Song of the Day - Keep Your Heart Young

Brandi Carlile - Keep Your Heart Young

Album: TBA (2012)

You can all start celebrating now, for Brandi Carlile will apparently be releasing her fourth studio album in May! To sweeten the news, we've got a taste of what to expect from the album (more awesomeness) in the form of this live recording of 'Keep Your Heart Young.' We've been big fans of Carlile's strong, emotive vocals and impressive lyrical depth for some time now, so hearing that there's a new album on the way has made today a whole lot better. Melding elements of rock, country, pop and folk with one of the best young voices in music today will ensure that Brandi Carlile's new album will be one of the best of 2012. Get excited! 

Rating: 4/5

Song of the Day - Disparate Youth

Santigold - Disparate Youth

Album: Master of My Make Believe (2012)

You know what makes my Tuesday? New Santigold makes my Tuesday! 'Disaparate Youth' gives us another taste of what to expect from her sophomore set and I've got to say, I'm pleasantly surprised with what we've got here. After the sonic rampage of 'Big Mouth' and the delicious darkness that was 'Go' I fully expected another Santi assault of the senses. Instead, 'Disparate Youth' takes the tempo back a step (as much as a Santigold song can take a step back), recalling her debut's tracks 'You'll Find a Way' and 'Starstruck.' You'll be remembering this one more than those though. A track like 'Disparate Youth' is a good indication that the pacing on Master of My Make Believe is under control and it's still to be considered one of the most anticipated albums of 2012. Release it already! 

Rating: 3.5/5

New To The Scene - The Medics



The Medics


As part of our interest in focusing on quality new music coming out of Australia, specifically Queensland, we're going to make 'New To The Scene' a regular feature around here. In the first edition, we took a look at the Gold Coast's exciting pop-punk prospects, Double Lined Minority and today we're turning our attention in the direction of future indie superstars, The Medics. Hailing from Cairns and now based in Brisbane (the best city in the world), the band has been building up a reputation for incredible live performances on the festival circuit since the release of the This Boat We Call Love EP in 2010.

Highly praised performances at the 2012 Big Day Out and Laneway Festivals have seen the buzz for their soon to be released debut LP escalate rapidly to the surprise of no one who has listened to their music. Check out 'Beggars' and you'll understand exactly why JJJ had it on high rotation towards the end of 2011. Kahl Wallace's entrancing vocals against the band's tight, complimentary riffs and beats make you believe that this is one Australian act with the potential to really make an impact and not just here. With the success of The Temper Trap and Tame Impala in international markets as well as the overwhelming success of Gotye, all eyes are going to be on Australia's indie music scene to see which band will emerge as the next big thing. I'm going to say The Medics have an incredibly high chance of being that band.

What we have here is a band that makes it incredibly easy for you to root for them. Their music is cool without being pretentious and their sound manages to be fresh despite obvious homages to the past. When they finally get around to releasing their full-length debut, I believe the quality will be just another reason to wish them a world of success.

Top 20 - 19 February, 2012



M.I.A and her middle finger stay at #1!



1. M.I.A - Bad Girls (2 Weeks At #1!)





2. He's My Brother She's My Sister - Can't See The Stars (NEW)





3. Sneaky Sound System - Really Want To See You Again





4. Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid





5. Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks

IMKoS ft. Jo?



Admit it... Kimbra's the best thing about 'Somebody That I Used to Know!'



A Feature for the Featured Artists

by Jo Michelmore

 
I love the concept of the featured artist. It’s especially great when two artists you love get together and make beautiful, beautiful sounds. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way, actually sometimes it’s obvious someone is on someone else’s label and they both need and/or want publicity. That sucks. (Are you listening to me marketers, record company execs? If the song sucks, don’t bother, it does no one any favours.) I couldn’t write forever, so these are just a couple of my favourite songs that are nothing without the featured artist.

Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys:

Empire State Of Mind (2009)

This is such a great song. So catchy. I saw Jay-Z live in 2010 and he was really entertaining, like an entertainer should be, not just a hip hop artist. Surprising, considering he was in a giant stadium, during daylight, supporting a mega stadium band, U2. Dues given, Jay –Z did a reasonable job. He played this song and it was one of the biggest crowd pleasers, for the crowd that was bothering to watch (that’s a problem being a support act, but that’s a whole other story). The best part of this song live? The bit the audience sung along with and danced to while negotiating the tiny stairs with hot dogs and trays of beverages on the way to their seats to wait for who they actually came to see; “These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you, Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York….” That’s the Alicia Keys part. That’s not Jay-Z singing that. You know what his part is? He does all the rap bits, the sometimes annoying and sometimes incomprehensible bits with sometimes slightly offensive lyrics. The bits you wish would hurry up so you could get to your sing along bit again. Yep. Think about it. Which bit is stuck in your head? Jay-Z’s first line? “I’ma up at Brooklyn, now I’m down in Tribeca….” Nope, its Alicia’s bit, isn’t it? ““New York, New York, New York….” Alicia, thanks for making an incredibly average song so darn catchy.

Song of the Day - Everywhere



Mick Fleetwood, you are out of control!



Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere

Album: Tango in the Night (1987)

Because when there's no exciting new music to post, there's always Fleetwood Mac. I've been limiting my use of the band since last year out of fear of exhausting all of their songs, it's been long enough... now is the time to get our Mac on! No, I do not want to make out with you. I was driving home from work and 'Everywhere' came on and everything just seemed right in the world. That's pretty much what every song written by Christine McVie will do for you. All the songs written by Stevie Nicks too. And Lindsey Buckingham. EVERY SINGLE FLEETWOOD MAC SONG WILL MAKE YOU FEEL AWESOME! That's how good they are. Embrace it.