Archive for the 'Shane Alexander' Category
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2008
The more and more I think about it, I must consider 2008 to be one of the worst years for music in the 21st century. That is to take nothing away from the artists who made this list, because all of these songs are great. But it really was a down year - in general - for almost every genre outside of pop.
These are my 10 favorite songs from the past year. I highly recommend them to you all….
THE TOP 10 SONGS OF 2008
LISTEN TO THE SONGS HERE:
10. “YOU KNOW WHAT” N.E.R.D.
9. “UR SO GAY” KATY PERRY
8. “YOU’RE NOT SORRY” TAYLOR SWIFT
7. “MANY SHADES OF BLACK” THE RACONTEURS
6. “WILD INTERNATIONAL” ONE DAY AS A LION
5. “EVERYBODY GET DANGEROUS” WEEZER
4. “HANDLEBARS” FLOBOTS
3. “HOMETOWN GLORY” ADELE
2. “AMSTERDAM” SHANE ALEXANDER
1. “YOU DON’T KNOW ME” BEN FOLDS
TOP 7 ALBUMS OF 2008
I am going to step out onto a limb and say that 2008 has been somewhat of a down year for a dynamic music industry still trying to determine its identity in a iTunes-driven market. Outside of the rock albums on this list, the rock genre hasn’t really produced any great music this year. The Arctic Monkeys took the year off and the Foo Fighters are still touring off their immaculate 2007 release Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, which was the best album of last year.
Before writing this list, I wanted to see what Rolling Stone was naming as their top albums of 2008. Unfortunately, the magazine that used to have dignity has killed all outstanding integrity by awarding The Jonas Brothers’ A Little Bit Longer the number 40 album of 2008. Jimi Hendrix must be rolling over in his grave. They claim that TV On The Radio’s Dear Science is the #1 album of 2008…As you can see, I disagree.
My apologies for the arbitrary “7″ list. I didn’t feel like there were 10 albums worthy enough to make this list and having only five would force me to leave off albums that deserve to be featured.
Be sure to check back for the Top 10 Songs of 2008 to be released next Monday…
THE TOP 7 ALBUMS OF 2008
7. MURDER BY DEATH ~ RED OF TOOTH AND CLAW
…This album sounds like the soundtrack to a black and white, 1930’s gangster movie. Murder By Death fits into a dark, alternative-country niche that Johnny Cash himself would be a fan of. The production quality is excellent and it’s evident that a Grammy Award winning producer (Trina Shoemaker) was involved. Expect great things from these Bloomington, Indiana natives…
[TSF's full review here]
best song: “Steal Away“
6. PETER BRADLEY ADAMS ~ LEAVETAKING
…This record is folk-Americana-singer/songwriter goodness. The first track, “The Longer I Run“, is the front runner of the record and definitely worth the hard drive space for those digital down-loaders out there. Track after track, this album has a serene tone and a likable melancholy quality - good enough to relax you but not make you fall asleep…
[TSF's full review here]
best song: “The Longer I Run“
5. BEN FOLDS ~ WAY TO NORMAL
A deviation from Ben Folds’ norm, Way To Normal is a great album with some of Ben’s best writing yet. In depth review by following link below:
[TSF's full review here]
best song: “The Frown Song“
4. SHANE ALEXANDER ~ THE SKY BELOW
…Independent artists are beginning to take over the musical landscape of the modern-day recording industry and Shane Alexander is leading the way with his latest effort, The Sky Below. As I make a mental note of the sonic quality of this record mixed with the brilliant lyricism and professional instrumentation, I begin to question why an artist this respectable is independently funding his own career…
[TSF's full review here]
best song: “Amsterdam“
3. TAYLOR SWIFT ~ FEARLESS
…This album is a step in the right direction for an artist who is extremely dynamic and is almost single-handedly molding a new country/pop fan base. Fearless is a magnificent piece of pop music. It’s one of the best pop albums released since Michael Jackson’s Thriller and without-a-doubt the best female country album I have ever heard…
[TSF's full review here]
best song: “You Belong With Me“
2. THE RACONTEURS ~ CONSOLERS OF THE LONELY
Nashville’s own The Raconteurs released 2008’s best rock album and along with the Foo Fighters are becoming one of the most important rock bands of the 21st century. This album features the best opening track of 2008 (”Consoler of the Lonely”) and successfully rocks the listener hard with songs such as “Salute Your Solution” and the stand-out track “Attention” fronted by Jack White of The White Stripes fame. The Raconteurs showcase their deep roots in folk rock with great down-tempo tunes such as “Carolina Drama” and “Old Enough”.
