Ah, the infamous Jack White; the man of many projects. I am a huge fan of Mr. White, the talented lad who hasn’t precisely been living life outside the public eye since announcing the demise of The White Stripes last year, making records with everyone from Tom Jones to the Insane Clown Posse. Well, he now has added “solo artist” to that long list of credentials on his resume. It was bound to happen; sooner or later, Jack was going to run out of awesome people to collaborate with!

On April 24th, Blunderbuss will hit shelves, with the now-released lead-off single Love Interruption. I feel that this single is an accurate preview for the rest of the album (let’s hope I don’t have to put my foot in my mouth). Needless to say, it’s going to rock. In a recent press release, Jack stated that Blunderbuss is “an album I couldn’t have released until now. I’ve put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas.”

Music needs Jack White more than ever; this man’s soul is pouring hard on this song, in not only musical effort, but content as well. I am a huge fan of woodwind instrumentation, and adding fellow Nashville singer Ruby Amanfu to the harmonies just makes it that much more compelling. You may find it somewhat slight on first listen, but give it another chance. The more you listen, the more connected to the lyrics you will feel.

Let the love interrupt.

Okay, so I may be a little late on this, but I am a recent supporter of UK duo The Big Pink. Back in 2009, the group released their debut album A Brief History of Love, which I wish I had given more attention to, but hey, that’s the beauty of music — it’s never too late to give your ears some foreplay. (Their sophomore release, Future This, is now on my to-do list.)

I am currently focusing on the strike with lead single Stay Gold. It has a hip hop drum pattern with a little electro feel. Song Facts explains that the song’s title is a phrase meaning “keep true to yourself” or “preserve your innocence,” which was originally used in Robert Frost’s 1923 poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay.

Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell drop the hazy pathos and opt instead for slick beats and a trip-hop edge. I could listen to this on repeat for days! On to the rest of the album!

Halestorm is back with an insane EP entitled Hello, It’s Mz. Hyde. These are four songs that will be featured on their future full-length, The Strange Case Of… I was infatuated with Lzzy and the gang before, but this just seals the deal. Stand out track, Love Bites (So Do I), hits you like a knockout. I absolutely cannot get enough of this song. They sum it up completely in the lyrics: “It checks you in and kicks you down, and chews you up and spits you out.” Not only are the lyrics infectious and raw, but the drumming by Arejay Hale is absolute mayhem.

Halestorm sits among some of the most down-to-earth, brilliant bands I have ever met. A longtime favorite of BTB, the band will be joining Staind and Godsmack on the road this season. I am not sure how long this will hold me over until their CD comes out in April, but it serves as a damn good appetizer.

My favourite Canadian rock boys are back with a new single, and a new break onto the charts. Their latest splash in the sea, Am I Wasting My Life, is a throbbing, honest piece.

My Sister Ocean has injected me with musical morphine. Again.

This song is an affront on apathy; the listener is forced to reconsider, reevaluate. The vocals hit you like air-borne alcohol. From the tip of the drumsticks to the vibrating guitar, all resonates with a heavy dose of reality. The song makes me taste smoke. I see lonely roadways lit up with the eerie glow of streetlights. I hear a soul seeking clarification. It’s the purest beauty, and the most devastating pain.

Thus far, the single has hit #50 on the Canadian Active Rock Charts, a first for this budding talent. Let’s push them even higher up the scale.

[Related Post: Duo To Watch: My Sister Ocean]

In the words on my homeboy Albert Einstein, “Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler.” One of my favorite bands on the planet, The Shins, have released Simple Song, the leadoff single taken from their upcoming fourth studio album Port of Morrow, expected to be released on March 20th. This is the first record to be released from frontman Mercer’s own record label, Aural Apothecary, after parting ways with longtime label Sub Pop in 2008.

While mastermind James Mercer has had some Shins downtime since their 2007 release, he earned himself a Grammy nod as half of BTB favorite Broken Bells. Time well spent, my friend. In distinctive Mercer fashion, he wrote all of the songs on Port of Morrow, sang every vocal, and played almost all of the instruments (assisted by previous Shins members Dave Hernandez and Marty Crandal, who are no longer featured in the touring aspect of the band).

Simple Song is the picture-perfect choice for a leadoff single, for it is effortlessly understood. With its intricate modern spin, you cannot go wrong with this one. There is such a sweetness to this track; that gentile sweetness with melodious quality than can be found on 2001’s Oh, Inverted World through to their last release, 2007’s Wincing the Night Away. That being said, it’s doesn’t personify a newfangled course or style for the Shins, but after Mercer’s Broken Bells experimentation with Danger Mouse (as well as his backup vocal turns for Modest Mouse), it’s pleasant to hear James in the vanguard musically once again (in addition you can somewhat hear some Bells influence in there — with Mercer’s charming cry — linking piano, flute, soaring choral voices, and one gnarly guitar line). After a five year hiatus, this is what every Shins fan has been waiting for.

All one can do now is put this single on repeat until March 20th.

It’s that simple.

