Woman Crush - The Musical Edition

Madonna is the first multimedia pop icon in history and professionals agree that she has become the world's biggest and most socially significant pop icon, as well as the most controversial. However, some intellectuals, like the Frenchman Georges Claude Guilbert, felt that she has greater cultural importance, like a myth, that has apparent universality and timelessness. References to Madonna in popular culture are found in the arts, food, science and each branch of entertainment. In a general sense, journalist Peter Robinson noted that "Madonna invented contemporary pop fame so there is a little bit of her in the DNA of every modern pop thing. Peter Robinson - The Guardian 2011


Not only is this a group of phenomenal women - hands down, they are the most hardworking, talented women you probably wouldn't want to mess with and they all inspire me. *

From about 1984-1993, she was the one I followed, the one I ordered Vogue Magazine for, and the one I followed in haircuts and fashion. Madonna has been a driving force for not just fashion but for the embodiment of what a strong woman should be. Ever changing, no apologies, she remains one of my top inspirations. 

Another in the top of my inspirations is none other than Tina Turner. Along with Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual, I carried Private Dancer on vinyl around with me ... in second grade. She sounded amazing on my Fisher Price record player. Dad didn't like the idea of me wanted to wear fishnets or high heels, but he let me get away with a skirt and trying to tease out my hair. This 80 years young legend still has better legs than most of us. What I could not appreciate at such a young age was her survival and determination.

Since 1975, that soulful voice has been serenading us from her start in Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks is rock and roll. Her sultry looks, those clothes, and her mysterious mystical ways. 


The influence and importance of Miss Nina Simone cannot and should not be understated. She was a pioneer in that she used her classical piano training to influence and create most of her songs. Besides being an intense musician and artist, her passion for civil rights must go hand in hand with her memory.

I love this lady from the Jersey shore. When I first saw her before The Felice Brothers at Bonnaroo in 2008, I knew this chica was destined for musical greatness.
 

Photo Credit Barbara FG

Her style has blossomed, especially since she broke away from those big corporate record labels and created her own. Like the Jersey Shore, Atkins rebuilt from her previous ventures and created the Oh Mercy! label. Her last album, Goodnight Rhonda Lee,  truly a testament to this talented musician's staying power and commitment to the craft she loves. She is recently finished recording album #5 Italian Ice at Muscle Shoals Studio, painting beautiful pictures for sale on her website, and will hit a tour in the UK and Europe in April!Be on the lookout for Italian Ice!

Singer, songwriter, and actress Mary J. Blige began her stellar  hip hop soul career as a back up singer. 13 albums and nine Grammy's and countless other awards later, she remains one of the top hip hop and R&B performers of all time. She lends her emotions and experience to her songs and paved the way for women in the hip hop and R&B music industry.

Post- punk singer Siouxsie Sioux is synonymous with The Banshees, but she also was the drummer and singer with The Creatures. Her iconic and unique style and voice have inspired many including Jeff Buckley, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joy Division, U2, Depeche Mode, and The Cure.

I didn't get a chance to see Grace live until the Love for Levon concert in New Jersey, and it was nothing short of religious. Her voice is a buffered version of Janis but still all Vermont folk in her own right. She sings with passion and she plays in the moment. She also plays the unexpected, as seen here in this video of her singing ... well- check it out!

I first heard about Dana after a friend became enamored by her. I had to check this lady out. And when I did, I heard that soul come deep from within as she belted out her own emotional tunes, and some familiar covers. You might also recognize her as Sexy Sadie in from the 2007 film, Across the Universe.

PCarlson 2012

Just who the f*#k is Dana Distortion? Only the hottest music photographer who is also has a web-store with clothes and accessories based on her photos and love of ... music. (And I think she has one of the most awesome jobs in the world).

Photo by David Turcotte

While I use words to tell you about shows or thoughts on albums, she uses her eyes and her love of music to capture gorgeous photos some of you may have seen in Brooklyn Vegan, Spin, NME, or Rolling Stone. Gogol Bordello, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Baby Metal to name a very few of those fortunate enough to be in front of her lens. You see and feel the music in her photos. She has a passion for all things rock and now she is making rock inspired fashion. You can look at, listen to, and now wear rock. Dana's latest project is the amazing podcast called Superunknown.





So there you have it ... some wonderfully talented women in no particular order.(And this picture for no particular reason except for Sally Field).

**Because people's attention span is only so long, this list is, of course, truncated. There are so many women musically, scientifically, athletically, spiritually, linguistically, and professionally that have inspired me. I thank you all!**

My Top Albums of 2014

PCarlson FlushingAve WIlliamsburg 2014

What a year of music! Between some awesome concerts and surprise music releases, 2014 proved to be the year of comeback tours and promising new faces in music. Here are my favorite new albums of 2014.

