IS “SECOND ALBUM SYNDROME” REAL?
“We’ve launched an interactive chart that I thought might pique the interest of Skope Mag readers, especially those who like to argue whether or not “second album syndrome” is actually a thing. We wanted to look into this myth ourselves. To do so, we took the artists whose albums were featured in Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Best Debut Albums of all Time, then compared the critics’ scores of these artists first and second albums using data from Album of the Year. It is really interesting to see which artists have conquered the dreaded sophomore slump (including Missy Elliot and Jay Z) and those who’ve remained consistent (classics like Elvis and Black Sabbath).”
http://www.concerthotels.com/difficult-second-album
PAUL WELLER TO RELEASE HIS WARNER BROS. RECORDS DEBUT ALBUM
Warner Bros. Records/ Parlophone are proud to announce the signing of one of the most important and influential artists of his generation or any other, Paul Weller. Saturns Pattern is Weller’s first album release through both Parlophone Records in the U.K. (May 11th) and on Warner Bros. Records in the U.S. (May 12th).
SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD SINGER / SONGWRITER RELEASES FIRST EP
Seventeen year-old singer/songwriter, Jacob Whitesides will release his first EP of original songs, A Piece Of Me, on February 14, 2015 and in a an age where most of his peers are releasing albums through major labels, Whitesides has chosen to release his, on his own, and through his own JW Records label for his fans. With its title voted on in only a few hours by nearly 150,000 of his Twitter followers, and saw him occupy three of the top four trending spots during that time, Whitesides has been slowly revealing the track listing to his over 1.42 million fans on Twitter.
The six song EP showcases his musical depth through the five original tracks he co-wrote, “Billboard (If I’m Honest)’” “Let’s Be Birds,” “Rumors,” “Ohio,” “Not My Type At All” along with, “Words,” which was released last November.
https://www.facebook.com/JacobWhitesides1
PURPLE DROPS NEW TRACK “EXTINCTION”
Enigmatic singer/producer PURPLE dropped his new track “Extinction” from his upcoming debut album Silence & Remorse out this Spring via WEDIDIT. The Berlin-via-Portugal artist introduced the world to his signature hazy, dark and emotionally driven sound with his 2013 Salvation EP. Silence & Remorse is the culmination of a dark period of time for the singer/producer. The album explores notions of fatalism, loss, love, hopefulness and struggles of internal conflict, proving to be his most genuine work to date.
http://www.thefader.com/2015/02/17/purple-extinction
CHRISTINE STORM NEW SINGLE
Pop/rock artist Christine Storm has released her new single “Shoulda Coulda Woulda (The Remix)” via iTunes and digital retailers. The pop/rock track features soaring vocals by Storm with traces of the classic rock which has deeply influenced her and the dance-infused pop sound of her new music. “Shoulda Coulda Woulda” is available at iTunes now. Stream “Shoulda Coulda Woulda” on Spotify HERE.
PREE NEW TRACK “HOOKS & EYES” ON GOLD FLAKE PAINT
DC quartet Pree is set to release sophomore album Rima in May 2015. Known for their unique and vibrant pop songs, Rima was crafted after returning to DC following touring, and a time of reorientation and reexamination of relationships. The ten tracks of Rima (which takes its name from geologic fissures on the Moon) are a series of confrontations–perceptions enhanced and at times distorted by the narrator’s own fractured understanding of others.
http://www.goldflakepaint.co.uk/premiere-pree-hooks-eyes/
JASMIN KASET NEW VIDEO
Jasmin Kaset is from Cottowntown, TN. Her mother, Angela Kaset, is a prominent Nashville songwriter. Not dissimilar from The Judds, the two collaborate regularly.
http://yvynyl.tumblr.com/post/110546851327/premiere-jasmin-kaset-lionshare-smart-choice-by
LEGACY RECORDINGS CELEBRATES BILLIE HOLIDAY’S 100TH BIRTHDAY
Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings is celebrating the 100th birthday of Billie Holiday with the release of The Centennial Collection — a newly curated single disc anthology showcasing 20 of the incomparable American blues and jazz singer/composer’s finest recordings. Billie Holiday: The Centennial Collection will be available on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
Born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Billie Holiday transformed American pop, jazz and blues music in the 20th century with a highly personal and distinctive vocal style that communicated beyond the truth of her material into the emotional content of every moment she was singing.
BLUES TRAVELER TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
GRAMMY award-winning band Blues Traveler are thrilled to announce the release of their new album, Blow Up The Moon, out April 7th on Loud & Proud Records. A clever collaboration between various artists, Blow Up The Moon sees Blues Traveler keep an open-minded perspective on making music and enlists an eclectic mix of songwriters influenced by the band’s remarkable 25+ year career that includes multi-platinum albums and a commanding live show that continues to draw thousands of fans.
