It's no secret that if you look at the profiles pages of my old friends who I went to school with, you'll find songs from the magical decade of the 1960's. And no matter what kind of music I post, my friends seem to love the sixties the most. And who can blame them?. Many a person has commented that "this is OUR music"...."OUR generation set the standard"...along with "new music sucks and doesn't hold a candle to the classics". Well, you won't get an argument with the first two, but the last one?
There's an old expression regarding New Jersey that to appreciate the state, you must get off the Turnpike, what with its views of smokestacks, swamps, as well as foul odors, and explore other parts of the state. The truth is, there is really good new music to be had, you just have to look past the top 40. I have to admit that the popular music scene over the last 10 to 15 years has been horrible. Uninspired rhymes set to sparse music. Where's the soul? A song isn't cool unless it features a rapper. Unoriginal. Lady Gaga's current single sounds like a Madonna song from over twenty years ago.
My advice: turn off the top 40 radio, Z-100 or 92.3 (whatever their slogan is these days). Forget even 'PLJ (I listen to that station in the shower every morning, and I hear the same Bruno Mars song every morning). Forget even the rock stations (yeah, you heard right....it's mostly classic rock with the same 10 bands). If you want terrestrial radio, try WRXP (101.9). Better yet, explore satellite radio, there are many new music channels out there. Or make it easy and look at my current Soundraves 100 list below.
It's may be hard to believe but I rarely listen to music stations these days. Now you may be thinking, "Where does he get this music?". Friend's posts (yes, I do have friends who don't post sixties music, just new stuff (or recent alternative songs from that last twenty years or so...you may have read my references to Brian Sniatkowski's Songs of the Week). Renowned radio station WEQX from Manchester Vermont. The Billboard charts, particular the Triple A, Alternative, and yes, Adult Top 40 even though that format (including the aforementioned 'PLJ) has pretty much diluted its selection these days.
Now of course, it ain't the sixties or early 70's, but what is? But let me recommend some new, fresh artists who are a throwback to that period.
We all know about the original British invasion, which aside from the Beatles, Stones and the like, also featured female singers who put their soul into their performances, such as Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and Cilla Black. Adele, who is refreshingly knocking on the door to the top of the current Hot 100 (#2 this week), heads the new wave of distaff Brit soul, followed by Duffy, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and Joss Stone. Miss pure soul? Try Fitz & the Tantrums (and it's fitting that on the current Top 40 Adult chart, most of the songs are moving up in the position...except for "Money Grabber", the best song on that chart right now (next to Adele, of course).
1960's Garage Rock was the best....and bands like The Black Keys, The Stokes, Band of Skulls and Avi Buffalo are keeping that alive. The country rock of the Eagles is carried on by the Zac Brown Band. Want some spiced up jazzy soul in your pop music? Try Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Regina Spektor or my #1 artist this week, Leila.
Some great new music is out there waiting to be discovered...let your younger sister listen to Justin Beiber or Miley Cyrus. It may not having you change your mind about the sixties, but it's fun way to try!
TOP 20: The above mentioned Leila grabs the top spot this week, with "Hush Little Baby". The aspiring Staten Island singer (and niece of my friend Diane Tarantino Hegazy) rises to #1, ending The Foo Fighter's two-week reign as #1. She played in New York City at the Bowery's Gallery 151. Check her website (http://www.myspace.com/leilassongs) as she's frequent plays the New York clubs and lounges.
Breathing down Leila's back is Florence + the Machine's "Dog Days Are Over". After a stagnation period, the top 20 gets shaken up a bit, and Adele's follow-up to her hit, "Someone Like You", jumps from #47 to #10 in only her second week. The song, which reminds me of the Fifth Dimension's 1972 hit "If I Could Reach You", is only the second song to reach the top 10 in 2 weeks...the other? "Rolling in the Deep". Death Cab for Cutie and The Wombats also make big leaps into the top 20 this week.
The Drums are the Prime Mover, with their charity single, "The New World" which will aid tsunami and earthquake-ravaged Japan. It was a battle of follow-ups for Pick of the Week: Cage the Elephant's follow-up to their #1 alternative (and #6 on my Soundraves chart) "Shake Me Down", "Around My Head" comes close, but is beaten out by Foster The People's "Houdini". "Pumped Up Kicks" is still climbing the Alternative Chart in the top 10, but, like Adele last week, I'm restless for a follow-uo. FTP's first full length set, "Torches", which includes both singles, is set for release later this month. The band will be making its way into New York the third week of June.
