December 2010

I’ve got playlist after playlist full of artists that I planned to blog about this year. Many of them will be featured in the next month or so, after I’ve finished narrowing down my top 25 of 2010. There are a few songs that I felt like you needed to hear though.  Many of these come from EPs (which I don’t consider for the top 25) and many are just great songs on good albums. You’ll get a lot more music after the new year, trust me. I hope everyone has a happy holiday and thanks for reading Music is Golden.

Broken Headlights – Joey Ryan
“Maybe when I tell you that I want you forever, I’m gonna make a fool of me.”
This song was on a Krissie mix earlier this year and I can’t thank her enough for sending this my way. It’s one of my ten most listened to songs and the entire EP is really good.

Back to Carolina – Jake Ousley
“I’m headed back to Carolina. Yeah I miss something I left behind.”
I’ll listen to any song about Carolina, especially if they’re this good. Ousley hangs around with some pretty talented fellas as well, having served as the tour manager for Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes. Jake’s a got a great voice and a very similar style to Wertz and Barnes.

Right Right Now – Boots Factor
“I don’t care if the stars come crashing down, it’s right right now.”
I can’t say that I’ve ever looked forward to a proper version of a song before.  I first heard this song on The Rock Boat X and was immediately obsessed with it. I sent Boots a plea, which he answered. I keep a playlist of my 150 songs – you know, in case I am stuck in an elevator for ten hours and can’t scroll through my iPod – and this song made it onto that list immediately. The rest of Boots’ album is really strong too, so if you like this one, give it  a shot.

Had A Feeling – The Heyday
“You say when you know then you’ll know that it’s true. But girl I want you to know that I know that it’s you.”
I. LOVE. THE. HEYDAY. That pretty much sums it up.

Hide Yours I’ll Hide Mine – Bobby Long
“You’re my Eastern Pass, my homeward bound. You’re my innocence, my lost and found.”
Bobby Long’s British accent is so strong that you can barely understand a word he speaks. Good thing that doesn’t carry over to his music. Long’s debut studio album is set for a February release.

Imitation Honesty- The Jealous Kind
“Every body’s on the road, they just don’t know what for.”
Josh Queen was a staple on the Charlotte music scene for years. When I heard this EP was set for release, I was giddy with excitement.

Murphy Bed – Austin Hartley- Leonard
“You can fold me up, keep me in your wall. I could be there waiting when you get home, singing the blues.”
A few years ago, I heard an AH-L song on some random TV show and really liked his sound. I picked up a CD and have followed him since. I like the direction he’s starting to lean and his new EP is fabulous.

Before the Fall – The Rescues
“Take me back. Back when the summer came. Back when you cried my name. Back when we had it all, back before the fall.”
I’ve long been a Gabriel Mann fan. His song “Lighted Up” is a great tune that I’ve loved for years.  When I first heard he was joining some other big Indie/Pop names to form The Rescues, I couldn’t grab their music fast enough. Let Loose The Horses is a very solid CD if you’re looking for some killer harmonies too.

Pulling Away – Foreverinmotion
“Please know this wasn’t you, you did all that you could do. You were something special and I failed to let you know.”
Vermont’s own, Brendon Thomas, has been working under the name Foreverinmotion for a few years now, and has released three full length CDs. His newest album, Sunrise, is his best so far and this song is the cherry on top of a great album.

Wait So Long – Trampled by Turtles
“I could never pretend that I don’t love you. You could never pretend that I’m your man.”
You’ve got to listen to these guys, even if it’s only because their name is awesome. Trampled by Turtles would make you assume that their songs will maintain a slow, methodical pace but it’s the exact opposite. It’s really more like ‘thrash blue grass.’ Just listen.

Bitter Pill – Mt. Desolation
“Greedy to get on the way I made that old mistake of sneering at familiar streets and faces.”
Dear Mt. Desolation,
You had me at “members of Keane, Noah & the Whale and Mumford and Sons.”
Love, Ben

Where Losers Do – Beta Radio
“If you’re gonna grow old then go big.”
It took North Carolina’s Beta Radio a decade to finally find their sound, and I have to say I am happy with where they’ve landed. It’s a stripped down folk sound and I love it.

Keep Your Head Up – Andy Grammer
“Only rainbows after rain, the sun will always come again.”
Andy Grammer was once a sort of gimmicky, though entertaining, act. He did this trumpet solo thing with his voice that was weird, but pretty damn cool. A few years ago, he released an EP and a live album that have now disappeared, though they’re both good. His sound has since evolved and if “Keep Your Head Up” is an indication of what’s to come, I don’t think anyone will ever call him “gimmicky” again.

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