Gregory Alan Isakov and the Colorado Symphony

"I threw stones at the stars, but the whole sky fell. Now I'm covered up in straw, belly up on the table"

I did give up on that music blog, until I listened to something that needs to be shared, listened to, and loved.

I'm talking about one of my long-loved artist, Gregory Alan Isakov. If you guys know him already, then you probably understand what I am about to say : This guy is an effing genius. His music has been driving me through worlds I've never been before with any other band. His lyrics stick in my head, my heart and my soul. 

His love for music in general can be felt so easily in his songs. He loves what he's doing. He's doing it because he loves it, because he wants to. He's not rushed by a deadline, marketing people commanding him to release 19865 songs in 1 year. Hell, he's doing his own shit, and it works so beautifully well.

"Beautiful takes time and bravery"

Gregory Alan Isakov has released several albums, including "The Weatherman", "This Empty Northern Hemisphere" and "That Sea, The Gambler". I have loved all three of them, but I do admit I have some songs that touch me more than others.

"The Stable Song" (That Sea, The Gambler)

"Suitcase Full Of Sparks" (The Weatherman)

"Virginia May" (This Empty Northern Hemisphere)

If that wasn't enough to make you fall for his band, I don't know what will.

The fact is, tomorrow will be release an albums of 11 of his songs that we all know already. Except, this time, the Colorado Symphony will be playing the songs too. 

I pre-ordered it on iTunes and I had the chance to listen to it all day. It it marvellous. Georgous. Moving. Beautiful. My vocabulary in English is not good enough to describe what I felt the first time I listened to the album so I'll say it in French : Cet album m'a époustouflé. Nothing more, nothing less. The Colorado Symphony adds so much more drama to the songs, but also happiness, in a weird way. I just can't wait to listen to that while on my travel around Japan. It's soothing. It calms my nerves. My only regret if that "Suitcase Full Of Sparks" is not one of the eleven songs, but apart from that, what can I say other than : Please, go listen, and if you like it, buy it. First because it is not expensive at all, second because we need artists as full, original, trust-worthy as Gregory Alan Isakov.

I can't express more love for his music than I already did in this article. I hope that some of it will reach you and make you want to listen to this diamond.

His website

His Facebook Page 

Shake Shake Go

SHAKE SHAKE GO

"This could be the story the poets want to tell. Waiting here for heaven from downhill. And thought the seats are cold now my blood still runs for you, cause I know this this bed was built for two." The Lovers Side

Remember when I said I didn't really have a thing for woman's voice? Well, forget all about it, I'm in love, love, love. A deep, astonishing, crazy love for Shake Shake Go. May I say that one of the musician is French? Yeah, France and its people rule, sometimes!

I've heard of Shake Shake Go before but never really paid attention, God knows why. How I regret, now that I've listened to every songs they released. But before going any further, let's hear some sweetness!

England Skies

Shake Skake Go's members come from Wales and France. So here's the 1st positive thing to say out of 13358473892.

As you heard, the band is pop/folk, and the drum has a really big part in their music. I mean, who else does that? Not so many bands, yes!

They are well-known in England, and dare I say I'm sure they will go way further than England veeeeery soon! They toured all over England and Wales before the year 2014, where they toured with James Blunt (yes ladies and gentlemen, the one and only James Blunt) on his UK leg tour.

I don't know for you, but I felt something when I first heard Poppy's voice. There's no one else like her. Tay (We Are The In Crowd) doesn't sound as good as she did when I didn't know Poppy's deep, unreal, sweet voice. 

The music in itself is also different -I'm talking from a french POV, of course. Most of the french pop/folk bands I know and like sound anything BUT Shake Shake Go. I may have missed some talents I haven't heard of, but as of today, they're the only band who makes pop folk even better than it already is. Don't misunderstand me, I LOVE pop folk, so bad, but these days, I feel like I'm hearing always the same things. Same voices, same arrangements, same everything. They are different, in a very good way.

I could say so much more about those 5 diamonds, but I'll let you have your own idea of who and what is/are Shake Shake Go.

For me, they are the iceberg under water, that no one really see, but everyone knows it exists. They are the awakening of a volcano, spitting his fire all over the earth. They are the avalanche coming down on us, unexpected. They are the beginning of a very powerful earthquake.

Si vous êtes en France, achetez ce petit bijoux HERE, c'et seulement 2,99 euros!

If you are in the UK, you can buy it HERE

And in the US, HERE !

