short months together they were picked up by Atlantic records! That's crazy, and impressive. On their YouTube channel they have released some clips of their new stuff and I cannot wait to hear their full-length project.

They're touring the West coast right now, and are currently in the mixing process of their LP.

Below are a few of my favorites:

This was their intro and the song "Don't Give Up On Me" in Charlottesville:

Often I play this one again and again and again. It easily gets stuck in my head:

"Cutty Love" was my favorite one I heard live:

And then a little love ditty for V-day, "1957":

These guys rock and I cannot wait to hear more from them! If you want more info, check out their Facebook page here.

This could get BIG in the indie/alternative/folk scene!

Take Me to Wonderland

This one has been a long time in the making. This is Natalia Kills. She is an English singer/songwriter. She is chic. She is sexy. She is dark. And has a unique voice.

You may have heard of her recently being featured on label-mates LMFAO's song "Champagne Showers." Sadly this song does not do her any artistic justice. She is very much auto-tuned and really doesn't display her talents. I learned about her this past May from a friend after she released her album Perfectionist in France and Germany, where she has gotten much acclaim. She hasn't yet hit it big in her native UK, or in the US, after it's release early this past fall.

Her first single (at least for the Euro scene) was "Mirrors"

As you can see, it pushes the boundary. It also has a gothic feel. I like to think about Natalia Kills as a darker Lady Gaga. She fits into mainstream pop with her ever so subtle suggestiveness and sensuality. And she writes about what we all know and love: relationships and money.

What was smart of her (or her label) was that they released an acoustic version of "Mirrors"

I mean she's no Mariah Carey, but she actually has a good voice. She's definitely not a Ke$ha.

She released "Free" as a single in correspondence with her album release date in the US with some help from will.i.am (the guy who got her signed to Interscope) who wasn't on the original track on the European version:

I think I like it better without him. But it's got that catchy "Get your 5s get your 10s get your 20s out" and it just talks about that fashionista in all of us and how we all love to go shopping and look super fly, but the reality is the majority of us have anorexic walltes and may even identify when she says, "Wear it once, I don't pop the tag, the next day Imma bring it back." I don't know about y'all but THIS could get big.

She also included a new track for the US release called "Kill My Boyfriend." The idea is a bit morbid, but it's hard to think so when the piano is just so light-hearted in the song. And when it came out, I think I listened to it on repeat for like 2 days.

She has some slower tracks that I really enjoy like "Broke," "Heaven," and "If I Were God."

And then this last one talks about that fairy tale-like story that we all want. Well how we want a fairy tale romance, but don't need the fairy tale part of it. Just a real relationship. Now there are two versions of the music video, one is a little more twisted and you can find it here. If not, you can just watch the censored version, both are an interpretation of the Alice in Wonderland tea party.

Rating: THIS could get BIG!

I think she will pop up like Lady Gaga, who got big abroad first and then blew up here in the US. Give her time. Soon the first suggestion you get when you type "N-A-T" in the Google search bar won't be the National Harbor, it will be this girl!

FUN. is. FUN!

I'm sure y'all are thinking I caught on the bandwagon late with this one. Which I did. Just a little. But right before one of their songs was featured on Glee. I was in the library, late at night when a friend asked me via text, "What is fun?" And I thought it was a Spongebob reference to the song about fun:

However he just told me, "fun is fun." So I decided to investigate and then spent the rest of the evening having them be the soundtrack to my final college paper.

FUN. (yes the period, or dot, whichever you prefer) is included. I'm sure for emphasis. Regardless, FUN. is a three man band from the Big Apple consisting of Nate, in charge of lead vocals (who used to be apart of the band known as The Format), Jack, who does guitars and trumpet (formally of Steel Train) and Andrew, who literally does everything else from piano and drums to flugelhorn and glockenspiel (formally of Anathallo). These guys came out with their first album back in 2009, called Aim and Ignite. I'm so sad I didn't find it earlier. Because it is SO GOOD!

iTunes classifies them as "Alternative" and many other sources have used "Indie Pop." And instead of trying to put them in a genre, I'll use other bands and singers you may know to give them a sound. I feel like they are the happy medium between Jack's Mannequin and The Avett Brothers. The difference I feel comes in more emphasis on bouncy piano riffs like Gavin DeGraw would use. Also, Nate (the lead vocalist), sounds like a cross between Mika and Don McLean. It sounds weird...but it works.

What's also helpful is that their music isn't super depressing. They address real life situations, and may touch on sad things, but they won't bring you to tears. I would say they like to take a reflective feel in the story-telling of their songs. But in all honesty if I had someone write and play a soundtrack for my life, I'd pick these guys to do it!

All that being said, my favorites from their first album are:

Light A Roman Candle With Me

I Wanna Be the One

Be Calm

Their song that was featured on Glee is "We Are Young" and it also features Janelle Monáe:

I am eagerly anticipating their sophomore album Some Nights set to be released February 21st! And I'm hoping for more upbeat, piano heavy jams!

Rating: this could get BIG - the band that is, they just need some more exposure! I'm excited to be seeing them live in May!

Shake Them Out

I'm driving all over the Southeast of the US and my current stop is New Orleans. I was just chilling in a local coffee shop (Fair Grinds) and songwriting and decided to take a break and do some musical browsing. And I stumbled upon an amazing group: The Alabama Shakes.

I feel like in order to stand out in today's music scene, you either have to have already established yourself years ago so that when you release anything new, everyone freaks out coughRihannacough, or you have to have a unique sound. And The Alabama Shakes have the unique sound. They're soulful. They're laid back. They're alive. They're bouncy. They're catchy. They're full of rhythm. Heavy on electric guitar. And bass. And I love them.

They recently stopped in Charlottesville, VA (what up UVA) and recorded some live acoustic tracks, I really like this one:

"I Found You"

And I wish the quality was a little better on this one:

"Be Mine"

Go ahead and youtube them. Or facebook them. They've got a lot of stuff. They have an EP out now and are touring exactly where I'm at in the next couple weeks. So if you're interested shake them out.

And this one is my favorite so far:

"Hold On"

And I can confidently say: this could get BIG

(this being the band itself).

Enjoy and listen on!