The Fray pours emotion into "Break Your Plans"

The Fray really push their imagination in the music video for "Break Your Plans," the official second single from the American alternative rock band's latest album, "Helios." The guys of The Fray have been making music together for over a decade, and the band's frontman Isaac Slade has a way of pouring emotion into every song he sings. In "Break Your Heart," The Fray return to their The Fray-esque sounding piano ballads. The intimate performance was the perfect setting for Slade to showcase his trademark vocals, which sound as raw and real as ever as he elongates and emphasizes each note on the heartfelt track, "Break Your Plans."

How do you move on so fast? You meant to break up, maybe there was never any chance anyway. Maybe it's all gone. But wait! What if you don't? We can try again. Don't break up. Break your plans instead. The Fray "Break Your Plans" meaning is a second chance for love. It might seem your relationship would never work. It might seem like it could not last. But love doesn't depend on "fate." All that counts is what comes next. Why not try again? Slade does two things that men in tearing relationships often don't do: one, he stops being afraid to ask for healing and to state his feelings. Two, he doesn't promise it'll be easy. He admits there's no guarantee we'll make it. He just asks you to try.

The group delivers a moving, stripped-down performance that highlights the meaning of the lyrics, which tell of a desperate longing for a loved one to stay. "We wanted to capture the moment right before a couple parts ways, where everything is pointing to the split," Of the track, Slade notes, "and one of them suddenly gets this fire-almost out of nowhere. Maybe it's the feeling of the other just starting to leave, maybe it's a moment-in-time but suddenly there's fight left, and they go for it."

"Break Your Heart" is a moving ballad, as usual very well sung by Slade, and the clip, directed by Marcus Herring and Bill Fishman, is just as moving. Its plot, however, is "something different." And by the different, we mean CRAZY. A fisherman makes his way to the vast ocean on his boat for a day of laidback fishing. He gets his prize, but it's not a big fish... it's a SIREN. The two fall in love, go for a swim, kiss but suddenly, the good-looking fisherman starts feeling bad, and noticing scars in his body after checking him out in a mirror. The SIREN sees how her man falls into the water and turns into a SHARK. Oh, my, god.

Christina Perri says 'Something About December'

Even though we should all have Jack-o-lanterns and sexy nurses on our minds, the music biz is already deeply entrenched in the Christmas album wars, and now Christina Perri is getting in the Christmas spirit with a music video for her original holiday tune, "Something About December," off her holiday album, "A Very Merry Perri Christmas," and it's so festive and filled with home movies, her gorgeous face and gives us lots of warm fuzzies. We can never have enough new music during the holidays and this song is the perfect addition!
Ever since Perri was a little kid, she's been writing Christmas songs. But it wasn't until now that she was brave enough to let anyone else hear them. The 26-year-old singer told CBS Local that she's "madly in love" with holiday music, so it was a no-brainer for her to record her own holiday EP. "It's such a big part of my upbringing and my singing in general," she said. "The very first song I sang when I was three was a Christmas song." What else would you expect from the woman who won our hearts with a jar of them?
"Something About December," is the true standout with its warm arrangement and vocal embrace. It'll make you feel all fuzzy inside, and it's a new Christmas classic in its own right as timeless as the tracks she covers on the EP. And to add to her close-knit family-feeling, she wrote this family inspires sentimental Christmas track in July with a little help from her brother Nick. It's a family affair! The two reminisced and even broke into tears. Twice! Some of their memories even made their way into the lyrics, like her mother's whistling, which was one of the things she loves most about this special time of year.
It is not your typical Christmas song, which is precisely why we like it so much. There's no mention of jingle bells or sounds of Rudolph's hoofs trekking through the snow, rather, the song is a lilting piano-driven ballad that speaks not about snowmen and stockings, but mostly about December's nostalgic feelings. Perri explains that the song "is about finding Christmas wherever you are in the world, because it lives in your heart." The Elliot Sellers-directed clip features home video footage from her childhood that make this piano ballad extra personal, and you'll find out why this is so close to her heart!

Jon McLaughlin Could "Promising Promises"

Jon McLaughlin has released a solo piano video for "Promising Promises," the title track from his most recent third full-length piano driven album, which was released on May 22. It's safe to say that McLaughlin has had a pretty accomplished career so far. The Hoosier piano-man has appeared in a Disney movie, toured with some high-end mainstream acts, and performed in front of 32 million at the Oscars. The 29-year-old Indiana-born singer/songwriter has been around since 2003, steadily releasing records throughout the years.
Opening with the title track, "Promising Promises," a piano tour-de-force, McLaughlin clearly emonstrates his ability to write a great pop tune as the tune builds to a triumphant chorus that will not leave your head. The "Promising Promises" is extremely catchy and also shows off his sheer and raw talent through instruments and vocals. With some added guitars and soaring vocals, it sets the stage for the rest of the album. The result is his most authentic album yet, and "Promising Promises," is exactly what the first word in the title says: Promising.
"Promising Promises" embodies McLaughlin's irresistible songwriting style along with his sweetly melancholic approach to storytelling. As he explains, "It feels really good to have a record that I'm working on that I can really deliver wholeheartedly knowing that the fans are getting a piece of me." He continues, "There isn't a note on the record that I didn't spend hours scrutinizing over, or at the very least sitting with and playing over and over again. I feel like it's a real connection to me."
Consistently, throughout this album, McLaughlin delivers great imagery in his lyrics and interesting, heartfelt, and complex piano parts, "Promising Promises," is an interesting test for a reviewer to tackle. If you're looking for a blatant God-centered message throughout the record, it's just not that obvious. But if you're looking for good, pure, and quality music from an up-and-coming musician, I highly suggest picking this up and giving it a listen. If you don't enjoy it the first time, give it another shot. This combined effort of guitar, piano, and pop will grow on you.

