Like A Star- Corinne Bailey Rae

The recently widowed, Corinne Bailey Rae is a very touching musician. Like many of my favorite female artists, Rae benefits from using the fragility of her voice to command the utmost power. It's almost as if the soft nature of their voice, makes you listen that much harder and in doing so, you realize the gravity of their message.

A part of the new feminized "British Invasion," which includes songstresses Duffy and Amy Winehouse, Bailey is putting her mark on the world.

Marc Broussard

There is an insane amount of talent coming out of the south in the singer/songwriter genre. More specifically, the TN, GA area has really been impressing me over the past few years. From Dave Barnes to James David Carter and Matt Wertz...it's truly an impressive scene. Well, another southern beau, Marc Broussard, has decided to take his act on the road.

Marc is actually from Louisiana. Fusing funk, blues, and rock, his music is pretty spectacular. So why is Marc today's artist of the day? Well, I have a treat for you locals. Tomorrow Marc will be performing in Philadelphia not once but twice! Check him out at the Broad Street FYE at 5:30 AND at the TLA at 7:00. I highly recommend getting out to see one, if not both, performances.

In honor of the chilly weather we have here in Philly, today's song of the day is "Come in from the Cold"

Tangled

This song goes out to my friend and hallmate, Katie Carlson.
We get down in C UNIT biotch

There Are No Words...

A Change is Gonna Come

Gavin Degraw's "Chariot Stripped" album is quite amazing. If you haven't heard of the Stripped series, please check it out. Basically, they take CD's which have already been produced, and bring the artist in to do a live, acoustic, in-studio recording. Now, I have Gavin DeGraw Chariot, and Gavin DeGraw Chariot Stripped and oh the difference!

Chariot has some good songwriting but it's a little too poppy for me. But Chariot Stripped is fantastic- I really suggest checking it out. So not only are the songs better but there's a bonus track. Gavin DeGraw covers Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come and it's beautiful. I've gone back and fourth with my mother, who is my elder about who has a better version.

My mother, of course, likes Cooke's version the best because it is undoubtedly more personal and it's the original. However, I tend to favor DeGraw's simply because it seems to have more emotion and passion. The fragility of his voice is so incredibly moving. I know everyone is going to abandon me on the following point but- I think Cooke's version is more music for music sake, whereas DeGraw's is music as an emotional release, which for me is always more moving. Of course I am biased, but who isnt? Here, is a comparison of the two:

Sam Cooke


Gavin DeGraw

The Blue Method

I have a hatred for genres because simple genres like "indie" don't tell you anything about the artist. But more complex genres like "techno-bluegrass-hip-hop fusion" just seem to be a marketing ploy that winds up confusing you as well.

Now, for today's Song of the Day, a hybrid genre is necessary. The Blue Method are a self-proclaimed "jersadelphia" jam band. They fuse rock, blues, funk and soul to make a sound that's pretty spectacular. They're one of those bands that you just can't dislike.

God Make Me Funky



I suggest checking out their myspace to hear their variety