Boston Red Sox Player Music Showcase

My MLB Player Music Special I've done over the last 6 weeks wraps up today with a look at the walk-up songs of last year's World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox. The team enjoyed a storybook and unimaginable season last year, finishing 97-65 and winning the AL East handily, storming through the Tampa Bay Rays and an epic 6 game series over the heavily favored Detroit Tigers, en route to clinching a World Series Championship at Fenway Park for the first time in 95 and their 3rd championship in the last 10 years. The team has defined 'Boston Strong' in more ways than one over the past year with their unity present after the Boston Marathon bombings, and lasting well throughout the duration of the season. The team made some key acquisitions in the offseason with the addition of Grady Sizemore and A.J. Pierzynski to complement the departures and bolster the team's defense quite a bit as well. Here is a look at what the Champs have up their sleeve in terms of their walk up music selections:

AJ Pierzynski: Audioslave - Set It Off

The former White Sox and Rangers backstop has this indelible Audioslave number as his entrance music. Known as a cantankerous figure to some, AJ comes on board to take over the catching position after the loss of Saltalamacchia in the offseason, but has a terrific defensive mindset and possesses some strong pop on the offensive side of the ball and can be depended upon when the going gets tough. It will be interesting to see how he fits in with the chemistry in the clubhouse.

Andrew Miller: Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down

The beautifully bearded setup man has this gritty Johnny Cash number as his walk up music. Hampered by a foot injury last season, Miller Time is back and ready to help contribute to his cause with his skinny frame helping deliver some devastating pitches to the opposing offense and heading back to the dugout with his outstanding beard waving in the midst.

Clay Buchholz: Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe

The mop topped Buchholz is back with this song from the Canadian bred band as his entrance music. With his unfortunate shoulder injury last year that cost him 3 months of playing time, Buch Wild is ready for a full seasons of work and ready to resume the level of success he had towards the end of last year where he was dominant as he can be, showing flashes of his 2007 success.

Daniel Nava: Andy Mineo - The Saints

The slick fielding Nava brings some Christian hip hop into the mix with this choice walk up song. Nava is notable for hitting a grand slam in his first at-bat on the very first pitch he saw back in 2010 in a game against the Phillies, and has been depended upon countless times to deliver in the clutch when needed with a  muscular frame and a good looking face making him a hot commodity.

David Ortiz: Jay-Z f/ Rick Ross - Fuckwithmeyouknowigotit

Last year's World Series MVP has this intense hip-hop track from Jay-Z as his walk up music. Regarded as one of the best designated hitters to play the game, Big Papi has a aggressive and unrelenting nature while at the plate. Bound to hit the ball out of Fenway at any given time, this song puts opposing pitchers on notice and makes them shiver in their shoes with this nerve rattling track here.

Dustin Pedroia: Dr. Dre f/ Snoop Dogg - Still D.R.E.

Pedey has his head in the game with this classic Dre and Snoop track right here when he comes up to the plate. The scrappy second basemen exemplifies the word 'underdog' with his short stature throwing people for a loop, but don't you dare call him little as he has exquisite base running skills and premiere defensive abilities that make him the premiere 2nd baseman in the game today. Who's little now?

Felix Doubront: Marc Anthony - Vivir Mi Vida

The Venezuelan born pitcher has a homage to this Latin roots with this walk up song choice. Felix has come up through the reins of the farm system and helped the team out in the back end of the bullpen before being transitioned into a starter a couple of years back. With a devastating curveball and change up, and with all due respect to Felix Hernandez out in Seattle, we have our own King Felix right here in Boston.  

Jake Peavy: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Dixie/Sweet Home Alabama (Live)

The live version of this classic track from the southern rock pioneers makes Jake Peavy feel right at home en route to the pitching mound. With a up and down pattern over the last few years, Peavy does everything he can to stay in the game for as long as possible, and is very stubborn in being removed from the game and will do everything in his power to prove his manager's trust.

Jon Lester: Jason Aldean - I Use What I Got

The ace of the pitching staff has this neat Jason Aldean number as his walk out music. Stellar in the postseason last year, Lester proved his dominance and can be depended upon to go 7-8 innings in each of his starts, and has crisp delivery and sky high velocity that has made him "use what he's got" to shut down the opposition.

