The Springs – a band you need to know

 Let me introduce you to 

THE SPRINGS ! 

So if you aren’t new to this blog you know one of my favorite things to do is talk about music, especially artists that I think deserve more love. This past Summer I’ve spent some time discovering new artists and falling back in love with previous favorites. I plan to share some of that with you but today is about The Springs. A band I’ve talked about before … When they gave their fans some free music and if there is nothing I like more than free music. Even if it’s not good it’s FREE … and let me tell you what the Springs gave their fans was an amazing taste of what was to come. 

This post is going to do double duty, it’s going to tell you about their new EP and also serve as my launching pad for my campaign to get this band on XM radio, specially The Highway. I can totally see these two chatting with Storme Warren  or On the Horizon with Buzz Brainard. They have a very unique story to tell and the music to back it up. I have said it before but I’ll say it again I really wish there was a better way to tell them about a song or group that should be a #HighwayFind … I mean how does a #HighwayFind become found? I figure it’s word of mouth. If enough people start talking about an artist or a song then the powers that be at The Highway take notice and it just takes off …. At least that’s my hope for The Springs whom I’ve been following since 2011.

For those that don’t know … The Springs are a fabulous Country Music Duo from Hendersonville, Tennessee (originally from Alabama). This duo is made up of Stewart and Holly Halcomb who describe their sound as a mixture of Country, Southern Rock, Pop, and Traditional Country which describes this multi-award winning duo who also write their own songs with friends.

Their story : 

Stewart and Holly are both from Alabama, him from Enterprise her from New Market (Huntsville/Decatur area). They met at the Bluebird Café after they had both moved to Nashville to chase the Neon Rainbow. In 2013 the couple got engaged, also at the BlueBird (where they play every chance they get), and were married in 2015. Their wedding was streamed live via Periscope so their fans could attend. It’s that connection to their fans whom they call Frans (Friends + Fans = Frans) that’s going to help this couple thrive both on the stage and off. Heck earlier this year they shared a picture with a “Fran” whom they have started a fitness challenge with and now all three are more fit and more comfortable in their own skins. In my last post I talked about the 7 free Songs they released on Halloween (2015) via their website. Those tracks alone were great, I’m still devastated that Everybody Runs didn’t go viral cause it’s a fantastic song that paints a picture in my head every time I hear it and I love when music does that. That entire 7 song “EP” for lack of a better name made me hungry for more.

I love how this group compliments one another perfectly yet know their strengths and how to showcase each artist and blend together. It’s not uncommon for a track to feature both, or let one of them run with the track and you can totally picture the other standing outside of the booth with a huge grin on their face proud and encouraging the other.

In June 2018 they released “Old Fashioned” which is a dream for the ears with more poppy country and nods to the traditional country that Holly and Stewart grew up listening to. Let’s go track by track … cause you know me that’s how I do. As previously stated these are the thoughts that run through my head as I listen to each track. Enjoy. 

Pulse – In 2017, as they were working on this album they released a few tracks, and this was one of them. I really like this track, it’s not my favorite but I do like it. I like how their voices blend together so perfectly in the chorus and could listen to that harmony all day long.

Sweet Spot – I LOVE everything about this track. If someone asked me what my favorite track was it would be this one. I love the playfulness in Stewart’s voice. I also love the nod to old country as well as the “rap” aspect of the track. Plus, it’s a really cute song about how the right girl can change any guy, yet the guy slips back into those old habits when she’s not around. However the right girl can always bring him back to where he needs to be. Ha!   

American Made –  I could listen to this track EVERY SINGLE DAY and never get tired of it. It’s about life in general, and I love how it is mostly about taking what life throws at you and moving forward despite it. I like how it’s not all happy and wonderful but that they just make it work by not giving up. I can see this video in my head, as you know dear reader it makes me really happy when I can do that with a track. This song should gov viral it’s something everyone needs to hear. Especially in these times.

I want it to – It’s time for Holly to get her rap on in this track. I like this one, but it just feels like its missing something. Like it starts building to something then doesn’t quite get there. Once again, the harmony saves this track for me. I can see this one playing very well live even if it falls a little flat in my ear buds, at least to me.  

Cool – I know it seems that I like the tracks where Stewart takes the lead but it’s not my fault those tracks just … well speak to me. I’ve been that person at the bar afraid that everything I’m doing is going to putt off whomever I’m trying to get the attention of and I like the idea that it’s finally working cause he found the right one. I love the line “I don’t mind the game as long as I’m playing by your rules” or something to that effect.

