R&B mixed with Acoustic

This guy is awesome (DAVID RYAN HARRIS- He's from L.A.), flat out. I started listening and just said wow. His voice, almost Brian McKnight and mixed with him playing the soft strings of the guitar. Impressive. I think, by far, of all the previously mentioned unknown artists pages I have visited ......his voice is by far the best. Some songs have some other instruments in it, piano etc. but his music is great, yes... He's at the top until I can find someone or some band to dethrone him off my blog. I don't care if no one reads this anyways. Right now, David Ryan Harris is king. I'm going to be keeping and eye out for him, and if i can Illegally download this music I probably will. NO lie. Hopefully this guy is signed and on the rise= he's got talent to use here.

Check it out, i promise its good:

http://www.myspace.com/davidryanharris

Upbeat Acoustic

Now the Matt White Band has some upbeat acoustics for sure. Relaxing and upbeat, if its possible. (These guys are from Austin Texas)Vocals are always something to get used to but this band sounds decent to me. The manner in which the lead singer carries his voice is something that I might certainly have to adapt to but the acoustics are something that I appreciate immediately. It could be a very simple strumming pattern with bar chords, but its catch stuff to me reminds me of something Jason Mraz might play, not quite as good of a voice, but the sounds are similar. I feel like I could listen to this band play live at a bar all night long, its that kind of music. I enjoyed the song makes me happy.


http://www.myspace.com/mattwhiteband

On a normal day I wake up at 5:00 a.m. roughly, and I head to PT. I'm in the Army Rotc so I have obligation with that. Some morning is get up at 6:00 and do training or whatever is on the schedule. I enjoy it because it keeps me active, motivated, and happy. My days feel better knowing that I'm working out early and often too.


Usually, especially during these months...Every morning is a long cold walk to and from PT and to and from class @ THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. This is what it looks like 75% of the time; or its just ridiculously freezing cold. I'm not used to this weather yet, it isn't this cold in NC. From there I go to class, I'm an art major so i usually am drawing, sculpting, or doing something of the sort. Usually my professors force me to create things I usually wouldn't create...As shown below. Its a steam boat from a cubist painting. (If you care).




After the busy week of school work and ROTC ...comes my weekends. Where I usually do as little as possible. I will certainly study when I need to during the week, and I guess the weekend. I do watch alot of sports on the weekends...most likely football. If there isn't anything good on I'll try and go out with some of my good friends. And yes, there is always Xbox to keep me company if I get THAT bored.


Aside from the typical weeks and typical days I love taking up any opportunity that I can to do something new. For example, I've been over seas several times to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Monaco, France, Croatia, and Bosnia. Most recently Bosnia and Croatia in June. I love traveling. I try and go at least somewhere, not necessarily out of the country, but somewhere every year.


I transfered to Ohio State from NC and still talk to and see my friends when I can.

I have a ton of hobbies. I played College Soccer at my last school Wingate University. Basketball, and other sports. I love snowboarding, and wakeboarding.... They've turned into two of my favorite things to do on weekends or breaks, when I am able.


A day in my life IS NOT that interesting, but maybe it is to someone, so I guess we'll see. but i like staying busy..definitely. I love my art 353 class.

New Album: My Fav Artist

I'm waiting on Jack Johnson's New Album: Sleep Through The Static
One of my favorite artists... from Hawaii, former surfer if you didn't know. The chillest music in the world that you can listen to again and again...as long as the radio doesn't get a hold of it. Which usually doesn't happen.

Techno, Tech-yes

I never was a big Techno fan, I knew about Sandstorm and some other radio favorites that were played at parties and stuff. Last fall i stumbled across a European sensation, who has been around since the early 2000's and I would venture to say that most Americans dont know who he is. Tiesto. Just check him out, please. It'll change your perspective on dance music. Especially how European's get down. I watched one of his live concerts on DVD and I was amazed at his stuff. It just pumped me up and i couldn't help knockin my head around. He's not necessarily "unknown" but i imagine that he is unknown to quite a few people. He has some remixes of some major artist's songs such as Justin Timberlake and then has remixed some movie songs like Pirates of the Caribbean. It sounds sweet, I promise. If it turned me on to it, I'm sure some others will love it as well. www.tiesto.com

Making people want to cry?

