***Underground Flashback***

 

Since I posted Strand of Oaks doing and ode to the late Lorain, Ohio native Jason Molina from Songs: Ohia with "JM", I thought that I'd honor the guy with some much deserved posthumous attention.

 

What feeling this guy could attain with just his voice, emotional haunting mesmerizing melodies, and his sparse electric guitar with no effects, and very little instrumentation.

 

He put out over 15 albums and numerous EP's under the names: Songs: Ohia, Jason Molina, and Magnolia Electric Co.

 

He passed away in 2013 at the age of 39 of complications from alcoholism.

 

Here's a few tunes from the 2000 Songs:Ohia "The Lioness" release

 

Coxcomb Red

 

[video=youtube;lG9ZH-1TSUQ]

This Sufjan Stevens tune "Should've Known Better" surfaced nearly 2 years ago, but it won't let me go and it only intensifies with my emotions the more that I hear it. It has an undeniable melancholy about it that would be best heard with no razor blades nearby with a certain beauty that hits right in the heart.

 

Sufjan Stevens is a Detroit native who's 41 an has released 7 proper releases since 2000 added with a couple of other out-take style releases

 

This tune is from his 2015 Carrie & Lowell release

 

***Hard Rock Flashback***

 

Hailing from Australia Wolfmother blasted on the scene in 2005 with their powerful debut blending classic hard rock vibes from their obvious heros Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.

 

Here's a couple tunes that they jumped out the gate with.

 

As of 2016 they have 4 proper releases with lead vocalist Andrew Stockdale also putting out a 2013 release under his own name.

 

Chance The Rapper's "Coloring Book". I know it's not totally new...but it's not quite a year old yet. I bought it back sometime around October, and hadn't really had the chance to give it many listens until recently. It's been spinning on my turntable at home at least 3 times a week for the last month now. This song really hits me in the feels...

 

When I had posted Mondo Cozmo's - "Shine" in March I had forgotten that I had already posted it back in January.

 

It's one of those feel good instantly catchy tunes that no matter how simple in approach it screams damn good song, or instant classic.

 

Lyrically it's peculiar as it no doubt feels like a song of hope with religious overtones, it's also a bit puzzling just what exactly the message is.

 

Nonetheless even with uncertainty it's an open invitation for listener interpretation while being left feeling emotionally charged and uplifted with a chorus that is gospelly-ready for a choir grand in size.

 

When I had originally posted it twice it was of a simple but effective lyric video, yet since, the song has been given the treatment of an official video. (I personally feel that the official video could have used color and more of a feel good theme).

 

Though I've posted the song twice now, at the risk of overselling it, I'll unabashedly post it a 3rd time because I simply consider it to be a tune that is worthy of being heard.

 

You'll likely hear it anyhow as I'm placing my bets now that by summer the tune will have already blown up. To its credit it has already reached No. 1 on Billboard's "Adult Alternative Songs" chart.

 

No doubt Dylan is the first thing most might think, yet comparisons aside it quickly stands on its own as a tune that Shines (pun intended I suppose).

 

Lead singer/songwriter Josh Ostrander, a Philly native (who wears it on his sleeve) and is now based in L.A., has been running around in touring indie bands since 2000. He named the "Cozmo" part of his band's name after his dog.

 

I just noticed that they are booked to play in Covington in June at Madison Live for $13, which is the newer smaller second venue at the Madison Theater.

 

Perhaps I'm overreaching, but I have a feeling that by June they'll wish that they had booked the larger venue, and who knows maybe they'll be forced to move it there anyhow.

 

Here's a more up close and in person studio performance of Mondo Cozmo with just Josh and his keyboardist. The video does a good job of introducing us to Josh and seeing his personality, while giving us a few gems worth chewing on.

 

He saves "Shine" for last and fourth tune, but what I find peculiar is that the 3rd tune that he does called "Hey Steven" though it's an alright song, the chord progression is pretty dang close to the same DCGD chord progression as "Shine" in rhythm though on "Shine" he uses a K-po on the 4th fret.

 

I've at times written songs with the same chords, but I would never dare play them back to back live. Too redundant while looking amateurish, and though I am, you just don't try to make it too obvious. If you have good songs people will be forgiving of your shortcomings.

 

Nonetheless this guy does seem to have the knack for writing simple yet effective songs.

 

It should also be noted that the sample used at the beginning of his first song "Plastic Soul" has been lifted from Erma Franklin's - Piece of my Heart from 1967.

 

There's a Louisville band called White Reaper that has a new record out that has been getting a bunch of play on WFPK. Love what I've heard so far.

I've been meaning to explore the back catalogue of The New Pornographers for some time. Really love their new cut, "High Ticket Attractions." Very catchy.

 

There's a Louisville band called White Reaper that has a new record out that has been getting a bunch of play on WFPK. Love what I've heard so far.

 

I've been meaning to explore the back catalogue of The New Pornographers for some time. Really love their new cut, "High Ticket Attractions." Very catchy.

 

 

Been hearing this recently on WNKU and I'm digging it too, and like you said "Very Catchy"

 

It's one that you immediately feel like you've heard it before.

 

It's stands on it's own, but I have to admit that when it comes on the radio I keep getting caught off guard at the beginning thinking that it's the Dandy Warhols' - "Bohemian Like You".

 

So I did a comparison, and in truth DW's, though there are rhythmic and tempo similarities to it, is closer sounding to Rolling Stones' - "Brown Sugar" after BS's 4 bar intro, whereas with "High Ticket Attractions" my head isn't making that "Brown Sugar" connection like I am with "Bohemian Like You".

Overkill Alert: Happy to see that this song finally got the feel good video treatment that it deserved.

 

Been hearing this tune lately on a Taltz commercial, a medicine for psoriasis, and finally was able to figure out who it was.

 

At first I thought that it might be Bon Iver. No doubt very similar however it's Novo Ador, a Welsh group doing the song "Anchor"

 

Sometimes when my introduction to a song is from a commercial it can sorta ruin it for me because it's hard to get the commercial out of my head, yet not in this case...really like this song.