Matt Morrisrecently stopped by BETA Records in LA to perform “Eternity” for their weekly music show, BETA TV. For the live rendition, Mr. Morris puts an interesting twist on “Eternity” as he ups the tempo a touch in comparison to the album version, which takes some getting used to. Lyrically, it’s still by far one of the most inventive songs penned in a quite some time. Check out the full performance below as well as past coverage of Matt Morris.
Sheryl Crow called on Justin Timberlake to bring some original Memphis flair to her latest album 100 Miles From Memphis. In one of the final clips from Ms. Crow’s EPK series, she gives fans a little background on her soulful cover of Terence Trent D’Arby’s 80′s hit “Sign Your Name.” Mr. Timberlake lends his trademark croon to the track and yes, there’s a cameo from him in the video, sporting an atrocious beard. Check it out below.
Sheryl Crow set out to pay homage to the great musicians she grew up with in her latest album 100 Miles From Memphis and in the process she created the perfect summer album, stepped in a retro-soul sound that has updated ’60s nostalgia, and even found time to tribute Michael Jackson.
The album is titled after the distance between Memphis and the singer’s home town of Kennett, Missouri where she grew up idolizing the sounds of soul singers like Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Booker T, Aretha Franklin, and Al Green (just to name a few).
100 Miles From Memphis kicks off with “Love is Fading,” which sets the tone for the album with strong dose of bluesy rock featuring big brassy horns, background singers reminiscent of 60′s girl groups, and a rhythmic guitar solo. It’s only around the 5-minute mark that you realize Ms. Crow has bowed out of the song completely and opted to showcase her band members. (more…)
Matt Morris is back with his latest music video for “Live Forever,” an exquisite song about love that endures even as the world around you crumbles down. The video was directed by Matt Stawski and features stunning animation from Serge Gay Jr. Sort of has a Edward Scissorhands meets Avatar meets American Beauty vibe to it. It’s well worth a watch, and yes, we’ll even pardon Mr. Morris for sneaking in a product placement for Beats by Dre. At this point, it’s probably easier to count videos the headphones don’t appear in.
Watch the video after the jump and check out more coverage at Matt Morris.
Justin Bieber just wants to dance…and find somebody to love in his latest music video aptly titled “Somebody to Love” featuring his mentor and boss Usher. Now, the running joke here at TRT is that I’m in love with the Biebs (damn you FT & AP!), but in reality I’m not in love with him (read: jailbait), I’m in love with the IDEA of him.
Yes, the idea of him meaning a young star who has the talent to morph into our next chart-topping male “pop” star that transcends genre boundaries ala Justin Timberlake or the aforementioned Usher. Now, is his path guaranteed? Of course not, we’ve seen many a young star burn out, but the video “Somebody to Love” shows the Biebs coming into his own. And it doesn’t hurt to have Usher in your corner supporting you every step of the way, who managed to sidestep many of the “young Hollywood” pitfalls. Now enough future predicting, I just wanna dance.
Watch the video below – sound off in the comment section. Shout to my boy Mack at Sound Savvy for the tip.
Much like a fine wine, singer-songwriter Tony Lucca only gets better with age. The singer takes fans on a journey through the next phase of his life on his sixth studio album, Rendezvous With The Angels, as he grows into the role of loving husband and adoring father. Gone are the days of the self-pitying, woe-is-me wanderer in favor of a more mature, inspired raconteur.
Still at the core of the album are Mr. Lucca’s heartfelt, beautifully crafted lyrics and soulful voice, all of which represented on the album’s opener “Like Love.” Then there’s the uptempo, feel good “Make You Mine” that is sure to get your toe-tapping in no time.
Mr. Lucca calls on tour mate Sara Bareilles for the emotional ballad “Back to Me,” where their voices compliment each other so perfectly. Composition wise, it’s the blues-inspired “Anchored” that stands out with its combination of vivid imagery, beautiful guitar solo, and underlying organ and string sections.
Also included are three long-time fan favorites on the album, “Stay With Me Tonight,” “Song to a Martyr,” and “Nobody But You,” which have been mainstay requests at recent shows. “Stay With Me” is of course an Internet sensation on its own as it’s rumored to be loosely based on the break-up of two of the singer’s friends — Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
Back again with this month’s themed mix (as opposed to each month’s straight-up-awesome new music mixes): more cover songs! This time around the picks are a bit more random. Sometimes it’s a create band, sometimes it’s a great song –sometimes it’s both. And, as I mentioned with the last covers mix, this is by no means my definitive cover songs mix. Though, I gotta say, this mix is great. Fantastic, even. Oh, and it’s longer, both in time (70+ minutes!) and number of tracks (21!). Seriously, this is the Longest.Millah Mix.Ever.
Download, listen and let me know what you think after the jump. (more…)
Back in January, singer-songwriter Matt Morris captivated hearts during his prime-time television debut when he performed chilling rendition of “Hallelujah” with childhood friend Justin Timberlake at the Hope for Haiti telethon. Since then, I’ve made it a point to watch Mr. Morris’ career closely, which included purchasing his debut album When Everything Breaks Open.
Needless to say, I’m hooked. Do not sleep on this man! He’s a true artist, a modern day poet who pens imaginative, thought-provoking lyrics that can be easily to overlooked simply by the beauty and flawlessness of his voice. Check out Matt Morris performing “Live Forever” acoustic for iheartradio below. Let us know what you think about this incredible artist!
In the past, I’ve referred to singer-songwriter Tony Lucca as one of the hardest working musicians in the game. A perpetual touring artist, he has entertained crowds across the U.S. for well over 12 years. And truth be told, there is no artist other than Mr. Lucca that I’ve personally crossed state lines to see perform. Yeah, he’s that good.
Armed with his acoustic guitar (and sometimes electric!), heartfelt, beautifully crafted lyrics and a soulful voice, Mr. Lucca’s sound is instantly identifiable, yet uniquely his own.
Recently, Mr. Lucca took time out of his busy touring schedule to chat with us about his musical stylings, lyrical inspirations, the need to go electric and, of course, road fun with his ex-tourmate, Sara Bareilles. Read the full interview below. Keep your eye out for his next record, which hits this summer (details TBD). Be sure to check this man out when he’s in your neck of the woods – you will not regret it – tour dates.
TRT: Over the years your music has incorporated different genres and styles but at the core of all these songs are very real, poignant lyrics, where do you get your inspiration from?
TL: Traveling. Seeing what stays consistent in an ever-changing environment. Those are the things that most people identify with. That’s where specifics become universal.
In the last six months, singer-songwriter Ashley Arrison has become one of the most talked about indie artists at The Round Table, culminating in being crowned our first-ever March Music Madness Champion. Based on the sheer number of votes submitted, it’s apparent Ms. Arrison has made a lasting impression on music fans, not to mention she has won the hearts of some of the site’s toughest critics. All impressive accomplishments for an artist who has yet to release her first full-length album, which is slated for July 1st.
Ms. Arrison took time out from her busy recording schedule to chat with TRT. She was kind enough to give us some insight as to her musical influences, what fans can expect from her upcoming album, and her reaction to taking the March Music Madness title. And while Ms. Arrison takes her music very seriously, wasn’t afraid to let her guard down and let her personality shine through. She even indulged our desire to name-drop some of the industry’s greatest whom she calls her friends. Read our interview with Ashley Arrison below.
TRT: As the reigning champion of TRT’s first ever March Music Madness tournament voted on by the fans, can you tell us what it meant to you to have tremendous fan support pushing you through each round? Were you surprised at all?
AA: Are you kidding? So surprised. First, I thought it was cruel to pit me against Rhianna in the first round! After I won that round, I knew this was a battle of indies, so I was sure I didn’t have a chance against Tony Lucca, who I love! And then Matthew Mayfield started talking smack and the heat was turned up! But seriously, every single one of these artists have bigger fan bases than I do at this point, so it is a true testament to my fans that they rallied like they did. The re-tweets and mass emails were in effect!
We started as a three friends having conversations about music during lunches together at the office. Since then we have expanded to seven members, including a Chi-town native, and the conversations have gotten bigger and better. The Round Table has grown into a casual setting where music aficionados can gather to discuss all things music. Topics include (but not limited to) artists and bands, new music releases, concerts, recording industry news and concerns, and the occasional nugget of entertainment gossip. We have tastes that cover the entire music spectrum and love to share them (and our opinions) with each other. We are The Round Table! Come join the conversation!
