Hurts

Hurts (MySpace, facebook, YouTube, Twitter) is a duo from Manchester comprising Theo Hutchcraft (vocals) and Adam Anderson (electronics, guitar). Formed in 2009, they were number four in BBC's Sound of 2010 list. They have released two singles from their forthcoming album called Happiness (RCA, September 2010) - video clips below.


(from Hurts MySpace)

Described as 1980s inspired electro-pop, their sound is rather more sophisticated, with a stylish look to go along with it.

clip for 'Wonderful Life'


clip for 'Better Than Love'


See also live performance on German 1LIVE.

Over the Rainbow

Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole's Platinum selling hit "Over the Rainbow" official video produced by Jon de Mello for The Mountain Apple Company



Iz was one of the most successful musicians from Hawaii. Sadly, he passed away in 1997, aged 38 from weight-related respiratory illness. His memory lives on through his music.

Clueso - Gewinner (live)

Performed at 1LIVE KRONE in December 2009. Clueso took out single of the year with Gewinner, and also awarded artist (Künstler) of the year.



One of my favourite songs.

I'm New Here by Gil Scott-Heron

The Guardian has raved about Gil Scott-Heron's new album I'm New Here and rightly so.



clip for Me and the Devil

Clueso

Clueso (MySpace), real name Thomas Hübner, from Erfurt is one of the best musicians from Germany. He began performing 15 years ago at age 15, releasing his first vinyl in 1998. Clueso began as an hip-hop artist before turning to reggae and then pop.

His style now is quite sophisticated in the vein of Jason Mraz, if not better. I find his word play extraordinarily clever. Clueso's last album So Sehr Dabei was released in 2008 and was number three in the German charts for that year (a live version album was also released in 2009). All of Clueso's music are available from iTunes.

Clueso (from his MySpace)


Album cover for Weit Weg


Album cover for So Sehr Dabei


clip for 'Gewinner' from the album So Sehr Dabei



clip for 'Niemand an dich denkt ' from So Sehr Dabei

Short Note

Last year, I wrote about Matt Finish.

The video clip for Short Note (1981) is now available. The song has also recently been remixed with orchestra and it is amazing - if a little sad for people like me who remember the original at the time.



There is also a clip of lead singer, Matt Moffitt's hit, 'Miss This Tonight' from his solo album As Little As A Look



Unfortunately, As Little As A Look was only released as a vinyl LP in 1986 (and possibly cassette tape) and has not been released on CD by Sony BMG, which inherited the rights from CBS Records.

Auletta

Auletta (MySpace) is the name of a town located in Italy and the name of a relatively new indie-style band from Mainz, Germany. They formed in 2005 with lead singer (and guitarist) Alexander Zwick, guitarist Martin Kloos, drummer Johannes Juschzak and bass guitarist Daniel Juschzak.

Their style is actually more post-punk and represent a new fresh sound in German pop. They signed with EMI Germany and released their first album Pöbelei & Poesie on 2009 June 23, available from iTunes worldwide.

press photo of the band


album cover for Pöbelei & Poesie


clip for song, Meine Stadt


clip for song, Ein Engel kein König.

Auletta Ein Engel Kein König - MyVideo

check out more clips from YouTube Auletta band channel

Spleen United and The William Blakes

Both are groups based in Denmark. Their cover version of Kate Bush's 1985 hit Running Up That Hill is really good.

the high Fs

Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen, the second aria by the Queen of the Night in Mozart's opera Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) is one of the most difficult arias to perform, ranging over two octaves from F4 to the almost supernatural F6.

It is difficult enough for most sopranos. I was blown away to see it performed by a treble (boy soprano).

This clip is of Robin Schlotz in July 2005 when he was 13 years old. He was a member of Tölzer Knabenchor (a famous choir) in Munich.



Though not perfect and one would not expect so from a 13 year old boy, reaching the high Fs was incredible.

Here are another 40


And someone's top four


A recording of Edda Moser's rendition is featured in Yoyager's Golden Record to share with the universe.

Nada Surf - Blonde on Blonde acoustic

Here is a great acoustic version of Blonde on Blonde - one of my favourite songs of all time.

Okkervil River

Okkervil River (MySpace) is an indie rock band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 1998, they signed with independent label Jagjaguwar, based in Bloomington, Indiana. I only have the last two (fourth and fifth albums), which are brilliant.


B. Cassidy, T. Nelsen, J. Meiburg, P. Pestorius, S. Brackett, W. Sheff

album cover for the highly acclaimed Black Sheep Boy (2005)


album cover for The Stage Names (2007)


album cover for The Stand Ins (2008)


clip for 'Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe' from The Stage Names


See also YouTube channel OkkervilRiver

November playlist

Joel Macdonald and Troy Selwood over at mac-bunno.tv (their blog) are two players with the Brisbane Lions and music is an important part of their slickly produced videos of the happenings at the football club, and off-field adventures.

Since portable music players were invented (remember those Sony cassette tape Walkmans?), music has been an important part of game preparation.

Anyway, Joel (jmac) put up a playlist for October of what is current on his iPod.

Similarly, here is my November playlist (of full albums) -

Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Okkervil River - The Stage Names
Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
Army Navy - Army Navy
Kaiser Chiefs - Off with their Heads
Nine Black Alps - Love/Hate
Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns
What Made Milwaukee Famous - Trying Never to Catch Up
What Made Milwaukee Famous - What Doesn't Kill Us

Glasvegas

I first wrote about Glasvegas on 19 January 2008. Their album will finally be released in Australia on 7 November.

I couldn't wait and ordered the CD+DVD from amazon.co.uk, which Kim brought back from her recent trip to the UK.

album cover for Glasvegas self-titled (debut) album


The album doesn't disappoint and was worth the very long wait.

Gritty, working class and raw, Glasvegas has a fresh sound that touches a nerve. If you like Hard-Fi, you'll love Glasvegas.

Autour De Lucie

Autour De Lucie (MySpace) is a French pop/rock band consisting of vocalist Valérie Leulliot, guitarist Olivier Durand and bassist Fabrice Dumont. Their sound reminds me a little of Camera Obscura.



album cover for Autour de Lucie (originally as L'Échappée belle)


clip for 'Sur Tes Pas'


live clip for 'Je Reviens'


clip for 'Personne N'est Comme Toi'

Jason Mraz - wordsmith

Jason Mraz (MySpace) is an amazing singer-songwriter from Richmond, Virginia who has a wonderful way with words.

I came late to Mr Mraz, back in 2006 after the release of his second album. His third has been a long time coming and it was worth the wait.



album cover for Waiting for My Rocket to Come



album cover for Mr. A-Z


album cover for We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things




live performance of Curbside Prophet from the album Waiting for My Rocket to Come


clip for Wordplay from Mr. A-Z


clip for Life is Wonderful Mr. A-Z




clip for I'm Yours from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things


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