The SOUND-RAVES 100:
This Week | Last Week | ARTIST-Title | Weeks On List |
1 | 2 |  LEILA "Hush Little Baby" Album : Leila (EP) | 11 |
2 | 7 | Florence + the Machine - Dog Days are Over | 9 |
3 | 5 | Mt. Desolation - Bitter Pill | 12 |
4 | 1 | Foo Fighters - Rope | 9 |
5 | 6 | Adele - Rolling In the Deep | 21 |
6 | 9 | The Raveonettes - Recharge and Revolt | 5 |
7 | 4 | Rachel Allyn - Gettin' By | 16 |
8 | 3 | Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks | 15 |
9 | 10 | The Vaccines - Post Break-up Sex | 8 |
10 | 47 | TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  ADELE "Someone Like You" Album: 21 | 2 |
11 | 8 | Peter Bjorn & John - Second Chance | 13 |
12 | 12 | Ra Ra Riot - Too Dramatic | 13 |
13 | 15 | Lucinda Williams - Buttercup | 11 |
14 | 11 | Kings of Leon - Pyro | 14 |
15 | 18 | TV On the Radio - Will Do | 7 |
16 | 20 | The Cars - Sad Song | 6 |
17 | 13 | Cold War Kids - Louder Than Ever | 17 |
18 | 33 | Death Cab for Cutie - You are A Tourist | 4 |
19 | 38 | The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) | 3 |
20 | 14 | Yuck - Get Away | 11 |
21 | 21 | Tamar Kaprelian - New Day | 9 |
22 | 36 | Dom - Living In America | 4 |
23 | 25 | Dark Sacrament - Realm of Unlight | 4 |
24 | 42 | Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi-Two Against One | 4 |
25 | 17 | Acrylics - Sparrow Song | 10 |
26 | 16 | The Holidays - Moonlight Hours | 15 |
27 | 29 | Rihanna - S&M | 6 |
28 | 22 | The Decemberists - This Is Why We Fight | 14 |
29 | 50 | Adele - Rumour Has It | 2 |
30 | 23 | Colbie Cailat - I Do | 12 |
31 | 24 | Jack Johnson - From the Clouds | 12 |
32 | 35 | Company of Thieves - Death of Communications | 6 |
33 | 27 | Helvetia - Arise Pt 1 | 9 |
34 | 45 | Telekinesis - Please Ask for Help | 4 |
35 | 26 | Downtown Crossing - Seventy 4 | 11 |
36 | 37 | Devotchka - 100 Other Lovers | 8 |
37 | 40 | Cee Lo Green - Fuck You (Forget You ) | 27 |
38 | 19 | Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill | 11 |
39 | 44 | Michael Franti & Spearhead - I'll Be Waiting | 6 |
40 | 48 | Chk Chik Chick - Wannagain Wannagain | 6 |
41 | 49 | Superhumanoids - Malta | 6 |
42 | 31 | Iron & Wine - Tree By the River | 15 |
43 | 34 | Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues | 13 |
44 | 41 | The Band Perry - You Lie | 8 |
45 | 30 | Downtown Crossing - Translation | 14 |
46 | 56 | Ben Harper - Rock n' Roll is Free | 4 |
47 | 28 | The Airborne Toxic Event - Changing | 14 |
48 | 39 | Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know | 13 |
49 | 60 | Brother - Darling Buds of May | 3 |
50 | 32 | Dropkick Murphys - Memorial Day | 10 |
51 | 74 | Bell X1 - Velcro | 2 |
52 | 82 | PRIME MOVER OF THE WEEK:  THE DRUMS "The New World" (Single Only) | 2 |
53 | 53 | Scars on 45 - Give Me Something | 11 |
54 | 46 | Fitz and the Tantrums - Money Grabber | 22 |
55 | 52 | He Is We - Happily Ever After | 7 |
56 | 63 | Richard Ashcroft - Are You Ready | 7 |
57 | 54 | The Sounds - Something to Die For | 6 |
58 | 71 | Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now | 4 |
59 | 64 | My Chemical Romance - Bulletproof Heart | 4 |
60 | 67 | The Beets - Dead | 5 |
61 | 51 | The Black Keys - Howlin' For You | 18 |
62 | ------ | TOP DEBUT:  FOSTER THE PEOPLE "Houdini" Albums: Foster the People (EP) / Torches | 1 |
63 | 73 | Alexander - Truth | 5 |
64 | 78 | Redlight King - Old Man | 3 |
65 | 88 | Neon Trees - Your Surrender | 2 |
66 | 43 | Jenny and Johnny - Big Wave | 18 |
67 | ----- | Cage the Elephant - Around My Head | 1 |
68 | 66 | Twilight Singers - On the Corner | 13 |
69 | 81 | Beastie Boys - Make Some Noise | 3 |
70 | 62 | The Decemberists - Down By the Water | 26 |
71 | 77 | Katy Perry - E.T. | 7 |
72 | 90 | Cake - Long Time | 2 |
73 | 80 | Augustana - Steal Your Heart | 3 |
74 | 55 | Arcade Fire - City With No Children | 10 |
75 | 57 | Goo Goo Dolls- Notbroken | 20 |
76 | 85 | The Kills - Satellite | 7 |
77 | 87 | Manchester Orchestra - April Fool | 3 |
78 | 79 | Anberlin - Closer | 8 |
79 | 76 | Katy Perry - Firework | 24 |
80 | 94 | Incubus - Adolescents | 2 |
81 | 93 | Taylor Swift - Mean | 3 |
82 | 68 | Marianas Trench - Good To You | 13 |
83 | 72 | Plan B- Stay Too Long | 18 |
84 | 95 | One Republic - Good Life | 5 |
85 | ----- | Drive-By Truckers - Everybody Needs Love | 1 |
86 | ----- | Middle Brother - Me Me Me | 1 |
87 | 61 | Twin Tigers - Everyday | 14 |
88 | 65 | The Strokes - Undercover of Darkness | 12 |
89 | 69 | Lee DeWyze - Beautiful Like You | 7 |
90 | ----- | Andrew Allen - Loving You Tonight | 1 |
91 | 59 | James Blunt - Stay the Night | 10 |
92 | 100 | Biffy Clyro - Many of Horror | 3 |
93 | ------ | Eddie Vedder - Longing to Belong | 1 |
94 | 58 | Lady Gaga - Born This Way | 11 |
95 | 86 | Dinosaur Pile-Up - Mona Lisa | 4 |
96 | 75 | Deerhunter - Revival | 18 |
97 | 84 | Portugal the Man - People Say | 22 |
98 | 96 | Freelance Whales - Hannah | 5 |
99 | ------ | R.E.M.- Oh My Heart | 1 |
100 | 70 | Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough | 7 |
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