Updates and New Music

Hey everyone,

The new EP is almost wrapped up and ready for release, stay tuned for more on that in the next few weeks! It's sounding great and we can't wait to get out to you.

In other news, I figured I'd update you on what I've been listening to recently. It's been a while since I've done some CD reviews, so I have a few things to say.

Codes and Keys-Death Cab for Cutie
I am not (like VB) an avid listener of this band or their older music. I have some of the CDs, but I didn't really listen until this CD came out. I needed a new album, and they gave it to me. I started to like this one from the very first listen. "Stay Young, Go Dancing" is one of my favorite songs of the year. There are other tracks on the CD that will get to you, no matter what kind of music you like. I now have a deeper appreciation of Ben Gibbard and his talents. To me, this album is enjoyable, musically tasteful, and just cool!

Modern Love-Matt Nathanson
After seeing this guy multiple times in a year and enjoying it, I was anxiously awaiting this release. Sadly, it really doesn't do too much for me. The lead single "Faster" is catchy if you take yourself back to high school and get over the silly lyrics. I'm not the biggest fan of this album, but I do like "Bottom of the Sea", where Matt takes on an organic and simple sound, with a cool song structure and piano part. Also, the more reserved vocal on "Kept" is nice, as is "Kiss Quick".

Get ready for our EP soon!
PK

Indie Music/Update

Hey all,
Just wanted to catch up on some music from the past few months. I met someone this semester who hosts a weekly radio show of all indie music. I really have come to like several of the artists, or at least felt the need to explore many of them. This is true for Mumford & Sons, Iron and Wine, and even groups I wouldn't normally listen to: School of Seven Bells, Rilo Kiley, Florence + The Machine, Eisley and old Phoenix. I want to explore some of these indie bands over the summer and "broaden my musical horizons" if you will.

Eric and I will have exciting announcements in the coming weeks, stay tuned for more! It's going to be a fun summer!

Lastly, send your congrats to my bandmate on graduation!!

PK

New Music for a New Year

Hey everyone,

Looks like The Script and James Blunt will be out with new records next week. I'll be checking those out and probably reviewing them soon. Hopefully this will hold us over until our new EP release :)

Also, I've starting listening to a few of Madeleine Peyroux's songs. She is an incredible jazz vocalist. I discovered her while watching a short film in a French class. Her cover of Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" was the intro music to the film. Check it out!

Have a good weekend,

PK

New Fall CDs #2: Maroon 5- Hands All Over

I need to preface this with a few statements: First, I'll say that I like Maroon 5, but I like them mostly for their work in 2005 with the hit CD "Songs About Jane". They aren't my favorite band, but "Sunday Morning" is one of my favorite songs ever. Keep this in mind while you're reading.

Fast forward to 2010, do I hate on Maroon 5 for changing their sound? Where do they stand in the picture of today's hot artists? I don't know the answers to these questions. I wasn't totally sure what to expect with this CD, and I still can't totally figure it out. It opens, of course, with "Misery". It's a solid track if you get past the 50 "oh yeah" shouts from Adam. Then they dancing shoes stay on with "Give a Little More", another ok groove that would've been unheard of from this band when they came out on the scene. "Stutter" is another track that I'm kind of indifferent about, it's ok, but I'm not going crazy about it. The next few tracks don't really stick out to me, until finally there is a memorable track. I can say that this song, "I Can't Lie" is my favorite M5 track since the "Songs About Jane" days. Maybe I like Adam's cool vocals with the word "feel" in the chorus, or the piano, or the cool breakdown part.

After that, the title track, "Hands All Over", kicks off. It's an ok groove song, but again nothing too crazy for me. Things get closer to the old "normal" for M5 with "How", a good song. Just when you think you know where they are going, another groove kind of song is thrown in before a decent ballad called "Just a Feeling". Another different song follows this, and the album ends with a totally out of place collaboration with Lady Antebellum.

Overall, this CD gives you a little of everything. You get the new Maroon 5, with shades of the Maroon 5 you knew 5 years ago, and a little dash of something else. You might not go crazy over these tracks, but at least there will always be a "Sunday Morning" around the corner.

-PK

New Fall CDs Part 1: Sara Bareilles-Kaleidoscope Heart

Alright, so I was one of them, one of the people who just downloaded Love Song and called it a day. But that was back in the day before I cared about the true value of the full CD. It's been a while since a piano singer-songwriter released a good album for me. I saw this, and decided to give Sara a shot.