best song: “Attention“
1. ADELE ~ 19
…This album is absolutely phenomenal. If you have ever thought about taking my word on anything, take my word on this. If you enjoy jazz or singer/songwriters with originality and an unparalleled uniqueness, Adele will not only flat your boat - she’ll drive the damn thing for you…
[TSF's full review here]
best song: “My Same“
15 MUST OWN SONGS OF 2008
At the end of 2008, I plan on doing “best of 2008″ lists with movies, music, TV, etc.
A “TSF Awards” if you will.
Until then, I think there are 15 songs that you should be listening to - that way when December rolls around, you will be able to identify with some of the songs I mention. That’s assuming that you download some of these songs that you don’t have.
in no particular order:
15. “Handlebars” by Flobots
14. “You Know What” by N.E.R.D.
13. “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis
12. “Tear Down This House” by The Avett Brothers
11. “Everybody Get Dangerous” by Weezer
10. “Love Story” by Taylor Swift
09. “Amsterdam” by Shane Alexander
08. “Derty” by Ronald Jenkees
07. “Attention” by The Raconteurs
06. “The Longer I Run” by Peter Bradley Adams
05. “Wild International” by One Day As A Lion
04. “Steal Away” by Murder By Death
03. “Bye Bye” by Mariah Carey
02. “You Don’t Know Me” by Ben Folds
01. “Hometown Glory” by Adele
Here is the list as an iMix on iTunes:
Shane Alexander Exclusive Interview
Shane Alexander is quietly becoming a mainstay in modern folk rock. We have raved about this guy over the past couple months here and here, so we thought it only fitting that when he came through town we’d get him to sit down with us and answer a barrage of aimless questions.
When I first head Shane and reviewed his album, The Sky Below, for TSF, I hadn’t heard any of his previous work. I have since had the opportunity to listen to his previous album, Stargazer, and give it my undivided attention. It’s much more of a time piece than his first record - much more stripped down and deep. Although I prefer his latest effort, The Sky Below, there is a certain likability to this album that is hard for me to pinpoint. I get the independent artist vibe from this record - a singer/songwriter album with a stripped-down simplicity that works perfectly.
TSF reveiwed Shane’s
latest album, The Sky Below
click here to see.
Two best songs from Stargazer: (click to listen)
Front Porch Serenade
The Moore Hotel
TSF Exclusive Interview with Shane Alexander:
TSF: What was your first guitar and did it help you get chicks?
SA: My first guitar was called an Alamo Fiesta - it was a crappy electric guitar that my grandmother got for me at a yard sale. I was only 10-years-old so it was a little early to be getting the ladies. Sadly, I sold it.
TSF: If there was a private concert held for you and you could choose 3 bands/artists to play for you, who would it be?
SA: Joseph Arthur, Beck, and Flaming Lips.
TSF: What is your favorite 80s movie?
SA: Breakfast Club first comes to mind because it’s the quintessential 80s movie - but Less Than Zero with Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Gertz. I was so madly in love with Jamie Gertz.
TSF: If you had the chance to pitch a song of yours - one song only- to every record exec and important producer in the music business, what song would it be?
SA: I’ll say “Taxi Cab”, the song I just wrote.
TSF: If you could eat lunch with anyone alive, who would it be?
SA: Barack Obama.
TSF: What was the last good book you read?
SA: Gonzo, the story of Hunter S. Thompson. It’s such a page turner. He got into so much trouble day after day - he lived his life on his own terms. I’m a huge a Hunter Thompson fan.
TSF: What’s the one album you couldn’t live without?
SA: Sea Change by Beck. It’s a masterpiece.