God Made one of those – I’ll admit this is not my favorite track on the album. It’s very slow and while I get the message behind it I just don’t love it as much as the others. It’s not a track I skip entirely every time but there are times I’m not interested in it and skip it. I do like the nod to family that is included in this track cause let’s face it that’s how we all became who we are and a reminder of that is never a bad idea.

Right Kind of Love – I really like this track mostly cause it’s got a peppy beat behind it but it’s very different from the other tracks on the album. I’ll admit sometimes it comes on and I’m like who is this and pull up my player to see it’s The Springs. I like the message behind it, that they both have a past but that that past led them to where they are now and they finally see what they deserve in the other’s eyes.

Old Fashioned –  This is another that they released in 2017. I like the roll of this track, I love that this is the title track cause it speaks to a lot of what this band is about for me. They aren’t flashy, you won’t see Holly nearly naked on stage, you won’t see Stewart doing “bro country” they are a throw back to a time when Country Music was amazing. They would have destroyed the charts back in the 90s and I think Country Music fans want that kind of music back on the radio.

Ex on your Hand – The first time I heard “Too old to be going out with an ex on your hand” I literally stopped what I was doing and payed more attention. That was brilliant. The combination of the “X” that someone gets going to a club/bar as well as the “X” that someone has when they are obsessed with an ex that should stay that way. That parallel was brilliant and I don’t know who came up with it but I’m thrilled they did. I can think of about 10 friends who need to hear this track and even more around the Country that likely need to hear it too.

Stop - This is another that they released in 2017. Such a beautiful track that reminds you that while people fall in love very easily no one ever wrote a book about how to let go when one wants it to end and the other wasn’t ready. I can see Stewart at the bar with the Bartender “asking where you have been.” I can see him driving around town doing everything he can to keep from turning onto her road, I can see it and have lived it. Nothing is worse than being the one who didn’t want it to end but it ended anyway and all you can do is move forward cause moving backwards gets you no where.

We Got This House – This track is another one that speaks exactly to who I think Stewart and Holly are. It’s a song about rolling with what the universe throws at you and picking up and waking up the next day to do it all over again. This track is about how the “house” is the center of their universe that helped create the rest of the path. This track definitely has an “American Made” feel to it but on a different level. The downs make the ups way better as long as you don’t let the downs take it all away, sometimes you just have to leap and hope it all works out.

This 11 track CD was released, and self-promoted to a debut of #33 on Billboard, #33 in Country Album Sales and #40 in Independent Album sales that week. They have no label, no manager, no promotional team, no publisher they are strictly a word of mouth group that is traveling the South playing their music and building a fan base, the old-fashioned way. If you get Sweet Spot, American Made, and Cool I swear you will come back for the rest of the CD. I beg you to check out their new album, via the links below, and get this band on The Highway ASAP! 

This band deserves to be a #HighwayFind cause they are definitely #OnTheHorizon jump on the bandwagon now before there’s no room.  

The Springs at Blue Gill in 2017 

If you get the chance to see this band live do it you'll be a fan for life and become a FRAN before it's over! 

Links: 

Website:   http://www.thespringsband.com/

Itunes:     https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-springs/292315438

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thespringsband

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/thespringsband

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/thesprings/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thesprings/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Springs_(band)

Marcy (@beaslma)

Eric Erdman New Album Review

Eric Erdman is an artist I’ve mentioned in passing a few times on this blog, but it’s well past time for him to get his due on here. I met Eric I guess around 2013 when I was hanging out with Markus Fox. Did I mention Eric is Markus Cousin? I’ll give you a little background on the man. He used to play in a band called “The Ugli Stick” of which many of my friends were followers, but never really hit my radar. It wasn’t until I started hanging out with Markus that I learned about Eric. Sitting at the table with Markus’ mom and their grandmother it was clear she was insanely proud of the musical talents that “her boys” possessed.

Eric is a true singer/songwriter out there hustling to get his music and voice out there but he’s quite ok with local success that allows him to pay his bills, travel the world playing his guitar and just enjoying life. However he’s too good for just our local shelves. While it’s selfish on our part for him to remain a local artist every time I listen to the radio I think Eric does this so much better and deserves way more of the spotlight. What better time to do that than when he’s dropping a new album, “It’s Not Like You Don’t Know Me” so forgive me for a moment while I fan girl on a dude who gives fantastic hugs and play a guitar even better.

