Partially because I have a short attention span in my old age, and partly because it's been eons since I found a good "album" that I can listen through from start to finish., I have been concentrating on tracks rather than whole albums. Yes, there have been some great albums since I've started my blog, with the best ones so far being Adele's "21" and Fitz & the Tantrums' "Picking Up the Pieces", and a few others, which I have gone several tracks deep. But, I have been making exceptions for some great local talent.
As readers of this blog are quite aware, I have been following a local country artist, Rachel Allyn from Ogdensburg, in Sussex County in Northwestern New Jersey. Back in the summer of 2010, my wife and I, looking at an ad in a local newspaper, decided to check out a place called Kabob's on Lake Hopatcong one hot day in July. We did, and not only we saw an acoustic performance by Rachel playing some classic rock and country tunes, we also go to meet her parents Susan and John. A friendship was struck, and we caught her three more time that summer before she returned to school for her senior year down in Nashville, a appropriate place when you realize her chosen genre.
Back then, she was promoting her 2009 debut EP, "Late Nights and Early Mornings", which we bought and listened to heavily the rest of 2010. When I started my blog in August of that year, featured track "Stand Still" was in my top five, and would shortly ascend to the top spot. Another track, a remix version of "Getting By", about her family, followed. Several stand-alone singles came the next year, all hitting my top 5.
In 2012, she focused on performing, with an expanded tour schedule. More dates with her full band, which included her primary bandmate and songwriting partner, Warren Hibbert. A big break came when she won the "house band" contest at Jersey Shore country station Thunder 106, which enabled her to make a bigger presence in that region. Finally later last year, she signed with a new management company, and she started opening up for some name acts that were playing the area.
Her new album, Do It Yourself was originally schedule for a release that summer, but for one reason was pushed back. Perhaps that reason was because she was now able to get some more premium performing dates and to establish an identity. But for whatever the reason, it's out now, and for the first time on my blog, I am reviewing an album from start to finish, and what better way to start with an artist who has dominated my lists for the last two and a half years.
Starting things off is the up-temp rock-drivin' track, "Restless Times (Call for Reckless Measures)". Rache's repretoire covers rock as well as country as her folks were heavily into classic rock. This one is a rockin jam that will get you up on your feet and dance. A great launch into the album. Next is "Triggerman", which I had heard her perform at last summer's "Maplewoodstock" weekend. A little bit of a bluesy/boogie tune, and a nice one at that. I'm not up on country line dances or even know whether they are still in vogue like they were in the 90's, but I can see a few line dances to this one.
"October" is next, a much slower tune, with some of the fiddles brought up to the forefront. A much more sentimental song and one that hits home, a song of something that could have been. I can see myself adding this track to my list very shortly. This is followed by the title track, which I had selected as the first featured song, and which jumps from 34-15 in it's second week on my SNS chart. I reviewed this last week, but upon a few more listens, you can tell this is a poturri of styles in one song....lighter country fare, followed by rock-driven guitars, and back. This should be a staple on country radio stations, whenever they wisen up and play her stuff.
Two of Rachel's singles she released in 2011 are included on this album. The first of these, "Lovely Lily", hit my top 5 in the fall of that year, and is a haunting ballad, as you may recall. I am very happy that she included the next track, an equally haunting version of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence". As I mentioned before, her roots are equally split in rock; watching her gigs, she will play several Elvis Costello, Creedence Clearwater Revival, as well as other classic rock acts, the Far Four being prominently represented. Her version does the original justice, and it will get a lot of plays on my iPod for sure.
Another former singer, "Ain't No Fun", a #1 song here on SNS in early 2012 is next, in which she indeed has a lot of fun on this recording. Following that is the final track, a gentle bordering on acoustic balled "Sweet Surrender". A peaceful, comforting song, and a rather somber one. Ending it on a more uptempo note might have been the way to go, but as a whole, this is a fine full-length album for her. A very, well rounded effort for her.
If you are down the shore, watch out for any Thunder 106 happy hour events, chances are she will be playing a gig in that area. She is worth catching!
TO THE CHARTS: Fun. remains at #1 with "Carry On", with P!nk slipping into the runner-up spot with "Try". Big movers include Bruno Mars, Veronica Falls, the aforementioned Rachel Allyn, and Train, which finally does the trick with the third single from their latest California 37...and unlike the first two singles "Drive By" "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" has made a direct ascent to the top.