The Weepies, the weepies? One guy and a girl group, the guitar sounds good. The name of this band is weird haha, I just laugh hearing the name. They are from out in CALI... it says. I bet some people really like this stuff. Its so soft and so light, and so..... EMOTIONAL... These two people met randomly at shows, both were up and coming artists.. its actually a cool little story on their page. New York, I guess it was. Not exactly my cup of tea, but what really is my cup of tea these days. Her voice is alright, its not horrible. I still am laughing at the name as Im writin this. I'm just going to say if you like the really light acousitc, harp sounding, sad, love like, emotional, movie sound track, did i say emotional yet?, type of stuff.... then you'll love this group. The guy's voice is exactly like the girls voice, extremely light, and continuing to sing these deep deep lyrics. Yikes... I dont know, there isn't much to say.. just check it out.

theweepies.com

The Who?? and they play what??

This is a big change from the norm of my critiques. Jazz music! This stuff is different to say the least. This group called the Squirrel Nut Zippers, from Chapel Hill, NC.... close to my hometown in NC. These intstrumentals sound like they could come straight out of black and white movie from way back in the day. One of those movies were people just run around and hit eachother with things and everythings in fast motion. Kind of like the 3 Stooges. The first song was so carnival like and up beat it was a bit humorous. The second song took me in a completely different direction...it started out mellow and slow and then picked up into a similar song as the first..THEN out of nowhere... some demanding VOCALS. These guys sound ancient!! But somewhere, deep down...i found this very intriguing, almost more intriguing than any other group of musicians on this blog. Something told me...listen to the third song, and so I did. I've got to believe these guys have been around or a while, I need to ask all my friends at UNC Chapel Hill if they have ever seen them out doing gigs and what not. As for that third song...I just smiled. IT seemed to come from a Mario Nintendo 64 soundtrack at first. I felt like I was any number of made up video game characters in a mart buying items to set out into my video game adventure. It was odd, I have no idea why I thought this. The vocals in this song were imroved as well, "Good Enough for Granddad", I loved it. Bravo.. These guys are a cool 8.5 out of 10 on my scale...A very good find, and it brightened up my night a little bit.

If its good enough for Granddad, theyre good enough for me.
Interesting quote from their songs.

http://www.myspace.com/snzippers

Extreme? Extreme 80's

This band has some real talent, they sound like they all were in the 80's and then someone locked them up in a box and decided to bring them out again in 2008. And that's pretty much what happened. This is also the oldest looking band I have read about and listened to. I guess people still enjoy this stuff....But Hey!.. I've never heard of 'em. Definitely another one of those "Guitar Hero" bands. This may be the largest "unheard" group that I have covered. They boast the possession of having an upcoming WORLD TOUR. WooOOoOW !?!? Impressive, if I had heard of them before. But Nonetheless, it is more than what some of their predecessors have had to offer! They are from Bean Town USA, if you care. I wonder if maybe these guys were popular and I just didnt get the memo, anyways, they look funny, sing like an 80's band would, and lack originality. Originality doesn't always work... but you know what, I like effort. It might have just been too late for these grandparents to change their hard rockin' ways. They get 8 of 10, because talent wise they are pretty good...I wont hate on them for doing the only thing that they know. Singing that VH1 we love the 80's stuff.

They all should probably wear tighter clothes if they can fit. (sarcasm)

http://www.myspace.com/extreme

Breath of Some-what-Fresh Air

Brightwood, this band's name fits what they play. Bright music..if thats possible. Its mellow, soft, and intriguing. It has a mix of all sorts of songs i think i've heard before.. It really is some chill music that belongs in that Maroon 5 category. Me, being a big Jack Johnson and Ben Harper fan, I dont mind this at all. Now for some people it could be too soft and stuff. This little unsigned band from Portland, Oregon probably has a pretty good upside. The vocals are decent and the guitars fit what is sung. If there is a downside that I could rip on, and I will.... Its that they could be classified as a little bit girly and too soft if you know what I mean. But overall, again, this is a pretty decent band. Only 700,000 some views of their profile though...plenty of room to get more exposure. I would check them out i give them a 7 of 10 I suppose. Not too bad..not at all.

Scream Scream Scream, Rock

Staying with the harder guitar routine, I found another band that classifies themselves as a Metal, Punk, Gothic band called Wednesday 13. This band is a step up and in a different direction than the last one I listened to. The title surely fits the type of music they make. If even some people call it music. I'll go ahead and say, I'm not a fan, not at all. Some hard rock with some yelling is good, and I know I'm picky about that. The lyrics in the song, "Bad Things". The lead vocalists repeats that they want Bad Things to happen to you. Hm, maybe this song would motivate me to get in a fight at a bar or something...but it just doesn't hit me as a favorite. Never the less they do sound like they could be on the Bonus List of songs for the next Guitar Hero. Lol. Oh well it seems enough people like their stuff... They have some shows in Major Cities in the U.S. this year. I won't be downloading this stuff anytime soon. As usual the 2nd song on their play list is better than the 1st. I give these guys a 6 out of 10... with some room to grow. I don't think they'd ever make it MAIN Stream, but the certainly have some fans already apparently. These three guys probably listen to some good music if you hung out with them for a night, and just listening to them freestyle on an electric is probably insane. Its just that voice, it really is like a Punk version of METAL. The whiney, yet screaming voice just tips me over the edge. I'd stay away, I'm sure there is more pleasing things to my ears to find. I think they need to make up their mind with route they want to take, because the hybrid doesnt work. But i give them points for even trying something new.

