Masch’s New Music Picks

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Joshua James – “Magazine” Being in love and always on the road causes you grief but leave it to another musician to be able to put into words and song what you are feeling. Joshua James is a great singer songwriter with soft vocal notes that bring to my mind the vocal styling of Donovan (To Catch The Wind). If you want to get a step into my book take a listen to this tune.

Shane Cooley – “My Asbury Park” Shane Cooley spends most of his days not in Jersey’s Asbury Park but as a student at William and Mary in Williamsburg Virginia. In his Senior year he has a great start on his career, touring all over the countryside, accolades, and a great sounding album to boot. Mr. Cooley has been at this songwriting thing for a while (since he was 14 I believe) and he boasted to this blogger that he had roughly 40 songs for his next project and another 50 unrecorded for his last. He is a treasure trove of songs and while I dig “My Asbury Park” there are a whole lot of other songs that are on par if not above this. ”My Asbury Park”, is a really great song not so much about Asbury Park but about the place he considers HIS Asbury park. We all have that place we love and that is our place we call home, listen to “My Asbury Park” and think of your own Asbury Park.

Mika – “We Are Golden” This is a dangerous and unexpected choice for me, however it is a choice I have to make. Not everyone will agree with me on this choice for “HOT NEW MUSIC” but it’s a fun and rebellious song. You have a grown man running around singing about being golden and not caring about what family you come from, you can be whatever you want, I think that’s fun and fighting against what everyone thinks. How many people feel, if you came from the right family or if you knew the right people that you can become whatever it is that you want? Mika is saying forget that, you are young and you are the one in control. This song has the obvious Queen influence (see Mika’s song Grace Kelly) but I think it also has a “Who” style, Youth Rebellion, (teenage wasteland vs teenage dreams in a teenage circus). There are those out there that who won’t see it but you have to be open. Then there are those who will see the whole reason behind this fun song but not see the revolutionary aspect of it. This is a great pop song with a great message to the youth of the world.

Previous Picks:

12. Mumford&Sons “Hold on to what you believe” – This band from London has been blasting through my ear buds these past weeks. I really dig their style and you have to check out their videos. They were just signed to Island and their album will drop here in America very soon, so be on the look out.

11. Brett Dennen “Heaven” – A very nice folk pop song from an artist who I believe shares the same roots as myself. I saw him in concert in Nashville and he played late into the night. That was a rough morning but worth it due to his/his band performance.

10.Find Vienna “Chemistry” – A wonderful group that just rocks your socks off when it comes to their live performance. Find Vienna has a tight album and they can pull it off live. When you can find a group that can do that, I suggest hanging on for dear life.

9. Cliff Hillis “Ought to Know” – This guy knows how to get you whistling his tunes well after he has unplugged his guitar, I find myself randomly singing the chorus hook from this song and if you’re not careful you will too. Cliff I’m the guy in the back of the room singing along!

8. Cocoon ”On My Way” – I know, what the 80’s movie about the old people and Alien Robots…no a French group. A nice group from wine country that proves Folk music isn’t always American made.

7. Julie Lee “Hope’s The Thing With Feathers” – a good friend from Nashville that captivates me with her songwriting. If she wanted to name drop she could but admirably she lets her music speak for itself. This song always makes me gasp in wonder at her amazing talent.

6. The Champion and His Burning Flame “The Expert” – This is an older track from their French EP but it is always a classic when it comes to show time. The Champion has been working on film scores lately but I believe we should be expecting something new from these guys. Their drummer lays down a tight beat and odd time is his favorite to play in.

5. David Bazan “Bless This Mess” – Former Pedro The Lion front man David Bazan has taken to the homes of America with hellfire and he has presented a good if not great touring ideology. Bazan will play for small groups or big groups play for anyone and broadcasting it live to the world abroad.

4. Bob Dylan “Beyond Here Lies Nothing” – Something new from Dylan from his most recent studio project, this song has a very interesting video on youtube, don’t know if this is Dylan sanctioned but it has a very graphic quality to it. I’d say the video is R rated but the song itself is typical Dylan.

3. Bobby Long “Two Years Old” – This is an English singer-songwriter doing something similar to myself, sometimes it’s just good to hear someone that is clearly another branch on the same tree.

2. Tori Sparks “Penny On A Rail” – Tori is an great storyteller from Nashville, this song is a great song but my favorites aren’t even out yet. Please check out Tori and her music she will move you.

1. Switchfoot “Mess of Me” – A great way to end the playlist or begin it however you are looking at it. Switchfoot is hope for people like us, they were a major label band at one point but figured out they could go alone. They hit the road, they make their albums, they are a good “band model” to follow. Great guys and a great way to end or begin a track listing.