Let me tell you, this CD was worth the $9.99 I spent at Target and more. It kicks off with a very different short acapella verse, the title track of the CD. This track sounds almost like Imogen Heap with Hide and Seek, maybe a little different. From there, we are taken through a set of vibrant and cool music. Here's what I love about about Sara Bareilles: she has really great vocals, harmonies, and her songs have personality. I think that vocals are becoming somewhat overlooked in today's industry. For example, Lady Gaga could fill up her fireplace with awards, but how much of her success has to do with her vocal ability?

Anyways, I also really like the emotion and raw feel of some of these songs. To be honest, I'm not sure that King of Anything is my favorite track. I really like that song, but I like this whole CD, even the last song: Bluebird. It's a really cool piano ballad. There a few cool piano ballads. Also, the use of strings is great in some of the tracks. One of the best songs on the CD really caught me by surprise, it's an acoustic track with no piano called Basket Case. She does a great job of weaving through different styles, and I hope you check this CD out! It was a pleasant surprise for me!

-Pat

Jack Johnson-To The Sea

One week ago, Jack Johnson released his latest record and I bought it at Borders. Jack isn't really my favorite artist, but I really like his music. After listening to this latest one, I really have a better appreciation for his style and talent. After a week of this CD staying firmly in my car stereo, I can say that this is easily becoming of my favorite albums of recent memory. Some reviews I've read try to put down the CD and say that it isn't flashy enough or it's more of the same...but what's so bad about that? Sure, much of the CD sounds like the guy we all know, but that's a good thing. There also some cool jams and solo parts on this record, it's great.

The first single "You and Your Heart" is a good opener, but not the best song on the CD for me. I like "At or With Me" because of the feel of the song and the cool ending with a chorus of "ohs". Also, "My Little Girl" and "Anything But the Truth" are excellent because it's just Jack and the guitar, and it doesn't get much better than that.

I hope you check this out and enjoy the great songs from Jack Johnson. Now I need to get myself some concert tickets to this show!

The Soloists at Fuerst Park Amphitheater

We are proud to announce we will have a show on May 13th from 6 to 8 pm at The Fuerst Park Amphitheater in Novi, MI! Also playing in the show will be Jackson Landry and Evan Laybourn of The Death Star and Evan Lian! We will be playing some songs off of our EP as well as some new ones written since then. We've also got a couple great covers so we're pretty excited to play on this beautiful summer evening with some great musicians. Don't miss this exciting concert!

Also, check out our myspace page, www.myspace.com/thesoloistsmusic, for some tracks we've recorded during our practice sessions.

Solo Work

Not getting your fill of The Soloists? Check out our solo work that we keep updated when we're at our separate colleges!
myspace.com/ericvanbuhler
myspace.com/patkochyan

We've both posted some new material, and you never know, these songs might become the next Soloists hits!

-Eric

New Songs

So its been a long semester, but we're back! Pat and I both did a lot of solo work but we could finally collaborate a little over Christmas break. Out of these practice sessions came a few new songs, two of which were recorded. You can check them out on our Myspace page. Hope you like the sound.

-Eric

New Music Thoughts

Hi, the blog has been on for a while and this is my first post, so I'm slacking, but you have to start somewhere. I'll feed off of Eric's post where he talked about the concerts, I was lucky enough to be at the Counting Crows/Augustana show as well, and it was great. Many favorites were played by the Crows, but Augustana really caught me off guard with their set.

I'm not sure what people think about Augustana, but I've always viewed them as leaning somewhat towards the emo end of rock instead of the folk end like Counting Crows..This view was totally changed on Wednesday night. There were only a few moments where lead singer Dan Layus really went out for a kind of "scream" or a crazy note. For the most part, they looked pretty happy, and way more under control and mature than they were the last time I saw them. Their pianist was even able to rock out on the organ for several sounds, where was this a few years ago?

This again leads to Eric's point about listening to more than one song or making a judgement too soon. Lately I've been listening to CDs for more than just the hit song that is on the record, and it really gives you a better idea of who a band really is. I can honestly tell you that "You Found Me" isn't my favorite song on The Fray's latest CD, it's not even close..The days of buying the hit single on iTunes and leaving the rest for another day are over, maybe I would've been expecting something different from Augustana had I listened to the whole CD.

I hope everyone continues to discover new music and that you are able to go beyond the hit single and really see what a band is all about. Next up for me is Paolo Nutini, 22 year old from Scotland with an unmistakable voice. His first hit was "New Shoes", and now he's back with a new album called "Sunny Side Up", I'll let you guys know what I think.