It’s kind of crazy that Coldplay has been out there for 15 years, but yet they’ve been cranking out moody, introspective music successfully for quite some time. While their sound has evolved and changed with the times, the same core feeling and mood, led by Chris Martin’s singing, has thankfully remained intact. Continue reading
Category Archives: Music
Required listening: Cartoons
In the late 90s, novelty dance acts were picking up a bit of momentum. One such act, at least in Europe, was Cartoons. I became introduced to them while on a school-sponsored trip to Italy (my only such trip to Europe, alas), and saw their music video for “Witch Doctor” on TV. I picked up the album while there. Continue reading
Required listening: Tamia’s “So Into You”
Another long and exhausting weekend, but so worth it. So in lieu of a longer post today, here’s a song that I can’t believe is now 15 years old, featuring a young Tamia and the production hand of Quincy Jones. Enjoy!
Sounds of the Seventies: Pharrell Williams edition
Last year, Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk unleashed a surprising left turn with the instrumentally-driven disco number “Get Lucky.” It was a great return for both Daft Punk and Pharrell, who had been quiet for awhile leading up to it.
Pharrell’s career, meanwhile, has rebounded thanks to the song, with “Happy” now making the rounds. But it’s a second collaboration between Daft Punk and Pharrell that’s got my ears perked. Continue reading
Changing my mind about Avicii
When Avicii first saw mainstream success with “Levels,” I was a bit baffled. I didn’t really think the song was particularly different than other instrumental tracks of the genre, and while I was happy to see a dance song see success, I poked around a bit more of his catalog and thought the music felt a bit same-y, which for me is a turn off when it comes to dance music. Continue reading
Kylie Minogue album sampler surfaces
A quickie during Coronation weekend, and yes, it’s another Kylie post. But the album sampler for “Kiss Me Once” has surfaced on her channel, and this looks to be a bit of a mixed bag. Continue reading
YouTube has everything: Karen Carpenter’s aborted solo efforts
Karen Carpenter was still a vocal powerhouse when she passed away, way too young, in 1983 at the age of 33. The New Haven, Conn.-born singer struggled with anorexia for a large portion of her adult life, and eventually it became too much for her body to take. Her legacy stands strong more than three decades later, with a number of stellar efforts recorded with her brother, Richard, as the duo The Carpenters. Continue reading
Required listening: Texas
If you haven’t heard of the band Texas, you could be forgiven. Despite the name, the group is a Scottish band that has been releasing material together for 25 years now. Efforts to break them stateside have never really worked out, despite the group’s consistently strong output, but they’ve had success in other countries. Continue reading
Getting into an artist with one song… but which?
When someone recommends you check out an artist, it can be an exercise in frustration if you need to know how to enter their catalog. A new site in beta by This is My Jam, That One Song, attempts to declutter the situation by using the recommendations of many to define the definitive song. Continue reading
Annie makes a quick return with protest song, short film
Up until now releases from Annie were separated most times by years, leaving people awaiting new material from the talented and critically acclaimed artist. But just a few months after the release of her “A&R” EP, and timed for the start up the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Annie has released a song protesting Russia’s anti-gay stance, and paired it with a short film. Both were released today. Continue reading