mydhotr-blog

[mydhotr-blog]

Bon Iver - Heavenly Father

[mydhotr-blog]

Cover Song of the Month

The first Cover Song of the Month for 2014 is Olafur Arnalds & Arnor Dan's hauntingly chilling cover of Destiny's Child's "Say My Name".

As you'd expect from Olafur Arnalds, he creates an understated, yet grandiose backdrop that complements Arnor Dan's vocals perfectly - a voice that suggests a soft fragility not often paired with contemporary RnB - giving Destiny's Child's lyrics emotional depth. Enjoy.

[mydhotr-blog]

Olafur Arnalds and Arnor Dan - Say My Name (Destiny's Child Cover)

[mydhotr-blog]

Olafur Arnalds and Arnor Dan - Say My Name (Destiny's Child Cover)

[mydhotr-blog]

James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical

Choosing to expand his musical repertoire beyond the guitar and piano - and providing the release of his new single Cavalier, and the spine-tingling trailer of McMorrow's follow up - Post Tropical will undoubtedly be an early contender for album of the year in 2014.

Post Tropical is in essence, an extroverted expression of emotion through sound, opting instead to subdue the inner-recluse that we all got to love in Early in the Morning. However, despite the change of direction, his approach is still driven with the emotional intensity of his first album. Take a listen to the lead single Cavalier for your sneak peak of Post Tropical, soon to be released early January 2014. Enjoy

[mydhotr-blog]

James Vincent McMorrow - Cavalier

[mydhotr-blog]

James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical Preview

[mydhotr-blog]

James Vincent Mcmorrow - Cavalier

[mydhotr-blog]

Hozier

Sitting comfortably within the lyrical elasticity and transcendent emotional range of Dallas Green - Hozier holds his own against (arguably) the best songwriter on the planet.... the frustrating thing is that -given our internet age, and vast array of musical outlets - It's hard to understand why musicians like these still remain relatively unknown.

Released earlier this year, Hozier's debut EP depicts a journey of the soul and spirit. It's obvious that the lyrics were weathered by the tears of broken hearts - but it's not all heartwrenching and melancholic. The title track "Take Me To Church" is a feel-good emotional rollercoaster that takes the listener on a very pleasing ride. We suppose the thing that's most frustrating about Hozier is that we find it very hard to be impartial towards their music. Andrew Hozier-Byrne has created a minor masterpiece in time. Take Me To Church EP really is that good. On one hand we hope he remains raw, untamed, unedited, ... essentially un-signed - because that way, we feel a sense of belonging, a sense of privacy, and a sense of seclusion and reclusion in the music he has crafted. On the other hand, we hope he recieves the commercial acclaim we know he deserves - because people really REALLY need to hear this music.

Don't just take our word for it though, have a listen, your soul will thank you. Enjoy.

[mydhotr-blog]

Hozier - Take Me To Church

[mydhotr-blog]

Hozier - Work Song (Live)

[mydhotr-blog]

Hozier

[mydhotr-blog]

Magic!

Having formed just last year, it's incredible how quickly Magic! is heading towards mainstream success.

It's easy to see why their first single "Rude" may very well be the "Song of Summer" in 2014. - Written by Nasri Atweh, "Rude" is catchy, melodically interesting, and has all the right "pop elements" for commercial success on mainstream radio. - however, while in the same boat, it exemplifies many of the negative connotations that go with being "Popular" - including shallow lyrics and (future) mass replecation/ re-production - in this sense, it is obvious that "Rude" was written to be a radio hit - as a result, emotional and lyrical substance was backbenched.

Another drawback towards a band like Magic! is the sense of "manufactured uniqueness" -almost gimmickry - it's as if  Magic! is trying to distance themselves from the likes of the Beibers, One Directions, and David Guettas through a Reggae Rock approach. However, the song is interlaced with the very same contemporary back beats  and chord proggressions that outlay every single contemporary hit pop song of our era.

At its post-chorus "Rude" seems disjointed and rushed - the "Marry that girl, Marry her anyway..." section just doesn't seem to fit in the scape of the song. Despite this, the section is masked well by the melodic genius of the "Why you gotta be so rude" Chorus

Bottom line, the lead singer/songwriter Nasri Atweh shows why he is the go-to-guy in Toronto when it comes to writing a hit song - and frankly, why wouldn't you write one or two for yourself? All in all, great melody, just lacking lyrical substance. Enjoy

[mydhotr-blog]

Magic! - Rude (Official Lyric Video)

[mydhotr-blog]

Magic! - Rude

[mydhotr-blog]

Magic!

[mydhotr-blog]

Alice Russell

At the age of 38, it's hard to pinpoint the reason/s that she hasn't yet burst into our mainstream airwaves - and with a talent like hers, it really is a shame.

However, there are positives surrounding her apparent reclusion - and that is the sense of privacy that engulfs the listener when listening to Russell. In any given instance, it seems like it's just Alice Russell and you.

However, her latest studio record -To Dust - strays away from this personal relationship she's fought so hard to develop over the years - opting instead for a commercialised sound, that very well may push her into the watchful eye of mainstream media.

The interesting thing is that somehow while completely rethinking her sound, she hasn't lost that (for lack of a better word) "x-factor" that makes her so viscerally exciting to listen to.

Standout tracks include "Heartbreaker", "Citizens", and "To Dust".

Enjoy.