Hot Video Alert: Amos Lee - Flower

I've been hearing about singer/songwriter Amos Lee for some time now. I've listened to him before, but for one reason or another, his music just never struck the right note with me. Then, I watched the video for his latest single, "Flower" and something just started jiving. I don't know if it's the song itself, the way Lee sings it or the innovative video - but something happened and I'm starting to feel like a big idiot.

Lee's music is a mix of styles and genres, specifically folk, soul and jazz and his voice suits each of them. Touring with the likes of Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Merle Haggard, Dave Matthews Band and more, Amos has gathered up quite the little fan following. That fan following helped get his fourth album, Mission Bell to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart back in January when it was released on Blue Note Records. The album also peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart.  Very impressive!  Lee's previous album, Last Days at the Lodge, peaked at #29 on the Billboard 200, making Mission Bell his highest charting album to date.

Featuring collaborations with Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Priscila Ahn, Pieta Brown, James Gadson, Sam Beam (from Iron & Wine) and members of the band Calexico - it's no wonder Mission Bell was such a hot ticket! His music is also very soundtrack suitable, appearing in episodes of House, Parenthood, Army Wives, ER, Brothers & Sisters, Grey's Anatomy as well as in a couple of films.

Check out the super cool video, directed by production company //kneeon.  //kneeon has done videos for artists Ryan Star & Jim Jones as well as for websites, including Etsy, Facebook and 2011 lineup videos for the Outside Lands & Bonnaroo festivals.  Check out //kneeon's official website and look at some of the other cool videos they've done.  Download Amos Lee's album Mission Bell on iTunes HERE or just snag the single "Flower" if you're so inclined.

Check out Amos Lee on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Indie Synthpop Duo The Bird and The Bee Working on Fourth Album

Looks like one of MY favorite indie/synthpop bands, The Bird and The Bee, are working on a new album! AHHHH! So exciting! Per a tweet from 1/2 of The Bird and The Bee, Greg Kurstin on May 16th:

"Really excited about new bird n the bee album. Think it's my fav! 9 songs pretty much finished so far." {SOURCE}

I know this isn't much to go off of but it's something! The duo's last album, Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates came out last March on Blue Note Records, preceded by the digital release of "I'm Into Something Good," a cover by Hall & Oates. The album didn't really have any official singles and only managed to peak at #75 on the Billboard 200 chart, still besting their previous release, Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future, which peaked at #78. I've been a fan of The Bird and The Bee since their #1 Billboard Dance Club Play single, "Fucking Boyfriend," and seeing them open up for Lily Allen only solidified my love for Kurstin and Inara George. Their past three albums have been amazing so I'm expecting no less from their fourth...perhaps even more, based on Kurstin's glowing commentary up above.

Since the release of their last album, Kurstin and George have both been busy, lending their writing and producing talents to other artists. Kurstin worked on the latest Foster The People album and makes appearances on new albums by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Dido, Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Cosgrove. George too has been busy, writing songs for singer/songwriter Priscilla Ahn's new album When You Grow Up.  Check out the video for "Love Letter To Japan," off the band's sophomore album, Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future.

Check out The Bird and The Bee on the Web:
Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Priscilla Ahn Starts Tour with Devotchka This Week, Album Cover Design Contest To End Soon

Singer/songwriter Priscilla Ahn and her label, Blue Note Records have joined forces with Creative Allies to launch an album cover design contest for Ahn's forthcoming sophomore album When You Grow Up. The winner of the contest will receive $1,000, a credit in the album packaging, a Priscilla Ahn prize pack and will help out the creative director in planning the rest of the album's layout. Pretty cool! The deadline for submissions is midnight March 1st. You can visit the Creative Allies website for guidelines and to watch a special video message from Ahn.

Due out May 3rd, When You Grow Up was produced by Ethan Johns (Ray LaMontagne, Laura Marling, Ryan Adams) and features songwriting collaborations with Sia, Inara George (The Bird & The Bee), Eleni Mandell and Charlie Wadhams.

"Growth emerges as the central theme of When You Grow Up. The songs thread a loose storyline through life’s ups and downs with Ahn’s angelic voice narrating experiences beginning with childhood, progressing through cycles of romance and heartbreak, and concluding with the wise, reflective "Torch Song.” The album also exhibits Ahn’s continued growth as an artist and a songwriter since her 2008 debut A Good Day."

