Karmin - Inside Out EP (2010)

 Artist: Karmin | EP: Inside Out | Year: 2010

Label: P.I.C. Records | Genre: Pop | Bitrate: 256kbps 

1. "Let it Go" – 3:27

2. "Inside Out" – 3:54

3. "Let's Get Lost" – 3:21

4. "Little Bit Crazy" – 3:37

Download Mediafire.

I stumbled upon this charming duo months ago searching on YouTube for Janelle Monae's Tightrope performance on Ellen and found Karmin's incredible cover of that song - I liked the video and left the standard YouTube comment and then was filled with glee when they replied!

They wanted to know if I had a song request... I wanted to give them something that was unique and not flooding YouTube like another Bad Romance cover but also suited their acoustic style, which canceled out most trip-hop or shoegaze tracks I like. Sorry MBV. I finally settled for Bulletproof by La Roux but I should have doublechecked YouTube as there's about 9000 covers of that already. However, none are up to the God tier quality that Karmin could bring so I guess there is still much to anticipate if they ever tackle my request.



The Inside Out EP is an agreeable collection of laid back melodic pop that are all pretty similar in tone and style but are fun to listen to thanks to Amy Heidemann's, lead singer, incredible vocals that elevate the tracks to pure joy. Nick Noonan provides his John Mayer influenced back up vocals and really the chemistry between the two is very strong in the sense of a Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland of all people. I have high hopes for this duo and it helps that they are so likable - you want them to succeed and they have the amazing talent to deserve whatever success greets them. Hopefully you'll want them to succeed too and buy this EP on iTunes like I did instead of downloading it here... Hohum.

Michael Nesmith - The Newer Stuff (1989)

Artist: Michael Nesmith | Album: The Newer Stuff | Year: 1989
Label: Rhino R1-70168 | Genre: Pop | Bitrate: 192kbps

1. "Total Control" – 5:22

2. "Tanya" – 4:15

3. "I'll Remember You" – 3:55

4. "Formosa Diner" – 3:50

5. "Dreamer" – 4:45

6. "Eldorado to the Moon" (Bill Martin) – 2:49

7. "Tahiti Condo" – 3:54

8. "Chow Mein and Bowling" (Martin) – 3:24

9. "Magic" – 3:59

10. "Cruisin'" – 3:54

11. "Light" – 3:22

12. "Carioca" – 4:18

13. "Rio" – 6:12

14. "Casablanca Moonlight" – 6:40

Download Mediafire.
 

I love this freaking album. It taps into that period in the eighties where it was perfectly acceptable for middle aged men like Nesmith, George Harrison, Robert Palmer, Peter Gabriel, Huey Lewis and Phil Collins to be pop stars and this album has a slick 80s production, catchy bubblegum melodies and all of Nesmith's captivating theatrics. It was a pain finding this online - so I thought I'd make it easier on those that are looking.

From Wikipedia:
The album contains five new tracks (all recorded in 1980, according to Nesmith's comments in the CD booklet) and five tracks from From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing and Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma. The CD release featured additional tracks from the LP release.