{unwind} July ’10 Indie Playlist
Last month, I was listening to retro-soul, folk, indie rock and indie pop.
This month’s playlist ranges from roots reggae to hip-hop violin to contemporary jazz piano to folk pop – all found on CD Baby.
One great way to find new artists and albums is to subscribe to the CD Baby Music Discovery Podcast. You can subscribe for free in iTunes for recommendations from the staff. Thanks to one of the podcasts from earlier this year, I discovered a great band called Pomplamoose. Since then, I’ve become addicted to their catchy cover album, Tribute to Famous People, which has pretty rad covers of Beyonce’s Single Ladies, Lady Gaga’s Telephone and Michael Jackson’s Beat It.
Now, on to this month’s new tunes!
July’s Indie Playlist ~
First up, I’m digging Galia Arad’s Ooh La Baby. This is a concept album from the female folk artist and features Shane MacGowan from the Pogues. Galia’s songs range from upbeat to bittersweet, all with her bright and clear vocals. In her words, she’s “Bob Dylan meets Britney Spears” – and the album does in fact beautifully meld both folk and pop genres.
Check ‘em out if you like: Norah Jones
Next is Paul Dateh’s self-titled album from 2009. He trained as a classical violinist from the age of four, but when he started at The University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, he enrolled in the jazz studies program. He’s an incredibly talented violinist, singer and songwriter who has tapped into urban, R&B and hip-hop beats to turn out a highly enjoyable debut album.
If you’re interested in the “behind the scenes” aspects of recording and producing music, Paul Dateh’s personal web site has some fascinating videos. That’s also where I discovered and fell in love with his Top 40 Mashup – a violin-centric mashup of Telephone, Blah Blah Blah, Rude Boy and OMG.
You can download the Top 40 Mashup for free by clicking here »
Check ‘em out if you like: Ne-Yo and Jill Scott
My third choice this month is some contemporary jazz from modern pianist Michael Pellera. His latest album, Round Midnight, features New Orleans’ jazz artists Johnny Vidacovich on drums and Jesse Boyd on bass. Michael’s piano style is influenced by jazz greats like Bill Evans, and my favorite track is Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr.’s God Bless the Child, which is cleverly reinvented for the contemporary jazz genre.
Check ‘em out if you like: Chick Corea, Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk
There’s something about the heat of summer that always gets me in the mood for some good reggae, and that’s exactly what I’ve found in Revolution Time by Lady Lee. I’ve always been a fan of Lauryn Hill, but Lady Lee brings something new to the genre with strong messages and an amazing beat. The title track is a great representation of the rasta artist’s style.
Check ‘em out if you like: Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley
What’s on your playlist?
Share your favorite new artists and albums in the comments below!
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