GRUNGECAKE

Category: Albums

  • Song Premiere: Candace Bellamy’s “Johnny”

    Fellow creators: Do you find yourselves exceedingly procrastinating…

    Candace Bellamy

    …or are you consistently passing up on the greatest opportunities of your careers because you aren’t “prepared” or you’ve talked yourselves into noncommittal behaviour? Consider Candace Bellamy’s latest single your newest motivational force that will definitely rev up your engines to get back into the game. Today, we have the duty and merit of premiering Johnny, a song from her upcoming debut album In My Lane co-written by Bellamy, Ruth Carter (composer for Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Palmer, and John Mayall), and legendary bassist Jimi Calhoun (player with Dr. John, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Wilson Pickett, and Sly Stone). Needless to say, we couldn’t resist. It’s rocky tone, affirmative message paired with her powerful vocals were the formula of agreement.

    Ironically, this Austin-based soul singer started to sing because she needed a hobby. Before then, she was physician for the military. Ten years later, it led her to the songwriters mentioned above, and Jake Langley (Roberta Flack, Willie Nelson, k.d. lang), who mentored her, and became her co-writers.

    When asked who Johnny was, Candace replied [quote]Johnny is the guy from your neighborhood with all kinds of potential and promise. He falls in with the wrong crowd, he’s headed for a bad ending, and he’s also influencing the people around him with his bad decisions.[/quote]

    And because you’ll never get your time back again, Candace Bellamy and GrungeCake insists that you shake the devil off and get (re)started now. Candace Bellamy’s debut album In My Lane is scheduled for release on May 14th, 2013.

  • Review: Candace Bellamy’s “In My Lane”

    Image: David Heisler
    Image: David Heisler

    Delving into the submissions pile from record labels, a month ago, we listened to Candace Bellamy and we’re impressed! Considerably influenced by The Temptations, Roberta Flack and Aretha Franklin, Bellamy brings it on In My Lane. When listening to her sing, I imagined myself at a romantic dinner in Texas, sipping plum liquor.

    Physician by day and a soulstress by night, Bellamy started building her music career ten years ago. She’s paid dues in cover bands. She’s been involved in musical theatre, in fact, her role in an R&B version of “Porgy & Bess” impressed the New York Times. On her path, she’s worked with Ruth Carter, Jimi Calhoun and Jake Langley, who mentored her and her co-writers.

    “In My Lane”, Bellamy’s debut album is set to release on May 14. Stream the single “Put Down The Foot” below now:

    Put Down The Foot

    starts off as a rocky dance number. It’s about doing and taking the necessary steps to move forward. You’ve got to “put down the foot” when it comes to love. It’s time for affirmative, show and prove. Leading by example, showing the children, at the end of the song her ad libs suggest what you’ll go through along the way.

    I Don’t Know

    is about the miscommunication of love. Not knowing if she would be rejected when she gives him her heart. She let’s him know how much she loves and thinks about her guy. She questions his existence in their relationship. She describes the ups and downs of their relationship. She is reflecting on what he said of comfort. She’s questioning why he left without bidding her farewell.

    “Some days it’s so clear, she could see miles” into the future “than the clouds reappear and skies are gray again”.

    She wanted to know how their love turned into poison.

    Like Honey

    Expectancies. You smile when you lie. Heard it all before, Sunshine Anderson. Talks about being mistreated. If you feel good about you. Him justifying why he did what he did. Because she changed. Everyone changes. At the end of the song, she confronts him. Why do you treat me this way?

    Johnny

    From boy to man, wasted time is such a crime. Where are you going Johnny? Why are you going downhill? Once there was love in your heart, now there’s hate your skin. Talks about the turning point for some in life. Guitars sounds amazing!

    Expect

    N/A

    Walk Away

    N/A

    Skies Are Grey

    N/A

    Might As Well Be U

    is about taking a chance and letting go of fear. Messages include: Speaking your mind. The love of music is in your soul.

    Sweet Sweet Soul

    is a song for her grandmother. Talks about her “sweet sweet soul” and memories of eating her food and going to church with her.

  • Videodreams Announce New Album “Shipwrecks”

    Videodreams' album cover for "Shipwreck"

    Brothers Filippo and Marco Marra of Italy’s Videodreams cite poet Paul Eluard and filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky as two influences for their new album Shipwrecks, recently released on Ghost Records. But what separates them from their surrealist brethren is the level of accessibility to their work. Each track, the first single “Can’t Be Wrong Now” in particular, is both inspiring and catchy—contemplative and soothing to the ears. Though each song is strong enough to stand on its own, the album is best understood as a cohesive whole. Each song weaves seamlessly to the next, with the opening “Desire Becomes Destiny” and the closing “A Place” serving as proper bookends to a dense yet insightful album.

    Break is perhaps the standout track of the album. With pulsing keyboards, rich and layered shimmering guitar, and an unforgettable chorus, it ranks them with indie rock top guns like Grizzly Bear and Beach House.

    Beyond being strong instrumentalists and keen composers, the Marra brothers are also fine vocalists. They harmonize effortlessly with each other throughout the album, with the soaring “An Exercise” and “A Place” standing as testaments to their singing abilities.

    Shipwrecks is a fine and impressive release from Videodreams, sure to attract any and all fans of catchy indie pop—and sure to cement them as a band that will be with us for a long time.

    Videodreams shares new teaser for Shipwrecks out on April 9th (Ghost Records / Self). Watch the new “milky” teaser below and watch this page for full video:

    Update: Shipwrecks is now available. Click here to order.

    For more Videodreams, just click here.