don't say you're not amazed when you know you are
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Mike Viola has cured me of my longstanding music misogyny. My last two favorite albums have been by female artists - first Kelly Jones's SheBang!, now Mandy Moore's Amanda Leigh - at least partially because of Mr.Viola's writing and production (and excellent taste in picking interesting and talented women to work with).
I've been behind Mandy Moore forever - "Candy," "In My Pocket," even "A Walk to Remember." But this? This I love. Here's one example of why. It's called "Everblue," and it's gorgeous. (And it isn't even a Mike Viola song! See, totally cured.)
15
MOG it up!
Comments (6)
I have to confess i never gave her a chance. Lumped her with other disposeable "artists", SMT/Disney-type performers.
But this is really good.
Thanks for opening up my ears.
-G.
Like Mike? I suggest you pick up the collaboration with powerpopster Bleu in the group The Major Labels - available through Bleutopia.com.
A fan of She Bang as well? Your taste is impeccable.
BTW, has anyone told you your avatar looks like a younger, prettier Sarah Ferguson?
And, of course, I really like this track.
I did get my hands on that Major Labels disc. They even sent it out autographed. So nice. It's a good record, and I saw them live here in NYC and enjoyed the show, but I couldn't help but wish for more Mike and less Bleu. That's less about Bleu and more about Mike just being my favorite ever.
As for Sarah Ferguson, thanks! I've certainly heard a lot worse. :)
ALSO, I am glad that I can bring Mandy Moore goodness to anyone who may not have given her new music a listen. It's hard to get past the early stuff, I bet.
Yes. We've had the honor of playing all of the album's songs on the air a few months before it came out last week and it is truly a winner. All three artists have been on our radio program a number of times; Kelly, Mike and Mandy. When Mike first mentioned working with Mandy...we were almost expecting it to sound like Kelly's "SheBANG!" but with Mandy's voice. As the songs trickled their way to us we were blown away just as we had been by Kelly's songs.
Mike has always been a major talent as an artist and all of his albums have been part of our broadcast programming but his producing skills are amazing with other performers. Between "SheBANG!", "Amanda Leigh" and The Major Labels...it will be a treat to listen to more produced projects in the future from Mike.
Kelly Jones simply released one of the best albums of 2008. Still can't get enough of that album. Same goes for The Major Labels.
If you are truly enjoying "Amanda Leigh" then you should really seek out Mandy's previous two albums. "Coverage" and "Wild Hope". Her previous two albums were just as magical. "Coverage" produced by John Fields with songs from XTC, Joan Armatrading, Joe Jackson, Carole King, Cat Stevens and Todd Rundgren to "Wild Hope" produced by another Paul McCartney fan, John Alagia, who brought along The Weepies, Lori McKenna and Rachael Yamagata for the ride. These two albums and the new one make for a wonderful trio of albums. Looking forward to all of her future musical projects.
Did you get a chance to see Mandy and Mike perform live at Ameoba with Daniel Clark last week online? Here's a link to check it out if you haven't. They do a sweet version of "Let Me Roll It" from Wings:
http://www.TheTimeMachine.FM
:=)