BeatPick would like to give a special thanks to Cameron Parkins and Eric Steuer for featuring Beatpick in the Creative Commons site! Being interviewed and acknowledged by Creative Commons is an honor to us here at Beatpick. If you would like to check out the interview click here and read for your self what BeatPick is all about!
Surrogate Lovers, the latest record by Sharif, is a phenomenal pop rock album with beautifully and poetically written lyrics. Im amazed at how easily Sharif can express himself instrumentally, lyrically and vocally.
Tracks like “You Are My Girl” and “Surrogate Lovers”, are upbeat optimistic songs of love and life that sounds similar to “Ill Be There for You” by the Rembrants or better known as the famous theme song for the show Friends. In fact, this entire album would be great tracks for comedy or drama TV series. One of my favourite tracks on this album is “Sweet Angel”, a song with a softer side to Sharif’s pop style with a taste of country love guitar twang and piano. Sharif’s innovative sound truly makes this a CD worthy of weeks on repeat in your stereo; I just hope your speakers are just as worthy! “
Overall, I can’t seem to find one track on this album that I dislike, and neither can my colleagues (which is rare considering how picky Beat Pickers are)! Each track is lyrically smart with attractive vocals to match, (not to mention the fact that Sharif is unbelievably handsome- the next Bon Jovi or Bryan Adams). Sharif’s confidence is literally bursting from this album and I bet if Elliot Smith were alive today they would have had much to collaborate on. Currently, Sharif is working on a new record that us Beat Pickers can’t wait to get our hands on. If the next album is anything like Surrogate Lovers, it will be far far FAR! from disappointing. Check Surrogate Lovers here at BeatPick.com and be amazed for yourself!
One Laptop per Child Association (OLPC) is a non-profit organization focused on providing children around the world with $100 laptops. Thanks to the OLPC, children in developing countries will finally have access to opportunities never thought possible before. $100 laptop per child exposes these children to world ideas, contributing to the world as a whole, bringing knowledge and opportunities to areas where global information was previously deemed unattainable.
Jamendo, a free music community where artists allow everyone to download and share their music, joined with OLPC to bring a selection of Creative Commons music for their laptops. Jamendo’s founder Sylvain Zimmer, stated that “It makes a lot of sense for us to help OLPC because their laptop is an excellent way to extend the music sharing values we defend to the developing countries and to children in particular (Jamendo Blog) .”
Thanks to Jamendo, BeatPick was able to contribute to this cause by placing music compilations of Beatpick artists on the $100 laptops. Not only is this a wonderful opportunity for BeatPick and Jamendo to lend a helping hand, but it also advertises the amazing aspects of Creative Commons, something that both companies truly believe in. Here at BeatPick.com, we are blessed and honored to be working with Jamendo and the OLPC project!
Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
If you haven’t heard of Sharif yet, believe us, it’s only a question of time. Having toured both the US and Europe in support of his first two albums (250 shows just last year!), the American songwriter is working his way to an ever wider fanbase, while perfecting a style that has little to envy when compared to million-selling records.
His latest work “Surrogate Lovers” is truly one of those records that is difficult to get out of your head: a catchy blend of American Oriented Rock-Pop, British taste for melody and unexpected, subtle moments of instrumental wisdom.
Many are the tracks that are worthy of mention, from TV-friendly semi-ballad “Simple Ways” to reflective, refined masterpiece “Respect“. Yet the outstanding record opener “You Are My Girl” is a notch above the rest, and has soon become a Beatpick.com favorite.
A romantic, bittersweet love declaration (”My Life is insane because you’re in it, just sit back and indulge it for a minute“), the song bases its’ strength on the author’s powerful and expressive voice, revolving around melodies that pulsate energy in every line, sending the listener back to such inspirational work as Elliott Smith’s (Sharif himself quotes the unfortunate genius as one of his main influences). Yet the high-quality production makes this a mainstream-oriented potential classic, rather than an indie cult object. And that’s why, here at Beatpick.com we’re ready to bet on this very special songwriter’s future.
To download “You’re My Girl” for FREE, click here.
To visit Sharif’s Beatpick Profile, click here.
If you didn’t know already, here at BeatPick.com we are big fans and faithful followers of Creative Commons (CC), but in order to sustain Creative Commons, fundraising is crucial!
CC needs support in order to guarantee access to scientific, cultural and educational content that is pre-cleared for use by its authors. This in-turn brings a balance into the fragile network of digital technologies by enabling a participatory culture; “A culture in which everyone can actively engage in the creativity that surrounds us (CC Blog).” This is the legal frame work behind Beatpick, a fair way in dealing with Independent artists who want recognition of their work, need the publicity- but are unable to do so (unless of course, they sign over the rights of their work to money-hungry music labels = unfair!).
All Beatpick musicians and fans should know that if it was not for Creative Commons, BeatPick might not have existed at all! But with enough support, Creative Commons can raise awareness and educate communities on a global scale! If you believe in the cause like we do here at BeatPick.com, then join the fundraising campaign and let’s make a difference together!
To Donate to Creative Commons Click Here
Wanna see who else supports the CC?
Support CC on your Myspace page!
When it comes to intelligent dance music, artists that usually come to mind are Aphex Twins or Autechre. Well… they used to come to mind, but now all I can think about is JFrank! Not only is JFrank co-founder of BrainStorm.org, a network of collaborating artists (among whom are designers, video and music makers) and a space on which to host the work produced, but JFrank is also the artist behind the Album of the Week here at BeatPick.com. JFrank’s album, which is one of many, JFrank06, is full of squelched beats, jagged synth lines, static washes, electrical shorts and weird sounds to match, making JFrank06 the epitome of IDM.
JFrank06 is intelligently produced and stimulates more than just the body, but the mind as well. The tempos on this album navigate a complicated musical landscape, each work gradually and effortlessly kicking it up a notch. The track “Sacrifice for the Company” has an oriental feel and is much calmer compared to the other creations on this album, not the stereotypical IDM but beautifully done non-the-less. I can imagine “Sacrifice for the Company” in the soundtrack for Kill Bill… to bad Tarintino missed out! “Stampede”, the sixth track on JFrank06, has high-tech and sci-fi written all over it. This tracks’ combination of synth, static washes and odd sounds are something to marvel at, it’s as if this track knows how intelligent it truly is; stating “Don’t Dance-Listen. I’am Intelligent Dance Music!”
JFrank defies rhythmic convention so seamlessly that it would be a shame not to hear this new talent amongst the chaos of the music world. Even his live performances are something to see, especially since he sports a frightening wolf mask on-stage, something that makes us BeatPickers love him even more! All in all, JFrank is the whole package and more. The album in its entirety is extremely creative and worth the listen and deserves respect! So give a little R.E.S.P.E.C.T., and listen to JFrank06 here at BeatPick!
Checkout Brainstorm via Myspace!
Remember the good old times in the eighties? All those bad haircuts? Billy Idol, Donna Summer and Samantha Fox?
Ah, yes…Those were the days. OK, so while you’re at it, now try remembering one of the most epic moments of your life back then. This is the picture: you’ve just tried loading a videogame on your Commodore 64 cassette recorder. Although you’re incredibly proud of this brilliant new machine, your first two attempts to load your latest game have failed tragically, leaving you waiting well over twenty minutes for a blank screen. Unimpressed, you’ve inserted the cassette and digited the magic words “Load” and “Run” in the incredibly technological DOS interface, for the third time. After quarter of an hour, you’re just about to give up, when suddenly….. A stream of light and colors appears on the screen, and a bizarre, electronic music has caught your attention. It’s the 1988 version of ecstasy, nirvana and heaven all in one. And, most of all it’s a moment that will stick that weird, unheard, minimalist music in your head forever.
And that’s exactly why at Beatpick.com we’re so proud to introduce 8-bit music whizkid Mooty, who was probably too young for Commodore or Amiga glory days, yet has an incredible capacity for recreating exactly the sounds and moods of that decade.
All five tracks from his debut EP “Unlike Clockwork” are worthy of mention, but we’ll take “Mushi Mushi” as an example of what he’s able to create out of retro research, and most of all out of taste.
Combining modern day glitch beeps and buzzes of all sorts, Aphex Twin-influenced stop-and-go rhythm motions and faithful eighties keyboards and sound effects, what emerges is a masterful upgrade of all melodies composed by uncredited and undiscovered geniuses behind eighties videogames. And what’s more, this is a track with feeling: the keyboard melody doesn’t just sound cute, it sounds ROMANTIC. As romantic as Mario sliding down the platform of his wonderful world looking for mushrooms, or Donkey Kong finally saving his dad and earning a well-deserved hug….
To download “Mushi Mushi” for free, click here.
