Up To Our Ears

Sound Snack: Michael Kiwanuka

Lydia — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:04:00 +0000

I discovered Michael Kiwanuka while reading Nylon Guys over the weekend. Even before I got to the part about him signing with a label co-founded by Ben Lovett (of Mumford & Sons) and spending the fall supporting Adele on her European Tour, I was intrigued by his “old soul vibe” so I looked him up on YouTube. I immediately fell in love with “Home Again” and it’s been on repeat all weekend.

Home again
Home again
One day I know
I’ll feel home again
Home again
Home again
One day I know
I’ll feel strong again

Sound Snack: Midnight Lion

Lydia — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:00:04 +0000

I’ve been obsessed with Midnight Lion’s “Sleeping in the Woods” since Ally McCrae featured it on BBC’s Scotland Introducing podcast last June. The band’s Sleeping In The Woods EP is out 13 February.

Sound Snack: Gregory Paul

Lydia — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:05 +0000

Gregory Paul is an excellent banjo-player I saw busking last month at the first Starbucks near Seattle’s Pike Place Market. He’s got some albums on Bandcamp and I highly recommend them to anyone who likes old-timey stuff.

I’m already happy (new Ben Sollee song)

Lydia — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:00:27 +0000

Basically everything Ben Sollee does makes me happy. Right now, I’m specifically happy about the new song he’s offering for download on his website.

Because what’s cooler than a cellist-singer-songwriter? A cellist-singer-songwriter who not only covers a song from the 1920s, but samples a Fletcher Henderson recording of that song! My inner musicologist is freaking out with excitement right now.

“Then I’ll Be Happy” is Sollee’s “new” track that will be on his new LP out in the fall — after a live recording he’s releasing in the spring!

thanks for all of your support! enjoy a new song from my full-length release due in the fall. hope it makes you happy! bensollee.com—
Ben Sollee (@bensollee) January 11, 2012

Sound Snack: Big Bill Broonzy

Lydia — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:00:44 +0000

I’ve got the old-school blues playing today…

Ten Artists for the British Bit

Lydia — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:33:54 +0000

Those of you who know me know that I love British culture. As an excuse to share that love with other people and to get bit of a byline, I started a weekly column called “The British Bit” in my school’s online magazine last spring. I took a break from in the fall while I was off campus on an internship, but I’m back at it this quarter and I’m very excited for my first column of 2012: Brit bandwagon: artists you should listen to now. It’s about ten British musicians who are under the radar in America — five who released albums in 2011 and five who might just blow up in 2012. Rather than rehash what I wrote there, I’ll let you go read the column for yourself…

http://northbynorthwestern.com/story/the-british-bit-under-the-radar/

Sound Snack: Alphabet Backwards

Lydia — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:03:48 +0000

I came across Alphabet Backwards on BritScene last night and “Taller” hooked me. The lyrics sound like they come from the mouth of child trying to grow up too fast. Set to the such a cheery melody, I find lines like “if I was taller/just a little bit taller” endearingly bittersweet.

Happy Halloween

Lydia — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:00:21 +0000

Here’s a short playlist for Halloween.

1. ZOMBIES — It’s not Halloween without “Thriller”

2. ALIENS — Katy Perry’s “E.T.” but sung by Pentatonix on The Sing Off.

3. WITCHES — “I Put a Spell On You” by Screamin Jay Hawkins – such a creepy and delicious classic.

4. WEREWOLVES — “Heads Will Roll” is basically the only song by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs that I actually like.

5.GHOSTS — Words cannot express how much I love “Ghostbusters.” It’s even a ringtone on my phone — thank you Catherine Tate.

Sound Snack: Charlene Soraia

Lydia — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:00:14 +0000

So there’s this new Twinings commercial that features a cover of The Calling‘s “Wherever You Will Go.” I’m just going to come out and say that I kind of hate that song. But as I was watching the commercial for the first time, I’m really digging it, not recognizing it. And then I realize what it is and I can’t believe how beautiful and nuanced it is. There are actually several songs that I prefer covers of to their original counterparts, but I think it’s pretty cool that a reinterpretation can cut through my prejudice against a song and show me that it’s actually a good song.

Anyway, the artist covering it is British singer Charlene Soraia and I can’t wait to check out more of her work. Her full-length debut Moonchild will be out (I’m assuming only in the UK) in early November.

Sound Snack: Nicola Roberts

Lydia — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:00:19 +0000

Nicola Roberts, a member of the popular British girl group Girls Aloud, released her debut solo album Cinderella’s Eyes in September. I haven’t heard it yet, but I did just stumble across her first two singles on YouTube.

I quite like Nicola. Mostly because she’s the ginger one. But also because I like her voice and she has such a sweet face. It’s that face that really does it for me in her “Lucky Day” video. The song is very catchy, but her video lends it certain cheekiness that makes it more fun. I do wish she would put on some jeans, though. Or at least some shorts?

I’m still undecided about her other single “Beat of My Drum.” It felt a little too monochromatic in the beginning and the “oh don’t it make your heart go wow” lead-in to the chorus sounds like sandpaper on skin, but the chorus totally pops. It reminds me of the Ting Tings but with more actual singing than talk-singing (and at least Nicola’s talk-singing is better than Ke$ha’s. But I repeat, does this girl not own any trousers?