Shannon Hurley: press

American singer plays Park Hyatt

(04-01-2010)


Thriving and vibrant: American singer-songwriter Shannon Hurley takes up residency at the Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel in HCM City. — VNS Photo
HCM CITY — Park Hyatt Saigon is featuring a new entertainer, Shannon Hurley, a songwriter and pianist from Nashville, Tennessee in the US.

Hurley will perform her own work, including the song Sunrise, a track featured on Ready to Wake Up, her CD.

She says it is her favourite song because it evokes the sweet memory of a love story. It was composed after she and her boyfriend separated. They later resumed their relationship, and are now married.

Her alternative pop style has often been compared to Aimee Mann and Sarah McLachlan, but her songwriting and singing have lifted her to a place that is completely her own.

The Indiana-born artist moved to Los Angeles after studying songwriting with Pat Leonard, a hit writer for Madonna.

She then spent time honing her own material and also became a session musician. By 2005, she was touring with Universal Motown artist Brie Larson, opening for Jesse McCartney, Gwen Stefani, The Black-Eyed Peas and Gavin DeGraw.

This spring saw the release of Shannon’s debut album, Ready to Wake Up, a pop record that pulls in a little help from Shannon’s heavy-hitting friends.

"I’m really excited, as this is my very first trip to Asia. I am finding Viet Nam to be a thriving, vibrant place. I am making many new friends and the food is fantastic," Hurley said. "I feel very lucky to be here, especially during the holiday season. There seems to be a buzz around the city in preparation for the new year."

Music fans can spend an evening at Park Lounge in Park Hyatt Saigon listening to Hurely from December 30 to February 18 every day, except Tuesdays. — VNS

KGRL's Top 10 Albums To Watch Out For In 2010


Carina Round at Hotel Cafe, 6/3/09

With 2009 and New Year's Day now in our collective memories, Mysty at the female-focused local Internet radio station KGRL provides their list of Top 10 Albums To Watch Out For In 2010.

10. Emily And The Whispers (MySpace) - Habits:

UK-based band Emily And The Whispers, who we got to know via one of our favorite Flower-Powered Artists (FPA) Miss Hazel Mills, is set to release their debut EP titled Habits in 2010. Emily And The Whispers is a 4-piece alternative acoustic band, spearheaded by the lovely Emily Grist. Habits was recorded at J + J Studios in Bristol (the same studio where our FPA feature with Hazel Mills was recorded in 2008) with Jim Barr (Portishead, Get The Blessing) and TJ Allen (Aesoteric, Hazel Mills) at the helm. I'm writing this entry hoping that when Emily And The Whispers' EP comes out it will not be with a whisper, but a bang.
9. Ash Koley (MySpace) - The Red EP / The Black EP / Untitled Full-Length Album:

One of the artists we fell in love with instantly in 2009 is Canadian singer-songwriter Ashley Koley. We watched their videos again and again over at their YouTube channel. Ashley partnered with producer-songwriter Phil Deschambault for this project. They recently signed up under Nettwerk and have since released both The White EP and The Blue EP. They are scheduled to release The Red EP and The Black EP in 2010 along with a promise of a full-length album in the same year!
8. Carina Round (MySpace):

Things You Should Know is a dark and intense EP that left us wanting much more of the same by singer-songwriter Carina Round. After severing ties with Interscope and serious delays with her last album Slow Motion Addict, Carina is off to a fresh start beginning with Things You Should Know. Going the indie route is probably the best move for singer-songwriters in this day and age, and we're glad this is the road Carina chose to travel. Carina is currently accepting donations (three benefit tiers depending on the amount of the donation) for funds toward the completion of the fourth full-length album. You can visit her website store to send in your donation. Here's to hoping that the new album will be in the same vein as the EP!
The rest of the list after the jump.


The Bird and the Bee at the Natural History Museum as part of "First Fridays", 2/6/09

7. ZA (MySpace):

We got to know about French singer-songwriter Za when we received a copy of ZA's album Acoustic Joys from another French group we play, Peppermoon. Instead of waiting for funding from an external source, Acoustic Joys was released as a DIY acoustic project that was recorded in merely two days. Acoustic Joys was supposed to be promotional material to kick off ZA's summer tour in 2009. Since we were so impressed with the songs and melodies on the album, we're sharing the joyful news of an upcoming proper full-length release in 2010. The new album will have rearranged version of songs from Acoustic Joys (with instruments like piano and cello) as well as newly-written songs.
6. Kate Havnevik (MySpace) - You:

Kate Havnevik's new electro-pop album will be titled You and is slated to come out in the first quarter of 2010 under Continentica Records. If the recently-released EP Me is an indication of the direction Kate will be taking for the new record, then we're expecting a strong release. Both Me and You are produced by industry veteran Guy Sigsworth (who also happens to be Imogen Heap's partner in Frou Frou).
5. The Bird And The Bee (MySpace):

