BEST OF 2011!! (December 25, 2011)

It's that time of year again! Our look back at the best Emerge Music of the year!  Because I originally started this in 2002 making "Best Of" CDs for friends the "rules" are that the songs must have been released in the prior year and that the list as a whole must fit on a standard length CD (80 minutes).  I try to stick to lesser known "emerging" bands.  The songs are put together to make an enjoyable listening experience and are NOT in any type of priority order.

With no further ado, here is this year's "BEST OF 2011" track listing!

Emerge Music Group "Best of 2011" list 

1. Haven't Had Enough - Marianas Trench
2. Make A New Dance Up - Hey Ocean
3. Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
4. The Letter - Melodime
5. This Little Girl - Cady Groves
6. Austin - One Hot Minute
7. Gravity - Barnaby Bright
8. Waiting For You - Amy Kuney
9. The Geeks Will Inherit The Earth - I Fight Dragons
10. Take 2 or 3 - Tim Blane
11. Up Off The Ground - Love Via Dance Machine
12. Turn Me On - Lelia Broussard
13. Song for the Suburbs - Ben Rector
14. Mirror - Amber Rubarth (featuring Jason Mraz)
15. Gravity - Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
16. Let's Go - Mike and Cody
17. The Worst Thing About Me - We Are The In Crowd
18. Twenty Something - Graham Colton
19. Given Up on Giving Up on You - Throwing Gravity
20. Memphis - Delta Rae
21. Close Me Eyes- Plain Jane Automobile
22. We Are Young - fun. (featuring Janelle Mone)

MOST of these songs are available on iTunes and we've made a playlist for your convenience:
http://c.itunes.apple.com/us/imix/emerge-music-group-best-2011/id491950730

Alexa Wilkinson (December 18, 2011)

Alexa Wilkinson (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexa-Wilkinson/21063662344 is everything I want in a singer songwriter.  She has a gorgeous voice, she writes songs that are instantly accessible and intriguing, she creates music that in studio form feels like a full, complete piece of music and can also be performed live easily with just her and a guitar without losing anything.  Her songs "Waiting" and "Grey Skies" are two of my favorites and can be heard on her facebook page. 

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Goodnight Argent (December 11, 2011)

Goodnight Argent (http://www.goodnightargent.com) is this week's featured band.  This Washington state band has a radio friendly alternative rock sound.  They have a growing fan based that partially has been helped by winning the John Lennon International Songwriting competition! Their EP "Ignorance is Paradise" is available now and is great.  They also have some fantastic cover songs available for a quick sign up on their website so definitely go grab those!

Special thanks to Emerge member Noah Silver for suggesting this band!!
Have a great week and enjoy the music!

Ira

Ella Riot (December 4, 2011)

So this isn't something I do often but this week I'm featuring a band that has recently announced it is going on "hiatus." But their music is still great and I want you all to hear it - so check out Ella Riot (http://www.facebook.com/ellariot to hear some fun, upbeat dance music.  Their song "Replaceable" is a favorite and on their facebook page check out the great song/video "It Could Be." Both songs (and a few others) are on their "Love Child" EP which is on all major digital download sites.

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Jinja Safari (November 27, 2011)

Jinja Safari (http://www.facebook.com/jinjasafari) is a fantastic Australian band that combines rock and pop with a lot of influence from their home country.  Their self titled EP features great songs such as "Peter Pan" and "Vagabond." Their new song "Hiccups" (now available on Amazon MP3) really showcases what they are all about!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

The Incredible Kicks (November 20, 2011)

We're going down under this week to feature Australian pop rock group The Incredible Kicks (http://www.facebook.com/theincrediblekicks). Their new EP "Fairytales" is terrific with great songs like "Not on Me" and the title track. Fans of bands like Ok Go and Tally Hall will get a "kick" out of this great band!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Mike and Cody (November 13, 2011)

Mike and Cody (http://www.facebook.com/mikeandcody) have just released their debut EP and are giving it away for whatever you want to pay (from zero up to ??) simply by going to http://mikeandcody.bandcamp.com/album/lets-go. 

These two friends, originally from DC, have created an impressive collection of songs.  Whether it's a great pop/party song ("Let's Go"), a slower number ("Headphones On") or even something with some jazz thrown in ("Everything You Do") these are really good songs that will keep you interested. 

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Chelsea Lee (November 6, 2011)

It's been a GREAT week for the Emerge Group! Let's start with this week's featured artist, Chelsea Lee (http://www.facebook.com/chelsealeemusic)  who is releasing her album on Tuesday! Chelsea grew up in the DC area and earned her stripes at local shows and working with local musicians. Now she's signed to Atlantic Records and is prepared to take her place alongside Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareillas, Kate Voegele and other talented female singer songwriters.  She has a wonderful voice and her songs go down easy. 4 of the songs from her new album "18 and Alive" can be heard on the music "tab" on her facebook page.

And in other news, this week the Emerge group was featured in a blog by the people at Camplified, who bring great music to kids at summer camps! Please take a moment to check out the blog here: blog.camplified.com/2011/11/get-hooked-on-new-bands-with-emerge-music-group/

Thanks Camplified!!  Have a great week and enjoy the music!

Ira

Crash Boom Bang (October 30, 2011)

DC based Crash Boom Bang (http://www.facebook.com/crashboombang) have recently released their new EP "These Wild Things" and are giving it away for FREE on their Facebook page! These guys have put out a lot of great music over the last 5 years and they just keep getting better and better. They have a great, fun pop rock style that has landed them on tour with the Plain White T's. So head on over and download 6 great free songs from Crash Boom Bang!

Have a great week, Happy Halloween and enjoy the music!
Ira

Plain Jane Automobile (October 23, 2011)

Plain Jane Automobile (http://www.facebook.com/plainjaneautomobile) is this week's featured group and I can't wait for you to hear their fantastic album rock sound.  Hearing them for the first time was like making a new friend that you felt like you've known for years.  There is a sense of comfort and ease whenever you're around them.  Plain Jane Automobile's songs have this sense of familiarity while being fresh and new.  Be sure to go their "band page "tab and you can hear their new album "Your Tomorrow."  You'll be glad you did!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers (October 16, 2011)

I've been a fan of Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers for a long time but have always been waiting for "that" album, The one that you can't stop listening to and when someone asks you for your favorite song you can't list just one. That album is now here with the recent release of "Gift Horse." It's a great album with one fantastic song after another (especially "Gravity," "Who We Are, Who We Become" and "1993"). It's time for everyone to know about this great band and enjoy them!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

http://www.facebook.com/sk6ers

Little Comet (October 9, 2011)

Now is definitely the right time to check out Little Comets and their album "In Search of Elusive Little Comets."  This is a British rock band that sounds like a genuine British rock band - they are fantastic and a lot of fun.  They are a little bit hard to describe because they are equal parts garage band rock and modern pop/rock.  But above all else their songs are catchy and will find a nice place to stick in your brain for a while - you'll find yourself singing them before you know it. 

And if you want proof of just how much fun they can be - check out their "one guitar" video of one of my favorite songs "One Night in October" (http://youtu.be/p5TOSpYEIQ4)

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Throwing Gravity (October 2, 2011)

Throwing Gravity (http://www.facebook.com/throwinggravity) is on the verge of something big!  They don't just write songs, they create anthems.  Join their mailing list and get a free copy of the song "Drowning" to find out!  This is great music for the gym, for blasting with the windows down or just in your own ears. Their debut single "Bring Me Down" is incredible and having gotten an early listen to the new album "It's Not the End" I can tell you that thing are only getting better. 

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Carly Rae Jepsen (September 25, 2011)

Carly Rae Jepsen has a brand new song out "Call Me Maybe" which is hopefully the beginning of her opportunity to break down the wall between Canada and the US.  Carly deserves to be a star in the US. Her previous album "Tug of War" is really good and includes such great songs as "Bucket", "Tug of War" and "Sour Candy" (which features Josh Ramsay of Marianas Trench).  So go check out her new song or her previous album and enjoy!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Gabe Dixon (September 18, 2011)

Gabe Dixon (http://www.facebook.com/#!/gabedixonband), after years of working with his band has now gone solo releasing the fantastic album "One Spark."  Gabe is a great songwriter and musician but his voice is what sets him apart - he gives every song his full attention and makes it shine.  Gabe may just a younger James Taylor - when you hear his songs and voice you just can't help but sit back, smile, relax and know that everything's going to be ok. 

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Gangstagrass (September 11, 2011)

Rarely has the combination of two very different styles of music been as intriguing to me as this week's featured artist, Gangstagrass (http://www.facebook.com/gangstagrass) - yes, this is what it sounds like when you combine rap and country/bluegrass music.  The first song I heard from this group was "In My Aching Heart Shadows Linger" which is phenomenal - it starts with an old time sound of harmonized bluegrass and then kicks in with some great rapping. Check out this amazing group - this is good and different and I love it! 

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Sweatshirt Weather (September 4, 2011)

It's Labor Day weekend, the symbolic end of summer and the beginning of autumn, cooler temps and a change in the wardrobe. Seems like an appropriate time to feature Sweatshirt Weather (http://www.facebook.com/#!/sweatshirtweather), a great piano heavy pop/rock band from Indianapolis.  Their EP, Getting By, is outstanding (and if you go to their Pure Volume page you can get a free download of one of their best songs "Be Someone." Go grab that at: http://www.purevolume.com/new/sweatshirtweather). 

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Joey Hyde (August 28, 2011)

Joey Hyde (http://www.facebook.com/joeyhydemusic) is this week's featured artist.  Last month Joey released a self-titled album which is one of the best country crossover albums I've heard.  While his music definitely leans towards the country genre he fits in nicely with this new generation of country artists who rock as hard as they twang.  Joey has a great voice and writes really solid songs. I really like "Turning Around" and "Worth A Woman" is one of my favorites.  The whole album is on sale for just $5 at iTunes.  Definitely worth checking out!


Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira