Schuman The Human - Showtime For Schuman

As I've mentioned before, my little blogging hiatus has left me with a backlog of CD's to go through, but so far, my favorite of the bunch is this little gem from the UK's Schuman The Human. Combining elements of bluegrass, northern soul and indie pop, Mark Foster has created a fun mix that makes my dreams of Lee Hazelwood fronting The Modern Lovers an intense reality. The CD opens with 'Klutz' and 'Charlie Varrick,' a couple of numbers that smell like staples of the Americana songbook. Accompanying Mark on vocals is Chilli Gold, whom I've never heard of, but apparently she's the former child progeny of Frank Farian from Boney M. Just a little fun fact for ya! Speaking of fun, 'Tow That Line!' is another convivial little ditty, full of handclaps and delightfully overbearing violin. 'Coming To Pieces' is one of my favorites, reminding me a bit of Young Fresh Fellows, only with the silliness toned down quite a bit. The most impressive moment for me however, is track four entitled 'Dark Regrets.' It's my favorite song of the year so far (I know, I know, it's only February but still...) and Chilli's voice is pure elegance, harmonizing beautifully with Foster's laid back vocal demeanor. Apparently it wasn't an easy one to perfect but I'm glad they put forth the effort. Overall, 'Showtime For Schuman' is an enjoyable and diversified country-ish romp.

"Showtime For Schuman" is currently available on limited CD pressing of 1000 through the Ugly Nephew label.

Download: Dark Regrets mp3 / Klutz mp3
Myspace: Schuman The Human
Myspace: Chilli Gold
Myspace: Ugly Nephew Records

Shelly Bhushan - Picking Daisies

It's no secret to most readers of my blog that modern day R & B ain't my thing. For me to truly appreciate soul music, it needs to sound heartfelt and real. I truly despise the plastic sheen that is put on most quote unquote soul music these days. How I long for the days of Motown and the artists that had soul music oozing out of their pores, in a way that couldn't possibly be faked. Enter Shelly Bushan. Am I ever glad that I gave this CD a chance, even though it was given the soul tag, a tag that I tend to ignore these days. The CD, entitled Picking Daisies, begins adequately enough with "Perfect Stranger" a funky groove that hearkens slightly back to the 70's. What I really like is the vocal control that she shows at the start, allowing her powers to sneak up on you, rather than smack you in the head. It really is when the chorus kicks in that you hear what a powerful and emotive vocalist Shelly really is. She carries herself nicely through the next few soulful songs, namely the title track and "Beautiful Me" which is an interesting song about finding that balance between inner and outer beauty. My favorite moments on this disc, however, are the sharp left turns that she takes, making it difficult to really pigeonhole her into one particular genre. "Birthday Suit" is one such example, an acoustic indie styled ballad that is the type of song Sheryl Crow could only dream of having in her catalogue. There are a few jazzier tracks on the album as well, my favorite one being "It's Over," which has some subtle yet ravishing strings accompanying her, once again, flawless voice. The song is adventurous in that it takes a few turns and twists of its own throughout the course of the track leading up to a very powerful climax. The album ends with "The Nest" which is another complete surprise, a twangy square dance number a la Dolly Parton. In a world of American Idol-ish oversinging, Shelly Bhushan is pure refreshment, an artist that may unfortunately have to work a little harder for recognition due to the fact that she is working against the current musical climate. I believe however, that if anyone is worth the effort, it's her.

Download: It's Over mp3 / Picking Daisies mp3
Myspace: Shelly Bhushan
Purchase: Picking Daisies at CDBaby