My Name is (not) You, but Someday Soon..

So much classiness. via 

While i love linking you to free music, it's always good to remember that: it's crucial to buy this amazing music as well. Artists need to eat....so they can keep making music, of course!! So feed them, the poor incredible people. This is a band that must eat..because. If you don't think so, well...you may just be..wrong.

Check out "Fortunate Ones" which is the first song i heard and immediately thought it was more than enjoyable. Once i decided to buy their full-length record, my heart just..was going to say "melts," but i feel that cliché won't do it justice, so my heart actually falls, cracks and shatters into tiny pieces in a happy and understanding heap when i hear "One Good Reason."

Why is this duo so far up on my list of best duo's ever? Maybe it's the harmonies and honest lyrics. Maybe it's the indie and folksy sounds. Maybe it's the..plain, sweet accented (she's from Scotland!) talentful (yes, here that's a word) little group whoM i got to meet while they were backing up Joshua Radin on his tour. Please, dive into My Name Is You, they need your support and are too incredible for words.

[A Little] Pop But More Than jake Jess Penner

                                   A pretty and Classy one!                                             via

Time for another pretty lady voice. What's that? You're doubting me? Well shuckidarns, go download her second album then! Fine! It's called Growing In the Cold and of course it's free, but..i mean really, can't you tell Tipping her wouldn't be too much to ask?

Jess Penner is just.. Plain Classy! Although different and a little less pop-ish, her first full-length album (Love, Love, Love) is still a great listen, but if you like the NoiseTrade option more, that's fine too. i Can't decide what i like better, but if i had to pick i guess it would be the Cold one...because, i like..the cold and the poppy-ness of it but, i'm weird and i digress.

She has a loverly voice that combines well with the synthesizers, chimes, acoustic guitar, light drum beats, and whatever else is goin' on! But seriously, check Jess Penner out please, and thank Hawaii they let her settle in California to create some tunes! Plus, it turns out her mom makes Saturday Waffles-- a vital key to being successful in life..i know.

What's Striking About Jonathan Stark?

                            Stark plays a different tune                  via

Like The Novel Ideas, i've got to start with a download link to this guy's phenomenal album! Found on Noisetrade.com (so free of course), Medicine Bow is just one of those albums to put on when you're in that mood to sit back and think...or not think and just let the music pool. Granted, he's got quite a different sound to him, and it might take a few listens, but give it time! In fact, you know that coffee shop that's everywhere with the green sign and strange lady with the hair? They've certainly given him a chance and play him over their speakers! Neato, i think.

At first listen, some of his songs may seem almost flat! It is really a different tune, but that's what i love about this guy. He stands out from the crowd like crazy and that's the way i want to live my life. Well, i don't know if i'll be growing my hair out and getting inked, but i do appreciate Who this guy stands for and how his vocals are compared to other artists.

In terms of what his songs include instrumentally, it is certainly broad. There may be strings, simple acoustic guitars, melodic electric guitar riffs, chimes, to even harmonica on songs like "Comfort." Once again, i've chosen to review an artist that has less than a thousand fans on facebook.com, so please go check him out, and chill out!

How High on the List is Tall Bear?

                        They'll get one to Think!                                 via

Let me start by explaining it is not my intent to write about Christian artists as that would broaden this site too much. However, there are several that definitely have that "indie" sound to them and i think it's necessary to tell you about them if they don't have many fans but have plenty of potential and talent. In addition, it's important to point out that while the members of Tall Bear may be Believers, a lot of the lyrics are not explicitly Christian but get one to Think!

These two guys, naturally, have a really good sound. But, why else would i be writing about them? Mainly because they're unique with their song writing and the style of sAngin'! In talking about the latter first, the lead singer's vocals have a great range and this is something that is vital to an artist. In today's music industry, one cannot afford to sound too much like other artists as their ratings and their income will be significantly lower.

On the other hand, the Tall Bear's lyrics are profound. i Love artists that get me to not only learn the lyrics quick because they're catchy, but also when the artists write something that has the power to make me think when i'm not even listening to it! Of course the melodies and guitar riffs help, but when these other two (vocals and lyrics) are clearly so far above the average musicians and groups out there, it just..gets to me!