We Are Now

Doors To Heaven

All In Time

That particular song that resume my life

Today is one of those days when you remember your life, your adventures, whether they were good or bad, and what helped you getting through those particular times. I have so many regrets I can't even count, and I have some troubles going forward. I'm at a time in my life where I'm so lost that I have no idea what's next for me, not even tomorrow. And I'm scared.

As many of you I guess, if there's one thing that can make me feel better, it is music. So I was trying to remember if there was one specific song that I listened to in bad times, and good times. I thought I would have a hard time finding out, as there are so many treasures in the world, but I found it right away. I didn't even have the time to think, because it came to my mind in a matter of seconds.

I realised that I don't even listen to this song everyday. Like, at all. It's just there when I need it, just in case I would need a friend, a shoulder to cry, or someone to jump with. I remember listening to it on repeat all day when I was in Brighton at 14, alone in a huge city, where I didn't speak english fluently, and where I obviously had trouble being understood. I felt lost, I had no one to talk to because no one could understand me. I remember this song lifting my mood up. I remember smiling to it, I remember enjoying my time in England thanks to that song, lying on the beach, next to the piers. I remember putting that song automatically when I felt very happy or very sad. It has been here all my teenage life, and still today.

My #songtoliftmymood is :

Nada Surf - I Like What You Say

I've always loved Nada Surf, this is the kind of love that never fades away, you know? Like my love for Harry Potter. Same lovc, no end.

We all have one, maybe two songs that go straight to our heart at some point. That are always here, in our ears, in our mind, in our hearts, in our life. This song is special to me.

Which song(s) is/are special to you ?

Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!'s "Get Lost, Find Yourself"

BUY HERE

If some of you read my articles from the very beginning (I love you), then you KNOW I support the French scene, even more when it's f*cking talented. I've talked about Chunk! already, but here's the thing: they released their long awaited "Get Lost, Find Yourself" YESTERDAY. I pre-ordered it months ago so imagine my surprise when I got an email from Itunes saying I can FINALLY download the whole album. I love C!NCC!. I love them very, very much, and the fact that they are french makes it even more important to me. But since 2013 and "Pardon My French", we haven't heard any new song from them, as they were touring all over the world.

"Get Lost, Find Yourself" is my new little treasure. "Pardon My French" has so many amazing reviews that they knew it would be hard to top that. But that kind of did. "Kind of" because I didn't love this one as much as the last. I still loved it, just not enough.

We heard "Playing Dead" and "The Other Line" before the release of the album. I'm still playing "The Other Line" on repeat today. Now, I have some favourites other than this one, of course.

The 1st one is called "Pull You Under". The first time I heard it, I felt like I haven't heard THE song of my life until then. This is the absolute treasure I will cherish until the very end. The lyrics are as good as the music, as good as Bert's voice. Everything is on top, there's no critic about this one. The beginning is harsh, you think it will be like that the entire song, but then the chorus comes in with 

"They can try but, they'll never kick us down, we have the right to be here, even when they try they'll never kick us out, we have the right to be here, never let them pull you under". 

Damn, they proved with that song that YES, they DO have the right to be here, and defend their album, and their band, and, and... I feel so much power in this, I don't know who "pull them under"(or at least tried) but they massively failed.

My second crush is "Get Lost, Find Yourself". I knew it was special, they wouldn't have name their album with this song otherwise. I have too much feels about it. I connect so bad to the lyrics, especially those at the end where Bert sings

"Got lost and found myself doing much better, went far from this town, and I'm runnign ever further".

 Apart from that, this is the "ballad" of the album, all acoustic, and I can't do anything but love it. Everything's so pure, so simple, authentic, the most perfect alchemy between the lyrics and the music. Both gives hope for a better future, but a future which you have to create by yourself.
My two other loves are "Worst Case Scenario" and "Twist The Knife".

To conclude about this beauty "Get Lost, Find Yourself", I love it. Less screams, more singing but nearly as good as "Pardon My French". I can't say I'm disappoinetd because I love the new album, I'm glad they took the time to make this magic happen. I can't wait for the new one already.

My teenage life that I totally forgot until I remembered THESE songs

Sometimes, it's good to look back at your life and see your evolution, and your period of "What The F*ck Was I Listening To?". But, no regrets for me, because it was amazing times for me, and those songs -that I fought really hard to remember- remind me of all the hours and days I spent listening while crying, screaming the lyrics, laughing, studying, reading and living. 

I thank and love the internet for helping me finding some of the songs here based upon some lyrics I remembered. You're never letting me down.