Fiona Apple Is Flight "Every Single Night"

Fiona Apple is making her triumphant return to the world of music videos after more than 6 years away with "Every Single Night," the lead single off her forthcoming album, "The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do," The brilliantly bizarre clip, seems to be obsessed with wildlife, especially creatures with no spines, makes its official debut on the Sundance Channel Sunday night, and the album hits stores on June 19th, the kickoff day for Apple's North American tour.
"Every Single Night," her first single in y years, is a tortured tale but the lyrics aren't the only aspect of the sparse song that feels bipolar: There's a prominent toy piano riff that makes Apple sound like a ballerina spinning out of control. Apple describes what she's trying to capture as "the flight of little-wings of white-flamed butterflies in my brain" - a striking image that turns disturbing when you think about what it's like to be enveloped by trapped, flapping tiny insects. Apple uses her piano as a percussive instrument that also makes melodies. She bangs at it, slapping out chords that sometimes feel like marching orders and sometimes act as interruptions, enhancing the stop-start nature of her internal monologues.
Emotions are so darn beautiful - that's the message of music, much of the time. Apple's music does something different. A classically lovely woman whose gorgeous, sultry alto once led her toward alt-divadom, she has always dared herself to be and do something else: to say no to simple beauty and instead express the urges and insecurities that more accommodating artists tend to avoid. Combined with some her unique vocals and some truly unique imagery, "Every Single Night" is a triumphant comeback by being exactly what Apple's cult of devotees has been yearning for.
The 34-year-old songstress and pianist gave director Joseph Cahill pretty simple instructions: "do things to me and put me in situations and surprise me." The end result certainly is surprising. The very strange, sci-fi-tinged clip features unsettling water imagery, an octopus worn as a hat, and a minotaur in Apple's bed and dances down the street while surrounded by people with lightbulb-sticks. As we see Apple lying in a field, while an electric-blue sky floats above her, upside-down swimming above water and walking through the streets of Paris while a giant squid attacks the Eiffel Tower. It's strange, it's oddly beautiful. And it's far more haunting and for more beautiful than what we could have ever anticipated!

Alanis Morissette's Emotional Ballad "Not As We"

Canadian singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette premiered the video on Yahoo! Music, to her new remixed single "Not As We Are," the second single from her seventh studio album "Flavors of Entanglement," an album like any of her previous ones that channels her emotional states. "As soon as I start to write there's this uncensored, unedited freedom to step outside out of the shackles of the thoughts in my head around being ashamed," the Canadian singer has won 12 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, said. "If I could offer anything to anyone listening to my songs it would be just a four minute moment of dropping any shame of anyone being human."
The ballad "Not as We," is a song about learning how to relive your life without someone else in it. Someone who was a big part of your life and now you don't know how you're going to get by without them, so you have to "psuedo-making it" and basically just taking it one day at a time. Morissette explores the often cyclical nature of learning in track in this pensive, rock bottom-capturing "Not As We." The Canadian singer takes steps towards a new life as herself in the new music video, directed by James Whitaker and produced through RSA's promo division Black Dog Films, was shot in Los Angeles on September of 2008. Simple in its concept, the video features Morissette in various stages on the path to emotional recovery.
A dozen years after the breakthrough debut of the rock-influenced "Jagged Little Pill," an album which earned four Grammys and spawned a dedicated worldwide fan base, Morissette remains not only an enduringly popular artist, but one whose success stems from a fierce commitment to authenticity and, to an equal extent, vulnerability. Both of these traits enable her to climb to new ground with her latest album, "Flavors of Entanglement." The Album Version is a piano driven ballad while the shorter Radio Edit adds guitars, bass and background effects and starts with the first line of the song while the Album Version has an instrumental opening. The music video uses the Radio Edit. The studio version first appeared on Fox's TV series "House" and later made a return to primetime on MTV's "The Hills."