Please. Check out Tall Bear and their EP We Are Ships. They surprisingly have less than 200 'likes' and this saddens me. They should have at least 20 times that..no..at least 70 times 7, times that measly 200.

Looking for a Great Idea? How 'Bout The Novel Ideas!

                         This a flawless idea                    via

Wait, what kind of idea is this? My fault, i meant, what kind of music is this? i'd love to tell you about The Novel Ideas. But, before we just dive right in, you know, head first and start swimming around with this idea, what if i propose an even better idea. Go download (for FREE, naturally) or stream their entire album Home right now. Good plan? i Thought so.

All right, enough of the silly, lame jokes about their obviously brilliant name.. This band does not have many fans at all according to the numbers on that unknown social media site called "facebook," only over a thousand likes. Bands like this blow my mind because they're extremely talented, yet not many people know about them! In terms of their sound, they have changed a good bit including their lineup, but like Hey Ocean!, this sound is better than ever. 

There is a bit of country twang on some songs, casually thrown in here and there, but please. Please do not get terrified when i say "country," i'm not huge on that genre either but what this band is, is really "folk!" Definitely a great sound with superb lyrics. 

What is also neat, is that the main members of the band all sing! If you're looking for an energized track check out "Promise" (the lyrics hit oddly&sadly quite close to home personally) and if you want a quieter one, have a listen to "Back and Forth." All in all, i hope you can help me, help them, tell the world about these talented souls. They know how to do "the musics!"

Hey Ocean! Exclamation Needed!

                              They're all just sO good!                                              via

Wow, what a group. If you are into some great harmonies with male and female vocals, and poppy yet indie sounds, you have found your band! Their own name and how it is written, "Hey Ocean!" captures the essence of what these talented individuals are up to. They are another phenomenal group of talented individuals from Canada just like Michael Bubl(e), LIGHTS, and Celine Dion. The band members all sing and play at least one instrument in every song which is more than neat. If that does not tell enough about their incredible talent, Ashleigh Ball is actually a successful voice actress as well!

So why did i choose to blog on this band first? There's quite a simple answer, actually! Their new album IS was just released yesterday (Jan. 29, 2013) for Americans, and i hope it becomes all the rage. i've been listening to it on repeat and i can't find my favorite song as they're all just sO good! 

In comparison to their previous two albums, it is a significantly different sound. However, i think it is a much better and more fun type of sound and really should be checked out. If you've never heard of these guys, please check out the songs "Islands," "Give," "Make a New Dance Up," and of course their most famous which is "Big Blue Wave." Their tunes can be quite mellow, but also extremely jazzed-up and might make you want to dance..and make a new one up!

Welcome to U!

Oh hey there, so glad you could stop by!
My name is "theo," and i am extremely into two main fields that both play huge roles on this earth where i live. They include: my Savior and music. i Can't live without either one (especially the former!), and not capitalizing my I's and spelling my name with a lower case T is a constant reminder of Who i am living for. Secondly, music and finding new tunes to listen to is something i find immensely entertaining. As my reader, i hope you are into one of these two phenomena!

(Above picture: My iTunes library holding over 13 days of music. This is where i listen to the new found "chunes," as they say in Ireland!)

This blog is all about you and keeping you up to date with those artists or groups that do not have enough recognition, but deserve a whole lot. i Absolutely cannot get enough of promoting and sharing knowledge about musicians that fall under this category of being "unknown." With that being said, please comment on my posts about groups that you like and that may remind you of the one i am reviewing, so i can get "in the know" like you! These posts will not really focus on where i found the artists or what their personal names and relationship status is, but will seek to interest you so you can go out and share the knowledge with friends. Basically, be "that guy" that knows Talent that nobody else does and gets others interested as well. Personally, i can only do some singin' and li'l bit of harmonica; therefore, i am repetitively getting my mind blown by guitar or piano riffs, strange but talented vocals, and lyrics that make me melt inside. i Am going to be focusing on predominantly Indie artists with a smattering of electronic, folk, and the incredibly large genre known in iTunes as "Singer/Songwriter." In short, this blog is all for YOU and seeks to open your mind on to a less traveled path in the vast world of music.