Well, if you’re surprised, you’re lying. Amy Winehouse has died today from what I can only assume to be an overdose.

Back to Black is a great album, and Amy Winehouse was a great singer, but the Dap-Kings were what made that record great.

Too many drugs, here is the result.

This is from a concert in Belgrade a few weeks ago, shortly before her European tour was canceled.

What a shame. We all just lost out on 20 years of great records.

Miss Maher was a finalist on RTE TV’s ‘You’re A Star’ program in Ireland, giving the 25 year old the experience and momentum needed to relocate to LA and start a career in that competitive music scene.

Shortly after her relocation, she landed a spot on the soundtrack of The 5th Quarter, a multi-million dollar feature film, with the tune, “Drowning Song.” She has followed these successes with a new solo EP, Inspire Me, released in May, 2011 (first, limited release in October, 2010). This record features a few of the boys from MGS, but their playing is clearly not the focus of this record; Lorraine Maher’s unique and beautiful vocals are. Recorded at Flashrock Studios in North Hollywood, this EP leaves something to be desired as far as production quality, but delivers in the songwriting and vocal performance departments. These are decently written songs, ripe for the pop market, that clearly reference moving to the U.S. and the difficulty inherent in being in a foreign country and surviving the challenges of breaking into a music scene that has so much local talent.

Especially the song “For You,” where the soaring prechorus belies the difficult lyrical content. These kinds of lyrical vs. melodic contradictions are what makes this EP worth your time and effort. I also believe that this EP does not give justice to the true talent that this woman has. I don’t like to be critical of the production quality of a particular company, but I feel like Flashrock have dropped the ball here. Here is an example of the same company doing a better production job with one microphone in a bare room. This video highlights Miss Maher’s vocal strenghths and should give you a reason to give her a second look; despite Flashrock’s poor performance on her record. Flashrock also produced

this video I am posting. This shows that there are various aspects to any company, and it seems like this company’s live sound department does better work than their recording department. I don’t mean that as a slam, just a heads up. And I certainly look forward to hearing more material from Lorraine Maher; here’s to hoping that the next studio that she decides to record at pays her more attention.

Available on iTunes.
Lorraine's Reverb Nation Page.

Here’s the teaser. The song is called “Tighten Up.”

And Frank has also made another appearance, for the song, “Next Girl,” and he has co-stars in this one.

There is also a guest vocalist, Lorraine Maher, on the song, “Stop Thinking.” She adds an interesting element to that down-tempo song, which is an even bigger departure from the usual MGS sound. But the multi-genre-spanning performances that are what is so appealing to me about Mike Got Spiked; and that song is a welcome addition to the playlist.

If you’ve seen MGS live, you know what kind of filthy, but hilarious banter comes out of these Irish boys mouths. You get a small taste of that on the recording of “Whiskey For Me Tae,” a song about selling your children for booze money. But the humor of that song belies how seriously this band takes its music. They’ve been touring relentlessly in America since 2006, playing upwards of 150 shows a year, in every corner of the country, without any label support. They’ve been doing it themselves, on their own dime, thousands of miles from home, with little besides their gear, a van, and a trailer. Spending that much time in close proximity to your bandmates is bound to cause a little, um…well, friction. Hence the song, “Sleeping With The Enemy.” You’ll have to take a listen to see what I mean, but vocalist Gavin McGuire prefaces the song with a little comment, “It’s all about being on tour.” Luckily, they’ve continued to find ways to deal with the stresses of touring and continue to do so.

I can’t stress enough the musicality of this record. I’ve been listening to MGS for a few years now, and have always been impressed with their abilities. But on this release, I find myself listening to the interplay between Jonny Myles (bass), and Dave Lodge (drums) much more closely than ever before–and realizing how much they contribute to the songs. Guitarist, Conall McMahon, has always impressed me with his ability to switch seamlessly between metal riffs and jazzy, melodic lines. On this record, his playing, along with the others’, is able to shine through in the stripped-down version of their songs. And Gavin McGuire’s vocals, which normally swing wildly between screams, whispers and powerful singing, seem to take on a bit more relaxed, finessed approach. In part, I’m sure, because he doesn’t need to compete with the rest of the band to be heard. All in all, this would be a fine acoustic studio album. Then it dawns on you that these performances were done live, with no vocal processing, in front of a live audience. It seems to me that bands these days are shamefully lacking in the talent to do that. Mike Got Spiked is the exception to that rule.

Here’s the video a different performance of “Stop Thinking” that was done on flashrock.com.

You can buy this album on iTunes here.
Or you can listen to previous releases on their Myspace page, Facebook page, or www.mikegotspiked.com.