WHO IS MOST FASHIONABLE IN BOSTON, MA?!
There is no shortage of great things associated with the city of Boston – the Superbowl Champion Patriots, some of the top universities in the world, and a city full of significant American history. But fashion? Not usually!
For years, Boston has been teased for being one of the worst dressed cities. However, UsTrendy hopes to change that! As we are the home for over 20,000 fashion designers, the leader in independent and boutique fashion, and based right here in Boston, we take offense to the stereotype of Boston being a second-rate city when it comes to fashion.
So, for third year in a row, we here at UsTrendy have taken it upon ourselves to search the streets and put together a list of the 50 Most Fashionable Bostonians. The list is not a best dressed list but rather a list of Bostonians who carry themselves with style, grace and class. Those who were selected are those who make us proud to say that we are from Boston!
http://www.ustrendy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/top50.png
HAYDEN SHARES NEW “HEY LOVE” SINGLE
Hayden shares a second song from the forthcoming Arts & Crafts release, Hey Love. The follow-up to 2013’s Us Alone, his Arts & Crafts debut, a heartrending love letter of hope and disarray. Hey Love addresses the widest spectrum of love as its muse, the album’s thirteen songs are among Hayden Desser’s most affective and rousing work to date.
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE VIDEO PREMIERES TODAY AT NOISEY
Atlantic recording group Death Cab for Cutie has announced an array of activity surrounding the release of their much-anticipated eighth studio album. “KINTSUGI” is available for pre-order now on the iTunes Store; the album arrives everywhere on March 31st.
“Black Sun,” the first single from “KINTSUGI,” has quickly proven an Alternative radio favorite, earning instant rotation at over 50 stations nationwide in the days following its release last month. The track’s official companion video clip premieres today exclusively at Noisey:
http://noisey.vice.com/blog/death-cab-for-cutie-black-sun-video-premiere-kintsugi
H.E.A.T NEW ALBUM STREAM
H.E.A.T is one of those bands which you need to see live on stage. Armed with a reputation of a brilliant live act, Sweden’s rock sensation is always in to deliver a truly energetic and passionate show. “Live In London” is the band’s first ever live release and truly captures the band at their best. Mainly recorded at The Garage in London on May 16, 2014 during their European headline tour.
https://play.spotify.com/album/4CmIk5mrNrvHseBSUc9Sl7
THE HONEYCUTTERS NEW ALBUM IN APRIL
The Honeycutters, an Asheville, NC-based original country roots band, is set to release their third studio album, Me Oh My, on April 21, 2015 with Organic Records®. Led by songwriter Amanda Anne Platt, The Honeycutters include Tal Taylor on mandolin, Rick Cooper on bass, Josh Milligan on drums, and Matt Smith rounds out the band on pedal steel, electric guitar, and dobro to create a sound that carries just as well across the bar room as in a church or a theater. Fueled by the powerful songwriting and vocals of founder Amanda Platt, Me Oh My moves her into the spotlight as producer, band leader, and principal creative force behind the band. With songs that are honest and relatable, part chagrin and part hope, Platt’s voice carries a timeless appeal. Pre-sales for the album start Tuesday, February 17th on iTunes and includes two immediate tracks to download.
CALVIN HARRIS “PRAY TO GOD (FEAT. HAIM)”
With 2014 being a record-breaking year for the Scottish DJ/producer/songwriter, 2015 is already off to a remarkable start for Calvin, as he was named the face of Emporio Armani, signed an exclusive global partnership with Hakkasan Group and is preparing to storm the globe on tour.
http://www.vevo.com/watch/calvin-harris/Pray-to-God/GB1101401042
BIG & RICH PREMIERE OF THE “GRAVITY QUADRILOGY”
Just in time for the most romantic day of the year, The Gravity Quadrilogy, a special 15-minute video featuring four Big & Rich songs from their latest album, will make its world premiere on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 6 a.m. ET/PT on CMT. The Gravity Quadrilogy will re-air on Saturday at 8 a.m. ET/PT, as well as Sunday at 6 and 8 a.m. ET/PT, and can be seen on CMT Pure, the CMT Artists app and CMT.com.
WAYHOME MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL THIS SUMMER
Republic Live announced at a press conference earlier today that Sam Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Alt-J, Modest Mouse and Hozier will be headlining at their inaugural music and arts festival, WayHome Music and Arts, which will take place July 24th – 26th, 2015, at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, 10 minutes north of Barrie, ONT, in Canada.