Let's face it, I guess we've became a bit of an automaton with regards to The Bird And The Bee, but they honestly deserve it. So yes, they're back this year in our list (and in our best albums of 2009 list too for Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future) of albums to watch out for in 2010. While they're not planning on releasing a new full-length, there's a covers album already in the works. Who are they covering you ask? It's going to be a Daryl Hall and John Oates cover album with two original The Bird And The Bee songs in the mix. Did this new one excite you or disappoint you? For us at KGRL when we talk of new The Bird And The Bee material, we always get excited for they have not let us down yet. Be on the lookout for our Inara George Flower-Powered Artist of the Month feature this January 2010!
4. Lovers And Poets (MySpace) / Shannon Hurley (MySpace):

Shannon Hurley is one of our favorite indie-pop singer songwriters. Imagine our surprise when she let slip the news of a new electro-pop band that goes by the name Lovers And Poets. Originally a duo between Bryan Talbot and Shannon Hurley, Lovers And Poets now has Shannon's husband Ben Eisen on bass duty to replace Bryan citing serious creative differences as the reason for their parting of ways. Shannon recently moved to Nashville, Tennessee but is expected to come back to Los Angeles, California in April 2010. Not only are we expecting a debut album from Lovers And Poets in 2010, but a sophomore effort from Shannon is also on the way. For more good stuff about Shannon Hurley, let me point you to our August 2008 FPA feature.

Jenny O. at Mr. T's Bowl as part of an LA-Underground showcase, 11/19/08

3. Jenny O. (MySpace) - Love And Sleep:

We received a copy of Love And Sleep from LA-based singer-songwriter Jenny O. a few months ago and let me tell you, it's mind-blowingly awesome. The album was recorded with Jason Lader, Raine Maida, and Dan Romer but has not yet been released. What's the problem here? Jenny is still figuring out the best way to release the record but it's most likely coming out in early 2010. It's a well-produced rich-layered indie pop record with a dash of orchestra ("Earth Has Won"), a little bit of rock ("What Not To Do," "Mistakes"), and a generous helping of slow acoustic tracks ("Ghosts," I Could Get Up"). We're not yet sure if the label that Jenny O. chooses will alter the album from its current form, but we're sure that if the label decides to stick to it this is guaranteed to be a winner. It's a solid debut.
2. Mouchette (MySpace):

Orchids To Ashes (2009) is an impressive 4-track debut EP from the new trip-hop / indie rock band Mouchette. You may not have heard of the band yet but you're probably familiar with Natalie Walker, who is the front woman for this new group. Mouchette features Aaron Nevezie on guitars, David Mason on drums, John Stenger on keyboards and John Davis on bass. A new EP and perhaps a full-length are slated for release in 2010.
1. Susanne Sundfør (MySpace) - The Brothel:

Our most anticipated album in 2010 is none other than the upcoming album from the Norwegian singer-songwriter Susanne Sundfør. For background about this artist we point you towards our FPA feature way back in October 2007. Susanne's self-titled debut album (2007) is just phenomenal. It left our jaws dropped and wide open. The songs on the debut record are a mixture of offbeat pop and opera. If you haven't heard of Susanne Sundfør, do yourself a favor and purchase the stripped-down version of the debut titled Take One, which was internationally released in 2008. She recently announced that the new album will soon be finished and will be out in 2010, titled The Brothel. Keep a watchful eye out for this one as it will be worth importing.

Holly Brook at The Alley, 6/12/09

"There are two albums that must be mentioned at the end of this list, for they were already listed last year. They deserve to be mentioned somehow as these albums unfortunately did not get released in 2009."

Holly Brook (MySpace) - O' Dark Thirty:

If this album was released in 2009, it would have been an easy pick for our top-most spot for the best albums of 2009. Yes, we do have an unfinished copy of the record and have been playing it regularly at the station. And yes, it's going to be worth your wait. It doesn't matter how long the wait, for when these songs come out they're sure to captivate your musical senses. For a complete review of this album, check out our FPA feature with Holly Brook.
Hazel Mills (MySpace) - White Rabbit:

The second EP from Bristol-based singer-songwriter Hazel Mills that we said would come out in 2009 (as per our list in 2008) was not released for two reasons: a) they changed their name to White Rabbit but apparently, there's already a White Rabbits band in New York so they'll have to choose another band name, and b) they are looking for a slightly bigger label to license the album and release it on a larger scale (perhaps including a US release). We received 2 out of 8 tracks from the new record a few months ago and have since been playing them. If those two are indication of what's to come, then we're all in for a treat this 2010.
See KGRL's Best Albums Of 2009 as well as their Top Albums to Watch Out For In 2009 and Top 10 Artists To Watch Out For In 2008.

Special thanks to KGRL.