Jonny Gomes: Dropkick Murphys - The Boys Are Back

The former Oakland A has a homage to the local Irish rockers as his walk up music. Gomes delivered a clutch 3 run homer in last year's World Series that helped galvanize the team and power the offense to a victory a few days after that, and has his own unique and dynamic personality that is representative of his California roots that has helped make him a fan favorite here in Beantown.

Koji Uehara: Darude - Sandstorm

Our high-five loving closer has this classic dance track as his entrance music. Koji was a hero in last year's postseason, delivering save after save and having a electric and out there personality that has him impossible not to love, and hard to believe that he's 37 years of age and still delivering at such a high level of consistency.

Mike Carp: Sublime - Badfish

This track from the Long Beach bred band is also home to our freshwater beard styled first baseman/left fielder. The track gives him a much needed confidence boost when up at the plate, and is heavily depended upon to get that extra run in the clutch. A great guy to have sitting on your bench waiting to get into the game.

Mike Napoli: Drake f/ 2 Chainz & Big Sean - All Me

Words can't accurately describe my intense love for this part wolf-man. All I can say is that beard is beyond beautiful and magnificent beyond any stretch of the universe, and he is bound to get that beard tugged by his teammates afterwards and walk around shirtless in the clubhouse like he owns the place much like after last year's World Series parade. He's probably the best looking man I've ever seen in my lifetime and oh yeah, he's a pretty awesome ballplayer too!

Shane Victorino: Bob Marley - Three Little Birds

Shane'o has this legendary Bob Marley track as his personal walk up song. A fan favorite last year, this song was sung in unison by the crowd that was quite honestly the most beautiful thing I've ever heard sung from the Fenway faithful, much better than Sweet Caroline and gives our wide ranging right fielder the ability to be always chirping while up at the plate, while providing some humorous and entertaining antics that show why he is one of the most versatile and fun loving players on the team.

Will Middlebrooks: Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood

Our third baseman has this exquisite Stevie Ray Vaughan track as his entrance song. His skills have fallen off sharply in recent memory, but Will is sticking through it and the team has faith in him that his abilities will present itself in due time and return to the levels they once were at when he started out a couple of years back.

Xander Bogaerts: Snoop Dogg f/ Pharrell - Beautiful

The Aruban shortstop has this Snoop track from a while back as his walk up song selection. One of the only players in MLB with the honor of being knighted, Xander has been one of the top rated prospects in the Sox farm system for some time now, and has an innate ability of knowing where the ball is at all times and possess some dazzling skills with the bat while up at the plate. He is constantly honing and improving his craft and is always looking at ways to get better as well.

The Sox have a great team heading into this year, and there is no way that they can exactly duplicate the magic that they displayed the year prior, but they can certainly attempt to do so and are most definitely in contention for a playoff spot at the end of the season with the possibility of defending their World Series title. It's entirely up to them what they intend to do with it and they clearly have a great team chemistry to help in that quest.

The Henry Millers Release New Single "Posies"

New York based collective The Henry Millers have just unveiled their brand new single titled "Posies". The song is an upbeat blend of indie-rock similar to that of Matt and Kim with a bold and unrelenting style that expresses the group's bare bones essence that is in full display both on record and on stage as well. I was impressed with the simplicity of the group and their ability to weave conscious melodies and upbeat wavelengths throughout that contributes to an overall well enjoyable listen by all and presents a case of curiosity as well for those to figure out what the group will do next.

To check out "Posies" for yourself, give it a listen on their Soundcloud page right here and for more info on The Henry Millers, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter over here. Check out their official website at this link here and check out their Bandcamp site right here.

