Month: April 2016

The Struts – “Everybody Wants” – Album Review – 100%

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In Mid-February, I was listening to a Shinedown radio station on Apple Music and I came across a song that immediately stopped me in my tracks. I picked up my phone and saw it was a band called The Struts and the song was “Dirty Sexy Money”. The Struts???? Who the heck are these guys? What a cool name for a band!!

I searched them and saw the album was coming out on March 4th. That day could not get here fast enough. Apple Music did have the Have You Heard EP that tied me over until the album came out, but you can’t get that E.P. now but you don’t need to as all the songs are on the album. I have not stopped playing this album since I got it that Friday.

The Struts, an English rock band, have this great retro rock vibe. The lead singer was definitely influenced by classic rock and he is even a little Glam in his appearance. The band is a four piece and is lead singer Luke Spiller, guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliott and the drummer is Gethin Davies. They have been together since 2010 and just signed with a U.S. company last year.

It is probably the most exciting rock band to come out in a long time. The album originally came out in 2014 in the UK, but is just getting released here in the U.S. by Interscope Records. This album is already the best album released so far in 2016. And even though we are only in April, this album WILL end up being one of the best out in 2016.

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Matt Nathanson – Artist Profile

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Matt Nathanson 2014

My first artist profile is of singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson. I discovered his music when I was listening to an internet radio station. His song “Come on Get Higher” came on and I was instantly drawn to it and wanted to hear more by him. I went and bought the album “Some Mad Hope” and from that point on I was hooked and now a life long fan.

Matt has been around playing since the early 90’s and his first album came out in 1993. I believe I read somewhere that it was songs he had written in high school. I would describe his early stuff as indie/college style music. When I would listen to his older stuff I have to admit I didn’t particular care for his albums in the 90’s, but that is not to say you wouldn’t like it. For me, it is just not something that spoke to me.

But somewhere around 2002 and his E.P. – “When Everything Meant Everything” his songwriting and sound started to click. I could get into these songs. They started speaking to me. Each album after spoke to me more and more and I believe he has hit his stride and his writing and his storytelling just get better and better.

One interesting thing about Matt is he is a closet Metal Head which I think is so cool as his music is far from it. He is a big fan of a lot of the rock acts I grew up with and even appeared on That Metal Show.

I have had the pleasure of seeing him live three times now. Sadly, every time I have seen him, he has been an opening act. I hope to change that one day and see him as the headliner. He and his band sound great live and he has such great stage presence and can really draw in a crowd.

The last time I saw him he was the opening act for Train here in Charlotte at the PNC Pavillion. When he came out the crowd was still filling in and not really there to see him. The way he works the crowd is something to see. His style and brand of humor between songs is magnificent. By the end of his set, the entire arena were on their feet screaming and loving every minute of his performance. They left that night knowing what Matt Nathanson was all about.

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American Idol Farewell

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Did you ever watch American Idol? I am sure at sometime over the last 15 years you had to have seen some shows.   I probably watched the first 4 seasons in full and then would only watch when they got down to the Top 10 in the next 4 seasons and then I would just watch when I could.

However, I did watch the final season, mainly to see who they bring back, and I actually enjoyed watching it.  There were a few standouts and their final 4 were all pretty decent. My daughter loved MacKenzie Bourg and I was a fan of Trent Harmon and La’Porsha Renea (who I thought was going to win until Trent’s performances on the finale). And Dalton had some pretty good moments (I love his cover of “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol)

Watching the final season reminded me that they really did have some good artists even though most of them were crap. I also found it funny that some of the people that lost did better than the winners – can we say Chris Daughtry & Adam Lambert. Of course everyone knows some of the winners were spectacular – Kelly Clarkson (3 Grammy Awards) and Carrie Underwood (7 Grammy Awards). And one even won an Academy Award – Jennifer Hudson (also 1 Grammy).

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Road Rage – Playlist

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Everyone gets Road Rage at some time in their driving life. It is unavoidable. Sitting in Atlanta traffic or even Charlotte traffic now can raise your blood pressure. And how many times have you just wanted to ram your car right into the asshole that just cut you off or rode your bumper. I have too many times to count. When I get that feeling, I have a playlist that I have to put on that will let me just vent my frustration and anger. Maybe you can try it out.

Five Finger Death Punch – “Under And Over It”

Texas Hippie Coalition – “Turn It Up”

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