2008 Woodie Awards
Artists to watch for
By Rebecca Babin, Collegian Correspondent
Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: Arts & Living
It's really frustrating to sit in traffic on North Pleasant St. as streams of pedestrians cross the road with no regard for the hundreds of cars waiting for them to pass. Whoever gave the pedestrians the right-of-way in Massachusetts was seriously disturbed.
But what is equally frustrating, and only makes the agony of this traffic worse, is listening to the same CD for the thousandth time, then flipping on the radio to the same songs the stations seem to be putting on repeat.
It's then that you start thinking, "Wow I really need some new music" or possibly, "I am going to be really late for class." Unfortunately, state traffic laws are out of our control, but for the music problem, look no further. There are some exciting new artists popping up on the music scene that are begging to be listened to.
Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics
Back in the mid-2000s, two popular Tallahasse local bands, Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment, fused together to form Mayday Parade. The result was one melodic rock band and a big hometown buzz.
Shortly after the two bands meshed, Mayday Parade played at the 2005 Warped Tour, but it wasn't until 2006 that the band signed with Fearless Record. Their album, "A Lesson in Romantics" debuted in July of 2007, which features their current single, "Jaime All Over."
Mayday Parade sounds like the lovechild of Panic at the Disco and Something Corporate. Like its pop/punk relative, Panic at the Disco, Mayday Parade has a fast paced, exciting, and catchy sound that makes them hard to turn off. Like Something Corporate, they have the ability to infuse meaning, depth and an occasionally softer sound into their music.
This combination of qualities gives them not only versatility, but likability because there is something on the album for everyone. No two songs on "A Lesson in Romantics" sound the same, which was a common problem with many albums of similar preceding bands.
Any song could have been chosen to be Mayday's first hit single, but one that really stands out is "Ocean and Atlantic." Just listen to their clips on iTunes and you pop/punk fans will be sold.
Jazmine Sullivan- Fearless
It seems like every female artist breaking into the music business has had some help from some kind of reality TV show and is featured singing the same kind of bleeding heart power ballads or inspirational songs on this week's Billboard hits.
It's nice to hear Jazmine Sullivan, a talented R&B singer with a style and sound that differs from the rest of the pack. After recently signing with J Records earlier in 2008, she recorded her first single "Need You Bad," which is featured on her soon-to-be released album, "Fearless." Although her contract with J Records may be fresh, she isn't new to the music industry.
She was signed with Jive Records at age 15, but was dropped from the label before any recordings were released. After this huge disappointment she went on to write a few songs for Christina Millan's third album, including the hit single "Say I."
Sullivan has a sound that is literally unparalleled on the charts right now. Her music flirts with line between R&B and reggae, which forces a comparison between her and music icons such a Lauren Hill and Mary J. Blige. Based on her first single alone, she seems to be holding her own.
"Fearless" drops September 23, 2008. Be sure to check it out.
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
This indie rock band from New York City got their creatively offbeat name from an amateur film of the same title made by their lead singer and guitarist, Ezra Koenig. Inspired by African popular music and Western classical music, the band coined their sound as "Upper West Side Soweto." Soweto refers to an urban area in the South African city, Johannesburg. This unique combination of influences produces a very interesting and captivating sound.
Their songs have an enticing quality that draws the listener in. As each track plays you'll find yourself trying to put your finger on how to describe them. Many of their songs have their own original sound, making it hard to compare them to other artists.
Although they have just recently been getting more publicity, they caught the attention of Rolling Stone in 2007, when their song "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" was recognized as number 67 on their list of 100 Best Songs of the Year.
If you're looking for something different but amazing, pick up or download a copy of Vampire Weekend. Focus your attention on "Walcot" and "Campus," two songs you're sure to love.
But what is equally frustrating, and only makes the agony of this traffic worse, is listening to the same CD for the thousandth time, then flipping on the radio to the same songs the stations seem to be putting on repeat.
It's then that you start thinking, "Wow I really need some new music" or possibly, "I am going to be really late for class." Unfortunately, state traffic laws are out of our control, but for the music problem, look no further. There are some exciting new artists popping up on the music scene that are begging to be listened to.
Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics
Back in the mid-2000s, two popular Tallahasse local bands, Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment, fused together to form Mayday Parade. The result was one melodic rock band and a big hometown buzz.
Shortly after the two bands meshed, Mayday Parade played at the 2005 Warped Tour, but it wasn't until 2006 that the band signed with Fearless Record. Their album, "A Lesson in Romantics" debuted in July of 2007, which features their current single, "Jaime All Over."
Mayday Parade sounds like the lovechild of Panic at the Disco and Something Corporate. Like its pop/punk relative, Panic at the Disco, Mayday Parade has a fast paced, exciting, and catchy sound that makes them hard to turn off. Like Something Corporate, they have the ability to infuse meaning, depth and an occasionally softer sound into their music.
This combination of qualities gives them not only versatility, but likability because there is something on the album for everyone. No two songs on "A Lesson in Romantics" sound the same, which was a common problem with many albums of similar preceding bands.
Any song could have been chosen to be Mayday's first hit single, but one that really stands out is "Ocean and Atlantic." Just listen to their clips on iTunes and you pop/punk fans will be sold.
Jazmine Sullivan- Fearless
It seems like every female artist breaking into the music business has had some help from some kind of reality TV show and is featured singing the same kind of bleeding heart power ballads or inspirational songs on this week's Billboard hits.
It's nice to hear Jazmine Sullivan, a talented R&B singer with a style and sound that differs from the rest of the pack. After recently signing with J Records earlier in 2008, she recorded her first single "Need You Bad," which is featured on her soon-to-be released album, "Fearless." Although her contract with J Records may be fresh, she isn't new to the music industry.
She was signed with Jive Records at age 15, but was dropped from the label before any recordings were released. After this huge disappointment she went on to write a few songs for Christina Millan's third album, including the hit single "Say I."
Sullivan has a sound that is literally unparalleled on the charts right now. Her music flirts with line between R&B and reggae, which forces a comparison between her and music icons such a Lauren Hill and Mary J. Blige. Based on her first single alone, she seems to be holding her own.
"Fearless" drops September 23, 2008. Be sure to check it out.
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
This indie rock band from New York City got their creatively offbeat name from an amateur film of the same title made by their lead singer and guitarist, Ezra Koenig. Inspired by African popular music and Western classical music, the band coined their sound as "Upper West Side Soweto." Soweto refers to an urban area in the South African city, Johannesburg. This unique combination of influences produces a very interesting and captivating sound.
Their songs have an enticing quality that draws the listener in. As each track plays you'll find yourself trying to put your finger on how to describe them. Many of their songs have their own original sound, making it hard to compare them to other artists.
Although they have just recently been getting more publicity, they caught the attention of Rolling Stone in 2007, when their song "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" was recognized as number 67 on their list of 100 Best Songs of the Year.
If you're looking for something different but amazing, pick up or download a copy of Vampire Weekend. Focus your attention on "Walcot" and "Campus," two songs you're sure to love.
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