TSF: If you could live vicariously through any movie character, who would it be?
SA: The Song Remains The Same is a movie about Led Zeppelin, so we will say Jimmy Page - around that era.
TSF: Genesis with Phil Collins or Peter Gabriel as the lead singer?
SA: I’ll go with Phil Collins although I like Peter Gabriel’s solo stuff a lot.
TSF: Do you Google yourself? If so, how often?
SA: I do but I have Google alerts. I do actually Google myself a couple times a month. I like to keep tabs.
TSF: What is the best review/feedback you’ve gotten for an album?
SA: I’ve done well in Holland since 2005. I got 4 star reviews in Playboy over there twice. When I was on the road with Seal, he told me how much he loved the record - and Jewel as well.
TSF: I have a theory that independent artists are slowly taking over the music business? Do you agree?
SA: We’re are definitely changing it. I’m happily independent but I’m just always looking to gain more exposure. Through branding and endorsements, there are a lot of ways to be mainstream without a label. What frightens me is that music is becoming more of a free commodity - but we are finding more ways to be creative and stay ahead of the curve. But yeah, Indies are definitely gaining some power.
TSF’s iTunes Top 25 Most Played
At the beginning of August I reset my Top 25 Most Played playlist on iTunes so I could give my readers a 
100% accurate representation of my listening habits. Your iTunes Top 25 Most Played doesn’t lie … you can’t deny playing “Mmmbop” to your friends anymore. In my case, my guilty pleasure over the last 6 weeks was Fergie’s infectious pop anthem “Glamorous”. I love live playlists and especially “most played” playlists (which is well documented in my “How To Create iTunes Smart Playlists” post).
I also enjoy looking at other people’s Top 25 list. It gives you an insight into what they actually listen to - not what they tell you they listen to. For example, people who wear Radiohead shirts because they think they’re cool when in actuality Coldplay occupies most of their Top 25 most played. But I enjoy seeing other people’s top 25 list because if I see a song I haven’t heard before - and it’s on their top 25 - it must be good … right?
Shane Alexander’s The Sky Below and ADELE’s 19 are the front-runners for best albums of 2008 (so far). They are in constant rotation on my iTunes.
Without further adieu, I give you an objective representation of the music I’ve been listening to for the past 6 weeks (click for larger image):
As you can tell, I am a firm believer that all music is created equal. For example, the genres represented here: Folk, Bluegrass, Pop Country, Jazz, Singer/Songwriter, 90s Alternative Rock, Rap, Pop, Classic Rock.
Shane Alexander, Certified Fetch
Shane Alexander
The Sky Below
In Stores & Available on iTunes
Independent artists are beginning to take over the musical landscape of the modern day recording industry and Shane Alexander is leading the way with his latest effort, The Sky Below. As I make a mental note of the sonic quality of this record mixed with the brilliant lyricism and professional instrumentation, I begin to question why an artist this respectable is independently funding his own career. Major label deal or not, Alexander is making a name for himself.
Bassist Chad Crawford does a great job of musically setting the mood of this album and it is ever-so-evident in the groovy, “Homesick Again“, that features a sick bass line and stylistic Rhodes piano. The standout song is the melodic-love-piece, opening track, “Amsterdam“. “I can still see you standing there as the leaves fell down on old Dam Square with endless eyes and windy hair you turned my world around.” (listen in player below) 
Usually I am bombarded with emails from garage bands asking me to review their album, but this time I actually contacted Shane to ask for a press kit and a copy of his latest album. I have no interest in wasting your time with marginal talent and The Sky Below is no exception. The title track, “The Sky Below“, a Simon & Garfunkel-ish folk tune with a Blackbird-esque metronome, and the last song, “Feels Like The End“, are definite downloads and worth every penny at .99 cents each. Do your ears a favor and buy this album. You won’t regret it.
Standout tracks: “Amsterdam“, “Outside The Lines“, “She Didn’t Need Me“, “Feels Like The End”
Shane is on tour and his new album, The Sky Below, is available now on iTunes.
Visit Shane at www.shanealexandermusic.com or www.myspace.com/shanealexander.
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