Where has the time gone?

So summer came and went, sort of....  living in the Greater Chicago-land area, we didn't get much of a summer this year weather wise.  But the calendar months keep changing and here we are staring at the month of August.  I have even seen a BACK TO SCHOOL Picture on FaceSpace!  It's JULY PEOPLE! 

That being said, I would love to get back into writing on here and spotlighting awesome independent bands.  I love these bands, because
1.)  they usually are REALLY good!  Like, stupid, how do they not have a real record deal and make $100's of dollars good! 
and
B.)  they are nice!, fun, funny, they sometimes don't mind talking to me...  A BLOGGER who gets' like 10 views  a month. 

So, that being said, hit me up on FaceSpace, InstaHamm or TwittYour... or whatever UnSocializedMedia you use, and let me know... who should we be looking at?    Locals Only?.... All Bands, All Genres?  Polka Now, Polka Forever?  The Kenosha Kickers? .... Hey, I will give a shinny new penny to the first person that can tell me who the Kenosha Kickers were without using Google, etc..... (good luck!)

Let me know your thoughts, I really don't know where I want to go with this... so stay tuned to find out. 

"A Vente Vesper", said Unlce Lucius

This Week: June 9th in New Music

#Spotlight Artist 

Sisters and Brothers by The Vespers

The Vespers just recently released their newest album "Sisters and Brothers"

According to their website,  here is a little background about our #Spotlight Artist

"Comprised of two pairs of siblings — the Cryar sisters and Jones brothers, all natives of Nashville, Tennessee — The Vespers began making their own kind of rootsy, southern stomp in 2009, ... On their third album, Sisters and Brothers, the Vespers combine Americana roots with pop melody and rock & roll muscle."


Here is what I know.  The Vespers brand of music is just that, their own.  Their new album Sisters and Brothers is a great compilation of songs that makes you feel good and prompts you to want to keep listening.  Check them out on iTunes

Right from the start with the opening tracks Break the Cycle and We Win this album doesn't let up. I can see this album and this band going somewhere and doing great things! 

My favorite has to be the lyrics from the title track "Sisters and Brothers"   The pointed lyrics say so much, especially now in a world where selfish greed and utter chaos reign.   The song hits home like a hammer pounding the Valyrian Steel  of "ICE" into a  new sword named "Oathkeeper"..... (sorry ...  but we have to finish this out you know!)

[excerpt]

Sister and Brothers

"Living for our self, is no way to live at all.

Wake up one day, everybody's gone.

We already know the ending of the story.

We don't have to worry 'bout the little things.

Look out for your sisters, don't forget your brothers.

Got to take care of each other.  Got to take care of each other."

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The Vespers are about to go back on tour, after Phoebe takes a little time off to stay home with her new BABY! 

Be sure to check them out if you can, I know I will!

 Follow them on Twitter @TheVespers and their site: http://thevespersband.com



 Below is the video from the song "Not Enough" from the album Sisters and Brothers.  Enjoy. 

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#Album of the Week

 The Light - by Uncle Lucius

HELLO AUSTIN! 

The Austin music scene is HUGE these days, and one band making their name is Uncle Lucius.  Uncle Lucius just released their new album The Light.   

This is a band that also creates their own style and sound.  Country and Western roots are obvious, but if you are like me and are NOT a fan of the modern country, don't worry..... Uncle Lucius does NOT sound like that. Check out the single "Don't Own the Right"

From ballads like "Nothing to Save" with the electric piano (blues / jazz style), and steel guitar (country style), and the high pitches of bending guitar strings (blues/ rock).  To the fun and whimsical sound of "Gulf Coast Gypsies" These songs show it all, as does this band!

According to their website, this album was tough one to come by.  After finally getting out of a record deal from a bigger name company in Nashville, they went out on their own and through a grass-roots, D.I.Y.  - "FAN-FUNDED" approach raised enough dough to hit the studio.  The Light is the result and I for one say it was worth it.

The new album The Light is available on iTunes
Be sure to follow them on Twitter: @UncleLucius
 

ICE ICE - Blurry Face

New Music released Tuesday 5-19-15

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#Spotlight Artist

BadChristian's Emery released their #Hard Rock, #Metal album called, "You Were Never Alone".  I am not "into" the NEW Metal sound as it is today, however I frequented more than a few "ANTHRAX" shows in my youth and was a fan of Metallica and Y&T among others.... sooooo, I know a little bit about metal.

I can appreciate the band's melodic singing and artistic expressions in the music.  But it is the raw emotion that comes through in the screams that are the calling card of this genre.  They are like the forward cutting edge of the sword that "screams" through the air.

Like Ned Starks Sword "ICE" as it is beheading a deserter from the wall..... ummm... sorry, did I drift off to Westeros again?

Ok... back to Emery.... If you are looking for good, Hard Hitting, music with a "bite"  this is IT!  Even from a self described, NON-Metal guy, I like this album a lot!  It has more than a fair amount of singing and great music.  The screaming is done as more of an accent, which I feel really adds to the depth of the song and the emotion is allowed to actually be heard.  Like using an expletive...when you use it as every other word in a sentence it really loses it's expletive meaning... You know what I"m FREAKING talking about!?!

Emery is my pick for #Spotlight Artist of the week.  You can purchase their new album on iTunes and Amazon, or at the BadChristian Website.

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#Album of the Week

Last but certainly not least!.... Twenty One Pilots released their new album "Blurry Face".  I have been a Twenty One Pilots fan sense I saw them at Q101's PiqNiq a few years ago!   I won't do this review justice, so with no further ado.... the review of Twenty One Pilots "Blurry Face" by my daughter Kaitlyn!

(when I ask a Junior in High school, during finals to help me with a project... well..... )

 

Blurry Face is awesome. 

I love the uniqueness of twenty one pilot's music in general, but [the album] BlurryFace takes it to a new level.
I loved the singles Stressed Out and Tear in my Heart. Stressed Out
because it truly encompasses all of my feelings about growing up. Tear in my Heart because
twenty one pilots doesn't write love songs, but this song is still so unique even though they
talk about love.
When the album came out I first fell in love with Judge. The song is just fun, I'm not sure if I've
caught onto the meaning yet, it's just a fun song to listen to. And lastly is Goner. I didn't even
really notice it until my friend told me it was her favorite and then I listened to it and I feel like
it's Tyler expressing his innermost thoughts in telling us he's a goner because he's not ok.

Watch the video below of "Stressed Out"

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Here is a great list of other new releases from the Christian Music Scene.
New Release Tuesday

Also, be sure to check out the Indie Rock Cafe for more goodies.

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I Have to Start Somewhere... why not Kansas

Welcome,

I have decided to start blogging!...

    [yawn],
    "Yeah , you and about 100,000,000,000  others!  So, what makes your blog different?"
    "Well, I'm glad you asked, for starters I will blog about the conversations that go on in my head... You see, like this one!  Then we can all have Juice Boxes!"

Ok, really, nothing... there is nothing different, better, YOU HAVE to read my blog every week, about my blog.  But I hope you do.  (read it that is)

So, what am I going to blog about... Well, I'm glad you asked...  (that's right we agreed not to do that anymore).

I want to begin a blog about new Christian Music.

[yawn... again!]  BORING!....   I'm not really going to be talking about artist like Chris Tomlin and Michael W. Smith, not that these guys are bad... but well, people are already talking about them. I'm looking for artists that I have NEVER heard of... Like the Vespers... Abandon Kansas, Emery,   Up and coming, or Indie sensations, doesn't matter.  This is what I want to bring you.  The huddled masses looking for more from your music.

Some of these acts are NOT classified as "Christian" artists, but in the grand scheme of things, all that classification really means is, what "bin" the record goes into at the record store.  (And yes, Thank GOD Record stores are COMING BACK!)   But these are bands and artists that are openly Christian, and like playing good music.  So for that, I applaud them.

So, why do we care?  Well, For me, it's this.

• I like good music.  
• I like to listen to good music with my kids.  
• I hate when I hear a song and start to get embarrassed that I am listening to this song with my 17 year old daughter or my 14 year old daughter.  
• And much worse, I HATE when my 9 year old daughter then starts to sing the lyrics herself!

So, without further ado... I bring you New Christian Music... DW. Style.

We Are not in Kansas Anymore

So in new music news this week the talk of the town has been about Kansas.

 No not, “Carry on Wayward Son” Kansas… but Abandon Kansas    

 The new album Alligator dropped this past week.  Alligator is a raw and very personal look at everyday life.  If you are looking for “Jesus Loves Me” Christian music, this album may not be the right fit.  But if you are looking for honest, pure, introspective songs about life, and life as a Christian, and everything in life is not ALWAYS rainbows and unicorns, then this record is most definitely for you.

I instantly fell in love with the band when I bought the pre-release tracks and heard "Mirror" & “I Hope God Don’t Mind if We Talk Awhile”, from the first beat, I was hooked.  So, when I woke up the other morning and my phone informed me that the rest of the album had downloaded I was like a kid on Christmas morning, and like said child, I was NOT disappointed. 

From the opening lyrics of the song Mirror, “Wake up, Fall Asleep. Same thing on repeat, just a muted echo that’s neverending.”  to the songs, Anniversary and What You Meant… which are beyond words…. This is a must listen to record.  In fact you can do that HERE!  

So, my recommendation is:

It is Available on iTunes, Amazon or direct from BC Music.

Follow them on Facebook Abandon Kansas  or Twitter [AK] @AbandonKansas

[Next Week - ?????  Your guess is as good as mine!  comment and let me know ]

Thanks for Reading!

D. W.

#AK #abandonkansas #BCMusic