Waking Ashland
The Well
Available April 17
We all know about rock 'n' roll, punk rock, grunge rock and indie rock, but is there really such a thing as piano rock? Waking Ashland is, by far, one of the best candidates since Billy Joel to prove that 88 keys and strong vocals can have mass appeal. And if you think all bands that rely almost solely on a piano sound the same, think again. Waking Ashland can hardly be linked to the likes of Keane - the most recent sans guitar band to become popular - mainly because it hasn't sold out. But perhaps the greatest strength Waking Ashland possesses is the harmonizing vocals of lead singer Jonathan Jones. He ably carries each song, from the melancholic overtones on "Drought of 2001" to blithe cheerfulness on "Diamonds in the Hillside." And, truth be told, I thought I was listening to Jesse Valenzuela of the Gin Blossoms on the track "Mark Like Mine." "Sinking is Swimming" enters a mellow, dreamlike reality where piano chords and vocals mesh into a single fluid sound. There's a certain amount of emotion and maturity that comes from a piano, and Waking Ashland has channeled its abilities honestly.
If you like this music, you might also
enjoy:
Cities - Anberlin
Eat, Sleep, Repeat - Copeland
The Everglow - Mae
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James Morrison
Undiscovered
Available Now
If you haven't discovered James Morrison's Undiscovered, you're definitely missing out. He has the soulfulness of Stevie Wonder, the singer-songwriter abilities of John Mayer and, I suppose, the Britishness of James Blunt. Armed with raspy vocals, a guitar and a backup comprised of pianos and strings, Morrison strips his songs of fancy studio-enhanced techniques. His music is just that - music, plain and simple. Morrison is nothing if not brooding. The euphoria of a romance in bloom in "You Give Me Something" segues into a nasty breakup in "Call the Police" via "One Last Chance," which recounts his
realization that he has made one too many life mistakes.
While Undiscovered may have its darker moments, a true highlight comes with the title track. It's a peppy, feel-good, "everybody has their awkward moments" type of song. Other songs definitely worth taking a listen to are "Under the Influence" - surprisingly, it's not the song leading into "One Last Chance" - and "Better Man" - a true acoustic love song. Already a big hit in Europe, Morrison will soon have this side of the pond thinking that we're "not lost, just undiscovered."
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
Costello Music - Fratellis
Memory Man - Aqualung
Continuum - John Mayer
Rich Boy
Rich Boy
Available Now
Rich Boy may rap about expensive cars, beautiful women, parties and even more expensive cars, but rest assured, he hasn't always been in the rap game's lap of luxury. Growing up in Alabama, he was exposed to positive and negative influences, and he raps about both experiences. On his first and self-titled album, he scored some big-name artists such as Lil Jon, John Legend, Outkast's Big Boi, the Game and Nelly. Though featuring a guest artist on every other track can often detract from the rapper's talents, Rich Boy and his production staff struck a happy medium. His first single, "Boy Looka Here," illustrates Rich Boy's southern roots with a twang in his voice and laid-back beats. While some of his songs may lack in substance, such as on "Throw Some D's" and "Touch That Ass," it is the beats that will carry them to the top of radio and album sales charts. With songs like "Ghetto Rich," Rich Boy will soon be on his way to claiming that his name is more than a street moniker.
If you like this music, you might also
enjoy:
Street Love - Lloyd
Luvanmusiq - Musiq Soulchild
Konvicted - Akon