There’s more going on at White River State Park today and tomorrow, too! Check out the Big Dance Concert Series stuff here. But, take my advice, skip Daughtry, see Goo Goo Dolls instead.

Normally, I wouldn’t subject myself to that kind of torture, but the remote was further than I could reach, and I certainly wasn’t willing to get up at that point. So I watched as the former American Idol star belted out his lackluster set, along with his band (who looked like rejects from a Goo Goo Dolls tribute band). It was….disheartening to say the least. The over-commercialized, watered down pseudo rock made me want to return my delicious turkey dinner to the earth. Fuck you, Daughtry, for ruining my pleasantly boring football game and replacing it with unbridled, burning rage. Everyone, please listen to good music and stop buying this garbage. If it doesn’t make money, it will go away.

In their defense however, Daughtry was supporting a good cause. The Salvation Army.
Happy Thanksgiving.

One of the main reasons for the wide array of musical styles in “Raditude” is the high number of different song-writing and producing collaborations that took place during the making of it. Cuomo had a co-writer for almost every song, working with everyone from the familiar sounds of fellow pop-rockers Butch Walker (Marvelous 3, Butch Walker and the Let’s-Go-Out-Tonites) and Tyson Ritter & Nick Wheeler (The All-American Rejects) to some of today’s biggest R&B and Pop producers such as Lukasz Gottwald (Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, Katy Perry) and Jermaine Dupri (Mariah Carey, Run-DMC, Usher). Even drummer Patrick Wilson contributes to the writing efforts on the track “In the Mall”. Two of the album tracks “Can’t Stop Partying” and “I Don’t Want to Let You Go” come from Cuomo’s solo writings, and can be found in different form on “Alone Vol.2 – The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo” which was released last November.

Thus far “Raditude” has been met with mixed reviews mainly due to the variety of music on the album, and the use of electric and otherwise unusual instruments. Say what you will about Weezer putting a dance-club track on the album, but the new version of “Can’t Stop Partying” is in a far better musical context than the previously recorded acoustic version, while still allowing you to appreciate the irony of Rivers’ lyrics. The truth of the matter is the music world is a-changin’ on both the business and creation hemispheres, and those who want to succeed in it, must do the same. In “Raditude” Weezer has found a way to do just that, while at the same time getting back to what made them so good. Two albums removed from what was nothing more than a sub-par collection of top-40 fluff, it is safe to say that the Weezer we all know and love is back. They are back to writing insanely catchy guitar riffs with loveable, yet dorky lyrics, and that’s exactly where they should be.

[+]Listen to “Raditude” on Weezer’s myspace page now.

His fourth album, Sycamore Meadows, is a sound such like nothing he has ever released. An intelligent album featuring sensational songs such as the uplifting “The Weight of Her” along with “Here Comes The…” with heart felt ballads such as “Ships in a Bottle” which will make you tear up with emotion at his loss. A very indie sound, perfect for long car rides with windows rolled down and the volume just a little too loud. Serenity on a CD. Music that gets better with each listen.

Although this album is a new chapter in Butch’s life and career, it is sadly not as impressive as his first and fourth album in which he touched
more on his former pop-rock side. Jams worth dancing to inappropriately in public or at home. Although losing your house and most of your most precious personal belongings in wild fires is devastating, it is extremely impressive that Butch uses this as in inspiration for this album. But please, move past the heart ache and make us dance again, Mr. Walker! Its sadly disappointing that the “Rock Vocal Power” and up beat pop tempo seem to have been entirely avoided in this compilation. Gems such as “My Way” and “Alicia Amnesia,” which would make you bang your head in a migraine averting way, drumming and air strumming while driving, were precious, smile worthy tunes from Left of Self Centered. Not to mention note worthy, musician inspiring “Hot Girls in Good Moods” and the country influenced “Rich People Die Unhappy” both from The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the Lets Go Out Tonites. Hopefully disaster will avoid Butch and he will settle in his next adventure with less acoustic sounds and more hair raising pop!

Here’s the music video for “Here Comes the…”

[+] Listen to Sycamore Meadows on Last.fm

When I first discovered Brand New, it was “Deja Entendu.” So I missed the shock of their sound drastically changing from the first record, “Your Favorite Weapon.” When I finally did listen back to Weapon, I was glad they had taken such a massive step forward; I might have not given them another listen if I had heard that first. Luckily they did, and with every subsequent record, another step has been taken. This is a band that does not rest on its laurels, but instead pushes the envelope of their creative abilities with every new release.

Here’s a video from the studio sessions. “At The Bottom”

[+]Listen to “Daisy” on lala.