Music music music music!

Let me start off by saying that I visited a local record shop yesterday (which you all should be doing, FYI), and of course, it was awesome. Didn’t really discover anything new, but it got me reminded about the awesomeness of Steel Panther, so the next time I go back (probably on Record Store Day next month), I’m definitely getting their latest, Balls Out. But I bought Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down and The Cult’s Love, both on vinyl, bringing my collection up to three records now!

As for this week, it’s definitely a new discovery type deal. All five bands I’ve chosen, I’ve really not heard anything from them before, if anything at all. So this’ll be an interesting one, for sure. Let’s get to it!

Anti-Flag – The General Strike

Pittsburgh punkers Anti-Flag has returned with their 8th studio album this week. The Occupy movements all throughout the country from the past year inspired this government-retaliation LP. Anti-Flag is a band very well known for their use of politics in their lyrics, however, “This is the New Sound” is by far the catchiest song on the album, and doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with the common theme. Beginning this year, Anti-Flag is creating their own one-day festival in May, called ANTIfest, and for all the FAN’ers who are fans of punk and live in the UK, the party will take place at the University of Hertfordshire. Information about that can be found right here. In a fun tidbit, this album is less than half an hour long!

Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society

Do yourselves a favor and read up on this woman. Her background is one of, if not THE most interesting I’ve ever heard about. She’s been making and performing music since she was five years old. A 2011 Grammy winner, Esperanza has got class. Her jazzy soulfulness is soothing to the ears, and she’s got awesome hair to boot. Her video for her first single “Black Gold” shows off perfectly how nice her music is. For those that tuned into this year’s Academy Awards, you may have seen Spalding performing Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” during the montage that paid tribute to recently passed away workers in film.

Birdy – Birdy

Birdy is the stage name of a 15 year old girl who has done more than you have in your entire life, at just 15 years old. This is her first record, and it’s mainly covers of more recent songs from bands such as Bon Iver and Phoenix. She has a sense of sadness in her voice, which makes her songs sound like they have a ton of emotional value stored in them. For North Americans and Canadians, the album’s out this week, but for those in the UK and other countries, it’s actually been out since November. Birdy has the final song on the soundtrack to the upcoming film ‘The Hunger Games,’ which is a pretty big deal as that movie series is supposedly the next Twilight saga…

Melanie Fiona – The MF Life

I just now realized that the MF in the album title didn’t stand for an expletive, but for Melanie Fiona’s initials. Having had to delay the release, The MF Life finally sees a different kind of life in the form of in music stores and in people’s ears. Having help from such unknowns as T-Pain, John Legend and even Snoop Dogg, Ms. Fiona surely hopes for even more success in this album than from her last, which could have done a lot better, especially for someone with so much talent. Running off the fuel she gained from two Grammy wins this year, Melanie Fiona could be the hot thing to listen to this year.

Daniel Rossen – Silent Hour/Golden Mile

Finally this week, we have an EP from one Daniel Rossen, from the indie band Grizzly Bear. This 5-song extended play is very mellow and piano-driven, so it’s got sort of a negative feeling to it. The vocals in the song “Saint Nothing” definitely help my case, and they’re really good. The whole mood is different from most, which helps make this stand out. Doesn’t hurt that Dr. Dog’s Eric Slick provided drums for the last song. That song, as well as this one (which is far more upbeat), and the rest are all available on Tuesday!

That’s it for this week! Hope you found song new music you enjoy, and I hope you go out to your local record stores to get something!