Charlotte Gainsbourg

Heaven Can Wait is an unbelievably catchy song by this French artist and off of her 2009 album IRM, which was produced by Beck.

TV on the Radio

The song below is off this Brooklyn band's 2008 album, Dear Science.

K2R Riddim: Dub En Do Mineur

And here's another smashing song for the reggae fans out there, Dub En Do Mineur, from this French group's 2001 album Appel D'R.

Laurel Aitken (1927 -2005)

I've received a few e-mails requesting ska and reggae acts.  And because I don't want to disappoint anyone, here's a great track from the "Godfather of Ska."  I've found that most people either like Ska or they don't. The rest of us like a bit now and then, but all that brass can get old quickly.

Quadron: Slippin'

Hailing from Hovedstaden, Denmark, the duo Quadron melds electronica and soul beautifully.  It is easy to appreciate the depth to their songs; every time you listen you can pick up something that didn't hit you before--and that isn't common in pop. Learn more about them here.

of Montreal

Named after a band member's failed romance with a girl from Montreal, this is another fabulous band from Athens, Georgia (what's in the water down there?). They combine a plethora of musical elements and do other off beat things like putting upbeat music to depressing lyrics. The song below is off their 2010 album False Priest. I dare you to listen to it just once.

Beck: Loser

Everyone knows this song, but have you watched the video lately?

Ra Ra Riot: Boy

Chamber pop and Baroque pop are two of the terms used to describe the music this Syracuse, New York band writes.  Now, I have always thought these types of sub-categories are just silly, although I suppose they are helpful to some people.  By the way, the reason Ra Ra Riot is described that way is because they have a cello and a violin in their permanent lineup, and therefore conjure up images like this.

However you describe their genre, they're creating some very cool music, like the song below, off of the 2010 album The Orchard.

Jayme Stone: Room of Wonders

Jayme Stone is a banjo player who will likely expand your appreciation of that instrument.  For example, I had no idea that its origins were African until I heard him discussing his 2008 album Africa to Appalachia.  He recently released an album entitled Room of Wonders, and it is sublime.  His website his here.

Stone is an artist with an academic interest in his craft, and that depth is apparent when he performs.

Phoenix Foundation Redux

This song, Pot, is off the 2010 album Buffalo. It is more indicative of the band's style musically and also artistically, as I don't think they had anything to do with that intense electric car video.

Phoenix Foundation

Hailing from New Zealand, the Phoenix Foundation has a sound that melds electronica and rock in some very interesting ways. The song below, Hitchcock, off their 2005 album Pegasus, is a spooky sounding instrumental that I'm posting because the video is fabulous.  I'll post another song by this band in a separate post, now just sit back and watch those Russian cars go.

Renata Tebaldi, 1959

Here's a priceless performance:

Dinner Belles: Til the Dawn

Here's a band from Ontario, Canada that has a great roots rock meets country sound. There is a folksy warmth to the song / video below that most bands can't produce. Apparently they are working on their first album, and as far as I'm concerned that project can't get wrapped up soon enough so I can order it. Also check out the song Runnin' to Ravenna, among other information, here.

Irina Florin: Koprinena Jena

Breezy Bulgarian pop.  While there isn't much going on in this song, something about it keeps your attention.  Her website is here.

The Felice Brothers

I recently heard of this band and was blown away that they've got 7 albums out there.  I've now listened to most of those albums and heartily recommend this tremendously talented band from upstate New York.  I love the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of the song below, Love Me Tenderly, and it sounds like these guys are having a great time performing.

Dizzy Gillespie (1917 -1993)

The jazz legend would have turned 93 today.

Frikstailers

This Argentine duo is all about danceable rhythms and energy.  They plug-in a lot of South American musical styles that are more commonly heard on acoustic instruments, and if the results aren't exactly groundbreaking, they're sure fun to listen to. Their website is here.

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci

I promised another Welsh band, and here they are, notwithstanding the fact that they broke up in 2006.  What's also interesting is that the lyrics of the song below are actually in Welsh, which isn't a language that you hear every day (at least on the Billboard Charts). It's off their 1994 album Tatay. Now, can someone tell me what they're singing about!?

Steve Earle: Guitar Town

And here's another for the country music fans out there. Steve Earle's 1986 album Guitar Town topped the country charts when it was released, and the title track below was a top ten single. Rolling Stone magazine also listed Guitar Town as one of the top 500 albums of all time, a sentiment with which I heartily agree.

Marty Robbins: El Paso

I've received a few e-mails from followers of this blog asking why country music has been more or less ignored.  I couldn't come up with a good reason why, so if you're a fan of Country, Western, or Country Western you might enjoy this American original.

Marty Robbins (1925-1982) was a great writer and performer of ballads, which is something of a lost art these days.  He was also clearly a badass, hence the mustache, shirt, and diamond cross combination in the performance below.

Lucy Schwartz: Gravity

This is another artist that got her start by having the producers of a TV show feature one of her songs on an episode.  I think Gravity was on ER, but I could be mistaken.  This L.A.-based singer/songwriter is only 20 years old, but she writes pop with gravitas, if you'll go along with such a thing.  Check out her website here.

Douglas

Si je Buvais Moins off the 1967 album Les Anges Noirs. I know virtually nothing about this artist, Douglas. Can any of you tell me something about him?  In the meantime, let's enjoy this 60's gem.

