The Sing Off

I like to take little breaks from my reviews of musicians and write about something different. This week I am going to write about one of my current obsessions. The Sing Off is a contest in which a cappella groups compete to win the prize of $200,000 and a recording contract. I became addicted to this show their second season, but this season is blowing my mind!


The very first show this season was amazing. I fell in love with Delilah and their cover of Bruno Mars's Grenade. This cover is the best cover I have ever heard and it was a cappella. AMAZING!!!! Therefore, from the start of the show I wanted Delilah to win. I was so impressed.


Then about three shows in, Pentatonix caught my attention with their rendition of Your Love Is My Drug. My guilty pleasure is cheesy pop songs, and Pentatonix's version of this one was incredible. Not to mention their covers of Video Killed The Radio and Love Lockdown, which are the two coolest performances I have ever seen. As Ben Folds said after one of their performances, they really do sound like the future.


The other thing that makes this show so enjoyable for me is Sara Bareilles being one of the judges. As my readers know, she is one of my favorite singer/songwriters of all time. She and the other two judges, Ben Folds, and Shawn Stockman, are the best judges I have seen on a show like this.


I have never been a fan of American Idol, or any of the other reality type singing contests because I think the judges are rude and not very encouraging. Getting up in front of millions of people and singing your heart out takes a lot guts. I just do not find it fair that the judges of these other shows rip apart people for doing what they love to do and I think it makes a mockery of the business. With this being said, The Sing Off is not like that at all. The Sing Off is a showcase of wonderful, and real, talent. The two groups mentioned above are only the beginning. There are now seven groups left and I urge all of my readers, if they are not watching already, to start.


Check out The Sing Off Season 3 on iTunes and at NBC.com. You can also find all of the final groups on Twitter.

Daniel Levi Goans

As most of my readers know, I have been doing this blog on music reviews for a few months now. While searching for my newest musician to write about, I found Daniel Levi Goans. And wow, I am really glad that I did. Goans has such a smooth and sensual voice. While I am writing this, his music is playing in the background, and I have a smile on my face.


Goans has a confidence in his voice that is thrilling to hear. His music tells a story with every song. I am reminded of music from Dylan and Biaz when I listen to Goans. He has a way of saying things through his music that really makes the listener think. In my opinion, Goans's music does exactly what music is suppose to do. It makes the  listener feel at ease, while at the same time, the listener is hearing a story that makes him/her wonder and ponder life.


I sincerely recommend that all of my readers check out David Levi Goans. His music can be found on iTunes, and his website http://daniellevigoans.com/ . Goans deserves to be recognized for his wonderful contribution to the music world and I am glad to be sharing him with all of you! 

Marilyn Carino

Need some music to just listen too and relax? Marilyn Carino is definitely what you are looking for. When I first heard Carino I immediately thought of Portishead. I have always been a huge fan of Portishead, and I was ecstatic to find a musician that gave me just as much delight has Portishead did, and still does.

I read a bit about Carino and all I can say is WOW. Her amazing music goes right along with her amazing story. This girl has done it all. Before making her solo album she was in the band Mudville (I will definitely be checking them out), as well as being an activist, dating influential men, and donating her time to great causes. Carino says, "“My music is about what I’ve learned about the world and what I’m still figuring out. I think happiness is about freeing the individual, and that’s the theme of my work. We’ve got to feel free to fall down and be a mess, to fuck the wrong people, to fail 99 times and keep coming back to get it right on the 100th. The solution to the hardening of the world around us is personal human revolution.” As she indicates in this quote, her life experience is spread throughout her music and it is certainly worth a listen.

Marilyn Carino is the kind of musician I have been looking for, a musician that has depth, experience, and a wonderful voice to top it all off. I am notorious for ending my reviews with "I promise you will not regret listening to" whatever musician I am writing about at the time, but Carino deserves more than that. I do not just promise no regrets, but also will say if you do not give Marilyn Carino a listen then you are missing one of the greatest musical moments you will ever experience.

Check her out at: http://www.marilyncarino.com/

Sheri Miller

Whimsical! This is the word I thought of as soon as I heard Sheri Miller. A few more words: refreshing, carefree, and fun. Sheri's voice is incredible and her lyrics are lyrics that make me want to tap my fingers and car dance.


I bought her LP recently on iTunes, and love listening to it while I am driving. It just makes me feel good! The first track on this LP titled Spoons is my favorite track. The first time I heard this song, I knew at the very beginning that it was going to be wonderful. As I am driving down the road listening to Spoons, I end up feeling all bubbly and cheerful. Another fantastic track is Winning Hand. I love how Sheri uses poker has a metaphor for love in this song.


If you like a good, carefree time, then Sheri Miller's music is right up your alley. Check her out on twitter @sherimiller and her website http://www.sherimiller.com/ . I highly recommend Sheri and cannot wait to hear more from her.   

Carrie Oeding

This week, instead of a music review, I am going to review the poetry reading I went to at Indiana University South Bend, as well as the book that was read. I had never been to a reading before, and the fact that this was a reading of a poetry book I am currently reading in one of my classes, I was very much looking forward to it. The book is titled Our List Of Solutions and is written by Carrie Oeding. Oeding won a contest and her book was published through 42 Miles Press, the Indiana University South Bend publishing company.

