Monday, May 19, 2008

Coldplay and other muzak

So, Coldplay has a deal at Coldplay.com where you can download a song for free by just giving an email address...the song is their first single from their newest album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends called "Violet Hill".  I'm a minor Coldplay fan (I loved Rush of Blood but was disappointed by X + Y)  so I went and downloaded the song.  I had heard a buzz about this album because Brian Eno (sometimes called the 5th member of U2) was producing so I went with tempered excitement.  And was blown away by how good the song was.

On iTunes, they have a pre-order of the new album and with it you get another song, the title track of the album, "Viva la Vida".  So, I pre-ordered the album and downloaded that song...and my head almost exploded.  I think this is the best Coldplay song ever.  It's incredible.  So, go pre-buy the album and get the track in advance.  It really is great.

I also bought an album called Cannons by an artist named Phil Wickham.  Wow.  Seriously, you need to buy this album immediately.  It is some of the best brit-rock I've heard in forever.  It's what Coldplay's last album should've sounded like but with some of the best spiritual/religous lyrics I've read in a while.  Great, great record.  Go buy it immediately.  Or the next time you're at a store.  Or at on iTunes.  Well, download my album first, then Coldplay's then this one, how about that?

A while back (hey, I haven't written about music in a while), my favorite dread head (sorry Castro, but me and Adam go way back) Adam Duritz and his band Counting Crows released their 5th studio album Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings.   You will remember that Jim Bogios, the drummer for Counting Crows, played on 3 songs ("Waiting For You", "I'm Clean" & "Love is Raining Down"), and Counting Crows has long been one of my favorite bands, so I downloaded it the day it came out.  This album is seriously their best work since, well, ever.  I think it's all the best parts of August and Everything After and Recovering the Satellites, their first two albums.  The first half of the album rocks.  Hard.  Not Disturbed or Marilynn Manson hard, but classic rock hard...it's great.  The second half is more acoustic like their first album.  It's Adam's best songwriting and it's catchy and great.  Put this on your list of records to buy.

I got Bryan Adams new one 11 and it is classic Bryan Adams.  You know, he's a nostalgia act, and that's okay.  I don't want to buy a Bryan Adams record and find it to be a Radiohead record.  When I buy Badman (his nickname and publishing company) I want great love songs, great melodies and that classic voice.  This album does not disappoint.  Great songs, great production, and - as I said - that voice that I can never quite get enough of.

Finally, I recently got Jason Mraz's We Sing.  We Dance.  We Steal Things.  I wanted to support a fellow Fool's Banquet alum, plus I was so blown away with his talent at the songwriting retreat that I knew this album was a must-have.  I've only started to digest it, but it's really cool.  It's kind of fresh...lite-funk horns, thick bgv's, some reggae influences, some strings, acoustic guitar and poof, you've got a great sounding record.  I'm enjoying it.  More on this later.

So, I've gotten a lot more music that this since my last music post, but I'll get to the others later.

38 comments:

Cathy Storms said...

Thanks, I'll check them all out. You haven't steered us wrong yet...

Lisa said...

I think it's pretty funny that Zach at total axxess knew more about your blog than you! Seeing as how I am an oddity and have never watched American Idol even once, the only way I know of you is through Wally and total axxess. I do like your song Empty Me, although the radio stations are playing it to death. The thing I enjoyed the most about the interview was your laugh. You have a really great laugh. Very genuine!

Danielle said...

Phil Wickham is from San Diego. He's not British.

ChrisSligh said...

Haha...I know Phil's from San Diego...his genre is Brit-rock.

Chris

Anonymous said...

Chris,
I gotta agree with you about Phil Wickham's Cannons. My daughter introduced his music to me last September, then the folowing month he was here opening for David Crowder Band. We were in attendance. I LOVE his voice. Very distinctive. His brother Evan is really good too and is doing the music for my kids' Summer Camp in So CA in July.
They are pumped!

The new Jason Mraz CD. My daughter downloaded it on Saturday and I just started listening to it yesterday. Really good stuff.

I'm looking forward to your future recommends. Thanks for thinking of us!

Cathy Storms said...

I love Bryan Adams. We used his song "Everything I do, I do for you" in our wedding. But we also used "Keep your Hands to Yourself" by the Georgia Sattalites. lol....

HstryQT said...

Thanks for the heads up on all this!

...and Mmmmm Jason Mraz. Gotta love it. I still cant get over that you got to work with him at the summit song writers thing.

I just bought the new Barenaked Ladies childrens cd so I was putting off getting the Mraz album, but I must go do that, shouldnt I?

HstryQT said...

Cathy did we talk about this before? "Everything I do, I do it for you" was me and Dannys wedding song! :)

Here's the story: When I was like, four years old, my mom had the Bryan Adams album and the Robin Hood soundrack and I heard that song and went "Mommy, when I grow up, thats going to be my wedding song." Why I even knew what a wedding song was, I have no idea. So then when I started dating Danny, our first dance was coincidentally to that song, and I knew then that I'd end up marrying him - turns out I did! :)

OK thats my story of the day... or errr... month. Because I wont subject everyone to those all the time. lol.

risalea said...

