Posts Tagged ‘Gary Lightbody’
Be invited into the poignant, poetic and particularly Parisian world of Rosi Golan @rosigolan
Rosi Golan is a folk-pop singer-songwriter from Israel, currently based in New York. I first heard the soothing, soulful sounds of Golan courtesy of a link via Snow Patrol‘s website. Golan dueted with the Irish rock band on Live On Letterman late last year, returning the favour after lead singer Gary Lightbody provided backing vocals for her latest album track, ‘Everything Is Brilliant.’
Golan’s second album entitled ‘Lead Balloon‘, was released in September 2011 and several of its tracks have provided the musical backdrop to hit primetime tv shows such as The Vampire Diaries, Ghost Whisperer and Grey’s Anatomy.
‘Lead Balloon’ follows on in much the same vein as Golan’s debut folk-pop album, ‘The Drifter & The Gypsy‘ (2008). Both records feature largely acoustic settings and focus on love stories; short-lived romances, long term commitments and everything in between. Golan’s songwriting is very honest, you really get the impression that you are listening to the inner workings of her heart and mind, yet both bodies of work never feel inconsistent or disjointed.
I find Golan’s vocals exceptionally pleasing to the ear and greatly enjoyed being invited into her poignant, poetic and particularly Parisian world. I hope to hear a lot more from this talented singer-songwriter in 2012.
shelleyhanveywriter 🙂
New tracks I like from: Tired Pony, Eliza Doolittle and James Blunt
Tired Pony’s new album ‘The Place We Ran From’ – out 12.07.10
Tired Pony, 'The Place We Ran From', out 12th July 2010
In May 2009, Gary Lightbody expressed his love for country music during an interview and his intention to record a country album. In the October of 2009, he announced the members of a ‘supergroup’ who he had brought together to record this album. They were: Peter Buck of R.E.M, Iain Archer, Richard Colburn of Belle & Sebastian and producer Garret Lee. Contributions to this album also came from She and Him duo M Ward and Zooey Deschanel and Tom Smith of Editors. The group would be called Tired Pony.
Now it was a few years before that, when I expressed my love for both Gary Lightbody and his songwriting; so it comes as no surprise to me that I think this album is simply rather marvellous. I love country music, as well as the combination of Lightbody’s vocals and the sweeping lyrical imagery of dusty american plains and quaint little watering holes, ringing out with the sound of strings and the smell of sarsaparilla…I have seen Calamity Jane far too many times…‘Oh the Deadwood Stage is a-rollin’ on over the plains, with the curtains flappin’ and the driver slappin’ the reins. Beautiful sky! A wonderful day! Whip crack-away! Whip crack-away, Whip crack-away!’
God I love that movie and the exceptional Doris Day.
But back to Tired Pony.
The band’s debut album ‘The Place We Ran From’ hits the shops and the net next Monday 12th July 2010. For a sneak preview please follow the link below to their official You Tube page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TiredPonyOfficial
My favourite tracks on first listen are ‘Dead American Writers’, ‘Point Me At Lost Islands’, ‘Get On The Road’ and ‘Held In The Arms Of Your Words.’ Vintage Lightbody at his songwriting best; I could truly listen to this man all day and never get bored; singing, talking, blogging, humming whilst ironing his sweatervests…but enough of my idol worship!
Tired Pony’s debut single ‘Dead American Writers’ is available to download now and I am sure a series of live dates will follow. I’ll be first in line that’s for sure.
General Fiasco
I got to review a great up and coming Northern Irish indie-rock band this week; General Fiasco. This was a supporting slot for Kids in Glass Houses but the crowd were clearly behind this band and it was a blistering set. I first heard of them via Gary Lightbody’s blog on the Snow Patrol website (which I read every week I might add, he’s a bit of a hero of mine!) and they are going from strength to strength. Excerpt from review below:
The tone of Owen Strathern’s voice defies his twenty two years and has a rich, expansive quality about it which exudes the passion he so clearly feels for his craft. Speaking earlier this year about touring, the lead singer stated that “…playing support gigs to people who don’t know your music is not easy. Trying to win over fans without a record to promote is not easy. You have to fight for people’s attention, but I think we have done that.” It would appear that that particular fight had been won, if the reception tonight was any indication of victory.
Full version here –
shelleyhanveywriter 