"The Real You" - The Orange Peels
Click here to listen to the MP3
Last week, after three weeks of snow, cold, and constant gray dreariness, the sun came out, the snow melted and there was real warmth in my veins. It was fantastically fabulous. Everyone, everywhere seemed to be smiling. Our steps were lighter. Our long-held miseries were over. If just for a little while.
"The Real You" sounds like that. Happy. It is a toss off demo. Something they threw together while waiting out the torrential downpours of California. It might get expanded upon and turned into a full length song, but for now its a small burst of joy. A little sugar in our lemonade. Sometimes that's all you need.
Hear more at their Myspace page and website.
"Not the Same Day" - Rene Lopez
From the album People Are Just People
Click here to listen to the MP3
It probably isn't intentional but "Not the Same Day" reminds me a lot of some of the Black Crowes better material. There's that same southern white guy soul singing (even though Lopez is a Puerto Rican from the Bronx, you figure that out.) There's the gospel-influenced organs. And finally he's got those same bluesy guitar chops. Or maybe that's just me.
Add to those sounds some big riffing horns and you've got a brassy, soulful, classy jam. His last EP Johnny Wants to Be a Matado was full of lating beats, and you can still hear that influence here, but for People Are Just People he's toned it down, focusing on more classic American sounds. The results are equally good. "Not the Same Day" comes out of the box ready to dance and never gives up.
The new album comes out May 4th. Until then you can check out his website and Myspace page.
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