As Priscilla Ahn prepares for the release of her album in the Spring, the promo kicks off a bit early as Ahn has the privilege of supporting Devotchka on some tour dates, starting this Tuesday, March 1st in Salt Lake City. Check out tour dates below and while you're at it, check out a new video of Ahn's breezy take on John Lennon's "Love," a b-side from the new album.  "Love" was produced by Mike Andrews and the video was directed by Daniel Milder.

TOUR DATES (W/ DEVOTCHKA)

March 1//In The Venue//Salt Lake City, UT
March 2//Knitting Factory//Boise, ID
March 3//Roseland Theater//Portland, OR
March 4//Commodore//Vancouver, BC
March 5//Paramount Theatre//Seattle, WA
March 8//Great American Music Hall//San Francisco, CA

Check out Priscilla Ahn on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Singer/Songwriter Priscilla Ahn to Release Sophomore Album in May

Get ready for Priscilla Ahn. The brilliant singer/songwriter from LA just announced the release of her sophomore record, When You Grow Up, on EMI's Blue Note Records May 3rd. I'm all about giving new music a shot so when I heard that she was offering a free download of the album's title track, OF COURSE I jumped at the chance. The song is light and summery - perfect listening for a cold night by the fire. The song is very reminiscent of something The Bird & The Bee might release and I mean that in the best way possible. There's definitely some Inara George qualities in Ahn's voice that make her engaging and very very listenable. Go get your FREE DOWNLOAD HERE.

When You Grow Up is the follow up to Ahn's debut album from 2008, A Good Day. Produced by Ethan Johns (Ray LaMontagne, Laura Marling, Ryan Adams) the new album features songwriting collaborations from the ever-amazing Sia Furler, Eleni Mandell, Charlie Wadhams and...surprise surprise, Ms. Inara George herself. The album also features a cover of the Benji Hughes' "frolicsome love call" "Vibe Is So Hot." While I'm not familiar with her first album, listening to Ahn I was instantly smitten with her sound and her new album sounds simply magical.

"Growth emerges as the central theme of When You Grow Up. The songs thread a loose storyline through life’s ups and downs with Ahn’s angelic voice narrating experiences beginning with childhood, progressing through cycles of romance and heartbreak, and concluding with the wise, reflective 'Torch Song.'"

Her debut featured "Dream," which became a sort of "sleeper hit," leading to apeparences on NBC's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and CBS's "Late Show With Craig Ferguson." Ahn even collaborated with mega producer/remixer DJ Tiësto on a track from his 2009 album Kaleidoscope (Listen to "I Am Strong" HERE). Ahn brought her brand of singer/songwriter folk-pop on tour with artists like Ray LaMontagne, Amos Lee and Willie Nelson. I think Vanity Fair really hit the nail on the head when it comes to her music, saying:

“The very talented singer-songwriter Priscilla Ahn has a terrific voice that’s both delicate and powerful, intimate and ironic. Like [Joni] Mitchell, Ahn commands a room once she starts singing and playing. Her melodies are pretty; her confessional lyrics are leavened with wit.”

Check out the tracklisting below as well as songwriter credits. Check out her first album on iTunes HERE and make sure you follow the link above and get your free download of "When You Grow Up." Check out the video for "Dream" below.

Track Listing:

1. When You Grow Up (Priscilla Ahn/Jake Blanton)

2. One Day Will Do (Priscilla Ahn)

3. Oo La La (Priscilla Ahn/Eleni Mandell)

4. Vibe So Hot (Benji Hughes)

5. City Lights (Pretty Lights) (Priscilla Ahn/Inara George)

6. I Don’t Have Time To Be In Love (Priscilla Ahn/Charlie Wadhams)

7. Cry Baby (Priscilla Ahn)

8. Lost Cause (Priscilla Ahn)

9. Empty House (Priscilla Ahn)

10. I Will Get Over You (Priscilla Ahn/Sia Furler)

11. Elf Song (Priscilla Ahn)

12. Torch Song (Priscilla Ahn)

Check out Priscilla Ahn on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube