Fitz and the Tantrums - Hands Clap

Michael's new look is doing it for me. I really dig the haircut. You know I love this group. Have for a very long time. And this video is no different than their other videos in stellar production and quality cinematography. Noelle is gorgeous and the dancing is fantastic. I kind of feel sorry for The Tantrums as they just seem like set dressing and I hope they don't feel that way in this video as they are an integral part of the band. And I really didn't need to look at Fitz and go....damn. But he is cute to me in this video. I can't wait for the new album as all the previews have been stellar.

Fitz and the Tantrums - Roll Up

Can this band do any wrong? It seems they can't. Each release from their new album just gets better and better. Michael and Noelle sound so amazing and this song is just damn catchy. It's going to be all over every advertisement and network bumper before the summer is over. Believe that. I am such a huge fan. Have been for a very long time. This album is gonna be bananas.

Fitz and The Tantrums - Spark

It seems Fitz and the Tantrums can do no wrong. The new teaser track from their upcoming release, Out Of My League just proves their is no limit to the amount of funk they can squeeze out.  The hook is crazy, the chorus is crazy and the beat is just awesome.  I don't want to take away from the track too much, so just listen to it.  It's great.

Fitz and the Tantrums - Out of My League

Change.  It's important, it's inevitable, it's constant.  We have to have it in order to grow and mature and become something more than just creatures in a state of perpetual stagnation.  Fitz and crew proved they could totally rock the blues/rock vibe on their first album and with the release of the official audio for the lead single off their next project, they have made a stylistic leap into new territory.  It's still full of amazing Fitz moments.  The piano, the syncopation, Noelle's harmonies and Fitz's amazing vocals.  If you aren't bobbing along by like the :25 second mark, we probably can't be friends.  This is such a killer sound.  It just builds and builds and creates this pretty perfect storm of a song.  I think I am going to really enjoy the second album if there is more that sounds like this.  I've listened to it over and over now and I am really really impressed.

Fitz and the Tantrums - Don't Gotta Work It Out (FREE)

Just wanted to throw this out there again. If you haven't listened to Fitz and the Tantrums, you need to. As an incentive to get new listeners (which you shouldn't need any prompting, you should just do it) they are giving away "Don't Gotta Work It Out" for free. I hope it's like a drug and you have to go back and buy the album to get your fix because they deserve your support and you deserve some pretty groovin music in your life.

http://www.fitzandthetantrums.com - The download link is right on the front page.  Just go do it because I say so.

Fitz and the Tantrums - Pickin up the Pieces

Sometimes you need to throw an album on and groove.  You don't need high energy beats or melancholy moods, you just want to sit in a chair and get grimey with it.  Just get down and let the music handle all the hard business for you.  In their debut release, Fitz and the Tantrums do just that; from the opening bass and organ salvo of "Breakin the Chains of Love" to smokey, sultry laid back forlorn vibe of "Tighter" the over all feeling on Pickin Up the Pieces  is one that will just let you float along bobbing your head.  Some things that impress me the most about this album is the use of the organ, the lack of guitar and the baritone sax.  These instruments aren't necessarily forboden in the world of pop music but they just aren't your standard go to instruments.  I think that if you take everything that was great about the Motown sound, wrap it up with the sensibilities of Daryl Hall and John Oates and spin it with a modern message, you will have everything that Fitz sets out to do.

I think that they haven't reinvented the wheel, just added a much needed injection of soul into it.  Today's music scene is so littered with samples and overwrought production, that when something like this comes along, it makes you feel good.  It's like a palate cleanser that takes all the excess junk and washes it away.  I don't really think there is one song on this album that I don't like.  And it's one of the handful of records that I have gotten my hands on lately that I am damn glad I bought.  The combination of Michael Fitzgerald and Noelle Scaggs on the vocals add so much depth of character and flavor it just gives the album a ton of body.  I don't think the band would do as well if it were just Fitz or Noelle, it has to be both of them in order to work properly. And work properly it does.  The singles that have been released are "MoneyGrabber" and  "Don't Gotta Work it Out".  Both are perfectly fit to be singles and they have a similar enough vibe to make them a cohesive unit off the same album but different enough for them to stand on their own.

Just to prove they are awesome, here's a live version of MoneyGrabber with Daryl Hall. I mean how much cooler can you be. It's an awesome album when you need a break from all the other chaos and noise that the music industry is throwing your way. I've said it before with other albums, do yourself a favor and pick it up. You won't be disappointed.