Music Monday: Matt Wertz Snow Globe

Katie July 28, 2014 0 Comments

And our final installment is from Matt Wertz with “Snow Globe”!

Walking In A Winter Wonderland
Snow Globe
White Christmas
Tennessee Christmas
Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas
Christmastime Is Here
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
O Holy Night
Sleigh Ride
Christmas In The City
Wake Up, Wake Up
Christmas Just Does This To Me

Snow Globe is the recent Christmas CD from Matt Wertz.  In addition to the classics, it also contains the original song Snow Globe – for which the album was named – that was written by Wertz on January 3, 2011 at 4:32pm and is a super catchy tune that I have a feeling might be stuck in my head until Christmas… It also includes Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas (Without You) that was written November 30, 2010 at 2:33pm! (I love that Matt includes this information in his linear notes – or that he even keeps track of that kind of stuff in the first place.)  The other originals are Christmas in the City – written December 15, 2010 at 12:55pm and Wake Up, Wake Up, written January 27, 2011 at 5:15pm.

It also includes Tennessee Christmas – which is not a new song by Matt, but rather a cover of an Amy Grant song that I was not familiar with.  New to me, but maybe not new to you.

While his take on the classics is a more classic and typical approach, I found that the original songs give the CD that uniqueness that I was looking for.  I just got this CD in May, or I’d be kicking myself for not putting it in heavy rotation over the past couple of Christmas seasons. (I think it’s been out  a couple of years?) But I can certainly see some of these tracks getting added to heavy rotation in December! (I think it’s clear that I have going to have to make a Concert Katie Greatest Christmas Hits for this year because there are just too many Christmas CDs in my collection to listen to them all – unless of course I start now!)

Music Monday: Hanson Snowed In

Katie July 21, 2014 0 Comments

While the other reviews for this month are more recent Christmas releases – this is what I have to consider a “classic” release – Hanson’s Christmas CD released “waaay” back in 1998.

Merry Christmas Baby
What Christmas Means to Me
Little Saint Nick
At Christmas
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Christmas Time
Everybody Knows the Claus
Run Rudolph Run
Silent Night Medley
Silent Night

 Snowed In is a classic for me.  In fact, a few years back a few friends and I decided to make it a tradition to listen to it at midnight after Halloween.  (It helped that at the time we were leaving a Hanson Halloween concert in Oklahoma and figured it would be appropriate to listen to on the way home)  To me, this album and the songs will never get old – even if Hanson’s voices have changed and it can be a bit painful to listen to at times. (Sorry Zac.)  The CD has 3 original songs – At Christmas, Christmas Time and Everybody Knows the Claus. And while every year I hold out that they will release a new Christmas CD (they’ve released a couple Christmas songs over the past few years and are doing a Christmas streaming special this year so we may be getting another track or two, I hope) I don’t think that Snowed In will never make its way out of rotation.  (And don’t tell my iPod but I also get a kick out of it when it’s the middle of summer and it plays like 3 or 4 tracks from this CD in a row when I’m heading home from a road trip!)

Music Monday: Kelly Clarkson Wrapped In Red

Katie July 14, 2014 0 Comments

Our second “Christmas in July” review is Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped in Red!

Wrapped in Red
Underneath the Tree
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Run Run Rudolph
Please Come Home For Christmas
Every Christmas
Blue Christmas
Winter Dreams (Brandon’s Song)
White Christmas
My Favorite Things
4 Carats
Just For Now

Wrapped In Red has 5 original songs – Wrapped In Red, Underneath the Tree, Every Christmas, Winter Dreams, and 4 Carats.  For pretty much all of the Christmas season 2013 I had “Underneath The Tree” which was Kelly’s single from the album stuck in my head. I was almost tempted to skip it when re-listening to write this review because I didn’t need it stuck in my head for another 6 months!

While Underneath The Tree is (obviously) my favorite of the originals – I always really like Every Christmas.

This CD is everything that I would expect from a Kelly Clarkson album – catchy songs, great singing, and fun!

Music Monday: Tyrone Wells The Christmas Album

Katie July 7, 2014 0 Comments

Since I bought  several new Christmas CDs at Christmas time last year – and then never got the chance to listen to them – I figured rather than wait until next Christmas (when no doubt some more Christmas CDs would be released) I would instead do a Christmas in July feature for Music Monday.  Hopefully if you are in a hot place they will make you feel a bit cooler thinking of snow – or if you are freezing in the AC it will feel appropriate. (I was about to put gloves on my my office the other day the AC is just THAT freezing cold in my office!)

The Christmas Song
Jingle Bells
Christmas At Home
Away In A Manger
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Wrap Her Up For Me
Silent Night
Carol of the Bells
O Come All Ye Faithful

Tyrone is one of my favorite voices. I could just listen to him sing forever! So it’s no problem to listen to him singing about Christmas and snow in July ;).   I also love how he put his own twist on a lot of these songs.  I’m sure you’ve heard Jingle Bells nothing less than 8 million times – but I bet you’ve never heard it quite like Tyrone does it on the album!  He also has 2 original songs on the album in addition to the classics – “Wrap Her Up For Me” and “Christmas at Home”

Christmas at Home is a more emotional track while Wrap Her Up For Me is a more humorous track.

If you’re looking for a new Christmas album for heavy rotation in a few months (or all year round, if that’s your thing) then you should certainly check out Tyrone Wells The Christmas Album. You won’t be disappointed. (It also helps that he has my favorite Christmas song ever on his CD – Carol of the Bells!)

Music Monday: Cher Lloyd Sorry I’m Late

Katie June 30, 2014 0 Comments

Sorry I’m Late is the sophomore release from UK based singer Cher Lloyd. It was released last month on May 23rd.  The album was supposed to be out much earlier but kept getting pushed back – which may have something to do with it being titled “Sorry I’m Late”.  The first single off the album was “I Wish”, which I got to see Cher perform when I was out in Vegas last fall.  The most recent single is “Sirens”, which I was hoping to get the chance to see live a couple weeks ago at the Kiss 95.7 Summer Kick Off Concert, but unfortunately Cher had to not do that show in order to firm a music video with Demi Lovato.

Just Be Mine
Bind Your Love
I Wish
Sirens
Dirty Love
Human
Sweet Despair
Killin’ It
Goodnight
M.F.P.O.T.Y
Alone with Me

I have the explicit version of the CD – there is also a clean version (the smoke is edited out on the cover and I would assume the lyrics are cleaned up a bit as well to omit the swear words)  I love Cher, her songs are catchy and fun and this CD certainly captures her.  My favorite songs are I Wish and M.P.O.T.Y (Mother Fuckin’ Party of the Year!)  Although the CD is short and only 11 tracks – I love it and it flows really well. I can certainly see it being played a lot more by me and taking some tracks for playlists!

Music Monday: Little Mix Salute

Katie June 23, 2014 0 Comments

Salute is the second album from Little Mix and was released in late 2013.  Since I will be seeing Little Mix on their US headlining tour in October, I figured there’s no time like the present to get myself more familiar with their songs!  Salute has 12 tracks and 4 deluxe tracks.

Salute
Move
Little Me
Nothing Feels Like You
Towers
Competition
These Four Walls
About the Boy
Boy
Good Enough
Mr. Loverboy
A Different Beat

I was already familiar with a few of these songs from seeing them open for Demi Lovato back in March.  The CD is very catchy and had a good beat – almost got me wanting to get up and dance! (It did get me up and putting my laundry away which is probably even better!)   I can definitely see this CD getting a lot of play on road trips.  Stand out favorites are  Move and Competition.  I would rank this CD 4.5 out of 5 stars. Very reminiscence of the 90s Pop music that I love so much!

Music Monday: Mariah Carey Me. I am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse

Katie June 16, 2014 0 Comments

It’s crazy to think that Me. I am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse is the FOURTEENTH studio album from Ms. Mariah.  It was released last month – May 23, 2014 to be specific.  While I enjoy Mariah’s music, I think the last album of hers I actually bought (and played the heck out of) was Daydream – which came out in 1995 and was her fifth album.  So I’m a little bit behind on all things Mariah – but figured it was time to check her out again and see what I’ve been missing! The album has 15 tracks and 4 “deluxe” songs.

Cry
Faded
Dedicated
Beautiful
Thirsty
Make It Look Good
You’re Mine
You Don’t Know What To Do
Supernatural
Meteorite
Camoflauge
Money
One More Try
Heavenly
Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse

It’s a Wrap
Betcha Gon’ Know
The Art of Letting Go

I’m sad to say that this CD was pretty disappointing.  I like Beautiful (but it may be because I’ve heard it several times before as a single) and I also enjoyed Make It Look Good.  While Mariah can sing and there is no denying that, a lot of the songs seemed like she was trying too hard to be current. Maybe this is the evolution she has taken since I stopped listening to her, but I can’t see myself giving this CD heavy rotation.  In fact, I had to skip You Don’t Know What To Do before it even ended because I just couldn’t stand to finish it all the way.  The addition of her children on Supernatural could have been cute, but it was a bit too much of the kiddos. I’d give this 3 out of 5 stars and that is being generous.

