Shameless Plug(s)

Posted by Rob on Apr 03, 2008 - 10:35 pm

I haven’t written much about music on here, which is a shame because there are few things that I love more than a solid tune (see: “Tupelo Honey,” “The Weight,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want"). So, in order to remedy this situation, I figured I’d give a little press to my friends’ bands and expose you all to some solid new listening material.

1) Cash Cash. Two of my good friends, JP and Sam, have been trying to make it in the music business since we were in eighth grade. It seems like it’s finally paid off; these guys got signed by Universal Records over winter break and are now working on their debut album with producers who have worked with Hellogoodbye, Gym Class Heroes, We the Kings, Boys Like Girls, and more. I’m really proud of these guys; they’ve been honing their sound for years and I can’t wait to hear what they come up with while working with a big-time producer or two. They’re a solid blend of pop, rock, and electronica. Check out “CSL F-Bomb Remix” on their myspace page here and be sure to watch out for these boys—I have a feeling you’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the near future.

2) Carlon. Mike McWilliams, an all-around great guy from my hometown, has a band called Carlon. Like Cash Cash, they’re currently in the studio working on tracks for their debut album. They’ve also got some amazing producers on board: Ross Peterson, who’s worked with John Mayer, Kanye West, and Muse, and Pete Francis, bassist of the band Dispatch (remember them?) Carlon’s a really interesting group - it’s hard to say who they “sound like,” but it’s obvious that they’re fans of alternative bands like the White Stripes and older, classic rock superstars like the Stones. One thing that really impresses me about these guys is their lyrics. Be sure to scope out “Ferris Wheel” and “Fever of Initiative” here.

3) Taylor Carson. Last, but certainly not least. Taylor’s going to be big. I’m proud to say that he lived next door to me during his musically formative years. He’s an accomplished singer-songwriter with solid guitar chops and soft but powerful voice. He strikes a nice balance with his soulful ballads like “If I Fall’ and harder, groovy jams like “Lucky Tonight”. Taylor’s been playing shows in Washington D.C. for the last few years and has built up a really solid fan base there. Give his stuff a listen here.

Videos of Carlon and Taylor after the jump.

Carlon—“Learn From Your Friends”

Taylor Carson—“Lucky Tonight”

That’s all for this edition of “Up-and-Coming Bands From The Western Half of Essex County, New Jersey.” Hope you enjoy the tunes—feel free to leave comments below to let me know what you think.