Rock Torch

Lydia Loveless recommends The Fever

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Lydia Loveless and The Fever (Lydia Loveless photo: Paula Masters Travis)

Lydia Loveless and The Fever (Lydia Loveless photo: Paula Masters Travis)

Lydia Loveless’ recommendation: “As a 13-year-old growing up in the butt crack of nowhere, I really had never heard anything like The Fever before the day I heard them blasting out of my older sister’s bedroom. It sounded like John Lennon mining for diamonds with the seven dwarfs as his backing band. Geremy Jasper’s voice and lyrics were a big turn-on for me. The first time I saw them live was when I realized that the bands I idolized weren’t necessarily other worldly rock stars. I’d recommend starting with their album Red Bedroom. That’s where I started, and it’s worth it for the song Put it On You alone.”

More about The Fever

MP3: Gray Ghost by The Fever

Lydia LovelessAbout our guest author, Lydia Loveless: We first heard about Lydia Loveless when her album, The Only Man made a Donewaiting.com top albums of the year list. That album won her an 8 out of 10 rating from Spin as well as praise from The Chicago Tribune and Uncut magazine. Our interest in Lydia then moved closer toward mild obsession when she got signed by Bloodshot Records, the label that put out recordings by alt-country heroes Whiskeytown, The Old 97s, Alejandro Escovedo and Neko Case. Her latest effort, Indestructible Machine (CD Pre-order | Amazon MP3s) is a fantastic follow-up (Spin has already weighed in with another 8 out of 10 glowing review), full of the signature cowpunk that delighted on the debut. There’s plenty of straight talk, humor and a bunch of ‘explicit’ labels to boot. This twenty-one year old firecracker is on tour now. See her live, grab a brew and get ready to stomp your feet off.

MP3: Can’t Change Me by Lydia Loveless

Star Anna recommends Cat Power

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Star Anna (photo: Hillary Harris) and Chan Marshal of Cat Power (photo: Steve Gullick)

Star Anna (photo: Hillary Harris) and Chan Marshal of Cat Power (photo: Steve Gullick)

Star Anna’s artist and album recommendation: “Cat Power’s You Are Free is the first one of hers I bought. I was in High School and I had just started playing guitar. It meant a lot to me that the songs could be simple without compromising depth or feeling. This was one of the records that really helped me make the transition from garage band drummer to singer/songwriter.”

Star Anna / photo by Vee SawyerAbout our guest author, Star Anna: As soon as we clicked play to listen to For When We Go (mp3 below), we were immediately knocked out by Star Anna’s voice. It has the same controlled urgency that drew us to Lucinda Williams. It’s experienced, it’s soulful, it’s honest and it has won over a couple of big name fans to help spread the word. Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses fame classified her as ‘the real deal’ in this editorial for The Seattle Weekly and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam (who plays guitar on her new album) states that her singing ‘…takes me to a higher place.’ Her first two praise-magnet records won her a Song Of the Day spot on NPR in 2009 (Through the Winter) and she was labeled as one of the ‘Next Big Things’ in On Sound magazine. The new album is called Alone In This Together and it’s on Local 638 Records, the label run by our favorite female North Westerner, Rachel Flotard of Visqueen fame. Buy Star’s album here and check her site for upcoming tour dates.

MP3: For When I Go

(Photo of Star Anna by Vee Sawyer)

Brett Dennen recommends Van Morrison

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Brett Dennen and Van Morrison

Brett Dennen (photo: Ben Moon) and Van Morrison

Brett Dennen’s recommendation: “I’ve always thought that Van Morrison is the greatest. Nobody sings like him. He could sing about anything and make it sound soulful. Yet, his songwriting is amazing. Which makes him even more incredible.”

New to Van Morrison’s music? Brett suggests you start here:”I’d cut straight to the chase and recommend the album Veedon Fleece. Songs like Linden Arden and Don’t Pull No Punches are some of his very best. The album puts you in a trance with repetition like a lot of Van’s albums do. He suggests an idea musically, lays down a groove and it keeps getting deeper and deeper.”

Brett Dennen About our guest author, Brett Dennen: We first got turned on to Brett when we heard his Darlin Do Not Fear single get play on KEXP in Seattle. Our obsession deepened when the ultra-talented Tom Freund recommended Brett here on Rock Torch, citing his “…beautiful high voice and lyrics that hit home with an “old soul” presentation.” Dennen is California based and has a sound that gracefully blends the bright, world feel of Paul Simon with the reflective lyrical style of, yes, Van Morrison. His music has recently turned up on television, being featured in a Twitter commercial and on several network shows (Scrubs, Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood, Brothers & Sisters, and House). Brett’s latest album, Loverboy is one of the best purchases you can make this year, but if our words alone can’t convince you, perhaps Amazon’s lure of selling the album for $5 will drive you. Buy it here on Amazon or from the indie shop Insound, but definitely buy it and enjoy.

Christina Perri recommends Lissie (and a slew of other artists)

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Christina Perri and Lissie

Christina Perri and Lissie

Christina Perri’s recommendation: “My musical influences are all around me, mainly love + relationships + beauty + feelings + good songs + good melodies + good lyrics. I am influenced by singer/songwriters like John Lennon + Paul McCartney + Jason Mraz + Elton John + Lady Gaga + Conor Oberst + Lissie + The Swell Season + Adam Duritz + Adele + Dean Martin. I’m really into Lissie’s new album Catching a Tiger. I love her voice + style + overall performance. I’ve seen her live a few times and she is just amazing!”

Christina Perri About our guest author, Christina Perri : Christina’s rise is as Cinderella as you can get. She moved to Los Angeles with dreams of making it big. She worked as a café manager and posted YouTube videos of herself singing both originals and covers. Bill Silva Management took interest and she began recording. Her song Jar of Hearts was featured on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance and the rest is history. The song was downloaded over a million times and she snagged a deal with Atlantic Records. Christina was asked to perform the song live on the show and she went on to record eleven more songs for her full length lovestrong collection that was released in May of 2011 and was produced by Joe Chiccarelli (White Stripes, Tori Amos, The Shins). She’s now on the road and playing to capacity crowds. Merch, news and more can be found over at http://www.christinaperri.com.

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