I am not gone, nor am I asleep (all day, anyway). So I think it’s high time to get back into the swing of things.

THE BIG NEWS: The Music Connoisseur is moving.

Why? Because people can’t spell. And it’s not a great name, to be brutally honest.

The new blog is called “turn the music on.”

Tell ALL your friends (you do have friends, right?) that the brand spankin’ new (and rather stylin’) blog can NOW be found at http://turnthemusicon.wordpress.com/.

Update your RSS feeds and readers and stuff! Call your granny! Ring a bell or two!

There should be a brand new post up there soon…

- Copernicus

Nice cover, no?

Steven used to be the front man of a crazy band with crazy folk and world influences called Burlap to Cashmere that developed a cult following in the Brooklyn indie scene in the late ’90s, only to go solo for the last few years (rumors are swirling of a band reunion, however…).

My concern today is for Mr. Delopoulos alone. Never mind that you can’t spell his name, ’cause you can’t spell connoisseur either. What you need to know is that he is making incredible folk music that hearkens back to Cat Stevens and Woody Guthrie and the unapologetic, prophetic, mystical sound the genre embodies at its best (plus a little Greek vibe) . Infused with poetic and often biblical imagery, the vivid lyrics alone are worth the price of admission. Now his voice: tremulous, expressive, and unrestrained. You might hate it. But give it a chance to grow on you a little.

I offer 3 samplings: the SOTW from his latest album Straightjacket (which I have yet to purchase! Shame!), a bonus track called “Jungle Trail” from his first release Me Died Blue, and a video of “The Ruin of the Beast,” from Straightjacket as well.

Links to purchase music can be found through his MySpace here. And if you want to buy me a copy of Straightjacket, I’ll be your friend forever.

01 She Held My Hand (Single).mp3

02 Jungle Trail.mp3

And the video. Great song, great animation…

Oh yeah. Let me know what you think. Leave me a lil’ note to tell me how I’m doing. Suggestions always welcome (but frequently ignored) -

- copernicus

check it out!

- copernicus

Their new album is unfortunately not coming out until much later this year, but they released an EP featuring the song “Spotlight” in the interim.

And today, today of all days, the music video debuts. Incredible.
Do I even have to ask you to enjoy?
MUTEMATH – Spotlight

- copernicus

Another great band you’ve never heard of, Future of Forestry, is gearing up for their album release (which, interestingly, is going to be released in 3 EPs, one every 4 months starting in May). They’re calling it the Travel album series.

Because they’re also wicked awesome, for a limited time you can download a FREE SONG!!! It’s called, appropriately, “Traveler’s Song.” Three words to describe the song: sweeping, layered, reminiscent.

Try it out, people! HERE. You don’t even have to give up your email or name or sense of dignity.

Of course, you can give those to me anytime…

- copernicus

If you still want more FOF, check out this music video for “Open Wide” from their Twilight album (no relation to the book ) -

This week, I introduce you to a band that will shortly be highlighted in the all-new “Artists You’ve Never Heard Of” feature.

I will not divulge excessive biographical information (yet), but will cut straight to the music. Indie. Moody. European-ish. Brooding. And wonderful, of course: it’s The Listening, preparing for a new album release later this year.

I am personally invested because your very own Copernicus will be seeing these gentlemen in concert this summer at The Union. And he is ecstatic. I’ll let you know how it goes, of course, but first, here’s the song, from their excellent debut, The Listening LP:
06 Hosea in C minor.mp3

And now, a bonus track from their very very recently released EP entitled Transmission 1:
01 The End.mp3

if you go to their MySpace page here, you can watch an eminently trippy video of the song.

And very importantly, of course, go here to purchase lots and lots of music.

Enjoy, my friends, enjoy! And if you like it – or if you don’t – comment and let me know. You won’t hurt my feelings.

- copernicus

P.S. Don’t watch this.

And out of the generosity of their hearts (or to generate pre-release buzz), they are giving away a free MP3 and chord charts for a new song, “No Reason to Hide,” along with a fan video contest.

And I’m telling you this so you can get more free music. Awww. I’m so nice. Too nice, really.

Anyway, just mouse over here and enjoy!

(disclaimer: I have not yet listened to the song.  Download at your own aesthetic risk.)

- copernicus

It’s not as if there’s not enough good music that I’d love to share. Quite the opposite, really.

And this is one song I’m excited to share. A turn entirely away from the music featured so far (click here if you want more…and believe me, you do: Alphabeat-Fantastic6.mp3), Israel Houghton has loudly revolutionized the face of worship music near-singlehandedly. Standing on the backs of giants like Fred Hammond, he has continued the legacy of bridging the worlds of gospel and worship, with any and every genre spanned in the process. He is the most influential worship leader you’ve never listened to. Need proof? Ever sung You Are Good, Friend of God, Trading My Sorrows…? I thought so.

Fronting his multiracial, energetic group of young singers, New Breed, he has collected two Grammys and multiple other awards in the course of recording monster live recordings that simply beg to be listened to in one sitting.

This year, he’s taking a new direction, departing from his collaborative side to give us a solo album, appropiately titled The Power of One. Even more diverse than anything he’s done yet, this album rocks.

For audible evidence: I give you the first single from the album. If you can listen to this and not dance, or at least move, shame on you.

03_Just_Wanna_Say.mp3

Buy the album here.

I have a theory. If your typical music listener were forced to listen to a style of music different from what he or she was used to, and it was among the best of that style, they just might become a fan. All I’m saying is give these artists a chance. Probably they’ve at least earned that. Sure, I like a lot of diversity  in my music, but even I haven’t branched out as much as I could. Feel free to expand my horizons as I (hopefully) expand yours.

jammin’,

- copernicus

I mean, this is brilliant. This is music consuming with a conscience, from artists with a heart.

There’s no right way to do this. Once you get past artists you already know and recommendations from friends, you just nab whatever looks interesting. Sometimes you may strike gold, sometimes not. I know it’s a little scary – you get to decide if you like an artist all by yourself. No hype, no ad campaign, and maybe no one you know even cares. It’s just the music.

Which, of course, you can preview before you download. Like you need all that bandwidth anyway.

I’ll include a short list of artists whose music on NoiseTrade has inspired, challenged, shocked, or repulsed me. Maybe all at once. But try it for yourself. And if you make any fantastic discoveries – PLEASE let me know. Better yet, post it below so all can see.

We’re all in this together. Noisetrade.com.

- copernicus

Intriguing NT artists:

Andy Gullahorn, Derek Webb, Joe Garner, Judd & Maggie, Justin McRoberts, Sandra McCracken, Stephen Delopolous, Synthar, The States

Just to get things off on the right foot, allow me to destroy all my credibility as a music snob. But this song is just SO FUN!!! And catchy beyond reason.

Alphabeat is a shamelessly poppy Danish band that doesn’t bother trying to prove anything except that music should be fun. And although I would argue music should be a few other things from time to time, fun certainly helps. There’s nothing wrong with a little musical junk food here and there.

Just try not to get addicted…

You can download the song for your previewing pleasure by right-clicking and saving this link below:
Alphabeat – What Is Happening.mp3  (Sorry, too late…mp3 taken down)

You can buy the whole album here.

Oh, and I discovered Alphabeat through this song being featured on some music blog’s best music videos of 2008. If I remember what blog that was I’ll post it for you guys.

- copernicus