Happy Anniversary to Me! (OK, Gaylon and I LOL) 30 years officially today! Our daughter gave us a lovely surprise dinner at Outback Sunday night, with many family and friends in attendance. It was a great evening. I wish I could remember exactly what wedding song we had besides the traditional Bridal March. We got married in a small ceremony at my parents' house and we used the Harding University (then College) Chorus recording. However, my fave wedding song of all time is "The Wedding Song (There is Love)"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4_x24cVHr8

However, if I could get Chris to come sing at my daughter's wedding, "In a Moment" would quickly take its place! LOL (let me know how much now, Chris, so I can start saving my pennies)

And this has absolutely nothing to do with Coldplay, (not that following the lead topic has ever stopped conversation before! LOL)

Y'all enjoy your day! Hubby is taking me out for lunch.

Cathy Storms said...

Congrat's Risa. My anniversary is Monday. Only 8 years but 8 good years. Yes Chris,let us know what it would cost to get you to sing at a wedding..To have you sing "In A Moment" at my son's wedding (if he ever gets married) would be so awesome. I may even have a "Renue Wedding Vows" wedding just to have you sing.

Anonymous said...

I recently purchased this album called "Running Back to You" off MusiChristian.com. It'll take about three weeks to arrive in the Philippines, where I live, and I'm pretty confident it's gonna be a winner.

Mabuhay from Manila, Chris! Thanks for swinging by my blog. It means the world to me.

rosalee said...

Congrats, Risa! Your anniversary will always be in sync with Chris's age.

I'm glad that David A creamed David C tonight. He deserves to win. I hope it happens for him.

risalea said...

No, no, no Rosalee. I now have a text plan. I can text with the best of those 12 year olds. If I had this phone and this plan last year, I could have sent Chris to the top 5. David Cook, all the way! : )

DC seemed a little emotional....I wonder if he got more bad news about his brother. It seemed like his whole heart wasn't in it. I still think he's phenomenal.

I was laughing about what you said, Rosalee. Let's see, in 30 years, Chris will be 60, it will be my 60th anniversary and I'll be....well, let's just say I'll be of a certain age. I just hope I can remember what it is by then.

I looked for Chris, but didn't spot him. Hopefully, they'll do more audience shots tomorrow with more time to fill.

5701,5701,5701

rosalee said...

Risa -
There were too few audience shots. Chris should tell us where he's sitting - not that it's easy to pick him out of 7000 people. Of course, if he had those pink glowsticks......

You could have never texted Chris into the top five. I think that Chris Hi-Dave'd himself out of the top five. Although he deserved to be in the top five, with high-fives all around for that, the only high-five he got was from Smokey Robinson on Finale night. I'm getting delirious. Time for bed.

Anonymous said...

Risa and Cathy,
Congrats on #30 and #8! Looks like May is the month for anniversaries. Ours is Tuesday. Our 25th! Our wedding song was recently sung on AI. Dan Fogelberg's "Longer". Hadn't heard it in a LONG time.

Lori,
I hadn't heard BNL had a children's album. I'm listening to it now on Rhapsody. Am LOVIN' it, girl! Thanks!

I must admit Archie outshined Cook tonight but I don't care. Cook is infinitely MORE my cup of tea. It will be better for him if he does NOT win, so I'm happy for him getting runner up.

I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing Jason and Chikezie again tomorrow night. I was scanning the crowd for Chris too. Maybe tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

I think when all things are over this season it will be clear, that between the judges and performers there is only one college graduate. DC was smart and that Collective Soul song choice in the end showed me something special. The only time I have seen someone with a bigger brass set on AI he was saying, "Hi Dave".

Cathy Storms said...

Thanks Clarissa and Happy Anniversay to you also.
I caught Chris on an interview with Idol Tonight. Loved the Captain of the Fro Patro comment.
Didn't see him in the audience either and looked really hard.
Maybe tonight...

HstryQT said...

glad you like the BNL album clarissa! I love it! and Teddy especially likes the popcorn song. we dance to it ...pop pop pop pop pop pop.. ok done now :)

Nique's Nana said...

I forgot to tape Idol tonight and missed Chris! But, Chris you got some props this morning on our local radio station Star 94.1. Laura Cain was at the show last night and got to sit right behind you. She said there were a lot of young girls coming up to you asking you for your autograph.

EmilyBoo said...

I couldn't figure out how to download Violet Hill at Coldplay.com, but I got that and Viva la Vida at itunes. I prefer to wait until I can hear snippets of all the songs before making the decision on the whole album though.

I'm currently listening to snippets of all the Phil Wickham songs, and it sounds like this will be a full album download for me, which has not happened often since I got itunes. I can't believe I don't have any of his songs already, I really like them.

Have to go get the girl from school. I may have to wait until tomorrow to check out the rest of the artists mentioned in this post.

