Ana Matronic, people. Ana "Most powerful hype person in the biz" Matronic. I believe Rod has now worked with every member of Scissor Sisters, therefore he is an honorary member of the band. I love this song. It's one of my favorite off "Choreography" and I adore Ana so much. She's an amazing singer but I think this style of delivery is my favorite. It makes me think of the breakdown in "Any Which Way" of her addition to "Filthy Gorgeous" and the mixture of nostalgia and excitement makes me enjoy this song that much more. Rod says that the inspiration for this video was a movie titled 'Murderock' by Lucio Fulci, which I am not familiar with but I'm assuming it's about a murderous dance instructor - played deliciously by Ms. Matronic.
It's another brilliant song by Bright Light Bright Light and you know I am a huge fan of his work. Let me know what you think about it.
There can never be enough songs about self love and acceptance. And when they're done this beautifully, please bring them all on. BLBL has made an incredible song and a better video for this anthem about being the best version of yourself. It's a beautiful love letter to queer New York City and how being in an open environment makes you just open yourself up for opportunities and you want to learn how to be better. It's such a fun, powerful song and I can't get enough of it. He's got such a magical way with creating these songs that are experiences and they get inside you and just make you feel good.
You know I don't review mix tapes often and I generally don't go in on holiday themes but this one is AMAZING. Bright Light Bright Light has released his Halloween mixtape, cleverly named Cemetery of Two Hearts (thusly named after his single, Symmetry of Two Hearts) and it is good. It's amazingly good. As if I didn't expect anything but from him.
IT HAS "ROCK UNTIL YOU DROP" FROM THE MONSTER SQUAD. I repeat, he has included a song from The Monster Squad. David Bowie, Kate Bush, Tori Amos are all here. "Shake Senora" from Beetlejuice. He's just going out with tracks from all his favorite Halloween type movies.
And can we talk about his cover of "Touch Me" made famous by Cathy Dennis!!!! Rod knows exactly what he's doing and he knows how to properly leverage his platform. This cover is GORGEOUS. It's as if it was written for him specifically. And it is good. It is so good.
This is just a fun mixtape that will make you so stinking happy.
Whether it's the guest vocals from Elton John or the saxophone or the flat out genius that Rod Thomas has, there is no denying that he can do no wrong.
The second official video off his latest release, 'Choreography' is a gorgeous song and the video is amazing as well. "Symmetry of Two Hearts" is probably one of the best out and out pop tunes that I've heard in a while. His lyrics are always brilliant. His voice is one of my all time favorites and he's just a phenomenal songwriter and artist. Not going to talk anymore, going to let the video do it for me. I'll have a full review of 'Choreography' very soon.
If you don't know who Bright Light Bright Light is by now, I don't think I can help you. This is a new single from his album, 'Choreography', due out July 15, 2016 and I honestly think he is one of THE voices of our generation. He's an amazing lyricist and his arrangements are ridiculously great. Who would have thought to add that saxophone at the beginning of the track but it added an amazing bit of coolness that just rolls into the track. And then again at the end of the track. It's just the coolest thing I think I've heard in a while. I've been a fan of Rod's for a very long time. I think what he does is genius and it's a shame that he's not a household name by now. This song is just beautiful. The arrangement is, hands down, one of the coolest things that I think I've heard in a while. I cannot wait for this new album to come out because it's just going to be more of the fantastic music he's been releasing for years. There seems to be a bit more hope and joy in this song and I hope that's a reflection of where he's at in his life right now. We all deserve the chance to cultivate any ounce of happiness we can. The way his voice just swells in the chorus makes me swoon. He's brilliant. And I could go on and on gushing about him but I will let the song do it for me.
It simply doesn't matter what he does. Anything Rod Thomas touches is sure to be evocative. It's going to make you feel something, whether it's hope or sadness and despair or so many emotions along the spectrum. His ability to express the exact feeling that we all have done at some point is only overshadowed by the way he is able to put it to music and give it universal appeal. "This Is Me Without You" is the B-side to "Moves" off his latest EP and it's just dripping with brilliance.
It's a song about growth and change and perseverance. It's something that we all have experienced in one way or another and whether it be amiable or bittersweet or even downright hurtful, underneath it all we want to be able to walk away and dust ourselves off and keep going. We want to be able to examine our scars and experiences and make the best out of it that we can.
I feel like I can never speak highly enough about Rod because he is quickly becoming what I consider to be one of the voices of my generation. He speaks more truths in his music that most people do on a daily basis.
A piano and a voice. Sometimes when it's the right arrangement and the right voice, it's simply amazing. Bright Lightx2 is the perfect combination. He is pure magic and has an amazing ability to craft a song that touches every part of the emotional spectrum. I have had amazing luck lately with artists that are simply haunting and this track is no different. It has such longing and just makes you feel. I simply don't have the words to properly describe this song. It's a masterpiece. Plain and simple.