Grand Cousin To Release Debut EP This Spring

The product of Wesleyan University in Connecticut, indie-alternative upstarts Grand Cousin are gearing up for the release of their debut EP slated for release in the Springtime. The trio is in good company as other prominent musicians have come out of the same university, most notably MGMT and Santigold, but these guys have a straight forward indie sound similar in vein to Vampire Weekend with a sound that is all their own, and represents the hard work aesthetic that is embedded within their mainframe that has begun a shift in their popularity, and are beginning to generate buzz in the NYC region with their performances at Arlene's Grocery to name a few. It should also interest you and make a note of that Henry Hall is the son of Julia Louis-Dreyfus of Seinfeld fame, so that will definitely incite interest from both music and sitcom junkies who have a genuine appreciation for both fields.

For more info on Grand Cousin, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter here. Check out their official website here for more info about them and check out their music now available for streaming on Soundcloud here. Recommended tracks include "Let Me Know" and "Camera".

Artist Spotlight: Major League

Closing out the week with another edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, in commemoration of MLB Opening Day happening on Monday, we head down to Mantua, New Jersey where we come across the intense punk sounds of Major League. The band consists of Brian Joyce on guitar and lead vocals, Matt Chila on guitar and vocals, Kyle Bell on bass, and Luke Smartnick on drums. The group has an intense, fleeting, no nonsense punk sound that is totally derived from the band's individual influences that when combined, sound like a breath of fresh air and makes you feel lucky that there are still talented musicians walking this earth who just plain love making music and hanging out with each other after a show. I came across these guys randomly while surfing the Internet because their name caught my eye, seeing as I'm a huge MLB fanatic and I'd thought I give their music a whirl, and boy am I glad I did because their music is some of the most honest and cutting edge punk music that I've heard in quite some time and evokes the characteristics of a band who have a strong sense of self-identity and confidence that other bands would be envious to have right now. A terrific up and coming act that is required listening in my book. Some tracks for you to check out include "Subject To Change" and "I Don't Like You, Whatsoever".

For more information on Major League, head on over to their Facebook page right here and see for yourself what honest to goodness music they have conjured up for you. The band is on Twitter from this location here and find out when they'll be making their way to the Bay State sometime soon for a concert appearance. Visit their official website here for more info and to purchase merchandise, and check out their Bandcamp site over here to check out all of their music they have released to this point, which is also available on iTunes and Amazon MP3 as well.

The Colourist Release Music Video For "We Won't Go Home"

Orange County, CA's own The Colourist just released their music video last week for the song "We Won't Go Home". The clip is a colorful number featuring the band performing in a variety of backgrounds interspersed with a barrage of monochromatic settings and expressing the band's high energy blend of indie rock that has its own identity and is well represented through the various band members who each contribute a certain style to the band that can't be duplicated by anyone else. I throughly enjoyed the clip and I think it does a great job of expressing their sound to those who haven't heard of the band yet, and I thought it was a great first impression from my end.

For more information on The Colourist, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter here. Head over to iTunes and pick up their self-titled debut album which just came out the other day right over here.

Artist Spotlight: Roam

Time for another edition of Artist Spotlight for the masses today! We're going to head across the pond to Eastbourne, United Kingdom just east of Brighton where we come across the intense and vivacious pop-punk sounds of Roam. The band consists of Alex Costello on lead vocals, Alex Adam on vocals and guitar, Sam Veness on guitar, Matt Roskilly on bass, and Charlie Pearson on drums. The band has a youthful, fun loving vibe to them that is reminiscent of blink-182 and The Starting Line with their passion and enthusiasm well represented throughout the lyrics and sound that totally defines who they are as musicians and regular chaps as well. I first heard of them when two of the members stripped down and appeared on the Critical Wave UK "In the Tub" series that I've mentioned countless times here on the site and I was curious to check out their sound which I was very impressed with and how they were able to communicate with the listening audience as well at their shows, something which is essential for any band to master the art of as it gives fans a chance to interact and eventually become lifelong and devoted supporters of the group in the process. A terrific up and coming act that is worthy of some attention here in the U.S. Some tracks for you to enjoy include "You Never Said" and "Sticker Slap".

For more information on Roam, give them a 'Like' on Facebook here and discover what they're all about. You can follow them on Twitter from this location over here and find out if they intend on performing here in the States sometime soon. Visit their official Bandcamp site right here to listen to their latest effort titled "Head Down" along with all of their other music that they've released as well.