Happy 2012; I hope you all had a magic New Year’s Eve, filled with champagne wishes and caviar dreams. I am never one to look back, but sometimes we need to reflect on the positive things in life; things like music. Way back when in 2011, some fortunate Chicago music buffs got to spend the night with one of my favorite groups, Cage the Elephant (the band also spent their New Year’s in the same town, only this time playing with friends at Aragon Ballroom). Now, if you have never seen this band live, please do yourself a favor and stop what you are doing to look up some tour dates; it is worth every penny. Then, please proceed so I can give you what you need.

I have heard time after time from several friends that Cage tore down The Vic in Chicago with one of their best performances to date. As I sat in utter jealousy crying the blues wishing I had taken some vacation time and been on site, it then took me by pleasant surprise that the band released the entire show, not only on DVD, but on iTunes as well. Happy New Year to me? I think so!

The energy of Cage the Elephant is like nothing out in the modern concert scene. Song by song on the DVD takes you closer and closer, making you feel not only as if you are front and center, but like you are surfing along the waves of the crowd. Nineteen tracks of pure adrenaline and head bobbing is a great way to start off the new year if you ask me. They were even nice enough to release their performance of Aberdeen (one of the many numbers from their Live From The Vic In Chicago DVD) to help convince us even more to own it.

Do yourself a favor in 2012; make it out to a live Cage the Elephant show. But in the meantime, purchase the band’s Live From The Vic In Chicago on iTunes for your ears, and the live DVD set for your eyes. In fact, do all three. Enjoy!

This summer, on my daily commute around the city that never sleeps, I stumbled upon a diamond in the rough. Turns out, the diamond was/still is the best artist I’ve seen perform acoustically in the underground world of New York City. To read more on this day of discovery click the related post link below, which features the awesomeness of Freddy Marx Street.

Now, the Ukrainian-born singer/songwriter has independently released his debut music video and, as expected, it’s breathtaking.

When I asked Max (a name he prefers to be called) to give his perspective on the clip, this is how he responded:

“Well, the song is about life. And how it always changes after everything… It’s good because that means you are on the way. Some words in the song are dedicated to my sister’s little daughter. I was writing that song when she was borning (but I knew nothing about that). By the way, in the video, that baby is not my sister’s. So the video shows that you can choose to live in your own little cold world with its thick walls or to leave it for real life with more “air” and colors. But you need to let someone help you. And sometimes THAT is one of the greatest challenges of your life. You think that you know everything, you are so aware…”

The stunning video was filmed at Grebnevs’ estate in Russia and by the walls of the Penal Colony-43 in the Ukraine. The clip was directed by Marina Nikitina, who also took the artist photo above.

I cannot wait to see what blossoms from this talented soul in the future.

Please watch + pass along! Support quality indie artists like Max!

[Related Post: Exclusive Interview: Freddy Marx Street]

On that note, this past weekend I saw the New Jersey success story live. I have seen the guys a few times, and they’re never dull, always rocking out so hard — but this show was something special. Compacted with a two-and-a-half-hour set of various tunes from The ‘59 Sound and American Slang, not only did they bring it, but they brought a legendary guest as well. After wishing the crowd a happy holiday, lead singer Brian Fallon brought out every Jersey girl’s hero, Bruce Springsteen. The crowd went bananas, and the two forces sang the hit single American Slang. Now, if that isn’t a Christmas gift, I don’t know what is.

Do yourself (and your loved ones) a favor and pick up the new Gaslight iTunes session now.

Bell X1: a band that’s content making a stream of steady music. They are Irish lads who have been loyal to the art since who-knows-how-long. They bring an elemental poignancy to indie rock I have not yet seen before. And that’s quite nice. Just when I think indie rock is bordering on cliche, a new (or old) act steps up and grabs me.

Recently, they found themselves touring about New York and couldn’t help but be drawn to the magnetic, odd allure of the Occupy protests. This was their thought on it: “…It actually had a real festival feel; there were some drummers and horn players throwing it down. Noise about all these ills is better than no noise.”

Love it. What’s more, their new song Sugar High is all about these dear old corruptions our world is facing.

I dig this groove. It’s energetic, incredibly powerful, but also very sad. I adore it when people use their talent to spread a message, to get people talking and thinking about what’s happening in the world. And the lyrics hit me hard…

“Let’s build all this shit no one’s ever gonna buy, When we come ‘round we’ll blame the sugar high, And act all sheepish and kinda sorry-ish…”

“Free to those who can afford it, To those who can afford it, Very dear to those who can’t, Those who can’t…”

Bracing, beautiful, breaking.
　

They rock because they can.

That’s just the vibe I get from these guys.

Inner City Elegance is a three-man army who shout-out against all that is varnished and fake. They’re a neon splash of unique in an otherwise colour-coded atmosphere. A perfect cut between the manic and the mild, they let me get my rock on without falling off the edge.

Not only do they appear legit in their love of music, but they seem super-pumped about getting their album out there. They’re blogging, tweeting, and touring, and I’m glad to say such efforts garnered my attention.

I feel they’d find home in tight, underground clubs, the beaten down venues, the shady pubs, all the places where misfits are likely to congregate. They’d need to be close enough to reach out, grab the audience by the hair and shake them to pieces.

Their music wouldn’t settle for anything less.