I have 4 of Eric’s albums :

·       It’s Not Like You Don’t Know Me – Released in Jan. 2018 which is the main focus of this post see review below …

·       Not Slowing Down – Released in 2015 (via a Kickstarter fund raising effort for which I happily put my money where my mouth was)

o   This album excited me cause it wasn’t anything like the last two albums (below) but it had an Eric feel to it. You heard the lyrics and knew that the amazing brain housed in the head of Eric Erdman created each and every track. Each song tells a story and as he’s telling it you are seeing it in your head and as you know dear reader I love it when tracks do this. 

§  Tracks you should listen to right now “Aint Ben Right”  “Garden or Gun” “Mistake of a Woman” and “Objects in the Mirror” – get those tracks and you’ll come back for the rest of album. 

·       Color the Silence – Released in 2013 (which introduced me to the Hussy Hicks from Australia (but more on them in another post) 

o   I love everything about this album. It’s my go to album when I’m stressed at work and need to calm down but stay productive. This album from track one to track 10 is filled with songs easy on the ear but that also play tricks on the head and when you get the little nods in each song they make you smile.

§  Funny story. . . Eric is a pretty family friendly guy. Not many NC-17 stickers covering his album covers. At the record release party for this album he sang a song that had a few “bad words” in it. Now throughout the night as he sang he’d have people get out on the dance floor often couples sometimes singles but when he started singing a “safe version” of “Lucky (el Paso) in which he modified the lyrics to not offend anyone the dance floor filled with a TON OF KIDS all dancing their hearts out which made me laugh. As he finished singing he also commented on how that was his favorite part of the night. 

§  Tracks you should listen to right now “Last Night’s Wine” “Burn the Bridges” “Color the Silence” and “Some People”  -- then come back for the rest of the album. 

·       My Brother’s Keeper – Released in 2012 (Which I bought at the record release party for Color the Silence)

o   This album is filled with classic Eric tracks, if you go to a show you are going to hear at least two of these if not more. It’s a fantastic album, and the word play throughout is candy for my brain as well as my ears. 

§  Funny story . . . . I had my younger nephew in the car with me I guess he was around 8 or 9 and we were listening to the album as I drove him from point A to B. well I was listening he was playing a game on my phone not really paying attention to anything. Well there’s a song on this album called “Amy it Aint” which is a song about a young lady who didn’t understand that a relationship had ended. Towards the end of the song out of no where Andrew said “Geeze Amy just doesn’t get it!” I busted out laughing and when we reached our destination I tweeted Eric to tell him that story and he wrote back … “no she did not! Tell him he’s not wrong” – or something to that effect. It was a cute moment that reminded me they are ALWAYS PAYING ATTENTION. 

§  Tracks you should listen to right now “If Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right”   “Too Close to Heaven”  “Saltwater” and “Peanut Butter and Jealousy” – then come back for the rest of the album it’s fantastic.

His new album, It’s Not Like You Don’t Know Me, has 11 tracks on it, 3 of which are remakes from a previous album but they are such great songs I’m not even annoyed by that.

Let’s go track by track … cause you know me that’s how I do. As previously stated these are the thoughts that run through my head as I listen to each track. Enjoy. 

The Pond – The imagery in this song grabbed me early before I even listened to the song. I also love that I can hear Eric’s fingers as they hit the strings, I love that in a song. I’m in love with the words in this song. Every time I listen to it I get a new gem for my ears to drive into.

Favorite from this song… 

              The pond before the pebble's cast

              Doves before they scatter

              The smooth sheet of perfect glass before it felt the shatter

              The marble before sculptor

              The page before the pen

              Or what I would ask you now if I could go back and ask you then

That’s What Love Does – When you get past the music and listen to the words, which is helped by a semi-acoustic version of this song on the album it hits all your feels at once. You can feel the love in this song from a woman who gave everything she had for her family. Even at the end. I can see her laying in the bed likely making sure everyone else was comfortable despite her own discomfort from her cancer fight. He could have been talking about any southern grandma and that’s what makes it special. To take something, a moment that’s so personal to him and make it universal is a gift. I’m not gonna lie this one … it made me cry.

It’s Not Like You Don’t Know Me – I think every artist wants to sing this song, that is if they lay it all on the line the way Eric and really great musicians do. Sadly, most don’t have the guts. I like this one I’d love to know who he’s singing to here is it the fans, is it a family member, is it himself. I almost see it as a wrestle match with himself in that he can talk to people through a song but it’s harder for him in person. Not sure why I’ve gone there with it but that’s what I think of when I listen to it. Every.single.time.

The Well –I’m going to have to spend more time with this one before I wrap my brain around it. I kept thinking of a coworker going through some things non-work related and would love for her to hear this song but not sure how she’d react to it. I think she’s at a crossroad where she’s likely asking herself these questions or at least feeling what this song outlines. It’s dangerous sometimes in our own heads.