Sulene - Holding Words Back

Sulene Van Der Walt of Helicopria fame is stepping out on her own with her debut solo EP titled Holding Words Back. The 4 song collection is a terrific gathering of lyrical sonnets that read like poetry and express Sulene's unique and dynamic personality that has been yearning to break free for quite some time now.

The title track starts things out, and even though is only just a minute long, it offers up a mysterious aura and vibe that shows the musical images that we may come into contact with during our listening experience. "Purgatory" is my favorite track off the disc that totally encapsulates the sound and vibe that Sulene was aiming for when she first stepped into the studio to craft these songs. It has a distinct Paramore vibe to it that melds in wonderfully with the poetic imagery that is omnipresent throughout Sulene's lyrics. "Worst Version of Me" is a more aggressive, high energy number that moves at a faster pace than the others and presents a breadth of diversity emanating strongly from Sulene's musical conscience that is running a mile and minute and gives us a whole smorgasbord of emotion based around the gravity well surrounding her. "Lovers Lost" closes it all out with a mostly acoustic based number that showcases Sulene's abilities as a singer-songwriter and how dedicated and passionate she is towards her craft that has evolved greatly from her beginnings, and has blossomed into a fully confident and driven musician capable of anything put right in front of her. I've had the pleasure of knowing Sulene for a couple of years now, going back to the time I first saw her with Helicopria back in early 2012 at Cafe 939, right near the Berklee College of Music where she attended. I was impressed with her stage presence, but most important her sheer beauty set her apart from the crowd and made me realize that she was the true star of the show, and had her own independent voice that was totally segregated from the rest of the group which I didn't know at that time. Now seeing her on her own makes me realize that her dream and vision is finally coming to fruition and is beginning to unravel and showcasing to everyone the confident woman she has become.

Overall, a terrific and outstanding debut effort from Sulene, a hauntingly beautiful creative force that has made her dreams a reality by striking out on her own and seeing what lays beyond the confines of the musical fence that is brimming with untapped potential.

                                                                                                                               EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Holding Words Back
2. Purgatory
3. Worst Version of Me
4. Lovers Lost   

NOTE: Sulene's EP is only available for download via iTunes at this link located right here.

Lineup Announced for Lollapalooza Festival

The lineup for this year's Lollapalooza festival has been unveiled, and this one is as diverse as the ones in years before! This year's festival will be held from August 1-August 3rd in Grant Park in Chicago. Headlining this year's extravaganza will be: Eminem, Outkast, Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Skrillex, Lorde, The Avett Brothers, Foster The People, Broken Bells, Spoon, The Head and The Heart, Cage the Elephant, Young the Giant, Interpol, Phantogram, Fitz & The Tantrums, Grouplove, Portugal. The Man, Chromeo, Manchester Orchestra, The Airborne Toxic Event, Phosphorescent, The Temper Trap, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kate Nash, and countless others.

For more info on other artists performing at the festival and to purchase tickets, simply head over to their official website here and find out everything that there is to know about this year's Lollapalooza.

San Francisco Giants Player Music Special

Today's MLB Player Music Special takes us to the city by the bay otherwise known as San Francisco, home of the Giants. These guys have been very near and dear to my heart for several years and have been following them faithfully since 2008. My heart totally skips a beat every time I think of them and just seeing AT&T Park on TV and the boats lined up in McCovey Cove makes me feel like I'm in heaven. The team has been one of the top teams in baseball in the 2010's, winning 2 World Series Championships in '10 and '12, with a premiere pitching staff consisting of Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and 2 time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum. With former NL MVP Buster Posey behind the plate, the team is locked and loaded for this year with the acquisitions of Michael Morse and Tim Hudson designed to stock up the lineup a bit. Here is the music that can be heard on the speakers of the park with the players personal walk up song choices:

Angel Pagan: Calle 13 - Baile De Los Pobres

The center fielder has some Latin flavored tunes in honor of his heritage as his walk up song choice. Angel was tremendous during the Giants 2012 postseason run, hitting leadoff in most of those games and being instrumental in their eventual World Series victory over the Tigers. With amazing defensive skills and a strong offensive showing at the plate, Pagan is the centerpiece of the Giants lineup and will continue to be for some time if he remains healthy.