Rolling Stone Declares the 25 Best Bands on MySpace
12/22/06, 12:13 pm EST
We thought it was high time someone made the definitive list of MySpace bands. So we asked for your help: And you guys nominated over 1,700 bands. We nearly lost our minds listening to all the tunes, but today we’re proud to announce the top 25. Winners come from a variety of genres: You’ve got your German industrial metal (B.O.S.C.H.), your silly/cool European-style lounge music (Los Super Elegantes), your Brian Wilson-esque child prodigy (Ryan Marks Productions) and an array of pop, garage, hip-hop, dance-rock and singer-songwriter stuff. Here, in alphabetical order, are the results. Take a listen, and tell us what you think. Don’t be shy.

The Airborne Toxic Event – “Wishing Well” [listen]
An Pierlé & White Velvet – “How Does It Feel” [listen]
Astro Junkie – “Don’t Say Another Word” [listen]
Band Marino – “Every Time I Make A Girl Cry I Know I’ve Done My Job” [listen]
The Beauty – “Abbi” [listen]
Bedtime For Toys – “Mona Lisa Pt. 2″ [listen]
bill – “Watercolors” [listen]
BLACK AFFAIR – “Japanese Happening” [listen]
B.O.S.C.H. – “Mehr” [listen]
CosmoBrown – “Illusion” [listen]
Couple – “Now That I Can See” [listen]
The Fancy Claps – “Holly” [listen]
Ferns – “Disaster Strikes Again” [listen]
Kolja – “Let It Be – No Fears” [listen]
Locksley – “Don’t Make Me Wait” [listen]
Los Super Elegantes – “Je Suis Bien” [listen]
Miniature Tigers- “The Wolf” [listen]
Night Driving in Small Towns – “Close Encounters” [listen]
Ryan Marks Productions – “High Tide” [listen]
Shannon Hurley – “Sunrise” [listen]
State Of Ohio – “Wasted in a Vase” [listen]
Ultra Sonic Edukators – “Salle Green” [listen]
The Voom Blooms – “Thoughts of Rena” [listen]
White Shoes and the Couples Company – “Tentang Cita” [listen]
Y.O.U. – “Break” [listen]

~Rolling Stone

Flower-Powered Artist - August 2008

Shannon Hurley
Official Website: http://www.shannonhurley.com
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/shannonhurley

Shannon Hurley: Songwriting, Vocals, Keyboards
Ben Eisen: Bass
Amit Leeron: Guitar
Sam Cunningham: Drums





While most artists are coy to defining a specific genre for their music, our August 2008 Flower-Powered Artist fully embraces the genre she’s in. In her own words: “I know that people don't like to pigeonhole music, but I think it is important because you need some kind of reference. I would definitely say Pop-Rock.” Our spotlight this month of August shines towards this particular independent artist Shannon Hurley, whose brand of pop music is beyond ephemeralness that characterizes most of mainstream pop.

Shannon was born in Indiana surrounded by musically-inclined family members. To name the specifics: her grandmother (as well as her great-grandmother) used to sing in Chicago with Vaudeville, while her mom was in a rock band. As music is clearly in her veins, all she needed to pick was the right instrument. She started playing piano by age seven and took lessons for it. Sensing the lack of excitement from classical music, she went on her own merry way to experiment by flipping the musical sheets and playing the songs backwards. All she really wanted to do was play contemporary piano music, in the likes of almost every female singer/songwriter’s influence: Kate Bush and Tori Amos.

Perhaps we can chalk it up to Shannon’s desire for musical growth that she decided to take up a new instrument. Her initial choice was violin but her mom quickly disapproved of that idea so she went with the next unusual choice, the trombone. Of course she was so serious with this idea, that she graduated with a performance degree in music, major in trombone at the University of Colorado. Or was she? Apparently, it was not really a very good choice as she fell back on her beloved instrument, the piano. So, out goes the trombone, orphaned at a very young age. But fret not, as the orphaned trombone found its rightful home with a member of the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Thankfully, the years of studying at the University of Colorado did not all go to waste for that was the time when she became the stage manager for Fox Theatre. Working with established artists like Julian Lennon, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, and Rufus Wainright fueled a desire for songwriting. Thus, after finding a newly-re-ignited passion for piano, Shannon began writing her own music.

She moved to Los Angeles by 2001 armed with an intense motivation to follow a musical career path. The flurry of originally-written materials gave birth to her independently-released EP in 2003, the self-titled Shannon Hurley. The release of the EP prompted Shannon to play a lot of gigs. In 2004, she co-headlined a 4-act show titled, "Don’t Call Us Tori." The show was so successful that it attracted the attention of many other talented artists wanting to perform under the same showcase, including artists we have featured as FPAs: Libbie Schrader and Marina V. Shannon then, and up to this day, became a booking agent for the showcase. The Don’t Call Us Tori shows are held all over L.A. in venues such as the Hotel Cafe, the Derby, and Tangier. Incidentally, this showcase was also the breeding ground for Shannon and Marina V's collaboration. Shannon still plays keyboards for Marina to this day, adding an orchestral string section for Marina’s original compositions.