You’re Still Dangerous –I need more time with this one too…right now all I think about when I listen to it is Bonnie and Clyde and wonder if this is how their conversations went as they were speeding around in their car away from the heist.

What Karma Wouldn’t Do – The ultimate revenge song I hope he felt it and that it hurt very much, good for her, good for him and GREAT for Eric for being able to put this story together and this video in my brain. Karma she’s a witch and sometimes … she needs help.

The Leader of the Exodus – I LOVE everything about this song and all artist, new and old should be forced to listen to it every morning when they step out of their beds. Eric has before talked in songs about the mediocrity of music lately and especially the Country side of the table which has recently been filled with more bro country than I’d like to hear. My favorite line …. “In this town where the best thing you can be is overplayed” cause that’s what it is all about isn’t it? Stations play what other stations play, over and over again no matter if it has substance or worth. That’s why artist like Eric are important. The guys who spend their weekend going from gig to gig cause they love to play, love to feel the instrument in their hands and love what they can do with that instrument when left to their own devices to just … play and create.

What’s Left of What Used To Be – A  remake of a classic Eric song. I could listen to this song every day all day long and never get tired of it. I love the idea of a bulletproof younger person who realizes that’s not the case. Reflection is the theme of this song, and in this remake of this song he’s slowed it down and made it a little more mournful and allows the audience to really focus on the words. I love that. Well done Eric.

The Drought Is Over – a true love song that starts with a drought and I love the journey it took to get there. If it’s the summer I think he’s talking about I remember it well. At the beginning of the song you get this sense of relief about everyone standing on their porch thinking finally then it flips everything and turns into a love song and it’s fantastic.

Favorite from this song… 

              May 1st , rain is falling

              It’s coming down

              No doubt this gully washer’s

              Drenchin’ the ground

              Those Sweet honeysuckles

              Yellow and pink

              Open, to the sky

              To get a drink

I mean the visual that pops into one’s head is just …. Lovely.

I Get Carried Away – Another remake of a classic Eric song. The first time I heard this I remember thinking I want to go give him a hug. I love the flow of this track and I love how it all comes full circle by the end of it.

Bird On A Powerline – Another remake of a classic Eric song. I love this song, love everything about it. The video that it makes play in my head, the playfulness in Eric’s voice as he sings it and just the overall vision that it took to create this song about this young man (stalker) watching his lady love going about her day only to know that she will never ever notice him but he’s watching every step she takes. It often makes me wonder how many people you may see throughout your day that you don’t even notice but that notice you.

You can get any of these albums mentioned at Eric’s website below, and you really should get them ASAP:

Website:   https://www.ericerdmanmusic.com/home

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/EricErdmanMusic/ 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ericerdmanmusic 

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ericerdmanmusic/

Enjoy an artist who has given me years of joy and whom I hope will give my ears many many more songs to digest and play with as I listen for all the cleaver nods that he builds into his music. I told him once that I wanted to walk around in his brain for like an hour and just marvel at it’s awesomeness. He warned me that it was a wild place ….. I still want to do it tho cause wild as it may be … it’s still a pretty awesome brain to come up with the lyrics he does.

Check out Eric and your ear holes will thank me !

Once again Eric … to be the pen to your paper must be quite an honor for the ink. Thank you for sharing your talents, time, and voice with us. 

Marcy (@beaslma)

Falling into the Ed Sheeran rabbit hole

So…. In my self imposed Social Media Ban I have talked about my part in spreading negativity on the internet and my part in spreading positivity on the internet but in this one I’m going back to my roots a little bit. I am jumping on the bandwagon of an artist many have known about for years, looking at you Melissa, but whom I recently found thanks to a gift from a friend (looking at you Katie) so I'm waving the banner of this artist for people like me who thought they knew about him from the radio and had it just so badly wrong. 

So a few weeks ago I helped a friend, Katie, with something and in return she gave me an Itunes gift card. I’m kind of sick of everything I’ve been listening to lately so I decided to use this as an opportunity to find something new. I decided that the first thing I saw I was going to buy without even checking it out. The week that I was given the card was the same week that Ed Sheeran released ÷ (AKA Divide), something that wouldn't have normally hit my radar. When I 1st opened my Itunes store the first thing I saw was Ed Sheeran’s ÷ in the banner and I clicked on it to buy it before listening to a single track as was the deal I made with myself.  This deal ended up costing me way more money than the Itunes card was for.