CD Review: David Gray Mutineers + Giveaway

Katie June 2, 2014 5 Comments

David Gray is coming out with his new album, Mutineers, very soon! You may know David from his hit “Babylon”.  Mutineers is going to be his TENTH studio album (impressive!) and his first in 4 years.  To mark the news, David is unveiling the video for “Gulls” which is the first track from the album that is being streamed ahead of release.

To coincide with Mutineers, Gray will tour the UK for the first time in three years. The headline tour, commencing at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on June 23 will include a show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 24. The dates follow a run of sold-out US shows across April and May and three sold-out intimate shows earlier this year at Westminster’s Emmanuel Centre. US dates are:

April 24th Los Angeles, CA Wilshire Ebell Theatre
April 25th San Francisco, CA Palace of Fine Arts
April 27th Tacoma, WA Pantages Theatre
April 29th Washington, DC Lincoln Theatre
April 30th New York, NY Grand Ballroom
May 2nd Philadelphia, PA Temple Performing Arts Centre
May 3rd Boston, MA Emerson Colonial Theatre
May 4th Toronto, ON Danforth Theatre

Recorded in Church Studios, London and produced by Andy Barlow (Lamb), whose brief was to not let Gray “make the same record I’ve made before.” The result is an album that seems to fizz with the joy of its own assembly and finds Gray steering into unfamiliar territory while cultivating a pugnacious but respectful relationship with his own history. “I know I’ve done something here that has an authority that is inspiring me and I don’t have to worry about my past or any of that. The lovely thing about this is we’ve had the time to experiment, and it’s been wonderful,” says Gray.

David Gray captured the world’s attention with his breakout multi-platinum hit White Ladder, the first of three No.1 UK albums, earning him both Brit and Grammy nominations. He has continued to build on this success, with recent albums Draw The Line (2009) and Foundling (2010), both reaching the Billboard Top 10 in the US.

Mutineers Track Listing:
Back in the World
As the Crow Flies
Mutineer
Beautiful Agony
Last Summer
Snow in Vegas
Cake and Eat It
Birds of the High Arctic
The Incredible
Girl Like You
Gulls
Nearly Midnight (bonus track)

I did have one of David’s earlier releases (White Ladder – the CD with Babylon on it) so I had an idea of what to expect going in to listening to this cd.  Overall it is a very solid CD and after listening to it a few go throughs, there are no songs that are ones I consider “must skip” and the CD as a whole really flows.  Overall the CD is mellow and I liked having it as background music while cleaning up my room and working on blog posts. It was great “background noise” (although I hate to call it that!) and would also be great in the car on the way to work as well (and I wouldn’t be surprised if it made an appearance on my next road trip as well.) I don’t have a favorite song from the CD but I do enjoy Back in the World, Cake and Eat It and Girl Like You.

Mutineers is available for purchase at the following retailers:

• iTunes- http://bit.ly/DavidGrayMutineersiTunes
• Amazon- http://bit.ly/DGMutineersAmazon

Some of David’s social media links

Official Website – http://www.davidgray.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/DavidGray
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealDavidGray
Instagram – http://instagram.com/davidgray
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/davidgray

I received a free download of the album to review from One2One Network. I was not otherwise compensated. All opinions are my own.

WIN IT!

One lucky ConcertKatie reader will receive one Mutineers CD (ARV: $14.99!)  The giveaway will run from now until June 10th.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winners email to claim prize or else prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be chosen.  Giveaway is open to the US & Canada.

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Music Monday: Blake Lewis Portrait of a Chameleon

Katie May 19, 2014 0 Comments

Portrait of a Chameleon is the 3rd album from American Idol alum, Blake Lewis.  Blake describes the album as “eleven songs of pure magic.” This is his first independent album and it was funded by fans on pledgemusic. Those who pre-ordered through PledgeMusic have received the album and it should be available to everyone else tomorrow!

Start Again
Back to Life
Not Today
Silence
Grounds for Termination
Your Touch
I Want You
Survivor
Disco in Space
Retro Romance
Love, Love, Love
She Gives me Her Love
Runaway
Lost in Heaven

I often wonder how artists choose the order of the songs on their albums – Start Again is pretty much the perfect choice to start off this album.  I guess sometimes it’s a bit more obvious than others! As to be expected from a Blake Lewis album, there are some really catchy beats included – I have to say that Back to Life had me tapping my foot as soon as it began. Another stand out track that I really enjoyed is I Want You. If the 80’s are your favorite, you’ll love Retro Romance! But if there is only one song off the album you can listen to – kyou should have it be Disco in Space! It’s one of the longest songs on the album but it is just great! I love the arrangement.

Overall a great CD if you’re looking for something fun to move to. And there are no songs on it that I want to skip which is always a good thing 🙂

I received a download of this CD after participating in Blake’s PledgeMusic campaign.