After not feeling up to it last week, I am back with your regularly scheduled five song Friday. Rejoice, children. Rejoice. Now, let’s go ahead and get started, shall we?
Brandi Carlile – Dreams
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_828_brandicarlile-dreams.mp3]
After I first heard Brandi’s sophomore album, The Story, I knew I had stumbled onto something truly outstanding. She has a very weathered and experienced quality to her voice, which is surprising when you see how young and stunningly beautiful she is. Well, I hadn’t thought about her in a while (mostly because it’s been more than two years since The Story was released), and I happened to re-discover The Story a few weeks ago. After listening, I naturally checked in to see what was going on with her, and low and behold, she has a new album coming out in October! To add to that good news, I found that the lead single, Dreams, was available on iTunes, and it is quite fantastic. What do you think? I am definitely looking forward to Brandi’s upcoming third album.
Kate Earl – Melody
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_828_kateearl-melody.mp3]
This song was offered as the free track on iTunes last week, and I found myself really liking the chorus, so I downloaded it. Then, I listened a few times, and I find myself liking the whole song as well. I love Kate’s sweet voice, and I can tell there is some power in there waiting to be belted out. This was a great offering from iTunes, and one I am happy to share. I do have to say, that I hope that Kate doesn’t turn into a Colbie Callait for me though; I liked her at first too, and now I can’t stand her. Here’s hoping that doesn’t happen.
Everything But The Girl – Walking Wounded
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_828_ebtg-walkingwounded.mp3]
This is one of the best songs of all time, in my honest opinion. The rich melody, the entrancing beat, the backing sound effects, and MOST OF ALL, Tracey Thorn’s amazing vocal all come together to make this a masterpiece of drum and bass. I fell in love with Everything But the Girl when they decided to go down the electronic route with Missing, and I loved most of their work that came after it. Walking Wounded was a massive record for me near the end of High School, and it really made me into a lover of electro music. I especially love really, really well done drum and bass, and this is a shining example of when it is done right, it can be amazing. Everything about this song is fantastic, including the great writing, and the imagery that is conjured by it. To me, this song is just perfect, and when recently stumbled back onto it, I decided that I wanted to throw some well deserved attention at it, and get it on a 5SF.
The Sounds – No One Sleeps When I’m Awake
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_828_thesounds-noonesleepswhenimawake.mp3]
When I first heard this song, I didn’t like it. In fact, the first time I heard of the Sounds, I didn’t like them either. While I am still not really feeling the rest of the new album, Crossing the Rubicon, I have fallen head over heels in love with this upbeat pop-rock track. The backing melody, and the way in which they harmonize her screeching vocal with the distortion of the guitar is just brilliant. While I may never have the love that so many do for the Sounds, don’t worry, we can both relish the fact that at least we will have this song to share.
Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson – Relator
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_828_peteyornscarjo-relator.mp3]
I’ll be the first to state that I wasn’t at all interested in Scarlett Johansson’s first foray into music; in fact, I the only thing I got from it was a laugh, because of so many people saying it as the worst record they’d ever heard. However, my interest has been significantly risen with her most recent musical adventure; her new collaboration with Pete Yorn is AMAZING. This song is a brilliant duet, and highlights the fact that she does indeed have a brilliant singing voice. Pete Yorn did her a major favor by teaming up with her, and gives her real street cred as a singer this time around (not saying she didn’t have it before, but as I said, I didn’t even pay attention before now). I have given their new album Breakup a listen, and it has a lot of the same alt-country, pop rock feel of She and Him’s Volume One. Overall, it’s a pretty decent record, and I suspect that they will make some new fans by releasing it. I’m glad she didn’t let the “haters” stop her from singing, because she has found her niche with the help of Yorn. Good for your Scarlett (and you too Pete!)!
Again, sorry for leaving you without a post for last week, and no explanation. That was just bad, and I do feel bad for letting you down. However, we have to move forward, so let me know what you thought of this week’s selection, and as always, let me in on what you have been listening to!
As a long time fan of Everything But the Girl, I was really pumped to find out Tracey was releasing a solo record. Her voice is extremely beautiful and haunting, and I was curious to see what direction she would take with her solo effort. 
I wasn’t initially impressed; there were few songs that I liked, but nothing that really stood out as fantastic to me. However, after several listens, and after paying this record the attention it deserves, I fell in love with the nuanced performances Tracey delivers. 