Anonymous said...

Lori,
I'd love to see you and Teddy dance to "Popcorn". What a sight!

I just got my $5 Running Back CD's (Yay!!)and now I'm evaluating all my friends on their Sligh-worthiness. These babies don't go to just ANYBODY.

Nique's Nana said...

Here's an excerpt for Laura Cain's blog about our guy Sligh:

"When we walked into the theater with the other 6, 998 other people, I was blown away by the magnificence of it all. The blue and white American Idol signs were rotating in various spots throughout the HUGE venue, cameras were mounted on giant crane-looking things in different spots and past American Idol contestants were floating around everywhere. We saw Constantine, who was pretty much the first person to enter the theater. He was wandering around like "Oh, yah, you're not seeing things, it's me, Constantine, I may sign the back of your ticket if you're lucky." Funny. I gotta say, he was extremely popular! He and a chick named Gina and Melinda Dolittle and Chris Sly, 'memba him? He's the big dude with the frizzy hair. Carrie and I decided to look important and inch our way slowly up to the seats directly behind him. Sixth row…to the left of Simon. Somehow, by some stroke of luck, no one claimed those seats! We think we may have been on camera for a millisecond when one of the cameras focused on Chris."

risalea said...

YES! THERE IS JUSTICE IN THE WORLD! (I told y'all I could text fast! LOL!!!)

Anonymous said...

Finally from start to finish my guy won. Of course I was two fisting the cell phones last year also but God had a different type of winners circle for you Chris, and as usual it will be perfect.

Anonymous said...

I'm in Tulsa, watching the Fox news. They just interviewed Jason Castro, and now Chikezie. Chris is in the background, and I'm screaming for them to interview you!!! Now Christy Lee. But now back to regular news. Bummer.

rosalee said...

Hey guys -
I hope you're all watching the webcam now on MyFOX.com. They just showed Chris with Jordin, Chikezie, and Jason Castro.

rosalee said...

Renaldo Lapuz is really something. That was the most warped version of "Tusk" I ever heard! (just kidding)

Anonymous said...

Hey everyone,
Please pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth. They lost their 2 yr old daughter this afternoon in a terrible accident. My heart is so broken for them. May God bring them the comfort and healing only He can give.

Urtho said...

Phil Wickham is indeed quite good, though I would venture to say that he is a better live performer than a recording artist. I saw him with DCB in MA and it was absolutely amazing, just him and his guitar, and an effects pedal...

After last night I was fairly certain that it would be DA not DC, but I think that the better performer won. Our DVR actually cut off the announcement, that was not cool.

Oh and Chris I am indeed looking to pick up your album, it seems quite good.

Anonymous said...

I'm finally done watching the finale recording and was happy to see the right guy won it!

BUT, did you catch the funniest moment of the night?? The opening number w/the top 12 and the dancers?? At the end everyone froze and Jason was moving all over and spinning around. I rewound it and saw that a plume of fire burst out right behind him. He jumped outta the way, it cut away to another shot for a split second and then you could see him getting into "freeze" position again!
We nearly had a MJ Pepsi moment!!!! And who else but goofball Jason??? Ha ha ha ha! I just LOVE that guy!

Anonymous said...

I think David A has the better voice, but David C has the more marketable voice and image in today's world.

Rose Radio said...

Just a heads up that on Friday I'll be playing all the tracks from "Running Back To You" on my internet radio station. http://roseradio.blogspot.com/

risalea said...

I didn't see the Jimmy Kimmel bit where they flashed up Chris's picture until after I had watched the last part of the finale live, as we had to tape it because we were at church. Wasn't sure about that at first, but hey, whatever! Publicity is publicity and it would have been perfect had they flashed Chris's web address up with his picture! : )

Clarissa:

I read about the tragedy in the Steven Curtis Chapman family in the paper this morning. How awful! If I'm not mistaken, Chris was to open for him at Zellwood, FL this weekend. If Chris is still playing, praying that God gives him the right words to say.

Chris:

Praying for your safe travel to your next stop.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Risa. I wondered about the Saturday show. Will the whole night be cancelled or will Chris now be headlining? I'm right with you in your prayer.

Did anyone see Chris in the audience? I didn't but then I had to fast forward thru parts of the show cuz it was SO late. Will find a chance to watch thoroughly late tonight.

Nique's Nana said...

Is it just me or was Amanda Overmeyer looking rather pissed and like she was thinkg she didn't even want to be there last night?

rosalee said...

Niques Nana -
I think that Amanda O. was just being herself. She never smiled much the whole time she was on the show.

three girls and a guy said...

Gotta love your picks. Been a big Phil Wickham fan; what an amazing voice and seeing him in person is awesome, he's great on the guitar. And Coldplay's new song is beyond amazing! They are musical genius's! Got to recommend, one of the best overall albums I've ever heard, Onerepublic's Dreaming Out Loud album.

lalat said...

u are blessed of God, love song empty me