More touring followed in 2005 as a session musician for pop artist, Brie Larson. The tour presented an opportunity for Shannon to open for big acts like Jesse McCartney, Gwen Stefani, The Black-Eyed Peas, and Gavin DeGraw. Another EP was released in 2006 titled Sunrise. The EP was produced by Guy Erez, who worked with artists including Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Cabrera. Carmen Rizzo, who worked with artists like Coldplay and Jem, contributed to the EP as a programmer in the title track Sunrise.

In 2007, Shannon finally completed her debut full-length titled “Ready To Wake Up.” Officially released on Nov. 5, 2007, the record was met with well-deserved success and widespread radio airplay. The success carries on this year (2008) with the launch of her remix contest for the song Sunrise. Details for the contest can be viewed at Acid Planet’s website. In a similar fashion, she also has a plan to release a remix version of the full-length and she’s taking submissions for it. Interested individuals can view more information at ccMixter’s website.

KGRL is very proud to present our August 2008 Flower-Powered Artist, Shannon Hurley. Shannon and her husband Ben joined KGRL in-studio for an exclusive performance shot in high-definition video and audio. Our feature, as usual, packs a lot of exciting materials including: a CD review of her full-length Ready To Wake Up, photos, and our very comprehensive interview with Shannon Hurley in video, audio, and transcribed form.

As per our usual monthly feature, we are giving away 3 signed Ready To Wake Up CDs! Just e-mail me at contests [at] kgrl.fm and tell us why you deserve to win. Don't forget that you can request a FREE copy of the FPA live session DVDs as well!
KGRL Shannon Hurley Interview
KGRL had a chance to sit down with the lovely Shannon Hurley for an interview right after our KGRL FPA Live Sessions held at The Alley Studio - 07.06.08.

Watch the exclusive Shannon Hurley video interview using the player below!
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Shannon Hurley Video Interview (Click to launch the player!)
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Listen to Shannon Hurley's responses in High Quality MP3 Stream using the player below:




Transcription excerpt from the interview:

KGRL: How did you get started with music?

Shannon Hurley: I got started in music because my family is very musical. My grandma used to sing in Chicago with Vaudeville back in the '30s. She would enter Shirley Temple lookalike contests and she would win them all. My great-grandmother was also a singer with Vaudeville in Chicago.

My mom also sang with a band, so my first memories of music are my mom's rock band setting up in our living room. I was deathly afraid of the bass drum because there was a blanket inside of it, and I thought there was a baby or something stuck in the bass drum.

So, I've been around music all my life and getting scared to death when I was little because of my mom's rock band. [Laughs]


KGRL: You attended formal music education in the University of Colorado... What degree did you take?

Shannon Hurley: Well I got a performance degree, so it's my Bachelor of Music and that was in Trombone. I don't even think I was very good at the trombone so I don't know how I managed to do that, but I aced all the aural music skills and everything else that went along with my degree. [At] the voice class I had fun, and piano I loved. Trombone was always kind of [meh] so I actually sold my trombone to somebody who plays in the Brian Setzer Orchestra; I think it has a better home with that person than it did with me.


-> READ the full transcript along with high/low quality mp3 of the Interview by Clicking Here! <-
Ready To Wake Up CD Review



Ready To Wake Up is the debut offering from the LA-based indie singer / songwriter Shannon Hurley. Almost half of the tracks in this record came from her 2006-released Sunrise EP. What follows next is a detailed account of my journey into Shannon’s musical world. Allow me to guide you through it.

First impressions last. And that is what the opening track, titled Matter Of Time, leaves us with - a lasting impression of a ballad with plenty of hooks to rival even Peter Pan’s arch-nemesis. The vocal work is subtle yet immensely captivating. If it somehow managed to elude your musical senses by first listen, which is quite impossible, it’s only a matter of time before you get sucked into this song’s gravitational pull.

Making a comeback from the same-titled EP, Sunrise casts its ray of stellar radiance in this full-length. A song as solemn as this is likely to induce tears from the softhearted ones - but thanks to the upbeat rhythm, you’ll be singing along with it instead. Like the first song, this track is impossible not to be amongst everybody’s favorite songs on this CD. It was a favorite from the EP and it still is a favorite in this record. There is an ongoing remix contest for this song as of this writing and I’m thrilled to hear what the remixes will make out of this marvelous composition.

Shame comes in next with a hint of lounge / jazz. This pop-jazz track, originally written as an entry for the American Idol songwriting competition, is presented with a superbly-played piano and a nice touch of electric guitar. The vocal work gets a little aggressive, compared to the other songs so far, thanks to the powerful chorus that really accentuates it.

After Shame comes Breaking Down, pun intended. Breaking Down is another of those sad songs with oh-so-good hook-filled melody nicely contrasted with a good upbeat accompaniment. The same song concludes this record and I guess I’ll talk about both versions here. Remixes sometimes even surpass the original version, like in the case of Feist’s Gatekeeper in which the remix (One Room One Hour Mix) is stunningly more superb than the original. The same is the case with Shannon's Breaking Down. Celeste Lear really did such an amazing job that I personally prefer the remix version more than the original.