Brandon Belt: Jay-Z - 99 Problems

The first baseman also affectionately known as "The Giraffe" has this gritty Jay-Z track and his walk up music. Belt has been gradually improving his offensive mindset at the plate, while playing a heck of a game at first base as well. I've seen Brandon come up from the very beginning, and has helped his team in more ways than one with his relentless pursuit of becoming a great major league first baseman.

Brandon Crawford: J. Cole - God's Gift

Another Brandon has some hip-hop flavor with his walk up song selection. This shaggy haired shortstop plays a great defensive game, diving right into the oncoming traffic of baseballs hit in his general direction, grabbing them down each and every time he gets it in his glove. His offensive numbers continue to improve each year and while not matching those of his fellow teammates, he knows where his strengths are and what his role is.

Buster Posey: Brantley Gilbert - Hell On Wheels

The southern charm of the catcher Posey is well represented in this Southern fried nugget right here. The Georgia native has been a fan favorite ever since arriving in 2010, helping his team win the World Series that year over the Rangers, and continually puts up terrific numbers year after year. A leg injury wiped out most of his 2011 season, but he returned the following year and won the NL MVP along with his 2nd World Series ring. Buster is the model player and a exemplary gentleman.

Hunter Pence: Justin Moore - Beer Time

The Houston, TX native and right fielder has this country number as his personal warm up track. Also known as "The Reverend", a nickname he earned during the Giants comeback victory over the Reds in the 2012 NLDS with his inspirational and motivating speech, Hunter is a true leader and carries the team on his shoulders night in and night out. With his bulbous eyes and flair for the dramatic, Pence is the player that fans will instantly love.

Madison Bumgarner: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man

MadBum has some classic rock from the south in the form of Lynyrd Skynyrd as his entrance music. Bumgarner has been an integral part of the Giants rotation for a few years now, and has a tremendous ability to pitch deep into ballgames and throw hitters off balance with his extensive pitch arsenal. His humble and laid-back demeanor has made him a huge inspiration to up and coming athletes and myself included.

Ryan Vogelsong: Alter Bridge - Metalingus

Vogey has this 'song' as his entrance tune heading out to the mound. Ryan has had a fascinating journey en route to the major leagues, first pitching for the Giants in 2000, but he left and went to the Pirates and also pitched overseas in Japan as well. Returning to San Fran in 2011, he earned himself a spot in the rotation where he's been ever since, constantly honing in on his skills and reevaluating his game time and time again.

Sergio Romo: Banda MS - El Machon

The ever vibrant closer has some Latino flavor to add to his game with this entrance song choice. Romo took over the closing duties full time last year after the departure of another bearded closer, Brian Wilson. Sergio knows how to keep things loose and limber, and is ready to charge out of the gate when his time on the mound comes, and throws some serious heat to earn the save and bring his team to victory countless times.

The Giants are a team that I'll always have on their back, both figuratively and literally. San Francisco is #1 on the list of places I would like to visit, and I plan on making it my mission to getting out to AT&T Park this year and seeing where the champs play and where the hearts of true players and unbridled baseball enthusiasm reside.

Artist Spotlight: Arms and Ears

Kicking off the final week of March with an all new installment of Artist Spotlight! Today, we keep it local here in Boston and touch upon the diverse sounds of Arms and Ears. The band consists of Rocco D'Angelo on lead vocals and guitar, Alex Martin on drums and percussion, Theresa Cleary on vocals and violin, Casey Sullivan on vocals and guitar, Nicholas Castucci on bass, and Chris Mansi on keys and synth. The band's sound is a mysterious and rapturous blend of subtle indie rock influences that have a dark edge to them, but is not too jarring for the prospective listener and adds a nice touch of violin to complement the sound and bring it out to the forefront to keep the listening audience occupied. I caught these guys a few weeks back at The Middle East Upstairs where they showed a strong stage presence that kept the people in their crowd with their eyes focused on the action taking place there, and what was about to transpire next with the violin added a great deal of identification and symbolism to a band that is moving up the rungs of the Boston local music scene ladder. Some songs to take a listen at include "Chapter 2" and "Soon".