NEW FITZ: As I mentioned above, Fitz and the Tantrums have been one of my favorite bands since I started my blog, and I've spent the last year waiting for something new to come out. And it looks like we have it. "Out of My League", debuting at a lofty #37, is another gem. Not as soulful as the songs on their last album, nevertheless it captures the pop gems of that fertile 1960's, and is a winner just the same. It's the lead track from their forthcoming second effort More Than Just A Dream, which is due May 7. I love it!
Finally, there's new stuff from Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, and The Strokes. You may remember Sallie Ford's, "I Swear", which reached #2 on SNS back in the latter months of 2011, a band with a retro late 1950's rock and roll style. The Portland Oregon band just released a new album, Untamed Beast, and I plucked out the most popular track thus far "They Told Me". The retro guitar are still there, but more in a bluesy vein this time around. And then there's neo garage rockers The Strokes, who have made some great music over the last ten years or so. Comedown Machine is there new effort, to be released in March. This song, "All This Time" is a nice little exercise in nice alternative-style rock and roll that you'd expect from them. No word on a Strokes tour as of yet. As for Sallie Ford, they are on tour with current fave Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, in my top 10 currently with "Holy Roller", and will be at The Bowery in New York City on March 22. That should be a great show to catch.
AND FINALLY, as I hinted earlier, I am falling behind on this blog. So, you'll either get several of them in the next few days, or I may skip a week and freeze the chart. Stay tuned!
SCENES 'N' SOUNDWAVES 100
February 16, 2013
|
This Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
|
1
|
1
|
NUMBER 1:
FUN.
"Carry On"
Album: Some Nights
(2 weeks @ #1)
|
16
|
|
2
|
3
|
Pink - Try
|
16
|
|
3
|
9
|
Pageants - Musing of the Tide
|
4
|
|
4
|
2
|
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Runaway
|
16
|
|
5
|
4
|
The Satelliters - Shake Shake Shake
|
13
|
|
6
|
16
|
Bruno Mars - Locked Out of Heaven
|
5
|
|
7
|
13
|
Veronica Falls - Teenage
|
5
|
|
8
|
6
|
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - Holy Roller
|
12
|
|
9
|
7
|
Leila - Mirror Mirror
|
18
|
|
10
|
5
|
Golden Void - The Curve
|
18
|
|
11
|
17
|
Passion Pit - Carried Away
|
10
|
|
12
|
8
|
The Vaccines - I Always Knew
|
13
|
|
13
|
10
|
Churchill - Change
|
22
|
|
14
|
11
|
Generationals - When They Fight They Fight
|
16
|
|
15
|
33
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
RACHEL ALLYN
"Do It Yourself"
Album: Do It Yourself
|
2
|
|
16
|
12
|
Grizzly Bear - Yet Again
|
20
|
|
17
|
18
|
Civil Twilight - River
|
17
|
|
18
|
25
|
Train - Mermaid
|
5
|
|
19
|
15
|
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Stars
|
22
|
|
20
|
19
|
Kelly Clarkson - Catch My Breath
|
14
|
|
21
|
21
|
Ed Sheeran - The A Team
|
16
|
|
22
|
24
|
Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble
|
8
|
|
23
|
26
|
Maroon 5 - Daylight
|
8
|
|
24
|
14
|
The Killers - I Feel it In My Bones |
10
|
|
25
|
23
|
Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backward
|
9
|
|
26
|
22
|
Tame Impala - Apocalypse Dreams
|
14
|
|
27
|
20
|
Gary Clark Jr. Ain't Messin' Around
|
11
|
|
28
|
34
|
After the Reign - Jersey Strong
|
4
|
|
29
|
38
|
Wild Nothing - Shadow
|
4
|
|
30
|
45
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
LEAGUES
"Spotlight"
Album: You Belong Here
|
3