Our Glitch to IDM section is growing steadily and we’re proud of all our latest signings: check out wolf-masked experimenter JFrank, or Latin American soundscape constructors nustyrecords to hear what we’re listening to in the office!
Steve Booke has been teaching both acoustic and electric guitar for over 18 years, during which he has had various opportunities to participate in many guitar tribute albums for artists like Jason Becker, Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana. Some of which were featured on MTV and VH-1.
Devotion, an album entirely inspired by the viewing of Mel Gibsons, “Passion of Christ”, is full of magnificent acoustic guitar playing, and features ethnic percussions and occasional vocal interventions. This album is very spiritual and comes straight from the author’s heart and religious convictions. The first track on the album is “Transgression”, a bittersweet guitar tune with rhythmic bongos. The guitar gives off a profound sense of passion that tells a story of its own. Beautiful yet sad, this track makes my imagination bloom. Another favorite on this album is “A Mother’s Broken Heart”, Steve Bookes portrayal of Mary’s grief over Jesus, a track well titled. The gradual entrance of a solo acoustic guitar plays as if the chords are spoken words of a woman’s sorrow. A brilliant track to sit and reflect to.
Over all, this album is a powerful compilation of Steve Booke’s talent. Each track has an amazing emotional hold on any one who listens. If you love acoustic guitar and are in need of some healing powers, than this is just the album for you. So hear Devotion here first, at Beatpick.com!
Il Tempo is a daily Italian newspaper that has been publishing since 1948, and has recently decided to update their ‘look’. Not only do over 50,000 Italians read Il tempo everyday but they will soon be watching Il Tempo’s newest advertisements that features a piano solo from BeatPick’s very own artist, Galdson (track “Roots”)! Il Tempo’s advertisement will be shown in underground metro stations throughout Rome, Italy. Not only is this great publicity for Galdson, but our artist also gets paid! Yeah Baby!
For every BeatPick artist, commissioned projects are split 50/50, unlike most record labels and music sites where an artist receives as little as 4.9% i.e. ITunes. Artists deserve more than what the music industry has to offer and this is why BeatPick is here! Support our Independent artists and check out Galdson’s, “Roots” right here at BeatPick.com.
Is it really possible to transcend the Beatles‘ legacy in modern Rock music? Such an argument is forever present in music literature and in everyday discussions: while some may indicate Electronic music, or pre-Beatles Folk as examples of traditions untouched by the Fab Four, many others are convinced their impact on the musical world is quite simply omnipresent.
What’s a simple fact is that the amount of bands who have attempted tributes or mere imitations of the Liverpool lads’ work is outstandingly long, and goes from levels of pure brilliance (as with bands such as XTC or the Electric Light Orchestra, or single artists as the unfortunate Daniel Johnston) to the downright mediocre.
What’s quite unusual is to find a band that has the courage to tribute the Beatles’ more complex, orchestral, Sgt.Pepper-phase works within an indie-produced debut album. And that is what makes WhiteRoom’s “Barcelona” such a surprising and ambitious piece of work.
The Montreal band - headed by Alex Dray and Eddy Silva - is attracting much attention thanks to a well-orchestrated series of tracks that swing between many moods, with an undeniable fascination for the sulky laments of Thom Yorke & co.
Yet at Beatpick.com the track that caught most attention was one that is more of an excursus than a trademark for the band: with its’ roots placed firmly in Lennon’s “When I’m 64“, “Barcelona” proceeds to capture exactly the atmosphere of the song it tributes, even transforming Montreal into somewhat of an English cottage location (”We talk for hours, but don’t use words, then you get up and feed the birds“), and including a magnificent horns section (there’s even a trumpet solo and a trombone!).
And then, after a tale of love (”If you want these things, they’re more than dreams, just ring my doorbell“) and peace, when only a few seconds are missing to the end of the track, the tongue rolls straight into cheek, as Lennon’s ghost emerges to state “I’ll call you when you’re 110, and we’ll walk through the sunshine again“. I guess with life expectancy growing by the day, and 64 not being such a grand age anymore, it needed some upgrading….
The band have recently been playing various clubs in their home area, but are surely preparing to network a long way around the globe: if there’s any divine justice, sounds this exciting should by far make them the Next Big Thing to emerge from Canada.
To download “Barcelona” for FREE, click here.
To visit the band’s Beatpick profile and hear the rest of their fantastic eponymous debut record, click here.