Shannon’s guilty pleasure song, Overboard, delights us next. While some may say it’s too cheesy, I’d have to admit that I love this song as well. The stanzas are well-structured leading to a very catchy chorus. The same can be said about the bridge part of the song. Speaking of bridge, the modulation part that Shannon added in the extended version of the song (KGRL exclusive) transposes the final chorus a key higher, giving this already-wonderful song a more elegant ending. Why don’t you check out the video below to see what I’m talking about?

The bossa nova-flavored pop track titled We Are In Love sets us in a very relaxing mood. It’s a very welcome change in style, which makes this tune truly a standout from the rest of the songs in the record. Where I Stand, a song that originally came from the Sunrise EP, follows next and once again proves Shannon’s mastery in crafting an ear candy. Sometimes I think that Shannon has an ear candy factory where she pulls out all these hook-filled melodies from.

The next track, Garden Path, found its way across all of Shannon’s recordings. Perhaps the third time is the charm. By now, I think I am already overloaded with a copious amount of yummy pop but I still want to ingest all of it. It’s true what they say: once you pop, you can’t stop - Shannon just proved that. And then there’s Silence. Just when you think that she couldn’t possibly offer another easy-to-love melody comes another. Silence is golden.

Lastly, Shannon’s cover of The Charlatans UK song Try Again Today does the original justice. It’s sweet, vibrant and feverishly catchy – the qualities that makes it a perfect fit for this record. I think I’m going to need an insulin shot after this one.

It is very hard to find anything negative about an album as aurally blissful as Ready To Wake Up. Well… except if you already own the Sunrise EP, which was rehashed almost entirely into this record. Either way, every track here is a pop jewel that shines brightly. Ready To Wake Up is sure to put listeners in melodic overdrive building layer upon layer of indie pop excellence. Perhaps some people may consider the fact Shannon didn’t take much risk of offering anything more than pop as the weakness of this album. But for those who are into exceptionally-polished well-constructed pop songs with great hooks then look no further, Ready To Wake Up is the perfect record for you.


Ready To Wake Up CD - Buy It Now (Click Here)!

Tracklist:

Matter Of Time
Sunrise
Shame
Breaking Down
Overboard
We Are In Love
Where I Stand
Garden Path
Silence
Try Again Today
Breaking Down (Celeste Lear Remix)
Shannon Hurley Photos
Top first row of shots were taken during the FPA Live Session @ The Alley Studio.
The 1st photo - 2nd row was taken at Kern River by M.F. Dinan.
The 2nd photo - 2nd row was taken at Rejavanate Cafe, Las Vegas, NV by Todd Mitchell.
The 3rd photo - 2nd row - Ben & Shannon at the Hillside Cafe, Nutley, NJ.
The 2nd & 3rd photos - 3rd row - faerie shots were by M.F. Dinan.


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KGRL FPA Live Session - The Alley Studio 07.06.08
KGRL proudly presents another wonderful episode of our FPA Live Sessions, this time featuring Shannon Hurley . The streams can be viewed using our embedded flash player. We do hope you enjoy these wonderful exclusive videos shot in high-def video and audio. If you're wondering how the real recording looks like in a non-downsampled full-glory high-definition video, click here for a sample still-frame shot in its native 1920 x 1080 resolution (Full 1080 HD).



And remember, those of you who support the station by donations can request a copy of the DVD. Click here for more information on how to obtain the DVD!


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Where I Stand

Silence

Sweet Loving Ways

Shame

Overboard (Extended)

Don't December

Sunrise
Feature Credits:

Heartfelt thanks goes out to Shannon Hurley and Ben Eisen.

The Time Machine staff often find themselves listening to other radio stations online when not on the air (and sometimes in the broadcast studio between songs or commercial breaks while on the air but don't let management find out). One of our presets is KGRL.

Despite what people may think, as DJs, The Time Machine Crew are really not fans of our own voices. This one fact is one of the reasons we find ourselves listening to similar sounding playlists on other stations. We've spoken highly of this station before and are blessed with the presence of the esteemed Mysty from KGRL again this year. We greatly admire her dedication and amazing music sweeps that knock us out everytime. As it is the end of the year, Mysty is sharing with you KGRL's list of the most influential CDs of 2007. As usual, Mysty is on top of it and she is ahead of us on our end of the year list so she gets extra brownie points as we look for that mistletoe that was in the doorway a few days ago. We played a number of these albums on the air this past year and prepare to empty your wallet if you haven't picked up any of these fine artists for your listening pleasure.




KGRL's List of Influential CDs of 2007

Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør
This year's top belongs to no other than Norway's Susanne Sundfør. The self-titled debut is truly an amazing work of art, one of the no-filler, all-winner CDs of 2007. The vocal work is topnotch with impeccable high notes, while the music revels in astute obscurity. Susanne’s music might irk out some at first but once you have settled, it is almost perfection in revelation. Check out our FPA feature with Susanne Sundfor http://www.kgrl.fm/fpa/susannesundfor.php for more details. Do yourself a favor and go look for this CD now!