Additional artists announced for the line-up include: Bassnectar, The Decemberists, Passion Pit, St. Vincent, Girl Talk, Vance Joy, Future Islands, The Sheepdogs, Odesza, The Gaslight Anthem, Walk The Moon, Run The Jewels, Kaytranada, Hey Rosetta!, G-Eazy, Sylvan Esso, Danny Brown, Cold War Kids, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Big K.R.I.T, July Talk, Fucked Up, Timber Timbre, Thousand Foot Krutch, METZ, Alvvays, Yukon Blonde, Courtney Barnett, Sloan, Delta Spirit, Broods, How to Dress Well, SZA, Viet Cong, Com Truise, Bear Mountain, Evening Hymns, Lowell, The Highest Order, Dear Rouge, Chris Stapleton, For Esme, and Saxsyndrum with many more still to come.
JAMES DAVIS PREMIERE “CO-PILOT” SONG AND VIDEO ON NOISEY
James Davis is a band, not a person. James Davis is a trio, in fact, consisting of fraternal twins Jess and Rey and their younger brother Auston. Coming out of Inglewood, CA, the alternasoul R&B&P(op) band conveys genuine feeling that gorgeously unfolds their life experiences, and Noisey gives them a voice premiering the music video for their single “Co-Pilot.”
http://noisey.vice.com/blog/James-davis-video-premiere-co-pilot
A GRAVE WITH NO NAME PREMIERES TRACK “ORION”
A Grave With No Name, the recording project of Alexander Shields, is extremely pleased to announce his latest LP Feathers Wet, Under The Moon, due out via Lefse on May 5th. To celebrate, A Grave With No Name has premiered “Orion” on Noisey today. The follow up to 2013’s Whirlpool, which happened to also be Shields’ first foray into a recording studio, eschewing the bedroom recordings of his previous releases, Feathers Wet, Under The Moon sees him return to a studio, this time trading the foggy confines of London for the rolling hills of Nashville, TN.
http://noisey.vice.com/blog/a-grave-with-no-name-orion
KAMIKABE NEW VIDEO
Bassist Dave Kirsch of Pittsburgh, PA tech death metal machine, Kamikabe, has released a playthrough video for the song ‘The Process Within,’ which comes off of their debut full length “Aberration of Man,” released in August 2012 via Unique Leader Records.
KEVIN “K.O.” OLUSOLA SET TO RELEASE THE RENEGADE EP
Fresh off his Grammy win as a member of platinum-selling, vocal quintet Pentatonix, Kevin “K.O.” Olusola – cellist, beatboxer, producer – has launched the preorder for his debut solo effort – The Renegade EP – via iTunes. Less than an hour after the EP surfaced on iTunes, The Renegade EP, which features Olusola’s now famous celloboxing (simultaneously playing cello and beatboxing), landed at #1 on the Classical Album Chart. Simultaneously, his rendition of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” shot to #1 on the Classical Singles Chart, undoubtedly buoyed by its companion music video, which Olusola debuted on YouTube in conjunction with the EP’s pre-order. Fans who pre-order the album will receive an instant grat of “Stay With Me.”
https://www.facebook.com/KO1Music
JORDIN SPARKS REVEALS COVER ART FOR NEW SINGLE “DOUBLE TAP”
GRAMMY® Award nominated artist Jordin Sparks has revealed the artwork for her newest single Double Tap, which features hip hop artist 2 Chainz. The single will be featured on her upcoming studio album Right Here, Right Now, to be released on Salaam Remi’s Louder Than Life Records (Sony Music) Spring, 2015.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qcsr02zckzw27jy/Double%20Tap%20Art%20Work.jpg?dl=0
FLEX KARTEL “RUMORS”
Flex Kartel connects with Phil Ade for “Rumors.” The track produced by OB of Logic’s RattPack is the latest single from Flex’s upcoming mixtape Just For You hosted by DJ Lil Keem and DJ Money available online February 18th.
SUBURBAN LIVING PREMIERE VIDEO FOR “NEW STRINGS”
Originally hailing from Virginia Beach, VA, Suburban Living released their acclaimed debut EP, Cooper’s Dream, in 2012, followed by the “Always Eyes” 7″ single in 2013 on Dialog Records. In the past year-plus, Suburban Living has toured frequently up and down the East Coast, made appearances at SXSW and CMJ, and appeared on multiple festival dates in Japan.
http://floodmagazine.com/8848/watch-follow-the-signs-in-suburban-livings-video-for-new-strings/
