Paul Michel - Always Right

Hey Everybody,



So when I listen to Pandora at work, I always take note of the awesome tracks Pandora recommends for my listening tastes. Pandora doesn't always get it right, but it definitely did this time.

I've this piece of paper with this song in it for probably months now, but I don't always get to my work list as soon as I would like to. But Pandora, played it again, and I said to myself, time to blog. And it's the first posting for the third public mix, Wiki Mix Volume V (There were two mixes before the blog was made).

I actually just went on a Paul Michel fest, and bought three albums from amazon for a total less than 20 bucks. Amazon.com is awesome. I will have a further posting on bbqchickenrobot.com in the near future outlining the best of the three albums.

Paul Michel is a singer songwriter from D.C. Make sure not to go to paulmichel.com, unless you want a short story writer from Seattle. Paul's website is pmichel.com

If you like this song, check out another track called Higher Than.

Hope you dig.

-G

The second mix has arrived, the third has begun

Alright everybody, the second mix has officially been completed. And if you look at the last 17 posts you will know which songs have been chosen, but now there is also an order to the eclectic samples. I knew that the song order would be important because good music should affect your mood, and I don't think your mood should change back and forth 17 times within a single CD.

But I am trying something new with this mix, because mix CDs in the past usually consisted of the same vibe and same feel. But because I have been reading music blogs, mags, and listening to anything I can get a hold of, the variety of great music is out there and I would be doing anyone injustice by sticking to an exclusive genre. But before I go on, here is the mix list.

#) Artist - "Track" - Album
1) The Lodger -"Good Old Days" - Life Is Sweet
2) Jacks Mannequin - "Spinning" - The Glass Passenger
3) The Rocket Summer - "Break It Out" - Do You Feel
4) Chester French - "The Jimmy Choos" - She Loves Everybody EP
5) Little Jackie - "The World Should Revolve Around Me" - The Stoop
6) Pop Levi - "Dita Dimone" - Never Never Love
7) Jamie Lidell - "Little Bit of Feel Good" - Jim
8) Marc Broussard feat. Sara Bareilles - "Why Should She Wait" - Keep Coming Back
9) Band of Horses - "The First Song" - Everything All The Time
10)The Very Most - "Good Fight Fighting" - The Very Most
11)Kevine Devine - "Not Over You Yet" - Make The Clocks Move
12)Raining Jane - "Incline" - Paper Nest
13)Miou Miou - "Avant le Voyage" - La La Grande Finale
14)Ingrid Michaelson - "The Chain (Live" - Be OK
15)Anberlin - "The Unwinding Cable Car" - Cities
16)Sigur Ros - "Gobbledigook" - Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust
17)Bon Iver - "Skinny Love" - For Emma, Forever Ago

In a few words, this is how I would describe this record. Find an upbeat beginning to wake you up transitioning into music that will keep you company as you walk, study or work and then finally transitioning song by song into a place of rest and contemplation.

The first four tracks are meant to bring an upbeat tempo and some catchy hooks and choruses to start your listening. Little Jackie brings the sole R&B song, to the record, and you shouldn’t be surprised if you start hearing more and more of this artist soon. In track 6, the kimono wearing Pop Levi, gives us the most eclectic track on the record with a style I had never heard before.

Lidell and Broussard bring a little taste of blues, soul and funk. Band of Horses with Track 9, is really a transitional song, and the album from that point changes and goes into a mellow direction. Track 10-14, all build up to the grand finale of track 15, 16, and 17. Don’t get me wrong I am not truly giving all these tracks the justice they deserve. To find more elaborate descriptions of why I chose each artist and song look at previous entries.
That being said, the last three songs could be a record in itself. Imagine a road-trip with nothing in front of you or behind you, just your headlights on the open road and the music and conversation that accompanies you. That, is the last three tracks. Enjoy.

Find this iMix on iTunes, called Wiki Mix Volume IV, or listen to the tracks on the blog mixtape17.blospot.com. Looking for more indie? Indie Hip-Hop? More good stuff? Don’t go to AM/PM, go to bbqchickenrobot.com

Jack's Mannequin - Spnning

Sorry for the little break guys, but this is the 18th post on the blog meaning I have finished another 17 song mix. And I wanted to make this last song perfect.

I now have to determine the order, and will be working on that for the holiday season. If you want a mix, leave a comment with an address, I'll do my best to get it to you. Also, if you want to be AWESOME, and support the artists, I will also have an iMix available on iTunes.

Jack's Mannequin has released another album entitle the Glass Pssenger. His song writing and catchy melodies are still intact, but the Lost in Transit Album was so good, I think it was hard to follow. Much of the album does not fall far from the last album, the song American Love sounds eerily similar to MFEO II: You Can Breathe.

But man this song is catchy, and I felt I needed that for the album. The Resolution, another song off the Glass Passenger Record, is the single being pushed, and is signature Andrew McMahon.

I'll be working on the album order in the coming days.

Thanks!

Ingrid Michaelson - The Chain (Live)

Ingrid Michaelson has released a new record this past October entitled, Be OK, following up her last successful record, Girls and Boys.