For more information on Arms and Ears, check them out on Facebook here and give them a 'Like' if you enjoy their musical stylings. You can follow them on Twitter as well over here and communicate directly with the band to see when they'll performing in the Boston area again. Visit their official website located here for more in depth information concerning them, and stream their latest EP titled "Hammer and Feather" for free on Soundcloud right over here.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Music Choices

Today's edition of my MLB Player Music Special belongs to one of the oldest teams in existence, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Founded in 1891, they were one of the most beloved and successful teams of the era starting out, but have failed to generate anything exciting in the Burgh, failing to make the playoffs for 20 years until last year, when they made it to the postseason and reignited fan interest that had been dormant for quite some time. With a cavalcade of players including Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker, the Pirates are looking to build upon the success that they achieved last year. Here is what some of the players are moving and grooving to on their playlists:

Andrew McCutchen: TNIGHT - Higher Ground

The dreadlock shone outfielder has this eclectic track as his walk up song of choice. Buoyed with outstanding offensive skills and a stretched out arm that can grab fast falling baseballs with remarkable accuracy, McCutch has generated an intense amount of buzz and excitement in the area with his laid back and relaxed demeanor giving the Pirates a fighting chance each and every night at PNC Park.

Clint Barmes: Journey - Don't Stop Believing

The dynamic shortstop has this somewhat of a cliche music choice as his walk up song. The former Rockie has reasonable skills as a defender, jumping at every baseball that is hit in his general direction to knock out down and generate a positive result in the form of an out. His offensive skills are continually improving at the very moment, and is looking to contribute in any way he can for the upcoming season.

Jason Grilli: Pearl Jam - Whipping

The dynamic closer known as "The Grill" chose this Pearl jam track as his entrance song. The team has had a revolving door of closers the last few years and had a reliable one in the form of Joel Hanarahan before he went to the Red Sox before suffering a season ending injury there. The new closer Grilli has generated some serious shut down skills and has kept his team in the thrill of victory multiple times night in and night out.

Mark Melancon: AC/DC - Thunderstruck

The former Red Sox setup man has this blaring AC/DC track as his entrance music. Mark has had some rough times in his career to say the least, usually bearing the brunt of his mistakes due to pitch locations being left too far out in front of the plate, but has slowly started to repair his deficiencies that has helped avoid being pulled out of the game too quickly and remaining in to help his team's cause.

Neil Walker: Wiz Khalifa - Work Hard, Play Hard

Pittsburgh's native son has this track from the hometown rapper behind the song "Black and Yellow". The popular second baseman has risen to the top of the game with his unique defensive skills on display each night, while also showing incredible plate discipline along with some outstanding offensive power that helped his team win 94 games last year en route to a postseason berth.

Pedro Alvarez: The Notorious BIG - Juicy

The third baseman has this excellent 90's throwback hip-hop track as his walk up song. With sharp defensive skills and clutch hits spread about here and there have made Pedro a hot commodity in the Steel City, and has a remarkable poise to him that allows him to adapt to anything thrown his way, making him a jack of all trades in the process.

Travis Snider: Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

The former Blue Jay has some serious grunge flavor to add with one of the most influential songs of the 90's right here. Snider has been up and down the last few years, have spurts of progress here and there, but has started to right the ship and sharpen up his game a bit with improved defensive capabilities and sharp increases in offensive numbers that has made me a clutch player that can be depended on when the opportunity arises.

I have yet to visit the city of Pittsburgh, but I plan on stopping by sometime in the near future and attend a ball game at PNC Park. This city definitely has a special magic with its historical roots in baseball and the steel industry, and I look forward to seeing what the city by the Three Rivers has to offer me.

Queensland Bred Calan Mai Releases Debut Song "We've Got Love"

Queensland, Australia native Calan Mai has just released his debut single titled "We've Got Love". The song is an outstanding, lyrically conscious number that really grabs a hold of you immediately, and comforts you with soothing melodies and Calan's amazing vocals that gave me shivers the first time I heard it, with elements of Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and Mumford & Sons brought to the forefront and are well represented throughout his music. What I love about Calan is that his music is uniquely him, he doesn't try to be anyone else but himself because that's all he strives to be, and is an extremely dedicated and passionate individual who genuinely loves what he does for a living, and loves being around people to express his music to those who are curious to listen to what he has to say. This lovely mate has a very promising future ahead of him that's for sure.

