Kimya Dawson

Kimya Dawson first appeared to me as weird when i listened to her song 'Loose Lips' but soon after that i became a fan. Kimya Dawson is an American singer/songwriter better known as the female counterpart to Adam Green in the band The Moldy Peaches.She did three record with The Moldy Peaches - The Moldy Peaches - Released September 11, 2001, County Fair/Rainbows - A single released in 2002, Moldy Peaches 2000: Unreleased Cutz and Live Jamz 1994-2002 - Released March 18, 2003- and has six solo records to her credit I'm Sorry That Sometimes I'm Mean - released November 5, 2002 , Knock Knock Who? - released August 3, 2004 by , My Cute Fiend Sweet Princess - released August 3, 2004 by ,Hidden Vagenda - released October 5, 2004 by K RecordsRemember That I Love You - released May 9 2006 by K Record, Alphabutt e. pee - released September 2008. Six of her songs from the album Ansy Pansy are included in the movie Juno Soundtrack.
The one thing that captured me when listening to her songs are the lyrics, they are very frank and open and runs around the events in her life. Many people will come across her songs as childish as there is a definite absence of deliberate vocal technique that one is used to hearing with other musical artists, but her lyrics tend to hit on certain political issues and sometimes lead to profound advices:
"shysters live from scheme to scheme and my 4th quarter pipe dreams
are seeming more and more worth fighting for
so I'll curate some situations, make my job a big vacation
and I'll say fuck Bush and fuck this war
my war paint is Sharpie ink and I'll show you how much my shit stinks
and ask you what you think because your thoughts and words are powerful"

"and we'll pray, all damn day, every day,
that all this shit our president has got us in will go away
while we strive to figure out a way we can survive
these trying times without losing our minds"

Through her songs she tell her story or an event in her life, listening to her songs make you feel like you are taking a peep into her soul.
"I've got my Scrabble game, food on my plate, good friends and family
and now there's you understanding why I do the things I do
knowin that you do them too makes me really happy
on the road again
just can't wait to get on the road again
the life I love is makin' music with my friends
and I can't wait to get on the road again
on the road again "

Her songs betray her optimistic view on life:

"life is a highway and I'm gonna ride it
every day's a winding road yeah
my rollercoaster's got the biggest ups and downs
as long as it keeps goin' round its unbelievable."

A lot of people might argue saying that Kimya Dawson sounds too childish and her songs are way too comical but then listen to it again, you might learn something the second time you listen.

Gavin DeGraw

Another artist worth mentioning in this blog is Gavin Degraw . Many people have not heard of him i suppose but i am sure almost everybody has heard his song 'I Don't Want to Be,' which turned out to be a hit single worldwide, this song was selected as the theme song of the very famous teen-drama One Tree Hill.

Gavin DeGraw has a very soulful voice and he is among the few who can sing the song 'A Change is Gonna Come' and do justice to it. His rendition of Lennon's 'Jealous Guy' in 2003 'Sessions @ AOL' is nothing short of amazing.

Gavin has four Albums to his name Gavin Live(2001), Chariot(2002), Cahriot (Stripped)(2004) and Gavin DeGraw (In Love With a Girl) 2008. His more popular songs include 'In love With a Girl, Cheated on Me, Chariot, We Belong Together, Follow Through, and Just Friends.' But a personal favorite of mine is 'Nice to Meet You Anyway.'

Gavin is one artist that delivers quality and right now in the contemporary music scene few artists can compare with him. With his own unique style which is a fusion orf rock and soul, Gavin is here to stay with his power vocals that easily tackles the big anthemic songs and for more ballade type love songs he has the perfect tone that will eave all the ladies smitten for more.

Etta James

Who does not know the musical genius that is Etta James, the four time Grammy Award winning blues/soul/rock'n'roll/jazz singer whose artistry is unmatched even today.

James started her career in the 50's singing in a trio with the hit song The Wallflower in 1955 which hit #1 in the r&b chart. After the success of this song James decided to pursue a solo career and signed up a record deal with Chess Records in 1960 which turned out to be the perfect career choice for her.

While with Chess Records James recorded many hit songs like If I Cant Have You, My Dearest Darling, All I Could Do Was Cry, but perhaps her most popular song was her rendition of Glenn Miller's song At Last which won her the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1999. Besides her Grammys, James also won 17 Blues Music Awards, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Blues Hall of Fame in
2001.



Her latest album All the Way released in 2006 can be viewed as James's expression of a nostalgic past. A very curious selection with songs ranging from Stop on By (B Womack), All The Way to I Believe I can Fly(R. Kelly), Purple Rain(Prince) and Imagine (Lennon). This Album is different from her previous ones in the sense that all of her song selection have a pop edge and the whole blue/soul/jazz flavour that one expects so religiously from her seems to be missing. Although a decent album, it lacks a certain 'soul' that is so famously associated with James. But the remarkable thing is James's come-back to the stage after a long break, getting a new look losing 200 pounds gaining a lot of confidence she says, "Now I can flaunt my figure wherever I go. I can go shopping and buy those outfits I always wanted to wear!........Now I can stand up on the stage again like I used to after five years of sitting down while I sang…”

And so this album marks the comeback of the legend Etta James and this time she is taking it 'All the Way.'

John Mayer

John Mayer's first ever blu-ray release Where the Light is, showcases the genius of a multi- award winning artist who has reached...for lack of a better word, his prime. There hasn't been a better performance, at least in recent times, to have captured and demanded an audience's full on attention. The amazing album, which also comes in DVD, more or less highlights the standout moments in Mayer's musical career; from the acoustic to the blues and to the pop stuff. Watching the concert was like watching three different bands perform on the same night. The second set in particular, which features the dismantled Trio was an absolute gem. And i loved the Trio...shame its stint was too short- lived. If you haven't checked it out yet, you should do so immediately!! Trust me on this, mayer fans especially, seldom does something as authentic as this come along....and non- mayer fans, well, there's nothing good out there right now anyway, plus you'd be treated to some awesome whistling skills!!

Stand out tracks -
In your Atmosphere
Stop This Train
Bold as Love
I Don't trust Myself with loving you
Everyday I got the Blues
Gravity