This is my favorite song on the record, and even though I featured Michaelson with 'Die Alone' on the first mix, I needed this song to appear on the next mix. This song was made a 'round' with multiple voices echoing the exact same lyrics at different intervals. Kind of hard to explain, but you will understand as soon as you listen to the track.

When I first listened to the track, I thought Michaelson used a recording device to record herself and then, did the round on her own, over and over. But then I thought of how hard that would be. But if you listen more closely, you can hear the distinct and separate voices that meld together so well. Thank you Priscilla Ahn and Allie Moss for the contribution.

The lyrics are quite poetic.

'So glide away on soapy heels...'
Describing what seems to be a lost love...just barely. Like both parties didn't want to leave each other, but slowly and eventually it just happened.

'Promise not to promise anymore'
Like the promise to stay with her was broken, so if her significant other made any more promises, it was to never promise anymore because of the loss felt.

'But if you come around again, I will take, I will take, the chain from off the door'
If her significant other came back, she would open the door of her life and heart. Almost as if her love did not come back her heart and life would be forever locked.

Sappy? Sure, but to say so little and have so much meaning = good lyrics. You can't just hear, I had to listen to the track more than once to find meaning for myself, and you might analyze the track quite differently.

If you want to listen to more track from the Be OK record, check out the other blog I write for: bbqchickenrobot.com. That blog covers all genres and has multiple writers, so it is constantly being updated.

I have added the track to the mix tape player above, but if you want to listen to the quality recorded version, you can listen to it here.

I also added a video of the track to the left.

Little Jackie - The World Should Revolve Around Me

A few weeks ago, I had a lot of time to just peruse my way through MySpace looking through new music. And I have to say I spent maybe 2 hours to find only a few songs. There is great music out there, but there is also a lot of music that sounds the same. But finding Little Jackie was truly refreshing. This group offers a change from the last few posts with their pop/r&b/hip-hop sound.

Imani Coppola (vocals) has collaborated with multi-instrumentalist Adam Pallin to form Little Jackie, and release their album, The Stoop, this past July. Pallin recently worked on American Idol alumni Elliot Yamin's debut album. Coppola is best known for her her 1997 top-100 hit, Legend of a Cowgirl.

Coppola and Pallin actually did not work on the music together, but recorded the music and vocals separately. Pallin stated that this setup created a juxtaposition of what the music suggests and what she actually says. And I definitely agree.

This track can be compared to the same sound as the Black Eyed Peas, others have compared the duo to Gnarls Barkley.

But in any case, listen to the track. Another one I am fond of is the title track, The Stoop, off the same record.

Raining Jane - Incline

I was lucky enough to see Broussard, Raining Jane and Sara Bareilles at the Wiltern this past Sunday. I wasn't sure what to think of Raining Jane at first. But after their live 'acoustic' set, they made a positive impression.

Mai Bloomfield splits lead vocals with Chaska Potter. Their voices are so distinct yet mold together quite nicely. You can hear the voices melt together in the choros of this chosen track, Incline. Bloomfield also plays a wicked cello for a good portion of their set.

Becky Gebhardt plays the bass, but also busted out a sitar for the last few songs. A SITAR. Gebhardt and percussionist went 'ethnic' on us for an instrumental track that was as good as unexpected. The sitar got mad props from the fans.

Chaska Potter, one-half of the lead vocals, and the lead on this track. Her notes sustain differently than most other female vocalists. The way her voice changes note to note is in tune, but the transition sounds unique. It's hard to describe.

Mona Tavakoli, the last member of this girl band, plays a mean cajon. No drum set for this set, just different percussion elements. Harmonizing and playing fast sixteenth notes on a cajon was mighty impressive.

This track comes off their newest EP Paper Nest. Check it out.

I found a live video performing in video, pretty good audio quality. It's also in the mixtape17 player above.

-Geoff

Marc Broussard - Why Should She Wait

Marc Broussard has released a new full length album Keep Coming Back and an EP, Must Be The Water. You've never met a white guy, with so much soul. Raised in Louisiana, Broussard has a unique vibe that combines the best of old and new school.

This latest track, comes off of Keep Coming Back and duets with pop sensation Sara Bareilles. Broussard and Bareilles are touring across the country right now, set to hit LA this Saturday. I scoured the internet, but the track isn't anywhere. So click here. Sorry for the long loading times, if it's taking to long check out his official myspace here or his official website here

Make sure to turn the volume up when you listen to this track. With the bass line, keys and the opening guitar riff pumping, the first line comes off super smooth...'Have you ever had a woman that you didn't deserve..'

Try not tapping your foot to the smoooothness of this song.

Sara Bareilles, really doesn't get featured on this track, but the combined voices during the chorus blend really well. Hopefully they will duo during their live performance.

In my opinion of Marc's 3 full-length albums, SOS: Save Our Soul, Carencro & Keep Coming Back, Keep Coming Back showcases Broussard's songwriting and musical talent better than the other two. SOS: Save Our Soul, was a great album but consisted mostly of covers, with only one original song.

Other songs on Keep Coming Back that you WILL enjoy
-Keep Coming Back
-Hard Knocks
-Real Good Thing
Other songs on Must be Water EP to check out
-Must Be The Water

Thanks for checking out the blog!