If you would like to check out "We've Got Love" for yourself, give it a listen on his Soundcloud page located right here, and give him a 'Like' on Facebook here and follow him on Twitter over here. Keep an eye out for his debut EP titled "Days On The Rock Face" scheduled for release sometime in July.

Brooklyn Based Stargazy Release New Single "The Fashion"

Brooklyn based indie rock sensations Stargazy have just released their brand new track titled "The Fashion". The song has a dense and melodic indie rock sound with hints of Radiohead thrown in for good measure and gives it a hint of diversity as well to showcase the talents of everyone in the group, and what it sounds like when 6 highly talented musicians come together to craft such honest and passionate music that they feel very strongly about, and I'm sure others will too. These guys have received some love from publications such as The Village Voice and Brooklyn Vegan, and they are more than welcome to grace the stages of my site anytime and expose their sound to some Beantown music lovers.

If you would like to check out "The Fashion" for yourself, it's available for streaming through Hype Machine at this link here, and please check them out on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter right here.

Lower Lands Calls It A Day

Some sad news coming in from across the pond. Lincoln UK based Lower Lands, who were featured on last year's Towering Over London compilation have announced that they have gone their separate ways. The news came in the way of a Facebook post that went up earlier this morning. Here is the full text of their post:

It's time to let everyone know what's going on: The end of last year was a difficult time for us, we had a lot of things going on in our personal lives that made it hard for us to operate as the unit we once did and eventually it got so much that we decided to take some time apart. 

We've now come to the decision to put this band to rest and move on, which was not an easy decision to make. For one week only we'll be putting our whole discography for free download on Bandcamp, including an acoustic record we made in October of last year which we never released. After that, it's gone for ever and will not be re-appearing so get it while you can if you haven't already.

Obviously, this is the end of the road for this band but not for us as people. Jacob and Rob are excelling at their studies and Paul and Ben have taken a new musical direction in the form of Fizzy Blood. Thanks to everyone who ever bought anything from us, shared our music or generally gave a shit. That's all for now.

I totally loved these guys, and they were gracious enough to do an interview for the site last May which you can view right here, and the band also bared some skin for their famous 'In The Tub' interview from Critical Wave UK that I've posted directly below in case you missed it. These lovely lads created awesome music that was rampant all throughout England, and resonated strongly with the local music scene there which I've covered to a great extent here on the site and am a strong advocate for as well. I wish the fellas well in their future musical endeavors.

Artist Spotlight: Sin Fang

Wrapping up the week and heading into the weekend for Artist Spotlight! Today, we over to Reykjavik, Iceland where we stumble on the mellow and electronic infused sounds of Sin Fang. He has been making a name for himself in his native homeland since 2009, and has brought with him the sounds that surround his native country each and every day, and they are a outstanding melange of mellow indie instrumentation and soft whimpers of electronic elements thrown in that when combined together, create an outstanding and diverse musical mixture that is unique and unlike any other music currently out there in the stratosphere today. I caught him in concert last weekend at the Reykjavik Calling festival, and I was instantly hooked on his musical message and it immediately made me feel relaxed and attentive to everything that was transpiring on stage right in front of me. Sin Fang seems to have a very peaceful and laid-back disposition to me, and that same vibe resonates in his music and describes the wonderful human being that he is inside and out. A terrific up and coming musician deserving of some notice here in the U.S. Some songs of his for you to check out include "Look At The Light" and "What's Wrong With Your Eyes".

For more information on Sin Fang, head on over to his Facebook page here and give it a 'Like' if you feel the positive vibes emanating from his music. You can follow him on Twitter as well from right over here and find out when he'll be making his way to the U.S. again sometime soon. His official website is located here and contains links to all of his music and more pertinent information about him, and also check out his Tumblr site as well here.