It's astounding what the change in an arrangement can do. When you hear the track with the alterations, it can either make an impression or it can leave you shaking your head at what the producer was trying to do. Bright Light Bright Light never ceases to amaze me with how he hears a track. His world must be filled with such creative energy it's immeasurable. What he's done with Billie Ray Martin's club banger is a work of genius. It's taken this song that was on one end of the emotional spectrum and tilt shifted it and sent it to the other end. What your left with is this forlorn and heart-achingly beautiful ode to that one person that can make everything better. Slowing it down and removing all the production has created something so much greater than it was before. And I say, Bravo. Keep doing what you're doing Mr. Thomas.
It's that time again. Every year I pick out my most favorite moments from the previous year. It isn't necessarily a song or an album but something that has happened in the world of music that I feel has a quantifiable effect on the world in one way or another. There has been a tremendous amount of news this year from the passing away of many beloved artists to formations of new groups and winners all across the board in various musical competitions. This list is my way of wrapping up the year and giving a nod to everyone that made a difference in my life musically. Without further fanfare, here are the top 25 events in the music industry that have left an indelible mark on my life forever.
"When the world falls apart, you're the reason there's still hope in my heart".
I don't think it gets clearer than that. That's a lyric that makes you just swoon. That's a lyric that you want said to you. It's what a mixtape is made up of. If this was 1992, I would be sitting in my room with a blank tape in my boombox waiting for the radio station to play this song so I could record it off the top 10. I would then listen to it over and over until I had worn out the tape. I don't think there is anyone of the cassette age that doesn't know exactly what I'm talking about. It was that magical age before the internet and digital downloads when you went to Sound Shop or Camelot Music at the mall and bought the cassette single so that you were on the cutting edge. When the invention of auto-reverse on my Sony Walkman changed the whole game.
Rod Thomas, aka Bright Light Bright Light, is hands down one of my most favorite performers of all time. He is honest and he creates music that has an incredible way of getting straight to the heart of you. He can conjure images and emotions with 8 bars and it's the most wonderous trip you've ever been on. This video is for his new single, "Feel It" which is one of the most amazing tracks off his debut album and I think I've said it before...if this is just his debut...I can't wait to see where he takes us next. But back to "Feel It".
I'm going to make a gigantic profession. I am going to throw caution to the wind and just say it. You are the person that I want to spend my time with. You are the person that makes me feel all the feelings and if I don't let you know then I may just go crazy.
You know you've been there. You know that you were going to make a huge ass out of yourself but you had to because the words were burning a hole in your chest and they had to come out. This is what I'm talking about. This is how I know that BLx2 is a genius. He takes what I'm feeling and puts it into the words that I knew were there but didn't know how to express them. There are only a handful of artists that I trust implicitly with my emotions and he is one of them.
The video is super fun. There's nothing over the top or outlandish. You don't need all that when the music speaks for itself. What the video does have is a cameo by Rod's good friend, Del Marquis. I want to see a side project that has the two of them and they make amazing 90s inspired pop and they have crazy guests on the album: Crystal Waters, Rozella, Company B, Cathy Dennis. How fun would that be. Someone set up a Kickstarter, STAT!!
I think this album is deceptively simple. What starts out as a very easy going, carefree pop album quickly turns into on of the most astounding records I've listened to in a while. From melancholy lyrics to soaring 90s-inspired freestyle house anthems, this album is actually pretty brilliant. You can easily sit down and listen to it and let it take you where you need to go because it is just that easy. There are amazing messages of hope and positive growth on this album. Rod Thomas seems to be able to take so much emotion and roll it up into amazing art. This is also where his magic comes in, the songs will have you bobbin your head and tapping your feet from the outset but then when you stop for a minute and actually listen to the lyrics, you're just swept up in this tidal wave of emotion that he so eloquently controls and has no problems moving you through.
Songs like "Cry at Films", "Grace", "Love Part II" and practically all the other tracks will just hit you in the what ever emotional center you need them too. "Disco Moment" is this brilliant song about the end of a relationship and the lyrics are heart wrenching but it's paired against this driving, pulsating beat and the juxtaposition of the two just wears you out in the best possible way. I just really don't have any other words to say than....wow. There just comes a point when you listen to this album that you just have to stop everything you're doing and just give it all over to him. I mean, hell, he's got you wrapped around his finger anyway, might as well just go all in.
This is easily going to be one of my top five albums of 2012 and there are 6 months left in the year. I will be a huge advocate for him because this album from start to finish is nothing but sheer genius. The album is going to be available for purchase in the States soon so please buy it when it comes out. I want him to have some following in the United States because he has shown that he clearly deserves it. I want to give him all my money.