Robert Plant and the Senstational Spaceshifters - Lullaby ... and the Ceaseless Roar. Plant's tenth, and possibly, best solo album was released on September 8th to wide praise. The album captures his successful journey away from Zeppelin and his embrace of deep American blues. Faves: Rainbow and Poor Howard.

U2 - Songs of Innocence. U2's thirteenth album and surprise release, this one was seemingly either loved or hated. As I listen to it more, it is slowly becoming one of my favorite U2 albums. It's a mixture of those sounds of innocence, the Boy days. But again Bono tackles tough issues such as controversial events in the Troubles, re-wrote song lyrics based on current events, and even addresses himself and where he has gone in life. Faves: Sleep Like a Baby Tonight and The Troubles.

Umphrey's McGee - Similar Skin. The eighth studio album form this Chicago super jam-tronic group is nothing short of the embodiment of jam-tronic music today. The constantly touring band, known for their face melting shows, hit the mark with this album. But do yourselves a favor, go see them live. These songs become an amalgam of old and new Umphrey's with their always welcomed cover built in. Faves: Puppet String, No Diablo, and Bridgeless.

First Aid Kit - Stay Gold. These Swedish folk sisters took the airwaves - and video waves by storm with the release of their hit, Silver Lining, their album (a tribute to Abba) Stay Gold began to climb in popularity. The album is rich with folk sounds and their golden, harmonious voices. Faves: Silver Lining and Stay Gold.

 

Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away. The Aussies have again given us some great new talent. His catchy song Riptide, released before his album, helped the momentum of his popularity. The songs are simple and melodic - his videos are unique to say the least. Faves: Riptide and All I Ever Wanted

Hozier - Hozier. You remember when you first heard it. You thought it was Elton John or maybe even someone covering Sir Elton. But no, this uber talented Irish singer gave us one of the best songs of 2014. This was the best review of Hozier's debut that I found: Simon Harper of Clash magazine commented that

His voice, more poitín-sweetened than whiskey-soaked, caresses delicate melodies and rougher rhythms alike with confidence – it lingers compellingly in the creeping blues of 'To Be Alone', whispers prettily in the folky 'Like Real People Do', and preaches fervently in the ragged R&B of 'Jackie And Wilson'.

Faves: Take Me to Church and Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene. His video for Take Me to Church is just as important, openly tackling the issues of homophobia and the importance of love.

 

 

Nicole Atkins - Slow Phaser. Nicole created this masterpiece on her own Mercy Me record label - and it packs a large punch of sounds you might not have expected to hear from this Jersey girl.
Slow Phaser is a dark, desert disco rock album made during a year of wandering about in city alleys, broken shores and snowy Viking lands,” said Atkins. “I wanted to turn the lights up just enough to dance through the darkness. It's a welcomed new approach and I welcome more songs about her journeys.
Faves: Girl You Look Amazing and What Do You Know.

George Ezra - Wanted on Voyage. Upon first look, you don't expect to hear Ledbelly or even Johnny Cash come out of this charming British boy's lungs. But behold, George's voice is big and soulful. His freshman album is getting critical acclaim and they are already hungry for his second album. Faves: Budapest and Listen to the Man.

Paolo Nutini - Caustic Love. While Scot Paolo has been around awhile, it is his April release that has people talking. He is now my Scottish Otis Redding.  His third album is jazzy and soulful and flew up the UK and Irish charts. You can find him on constant rotation on XM's Sirius Spectrum. Faves: Let Me Down and One Day.

Ray LaMontagne - Supernova. I have often described Ray's voice as a full body massage for my soul. His fifth album is my favorite. It's a varied sound for this New Hampshire Native. Compare 2004's song Trouble to 2014's Supernova and you can see that he's trying to get out of his musical safe zone and what people expect. Songs like Lavender are brimming with 70's grooves and Airwaves reminds me of a Loggins and Messina B-Side.  Faves: Supernova and Drive in Movies.

 

 

Mary J Blige - The London Sessions. Another album leaked online, this reminds everyone of early 2000's Mary, with it's pure R&B grooves. It's simple, truthful, and a welcome back to some pure R&B sounds from Ms. Blige. Faves: Therapy and Nobody But You.

Buffo's Wake - Carniphobia. When they reached out to me and said, hey, can you take a listen to our album? I knew I started this blog for the right reasons. This Brighton Beach UK gypsy punk band is - unique. And I love them. Their debut album, Carniphobia, lives up to all expectation. This is how I described them in the blog: Imagine you are the central character in an Edgar Allan Poe story. Now, add some accordions, a carnival, a Gypsy Punk soundtrack, and have Tim Burton direct it all. Welcome to Buffo's Wake. Faves: Merrick and Sold to the Circus

I hope you've all had a great 2014 - and I cannot thank you all enough for the reads and feedback. Here is to your hopes, dreams, and a musical 2015!!!