I started reading this book at the beginning of the semester and instantly fell in love with it. I love how the book is simple, yet intense. I instantly liked the way that Oeding writes. She has a way of taking an idea and conveying it in an obscure, yet understanding way. My favorite poem from the book is I Have Been In More Uncomfortable Situations Than This. This poem makes me smile as I read it because most women have felt like this one time or another, and Oeding just puts it out there in a way that makes it humorous. That is the greatest thing about her book to me. The subtle humor is fantastic.

The reading began at 7 o'clock and started with a wonderful introduction from a professor at IUSB, David Dodd Lee. Lee was also a judge in the contest and edited Our List Of Solutions. Hearing Lee speak of Oeding was thrilling. I could feel how excited he was to have her at the school and it made me even more excited to hear her read. When Lee spoke of Oeding, it was so authentic and I could tell how much he believed in her book. After Lee spoke, Carrie took the stage. She was refreshingly funny and seemed right at home reading her poetry. She read a number of poems from her book and gave a little explanation of them before reading. Oeding stuck around after the reading to answer any questions people had and after the questions, she stayed to sign books. I got mine signed! First reading and first signed book for my collection.

I am recommending that my readers pick up a copy of Our List Of Solutions. Oeding is also on Twitter and I am including a link to her website. Check her out! She is an amazingly interesting poet and I promise enjoyment from reading her stuff.

www.carrieoeding.com

Brandy's Top 5

I have decided to stray a bit from my concept for this post, although it is still all about music, and let my readers know what my top five albums of all time are. I have thought about this all week, and I have concluded that this might be the hardest thing I have had to do. I love music and I love that I can listen to a song that fits my mood perfectly, or hear a song that totally changes the way I feel. I love that a whole album can bring me back to when I was younger, or a whole album that I have never heard before can make be change my top five instantly. Basically, the top five I give to you today is most certainly not set in stone, but as of right now, these are the albums I chose to put in Brandy's Top 5.

1. Kaleidoscope Heart by Sara Barellies

This album was released in 2010 and the moment I bought it, it played on my iPod constantly. I am huge fan of all things Sara. Her voice is amazing and she can play the piano wonderfully. This album accentuates Sara's incredible lyric writing skills. If you have not given this album, in its entirety, a listen, then I say to you, "DO IT"!!!

2. Darkside of the Moon by Pink Floyd

I do not think that this album will ever leave my top five, and has been in my top five since I first listened to it. This is one of those albums that makes me think of my days as a teenager. The album, with its beautifully melodic instruments, is perfect for any occasion. I have listened to Darkside of the Moon driving, writing, cleaning, and even while working out. Pink Floyd, as they do in many of their albums, tell a story through Darkside of the Moon, and for that alone, it is a must listen. This album is most certainly a classic.

3. Anti-Christ Superstar by Marilyn Manson

Yup, you read correctly. I adore Marilyn Manson and this album in particular. The raw and hard sound that comes from Anti-Christ Superstar is fantastic. The lyrics on this album, although some think sinister, are real. I am a strong believer that Marilyn Manson, himself, is a terrific showman, and this album in its entirety is one hell of a show.

4. Abbey Road by The Beatles

Abbey Road is another album that will never, ever leave Brandy's Top 5. This one has been my favorite album since I was little. My dad had the record and I remember listening to that, and then the cassette tape. Now of course, I have the remastered c.d. and a digital copy to boot. I love every single thing about this album. I am a huge The Beatles fan, and have every album by them, but this one is just irreplaceable. From Come Together all the way to Her Majesty, I am in complete and utter awe of how incredible this album is.

5. Alice in Chains Unplugged by Alice in Chains

Melancholy, harmonious, and raw. Those words, to me, describe this album. I love Alice in Chains and believe that their Unplugged session was not just amazing, but the best Unplugged album that has ever been released. Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell are right on with their harmonies on this album, and the guitars, drums, and bass are just as perfect. By "right on" and "perfect" I do not mean mistake free, but that is what makes this album even more beautiful. Their mistakes even sound amazing. If you have never seen, or heard this album, I urge you to do so. Not only will you thank me, but I am pretty sure you will add it to your top five.

As I said earlier, these albums are not set in stone, but for right now, they are Brandy's Top 5.

Arrest My Sister

If you are a fan of awesome rock bands from the 80's and early 90's,this band is for you! Arrest My Sister not only has an interesting and unique name, but they have a sound to go with it. The band is based in L.A. and has been together since 2009.

I recently purchased their first album, Make Your Move, which was released in 2010. I have enjoyed every track very much. I fell in love with track number 2, appropriately called Take the Fall. This track makes me want to throw my hands up in the air and be free. I love how this song makes me feel like I can conquer anything. I am also a huge fan of track 13, Through the Looking Glass. The guitar is amazing on this song, and the lyrics are just as amazing.

Arrest My Sister is a flashback to the sounds of the 80's and 90's, but also very modern. I can honestly say this album is one of the best I have purchased all year, and if my readers know me, I purchase a lot of music. Check these guys out at the website below, then go to iTunes, and buy their album. I promise my readers will enjoy Arrest My Sister has much as I do!

www.ArrestMySister.com