|
|
31
|
32
|
Shinedown - Enemies
|
12
|
|
32
|
37
|
The Mowglis - San Francisco
|
9
|
|
33
|
40
|
Two Door Cinema Club - Sun
|
4
|
|
34
|
43
|
Family of the Year - Hero
|
10
|
|
35
|
36
|
The Lumineers - Stubborn Love
|
9
|
|
36
|
41
|
Foxygen - Shuggie
|
5
|
|
37
|
----
|
TOP DEBUT:
FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS
"Out of My League"
Album: More Than Just A Dream
|
1
|
|
38
|
29
|
The Satelliters - Lost in Time
|
23
|
|
39
|
42
|
Dum Dum Girls - Lord Knows
|
8
|
|
40
|
27
|
Dinosaur Jr. - Don't Pretend You Didn't Know
|
17
|
|
41
|
30
|
Alabama Shakes - I Ain't The Same
|
17
|
|
42
|
28
|
ZZ Ward - Put the Gun Down
|
21
|
|
43
|
48
|
Lifehouse f. Natasha Bedingfield - Between the Raindrops
|
5
|
|
44
|
44
|
Muse - The Madness
|
20
|
|
45
|
47
|
Neon Trees - Lessons In Love
|
4
|
|
46
|
31
|
Child Actor - If You Loved Me
|
18
|
|
47
|
46
|
Allen Stone - Unaware
|
11
|
|
48
|
39
|
Ra Ra Riot - Beta Love
|
11
|
|
49
|
35
|
The Raveonettes - Curse the Night
|
14
|
|
50
|
51
|
Cold War Kids - Miracle Mile
|
3
|
|
51
|
67
|
Bon Jovi - Because We Can
|
2
|
|
52
|
59
|
Mumford and Sons - Lover of the Light
|
3
|
|
53
|
53
|
Yeasayer - Reagen's Skeleton
|
10
|
|
54
|
54
|
Gold Fields - Dark Again
|
5
|
|
55
|
57
|
Frank Ocean - Thinking About You
|
8
|
|
56
|
50
|
The Lumineers - Ho Hey
|
32
|
|
57
|
49
|
Dirty Beaches - Elizabeth's Theme
|
26
|
|
58
|
61
|
Avett Brothers - February Seven
|
4
|
|
59
|
56
|
Willy Moon - Yeah Yeah
|
12
|
|
60
|
58
|
The Neighborhood - Sweater Weather
|
5
|
|
61
|
78
|
Lana Del Ray - Ride
|
2
|
|
62
|
----
|
Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside - They Told Me
|
1
|
|
63
|
62
|
Deap Vally - Ain't Far
|
8
|
|
64
|
63
|
Mister Lie - Pupine
|
4
|
|
65
|
69
|
Alex Clare - Up All Night
|
4
|
|
66
|
74
|
Jagwar Ma - The Throw
|
2
|
|
67
|
----
|
Phillip Phillips - Gone Gone Gone
|
1
|
|
68
|
66
|
Foals - Inhaler
|
3
|
|
69
|
73
|
Jake Bugg - Two Fingers
|
2
|
|
70
|
52
|
Matt & Kim - Let's Go
|
13
|
|
71
|
89
|
Paramore - Now
|
2
|
|
72
|
----
|
The Strokes - All the Time
|
1
|
|
73
|
92
|
Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks
|
27
|
|
74
|
55
|
The Killers - Miss Atomic Bomb
|
13
|
|
75
|
60
|
Phillip Phillips - Home
|
37
|
|
76
|
70
|
Adele - Skyfall
|
18
|
|
77
|
----
|
All American Rejects - Heartbeat Slowing Down
|
1
|
|
78
|
77
|
Airborne Toxic Event - Timeless
|
3
|
|
79
|
76
|
The 1975 - Sex
|
4
|
|
80
|
91
|
Vicci Martinez - Come Along
|
2
|
|
81
|
65
|
Ke$ha - Die Young
|
10
|
|
82
|
87
|
Gin Wigmore - Man Like That
|
12
|
|
83
|
----
|
Toby Keith - Hope on the Rocks
|
1
|
|
84
|
68
|
Django Django - Default
|
25
|
|
85
|
84
|
Watch the Duck - Poppin Off
|
3
|
|
86
|
75
|
Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait
|
26
|
|
87
|
88
|
Royal Teeth - Wild
|
2
|
|
88
|
95
|
Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound
|
31
|
|
89
|
----
|
Tim McGraw - One of Those Nights
|
1
|
|
90
|
71
|
Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love
|
27
|
|
91
|
79
|
Atoms for Peace - Judge, Jury and Executioner
|
3
|
|
92
|
83
|
Youth Lagoon - Dropola
|
5
|
|
93
|
81
|
Tegan and Sara - Closer
|
14
|
|
94
|
85
|
Pink - Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
|
31
|
|
95
|
64
|
Benjamin Gibbard - Teardrop Windows
|
17
|
|
96
|
72
|
San Cisco - Awkward
|
12
|
|
97
|
80
|
Green Day - Let Yourself Go
|
18
|
|
98
|
90
|
Dinosaur Jr. - Pierce the Morning Rain
|
5
|
|
99
|
96
|
Alpha Rev - Sing Loud
|
4
|
|
100
|
86
|
Widowspeak - Ballad of the Golden Hour
|
12
|
No comments:
Post a Comment