| THE BEST MUSIC YOU'VE NEVER HEARD | |
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So here we go on my favourite subject: music. I'm a confessed music and CD whore. I've blown much needed grocery money on CD's. Hee hee. Here are a few artists that aren't as well known, but should be because I say so!!!!
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| Finger Eleven | |
| Finger Eleven is a Canadian hard rock band,
with the unique distinction in a world of Korn and Slipknot of not
swearing in their music. Hell, Scott, the lead singer, doesn't
usually yell much save for emphasis. He has real working vocal
cords. Amazing! Formerly the Rainbow Butt Monkeys, they got
their start by winning a band search contest for a local station in
Toronto. After their first release Letters From Chutney (which
spawned the hit singles Circles, As Far As I Spit and Danananana), the
band took a more mature direction musically (which wasn't hard given
that the boys were 16-22 years of age at the time of recording).
The label, figuring that new was not acceptable for the mass marketing
machine that prides itself on a lack of originality, ditched them and
left them high and dry. Luckily they toured their asses off with
bands like Creed, who got them hooked up with their label Wind-Up.
Their first finger eleven disc was re-recorded and re-released, and
slowly grew to be popular among certain hardcore groups of fans.
Always admired critically, they're often interviewed and profiled in top
magazines, but the radio fucks them over. They followed up their
first release Tip with The Greyest of Blue Skies, experimenting with
vocal layering and imaginative guitar. Citing their influences as
Alice in Chains, Tool and faith No More, the boys were thrilled to share
a festival stage with A Perfect Circle and later, with Tool.
Maynard James Keenan of Tool, when asked about which bands were
promising in the current music scene, named finger eleven among
them. High praise indeed for the boys who, on the day of the
festival with Tool, were like "We're not even viewing this as a gig
so much as we're excited to be going to a Tool show".
Their latest breakthrough: Writing and performing the theme song
for WWF wrestler Kayne.
Recommended downloads: Quicksand, Tip, Awake and Dreaming, Above, Swallowtail, First Time, Sick of it all, Suffocate, Stay and Drown, Famous |
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| Think of England | |
| Recently, Pantene and Atlantic records
sponsored the Pro-Voice competition, a means for female
singer/songwriters and female fronted bands to showcase their
abilities. The first contest's grand prize: a tour opening
for the ultra-talented Poe, and a recording session for Atlantic
Records. The winners: Think of England, fronted by Libbie
Schrader. Combining a gorgeous powerful voice, raw honest and
catchy lyrics and great melodies that blend guitar drums and keyboards,
Think of England is one of the most promising new acts around.
Head to thinkofengland.org to grab some downloads and learn more.
Recommended downloads: Blood Red Moon, Look Down, Never, Dizzy |
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| Terami Hirsch | |
| Blame Alli; she's been spreading the
word like mad. And for a while Mary has had me intrigued as
well. Terami's precise sound defies description; it reminds
one of Tori Amos in its raw confessions and piano-based tunes. But
it reaches into something original and avoids sounding like a
copycat. It holds its own charms. Terami's got a haunting
voice that just won't leave you alone. Best of all: she's a
sweet fabulous person who is generous. Evidence: she gave
out copies of a CD, Stickfigures, for free just for signing up for her
mailing list and community. Yummers. Head to terami.com for
more info and while you're at it, look her up at adoptaband.com and get
downloading!!
Recommended downloads: Stained, Falling |
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| The Tea Party | |
| The Tea Party is a long established
Canadian rock band, but they are far from typical in sound. What
makes the Tea Party a unique and brilliant addition to the Canadian
music scene is their blend of modern rock instruments with the music of
the East, namely India, dashed with orchestral stylizations.
Their lyrics al;so rise above that which is the norm in their genre,
speaking of the mythology of eastern cultures, goddesses, and attacking
society's flaws with eloquence and gorgeous word combinations.
Finding their discs in the States is a joke; however, hmv.com will
fix that. Hee hee. Should you like them, they recently
released a greatest hits collection entitled Tangents, which contains
the best of the best, hands down
Recommended downloads: A Certain Slant of Light, The Bazaar, Fire in the Head, Psychopomp, Release, Heaven Coming Down, The Messenger, Walking Wounded, Apathy |
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