Turn It Up!: Alanis Morissette - Big Sur (Music Video)

  "My little one, enthralled by the redwoods as I ride amongst monarchs and mist."

 This is probably my favorite bonus song from the Deluxe Edition of Alanis' latest album "Havoc And Bright Lights". Though it's not an official single for the album, Alanis has released the song as a limited edition autographed vinyl through her website to treat her fans for their years of support.

 The song is a beautiful, sweet, and relaxed tune about her love for the majesty and tranquil beauty of California's "Big Sur" region, which is located just south of San Jose and is famous, in the pop-cultural sense, for being an escapist getaway for many famous poets, painters, novelists and musicians including Anias Nin, Henry Miller, Richard Brautigan, and Jack Kerouac (all of whom she name drops in the songs chorus). The area was also home to one of the biggest Folk Music Festivals in the 60's and 70's, which touted performers like Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (to name a few). A documentary of the festival was even shot in 1969 called Celebration at Big Sur, you should check that out. Given the area has such a bohemian type history, it's no wonder Alanis went for a mellow, stripped down soundscape full of acoustic guitars and various string instrument flourishes, creating a musical nirvana for us all to enjoy. Even her vocals are fluid and laid back, capturing the essence perfectly. God I love it!

 Naturally, the video (directed by Eric Ernest Johnson) was shot on location and features Miss Morissette hitch hiking on Highway 1, eventually being picked up by herself (can we say Ironic throwback? Love!), dancing on the beach, walking through the redwood forests, and playing with her friends at the top of the bluffs.

 So, there you have it, an instant hit of summer! I'm sure this will be a staple on Alanis' new "Intimate & Acoustic" tour which has just recently been announced, so if you're a fan, be sure to check out if she is coming to a town near you.

 Till Next Time,

 Love & Light!

Turn It Up!: O-Town - Skydive (Music Video)

  "I just wanna skydive right into your life, seeing the whole world by your side!"

 O-Town Is Back!!!!! YAY!!!!!!

 I wrote about the reunion of Danity Kane about a week ago and now I'm happy to report the original members of O-Town (the first group to have been spawned from the show Making The Band) have reunited as a quartet.

 Jacob Underwood, Dan Miller, Trevor Penick, and Erik-Michael Estrada were discovered and brought together (along with non returning member Ashley Parker Angel) by music producer Lou Pearlman in 2000 during the run of the first series of Making The Band.

Pearlman, who was already behind the creation of the Backstreet Boys and 'NSync, was looking to create another hot boy band who would rival the others on the charts. Pop groups (especially Boy Bands) were huge during the late 90's and early 2000's, but unfortunately, by the time O-Town came along, similar groups were already starting to fall out of favor, so they only really got 2 or 3 good years out of the group before they fizzled away. Plus, being a television reality show commodity, people didn't really hold the group in high regard.

 Nonetheless, O-Town did score a few hit songs before their time came to an end, including "Liquid Dreams", "We Fit Together", "These Are The Days" and their most popular song to date "All Or Nothing". Their first album (O-Town (2000)) managed to achieve platinum status in the US and Canada (reaching #5 and #2 on the respective charts), but due to the set backs of releasing their second album O2 in 2002, that album only charted at #28 on the US charts but made little to no impact elsewhere.

 The boys went their separate ways after that, but rumors of their possible reunion were on people's lips since 2011. TMZ reported that year that Jacob, Dan, Trevor, and Erik had gotten together and were in the studio working on new material, but that Ashley Parker Angel had refused to join the reunion but wished his brothers well on the new endeavor. In March this year, the band launched a new official website and announced a summer tour that would be followed by the release of a new album in August called "Lines & Circles".

 Their first single "Skydive" was released on Soundcloud on May 28th and will be available to the public on July 27th. Lines & Circles has been given a release date of August 3rd.

 My best friend and I are so excited for this reunion (him more than me to be honest. He's freaking out lol). I think they were so underrated at the time they came out, I'm looking forward to them having a good solid reunion if people will give them a chance again.

This song is hot, I can't stop listening to it. The pounding drum line in the chorus set against the orchestral verses really drive it home with a lot of power and vigor. The video was shot in San Diego in an area of the desert called "The Valley of The Crescent Moon" where Jacob has had many family parties since his childhood. Beautiful Space.

 As an added bonus, I'm also including this video from their first official photo shoot back as a band. See below.