St. Louis Cardinals Music Picks

Today's MLB Player Music Special takes us to Busch Stadium, home of last year's National League champion, the St. Louis Cardinals. The team was in fine form last year in the postseason, rolling over the Pirates and Dodgers en route to their second trip to the World Series in 3 years, only to fall at the hands of the Boston Red Sox in 6 games. The team is largely unchanged from last year, despite the loss of Carlos Beltran, the team has retained their chemistry and their nonstop revolving door of talent that just never seems to stop impressing the fans and the Cardinals organization alike. Here is a look at their musical choices:

Adam Wainwright: Alabama - Song of The South

The ace of the staff Wainwright has this song representative of his Southern roots with this country tinged track. The Georgia native has been a mainstay in the starting rotation for the Cards for a few years now, and possessing a dazzling display of fastballs and cutters that are designed to explode on impact on hitters, while having the ability to stay in the game for 7-8 innings each outing. A fierce competitor on the mound but a humble and laid-back guy off the mound.

Daniel Descalso: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California

The infielder has this tune from the Chili Peppers, who are also from the Golden State where he has his roots implanted as well. With a finely tuned bat and a gifted glove, Descalso can be depended on each time his name comes up in the lineup and possess a high aptitude for getting to a pitcher and hitting those balls on contact when they come over in the middle of the plate.

Jason Motte: Green Day - Brain Stew

This bearded reliever who also spent time as a closer is in fine form with this classic Green Day tune. Motte, who missed most of last year due to Tommy John surgery and was unable to participate in the postseason, is fully healed and ready to contribute to his team any way he can with his strong pitching arm ready to elevate his team to victories night after night.

 Jon Jay: Pitbull - Born and Raised

The Miami bred Jay has the Latin flavored sounds of Pitbull as his walk up track. Jay possess a strong bat and fiery glove, as evidenced during last year's postseason and is a tremendous athlete with his keen eyes and persistent offense on display each time he goes up to the plate, and this song helps feel loose and limber while doing just that.

Lance Lynn: Hank Williams Jr. - Country Boy Can Survive

This strong starter has the sounds of none other than Hank Williams Jr. to walk out to on the mound. Lynn has been pitching for the Cardinals since 2011, and has anchored a strong pitching staff that is one of the model staffs in all of baseball with their ability to get strong starts out of each of their pitchers, while also remaining relatively healthy along the way, something which is very difficult to do.

 Matt Holliday: Jim Johnston - WWE: Crank It Up (Big Show)

The left fielder Holliday has some wrestling music courtesy of Big Show as his entrance music. Currently signed with the club on a 7-year, $120 million deal, Holliday is a highly skilled outfielder, reeling in balls that venture out too far near the warning track that he can deal with at ease. At the plate, he is a highly skilled offensive player with strong vision that allows him to see the pitch he wants and quickly obliterate it.

Peter Bourjos: Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg - Still D.R.E.

The former Angel has this Dre and Snoop hit from years ago as his entrance song. The center fielder is currently getting acclimated with his new club, and has greatly improved his accuracy and range to fit the depths of Busch Stadium so that he knows when to stop and size up the ball properly so that the out can be recorded.

 Shelby Miller: Macklemore - Can't Hold Us

This young gun has this Macklemore track as his song in his journey to the mound. At just 23 years of age, Shelby has made an indelible impression on the minds of Cardinals fans with his beautiful arm and plentiful pitch selection a mind boggling gem, and has consistently garnered high praise for his strong work ethic and humble charm making an impression on everyone in St. Louis.

Yadier Molina: Wisin Y Yandel - Sigan Ballando

The backstop has this Latin track as his walk up tune of choice. Coming from a family of catchers, Yadier has tremendous pitch calling capabilities and knows when to stay on the same page with catchers and communicate effectively so that they know what the plan of attack is each and every time. With a strong offensive state of mind at the plate, Yadier is the one you can always depend on each time he comes up to bat.

I totally respect the Cardinal organization for their ability to constantly churn out talent at an impeccable rate. Much like the Red Sox farm system, they have an ability to know when certain players are ready to move on the big leagues and hold onto them for a length of time, and usually stay a Cardinal for life much like the players that came in before them.