Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my music from the UK - I place full blame on the Gallagher brothers. I was instantly hooked the on the British music scene from the very first listen of 'Wonderwall' by Oasis during my first on air shift at CKDJ at Algonquin College many, many years ago.
But I digress - bottom line if you hail from across the pond I have a soft spot for your music.
And all this to talk about one James Blunt.
Two albums, two world tours and 18 million records sold later, James Blunt has taken a journey that few ever experience. Now he's back in the spotlight with a fabulous new album 'Some Kind of Trouble' (click here to see James perform tracks from the album)
How does James describe his new musical offering? “It captures a bit of the mood of the early ‘80s. There was a global atmosphere in the West that we could do anything – the same optimism we felt as teenagers. ‘Some Kind of Trouble’ really captures that same sense of freedom and excitement and naivety.”
James now sees his first two albums as a pair of book ends –action and reaction. 'Some Kind Of Trouble' starts a new chapter, “The second album was quite introverted. It was about perception. But these new songs are not about fame and celebrity – they’re about reality,” Blunt says. “I’ve been hanging out with my friends, writing songs about the world we live in, and where we want to go.”
The first single off of the new album is fabulous, brilliant and infectious...one of those songs that will get stuck in your head all day long...and brings you to a happy place. The only side effect from the video...it will make you long for those fun filled dreamy summer days and nights...winter can't come and go soon enough.
'Stay The Night'
'Some Kind Of Trouble' - the new album by James Blunt is available today on iTunes.
Twitter: @dirtylilblunt
http://facebook.com/jamesblunt
"
Last week on Facebook I got this message from Nancy - a friend of mine, we met back during the radio days and she's all about the music too...
Hey, C. Have you seen this site? They sell guitar string bracelets made from guitar strings that were used by artists. They vary in price and it's also a fundraising site. I would love a John Mayer or Jason Mraz, but they're a little outta my price range. Cool gift though for the music hound in the family.
I must admit I had not heard of it before...but now I am cursing Nancy's name (or at least my wallet will be)...this is the one of the coolest sites ever.
Wear Your Music® is known as the guitar string bracelet charity project...it's all about 'Hear it, Love it, Wear it'.
Wear Your Music® is a company whose philosophy centers round our love for music and our desire to contribute to more than our own pocketbooks.
Hannah Garrison began crafting bracelets made from used guitar strings for musician friends and their families. Steve Bernstein was trying to find a unique way for guitar strings to garner advertising attention. He posted an ad on Craigslist that read: “Do you have any ideas for interesting products made with guitar strings?" Hannah contacted Steve and the Artist Bracelets were born.
The idea, embraced by numerous media outlets including In Style, and People Magazines, Treehugger.com, allaccess.com, and VH1.com, has grown to include participation by over 150 artists such as The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz, G Love, John Butler, guitar legend Les Paul and heartthrob John Mayer.
The overwhelming response inspired WYM to begin offering a line of lower priced bracelets as well as charms, necklaces and an expanding Rock’n’Roll jewelry line.
"Wear Your Music® has become a brand that represents the intersection of music, fashion, and philanthropy," says Hannah. Adds Steve, "In growing our business, we won't lose sight of our original goals: not only to do well, but to do good."
The artists that participate in the Wear Your Music® program have chosen charities that support the causes they believe in...PeTA, Unicef, Rock The Vote, The Nature Conservancy, Art Docs, Music In Schools Today, Rock Against Cancer just to name a few.
If the artist bracelets are out of your price range you can still help out the charities by purchasing fashion bracelets and other merch since a percentage of the profits from all sales are donated to charities that support music.
So this gift is a total win and win - your Tween / Teen is happy and charities benefit from your purchase too - sounds like a check mark in the #BeKind column to me. It's recycled rock at it's finest.
And if you are looking to buy an artist bracelet byut can't figure out which artist your tween/teen would love - you can always get them a Wear Your Music® gift card (and breathe a sigh of relief).
For all the latest updates on new arrivals you can follow along on Twitter at @WearYourMusic
Last week @YMCBuzz asked me on Twitter if I was going to do a list of musical gift suggestions again this for the holiday season...because as Natalie put it, "Tweens and teens are so hard to buy for..."
So in an effort to help out in that never ending process of finding the perfect gift for the tween/teen in your life (and give me yet another reason to surf websites for hours on end) I'll be posting some of my coolest finds...and hopefully one of my many suggestions over the next few weeks will be the 'one' you were looking for.
For the music & fashion loving environmentalist in your life, here are some recyled accessories made from all things musical (all found on the Vat 19 website)...
Recycled Vinyl Record Cuff Bracelet
Really who knew that vinyl records could look so good? The recycled record cuff rracelet turns discarded vinyl LPs into a funky fashion accessory. The shiny surface coupled with the vinyl's tiny grooves adds a dash of "awesome" to this eco-friendly and innovative recycled item.
The Guitar String Bracelet
Show off your love of music with this guitar string bracelet. Each one-size-fits-all arm band is made from a set of five stainless steel guitar strings. Wear the bracelets individually or stack them for a layered look.
And for the music loving philanthropist in your life, this is the perfect feel-good-#BeKind-music-gift that keeps on giving (from World Vision)...
Art and Music for Children
Music and song provide a creative pathway to self-expression and an escape from difficult circumstances. This gift will help provide instruments, supplies and instruction in art and music--which can be life-changing for children from troubled backgrounds or impoverished living conditions.
Printer-friendly version