Blogcritics Author: SunStudioSessions

Video Performance: Adam Levy "I Can Promise You That"

SunStudioSessions — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:45:00 EDT

In today's installment of Sun Studio Sessions, Adam Levy talks about writing the song and performs "I Can Promise You That."
The topics of love and lust have been the subject of songwriting as long as the craft has been around. Matters of the heart, though, span more than just the generations. Be it blues, country, soul or rock and roll, writers across the different musical generations have dipped into what seems to be a never ending well to tackle the subject. In...

Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles - "Lord Only Knows"

SunStudioSessions — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:06:34 EDT

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles discuss the song and perform "Lord Only Knows."
Why do two people hit it off together more so than with others? There are plenty of "experts" out there with opinions on this age old subject. But, Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles seem to have the answer in "Lord Only Knows." Despite the plethora of ways to measure compatibility, when it gets right down to it no one really...

Video Interview: David Ford - "State of the Union"

SunStudioSessions — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:52:46 EDT

David Ford speaks about playing live and then performs "State of the Union."
According to Wikipedia.org, the origins of "a one man band" go back to the 13th century. Depending on your frame of reference, the phrase will conjure up different visions. For me, the stereotypical one man band is a guy with several instruments hanging off his body and somehow managing to produce some noise from multiple sources at once....

Interview: Backyard Tire Fire - "Jimmy and Bob and Jack"

SunStudioSessions — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:43:22 EDT

Backyard Tire Fire tell the story behind the song and perform "Jimmy and Bob and Jack."
There are many approaches to songwriting. Some authors write from personal experience or about the experiences of others. A third approach, as with other forms of writing, is just to make something up! Fictional song compositions are similar to short story writing. The author must introduce characters and get through a story line in a brief amount...

Amy LaVere - "If Love Was A Train"

SunStudioSessions — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:03:56 EDT

Amy Lavere discusses her take on the song and performs "If Love Was A Train."
It is always fun for me to see and hear what artists do with songs from other artists they really enjoy. As with Amber Rubarth's ode to Tom Waits with her cover of "Ol' 55", Amy LaVere pays homage to an artist she admires with a cover of Michelle Shocked's "If Love Was A Train." Sometimes these covers come out...

Amber Rubarth - "Ol' 55"

SunStudioSessions — Sat, 10 May 2008 08:45:26 EDT

Amber Rubarth talks about her approach to cover songs and performs Tom Waits' "Ol' 55."
Music is a great companion for the road. There's nothing like driving down a scenic road, be it near a beach, in the countryside or along a mountain top on a nice day with the windows (or top) down and some great music on the radio. The right song accompanying the right view can tap into a few emotions for me. On one hand it can provide one of...

Vienna Teng - "City Hall"

SunStudioSessions — Wed, 7 May 2008 07:55:45 EDT

Vienna Teng performs "City Hall" from Dreaming Through The Noise for the Sun Studio Sessions series.
Vienna Teng is one multi-talented lady. First, she earned a degree in computer science from no less than Stanford University and used all that knowledge working for a couple years at one of the leading tech companies in the world. As impressive as that is for most of us, Ms. Teng knew she had other talents to share. She began playing piano at five...

Five Times August - "Giving It All To You"

SunStudioSessions — Mon, 5 May 2008 12:17:45 EDT

Five Times August talks about his guitar influences and performs the song "Giving It All To You."
One of Brad Skistimas' (who performs as Five Times August because people had trouble pronouncing his last name) early records was titled Audience of Zero. Five years later that title would be far from accurate in describing the number of people hearing Brad's music. Beyond large numbers of MySpace and Facebook friends, scores of people are...

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals "Night Rolls On"

SunStudioSessions — Fri, 2 May 2008 07:16:49 EDT

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals work together to figure out some arrangements then perform "Night Rolls On."
Today's webisode from the Sun Studio Sessions takes us back in the studio with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. This video gives some great insight into the band's chemistry. When you get a room full of talented musicians looking to put their stamp on a song sometimes you end up with a clash of egos. Not here.This clip shows some great...

Amber Rubarth "23"

SunStudioSessions — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:03:16 EDT

Amber Rubarth talks about what the song means to her and performs "23" for the Sun Studio Sessions.
Amber Rubarth's song "23" follows one of those narratives that many of us can relate to, at least generally. The song is basically about doing things when we're young that may not be the most considerate or thoughtful things to do someone, particularly in the area of dating. Of course, as Amber points out in her interview before...