Hurricane /  by E

       Katey Laurel released the official music video for "Hurricane" today and, going hand in hand with the song, it follows a tumultuous relationship, with the two considering the end of their marriage, but eventually deciding to stay together in the end. The video's actually put together really well and holds everything that comes to mind when thinking of the track, making it a little addictive. 
       The song, on its own, is still great though, because the melody is perfectly catchy and that chorus ("I keep saying I can't keep playing this game, this game, but I keep finding myself inside of the same ol' same") made this one of the best 'undiscovered' tracks to come out of 2013, because you know you can't help but sing along with it.  
        Check out the long awaited video below and head to the websites to support the artist.
"Hurricane" Katey Laurel
http://www.kateylaurel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kateylaurel
https://twitter.com/kateylaurel
- E

Past Life /  by E

       The video for the title track from Lost In The Trees' forthcoming Past Life was released today and it matches the gorgeous simplicity of the song perfectly. 
       The haunting melody is rich and soulful enough to leave you feeling satisfied while a throbbing rhythm pulls you in until the line "we crumble into flames" descends into a guitar riff that sucks you down into that composition and keeps you there whilst vocalist Ari Picker trots out perfect lines "I love those eyes, never look away, I'm bleeding in my heart, you tell me that I'm safe, when I realize that death is just a staircase, I'm bleeding in my heart, my heart, when nothing is for certain".
       Taking the basic ideas of a hooded man, an angel, and, ultimately, a burning truck, the video, much like the track itself, takes a minimalist approach but piles each part together to create something that is full and rich and much more satisfying than its individual parts would have led you to believe. 
       Lost In The Trees has shrunk from a six piece to a four piece since their last album, but this track proves that their sound has only grown more full. Get Past Life in stores on February 18. 
"Past Life" Lost In The Trees
- E

Music Related News /  by E

I should probably give you some music related news seeing as how it's Monday and all.

  • Phil Everly passed away Friday (January 3) and, if you haven't been walking around with the likes of "When Will I Be Loved" or "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (or any of their other myriad hits) running through your head over the weekend, you should have been. These guys pulled together country and R&B and pioneered the move towards our beloved modern rock genre and, with great artists like The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel taking their early inspiration from these guys' music, we owe The Everly Brothers and their work more than we could ever give (plus, people just don't make love songs like this anymore). 
  • Palaye Royale released another art film, this time for their track "Cemeteries No. 1 (Running)" from their The Ends Beginning EP. I think it goes without saying that this band only puts out perfection so the video and track need to be watched/listened to on repeat and loved for their gorgeous composition and rough vocals (it's just become redundant to follow up 'Palaye Royale' with 'perfection').
  • U2 premiered their video for their song "Ordinary Love" this week and it's great. Seriously, U2 is simultaneously classic and constant and it's amazing how much they have dominated music over the past several decades. The song was dedicated to the memory of Nelson Mandela and the video and song are gorgeous. Listen to it, love it, and accept that U2 will always be great (whether or not you like them).
  • There was a minor [non-]scandal when Hollywoodlive.com claimed that Miley Cyrus told LOVE magazine that she was going to fill the void left by Beyoncé's absence (this was in March, back before Beyoncé happened). Of course, and unsurprisingly (seeing as how it came from a gossip website), the claims were falsified and proven to be such and everyone still loves Beyoncé (which is great for Cyrus, because going up against Bey would have ended her career [at least for the time being]).
  • Ke$ha has entered rehab for an eating disorder saying that "I'm a crusader for being yourself and loving yourself, but I've found it hard to practice". I previously, briefly, mentioned my own troubles with that so good for her for realizing the issue and going in before it had gone too far; that takes balls and it only makes her more like-able (some people like Perry, others prefer Gaga, but Ke$ha's always my first choice). Watch the video for "Dirty Love", directed by Ke$ha, because it somehow makes the greatly fun song even better.
  • Lady Gaga ranted about something pertaining to her "Do What U Want" video being put up late; I've never been a real fan so I didn't bother reading it in its entirety, but click on this link if you're a 'little monster' and want to know all about it.
  • The audio for "Digital Witness" from St. Vincent's forthcoming St. Vincent (due for release in February) was released today. 
  • Bille Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones had put out a tribute album for The Everly Brothers in November (titled Foreverly) and, with the death of Phil Everly this past week, Armstrong has stated that "those harmonies will live on forever" and Jones summed up everyone's thoughts with "The Everly's had a huge influence on all kinds of musicians. The high harmonies Phil sang were fluid and so beautiful and always sound effortless in a way that just washes over the listener. He was one of our greats and it's very sad to lose him.".
  • James Vincent McMorrow's Post Tropical is now available for pre-order on iTunes and, with the available single, "Cavalier", featuring his always stripped down and honest lyrics next to an expectedly gorgeous piano based composition, it promises to be just as beautiful as ever and worth the pre-order (if his voice and piano melodies could just stop being perfect for a bit, I could get back on track and finish this post; listen to "We Don't Eat" and "Breaking Hearts" to see why he's so amazing. This post will be late because of these vocals).
  • Led Zeppelin fans can rejoice in the fact that Page has confirmed that Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, and Led Zeppelin III will be reissued in 2014, along with some of Jimmy Page's other material from the archives, alternate mixes of the band's tracks, and never before released concert recordings. The songs should be in a better, updated, format to better hear every track you've ever loved from these guys. 
  • You can, and should, vote for City Rain's "The Optimist" to be featured on mtvU. Seriously though, pick "The Optimist" because it's definitely the best video there and the guys are cool and deserve it. Vote now (and often).
  • Lucy Hale released her single "You Sound Good to Me". Were I her, I would have stuck to acting since that seems to be going kind of okay, but I guess you can do what you want once you have that exposure (even if you really should have let someone else write something better for you).
  • Ed Sheeran has finished his untitled and due out this year album and, while no singles have yet to be released, he has stated that the album was inspired by pizza, proving that Sheeran is perfect. I cannot wait to hear the awesome tracks that were born out of this metaphor.

       There will probably (possibly) be an interview showing up later this week, I'm really not sure in which order I should lay these out; maybe I'll just do an interview with a cool band this week and decide that should go up instead of one of the earlier ones that are set to go up this week... I'm fairly unorganized with those right now. As always though, check back for good music.
- E

Long Way Down /  by E

       Bobbie Morrone Trio released their Best I Can Be EP in December and you need to add it to your collection because, first and foremost, those vocals should make you smile. Add in the underlying bass that flows perfectly with an otherwise acoustic track, steady chords, and a slowly winding piano melody that pulls the composition together into something hypnotic before unwinding to a stripped down ending that just begs perfection and you've got an EP stuffed with the three most addictive songs to come out of any of December's EPs. 
       Aside from that gorgeous composition, lyrics which read "the things I know, the things I've seen, I can't control, but I can breathe, my love, simple words and simple sounds, I create and I write down, my love, but I connect, my body breathes, my hands they shake, my heart it screams, my love", "influenced by broken things, I relate what I can feel, my love, catching hearts and casting dreams, I lost the bait but found the stream, my love" and "baby, don't you worry 'bout me, I won't leave if I'm not ready, to find my love, and baby, don't leave here without me, I won't stay if I've already found my love" are kind of amazing.
       Get the Best I Can Be EP from iTunes now and listen to the other two tracks for more of the same fantastic music. 
"Long Way Down" Bobbie Morrone Trio
- E