Do You Mariachi?

This is a genre of music that gets too little respect, even though a crooner in a sombrero matched up with a large man playing a tiny guitar, and a small man playing an enormous guitar is a hilarious image.  In reality, mariachi music is full of the drama and raw emotion of life. If you've never given it a chance, you must. And you can begin here:

Cee Lo Green

You've all heard this viral hit by Cee Lo, former member of Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley. The full album will be released next month, and I can't wait.

Hocus Pocus

Off the 2006 album 73 Touches, the song below, Faits Divers, is as smooth as you can get.  This French group is led by MC / DJ 20Syl, and not only is he a good rapper, but he does a great job combining acoustic instruments with standard hip hop elements, e.g. samples & loops. Hear it for yourself:

Mississippi John Hurt

Those of you interested in the roots of modern rock music will enjoy this song by Mississippi John Hurt (1892-1966), whose compositions have influenced a number of musicians.

Grouplove

There is something compelling about this band's single below, Colours, notwithstanding the fact that Christian Zucconi's vocals grate a little (right?). Actually, for me the guitar at around 3:40 is what really brings the song together.

The founding members of the band, Zucconi and Hannah Hooper, claim to have had a love at first sight experience in NYC and ran off to Greece together while Hooper completed an art residency on the island of Crete, which is probably the most romantic way I have ever heard of a band forming.  Learn more about them here.

Marina and the Diamonds

I think Marina is the first Welsh artist this blog has covered, and if Wales has more artists like her, she will not be the last.  Her debut album, The Family Jewels, was released this past February and has been fairly successful in the UK. I don't know if understand the overall message of the album, which she described as "a body of work inspired by the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family and female sexuality," but she has a great voice for pop music and the songs are catchy as well.

Santigold

This gritty Philadelphia-based artist is writing music that reflects a myriad of influences, from the Pixies to Aretha Franklin.  It is a unique and upbeat sound that's going to make you want to dance. Don't believe me? Play the song below, title track off the 2009 album, Say Aha.

Beach House: Norway

This song, off of the very successful 2010 album Teen Dream, has a spooky quality to it that keeps me listening over and over again despite the fact that the vocals sound a little stretched at times.  Let me know what you think. I think this Baltimore duo is producing some great music, check out their website here.

Caravan Palace

There are a lot of bands reinventing older musical genres these days, and so many of them sound more or less the same, but there is something about this Paris-based band that seems more interesting (although I can't really put my finger on it).  The song below, Jolie Coquine, is off the 2008 album with the same name.

John Lennon

You don't need me to tell you that today is John Lennon's birthday, even Google has saluted him on their homepage, but since this is a music blog I have to mention it. He would have been 70 today.

Below is one of my favorite Beatles covers, Anna, by Arthur Alexander.  What's your favorite Beatles / John Lennon tune?

Maria Callas, 1962

Here is a lovely performance by this great soprano.  Others sing Rossini better, but it is hard not to enjoy this charming rendition.

Two Hours Traffic

This Canadian band writes incredibly catchy pop music and have done so consistently on three albums since 2003.  I wish I could hear more music like this on the top forty stations, don't you? The song below is off their well-received 2007 album, Little Jabs.

Dan Mangan: Robots

Great folk-rock from this Vancouver-based musician's 2009 album Nice, Nice, Very Nice.  Also check out the song Sold, which is on the same album.  This is another very funny music video.

Brandi Carlile

Last year's album Giving Up the Ghost received considerable media attention and peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200, so many of you will be familiar with this folk-rock artist, but if you haven't recently listened to her, maybe you should.  The song below, I Will, is one of her under-the-radar tracks and the performance below, on Boise's KRVB is a good one.

Owen Pallett: Heartland

Off Owen Pallett's 2010 album Heartland, the song below, Lewis Takes Off His Shirt, is a good example of why this violinist / keyboardist / singer has been described as a "one man orchestra."
 

Chloe Charles

I have a feeling that some of you might find this a bit too moody, but I think that if you give this Canadian artist a listen you'll like her. There is something about her music that pulls you in, and while I haven't had the chance to hear her live, I have no doubt that it must be a captivating show.

Hold Your Horses

This French band plays energetic, folksy pop with an interesting combination of sounds.  The song below, 70 Million, is not only a pleasure to hear, but the fabulous video gives music connoisseurs a three minute introduction to art history.  Check out the band's website here.

Maximum Balloon

This artist's self-titled album was released last month and is full tremendously addictive grooves. Check out his website here.

Anna Maria Jopek

Polish Jazz? Yes, indeed.

This is off this heavenly artist's 2003 album Jonasz Kofta na bis.

King Khan & the Shrines

This song, Welfare Bread, is off the 2008 album The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines.  This Berlin-based band has a unique presentation, King Khan, the lead singer / guitarist, is usually scantily clad on stage and accompanied by a cheerleader during live performances.  I'm not sure how you'll react to that, but I'm willing to bet that a lot of you will like this song:

The Hundred in the Hands

Released this month, Dressed in Dresden is a single off this Brooklyn based duo's self-titled debut album.  It is hip, it is danceable, and it is very NYC.  Eleanore Everdell's voice brings Debbie Harry of Blondie to mind, which is no slight, as her voice has a wonderful pop-meets-punk quality.

Learn more about the band here.