The Fray Premieres New Video For "Syndicate"

Denver-based piano rock band The Fray team up with Yahoo! to premiere a music video in support of their latest single "Syndicate", the third single appearing in the band's self-titled studio project "The Fray," which was released on February 3 through Epic Records. Following the success of lead single "You Found Me," the album the album debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart, and was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010, but it lost to "The E.N.D." by the Black Eyed Peas.
The Fray, a foursome whose melodic pop-rock songs and soaring vocals resonate with sprawling tapestries and tales of hopefulness and heartache. Formed in 2002 by Isaac Slade (vocals, piano) and Joe King (guitar, vocals), The Fray earned a loyal grassroots following through impressive area gigs and the support of local radio which led a listener-driven campaign to get the band a record contract.
The Colorado band’s been nominated for two Grammys, though they were initially dogged with comparisons to Coldplay, piano-rock band The Fray have since found platinum-selling success in their own right. "The Fray" album captures what The Fray are truly about. They exploded into worldwide success with that album, have captured the skilled songwriting that broke them and, with the help of acclaimed producers Mike Flynn and Aaron Johnson, created a set of songs sure to make them household names. The whole album is full of great songs that really pull at your heart.
The song "Syndicate" was released on January 12 for radio airplay, and the video for song is essentially one long, gorgeous, visual effect and very entrancing. Two days after the "Syndicate" music video arrives, a clip showing the filming process will be put forward for viewing pleasure. The four-piece band will join forces with AOL Today to treat fans with a behind-the-scenes look at the video shoot.
The quartet one of the biggest new bands to explode onto the pop-rock scene in the last few years. They are also the one of the bands who contribute to the Haitian relief effort. Most recently, their frontman Isaac Slade joined over 75 other big stars, including Joel Madden, Celine Dion, will.i.am and T-Pain, at Jim Hensen Studios in Hollywood, California to record "We Are the World" remake.

Curtis Peoples Released New EP "All I Want"

The San Diego native songwriter Curtis Peoples has just released his new digital EP, "All I Want," features the new single, "All I Want," two previously unreleased tracks, "Too Late (Never Said)" and "All I Want (Almost Acoustic Version)" as well as the "All I Want" music video, available courtesy of The Control Group.
Peoples is a singer with more of a rock/pop mentality than most acoustic artists in his category, and a defined understanding for what it takes to make a great and dynamic pop record, he crafts songs that fans of rock to acoustic folk and pop can enjoy equally. With a mix of big free-spirited choruses and addictive jumping rhythms, his style of "coffee shop arena rock" incorporates the radio-friendly and inspiring sounds of U2 and Bon Jovi as well as the rhythmic folk of John Mayer into his songs resulting in his own unique musical fingerprint.
Peoples has been through a lot since he was nailing down the top spot in the freshly-expanded "You Gotta Know" in August 2005. His Brad Belanger-directed self-titled debut album released in the summer of 2008 was followed by extensive national touring with friend and fellow singer-songwriter Tyler Hilton. The resulting album is 10 well-crafted songs, from the hard rocking swagger of "Heart Will Fall" and Tom Petty-esque "Back Where I Started" to the acoustic and contemplative "Wake Up" and funky power pop of the Tyler Hilton co-written "Tell Me I'm Wrong." This stunning collection of music marks the arrival of Peoples to the next level of his career. A ton of fans from coast to coast, the sky is quite the limit for the San Diego native.
While gaining a dedicated contingent of fans all around the country via these treks and media appearances the music industry has also been taking notice. Peoples' music has received commercial radio airplay at KMTT (Seattle), KPRI (San Diego), and a number of college stations. KPRI puts it, "Curtis has found his voice tapped his natural sensibility for writing a tune." Music Connection Magazine raves that Peoples "performs music that is pure pop with a classic-rock vibe. Some songs could have Top 40 appeal, while others have the potential to be excellent for TV or movie placements" and went on to name Peoples as one of the "100 Unsigned Artists To Watch in 2008!"

Secondhand Serenade | "Fall for You" (Video)

Secondhand Serenade is an American acoustic rock solo project fronted by vocalist and guitarist John Vesely. The "Fall for You" was the 1st single from Secondhand Serenade's 2nd studio album 'A Twist in My Story'.

A music video was released a week after the single was released. It features John Vesely playing the piano and performing the song intercut with footage of Vesely with a woman. They seem to be happily in love until he appears to show some insecurity, making her think he doesn't love her when he really does. This results in a fight breaking out between the two of them resulting in her wanting to leave. In the end, however, she comes back to him.

I also like his debut album 'Awake' in 2007, as well as the last single 'Goodbye' from album 'A Twist in My Story'.

Evanescence | "My Immortal" (Video)

Evanescence is an American alternative rock metal band founded in Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. "My Immortal" is the 3rd single from Evanescence's the 1st full-length major label debut album, "Fallen". The song was selling over 500,000 copies.

The music video was shot in Barcelona and played in black-and-white. In an interview with Rock Sound magazine, Amy commented on the video's concept: "You know what? When you see the video it's really amazing irony, how much it makes sense. We're all separated and wandering the streets looking like it's the day after a funeral, with Ben in a suit and bare feet, and I'm never touching the ground. I'm sitting on a phone booth or lying on a car, to hint that I'm dead, that I'm singing from the dead. It's all about separation. It's almost like the director knew what was going to happen, but he can't have known. It's just one of those fate things."

Other favorite singles from Evanescence:"Bring Me To Life", and "Hello".