Music I Like: Patrick Watson

Rachel from Black*Eiffel and I have pretty much identical taste in music and I always get so excited when i see her Music Monday post waiting in my reader.  A few weeks ago she posted "To Build A Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra and I loved it immediately.  It is perfectly haunting and emotional, and therefore has of course been used on a bunch of TV shows, including the ultimate heart-ripper-outer Grey's Anatomy.  But I just couldn't get that voice out of my head, and it turns it belongs to Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson.  His songs are just beautiful - most of them simple piano or guitar and voice, but so broad and expansive, and so expressive.   A few of them remind me of Tom Waits, a few of Radiohead, but they are definitely all his own.  Here are some of my favourites, including his appearance with The Cinematic Orchestra - let me know what you think.




Photo: http://www.nielsvinck.nl/patrick-watson

Music I Like: Aidan Knight

I think I first heard Victoria-native Aidan Knight at an amazing vintage store in Kelowna (Frock - it is so, so good. I never leave empty-handed.) I downloaded his album Versicolour immediately and it is one of my go-to albums.  Mellow and folky, but so original and smart, it is full of those songs that seem to be the perfect soundtrack to whatever you are doing.  Suddenly washing the dishes slows down, the room is lit with flickering sunlight, and you realize that this simple moment is actually epic and life is pretty damn amazing... know what I mean?  His song The Sun does this to me every time.  You can download his songs from his website and see some of his more produced videos, but I wanted to show you these live videos - having listened so much to his album I can't help but love the fresh and sprawling take on his songs.

The Sun


Jasper with Dan Mangan - I have to admit that I feel a little patriotic as I watch them singing in the Rockies with their parkas and toques... :)


Aidan Knight - Giants of the Forest - Episode Five from Amazing Factory Productions Inc. on Vimeo.

Music I Like: Kimbra

Kimbra - "Plain Gold Ring" (Live at Sing Sing Studios) from Forum5 Recordings on Vimeo.

I found this video thanks to a link from Kate, and holy ga-MOLY I was blown away.  Of course, this is an amazing song, but this girl Kimbra sings the hell out of it.  What a voice - what a performer!  Her back-up ensemble is dynamite, and the videography is really well done.  The rest of her stuff is a bit poppy for my taste, but I would definitely go see her if she came to town.  She is from New Zealand and is... wait for it... 20 years old.  Sigh.

Music I like: James Blake

'K, I am not sure how you guys are going to like this, but I am in an odd kind of mood this evening, and the soundtrack for my mind is played to perfection by James Blake.  You have probably heard his cover of Feist's Limit To Your Love, but his other stuff is just awesome too.  His voice is crazy good, but the best part of his sound to me is the spaces.  The music has these amazing, vaguely unsettling silences that keep you engaged.  His songs are like the perfect minimalist room, where the only things that are there are the things that need to be there, and they are made all the more beautiful by the space around them.  (Told you I was in a weird mood...)  And man oh man, if you only listen to one - make it his live accoustic Joni Mitchell cover A Case of You (one of my all-time favourite songs) at the bottom.

Music I like: Ramona Falls

I love the sound of the band (sorry - "indie rock project") Ramona Falls - named after a waterfall in Oregon and not a clumsy girl named Ramona.  However, I think I might like their videos even more!  The first one below is especially cool.  They have such a nifty vibe - check out their site to hear their streamed album.  

Music I like: Rosie and Me

I was accused of being CHIPPER this morning - can believe that??  I think it might be because I was watching this cute video (before I got to work OF COURSE) by another awesome new-to-me band I now love via Black*Eiffel.  Rosie and Me is this group from southern Brazil with a fun, folky sound.  I enjoy.  You might too.  But careful - it might make you chipper.



Some more lovely sounds from Rosie and Me:

Music I like: Audra Mae

The Hubster has been watching Sons of Anarchy, and introduced me to this song sung by Audra Mae.  You may recognize it as having been sung by Rod Stewart - no wait, keep reading! - but it was originally penned by Bob Dylan.  Three seconds in and I was ready to pledge my undying love to Audra Mae.  The more I heard by her, the more I ADORE her.  Listen to the first of these clips, and I defy you not to have every last arm hair standing on end.

Dolly's Little Sparrow has never sounded so intensely heartbreaking.

This is pretty much exactly what I sound like when I sing...

Her voice is incredible.  Check out her myspace page for more of her music with better sound.

Music I like: Coeur de Pirate

Some fun music for you on this sunny Tuesday, care of Quebecois cutie Coeur de Pirate, aka Beatrice Martin.  At 21, this girl has crazy confidence, a fabulous voice, and obviously knows how to rock the tattoos.  In 2009, CBC Radio 3 gave her song Comme des Enfants a Bucky award for Best Reason to Learn French, but I don't think you need to understand to love her songs.  She does some fabulous covers of Umbrella and I Kissed a Girl on YouTube too... I hope these put a spring in your step today!