I Can Feel Your Heart Beat Through My Shirt

Everybody who’s anybody in the music industry seems to be coming out with new material (an album or a single) this year. And with the fourth quarter clock ticking fast into the holiday season, a lot of big-named artists are competing for music fans’ attention. I’ll be pointing out some of my picks out of all these releases in the coming days/weeks. Here are the first few, if you consider 10 as few…

artist: Rodrigo y Gabriela
new album: 11:11
song: “Buster Voodoo“

I became a fan of this duo about three years ago when I heard the songs on their self-titled album. To say the least, I was blown away. Their sheer musicality permeates through you as if these two are playing to get into your skin and make your soul dance. Their musicianship is stellar, technique breathtaking, and the music addictive. For those who don’t know them, Rodrigo Sanchez (lead guitar) and Gabriela Quintero (rhythm guitar) are an instrumental duo hailing from Dublin (Ireland) but are originally from Mexico City, Mexico. Check out their new album 11:11 out this month. Highly recommended! This song here is only but a taste of the greatness of this awesome duo.

artist: Three Days Grace
new album: Life Starts Now
new single: “Break”
[link to the band's myspace] (you’re gonna have to stream it from there, don’t wanna mess with the powers that be.)
Three Days Grace is an alt-metal band that hails from Canada and was declared the number one rock band by Billboard for the year 2007. I’ve liked some of their singles before but I honestly can not remember any of them right now lol. They lack distinctiveness from their peers that I confuse them with each other… Thrice, Theory of a Deadman, who else? Nevertheless, they’ve made enough of an impression for me to remember their name. Their third album, Life Starts Now, is out this week. I’ll try to listen to the whole thing and see if they’ve made any progress. On the upside, I’ve been spinning their new single “Break” quite a lot for the past month, so I guess they did something right with that one.

artist: Death Cab for Cutie
album: New Moon Soundtrack
single: “Meet Me on the Equinox“

Many fans are crying foul over this, saying that the band has sold out. It’s the New Moon/ Twilight sequel soundtrack for cryin’ out loud. But have you seen the track list for this upcoming soundtrack? Thom Yorke, Bon Iver, Sea Wolf, Lykke Li, Anya Marina, The Killers, Muse, Grizzly Bear, etc… they seem to be aiming for credibility with this one. I can’t complain. I’m not a fan of the Twilight series, but I can be objective enough to not let these artists’ connection with the series cloud my judgment. As for Death Cab for Cutie’s song, it is excellent! Definitely lead single material. It even trumps the lead single from their previous release! This compilation comes out on October 20.

artist: Snow Patrol
new album: Up To Now
new single: “Just Say Yes“

The album coming out November 10th from Snow Patrol will be a 30-track double-album of singles, cover versions and rarities spanning the band’s first five albums along with three new songs. It will also feature a DVD of The Lightning Strike animated film and some new live footage. Also, a limited edition Box version of the release will be made available on a limited run containing even more goodies. Check out www.snowpatrol.com for more info on these. As for the release’s first single “Just Say Yes”, its brilliant to say the least. I don’t know how these guys make these songs so characteristically theirs as if we’ve heard them from the band before and yet they sound fresh the first time we hear them. But that’s just my opinion. This one in particular sounds so different from anything they’ve done before but you could still tell that it’s a Gary Lightbody composition. Good stuff!

artist: Creed
new album: Full Circle
new single: “Rain“

Yes, they’ve put aside their differences and have reformed. It also seems like the band’s genuinely come back together as friends. They sound good on their first single, “Overcome”, and even more excellent on this, Rain, their second single off of the new album. Surprisingly, this has acoustic guitars all over the verses that they sound almost like a Christian Contemporary rock band. But I think this will work. This could be big if radio decides to play this. Great song. Album comes out October 27th. (The audio stream is medium quality. I’ll update it once a better quality one is available.)

artist: Dashboard Confessional
new album: Alter The Ending
new single: “Belle of The Boulevard“

Dashboard Confessional’s new album also comes out November 10th. I have been in love with this song ever since it came out last week! I can’t stop playing it. I wanna hear the album so bad. This is the album version of the song, which clocks in at 4 minutes 23 seconds. A minute longer than the radio edit version that’s been floating ’round the net the past few days. (The audio stream is medium quality. I’ll update it once a better quality one is available.)

artist: Foo Fighters
new album: Greatest Hits
new single: “Wheels“

This is the first of two new songs on Foo Fighters‘ greatest hits compilation coming out November 3rd. The track listing on this Greatest Hits seems to be lacking a few of their big hits. But hopefully the songs on the album will urge the casual listeners who’ve never owned a Foo Fighters album to check out their discography and find those gems. Is it just me or does Dave Grohl sound a little different on this song? Nice song by the way. It sounds like one of those tunes that could have been a huge alternative hit back in the 90’s yet it also sounds like it belongs on today’s charts.

artist: The Swell Season (a.k.a. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova)
new album: Strict Joy
new single: “Low Rising“

I put up an album track on here from them last month thinking that the new album will come out this month (September), but the release date was eventually moved to October 27th. Still can’t wait for this. This song is the official first single from Strict Joy. I hear Van Morrison’s influence all over this song. Its so pretty and soothing.

artist: Mayer Hawthorne
new album: A Strange Arrangement
song: “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” (Astronote El Camino Remix)

I’ve been hearing about this guy for some time now but only recently decided to check him out. What a very pleasant surprise! His appeal might be because he’s a white dude who does smooth motown-influenced soul/r&b music with a little bit of hiphop thrown in the mix, and that he does all these so effortlessly. If you think Robin Thicke pulls off soul/r&b quite nicely for a white dude, then this might come as a surprise to you. Mayer Hawthorne goes even deeper into Motown’s roots. The whole record sounds so organic with its throwback elements, yet it doesn’t feel dated. In fact, it all sounds quite fresh. I don’t know how he’s pulling this off. In addition to the above, while Robin Thicke (and to a lesser extent, Justin Timberlake) gives off “cool”, this guy here’s nerdy demeanor may come off as awkward to be making this type of music but somehow it all works out well. This guy’s one to watch! Check out the song above, and his album which is out now. Also, try watching the music video to this song below…

artist: Alicia Keys
new album: The Element of Freedom
new single: “Doesn’t Mean Anything“

Didn’t expect her to be releasing a new album anytime soon, but she is! I told ya’ll somethin’s up. Her fourth album, The Element of Freedom, will be out on the first of December. This is the lead single… which… uhm… sounds like a retread of “No One” and “If I Ain’t Got You” mixed together. Still, its pleasant to my ears… can’t complain just yet. Hope the new album’s bangin’!

What do you guys think about these songs? Remember, if you like what you hear please support the artists by purchasing legal copies of their songs and albums, going to their shows, spreading the word about the artists, etc… all those wonderful things that a true music fan does. The music industry needs your help.