Adele returns with "Rolling in the Deep"

When I had read that Adele had been influenced by country for her upcoming sophomore album, 21, I was a bit nervous about what to expect. But "Rolling in the Deep", the album's first single put my nerves to rest. The track sounds like outlaw country rock if you added in some strong piano lines and with Adele's soulful vocals adding in some bluesy glamor. It's like a mash up of doo-wop, delta blues, with the catchiness of pop to create a toe-tapping, hand-clapping soul song done oh so right. The video for the single features in studio footage from Adele's recording sessions in Malibu, California. It's actually refreshing to see the singer who's songs are often about heartbreak, actually having fun. Enjoy the video for "Rolling in the Deep":

Lissie - Catching A Tiger (2010)

“David Lynch Loves Lissie”

That’s the headline that started it all. Paste Magazine posted an article about David Lynch’s love for Lissie in August and I was immediately intrigued (Not intrigued enough to just read the article strangely but intrigued to do some research). Who is Lissie? What does she do and why does David Lynch, filmmaker extraordinaire, love her? Well Lissie is a twenty-something singer/songwriter from the Midwest. Thanks Google. First and second question answered. The last question came only when I picked up her debut album Catching A Tiger last month. The thing that sets her apart from all the singer/songwriters out there is the sometimes gritty rock style she plays in, while wailing her heart out in a way that demands your instantaneous attention. And yet she has this aura on nonchalance as well. Like she could care less about these peeks into her soul she gives. Her vocals are raw but also controlled in this way that makes you marvel at how easy she makes it seem. “Record Collector” has a swagger and folk tale lyricism that coupled with Lissie’s effortless yodels lead you to expect a country album while “When I’m Alone” and “In Sleep” elevate it a bit with emotion-invoking pop rock goodness.

Catching A Tiger is this fluid genre-bending work with its mix of personal and storytelling lyrics, folksy country twang (“Record Collector”), piano balladry (“Bully”), hyperactive feel good rock (“Cuckoo”); It all keeps attached with Lissie’s emotive vocals. Just when you think you know what to expect, Lissie shatters those expectations by bringing in some different sort of influence. In that way, she keeps the album from being this boring sobfest or standard singer/songwriter fare. Lissie doesn't just bring you on an emotional roller coaster but baits you to follow her by pretending not to care while giving you reassuring glimpses at just the right time.

Get a glimpse of Lissie with a live video of "In Sleep":

Pitstop: The Stone Foxes

So I actually stumbled upon The Stone Foxes completely by accident. Good Old War tweeted about their (Stone Foxes') Blip.FM Session and I mistakenly thought it was Good Old War's. I opened the link to find the four San Francisco indie folk rockers about to start their first song of the set which was "Mr. Hangman" and was taken with their old style rootsy blues folk. When their drummer pulled out a harmonica and started wailing away, I knew I was hooked. The band played a couple more songs while revealing themselves to be skilled multi-instrumentalists as instruments were passed around, someone pulled out a mandolin, the drummer played more harmonica, and good times were had by many. During the live show, the band revealed that they just currently released their sophomore album Bears & Bulls which the songs they played were off.

Hear what they sound like with the music video for "Stomp" off Bears & Bulls. If you like what you can check out their Blip.FM session here and/or buy their new album at their website here:

Now Streaming: The Black Keys - Brothers

The Black Keys, the Ohio rock duo composed of singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Pat Carney has been making music since the early 2000s. So it comes as no surprise that the duo is releasing their sixth album Brothers on May 18th. The album is one of the latest available for streaming on NPR's First Listen and it continues in the band's trademark bluesy garage rock sound while adding in a litte more of an R&B feel to spectacular effect. The album is no doubt sure to please longtime fans of the band as well hook any newcomers from the first drumbeat. Listen to the full album here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126607501

Get an additional sneak peek at the album with the video for the album's first single "Tighten Up":