The Bird & The Bee - The Bird & The Bee + Please Clap Your Hands EP
It’s not such a wonder that the phenomenal combination of Inara George and Greg Kurstin makes our list once again this year. The Bird & The Bee’s debut far exceeded my expectations. Like Susanne’s CD, it’s one of the no-filler, all-winner CDs of 2007. I have included their recently-released EP in this entry because it shares the perfection of the debut.

Charlotte Martin - Reproductions + Something Like A B-Side
There’s a steady supply of great music flowing from our January 2007 Flower-Powered Artist of the Month http://www.kgrl.fm/fpa/charlottemartin.php, Charlotte Martin – and we’re so glad she is a bottomless well. The materials on the B-Side CD are no slouch. It really leaves me wondering why the songs never found a home in the Char Mar’s full-length CDs. Reproductions on the other hand presents us with a masterfully re-imagined slew of cover materials. While I’m not completely sold on the whole concept of cover CDs, I’m delighted to say that Char’s attempt won me over.

Charlotte Hatherley - The Deep Blue
Former Ash band member, Charlotte Hatherley, offers quite a classy and mature-sounding follow up to her 2005’s solo debut, "Grey Will Fade". The tracks: "Behave" and "Wounded Sky" alone makes the price of the admission very much worth it. This CD was kept on constant repeat in my player on the way to work everyday for quite some time – that’s how good it is.

Kate Miller-Heidke - Little Eve
The fabulously fantastic Australian singer/songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke once again amazes us with the release of her latest full-length, "Little Eve". The record is a bit on the poppy side but it never fears to thread the obscurity – and indeed it does. Songs like "Mama", "Ducks Don’t Need Satellites", and "Words" are perfect examples. Still, being poppy is not something that detracts from it. Pop is good and Kate proves it.

A Fine Frenzy - Once Cell In The Sea
Alison Sudol’s debut is quite a winner, at least for the most part. While it’s relatively imperfect, the record has spawned intensely moving pieces of musical delicacy. I can’t help but be sucked into the frenzy of Miss Sudol’s craft.

Sara Bareilles - Little Voice
Sara is one of KGRL’s top 10 artists to watch out for in 2007 (published in LA Metroblogging), and the release of the full-length vindicated our choice. Sara has come a very long way from being a little voice to someone that is quite accomplished. Kudos to finally being able to release this much-anticipated full-length. One gripe from this record is that half of the songs are already known by the fans, as they were from the independently-produced "Careful Confessions". That said, we are excited to hear more from Sara – bring on the next record!

Lucy Woodward - Is Hot & Bothered
Lucy truly is hot and bothered with the new album release. Finally out of the grip of major record labels, Miss Woodward is at last able to create and record music that she actually identifies with. I’ll have to mention that she was also one of KGRL’s top 10 artists to watch out for in 2007 (published in LA Metroblogging). The record is now available in iTunes, except that it doesn’t have the awesomely amazing bonus track on the CD – titled "Sugar". And because of that, I’d say go for the CD version. It’s very much worth it.

Carina Round - Slow Motion Addict
After quite a delay, the album – "Slow Motion Addict" - is finally officially released. The album was recorded with the legendary Glen Ballard at the helm. "Slow Motion Addict" is an entangled mix of genres with crossovers from hard rockers to slow down-tempo beats to slow obscurities. Fans of her two previous records were worried about the spit-shine production values afforded in this record. Luckily, the release proved there is nothing to be feared as the record IS still a Carina Round record. Do check out our FPA feature with Carina Round http://www.kgrl.fm/fpa/carinaround.php – it’s worth it.

Diana Winter – Escapizm
Italian singer/songwriter Diana Winter rightfully deserves a place in this list. Her delightfully-soulful and jazzy music always puts a little smile on our faces every time we play her music in the station. Our hats are off to Diana for releasing such an amazing debut.

Leslie Mills - Everlasting Road
While the recording and songwriting process took a different approach, the quality is still on the up-and-up. Leslie’s follow up to 2003’s "Different For Girls" sounds more intimate, and that’s a good thing. Everlasting road is such a classy melodic indie-pop record that, unlike the first record, is geared for lovers of singer/songwriters.

Fauxliage – Fauxliage
The longing for another Sixpence None The Richer record is quite a hunger that can not be satisfied, not when the band is off the music scene several years ago. We are truly thankful that Leigh Nash is still at it. While we still prefer the raw band sound of SNTR, Delerium’s ethereal and ambient synthesized sounds coupled with Leigh’s oh-so-sweet voice proves to be a winner.