What a weird combination of genre's. http://www.wednesday13.com

Getting a little more Serrrr-us

Steppin', well actulaly, jumpin away from the acoustic scene and going face first into some harder tunes... I'm listening to the band Difinity. Its hard to pick a group that sounds similar to these Alberton, Canada natives. At first... it feels like punk rock with some harder guitars in the back ground. THEN, OUT OF NO WHERE comes some straight up throat clearing SCREAMING. caught me way off guard. Then it dawned on me... these guys sounds like Story of the Year. I got it, i knew no one could escape my criticism and comparisons. Yep, thats it...they sounds identical to what Story of the Year did. I'd even throw a slight mix of what Trapt used to sound like into this mix as well. Just because this Maple Leaf guy sounds a bit like their lead singer. The song that was playing right of the bat was, "Time wasged War and Won". I'll have to say its not bad music, im not always a hudge fan of the ScrEAmin' stuff, but i did have the Story of the Year cd a few years back. It could be worse, they could be 100% Emo. Their photo looks like they could tip that way soon. BUT WHATever. I knew i could find a group that these guys immitated, no band will go uncriticized on my blog, I promise that. These guitars sound good though, i wish they had more than two songs to offer without having to log into thier page, or whatever you need to do. The second song sounds even more identical to Trapt and Story of the Year. And maybe that makes me like them more...but when the heck is somebody going to not sound like someone else in music. The chances are not looking good...

Rock on North of the Border.

Across The Pond

On to a band in another country, The UK- Cardiff. The Story So Far ~ thats the name.

Continuing on with this type of music....I have to admit I usually can't tell when a band is from England. I have been surprised before, but this time 5 seconds into the first song i started laughing because the opening vocals screamed with an accent that just caught me as hysterical. This guy is lucky that the other members have some talent. The song is harder that the previous US band I critiqued.. I'll leave me opinion be. This is again a similar genre, that Good Charlotte want to be mentality, however some lyrics are pretty decent. The accent, sometimes, is hidden which is awkward...BUT Does everyone these days try to sound like Fall Out Boy too? ? ?I'm still waiting to hear a group that I can say, "Wow, that sounds like just....just them, and not like another mainstream, sell out band". It'll happen eventually. I can say that I truly slightly like a few songs, but most new bands have a lot to live up to. The third time was a charm with these Brits, 'Friends Like These' struck me as a song with quality, I wish it was the first song on their play list, but whatever. They're from England, they do stuff backwards anyways. A random, somewhat nice find...I'll consider downloading that third song but In the mean time I'll stick with shuffle on my i-tunes.

Cheers mates.

http://www.myspace.com/tssf

The Scene Aesthetic

The first group on the chop block is.......



The Scene Aesthetic, A group from Washington. Relatively new it seems 2005, but looks like thier on the up and up. Probably plenty of heads out there that have this on an ipod. If you don't know, I appreciate all types of music. The first song that I caught on their MySpace Page is "To The Steadfast". This might not be something I would listen to regularly....it seems to fit the stereotype of being some what indie-emo. Yeah, i have my favorites too....The guitar and strings are good, its a pleasant and peaceful. I definitely dig acoustics, I try and play some myself. If i was listening to just the instrumentals I could probably crack a six pack and chill on a porch a about dusk and relax to this. However, I don't know how well i like one of the voices. The whiney pitch just doesn't do it for me sometimes. The second song picked up my attention span a little bit, there wasnt the attempt to hit too many high notes that sounded like they might indeed crack the glass of my window. I think this band grew up listening to New Found Glory. Don't get me wrong, i rocked out to some NFG back in the D-A-Z. When the song mellowed out I grew to like it a little bit. This is a group that I would be picky with which songs i listened to. Then again even Dashboard Confessional grew on me.... But it took 5 years. WE will see if i catch them on the t.v. or something.

http://www.myspace.com/thesceneaesthetic

Whattt IM Doin.

I'm just going to explore some relatively unkown music. I never get the time to listen to anything new, especially before it hits the radio and gets replayed so many times that all i can think about are lines like Fergalicious all day long....

So maybe I'll stumble across jams, and maybe I wont~