For full disclosure I HATED Photograph by Ed Sheeran not because it was a bad song, not because it was a good song but because it was ALWAYS on the radio. Like literally every single time I’d flip around the dial (yes I’m that old to remember when there was a dial) this song was playing on at least 3 or 5 stations. I hate that. I always feel like when they do that they are trying too hard to get me to like someone and I rebel so hard it’s not even funny. I still don’t like the song, but now I can at least say I’ve given it a fair shake it’s just not my cup of tea. That being said after listening to ÷ I have jumped both feet in to the Ed Sheeran band wagon. The guy is brilliant. The way he puts a song together very much makes me think of my good buddy Eric Erdman, an artist who deserves so much more love than he gets. Their brains just see the world differently and my ears love every second of it. However Eric has to wait for another post this one is all about my falling into the Ed Sheeran rabbit hole.

To those new to this blog when I get a new album I have a rule; I push play then don’t touch anything until the last song plays. I want to hear the album as the artist/producers intended before I start jumping around to the tracks I really like. I have to admit that with ÷ I didn’t love every song right out of the gate, some I still don't. Actually on the first listen I was on track three thinking about track one and why it was called Eraser. It was quite challenging to move past actually and I still don’t fully understand it, but have decided to not overthink it and just ride with it since it’s a good song.

My favorite songs on ÷ include Happier, New Man, What Do I Know, Supermarket Flowers, and Nancy Mulligan. Tho I admit that Supermarket Flowers makes me cry … every.damn.time. It’s an ugly cry too … the picture he paints of his mom walking around her mother’s room essentially saying goodbye burrows into my head and a little mini movie plays that gives me all the feels creating tears at the same time as the goosebumps. I LOVE IT when that happens!!!!! Tho I'm sad for the circumstances that led to the song, I LOVE when a song does this to me.

There are some tracks I blow past now when they come on, but mostly because I can’t wait to get to other tracks. Like Galway Girl, I love the flow of the track but often find myself not really in the mood for it so I skip it. The first time I listened to New Man I thought dude who are you kidding, then realized I know nothing about this man so who was I kidding. Now it’s one of my favorites. Dive is the same way for me, sometimes I’m not in the mood for the slow soulful feel of the song but I like it and it’s the perfect song for work when I’m editing a document and need to focus. That’s not the case with Shape of You, or Perfect, if I never hear those again I’d be ok. Tho I did go on a trip with a friend and put Perfect on repeat during the night and slept like a baby which was nice, until the next day when it was like an ear worm that wouldn’t die.

As a self-professed Music Skitzo I love the mixture of rap/story/pop whatever you want to label it that Ed Sheeran brings to the table. He’s not really trying to fit into anyone’s mold but in doing that he’s creating his own mold but taking all his musical influences and creating his own genre for people to model future music by and that’s a testament to the influence he brings to the table. To this point, he posted every single song on his youtube channel with full lyrics in the information section so people could really dive into each song the way he  truly intended.

Check out the entire album here ….

After diving into ÷ I then dove head first into his entire library of music on Itunes. It was quite pathetic actually how hard I fell for this man. Like I can’t get enough of his voice, I can’t get enough of how he puts lyrics together and I really feel like he’s put everything he can into a song before giving it to the world. He’s definitely an artist who seems to care about what he’s putting out and isn’t at all putting things out simply cause he has a deal and he can. If that’s not the case I don’t want to know. Some of his earlier tracks that have made my ear holes incredibly happy are U.N.I., Wake Me Up, Homeless, Even My Dad Does Sometimes, Where We Land, and the list goes on and on.

I even bought his “live” albums and that is saying something cause I’m not a live album person. Often it takes away from the experience for me when I actually see them live, but in his case I feel that you really get a taste of who this artist is in front of an audience and he sounds like he’s having so much fun on stage you can’t help but fall in love with him if you haven’t already.  I apologize for being late to this party but damn I’m glad I finally got an invite …thank you Ed Sheeran my earholes haven’t been this happy in years!

Once I get back on Social Media, two more weeks, I have a list of things to do and first is follow Golden's new furbaby, Mighty, second is following Ed Sheeran so I can tell him personally how amazing he is, like he'd care what I think. If you are interested here's his information:

Twitter

Instagram

You Tube

Until next time .... have fun listening! :D

Marcy

Happy Halloween … here’s free Music!!!!!

First off ….. I hope you and your family had a fantastic Halloween filled with fun, laughter, costumes, candy and tricks or treats depending on how you swing. I’ve seen some really awesome costume pictures posted, and not quite as many pumpkins posted but I can’t say much cause for the first time in years I haven’t carved a pumpkin this year either. To say the last week of my life was insane is a HUGE understatement. 10-14 hour work days were not fun at all.

Second off …. FREE MUSIC!!!! Loyal readers know I LOVE music and if it’s free then it’s even better. A few years ago a friend of mine came into town for Bayfest (RIP Bayfest) and before Eric Church hit the stage The Springs hit the stage. I LOVED it. They were a fun group to watch live and I immediately came home and bought their EP off Itunes. I’ve been watching them from a far ever sense. By far the best song from that album was Stand for those who can’t … and Summer all year long. :D

This group has gone through some changes but at it’s core is their need to get their music out there for the fans, with 7 free songs available on their website, some of which were on their EP. In 2014 they released a 12 track “CD” released on Itunes. Worth every penny. They are growing with every track they create, and every song they cover on YouTube. Seriously check out their version of

Tim McGraw’s Meanwhile Back at Mama’s and you’ll fall in love with this group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-sGU26A5L0

Another good one is their cover of the Florida Georgia Line song “Dirt”.      https://youtu.be/0pNMW7IGNNI   

(I really wish these were one the 7 or even on the CD but oh well that’s why I have you tube right?! :D

They’ve done it again. So who are the Springs Band? They are a country group, now a duo, consisting of Stewart Halcomb and Holly Helms, I mean my bad Stewart and Holly Halcomb (they recently got married) who are both Alabama natives. Stewart was born on Halloween (10/31) and as a gift to the fans they released not only 7 new songs but a brand new website. Check it out here ..

http://www.thespringsband.com

They are asking for feedback on their new songs so I thought BLOG POST (I’m a multitasker after all) !!! :D so here goes … Like with my review of Start Here by Maddie and Tae I’m posting my initial reaction to each song as I listened to it for the first time, then I refine my “critique” as I listen a few more times. It’s my belief that when you listen to music for the first time you hear the words but not the melody, or vice versa. Then after a few listens you start taking in the entire track. :D

I love that so many of these tracks are original to this band, after so many covers it’s nice to hear their voice come out on these tracks! :D

As Long As I’m With You

I really like this song I do … I like the melody, the harmony they create and I like the idea behind this song, I do NOT however like they “hey” in the middle of the lyrics of the chorus, I guess at a live  show it’s a good place to introduce audience participation, but it just takes away from what they are trying to do with the song.

Everybody Runs

I LOVE THIS SONG!!!! Any song that paints a picture into my head from the first lyric makes me happy. I like how it showcases the range of Holly without blowing out my ear drums to do it. Upon my second or third listen I was already singing along with this one. I could TOTALLY see this as a Highway Find, I hope someone at the Highway hears it and makes that happen. I’ve done my part by tweeting the Highway (I assume that’s how a Highway Find is … well found …) I wish they had a spot on their site where you could really recommend Highway Finds.

Hey Time

This is another that I’ve heard before, they posted it on youtube (if you have exclusive access … which I do) and both versions are perfect. I love the melody of this song, it reminded me of Amen written by Bryan White, performed by Love and Theft and as I’ve said before any songs that makes me think of Bryan White is a winner in my book. This one showcases the talents of Holly and was written by Holly and Stewart with their friend Daisy Mallory.

I Just Might

Not gonna lie I’ve heard this one before. They posted it somewhere (Facebook maybe?) and I loved it. I like having a more “professional” version of it cause it showcases Stewart so well.

I Just Wanna Know

This song perfectly showcases the harmony that happens when Stewart and Holly sing together. That makes me happy. Can we talk about how the fast tongue twisterness of this track just really works with this song. (that’s right I said Twisterness). Gotta love a good harmony. When this track starts immediately think of Garth Brook’s song but I can’t put my finger on which track. Something about the guitar riff makes me thing of the Garth Brooks song. I wish I could remember which one it was cause it is distracting me from this song.

One Thing

This is a really great “beat bullying” song but with a new twist. I’d tell you most but you need to hear it. It’s more about celebrating what makes you different than about what the “bully did” at least to me.

Good Night

This one starts off very aggressive … it also feels me with anxiety cause it’s basically a list of everything that can go wrong in a day … however what I love about is the message that anyone can make any day better for someone else. The right word at the right time, a hug, a smile it all makes a difference. Giving someone a smile in a store, telling a coworker good job on a project they are working on, anything could literally make their day better and this song is a good reminder of that. Thank you Holly and Stewart for this track … it made me smile and that is always a good thing.

Final thoughts …. I love how this group complements one another perfectly and yet also know their strengths and how to showcase each other at the right time on a single track. I love the way they blend together. Each track they release they grow as a team, they are better as artist because of it. I can’t wait to hear what they do next.

So there you have it. Those are my thoughts on their new music but what I LOVE about music is that you might feel entirely different about these songs. So check out their new website, get their music, and then tell them what you think about their music and wish Stewart a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! (they are super active on social media) . . .

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TheSpringsBand

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesprings/
Instagram:  https://instagram.com/thesprings/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thespringsband
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thespringsband
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-springs/id890654834

Happy Halloween!!!!! I hope you got more than Rocks, unlike the kids here who were stuck at home due to the weather :( boooooo Mother Nature!!!!!

Marcy (@beaslma)

New Music ! Maddie and Tae Debut Album: Start Here

My ear holes were so happy today. I finally had my hands on the new Maddie and Tae album Start Here. If you don’t know the Country Duo Maddie and Tae (Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye both 20 years old) you likely know their music but soon you will also know their names, faces, and story. Their “hit” list includes their break out single Girl in a Country Song and their current single Fly.

Long before Tomatogate, Maddie and Tae burst on the scene in 2014 with “Girl in a Country Song” which shined the spotlight on the way “females” are talked about in recent country “hits” by artist who frankly couldn’t carry this duo’s guitar straps. It was brilliant and the way Country radio embraced it was awesome to watch too! They were nominated for several CMT Music Awards in 2015 and more nominations will be coming in the future for this duo.

These ladies, while beautiful, have amazing talent and that combination will keep them around for a while. They wrote or co-wrote ALL of the tracks on their album, which includes the songs from their earlier released EP and 6 brand new tracks! They are currently on tour with Dierks Bentley on his Sounds of Summer Tour, if they come near you check them out.

You can find out more about them on their website http://www.maddieandtae.com including a tour schedule.

It’s been a while since I put up a music post and what better way than to do a critique an album that I have literally been waiting on for what seems like forever! What’s awesome about Start Here is that typically there are a few “throw away” tracks on an album, ones that you skip over after a while but I've had this album on repeat all day long and have yet to skip a single track. It’s that good people. Even if you aren’t a “country” fan your soul needs this album.

1. “Waitin’ on a Plane”    *new track

I love the way this duo writes, the way they tell their tale with cleaver metaphors. The line, “cause it’s my time to paint a little streak on a blue sky” makes me see the trail from the plane in the sky as I’m listening to the track. I love when that happens. I also love the expert way they harmonize throughout this track. This track was a great way to start this album cause it’s a girl power type song without throwing it in your face. The young lady in the track is moving on with her life and can’t wait for her next adventure. She’s not running away from anything, she’s running to something and I love that. She’s not waiting on someone to make life better for her, like other female based songs, she’s making it happen for herself, cause she can. That’s what I love most about Maddie and Tae they make girls sound like powerful women with a brain.

2. “Girl in a Country Song”

The first time I heard this track, I was in the car on my way to hear Markus Fox and The Highway on XM radio was talking about this new track and I was in heavy traffic. All of the sudden this song comes on and I’m immediately out of traffic and sucked into this song. I LOVE EVERY LYRIC on this song. It was about time someone said it and that it was these two young unknowns made it even better. I remember telling Markus all about it at his show, I wanted to talk more about this song than what he was up to, which is saying something. I’m not a fan of the “bro country” that’s vomited all over the radio lately and this was such a refreshing sound I couldn’t wait to get home and look it up. Then I got home I was crushed that all I had was their video, which I must have played a million times. I immediately followed them on twitter and read every line on their website. I was so excited when I heard they were releasing an EP. The love from the EP eventually led to this album. I can’t think Maddie and Tae enough for this track because it gave birth to this album and started a dialogue in this genre that was long over due.

3. “Smoke”    *new track

Another new track and when it first came on the fact it was slower made me stop and really pay attention to it. I’m a lyric person, I love lyrics and finding the fun little nods in a song that others might not notice, like Bryan White yelling in the chorus Another Day in the Sun. The chorus of this song is amazing. It’s a fantastic reminder that these ladies know how to string an idea together. I mean whose brain comes up with something like this …

Baby, you're just like smoke, blowing on the wind
One minute, you're by my side and then you're gone again
You might be bad for me, but I just wanna breathe you in
Every time I reach out, I find there ain't nothing to hold
Boy, you're just like smoke

These ladies have mastered the use of metaphors in a song and I for one appreciate the effort.

4. “Shut Up and Fish”    *new track

A fun cute track that's funny as hell! It makes me smile everytime I hear it, and I can’t wait for this video. I can see it in my head as I listen to it. I’m not giving anything away on this track cause if I do I deprive you the joy of hearing it the first time and realizing damn these girls are talented as hell. Is it a little pandering, maybe, but it’s such a fun ride it’s not something I mind. One of my favorite lines on this CD can be found in this song … see if you can guess it :D

5. “Fly”

I am so glad this became their second single, cause when I heard it on the EP I knew these ladies weren’t going to be just “one hit wonders” with GIACS. This was the song that, in my opinion, made these ladies true Artist. It showed their true talent far more than any other track they have released. The first time I heard this song, I won’t lie, I cried. It transported me back to when my Dad basically told me I could do anything when he was leaving me at college for the first time. I was scared as hell about what I had gotten myself into (this was prior to meeting Golden, my suite mate, and realizing that was I was going to be ok) and my dad pulled me aside and “it’s ok to be a little overwhelmed, it’s ok to fail, it’s ok to want to turn and run but you are exactly where you need to be. You have worked for this and you are ready for this now go get em." My dad is a man of few words and it meant the world to me. This song took right back to that moment and I think of all the young ladies/young men who need to hear that and might not have a dad to say it to them. This song will now give them that conversation. So glad it was released.

6. “Sierra”

I LOVE this track. I love everything about it. I love the sass, the playfulness, the polite way it tells Sierra to “duck off” (stupid auto correct). :D I hope there’s a Sierra out there who knows this song is about them, and if there isn’t I don’t want to know. Everyone has a Sierra in their lives and when you listen to this song you dream of saying these things to your Sierra and hope she hears it and knows it about her. This is just a brilliant track in the writing, the delivery of it, and the message behind it. BRAVO!

7. “Your Side of Town”

This is another fast catchy song that stays with you for a while after you listen to it. It’s another song about broken love, but the way they do it is refreshing. It’s not a young girl waiting for her man to come back and break her heart again, it’s not a young lady saying oh woe is me he’s gone, or even a lady saying how she can fix him. It's a young lady saying you had your chance now get away from me and stay there. It makes me think of Reba McEntire or Martina McBride. Try to listen to it without tapping your foot or nodding your head … I dare you.

8. “Right Here, Right Now”    *new track

As much as I love their fast catchy songs, when they slow it down and rock a track with soulful lyrics this Duo is even better. They blend perfectly on this track and know what they want and how to ask for it. It’s sultry without being slutty and I love that. In a world where artist now a days feel they have to be sexy or frankly naked on a stage to get attention it’s nice to hear a track from two very attractive young ladies who show us that a girl can be both sexy and not slutty. Well played Maddie and Tae.

9. “No Place Like You”    *new track

I love the banjo in this track, it moves the track forward and you can almost picture them moving through the day. Again it’s a track about a young lady who is following her dream but remembering what’s at home waiting on her and able to have both. This reminded me of Bryan Whites Every Where I Turn and I love any track that makes me think of Bryan White.

10. “After the Storm Blows Through”    *new track

When I heard this song today, for the first time, while at work, I started crying. I don’t know if it’s the anniversary of Katrina and all of that being on the news, but I was transported back to that moment when a friend calls to say they have lost everything and not having a clue how to respond to it. This song could literally be about anything, from a personal struggle, or health problems, basically it’s saying whatever you have to face I’m there with you let’s go do this. This one reminded me of Carrie Underwood, which is a huge compliment for these ladies. I have yet to get through this track without tearing up and hope I never do. As well as they do fun catchy Country, these ladies do soulful better than anyone I’ve ever heard and they are only 20 .... think about that for a second. Simply amazing. If you get no other track get this one, and then you’ll go back for the others.

11. “Downside of Growing Up”    *new track

This song perfectly sums up growing up, from moving away for the first time to dealing with life’s drama on your own, and coming out of it with lessons learned. This one is a lot like Fly and has a similar feel but more upbeat. I can see this track being the “class song” of 2015 if it gets released as a single and I really think that it should. It's another track where I can see the video in my head as I listen. It’s the perfect transitioning from this moment to the next moment song.

So that’s the album in a nutshell. I know I gushed over a few of these tracks and maybe fan girled a little bit more than I meant to but when I tell you this is the first album in a while I was really excited about that means something. It’s an album the world needs it’s an album that deserves some love and I hope the Country community continues to embrace these ladies cause I think Country Music, or Music in general needs role models like Maddie and Tae if only so that things like Tomatogate don’t happen again.

Check out the album and if you download Smoke, Fly, After the Storm Blows Through, and Downside of Growing up, I swear you’ll go back for the rest.

Follow these ladies on Twitter and get to know them they will be here for a while. 

@MaddieandTae

-Marcy