Mieka Pauley - Elijah Drop Your Gun
The new full-length from Boston’s Mieka Pauley finally arrives 7 years after the first full-length. What makes "Elijah Drop Your Gun" truly special is that the album was fully financed by the fans. While we admire Mieka’s dedication to her craft consciously biding time until all the songs are finely tuned, I hope we don’t have to wait another 7 years for a new record.

Ingrid Michaelson – Girls & Boys
Thanks to "Grey’s Anatomy", Ingrid received a lot more attention that she truly deserves. "Girls & Boys" serves a scrumptious feast of infectious melodies and hooks that are neither cheesy nor over the top. There are lots of hidden gems to be found within the CD. Be on the lookout for two of the album’s best: the opener "Die Alone" and "Overboard".

Lovers Electric – Lovers Electric
The duo of Eden Boucher and David Turley brings nothing but pure pop brilliance in their self-titled debut. Eden is the sister of Los Angeles based Australian singer/songwriter Butterfly Boucher. While they share a common genre in music, Lovers Electric is a bit more raw-sounding mostly due to them independently recording their album on a strict budget. There’s something to look forward to with Lovers Electric come 2008. They were also our FPA of April 2007 http://www.kgrl.fm/fpa/loverselectric.php.


Sunshine State - Sunshine State
Toronto-based acoustic pop wonders Sunshine State blessed 2007 with the release of their phenomenal debut. It’s lucky that KGRL is always on the lookout for fresh new talents. You’re in luck as well, as we are featuring Sunshine State as our January 2008 Flower-Powered Artists http://www.kgrl.fm/fpa/sunshinestate.php!

Hazel Mills – Butterfly
The Butterfly EP is a very engaging first effort from the Bristol-based siren, Hazel Mills. The EP is filled to the brim with excellent tracks that can best be described as a lush and vibrant musical landscape wrapped in progressive pendulous beats and rhythm. It is important to note that while there are many new artists who strive to transcend genres ended up drowning in their musical identity crisis, Hazel manages to break through by shaping up a cohesive song structure while retaining enough quirk and obscurity. If we are to judge by this EP, Hazel Mills is seriously one of the most important artists to watch out for.

Simon Wilcox - The Charm & The Strange
Boyish name but 100% flower-powered goodness, Simon Wilcox charmed us with the release of her debut full-length. Finally finding her musical identity, Simon unleashes an album that is electrifyingly satisfying. The record packs nothing but infectiously catchy band-based alternative pop/rock.

Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set - The Moon Looked On
Award-winning Australian singer/songwriter Clare Bowditch delights us with the release of her new record, "The Moon Looked On". The album offers a very enjoyable listen all the way through with a lot of sparkly gems along the way, amongst which are: "You Looked So Good", "I Love The Way You Talk", "I Am Not Allowed" and "Peccadilloes". It is quite interesting to note that Clare has written thousands of songs and picked 12 from them for this record. I guess she chose the perfect 12 to have brought out such an amazing record.

Libbie Schrader – Libbie Schrader
Another of KGRL’s FPAs (for February 2007 - http://www.kgrl.fm/fpa/libbieschrader.php), Libbie Schrader’s new full-length finally came out. The tracks in the record are comprised of polished old songs that were in the latest EP plus a couple of new songs. This is definitely the best CD Libbie has put out so far, and that says a lot.

Shannon Hurley - Ready To Wake Up
Libbie’s friend, Shannon Hurley has put out a similar effort of masterful songwriting ability. Ready To Wake Up is sure to put listeners in melodic overdrive building layer upon layer of indie pop excellence. The record is definitely a must-own CD for lovers of indie-pop/rock.

Cathy Davey - Tales Of Silversleeve
2004’s "Something Ilk" had me left wanting more from Cathy Davey. The Irish singer/songwriter writes such brilliant alternative pop/rock that borders on the oddball and the obscure. Engaging musical arrangements, beautiful vocal work, and extremely addictive melodies make this CD one of the best in 2007. Well worth the wait.

Emma Pollock - Watch The Fireworks
The former Delgados frontwoman, Emma Pollock finally released her debut solo album and it’s quite a revelation. Some of the tracks are electrifyingly-upbeat pop/rock while others wallow in a dreamy state of quirkiness. It’s really hard not to recommend this album to anyone who loves intelligent and witty alternative rock.

Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks
It’s like Lily Allen released a new CD this year… Seriously though, casting aside the Kate Nash vs. Lily Allen debate, Kate Nash holds her own brand of musical genius. To the nay sayer, I hope you listened to the CD before you judge. That said, do Kate and Lily really have anything in common?

Suzanne Vega - Beauty & Crime
It’s good to see that Suzanne Vega is still making great music. Let me put it quite simply, "Beauty & Crime" is such a phenomenal CD. It’s amazing to hear modern sounding tracks from Suzanne; she just never goes out of style.

Jonatha Brooke - Careful What You Wish For
There is something retro sounding with the tracks in the new record but yet it’s steadily rooted in rock. In fact, it’s probably the most rock-out-loud Jonatha Brooke record. It’s another solid offering from Jonatha.

Nina Storey - So Many Ways: From Me To You
Nina’s latest offering left us awed and reminds us why we love Nina Storey. One part of it is the vocal prowess and the other is songwriting excellence. The new record is nothing short of what we expected from Nina. It’s simply an exceptional record in so many ways.

Lucy Schwartz - Winter In June
"Winter In June" is a very strong first effort from the young but extremely talented, Lucy Schwartz. Lucy started writing music at a very early age. It’s no wonder, now that she’s 18, how songwriting is like second nature to her. The record is full to the brim of excellent indie pop and jazzy tracks in simple yet effective arrangements. Lucy recently decided to use her whole name because it’s hard for people to look her up. Good move, God knows how many famous Lucy people there are…

Marianne Keith - Beautiful Distraction (Re-issue)
I’ll just use “re-issue” as a reason to include this album in the list. "Beautiful Distraction" is a brilliant showcase of Marianne Keith’s amazing talents in both songwriting and vocal ability. It’s truly amazing how a small-framed girl like Marianne packs a powerful voice. You’d want to check out our FPA feature with Marianne and get to see her live performance videos http://www.kgrl.fm/fpa/mariannekeith.php).

Emi Meyer - Curious Creature
Jazz is cool… Jazz is not dead… Emi Meyer comes to prove jazz just isn’t. The new album is full-length and was recorded with a band. This record reflects Emi’s musical growth. The tracks in this record gears more towards pop, which makes it much more accessible to non-jazz folks. If you’re interested to find out more about Emi, hit up our FPA feature with her (http://www.kgrl.fm/fpa/emimeyer.php).

Dolores O'Riordan - Are You Listening?
The comeback record for the former The Cranberries frontwoman, Dolores O’Riordan is quite outstanding. Lovers of The Cranberries will feel right at home with this solo album. The only difference is that this record is much more intimate than the materials from The Cranberries era.

St. Vincent - Marry Me
The Polyphonic Spree and Surfjan Steven’s guitarist, Annie Clark comes out with a very powerful solo debut. Annie rocks it out, and really rocks it loud with heavily-processed noise effects, in the blissfully-alternative rock tracks. In contrast, she mellows it down to a crawl in the record’s more melodic tracks. "Marry Me" is a success in marriage of heavy alternative rock and ballads that will surely please fans of post 90s rock.

Far Beyond Frail - Butterfy Sketches
"Far Beyond Frail" has been around since 2002 but we recently discovered them through Char Mar’s Press Manager, Lisa Lombardo. It would be a shame not to include them in this list merely because they are new to KGRL - as their new EP, "Butterfly Sketches", is such an exemplary alternative-folk record. We fell in love with the band from our first listen, and I’m sure you will too.

Sirsy – Revolution
Another of our recently added bands, Sirsy has instantly become one of our favorites. The duo of Melanie Krahmer and Rich Libutti rocks the joint with just the two of them, and they do it with such grace and precision. Melanie sings amazingly well, plays the drums and flute while Rich plays his effects-processed acoustic guitar and everything else. Their latest offering, "Revolution" was recorded in their home studio in an effort to capture their raw and edgy sound. Judging by the excellent tracks in the CD, it looks like they succeeded in their goal.

Peech - Peech
We discovered Peech through Marianne Keith and we are so glad we did. Peech’s Chelsea Dohemann and Megan Osborn filled their CD with fun and easy-to-get-into type of acoustic pop rock tracks. The basic and raw arrangement of the background music works pretty well.

*The above list does not denote any ranking type of system, except for the top spot :)...

And some more awesomely amazing CDs released in 2007 that you should all check out (in alphabetical order):

Allie Moss - My Last & Final Demo
Andrea Corr - Ten Feet High
Astrid Swan - Poverina
Brandi Carlile - The Story
Colbie Caillat - Coco
Eisley - Combinations
Emily Grogan - At Sea
Feist - The Reminder
Holly McNarland - Chin Up Buttercup
Hooverphonic - The President Of The LSD Golf Club
Jesca Hoop – Kismet
Kate Voegele - Don't Look Away
Kate Walsh - Tim's House
Katie Melua - Pictures
Kelly Clarkson - My December
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
Laura Jansen - Trauma
Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers
Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm Just Me
Maria Taylor - Lynn Teeter Flower
Meiko - Meiko
Melanie C - This Time
Missy Higgins - On A Clear Night
Nicole Atkins - Neptune City
Oh Darling - Oh Darling EP
Polly Paulusma - Fingers & Thumbs
Renee Cologne - Rock & Roll Housewife
Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight
Sarah Shannon - City Morning Song
Sia - Lady Croissant
Stephanie Briggs - Spark
Tegan & Sara - The Con
Terra Naomi - Under The Influence
Tina Dico - Count To Ten + A Beginning
Tori Amos - American Doll Posse
Uh Huh Her - I See Red EP
Vanessa Carlton - Heroes & Thieves



Posted by Mysty


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