For you readers, who are in your twenties, I can promise you, anything you want, that you have heard at least 1 of those songs, if not 2 !

Cash Cash - Party In Your Bedroom

I've listened to this song so many times in 2009, I still remember. This is crazy, because today, I can't even explain why, that song has nothing special, but I love it!

Metro Station - Kelsey

I've always hated the Cyrus thing, but I've always loved this song, so I guess that changes nothing.

Boys Like Girls - The Great Escape

I bought their album and listened to it when I was in the United States with my high school. It was in february, 2009. That particular song, at that time, touched me like no other before. I can't understand why today, but I felt so free at that time that I can't help but listening even today, while writing this.

The All-American Rejects - Dirty Little Secret

Needless to say, TAAR was special in the 2000's, and this was my favourite of them, if I remember well. Maybe I had a dirty secret and related to the song? who knows!

Sum 41 - In Too Deep

My young teenager love, when I thought I was so rock and roll to listen to Sum 41. But then I started to care about the lyrics and their meaning. I never stopped listening ever since.

Disco Curtis- Ashley

Like every girl, I had my "Oh, guys with long hair, YES" thing. I don't know what I like about this song, but I still shake my head and smile today, so I guess I kinda like it.

This last song is in french, and the band 2BE3 was very, very popular in France. I remember having EVERY SINGLE THING related to them, whether it was magazines, poster, pens, tshirts, and who knows what else. This is called "Partir un jour" which means "Leaving one day". Let's enjoy the quality of the video at the time.

2be3 - Partir un jour

Ed Harcourt

Credit: Steve Gullick Photography

ED HARCOURT

Today, we'll stay in England with the lovely Ed Harcourt and his song "Those Crimson Tears"

It's crystal clear for every music fan: The United Kingdom IS where huge artists come from. Not because of all the TV show like "The Voice" or "XFACTOR", no, because UK has got some of the best talents I've ever heard. And we tell what we want about Simon Cowell, but the fact is that he knew that and took his shot - and scored, big time!.

Ed Harcourt is one of these beautiful talents, and what makes him even more special is that he has been in the music industry as a musican, a singer, a songwriter for more years than many other artists I've talked about here.
He was born in 1977 in East Sussex and played music ever since. He toured with some big bands like Snow Patrol, performed with artists like Patti Smith, worked with some people you may know like Beth Ditto, he played the piano for Lana Del Rey and produced and co-written Sophie Ellis-Bextor's new album (released in 2014). He has also composed the soundtrack of 3 movies
Apart from these experiences with some of the best artists of the world, he also has a solo career that has been going on for a while, because he released 6th albums in total. Yes, you read well, SIX.

He released "Time Of Dust" in January 2014, a pure gold that I highly recommend you to check out!

Without further due, here's another sogn of his, "The Saddest Orchestra"

Roo Panes

ROO PANES

"Are you lost in paradise my love, or have you found a home, it's an awfully lonely road to walk alone. But as I searched your flashing indigo eyes, it echoed true, that I loved you" Indigo Home

Today, let's talk about an artist with a lovely name, I call Roo Panes! Before anything, I'll let you hear the reason why I fell in love with his voice, the song "Tiger Striped Sky"

Roo Panes is a british singer and songwriter, talented guitarist and a killer thanks to his voice. His music is considered as Classical Folk Pop, and damn I agree. I don't hear that kind of music everyday, that's for sure.
When I first heard him, I have to be honest, I didn't quite like it. It was so different from what I'm used to. But I listened to another song, because I never want to miss a true talent so I always give myself a second chance. And today is the day that I can say : I WAS RIGHT TO LISTEN TO A SECOND SONG. "Tiger Striped Sky" is as beautiful as it can be, and, well, it changes from what I'm listening to righ now (Aka Sum 41, oh nostalgia).

Roo Panes (I can't get enough of this name) released his debut album "Little Giant", that you can buy HERE. "Tiger Striped Sky" is one of the 12 songs featured, so you can already SEE the perfection of the album just by listening to one song. And just because I know you love music (you wouldn't be here otherwise), here is my personal favourite of the labum, "Indigo Home".

His voice, ladies and gentlemen, and children, his voice is just pure ice-cream going down your throat. You wish you could have a voice like that. I mean, is this even human? I got chills when I first heard the song, and it went all through the song. Beautiful, beautiful song. Damnit, I love discovering such gold. I've never heard a voice like his before, I'm not sure there even is one other similar. It's so unique!